Uninsured patients sue Chicago nonprofit hospital

A lawsuit filed Thursday claims a nonprofit hospital in northwest Chicago failed to provide charity care to two low-income, uninsured patients, reopening a longstanding controversy in Illinois over whether hospitals are doing enough charitable work to qualify for lucrative tax exemptions.

Swedish Covenant Hospital repeatedly lost one patient's financial assistance application and threatened to send her bill to a collection agency, according to the lawsuit. The hospital incorrectly told another patient she was ineligible for assistance and demanded cash from her, the complaint alleges.

The practices amount to "bureaucratic barriers" that prevent eligible patients from getting free care, according to the lawsuit, and the hospital has a policy of attempting to collect from "even the poorest of patients" through bill collectors and wage garnishment.

The hospital gets about $8 million in annual tax breaks and owes the community a more reliable charity care system, the plaintiffs' attorney Alan Alop of the legal services group LAF said at a press conference Thursday in Chicago. The lawsuit claims unfair practices under the Illinois consumer fraud law and seeks $50,000 in punitive damages and a change in hospital policy.

Swedish Covenant spokeswoman Leigh Ginther said Thursday she couldn't comment on the lawsuit, but she said every patient who is identified as uninsured is given an application for charity care and a personal explanation of the process.

"It is the patient's responsibility to return the completed paperwork," Ginther said. The hospital reported $6.2 million in charity care expenses last year, nearly 3 percent of its net revenue.

Nearly 2 million Illinois residents are uninsured, or about 15 percent. The state constitution, court decisions and state law require Illinois hospitals that receive tax exemptions to provide charity care, but until this year the definition of charity wasn't clear.

The lawsuit comes as Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is writing new standards on hospital charity care as required by a law passed earlier this year.

A Chicago-based advocacy group, the Fair Care Coalition, wants Madigan to recommend that a standard, universal financial assistance application be used by all Illinois hospitals. The group also wants a thorough reporting mechanism so the public can check that hospitals are obeying the law, said Janna Simon of the coalition.

At the press conference, plaintiff Ramona Ortiz-Patino described filling out multiple applications for financial assistance and later being told the hospital hadn't received them. An unemployed diabetic, she was facing charges for emergency room visits for extreme pain in her right leg.

After Ortiz-Patino submitted a third application, a hospital employee telephoned her and "let me know that my bill would be going to collections because I hadn't paid it," she said. "I didn't understand why the hospital was threatening me when they knew I had zero income and I submitted three applications" for financial assistance.

How much charity care should nonprofit hospitals provide? The issue has been brewing for years in Illinois.

In 2009, two large Illinois hospital systems settled class-action lawsuits that claimed they had overcharged uninsured patients. In separate settlements, Resurrection Health Care and Advocate Health Care agreed to pay refunds to tens of thousands of individuals.

Next, a 2010 Illinois Supreme Court ruling suggested nonprofit hospitals that behave like businesses shouldn't qualify for tax exemptions. Citing that court decision, the state Department of Revenue denied tax exemptions to three hospitals in 2011 and signaled more denials for other hospitals could follow.

That set off a storm of controversy the Legislature addressed this year.

Nonprofit hospitals won a broad definition of charity care from Springfield in a new state law that will allow them to continue their tax-exempt status. Hospitals were required to provide free care to patients of certain income levels, and the attorney general was directed to write standards for hospital financial assistance applications.

Source: http://www.wbez.org/news/uninsured-patients-sue-chicago-nonprofit-hospital-104105

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Christmas parade to be held Dec. 2

If it?s the first Sunday in December, then expect what?s known as Old Mechanicsville to be filled with excitement. That?s because Santa Claus will be in town. With participants stepping off at 3 p.m. on Dec. 2, the 2012 Mechanicsville Christmas Parade will start its usual route through the village?s streets.

Source: http://ashland.nbc12.com/news/88783-christmas-parade-be-held-dec-2

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Woman locked up in Alec Baldwin NY stalking case

NEW YORK (AP) ? Police surprised a Canadian actress accused of stalking Alec Baldwin by locking her up again Tuesday at the close of an otherwise-routine court appearance.

Authorities wouldn't discuss why Genevieve Sabourin was re-arrested in Manhattan. But a judge had ordered her to stay away from the "30 Rock" star, and there were recent media reports that she had posted angry tweets about his new wife.

"Why am I being arrested?" she asked as she was led away in handcuffs.

Defense attorney Rick Pasacreta confirmed his client was back in custody, but he said he hadn't been informed of any new charges.

There was no immediate response to messages left with the New York Police Department. Prosecutors would say only that Sabourin was due back in court Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

Following Sabourin's arrest on misdemeanor stalking and harassment charges in April, a judge released her on her own recognizance and issued the temporary order of protection for Baldwin.

Sabourin lives in Quebec and has acted in television and film. She and Baldwin met a decade ago on the set of "The Adventures of Pluto Nash," a sci-fi comedy in which he had a cameo and she was a publicist.

Police originally arrested Sabourin after authorities said she had implored Baldwin to see and to marry her in emails sent only days after he became engaged to yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas.

