Dollar edges off seven-week low, China production data in focus

By Dominic Lau

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar steadied above seven-week lows on Friday but remained vulnerable to more losses if Chinese industrial production data adds to a growing view Beijing was taming its economic slowdown, while Japanese shares are set for a heavy weekly fall.

Copper retreated from a near two-month high after unexpected strength in trade data from top buyer China on Thursday raised hopes of a pick-up in demand.

The dollar <.dxy> inched up 0.1 percent against a basket of major currencies, having fallen for five days in a row -- its longest such streak since mid-June -- on uncertainty about when the U.S. Federal Reserve would start winding back its stimulus.

If Chinese industrial production data on Friday further suggest stabilization in the world's second-largest economy after a slowdown that has run for more than two years, risk-seeking investors would be more confident about switching out of the dollar.

China's annual consumer prices in July rose 2.7 percent, unchanged from the previous month and broadly in line with market expectations.

"The investment climate isn't bad, as U.S. and Chinese data show improvement," said IM Investment & Securities analyst Kang Hyun-gie. "A batch of new Chinese data coming out later will certainly function as a catalyst for the market today."

The Australian dollar, which is seen as a proxy for Chinese growth as China imports a lot of its raw materials and products, was up 0.2 percent at $0.9120 on the day. It pulled further away from a three-year trough touched earlier this week ahead of its central bank's rate cut to a record low of 2.5 percent.

The Reserve Bank of Australia on Friday trimmed its near-term economic outlook, projecting a sub par performance out to the middle of next year as a long boom in mining investment cools faster than first thought.

NIKKEI'S WEEKLY LOSS

With the dollar steady at 96.65 yen, Tokyo's Nikkei share average <.n225> pared early gains, up 0.5 percent. Still the Nikkei hit a six-week low on Thursday and is down more than 5 percent this week as the yen has strengthened.

"Although the dollar rebounded against the yen yesterday, it doesn't feel like it has bottomed out. The chart looks still very weak and I suspect there's a chance the dollar will test 95 yen in the near future," a trader at a Japanese bank said.

The euro hovered near a seven-week high versus the dollar at $1.33830.

Asian shares as measured by MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan <.miapj0000pus> were steady after gaining nearly 1 percent on Thursday.

Japanese shares' 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio has fallen to 13.8 from a two-month high of 14.8 hit last week, according to Thomson Reuters Datastream.

Valuations for the MSCI Asian gauge have also eased to 11.4 from a two-month high of 11.5 reached last week.

In the commodities markets, copper prices fell 0.3 percent to around $7,165 a ton after climbing 2.6 percent to a near two-month high after the Chinese trade data.

Gold added 0.2 percent, extending Thursday's 1.9 percent rise. Brent crude prices advanced 0.4 percent to near $107 a barrel and was on track to end a five-day run of losses - its longest such streak since mid-April.

(Additional reporting by Jungmin Jang in SEOUL and Hideyuki Sano in TOKYO; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dollar-edges-off-seven-week-low-china-data-014713667.html

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Penn State gets report on federal Sandusky probe

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) ? Penn State has received a preliminary report from the federal government regarding whether its handling of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal complied with campus crime reporting requirements, the university said Monday.

The school said that neither it nor the U.S. Department of Education was permitted under the law to release information about the report at this time, but that details will be made public after the federal agency finishes its review and makes a final determination.

Pennsylvania prosecutors have alleged that high-ranking university officials failed to properly report suspected abuse of children by Sandusky, a retired assistant football coach who was convicted a year ago of 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

Penn State said school officials have given federal reviewers access to the records and information they have requested to see whether the school complied with a 1990 U.S. law called the Clery Act. The law, named for Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old Lehigh University freshman who was raped and killed in a campus residence hall in 1986, requires universities to publish annual reports and maintain a daily crime log.

Violations of the law can result in a school losing its authority to offer federal student aid, and although that has never happened, the nature of the allegations against Penn State was unprecedented and had many of the school's strongest allies concerned. The Education Department has leveled fines, however, of up to $27,500 per violation.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in student aid could be at stake. In the year that ended June 20, 2012, Penn State benefited from $577 million in direct federal loans, $85 million in Pell and Teach grants and $16 million in work-study and Perkins loans.

"The department can impose fairly substantial fines but they have never elected to take student financial aid away from current students because the institution failed to act in the past. I think that's very unlikely," said Terry Hartle, a top official with colleges' lobbying operation at the American Council on Education.

And don't expect clarity by the time students return to campus this fall, he added. The Education Department took more than four years to complete its report after the Virginia Tech shooting and this one will similarly be decided slowly and behind the scenes.

"By definition, this process is expected to be confidential. It's in everybody's interest that this is the case," Hartle said. "Neither institution wants this process to be taking place in public."

The university said it has hired a full-time employee to help it comply with the Clery Act.

The contents of the Education Department's report were closely held. The law that governs the review process prescribes secrecy ahead of the report's final draft. Given the report's preliminary nature ? and the university's potential to reshape it ? no one was rushing to share the initial findings.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were expected to heavily pressure the department once the findings become public. Given the school's high profile in Pennsylvania and the potential impact of the Education Department's report, lawmakers were expected to consult with officials on what penalties could be prescribed for the university.

Sandusky is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence and maintains his innocence.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for this month for the three former Penn State administrators accused of a criminal conspiracy, allegedly covering up complaints about Sandusky mistreating boys. Former president Graham Spanier, retired athletic director Tim Curley and retired vice president Gary Schultz all deny the allegations.

___

Elliott reported from Washington.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/penn-state-gets-report-federal-sandusky-probe-152326471.html

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Can I start fresh my iPhone with the same Apple ID but not restoring?

