With the start of the new year, some?states are just saying no?to employer snooping of employees' Facebook?accounts, with laws that prohibit bosses from being able to obtain your Facebook?login and password, as well as from getting?those for your?other social networking?accounts.
Six states???California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and?New Jersey???passed such?laws, with Michigan's being the most recent. It was signed into law Friday by Gov. Rick Snyder, and took effect immediately.
Michigan's?law also "penalizes educational institutions for dismissing or failing to admit a student who does not provide passwords and other account information used to access private Internet and email accounts, including social networks like Facebook and Twitter," according to Reuters.
California and Illinois' laws take effect Jan. 1, and extends the employer?ban to job applicants.?California and Delaware are going another step farther, "prohibiting higher education?institutions from requiring students to disclose social media passwords or account information," according to the?National Conference of State Legislatures.
California's law also applies the social media password snooping ban to public employers, not just private ones.?
Last spring, Maryland became the first state to prohibit employer access to social media accounts, spurred by the frightening tale of Robert Collins,?a state Department of of Public Safety and Correctional Services worker who was told he had to turn over his Facebook password if he wanted to be reinstated to his job?after he returned from a leave of absence.
The ACLU of Maryland took up his cause, posting?a YouTube video?of his story.?As NBC News' Helen A.S. Popkin wrote at that time, "employers and colleges demanding Facebook passwords or other inappropriate access to social network profiles gained national attention" after?NBC News'?Bob Sullivan first broke the storyof the not-uncommon practice.?
Meanwhile, in Texas last month,?a state Senate bill,?S.B. 118, was introduced that would make it illegal for an employer to require or ask for access to employees' and job applicants' personal accounts "through electronic communication devices."
For a detailed look at where various states stand on this issue, check the National Conference of State Legislatures' site.
As the organization noted, 14?states "introduced?legislation?in 2012 that would restrict employers from requesting access to social networking usernames and passwords of applicants, students or employees."
But some of those states are not very far along, from Massachusetts, where a bill was filed last March, ?but little else done;?to?Missouri, where a similar bill was introduced, sent to a committee last April and hasn't been heard from since.
Check out Technology, GadgetBox, Digital?Life and InGame on?Facebook,?and on?Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.
Rescuers work at the site where a plane careered off the runwaw at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. A Tu-204 aircraft belonging to Russian airline Red Wings careered off the runway at Russia's third-busiest airport on Saturday, broke into pieces and caught fire, killing several people. (AP Photo/Alexander Usoltsev)
Rescuers work at the site where a plane careered off the runwaw at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. A Tu-204 aircraft belonging to Russian airline Red Wings careered off the runway at Russia's third-busiest airport on Saturday, broke into pieces and caught fire, killing several people. (AP Photo/Alexander Usoltsev)
Rescuers work at the site where a plane careered off the runway at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. A Tu-204 aircraft belonging to Russian airline Red Wings careered off the runway at Russia's third-busiest airport on Saturday, broke into pieces and caught fire, killing several people. (AP Photo/Alexander Usoltsev)
Rescuers work at the site where a plane careered off the runway at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. A Tu-204 aircraft belonging to Russian airline Red Wings careered off the runway at Russia's third-busiest airport on Saturday, broke into pieces and caught fire, killing several people. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Cars travel past the wreckage of a plane that careered off the runway at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. A Tu-204 aircraft belonging to Russian airline Red Wings careered off the runway at Russia's third-busiest airport on Saturday, broke into pieces and caught fire, killing several people. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Rescuers work at the site where a plane careered off the runway at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. A Tu-204 aircraft belonging to Russian airline Red Wings careered off the runway at Russia's third-busiest airport on Saturday, broke into pieces and caught fire, killing several people. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
MOSCOW (AP) ? Investigators on Sunday examined flight recorders and other evidence to try to determine the cause of the airliner crash in Moscow that killed five people, an official said.