One of Sabourin's messages envisioned Baldwin as her future "husband," while another described "creating Genevieve Baldwin," a complaint said. Authorities said she also showed up at a screening he was hosting and at his apartment building.

"I just came over to see Alec because I need to speak with him," she told police, according to court documents.

Baldwin and Thomas married in June. Baldwin previously was married to actress Kim Basinger; they have a daughter, Ireland.

Another attorney for Sabourin had previously said that his client and Baldwin had a two-year relationship and that she had a "legitimate purpose" for contacting him.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/woman-locked-alec-baldwin-ny-stalking-case-223140231.html

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How vegetables make the meal

ScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2012) ? Chicken, steak, pasta -- these classic dishes are featured in many family dinners. Besides making common sense from a nutritional point of view, would the addition of a vegetable to a meal change anything else for the eater? Would they see the meal as more loving, better tasting or even give them an improved opinion of the meal preparer? In this study researchers Brian Wansink, Misturu Shimizu and Adam Brumberg explored the impact that adding a vegetable to the plate has on perceptions of both the meal and the person who prepared it.

With the majority of vegetable consumption in the American diet taking place at dinner time but only 23% of those meals being served with a vegetable, the study explores what added psychological motivation to include vegetables in meals might exist.

The study consisted of two phases. Twenty-two laddering interviews were conducted, followed by a national survey of 500 American mothers with two or more children under the age of 18. The survey asked participants to evaluate meals served either with or without vegetables as well as a cook who did or did not include a vegetable with a dinner time meal. Participants were also asked to choose from a list of twelve attributes, such as "selfish" or "loving," to describe the meal preparer. No respondent saw both versions of the meal or meal preparer. The survey also asked questions regarding children's favorite vegetable.

Veggies make food TASTE better

Those rating meals that included a vegetable gave significantly higher ratings to dishes such as chicken, steak and pasta on a variety of dimensions including "tasty" and "loving." The results showed that meals were favored when a vegetable was included, such as steak vs. steak with broccoli (score of 7.00 as opposed to 8.08), but also received better descriptions such as "loving" for the same meal (7.00 vs. 7.92). They also chose much more positive descriptors for the meal preparer that served a vegetable, including much more frequent selection of "thoughtful," "attentive" and "capable" accompanied by a decrease in the selections of "neglectful," "selfish" and boring. Overall, vegetables "made the meal," not only in terms of enhancing expectations of the main dish but in terms of creating a better perception of the cook as well.

Some interesting insights concerning children's favorite vegetables were also uncovered. Most participants easily recalled their children's favorite vegetable, with over a dozen different vegetables receiving multiple mentions. Interestingly, vegetable preference changed with age; broccoli was the overall favorite for older children, with carrots and corn topping the list for the younger kids.

In short, vegetables can definitely enhance the enjoyment of the meal, but, unless you're vegan or vegetarian, they will not be the central focus. And if added nutrition is not enough of a motivation to get the veggies on the plate, perhaps the notion that they can turn you into a better, more loving cook might do the trick. With widespread recommendations to increase vegetable consumption among American, and in particular among kids, any tool that can increase servings is welcome. So if you want to be a hero in your own kitchen, just add veggies to your meals and enjoy the nutritional AND emotional benefits they will provide!

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Cornell Food & Brand Lab.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Brian Wansink, Mitsuru Shimizu, Adam Brumberg. How vegetables make the meal: their hedonic and heroic impact on perceptions of the meal and of the preparer. Public Health Nutrition, 2012; : 1 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980012004673

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/-aSAxZhhYIE/121127191256.htm

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?Thank You, Iran!? (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

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Video: Hillshire Brands donates $200K to TODAY toy drive

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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49978429/

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Review: 'Hairy Tales' by Arges Systems | Video Game Blog, Video ...

Genre: Puzzle?

Platforms: App Store for Mac / iOS, Desura for Windows

Developer: Arges Systems

Release date: October 5th 2012

You will tear your hair out.

Hairy Tales is the debut offering from fledgling indie studio Arges Systems. Developed with the Unity 3D engine, it takes the form of an isometric tile-swapping puzzle-game, with a large amount of inspiration drawn from both traditional board games and the Amiga classic, ?Lemmings?. In this game, you must safely guide your hirsute protagonist across a board comprised of a number of hexagonal tiles. Naturally, this board contains all manner of hazards and obstacles, and like the aforementioned Lemmings, your charge has very little concern for his own safety. He is happy to blindly rush off in whatever direction you face him, oblivious to his surroundings. By moving and rotating tiles, you must force him to navigate a safe path to the levels exit. Along the way, you will collect power-ups which allow you to clear obstacles and improve your end of level rating. This is all couched in a story about defeating some evil ?corruption? befouling the folksy paradise which ?The Hairies? inhabit ? The Hairies, of course, being the little caveman-like creatures under your command. The backstory is vaguely told in a number of short animated cutscenes, and really serves little purpose in the game save as a framing device for the puzzles.