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for(i = 0; i Ads by Google";
var content = "";

if (ad.type == "flash") {
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content += ''; } else if (ad.type == "html") { content += ad.snippet; } else { content += '' + ad.line1 + '
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' + '' + ad.visible_url + ''; } content = ad_template.replace("{title}",title).replace("{content}",content); var pos = i*3 + (i+2); $('#posts .postcontainer:eq(' + pos + ')').after(content); } if (google_ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") google_adnum = google_adnum + google_ads.length; } google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8460099860738313"; google_ad_channel = '5621965214'; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '10'; google_ad_type = 'text'; google_image_size = '728x90'; google_feedback = 'on'; google_skip = google_adnum; //]]>

Source: http://forums.imore.com/iphone-5/259080-can-i-start-fresh-my-iphone-same-apple-id-but-not-restoring.html

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Access Hollywood section

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.today.com/id/7358550/ns/today-entertainment/

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TNA BaseBrawl Results (7/13): Washington, PA

TNA BaseBrawl
7/13 Washington, PA

-According to reports, there were about 1,200 tickets sold in total.?

(1) Chris Sabin def. Austin Aries

(2) Gail Kim def. ODB

(3) Joseph Park def. DOC

(4) TNA Tag Team Championship Match
Gunner & James Storm (c) def. Wes Briscoe & Garrett Bischoff

-During the intermission, the Hebners did their normal "You Screwed Bret" gimmick, and were signing autographs near the merch table.

(5) Jeff Hardy def. Devon

(6) Kurt Angle def. AJ Styles

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Wrestlezonecom/~3/yrMTFFuLRLQ/275163-tna-basebrawl-results-713-washington-pa

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Unclear return

AP

There can be no doubt that Trayvon Martin?s death was tragic and unnecessary. ?George Zimmerman should not have presumed Trayvon Martin was up to no good. ?George Zimmerman should not have followed Trayvon Martin. ?And George Zimmerman should not have engaged Trayvon Martin in the exchange that, as a jury of six women found on Saturday night, reasonable doubt existed as to whether Trayvon Martin was killed by a man who was acting in self defense.

But our legal system requires prosecutors to prove all elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. ?In this specific case, prosecutors had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that George Zimmerman was not acting in self defense.

The sharp conflict in testimony from multiple witnesses regarding whether the 911 call made by a neighbor in the moments before the fatal gunshot contained audible cries for help from Trayvon Martin or from George Zimmerman created more than enough reasonable doubt that Zimmerman was the one wailing and moaning for assistance ? which made it impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman was not acting in self defense.

For non-lawyers and those who were not watching the trial carefully and thus not realizing what prosecutors could and couldn?t prove, it?s a confusing and frustrating result. ?In the sports world, the confusion and frustration has emerged via various comments made on social media.

Deadspin has compiled plenty of tweets, from the NFL and elsewhere. ?Some are highlighted below.

Falcons receiver Roddy White, who rarely bites his tongue, sounded off loudly on Twitter. ??F?king Zimmerman got away with murder today wow what kind of world do we live in,? White said. ??All them jurors should go home tonight and kill themselves for letting a grown man get away with killing a kid.?

Marcus Vick, the brother of Eagles quarterback Mike Vick, continued a theme he began during the prosecution?s closing argument. ??Like I said before, a dogs life mean more then a human of color,? Marcus Vick said. ??My people?s did 2 years over some bullshit when this dude took a human life. ?Y?all MF?s sick. . . . ?Zimmerman u peace of DOG shit if I ever seen u I would run up n let u beat my ass then I?ll pop u right between the eyes u cricket Bitch.?

Even Giants receiver Victor Cruz, who isn?t known for saying or doing outlandish things, offered up a chilling prediction for George Zimmerman?s future, via Deadspin: ??Zimmerman doesn?t last a year before the hood catches up with him.?

Bengals linebacker James Harrison made a very strong point that gets to the core of the case. ??Think I?ll go pick a fight and get my ass kicked then pull my gun and kill somebody and see if I can get away,? Harrison tweeted.

Ravens receiver Torrey Smith, who lost a brother last year under far different but no less tragic circumstances, realizes that eye-for-an-eye revenge shouldn?t happen. ??Also as mad as a lot of people are over the verdict?trying to take out Zimmerman isn?t the answer neither,? Smith said.

The answer should have been for prosecutors to select charges that prosecutors were extremely confident they could prove beyond a reasonable doubt. ?By swinging the bat for a second-degree murder conviction, the Plan B effort to convict Zimmerman of voluntary manslaughter and put him away for 10-to-30 years became muddled. ?If the prosecutors had chosen manslaughter and only manslaughter charges, perhaps the case would have been easier to piece together and present. ?(Even then, it would have been hard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman was not acting in self defense at the moment the shot was fired.)

Perhaps, then, prosecutors should have done what prosecutors in St. Augustine recently did in response to a claim that Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew punched a bouncer at a club. ?There, prosecutors honestly concluded that there wasn?t enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, so charges weren?t pursued.

A different form of justice would have still been available for Trayvon Martin, and justice can still be had for him. ?Trayvon Martin?s family can and should sue Zimmerman for negligently and/or recklessly provoking the exchange that became the fight in which Zimmerman apparently defended himself with deadly force. ?Like O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted of double murder despite overwhelming evidence of guilt, Zimmerman will have to testify in a civil case, both at deposition and at trial. ?Seeing him forced to answer tough questions from a zealous lawyer under oath could help Trayvon Martin?s family obtain the peace they hoped Saturday?s verdict would bring. ?And Zimmerman could end up being responsible for a crippling verdict, with any significant money he ever earns for the rest of his life going to Trayvon Martin?s family.

The money will mean nothing to Trayvon Martin?s family. ?Knowing that they can continue to chase Zimmerman for more and more money to satisfy the verdict over the coming decades could mean a lot.

It may not be the desired form of ?justice, but justice can indeed be had, under a far lower legal standard than the one required to take away an American citizen?s liberty. ?And while the evidence presented over the past few weeks at trial showed plenty of reasonable doubt regarding criminal charges of murder and manslaughter, the evidence also indicates that the Martin family could easily win a lawsuit against Zimmerman for at least negligently provoking the fight that resulted in Trayvon Martin?s death.

Here?s hoping they pursue it quickly, since George Zimmerman definitely should be accountable at least financially for choosing to pursue Trayon Martin and to provoke the fight that claimed his life.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/14/report-redskins-havent-set-date-to-determine-rgiiis-status-for-camp/related/

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On Hillary, a $200,000 speech and the power of saying nothing at all (Washington Post)

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

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China Bans Fishing in Waters off DPRK's East Coast

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Source: www.thefishsite.com --- Friday, July 12, 2013
China - Chinese fishermen have been told to stop fishing in the waters off the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s east coast because of a bilateral dispute over fuel supplies. ...