The Tu-204 belonging to Russian airline Red Wings was carrying eight people, all of them crew members, when it careered off the runway Saturday while landing at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. It went partly into an adjacent highway, broke into pieces and caught fire.
Four people were pronounced dead soon after the crash and the airline said on its Twitter account that a fifth, a flight attendant, died Sunday. Those who died Saturday were the pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer and another attendant, Red Wings said.
The survivors were reported in critical or serious condition in Moscow hospitals.
Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for Russia's main investigative agency, was quoted by Russian news agencies saying the data recorders were being examined, along with fuel samples. In addition, he said flight documents for the plane have been taken from the airline for examination.
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Church groups stitch a little love for Newtown residents 12-28-12
BIGFORK, Mont. -
Flathead Valley knitters are pulling out their yarn in hopes to stitch some love into scarves for residents of Newtown, Connecticut. But in an unexpected turn, their donations will end up helping people in Montana.
Many churches in the Flathead have their own prayer shawl groups - men and women who meet weekly to knit and crochet scarves that are blessed and given as a comfort to anyone in need.
"Our prayer shawls have just been a wonderful ministry," said Ginny Johnson.
So it was only a matter of time before Bigfork's Bethany Lutheran Church decided to reach out and make Hugs of Hope shawls for Newtown.
"We've kind of been thinking about it, all of us," said Johnson.
"The name came about by one of the ladies here in church," said Bonnie Hoffman. "We were discussing that and she said 'I really do think they are hugs of hope' and it stuck!"
To date, Bethany Lutheran has donated over 500 prayer shawls to people across the country and around the world. Now, their goal is to make 100 more for those who need it most. But recently, Newtown residents have received so many gifts they've? kindly asked people to stop sending them.
"They've requested we go ahead and give them locally in loving memory of the loved ones from Sandy Hook," explained Hoffman.
The shawls and scarves will now remain in the Flathead for others who seek out their warmth and healing.
"The gals were just as excited because they're going to stay here. We've designated six different groups already that need them," said Johnson.
"It's such a great thing to be able to spread His love and His hope and His peace not only throughout the world but right here in this valley where we need it most," said Hoffman.
Hoffman hopes this project will spark monthly "stitch out" sessions, each one designated towards a new charity or organization in the Flathead Valley.
Copyright 2012 by KECI, KCFW, KTVM. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Chronic UTIs can also lead to Interstitial Cystitis.? Interstitial Cystitis is a condition in which the bladder wall becomes inflamed and may even hemorrhage. No sooner do you finish a round of antibiotics, your pet starts showing the common ?signs? of discomfort which can include frequent urination, straining to urinate, waking up in the middle of the night to urinate, arching the back, urinating outside the litter box and/or blood in the urine. Some pets that are normally housetrained may have accidents or urinate right in front of you because they can?t hold their urine. Some may develop urinary incontinence on a regular basis.
With interstitial cystitis, there may be an infection or the ?start of infection? and sometimes there may be no infection at all. With chronic UTIs and interstitial cystitis, there may be bleeding in the urine which can be caused by a variety of factors such as bladder stones, crystal plugs, kidney disease, stress and/or a congenital defect. Regardless, your pet?s bladder and urinary system may have a great deal of inflammation and quite possibly infection which can become very hard to treat and very uncomfortable for your pet.
Conventional veterinary treatments for interstitial cystitis and chronic urinary tract infections involve the use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Depending upon the other factors that may be involved, your veterinarian may also recommend that your pet be on a special diet that controls the pH of your pet?s urine. Stones, crystals and infections tend to develop depending upon the urinary pH. For example, if your pet?s urine is highly alkaline (pH is 8 or more), there is a possibility that struvite crystals form or that your pet may have urinary tract infection. Having a high urinary pH does not necessarily mean that your pet has an infection. Urinary pH can vary throughout the day as your pet eats, exercises, etc. A normal urinary neutral pH is between 6.5 and 7.0. Consistently high or low urinary pH could be a problem and it is recommended, if possible, that you learn to check your pet?s urine at home using pH testing paper. This will provide valuable information for your veterinarian.