First of all, right off the bat, we have to confront that title: ?Hairy Tales? is one of the worst monikers for a game I have come across in a long time. Not since ?Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake-Eater? has a title so invited innuendo and satire. It tells you literally nothing about the game, except for indicating a possible emphasis on story (misleading, to say the least), and a vague suggestion of events of a trichological nature (okay, it?s a little closer to the truth on that one). One should never judge a book by its cover, of course, but having a title that sounds like it was dreamt up by an adult entertainment exec is not really a good jumping-off point for an innocent puzzler.

Now to the gameplay. Hairy Tales introduces you gently to the games main mechanics, with the early 10 levels or so providing you with simple tutorials on how to manipulate the game world, and your character within it. New elements to the puzzles, such as fences and arrows which redirect your character, and enemies which must be defeated by using power-ups, are drip fed slowly into the levels. Hairy Tales does a good job of not holding your hand too much, and doesn?t condescend you as so many games seem to these days. It trusts you to figure out the puzzle solutions for yourself, and gives you multiple ways to achieve each. However, there is a catch. Hairy Tales gets brutal very quickly, and I mean ?smash your computer with a hammer and wish terrible things upon the games ?creators? brutal. Literally, one level you are just doodling along, admiring the cutesy animations and folky background music, completing a by-the-numbers puzzle, and then suddenly BAM!?.you are hit by a difficulty curve so steep that even Evil Knievel would have soiled himself at the sight of it. Honestly, it?s incredibly noticeable, and one has to wonder how many people looking for a casual, colourful gaming experience a la Angry Birds would be dismayed by it. For a game so innocent in its appearance, a deeply challenging chin-scratcher lies ? paradoxically ? just beneath its exterior. Those looking for a more complex, longer lasting puzzle experience, though, will find great value for money in Hairy Tales. Because it doesn?t force you to accept a single solution to a puzzle, and guide you to this conclusion with the usual winks and nudges, the game makes you feel a deep sense of satisfaction at the end of each level. They?re not just purely mentally challenging, either. In many situations you must rapidly move and rotate tiles whilst your character is legging it round the map, meaning you rely on your reflexes as much as you rely on your noodle. This blend of quick responses and forward planning give the game a similar feel to Portal, and that same sense of feeling peculiarly powerful when crafting a solution.

However, the gameplay is not without its faults. Its not just the puzzles themselves that pose an obstacle ? sometimes, the controls and camera ?are as challenging as the level design. I lost count of the number of times that I was nearing the end of a level, only to have my grizzly avatar thrown off a cliff because of a misplaced tile. The controls are incredibly finicky, and when it comes to camera, you?ve got two choices ? extreme close-up, or floaty isometric view. Sometimes, it?s not very clear which way a character or tile is facing, and it would be extremely useful to be able to rotate the camera ? a feature which, in my mind, is inexplicably missing. Instead, you have to waste a life by just setting your little guy running, and see which way he goes. Needless to say, this leads to some moments of hair-pulling frustration.

Unity 3D graphics engine showing off its cel shading

The visuals in the game are nice but not terribly unique. It?s the quirky, deformed art style we?ve seen in every platformer / puzzler since Crash Bandicoot ? big red toadstools, lanky, large headed characters, the slimy greens and browns of the foul ?corrupted? swampland. Nothing here to write home about, but it?s all done nicely and suits the feel of the game. The now ubiquitous cel shading is back for another game, but it?s something the Unity engine seems built to do, and looks good on a mobile screen. Much of the same can be said for the audio ? it?s nice and functional, it works, but it?s not going to be something you?re humming at work for days. Also, some of the sound effects the in-game creatures make are incredibly grating after awhile, and I found myself turning off the SFX pretty early on.

The game currently consists of 72 levels spread over three game worlds. Given the games difficulty, it?s enough to keep you busy for a good long time, especially if you?re up to the task of getting top scores on every level. If you like your puzzlers tough, it?s good value for money and should keep you occupied on those long commutes over the run up to Christmas.

Pros:

• Solidly challenging gameplay.
• An abundance of levels will keep you going for a long time.
• Pretty, if uninspiring graphics and music

Cons:

• INSANE jump in difficulty, from childs play to hellish brain-torture.
• Frustrating camera angles.
• Occasionally shonky controls can be irksome.

Final Score:

If you like ?em tough, and you?re patient, then this is for you. If not, then avoid (or risk going bald with frustration.)

?

?

Article from Gamersyndrome.com

Related posts:

1. Tales Of Hearts R heading to PSVita
2. Tales Of Hearts R new trailer and details
3. Super Laser Racer Demo Review
4. Aqualux Untapped Released
5. Famitsu reviews Tales Of Xillia II

Source: http://gamersyndrome.com/2012/video-games/review-hairy-tales-by-arges-systems/

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Shrubs lend insight into a glacier's past

ScienceDaily (Nov. 26, 2012) ? The stems of shrubs have given researchers a window into a glacier's past, potentially allowing them to more accurately assess how they're set to change in the future.

Their findings have been published 27 November in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, and show how a glacier's history of melting can be extended way past the instrumental record.