Source: http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/20722/china-bans-fishing-in-waters-off-dprks-east-coast

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A new report issued by the United Nations shows Mexico has surpassed the United States as a country as having the largest obesity problem in the w...

by Leigh Goessl

Created on: July 12, 2013

A new report issued by the United Nations shows Mexico has surpassed the United States as a country as having the largest obesity problem in the world. While not the highest, Mexico is ranked at the top of the list for heavily populated nations.

According to ABC News, the news came from a new United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization?report that outlined obesity statistics across the globe.

The difference, speaking in numbers, is not by much, but in Mexico, 32.8 percent of adults are now considered to be obese. In the U.S., the rate is listed as 31.8 percent. These figures do not include those people who are merely overweight. Statistics indicated 70 percent of Mexicans were overweight.

The change in lifestyles in Mexico is being attributed to the growth in weight gain statistics. Additionally, less people are working in the farming industry, which is also said to contribute.

"As more Mexicans move from rural to urban communities they become more sedentary and they eat a steady diet of unhealthy, highly caloric foods,? said Martin Binks, an obesity researcher who is a spokesman for the Obesity Society, said the ABC report.

Officials are concerned with this alarming trend. Ironically, malnutrition is one of the largest problems contributing to obesity. Economics also is said to play a role as many people have less access to fish, low grain fats, fruits and veggies. Fast foods and other junk foods, such as chips and other bagged fare, are cheaper to buy and vegetables are very expensive.

"The same people who are malnourished are the ones who are becoming obese," said physician Abelardo Avila with Mexico's National Nutrition Institute, reported Global Post (courtesy of CBS News). "In the poor classes we have obese parents and malnourished children. The worst thing is the children are becoming programmed for obesity. It's a very serious epidemic."

While there is some discrepancy in the actual statistics when compared with data from the World? Health Organization, which uses different analysis methods, the one trend shown in both sets of data is that obesity is a growing issue in all Western nations.

And while the United States and Mexico are considered to have some of the highest statistics when it comes to obesity, they are not at the top of the list. At the top is the island of American Somoa. In this nation, 75 percent of people are obese, with many more being considered to be overweight.

Learn more about this author, Leigh Goessl.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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Obesity skyrockets in Mexico, surpasses US

Source: http://www.helium.com/items/2467871-lifestyle-changes-and-economics-attributed-to-higher-levels-of-obesity-in-mexico

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Rival rebel factions fight in Syria's largest city

This Tuesday, July 9, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Aleppo Media Center AMC, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows buildings are seen damaged by Syrian government airstrikes and shelling, in the Salah al-Din neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. Syria is entering its third year of a war that began as an uprising against the rule of President Bashar Assad. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center AMC)

This Tuesday, July 9, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Aleppo Media Center AMC, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows buildings are seen damaged by Syrian government airstrikes and shelling, in the Salah al-Din neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. Syria is entering its third year of a war that began as an uprising against the rule of President Bashar Assad. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center AMC)

This citizen journalism image provided by Lens Young Homsi, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows the 13th-century mosque of Khalid Ibn al-Walid, which was damaged by Syrian government airstrikes and shelling, in Homs province, Syria, Thursday, July 11, 2013. Heavy fighting has been taking place around the mosque and government troops have heavily shelled the area in the past days in the central city of Homs. (AP Photo/Lens Young Homsi)

BEIRUT (AP) ? Western-backed opposition fighters and a faction of al-Qaida-linked rebels turned their guns on each other Saturday in Syria's largest city, battling for control of a key checkpoint in the latest eruption of infighting among the forces trying to topple President Bashar Assad's regime, activists said.

The clashes between rebels affiliated with the Free Syrian Army and fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant throws a spotlight on the growing phenomenon rebel-on-rebel violence that has sapped strength from the broader anti-Assad movement. It also underscores the rebels' enduring inability more than two years into the conflict to unite around a unified command, as well as the deepening rift between more secular opposition fighters and Islamic extremists in the rebel ranks.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Saturday's clashes were focused on the strategic checkpoint in Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr district that serves as the sole gateway between rebel-held eastern districts and the government-controlled areas in the west. Earlier this week, al-Qaida-linked militants seized the checkpoint and closed it for several days, cutting the flow of food supplies to the rebel-held quarters of the city. That spurred protests by residents suffering from food shortages at the start of the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan.

The Observatory said the fighting rattled the neighborhood throughout the morning, but subsided by the afternoon as the al-Qaida-linked rebels pulled out of the area. It was not clear which group was in control of the checkpoint, where residents were staging a protest to vent their anger at soaring food prices. The area also witnessed clashes between rebels and government troops.

One of the most troubling outbursts of infighting among opposition fighters took place Friday, when the FSA said one of its commanders, Kamal Hamami, was shot dead by al-Qaida militants in the Jabal al-Turkoman mountain area in the coastal province of Latakia. Hamami, known as Abu Basir, served in the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army, a group headed by a secular-minded moderate that has the support of Western powers.

Activists monitoring Syria's more than 2-year-old conflict have previously reported sporadic infighting among rebel groups over control of the territory they've captured in the north along the border with Turkey. Those clashes were mostly between Kurdish and Arab rebels, and have subsided since a ceasefire agreement was reached earlier this year.

The fighting between moderate and jihadi groups that have for months battled Assad's regime together have become more frequent in recent weeks. The clashes have largely focused on border crossings with Turkey and vital installations, like bakeries, water wells, petrol stations and checkpoints in the north, according to the Observatory.

Another activist said the fighting is aimed at establishing control over the flow of food and aid to the residents. Each group is also trying to set up governing structures over the territory in the north the opposition has controlled for a year and take a cut of money from goods being smuggled into Syria over the border with Turkey.

The activists did not want to be quoted by name for fear of reprisal from both groups.