Can holistic care help with interstitial cystitis and chronic urinary tract infections? Absolutely. Holistic care should not be a replacement for conventional veterinary care but rather an extension of it. Holistic care offers you more choices and treatment options to help your pet but it is important to work with your veterinarian to monitor your pet?s progress using laboratory tests and even in-home periodic pH urinary test strips that you do yourself.
Supplements for interstitial cystitis include Notatum, Pet UTI Prevention Formula and Probiotic as well as Akutur.? Click here to learn more about how to treat interstitial cystitis naturally using holistic pet care
Even though I have a terrible track record for predicting the future, I find making predictions irresistible. It?s such an exciting time in the game industry that just about anything can happen. Things that I never thought would occur ? such as Apple dominating in the sheer number of games on its platform ? have now come to pass. The industry is full of disruption and change, from the smallest startups to the biggest companies, as the digital revolution sweeps through the industry. We are, after all, in the crossover era, when game companies invade new platforms. With so much change, the predictions become harder, but they?re also more fun to make.
We?re looking forward to announced games like Grand Theft Auto V and unannounced (but likely) titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. But many of these predictions below go beyond the impact of single launches. (Check out how I did with last year?s here). I have tapped some of our staff for help with them. And please vote for your favorites in our poll (in the web version of this story) and leave comments. Also, check out where we?ve been in the past in our predictions about the road ahead in gaming.
Mobile gets bigger
This trend isn?t a bubble. The growth of smartphone and tablet gaming is an inexorable trend. It?s a no-brainer that it will gather momentum in 2013. Mobile games account for 42 percent of all new game investments, according to investment bank Digi-Capital. Mobile devices are growing fast throughout the world, and we?ll soon have multiple billions of devices that are capable of playing games. Every company is adapting to this change by launching new versions of mobile titles, and many startups are focused on a ?mobile first? or ?mobile only? strategy. So far, nobody dominates this market.
Hardcore online games will match the quality of console games
Games like League of Legends and Hawken have shown that it?s possible to create great free-to-play hardcore online games as downloadable titles. Soon, you might be able to play these without downloads thanks to better browser technologies (such as WebGL or Chrome Native Client), which make use of 3D graphics hardware on a computer without the need for plug-ins. When the better rendering technology gains traction, then one of the last quality barriers will fall between online games and console titles. The ability to play high-end web games without delays will neutralize the advantage that console companies have had in the home. It will lower the cost of distribution and democratize gaming further. But once this new web publishing platform is more evenly distributed across the development community, the focus will have to be on making better games, not shoveling more out.
The battle royale for gaming will commence
To deal with the invasion of hardcore online titles, console makers will have to respond with something exciting and new. It?s going to be a world war of gaming in 2013 as big players duke it out. Traditional console makers Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft will go to war with the likes of Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Google. Microsoft has already set up a broader entertainment network on Xbox Live, but it could lose that position if it maintains its current high subscription fees and a dearth of free-to-play titles.
Apple and Google in particular may not launch ?consoles? per se. Rather, if they compete in gaming, it will be an accidental byproduct of a strategy to compete for the hearts and minds of consumers on whatever platform they use. Those companies haven?t designed specifically for gamers, but their platforms have been ideal for developers and publishers trying to reach larger audiences. An Apple television would naturally be a platform for games. The newcomers will use free or 99-cent titles ? as well as technologies that transfer images from a smartphone or tablet to a TV ? as their wedge into the console space. We?ll see a battle for the living room like never before. And this battle royale will happen on all platforms wherever they?re used.
Microsoft and Sony will both announce and launch their next-generation systems
Chasing the Nintendo Wii U, Microsoft and Sony will announce their new consoles at E3 2013 in June, and at least one of them will introduce the new machine in the fall of 2013. Microsoft may not launch in 2013 since it has a leadership position now. But it shouldn?t try to milk that position and should instead get out ahead of its new challengers such as Apple and Google. Sony has more motivation to get into the market sooner since it came in third place in units sold in the last generation. But developer activity suggests that Microsoft is moving ahead faster with a broader group of allies.