Much like the rings on a tree stump indicate how old it is, measuring the width of rings on the stem of a shrub can give a good indication of how well it has grown year on year. Under extreme environmental conditions, such as those close to a glacier, a shrub's growth relies heavily on summer temperatures, meaning the ring-width of a shrub can be used a proxy for glacial melting, which also relies heavily on summer temperatures.

Lead author of the study, Allan Buras, said: "In warm summers, shrubs grow more compared to cold summers. In contrast, a glacier's summer mass balance is more negative in warm summers, meaning there is more melting compared to cold summers.

"Big rings in shrubs therefore indicate comparably warm summers, and thus a strongly negative summer mass balance -- in other words, more melting."

The researchers, from the University of Greifswald, tested this theory on a local icecap in the Scandic Mountains of southern Norway. They took 24 samples of shrubs from a site close to the glacier and analysed their ring-widths.

Monthly precipitation and temperature data from a local climate station were retrieved from the Norwegian Meteorological Office, and the summer mass balance of the glacier, from 1963 to 2010, was retrieved from the existing literature.

Each of these data sets was then statistically tested to see if there was a correlation between them. The results showed a robust and reliable correlation between the ring-width of shrubs and the summer melting of the glacier.

"Our results show that it is possible to reconstruct glacier summer mass balance with shrub ring-width series and it is therefore theoretically possible to extent records of summer mass balance into the past," Buras continued.

The shrubs that were collected in the study were relatively young, only allowing for reliable reconstructions over the past 36 years, meaning they could not be used to extend the record of the glacier; however, the researchers are confident that this could have been achieved if longer-lived shrubs were selected.

Most of the available data on the mass balance of glaciers only spans several decades and there is some data missing, mainly because most glaciers are situated in hard-to-reach arctic and alpine areas.

With the possibility to extend the instrumental records of summer mass balance, researchers may gain a better understanding of how glaciers behave in the summer, which they can use to calibrate and verify their existing models.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Institute of Physics.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Allan Buras, Martin Hallinger, Martin Wilmking. Can shrubs help to reconstruct historical glacier retreats? Environmental Research Letters, 2012; 7 (4): 044031 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/7/4/044031

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/most_popular/~3/OBMn89C92Ik/121126192759.htm

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HP Introduces A Small But High Speed DAT160 Tape For Backing ...

Here at Odsi we're more than a competitive online reseller of brand name tape media. We focus on all of the things that are of interest to our customers, not only in saving you money but also in saving you time.

View all articles by Mark Paul Businesses in today?s world are completely dependent on computers. There is not even a single business which operated without a computer system. There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that computerized businesses have made our lives easier but at the same time we need to realize that working with computers in everyday routine and being so much dependent on them is full of risk. Computers are after all machines and machines cannot be trusted completely.

When something goes wrong with the computer system the first thing you worry about getting lost is the data. In many cases data cannot be recovered and this would mean such a great loss. Therefore, data should be protected and kept safe using the backup devices. Tape drives have been invented for this purpose. The tape drives allow data to be read and written off and this data can be accessed whenever it is required.

DAT format is the best one around the world. It has an installed base of nearly 1.9 million drives and HP has enhanced the quality of its backup devices using the latest DAT format. Because of this the HP DAT-160 tape system provides high performance which will exceed the normal storage requirements of small and medium sized businesses. The HP DAT-160 tape can be trusted for its high reliability and low cost.

This will easily fulfill the demands of businesses which are aware of the risk they are dealing with when it comes to their data. HP is definitely the brand to go for. The products of HP are trusted all over the world for better quality and reliability and customers all over the world prefer buying the products from a well known and well established manufacturer such as HP. HP alone has a market share of 76 percent and this fact alone is enough to judge the demand for HP products.

HP DAT-160 cartridge delivers native data storage capacity of 80 gigabytes. Good news is that this can be increased to 160 GB for recording compressed data. As compared to the AIT tapes, this one has a lower cost and this will definitely be ideal for small and medium sized businesses. Keeping a check on costs is a very important thing and businesses are very conscious about keeping their costs in control. Backing up might sound like an increase in the business?s costs to some people and they might want to avoid it.

But with the HP DAT-160 tape, backing up has been made easier and very affordable for all sorts of businesses. Moreover, it is the most practical way of dealing with backing up data. The HP DAT-160 tape comes inside a case which will protect it from dust and other particles. There are absolutely no worries for the storage of this cartridge as it already comes inside a case.

It can be stored anywhere safe and there are also no special requirements for its operational use. You might just have to keep a check on some temperature variables and the level of humidity.t is the most ideal backup technology for small and medium sized businesses at a very affordable price.