Militant Islamic groups, including those with links to al-Qaida, have been the most effective fighting force on the opposition side in the past year, spearheading many of the attacks that captured military bases, towns and villages and whole neighborhoods in Aleppo. In late February, Islamic battalions led the assault and conquered the eastern city of Raqqa, making it the first Syrian city to entirely fall under rebel control. Moderate factions are now fighting jihadi groups for a say in running of Raqqa.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-07-13-ML-Syria/id-138726a9251b4c8590f3e70559b4972c

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Video Gaming Addiction - Connections in Recovery

At an addiction treatment center in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, teenagers and young adults begin detox by admitting they are powerless over their addiction. But these addicts aren?t hooked on drugs or alcohol. They are going cold turkey to break their dependence on video games.
Keith Bakker, director of Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants, tells WebMD he created the new program in response to a growing problem among young men and boys. ?The more we looked at it, the more we saw [gaming] was taking over the lives of kids.?
Detox for video game addiction may sound like a stretch, but addiction experts say the concept makes sense. ?I was surprised we didn?t think of it here in America,? says Kimberly Young, PsyD, clinical director of the Center for On-Line Addiction and author of Caught in the Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet Addiction ? and a Winning Strategy for Recovery. ?I?ve had so many parents call me over the last year or two, particularly about the role-playing games online. I see it getting worse as the opportunity to game grows ? for example, cell phone gaming.?
But can a game truly become an addiction? Absolutely, Young tells WebMD. ?It?s a clinical impulse control disorder,? an addiction in the same sense as compulsive gambling.

Defining Addiction
While most people associate addiction with substances, such as drugs or alcohol, doctors recognize addictive behaviors as well. In a WebMD feature on the definition of addiction, psychiatrist Michael Brody, MD, set forth the following criteria:
The person needs more and more of a substance or behavior to keep him going.
If the person does not get more of the substance or behavior, he becomes irritable and miserable.
Young says compulsive gaming meets these criteria, and she has seen severe withdrawal symptoms in game addicts. ?They become angry, violent, or depressed. If [parents] take away the computer, their child sits in the corner and cries, refuses to eat, sleep, or do anything.?
The Psychological Factor
Unlike with substance abuse, the biological aspect of video game addiction is uncertain. ?Research suggests gambling elevates dopamine,? Young says, and gaming is in the same category. But there?s more to addiction than brain chemistry. ?Even with alcohol, it?s not just physical. There?s a psychological component to the addiction, knowing ?I can escape or feel good about my life.??
Bakker agrees. ?The person is trying to change the way they feel by taking something outside of themselves. The [cocaine] addict learns, ?I don?t like the way I feel, I take a line of cocaine.? For gamers, it?s the fantasy world that makes them feel better.?
The lure of a fantasy world is especially pertinent to online role-playing games. These are games in which a player assumes the role of a fictional character and interacts with other players in a virtual world. As Young puts it, an intelligent child who is unpopular at school can ?become dominant in the game.? The virtual life becomes more appealing than real life.
Where?s the Harm?
Too much gaming may seem relatively harmless compared with the dangers of a drug overdose, but Bakker says video game addiction can ruin lives. Children who play four to five hours per day have no time for socializing, doing homework, or playing sports, he says. ?That takes away from normal social development. You can get a 21-year-old with the emotional intelligence of a 12-year-old. He?s never learned to talk to girls. He?s never learned to play a sport.?
In older addicts, compulsive gaming can jeopardize jobs or relationships. Howard, a 33-year-old project manager who asked to be identified only by his first name, started playing an online role-playing game about six months ago. He plays for three to four hours almost every day ? more on weekends ? occasionally putting off meals or sleep. His fiancée says he?s addicted.
Addiction Warning Signs
Spending a lot of time gaming doesn?t necessarily qualify as an addiction. ?Eighty percent of the world can play games safely,? Bakker says. ?The question is: Can you always control your gaming activity??
According to the Center for On-Line Addiction, warning signs for video game addiction include:
Playing for increasing amounts of time
Thinking about gaming during other activities
Gaming to escape from real-life problems, anxiety, or depression
Lying to friends and family to conceal gaming
Feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming
In addition, video game addicts tend to become isolated, dropping out of their social networks and giving up other hobbies. ?It?s about somebody who has completely withdrawn from other activities,? Young says. ?One mother called me when her son dropped out of baseball. He used to love baseball, so that?s when she knew there was a problem.?
Howard, the project manager, says he still goes out with friends and family, so he doubts he is addicted. ?I am not limiting myself to gaming as my only pastime or hobby,? he tells WebMD. ?If I needed to stop playing, I?m convinced that I could.?
Parents, Take Note
Young and Bakker say the overwhelming majority of video game addicts are males under 30. ?It?s usually children with poor self-esteem and social problems,? Young tells WebMD. ?They?re intelligent and imaginative but don?t have many friends at school.? She says a family history of addiction may also be a factor.
If you?re concerned your child may be addicted to video games don?t dismiss it as a phase, Young says. Keep good documents of the child?s gaming behavior, including:
Logs of when the child plays and for how long
Problems resulting from gaming
How the child reacts to time limits
?You need to document the severity of the problem,? Young says. ?Don?t delay seeking professional help; if there is a problem, it will probably only get worse.?
Video Game Detox
Treatment for video game addiction is similar to detox for other addictions, with one important difference. Computers have become an important part of everyday life, as well as many jobs, so compulsive gamers can?t just look the other way when they see a PC.
?It?s like a food addiction,? Young explains. ?You have to learn to live with food.?
Because video game addicts can?t avoid computers, they have to learn to use them responsibly. Bakker says that means no gaming. As for limiting game time to an hour a day, he compares that to ?an alcoholic saying he?s only going to drink beer.?
Bakker says the toughest part of treating video game addicts is that ?it?s a little bit more difficult to show somebody they?re in trouble. Nobody?s ever been put in jail for being under the influence of [a game].?
The key, he says, is to show gamers they are powerless over their addiction, and then teach them ?real-life excitement as opposed to online excitement.?
By Sherry Rauh
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

About Connections in Recovery
FINDING THE RIGHT FACILITY AND THE RIGHT TREATMENT TEAM CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. WE KNOW IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING. WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES

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Source: http://www.connectionsinrecovery.com/2013/07/video-gaming-addiction/

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Gay or Lesbian? New questions for community college students this fall

by ELISA HAHN / KING 5 News

Bio | Email | Follow: @ElisaHahnK5

KING5.com

Posted on July 11, 2013 at 5:28 PM

Updated today at 5:43 PM

DES MOINES, Wash. -- Are you gay, lesbian, or straight? That is just one new question community colleges will ask enrolling students this fall.