Introducing a new console isn?t just a matter of willpower. It?s the result of mobilizing a whole ecosystem of suppliers, partners, developers, and publishers to support the effort. So while it may be a no-brainer to introduce sooner, the console makers may be forced to wait until 2014. They will also have to build their consoles around a new innovation, such as much better gesture controls, to make the gameplay more magical than it is today.
And if Sony and Microsoft know what?s good for them, they?ll embrace cloud gaming to reduce the cost of their consoles and deal with backward compatibility. And they will give users plenty of options for free-to-play, platform-agnostic gaming. (GamesBeat writer Kat Bailey is a fan of this idea.) They will both embrace free-to-play and cloud gaming. Any new console will thus have to be a hybrid of tradition and the new digital platforms. (Dan ?Shoe? Hsu, the editor-in-chief of GamesBeat, fed me a version of this prediction.)
Nintendo?s Wii U console will fail
So far, the Wii U is selling out, but not in astounding numbers. And while games such as ZombiU are fine, they?re getting weak reviews on Metacritic. In fact, the highest rated game on the Wii U this season is Mass Effect 3: Special Edition, a retread of a game that has already been available on the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. This isn?t the right way to launch a brand new console. While initial supplies may sell out, what will happen three months or six months from now as the novelty wears off and gamers await better-looking titles on the upcoming consoles or the PC?
Nintendo embraced the consumer love for tablets with its tablet-like controller, but that hasn?t put a dent in demand for tablets. In the context of a more competitive industry with multiplying choices, I don?t see the Wii U as a survivor. The best thing Nintendo can do is cut the price, and that?s never been a winning formula for long-term success. I?m hoping Nintendo surprises us, but I am not counting on it.
Smart TV games will finally become a reality
This prediction crystallizes several of the trends already mentioned. Apple still hasn?t introduced its television. If and when it does, apps will come to the connected TV, nicknamed the Smart TV, in a very big way. But while Apple may eventually validate this trend, the market won?t wait for one company. In the meantime, Google will keep pushing on Google TV. Manufacturers like LG, Samsung, and Vizio are pushing hard on cloud gaming on the TV, where all you need to play is a web connection and a game controller. Ouya hopes to enter this market with a $99 box in the spring that will move Android games onto this same screen.
The business model enabled by apps on the TV is very attractive for consumers. Free-to-play or 99 cent apps may be good enough for a lot of players, particularly if there is a path to high-end hardcore games as well. Gesture or voice-recognition technologies will add novelty to the Smart TV gaming experience. Given the option to forgo the expense of $60 games and $300 consoles, many consumers are likely to prefer playing unified apps on TVs that can also be played on tablets and smartphones. That could ignite a huge wave of gaming consumption.
Gesture technologies will take off
Motion-sensing technologies like the Nintendo Wii remote, Microsoft?s Kinect for the Xbox 360, and the Sony PlayStation Move were just the start. Intel calls the new era of gestures ?perceptual computing.? Controlling a game or computing device with your hands, body, or voice could become much more accurate in the next generation. Kinect?s accuracy trailed off if you got too close to the TV. But startups such as Softkinetic have demonstrated that gestures work well just inches away from a laptop?s webcam now. This helps make general computing easier just as touch screens do with Windows 8. But the possibilities for gaming become much more interesting with precise technologies that can detect small finger movements as well as the activity of everyone in a room. And these gestures don?t have to be limited to PCs or consoles. They could also be integrated over time into smartphones and tablets. Intel itself promises to launch perceptual computing in 2013.