DDS 3 tape cartridges are very robust, reliable and cost efficient. High performance SDLT tapes, LTO tapes, DDS tapes, AIT tapes, RDX cartridges and HP C5709A, DDS cleaning cartidges are available at Odsi.co.uk, at low price. Mark Paul Online Digital Solutions LLC, 39 Southend Road, East Ham London E62AL Tel: 0203 005 9500 Email: sales@odsi.co.uk

Source: http://www.articlesbd.com/articles/282156/1/HP-Introduces-A-Small-But-High-Speed-DAT160-Tape-For-Backing-Up-Small-Servers/Page1.html

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Bangladeshis protest after fire that killed 112

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) ? Thousands of Bangladeshi workers demanding justice after a garment-factory fire killed at least 112 people are blocking the streets of a Dhaka suburb in a protest that has turned violent at times.

Angry workers on Monday threw stones at factories, smashed vehicles and blocked a major highway in the area. Some 200 factories were closed for the day after the protest erupted in Savar, the industrial zone where Saturday's deadly fire occurred.

Officials say many workers were trapped in the eight-story building, which lacked emergency exits. Firefighters have pulled out at least 100 bodies, and 12 more people died at hospitals after jumping from the building.

Unions in Bangladesh have long complained about unsafe factories where workers work in dismal sweatshop conditions.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bangladeshis-protest-fire-killed-112-060714993--finance.html

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National Adoption Day | Generation J.D.

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Source: http://thedailyrecord.com/generationjd/2012/11/25/national-adoption-day/

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See the differences of Southern and Northern architectures from the ...

See the differences of Southern and Northern architectures from the Chinese paintings

As we all know,different countries have defferent culture. ?Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category of people from another.?It is inevitable that the cultural difference has impact on business. For example, when a company is having meeting,the word ?table? they mention in American English means to put something on the agenda, but in British English it means to pu something off the agenda.This example indicated how the culture affects the business.

There are four cultural dimensions that were defined in Hofstede?s research :power distance,uncertainty avoidance,individualism and masculinity.The most significant influence in cultural difference is the power distance.?It would condition the extent to which employees accept that their boss has more power that have and the extent to which they accept that their boss?s opinions and decisions are right because he or she is the boss.?Among most oriental corporate cultures,there is hierachism reasons, great centralization,sometimes called ?power-oriented culture?,due to the historical reasons.That is a high power distance culture that mangers make the decision and superious appeal to be entitled more privileges.Their decision always close supervision positively evaluated by subordinates. In this situation, it is not be regarded if subordinates have a disagreement with their managers.

See the differences of Southern and Northern architectures from the Chinese paintings Northern architecture and southern architecture belong to different systems with their own styles. When thinking about Southern architecture, many people picture beautiful scenery with delicate bridges over flowing rivers. Some small towns which still preserve their original features are very tranquil and picturesque, each with a small river flowing through them with little grey houses on their banks.?Southern houses?and yards are very small and lighted colored. Their gardens, though not big, are as beautiful as paradise.

Chinese Water Township Painting

Northern architecture, however, usually consists of large plain houses and yards. Their differences are only reflected in their size and the ornamentation of their gates.

Chinese Building Painting

Frankly speaking, southern houses look like villas, while northern houses are only apartments. When designing doors, windows and yards, northerners stress more exposure to the sunlight, while southerners emphasize proper ventilation. Northerners prefer their houses look solid and plain, a refection of their character. For example, when choosing building materials, they prefer bricks and stones. Southerners are partial to wooden structures because they provide more fresh air. In terms of room decorations, northerners usually employ blankets, colorful cloth and furs, because these materials make the room appear warm. However, if you do the same in the south, you will feel too hot, and furs tend to breed worms in the south. Southerners favor cooler materials like bamboo. The various architecture styles in China form a beautiful landscape and are a precious cultural legacy.

Chinese Water Township Painting

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Articles from: On the differences of Southern and Northern architectures

Source: http://arts-entertainment.ezinemark.com/see-the-differences-of-southern-and-northern-architectures-from-the-chinese-paintings-7d3826071264.html

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5 Reasons to get excited about real estate investing again ? Real ...