The new registration form will make Washington state the first system of community and technical colleges in the country to track these demographics.

Students filling out their registration form for the fall will see two new questions: What is your sexual orientation? What is your gender identity?

They can choose from six different options for each question or they can choose "prefer not to answer."

Highline Community College's vice president of Student Affairs Toni Castro says students proposed the idea to gather the data.

"They believe if we had a better tracking mechanism, we could respond to the needs of our students and track their success," said Castro.

Every community and technical college in the state agreed to do it. Some of them launched a promotional video campaign to educate students on the reasons why.

The schools say the information is confidential and it'll be used for tracking only. Students can opt out.
?
?

Source: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Gay-Lesbian-Questions-community-college-students-to-be-asked-this-fall-215162681.html

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Texas Senate give initial OK to abortion proposal

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? The Texas Senate late Friday gave initial approval to sweeping abortion restrictions and was poised to take a final vote and send the proposal to the governor.

The votes followed an hourslong debate and weeks of protests that drew thousands to the Capitol and made Texas the focus of the national abortion debate.

Republicans were expected to use their majority to pass the bill, and Republican Gov. Rick Perry has said he will sign it. But Democrats had sought to soften it and enter into the legislative record material that could help in a court battle.

Democrats have called the GOP proposal unnecessary and unconstitutional. Republicans said the measure was about protecting women and unborn children.

The Senate's debate took place between a packed gallery of demonstrators, with anti-abortion activists wearing blue and abortion-rights supporters wearing orange. Security was tight, and state troopers reported confiscating bottles of urine and feces as they worked to prevent another attempt to stop the Republican majority from passing a proposal that has put Texas at the center of the nation's abortion debate.

After hours of debate, senators gave closing remarks. Sen. Wendy Davis, whose filibuster helped derail the same bill weeks ago, was the last to speak for the Democrats. The Senate's leader, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, then allowed two Republicans to speak before voting began.

Earlier, four women who tried to chain themselves to a railing in the gallery were arrested. One woman was successful in chaining herself, prompting a 10-minute recess.

When debate resumed, protesters began loudly singing, "Give choice a chance." Dewhurst told officers to remove them.

Outside the chamber, the crowd grew so loud that troopers were being issued orange earplugs. Protesters were shouting, "Shame! Shame! Shame!" as senators gave their closing statements.

The circus-like atmosphere in the Texas Capitol marked the culmination of weeks of protests, the most dramatic of which came June 25 in the final minutes of the last special legislative session, when a Democratic filibuster and subsequent protest prevented the bill from becoming law.

House Bill 2 would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, allow abortions only in surgical centers, limit where and when women may take abortion-inducing pills and ban abortions after 20 weeks. Only five out of 42 existing abortion clinics meet the requirements to be a surgical center, and clinic owners say they can't afford to upgrade or relocate.

Sen. Glen Hegar of Katy, the bill's Republican author, argued that all abortions, including those induced with medications, should take place in an ambulatory surgical center in case of complications.

Democrats pointed out that childbirth is more dangerous than an abortion and there have been no serious problems with women taking abortion drugs at home. They introduced amendments to add exceptions for cases of rape and incest and to remove some of the more restrictive clauses, but Republicans dismissed all of the proposed changes.

Sen. Royce West, a Dallas Democrat, asked why Hegar was pushing restrictions that federal courts in other states had suspended as possibly unconstitutional.

"There will be a lawsuit. I promise you," West said, raising his right hand as if taking an oath.

The bill mirrors restrictions passed in Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kansas, Wisconsin and Arizona. In North Carolina, lawmakers are considering a measure that would allow state health officials to apply standards for ambulatory surgical centers to abortion clinics.

Passing the law in Texas would be a major victory for anti-abortion activists in the nation's second most-populous state. Hegar acknowledged working with anti-abortion groups to draft the legislation. A lawsuit originating in Texas would also likely win a sympathetic hearing at the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat, said it was clear the bill was part of national conservative agenda attempting to ban abortion and infringe on women's rights one state at a time. He pressed Hegar on why the Texas Medical Association, Texas Hospital Association and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology opposed the bill.

He asked Hegar how he could ignore these experts.

"There are differences in the medical profession," Hegar insisted, rejecting the criticism. "I don't believe this legislation will majorly impede the doctor-patient relationship."

Sen. Bob Deuell, a Greenville Republican and a doctor, defended the bill, saying abortion clinics "had not maintained the proper standard of care."

Dewhurst was determined to keep the vote on track. The Texas Constitution gives him the authority to jail anyone who breaks the chamber's rules of decorum, which stipulate that there can be no demonstrations or attempts to disrupt the Senate's work.

In addition to the jars of suspected urine and feces, officers took paint, glitter, confetti and feminine hygiene products from people seeking to ender the gallery, according to the Department of Public Safety.

The issue has been simmering for months in Texas.

Democrats successfully blocked the bill in the regular legislative session. Then, during the first special session, the Senate didn't take up the bill until the final day. That allowed Fort Worth Sen. Wendy Davis to use a filibuster to delay a vote. When Republicans rushed to try to pass the bill in the session's final 15 minutes, angry protesters began shouting and screaming from the gallery. Dewhurst could only watch with frustration as a half-dozen state troopers tried to remove more than 450 people.

Democrats see in the protests an opportunity that could help them break a 20-year statewide losing streak. They believe Republicans have overreached in trying to appease their base and alienated suburban women, a constituency that helped President Barack Obama win re-election.

"In the long run, all they have done is built a committed group of people across this state who are outraged about the treatment of women and the lengths to which this Legislature will go to take women's health care away," Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards told The Associated Press in an interview Friday.