First-person shooter games will grab market share on tablets
Based on what I?ve seen so far of The Drowning (pictured right), which is being developed by Scattered Entertainment and will be published in 2013 by DeNA?s Ngmoco, I?m convinced that first-person shooter games will finally take hold on tablets. The Drowning has a clever gesture-based user interface that works with touch screens ? something that shooters haven?t done well so far. If you tap two fingers on the screen, your weapon will fire at the midpoint. Tap one on the screen, and your character will move to where you tap. And swipe the screen to turn your characters head. It?s simple, and it is just one example of how the multibillion-dollar shooter business could make its way onto tablets. And it means that mobile games will be playable without a game controller.
The game controller will become the king maker
Startups like PrimeA (maker of Moga controllers) and Green Throttle Games want to turn the humble game controller into something more important. They can do so if the above trend doesn?t work out so well and gamers prefer to play their mobile games with traditional handheld controllers.
Green Throttle is creating a cool user interface app that allows you to use its controller to play Android apps on a TV, connected to your smartphone or tablet via a HDMI cable. (If better Wi-Fi technology comes along, this will get easier to do.) With controllers used in this way, Android games can invade the realm of the $60 console game. The controller could blast a hole through the barrier between two segments of the game market.
The barriers will come down between real-money gambling and social casino games
Likewise, the barriers are coming down between real-money online gambling and social casino games, where the winnings are merely virtual casino chips.
Startups like Betable enable social casino games to be converted to real-money online gambling in territories where it?s legal. Zynga is counting on changes in U.S. laws to enter the real-money gambling market, but it will launch in the crowded United Kingdom market first. Facebook has also embraced real-money gambling by allowing Gamesys to launch such games in the U.K.
This will set up a clash. The social casino game operators have the biggest games like Zynga Poker but the lowest revenues per paying user. Online gambling firms make a lot of money from relatively few heavy gamblers.
But marrying the two businesses will make it much easier for the online gambling firms to recruit potential high rollers for low costs. Meanwhile, U.S. states and the federal government are loosening the restrictions on online gambling. This trend may take years to play out, but it will gather more momentum in 2013.
eSports will take off
Gaming has been a professional sport for a while, but with releases such as League of Legends from Riot Games, it is gathering momentum. Rising in parallel with this trend is the livestreaming of games enabled by Twitch, which has been integrated into the online shooter Planetside 2 (pictured right). Community has also become a much bigger deal in ensuring the success of a game, according to gamer social network Raptr. That?s because the improved engagement that comes with promoting the community around a game leads to higher awareness, revenues, and profits.
ESports have been growing in countries such as China and South Korea, but Major League Gaming, WCG, and other leagues are offering bigger prizes and more venues for gigantic tournaments. And it?s no surprise that Activision built livestreaming, shoutcasting (narrated games), spectating, and league play into Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Gamemakers should already know that you don?t just milk your users. Give them what they want, and they will pay you back many times over. Let?s hope that more companies are going to learn the lesson: It?s the community, stupid. (GamesBeat writer Rus McLaughlin suggested a version of this prediction.)
Gamification will continue to spread the influence of games
Gamification, or the use of game mechanics to increase engagement in nongame applications, is the path to spread game thinking far and wide. It has applications in everything from fitness devices that encourage you to exercise to enterprise applications that reward you for completing tutorials.
Badgeville, Big Door, and Bunchball are providing the services for all kinds of companies to embrace gamification, either by rewarding consumers and employees with achievements or leading them to compete with rivals through leaderboards. A lot of these efforts will fail as many games do. But the ones that are done right could lead to a big expansion in engagement and usage. Gamification is in its hype stage, but the reality will start setting in during 2013 as to what works and what doesn?t. And it will carry the flag for gaming into all circles of business.
TIP! Interview several attorneys before you hire one and ask questions about education and experience. There are lots of qualified attorneys from which to choose.
Being in debt can be extremely stressful. Sometimes it happens quite quickly, from some financial problems to losing all control in a matter of weeks or months. Once that happens, solutions may be difficult to find. This article will help you get through your bankruptcy with a minimum of hassle.