Remember when real estate investing was the in thing? Back then, there were two kinds of people. Those who invested in real estate and those who wish they were investing in real estate. Back in the day, there were as many articles about real estate investing as there were about Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Lindsey Lohan combined. Real estate was the water cooler conversation, especially since Seinfeld has been long off the air. If you could not buy real estate, you could still dream, and make no mistake about it, it was the American dream. Many people still think it is. And mortgages, if you could fog up a mirror while breathing, you qualified. Yes, not too long ago, real estate was the hot topic, the in thing, an ideal retirement vehicle, and the way to become wealthy. In the past 4 years or so, it has fallen out of favor for most of us. Fortunes have been lost, time has been seemingly wasted, and we all learned a lesson we will never forget. Many people have washed their hands of ever investing in real estate again. They have been burned once, and never want to be burned like that again. Some people don?t believe it will ever come back, and if it does, it won?t reach the high point where it once was. Yes, real estate investing has certainly made an impact on many people. For those who still have some hope and faith left for real estate, there are very good reasons to want to invest again. Here are 5 reasons to get excited about investing in real estate again: 1. We are at the bottom of the real estate market. Each location is unique; one area may be on an upswing, while another location may be suffering. Overall, most would agree that our country has gone through a rough time economically, and the declining real estate market and mortgage crisis was the main reason behind this depressive time. There are very good indicators that we are at the bo ttom. Foreclosures have been slowing up, sales have been rising up, and some locations claim to not have enough inventory. After we are out from the bottom, we will know we were at the bottom.2. There is less competition. Sales are brisk in some areas, but it is still considered a buyer?s market. Many people would like to buy and take advantage of the good deals, but do not have the money, or cannot get a mortgage. As these buyers come out of the woodwork, prices will start to move up.3. Sellers are truly motivated. Many sellers do not want to sell in this depressed market, but they have limited choices. Many sellers are selling at prices below what they paid for the property. This market is ripe with motivated sellers.4. The term short sale is now part of Americana, just like Watergate, Monica Lewinsky, and tsunami. Foreclosures have been rampant, and some banks are now being reasonable and making smart decisions for this particular market. The short sale purchasers of toda y will spend their wonderful retirement bragging about the great real estate deal they made. 5. Our country is deeply in debt, and each day, sinks even further into a hole we can only hope to one day crawl out of. Most of us will not live to see the day our country is out of debt. One day, the eggroll may replace the hot dog, and the fortune cookie may replace the apple pie. This certainly is not something we look forward to. We cannot control what government does; only try to vote for the right politicians. Because of all of this debt our country owes, it is only inevitable that taxes will be increased. That is one very important reason to have real estate investing as part of your financial plan. Besides all of the wonderful benefits that real estate has to offer, being able to write off part of your income taxes is something that you will come to appreciate more each day. There will come a time when more people will realize that they need real estate to stem the rising co st of taxes, and that will cause properties to appreciate even more. So, what are you waiting for, 5 more reasons? Remember to always be an informed real estate investor.

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Source: http://rawbusinesslaw.com/2012/11/24/5-reasons-to-get-excited-about-real-estate-investing-again-real-estate-property-investment/

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scone dolt: The Importance of Editing Film and TV Production ...

To the uninitiated, editing may look like a monotonous task that is both mentally as well as physically taxing.

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In fact, the film editor has the job identical to a cook.

The importance of editing dates back ages, chronicled in the book "The Technique Of Film And Video Editing" by Ken Dancyger. It upholds some of the finest examples of editing imparting the narrative of the film through silent shots, music and jump shots involving ordinary objects. Alfred Hitchcock's filmmaking (in films like 'Vertigo' and 'The Man Who Knew Too Much') is considered to have some of the finest editing work by the erstwhile standards, and can easily exemplify why editing is considered so integral to the success of a film or TV production.

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In the earlier ages, editing was physically done, with the help of mechanical equipment that sliced, spliced and appropriately put together 'linearly' edited reels. The digital revolution and technological advances like the Firewire have magically simplified the post-production process. With software applications like Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro and Windows Movie Maker, editing is not restricted to professionally trained editors and apprentices. The ease of use and interactive applications has made it possible for film students, amateurs and one-time users to edit their own film or video productions.

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The advent of computers has also allowed editors to enhance the creativity of their work. Unlike the mechanical equipment which was used on the original reel and did not warrant a liberal creative license or room for error to the editor, digital editing offers a huge scope for improvisation. The latter has opened up avenues for experimentation, much better treatment and quick editing procedures. Off late, films have been centered on editing and the whole post-production process, rather than the filming of the same. Recent examples can include 'The Lord of the Rings Trilogy' and 'Avatar', the latter incidentally being the highest revenue-grossing films of all time!

With technology advancing in the speed of light-years, editing in film and TV production has gained a pivotal role. And every filmmaking unit, irrespective of size, style, location or budget, has already acknowledged the same!

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Article Source : http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-importance-of-editing-film-and-tv-production-1907539.html

Source: http://www.freeprnow.com/pr/the-importance-of-editing-film-and-tv-production-bobby-bose-editing-article

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Source: http://scone-dolt.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-importance-of-editing-film-and-tv.html

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Orpheum's holiday concert benefits Sunrise Retirement Community ...

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -

Is there a better way to kick off the holiday season than with a holiday concert?

Siouxlanders headed over to the Orpheum Theater Saturday night, to catch Jill Miller perform a variety concert. Ticket sales will benefit the Sunrise Retirement Community.???????????

Past concerts have raised more than $125,000 for those who can't afford to stay in a nursing home.

"We do gratuitous care. And in many instances, last year, almost a million dollars of unreimbursed Medicare, Medicaid, people that don't have financial arranged for their care," said Beverly Zenor, executive director of Sunrise Retirement.

KTIV's Kristie VerMulm emceed the event. The turnout for the concert was so big Saturday night, that the ushers ran out of programs.

Source: http://www.ktiv.com/story/20177254/2012/11/24/orpheum-hosts-annual-holiday-concert-to-benefit-sunrise-retirement-community

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Where did 180 Russian websites go?

Scores of websites have been blocked under Russia's restrictive new Internet law that's been in effect for the past two weeks. Is this the beginning of a wider crackdown on free speech?