___

Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Jim Vertuno contributed to this report. Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cltomlinson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/texas-senate-initial-ok-abortion-proposal-044940685.html

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Gone Girl Movie News: Ben Affleck as Nick?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/07/gone-girl-movie-news-ben-affleck-as-nick/

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New Zealand Treasury: Government Debt Could Hit 198.3% of GDP by 2060 if Steps Not Taken

By Rebecca Howard

WELLINGTON, New Zealand--Government debt could increase more than ten-fold by 2060 if steps aren't taken to address emerging fiscal pressures due to an ageing population among other factors, the New Zealand Treasury said Thursday.

In its statement on New Zealand's long-term fiscal position, the Treasury said that net debt as a percentage of gross domestic product could reach 198.3% in 2060 versus 13.9% in 2010 if no effort is made to address the situation.

"There is no crisis...but the reality is that the sooner we make decisions, the better," Gabriel Makhlouf, secretary to the Treasury, told a press briefing. The aim of the document is to generate debate about the choices New Zealanders make regarding the future, he said. "The best thing we can do is make informed decisions," he said.

The Treasury's projections assume that net debt reaches 27.4% in 2020 but Mr. Makhlouf noted that the current government is focused on bringing down net government debt to no higher than 20% of GDP by 2020.

"Certainly if all governments stick to the current strategy, it would be a big help and would make a big difference." He added, however, that long-term cost pressures would still exist and need to be addressed.

In the May 2013 budget the ruling National Party, which has followed a path of austerity since winning office in 2008, said it was on track to cut debt to no more than 20% of GDP by 2020 from a peak of 28.7% in the fiscal year ending June 2015.

New Zealand's fiscal position has suffered as a result of a deep recession triggered by the global financial crisis as well as a string of major earthquakes, the worst of which killed 185 people and destroyed thousands of buildings in the nation's second largest city of Christchurch.

The Treasury's projections Thursday assume the government collects tax revenue of around 29% of GDP over the projection period but spends significantly more on things like healthcare and the New Zealand superannuation or pension fund.

According to the projections the cost of the superannuation fund could rise to 7.9% of GDP in 2060 versus 4.3% of GDP in 2010. Healthcare spending could rise to 10.8% of GDP in 2060 versus 6.8% in 2010.

New Zealand's population over the age of 65 has already doubled since 1980 and Statistics New Zealand estimates it will double again by 2036, reaching 1.18 million to 1.25 million in that year. By 2061 it could number between 1.44 million and 1.66 million.

Regarding different options for governments between now and 2060, the Treasury discusses the possibility and ramifications of increasing taxes, restricting spending growth in areas like healthcare as well as increasing the age that people can receive their pension to 67 from the current 65. Mr. Makhlouf emphasized, however, the Treasury wasn't making recommendations but rather was seeking to generate debate.

Write to Rebecca Howard at rebecca.howard@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 10, 2013 22:17 ET (02:17 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2013 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Source: http://www.euroinvestor.com/news/2013/07/11/new-zealand-treasury-government-debt-could-hit-1983pct-of-gdp-by-2060-if-steps-not-taken/12405129

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T-Mobile's New ?Jump? Plan Lets You Upgrade Your Phone At Will

People who keep up on the latest smartphones (that's you) have a problem: You wait and wait until the best new phone comes out, then you drop your money on that new hotness. But what happens? Six months later the newer hotterness is out, but you've got another year and a half before your next upgrade. T-Mobile is finally, mercifully fixing that. This is cause for rejoicing.

The carrier's new upgrade plan, called Jump, will allow you to upgrade your phone up to twice a year the same price that new customer would pay. This is especially interesting because fairly recently Verizon and AT&T made it so you had to wait a full two years to upgrade your phone, unless you wanted to pay the full, unsubsidized price (which you don't, if you can help it).

Adding Jump to your plan will run you $10 a month. It will allow you to upgrade your phone up to twice a year, and it will include insurance for your device against malfunction, damage, loss, or theft. And yes, you'll have to trade in your old phone each time. If your phone is in good shape, then you're good to go. If it's all kinds of chewed up, you may have to pay a deductible (which is on a sliding scale) in order to get your new phone. According to T-Mobile's reps, as long as the phone boots up, doesn't have visible water damage, and doesn't have a cracked screen, you shouldn't need to worry about it.

We're still learning more about Jump, but $120 for two upgrades a year? That is catnip for geeks. Also, the two upgrades don't have to be spread out. If you wanted to use one upgrade, and then change it out for another upgrade after a few weeks, go nuts.

In other news, T-Mobile is adding another multi-line Simple Choice Plan. "Families can get four Simple Choice Plan lines with unlimited talk, text and Web and up to 500MB of high-speed data for only $100 per month (plus taxes & fees) ? with no credit check and no annual service contract required." Nice price, but 500MB goes mighty fast these days.

T-Mobile also flipped the switch on LTE in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Miami, and a few others. Out of the gate, it's kinda fast. [T-Mobile]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/t-mobiles-new-jump-plan-lets-you-upgrade-your-phone-732110064

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What&#39;s Direct Marketing | The Lawyer

D irect Marketing is a kind of sale way advertisers approach customers or potential prospects directly giving them products. One of the most commonly found direct online lead generation companies are tele-sales, marketing via email, broachers, coupons and leaflets etc? Direct marketing may seem a unique decision for a profitable business in case not handled properly it is going to never deliver the required results.