By Fred Weir,?Correspondent / November 15, 2012

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a meeting with small and medium business leaders at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow Nov. 15. More than 180 websites have been blacklisted and blocked under a restrictive new Internet law signed by Putin last July, is this the beginning of a wider crackdown on Russian free speech?

Mikhail Klimentyev/Ria Novosti/Reuters

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More than 180 websites have been blacklisted and blocked under a restrictive new Internet law?signed by President Vladimir Putin last July, which critics warn may be the start of a wider crackdown on free speech in Russian cyberspace.

Skip to next paragraph Fred Weir

Correspondent

Fred Weir has been the Monitor's Moscow correspondent, covering Russia and the former Soviet Union, since 1998.?

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The blacklist compiled by the Federal Surveillance Service for Mass Media and Communications (Roskomnadzor) is secret, but authorities insist its purpose is to eliminate extreme forms of "offensive" content, such as child pornography, or advocacy of racism, terrorism, drug use and other anti-social behaviors.

The list is constantly changing and expanding (Russian bloggers have posted an alleged copy of it here) and citizens can suggest new entries by logging into an official Roskomnadzor website.

But in its first two weeks of application, the law has produced a few high-profile casualties that critics say point to the fundamental weaknesses of a system that allows authorities to summarily shut down content without any need for a court order or reference to any supervisory body.?

The definitions of "offensive content" are also murky, critics say, and could easily include political conversation that looks "extremist" to a policeman's eyes and other forms of commentary that might be simply misunderstood.

That criticism seems to have already been borne out. This week alone Roskomnadzor has closed down, among others,?a Wikipedia-like encyclopedia of satire, which contained an article about how to make hemp (often associated with marijuana) soup; an online library, which included a copy of "The Anarchist's Cookbook," a 1970's American-authored manual for radicals; and a popular torrent-tracking website, on which users had apparently exchanged a file called "The Encyclopedia of Suicide."

The agency allowed those websites to reopen after the "offensive content" was pruned. But experts say those examples were hugely popular websites whose closure attracted immediate public attention and a storm of complaints; restoring service may not prove so easy for smaller victims of the law.

"The first several days of operation of this law have confirmed our worst fears," says Oleg Kozyrev, a media analyst and popular blogger. ???

"Roskomnadzor can shut down a site within 24 hours, without appealing to a court. But in order to restore a resource, one has to complain and go to court. Even so, the rules for getting back online are not at all clear ... ?As a result, big resources like YouTube, or internet encyclopedias, or social networks are all under threat. They have millions of users, and some of them are inevitably going to post something deemed offensive. That could lead to the closure of the whole portal," which will be disruptive even if it's temporary, he says.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/Fe62f5TIU70/Where-did-180-Russian-websites-go

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U.S. boxer Hector 'Macho' Camacho dead

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - Former U.S. boxing champ Hector "Macho" Camacho, who was shot in the face this week, died on Saturday after being removed from life support, Rio Piedras Medical Director Ernesto Torres told reporters. He was 50.

Camacho had been declared brain dead on Thursday after being struck in the face in a drive-by shooting earlier in the week.

Two gunmen opened fire on Camacho and a friend, Adrian Mojica Moreno, 49, on Tuesday as they sat in a car outside a liquor store in the San Juan suburb of Bayamon, Camacho's birthplace.

Police are investigating the shooting and no arrests have been made.

Mojica Moreno, the driver of the car, was killed and Camacho was shot in the jaw. The bullet fractured two vertebrae and lodged in his shoulder, damaging the arteries that carried blood to the brain, doctors said.

Police found nine small bags of cocaine in the driver's pockets and one open in the car.

Camacho, a left-handed fighter who grew up in New York's Spanish Harlem neighborhood, had a record of 79-6-3 with 38 knockouts. His three-decade career featured fights with a "who's who" of boxing and a flamboyant style that included entering the ring in an outfit based on the Puerto Rican flag.

Camacho's body was taken to the hospital's pathology section and brought to the Institute of Forensic Sciences as required by law, Torres told reporters.

El Nuevo Dia newspaper reported the family was planning a funeral in New York, where Camacho grew up, and possibly a public wake in Puerto Rico.

(Reporting by Reuters in San Juan, Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Sandra Maler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-boxer-hector-macho-camacho-dead-144257178--box.html

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Finance: Individual Bankruptcy Lawyers Post Category

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A variety of parties that participated within the NEV process opposed Stockton. They assess your financial status and advise accordingly. You have to consult the lawyer before you're making any decision since any decision will certainly impact the financial situation from the individual or perhaps the corporation. It holds true that bankruptcy or perhaps the best credit card debt relief companies can solve your credit card debt problems for the time being. Ventura bankruptcy attorney Many people start selling assets that actually they should kept with them. Although PACER requires a check or credit card to acquire an account, PACER is free if you do not utilize it much.

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Source: https://wiki.waratah.spcc.nsw.edu.au/groups/2012bathursttripmccowenb/weblog/96406/

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Next pope an American? US cardinals a factor

Gregorio Borgia / AP

Pope Benedict XVI is flanked by Archbishop James Harvey, during the weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday. Harvey will become the 11th cardinal from the U.S. to be on the panel that would elect any new pope.