With advancements in technology and new products arriving the conventional marketing techniques methods like radio, newspapers and television ads may not function as the top promotion source. Some goods are made for people suffering a typical problem plus a company shelling out for radio or television spots can be wasting their money totally nevertheless there is no ensure that such people could be listening or watching radio back then. That?s where direct marketing is beneficial. With direct marketing a corporation fully understand that they will be sending their product information right to the customer. With a capable marketing agency doing work for this company, this business owners can be certain that the method being seen because of the people directly. This business owners can be satisfied with the knowledge that their literature around the products and company profile is being provided for individuals selected after careful scrutiny and that the message is reaching the objective audience. Additionally you really need to realize one important thing that direct marketing whether it?s on email or telephone is most effective when the recipient agrees their private data enable you to call them for offers etc? if they will not agree you will be only irritating a potential customer. Direct marketing have their own negative aspects likewise. There are a variety sometimes people do complete consent forms but find it very on the way of be done with it and then report your email addresses or phone numbers as spammers or list you as you. Then sometimes the marketing guy?s mistake customer purchases to relate them to other purchases and send them further offers which overload the customers can use. An individual can information legally collected by marketing agencies can often be sold to companies who purchase it when it comes to fraud. This information could be a listing of addresses, numbers or email addresses as well as a good purchase record. To get over such problems any organization deciding on direct marketing should firstly find the right marketing agency. A reputable marketing agency will let you lots while using the marketing needs of this company and can do it the right way. LBM is a such agency and you?ll discover all solutions to your online lead generation companies needs. Direct Marketing does not just offer reliable services although with aid from their dedicated staff will grab your idea and deliver the exact results that you need. Clients meet to supply just what the client needs and that is what any company owner wants inside of a marketing agency.

For more information about online b2b lead generation visit our website.

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Source: http://thelawyer.com.ng/whats-direct-marketing/

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Blog Post: 7 nuevos juegos independientes para Windows Phone para descargar

M?s o menos cada mes, revisamos la gran cantidad de juegos que llegan a la Tienda Windows Phone de parte de desarrolladores independientes para poner los reflectores en lo mejor que se ha desarrollado en cocheras, dormitorios y cafeter?as alrededor del mundo.

La entrega de este mes muestra siete t?tulos diferentes que creemos les van a gustar ? el ant?doto perfecto para esta temporada vacacional. Podr?n encontrar a?n m?s opciones en la Colecci?n Next Best Thing de la Tienda. Mientras tanto, nos encantar?a saber cu?l es para ustedes el mejor. ?Disfruten!

Mini Dash

Este vertiginoso juego de plataforma presenta un mundo lleno de trampas donde siempre deben estar listos para ir a la izquierda, derecha, o saltar ? en un mundo al rev?s. Conforme el peque?o h?roe amarillo toma velocidad, sus r?pidos dedos deben moverlo de nivel en nivel en b?squeda de la elusiva salida. Cuenta con m?s de 150 niveles, adem?s de mundos extra con temas retro. (S?lo para Windows Phone 8, $1.99 USD). Comprar aqu?.

Royal Revolt

En este juego ustedes son un joven pr?ncipe que comienza a crecer, listo para utilizar la magia que aprendi? en la escuela para reconquistar los castillos y la campi?a que sus t?as y t?os han destrozado y regalado despu?s de la muerte del padre del protagonista. En este juego tipo ?tower defense? invertido, dirigir?n a sus soldados a una batalla para defender el nombre de su padre y recapturar su trono. (S?lo para Windows Phone 8, gratis). Descargar aqu?.

Zombie HQ

Los zombies han infestado la ciudad y es necesario hacer todo lo posible para detenerlos ? encontrar armas m?s grandes, explosivos m?s fuertes y cualquier otra cosa para poder eliminarlos. Cuando todo parece tranquilo, es posible tomarse un tiempo y dirigirse al cuartel zombie y pasar un rato y equipar el lugar con mesas de billar, ba?eras, TV y m?s. ?Oigan! El apocalipsis zombie no es raz?n para abandonar otras prioridades, como la cueva de un hombre. (S?lo para Windows Phone 8, gratis). Descargar aqu?.

Rufus and the Magic Mushrooms

Hay algunos juegos que son muy complicados, otros son simples. Este es el caso. El adorable Rufus s?lo tiene ojos (bueno, un ojo) para los hongos ? los ama ? y la misi?n es ayudarle a devorar la mayor cantidad posible. Prep?rense para un festival de diversi?n. (Para Windows Phone 7.5 y 8, $2.99 USD). Comprar aqu?.

Sparkle 2

En esta secuela del original y muy popular Sparkle (que tambi?n ya presentamos como juego independiente destacado en el blog), la b?squeda es por cinco llaves encantadas perdidas hace mucho tiempo. Se deben combinar incre?bles orbes para avanzar a trav?s de hermosos terrenos, y utilizar mejoras m?gicas para acercarse a la meta. Con un juego tipo rompecabezas tan espectacular, no se necesitan incre?bles visuales, pero Sparkle 2 las tiene de todos modos. (S?lo para Windows Phone 8, $4.99 USD). Comprar aqu?.

Eyez

S?lo se necesitan dos dimensiones en este incre?ble rompecabezas de plataforma. Como Mint, una ni?a que perdi? la memoria, explorar?n misteriosas y supuestas tierras vac?as, con Blue Eye y Red Eye cerca para ayudar a explorar y estar seguros. Cuenta con m?s de 20 incre?bles niveles. (Para Windows Phone 7.5 u 8, $1.99 USD). Comprar aqu?.

Nun Attack

En un juego de disparos del bien contra el mal que cambia el significado de la expresi?n viejos h?bitos nunca mueren, es f?cil ubicar al malo (o mala) ? su nombre es Fallen Nun, y tiene una gran cantidad de fuego escondido debajo de su negro velo. Lideren a su equipo para vencerla y traer luz de nuevo a un oscuro mundo en este ?pico juego de acci?n t?ctica. (S?lo para Windows Phone 8, $1.99 USD). Comprar aqu?.

Source: http://blogs.windows.com/international/b/latam/archive/2013/07/09/7-nuevos-juegos-independientes-para-windows-phone-para-descargar.aspx

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Jealousy can drive us to view ourselves more like our rivals

[unable to retrieve full-text content]If you see your partner flirt with someone else, you may feel hurt, angry, and jealous. The last thing you might expect is to start thinking of yourself more like your rival. New research suggests just that: that jealousy can prompt people to change how they view themselves relative to competitors for their partners' attention.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/OQ2b-4639M0/130710114510.htm

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The Exercise Equipment Service in Northern California

The Exercise Equipment Service caters to embarking upon the repairing services of myriad fitness equipment. The company deals with repairing fitness equipment such as elliptical, bikes, treadmills, multi-station gyms and all the other equipment available in the gyms for purposes of exercises. The service provider provides the services by visiting the destinations of customers. They provide services for both residential as well as commercial equipment. In addition to repairing services, they are also into providing technical assistance for repairing various equipment.

Compared to past people, are more health conscious these days. Numerous gym facilities are coming up to satiate the needs of people who are looking to tone up their body. Individuals, who don?t have time to visit a regular gym daily, are opting to make a gym inside their houses. It is easy to set up a home gym. All you need to gather new or used exercise equipments such as commercial treadmills and others in your house and place them well to make a perfect gym. Generally people collect used exercise equipments to make home gyms because it?s easy to set up and economical as well.

A home-gym is a wise and valuable investment, especially when you are busy and can?t maintain a regular gym membership. Driving to the gym center and waiting for other users to free the equipments that you want to use are time consuming and frustrating. What about if you want to work out desperately but the gym center is closed because of public holiday? Setting up a home gym using different exercise equipment accessories has a numerous benefits.

Fitness Equipment Service provides all the possible services related to gym equipment. they cater all the needs and requirements to make you home gym a complete package ready for you to keep yourself maintained and physically active. Northern California?s Premier exercise equipment sales and service provider. we repair any and all exercise and fitness equipment and specialize in cardio equipment repair service.

Contact Information:
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Gym Doctors
3222 Arden Road
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Phone: 888-876-4321
Fax: 510-886-4333
Email: Service@GymDoc.com
Website: http://www.gymdoc.com/

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Source: http://www.freepressrelease.com/exercise-equipment-service-northern-california/703487/

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[Article] Workplace Wellness on a Shoestring | Wellness Council of ...

Katie Ehlman loves to run. But when she moved to Portland, Ore., from Little Rock, Ark., three years ago, she was unsure of the best routes.

Did she tap her network for newfound friends and neighbors? Sure. But the best tips came from her employer, a small financial services firm with fewer than 25 employees that had mapped out routes around its office to help employees walk or run to earn points toward prizes or paid time off.

?You?d be surprised how motivated and competitive co-workers can get when it comes to adding days off during the summer months or winning a free latte. For me, it?s been convenient and fun to run before work or at lunchtime.? Ehlman said. ?I don?t know that our office is super-healthy, but unlike some of the places I?ve worked, people here are happy to come to work and work out together.?

Historically, it has been easier for larger companies with greater resources to implement wellness programs at work. A report issued last fall by the National Small Business Association and Humana found that, while 93 percent of small businesses say employee health is important to their bottom line, just 22 percent were offering a wellness program.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is supposed to change that. Part of the landmark reform was crafted to help level the playing field between small and large businesses when it comes to purchasing employee insurance options. More specifically, PPACA provides for grants up to five years for employers with fewer than 100 employees who work 25 or more hours per week to establish new wellness programs.

In other words, the legislation offers employers a chance to do wellness on a shoestring.

?You don?t have to build an indoor climbing wall or provide discounts and access to the nicest gym in town,? said Dawn Gianni, a workplace wellness coach based in Chicago. ?You just need to get creative and contemplate some low-cost options based on your workforce needs. It?s much easier to assess the health and fitness levels of a 10-person company than it is a 1,000-person company, right??

For example, one of Gianni?s clients merely banned unhealthy foods in the office break room. Pastries and donuts were just too tempting to resist, she said, adding, ?It sounds really silly, but people were so appreciative. Willpower is not an easy thing for most of us, particularly when the office becomes a dumping ground for leftover cakes and candy.?

Scripps Hospitals were recognized by Fortune as one of the best companies to work for this year, in part because of its wellness initiatives. One step Scripps took, which could be replicated by small firms, was to remove vending machines offering unhealthy snacks. In their place, Scripps installed sell-service kiosks stocked with health food and complete meals. It also subsidized the cost.

Bandwidth, a communications technology company in Cary, N.C., introduced a wellness initiative for employees that included 90 minutes of free time during lunch to work out. The company also, according to its Web site, encourages physical fitness by sponsoring sports teams.

Executives for both companies have reported improved employee morale and lower health insurance costs overall, with few dollars spent.

Various studies continue to stress that the health of the average U.S. worker is poor: ?One in three suffers from some symptoms of depression, one in four smokes, one in five experiences difficulty sleeping, one in five is treated for high blood pressure, one in seven has high levels of cholesterol, and nearly half have not exercised in more than a month,? the Institute for Healthcare Consumerism said recently.

That?s why experts like Bruce Elliott, manager of compensation and benefits for the Society for Human Resource Management, maintain that preventative measures like wellness programs should be viewed as investments that will pay off over time.

How much time?

?Helping employees quit cigarettes or lose weight will translate to lower medical costs over three to five years,? Elliott said.

That might be fast enough for some employers, but the long-term benefits are hard to dispute.

Source: http://www.wellnessindiana.org/index.php/article-workplace-wellness-on-a-shoestring/

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Did Don Mattrick try to get Microsoft to buy Zynga in 2010?

Today starts Don Mattrick's first full day as the new CEO of social and mobile game developer Zynga, after serving as for the past few years as the head of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business division. But did Mattrick once try to get Microsoft to buy Zynga?

That's the claim in a new report from Bloomberg, which uses unnamed sources to state that back in 2010, Mattrick had talks with Zynga founder Mark Pincus that if successful would have led Microsoft to acquire the publisher. The idea was to try to boost Microsoft's reach into the social gaming genre, which in 2010 was a red hot business for Zynga, thanks to games like Farmville generating huge audiences on Facebook.

Ultimately, the talks didn't lead anywhere and the story doesn't state why the negotiations failed. However, both Mattrick and Pincus kept in touch and the story states that in March 2013 the two men started talking about Mattrick leaving Microsoft to join Zynga as its new CEO.

In retrospect, it's probably good that the talks between Zynga and Microsoft did not lead to Microsoft buying the publisher. The once red hot Facebook game market lost much of its audience to mobile games and Zynga has since cut tons of jobs and shut down a number of its development studios.

Source: Bloomberg | Image via Zynga

Source: http://feeds.neowin.net/~r/neowin-main/~3/4wYtNV4AbCs/story01.htm

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