By Claudio Lavanga, NBC News

ROME ? The red, or rather scarlet, carpet will be rolled in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday for the elevation of six cardinals. The new so-called "princes of the church" will receive their ring, scarlet skullcap and the traditional biretta, a four-cornered hat, in a solemn ceremony presided by Pope Benedict XVI.

The ceremony won't only be a rare insight into one of the oldest and most colorful traditions in the Catholic Church, which with 1.1 billion adherents worldwide, represents more than half of the world's Christian population. It will also redefine the balance of power in the Catholic Church, and further increase the United States' influence in the election of the next pope.

---

Among the six cardinal-elects is James Harvey, an archbishop from Milwaukee who will become the 11th cardinal elector from the U.S., strengthening the country's position as the Vatican's second-largest voting bloc after Italy. ?Cardinal electors are the members?of the College of Cardinals who have not reached their 80th birthdays on the day the pope dies and are thus able to vote for the new prelate.

But as American author and John Paul II biographer George Weigel explains, the fact that American cardinals will represent almost 10 percent of worldwide electors in the next Conclave (the election of the pope), does not necessarily mean one of them will become the next Holy Father.?

"The prominence of American cardinals in the current college reflects the vitality of the Catholic Church in the United States," Weigel told NBC News. ?But I don't think it likely that any American will be elected pope for as long as the United States remains the world's pre-eminent power."?

What the selection of an American to be one of the new cardinal electors might show however, is that Pope Benedict XVI is acutely aware that the Catholic Church is swiftly ceasing to be?predominately?European religion.?After all, with 134 million followers, Brazil alone has more Catholics than Italy, France and Spain combined,?according to a major study released in 2011. Even the United States, with 75 million or ?24 percent of the world's Catholics, is far ahead of any European country.

Harvey, 63, is a well-known and respected figure in the Vatican. He was named prefect of the papal household in 1998, and has since arranged daily meetings and engagements for Pope John Paul II first, and Benedict XVI later. Having lived for the past 30 years in the Vatican, he may be more familiar with the dome of St. Peter?s Basilica than the "Domes" at the Mitchell Park Conservatory, but he never severed his ties with his native city.

Once he receives his ring, skullcap and hat on Saturday, Harvey will become the third American to be elevated to cardinal this year, after Edwin Frederick O?Brien and Timothy Michael Dolan received the honor back in February.

External link: Cardinals by country

While chances of an American to be elected Pope are still slim, American cardinals are undeniably a force in the Vatican.?

Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, has quickly become the superstar among American cardinals.?His charismatic personality and quick wit??made him an instant hit with the media, who have been waiting for a camera-friendly cleric since the death of Pope John II, arguably the greatest Catholic communicator in the age of mass media.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, speaks with people waiting for free Thanksgiving groceries at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Community Center in Harlem on Tuesday.

"Cardinal Dolan is definitely a candidate and enjoys a lot of name recognition ? which helps in a global church," Alessandro Speciale, Vatican correspondent at the Religious News Service, told NBC News.

"But two factors might weaken his chances: coming from the world's only superpower could still be seen as a negative factor in a global church, and he has never held a leadership position in the Roman Curia," he said,?referring?to the Holy See's?administrative?body. ?

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is being touted as having a chance to become the first American pope, talks with MSNBC's Chris Jansing about the controversial immigration laws in Arizona and Alabama that allow law enforcement to check on the status of suspected illegal immigrants.

In any case, the choice of non-Europeans to high office in the Vatican is?a way for the Holy See to shift the balance of power towards other continents and prove the ?universality of the church.??

"There was considerable criticism of the last group of cardinals being too European, too Italianate, and too Curial. I think it's fair to read this group as a response to that criticism," Weigel said.

Speciale agrees: "The previous Consistory in February had been criticized for being overly skewed towards Italy (and more in general Europe) and, again, the Curia. With this quite unusual second batch of red hats in a year, Benedict wanted to show his attention to the rest of the world."

Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Look back at his life from childhood through his papacy.

Whatever the reason for the choice of non-European Cardinals, the selection plays in favor of the American grouping, which will have one more elector in their ranks.

"The power of Americans in the Vatican has grown significantly in the last few years: not just because of the star power of Cardinal Dolan but also thanks to the organization, economic resources and boldness in the defense of Catholic values in front of a perceived hostile society is admired by many in the Vatican," Speciale said.

"But it remains to be seen whether this numerical weight will actually translate into influence at the Conclave: though national links are powerful, many other factors ? the strongest being whether one is part on not of the Roman Curia ? play into the secret voting in the Sistine Chapel."

When the time comes, all Cardinals-electors from all over the world will "lock" themselves in the Sistine Chapel in order to vote for a new Pope. While it is unclear who will emerge from it as the new leader of the world's Catholics, one thing is certain: that American influence in that choice went up a notch.

More world stories from NBC News:

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/23/15361087-the-path-to-an-american-pope-cardinals-elevation-gives-us-clout-at-vatican?lite

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