TIP! Once you have settled on filing for bankruptcy, learn all there is to learn about your state?s bankruptcy laws. Your future finances are in jeopardy, so you must be prepared and stay proactive by being involved with your attorney and your case.
If your debt problem is mostly in the form of student loans, you might have a hard time filing for bankruptcy. As a general rule, student loans are not forgivable by bankruptcy being filed. In order to discharge student loan debt, you must demonstrate undue and extreme hardship.
TIP! You may have many conversations with lenders before you end up starting the bankruptcy process. It?s important to have any agreements you make with them on paper.
Know that declaring bankruptcy doesn?t always mean that all of your debts will be eliminated. When a Chapter 13 is filed, you will restructure what you owe and pay, thus allowing your creditors to make some of their money back. It is common to think that filing bankruptcy is a cop-out, and that it is irresponsible to not pay your debts. This type of bankruptcy allows people to satisfy their creditors and find relief from a heavy load of debt.
TIP! Before pulling the trigger on bankruptcy, be sure that other solutions aren?t more appropriate for your case. If your debts are really not overwhelming, you may find the assistance you need by consulting a consumer credit counselor.
If you plan to file for bankruptcy within the next year, don?t put your assets in another individual?s name. This is an obvious ploy to hide your assets. As a result, your file could be dismissed. You may be tempted to hand off assets so they?re not seized, but they may not be seized to begin with. In any case, this sort of asset hiding is not allowed, so you might need to delay filing if you?ve transferred any assets recently.
TIP! Make sure you do your research before you file for bankruptcy. Assess your debt to figure out which types can be discharged with bankruptcy.
Be certain that all of the debts you are presenting for consideration in your bankruptcy are actually ones that can be considered. This will save you time and money. Debts like student loans always remain on your report even if you file. You may want to consider consulting a loan consolidation service or credit repair agency instead of filing for bankruptcy.
TIP! Do not pay off debts blindly before you file a personal bankruptcy. The laws regarding bankruptcy most often prevent you from paying back some creditors for up to 90 days before filing, and friends and family for up to one year.
Do not wait before filing for bankruptcy. Waiting to file will not make things easier. Waiting will put more stress on you and will only make the financial situation much worse. The negative effects this can have on your life could be huge. Preceding with the bankruptcy resolutely and concluding the proceedings quickly will bring closure to the entire situation.
TIP! If creditors or harassing you, take advantage of the automatic stay bankruptcy provides to immediately stop the harassment. Debt that you can no longer control can be overwhelming.
Even though many of your debts are eliminated through Chapter 7 bankruptcy, not all debts go away. If you have secured debts, you may be required to create a revised agreement for their repayment. There are some debts that simply are not dischargeable. For instance, you could not discharge child support obligations, court-sanctioned fines or even alimony payments through chapter 7.
TIP! If you plan to file bankruptcy, do not continue using credit cards. You may be tempted to start buying a lot of things, but the courts may not really like this.
It is possible to obtain new vehicle and home loans while a Chapter 13 case remains active. It is just tougher. You need to speak with your trustee so that you can be approved for a new loan. You need to show them why and how you can handle paying back the new loan. You will always have to let them know why this item needs to be purchased.
TIP! Make sure you hire a good bankruptcy lawyer. This kind of law is popular among inexperienced lawyers.
There are times when the events of life can be quite overwhelming and you can feel quite helpless. Use what you learned from this article to regain control of your financial situation. Apply the advice from this article and you will be on your way to realizing financial freedom.
I'm not 100% sure it'll work, but try and download Crystal Disk Info to see if it detects the drive as damaged in any way. That's the only thing I can think of, but I'm not really all that good at computers.
California?s pending home sales fell in November, as equity home sales across the state and the Inland region began to come out of the closet.
A report released Friday by the California Association of Realtors said pending home sales, forward-looking indicators of future home sales activity, fell nine-tenths of 1 percent from November 2011.
But the sputter the state?s largest real estate trade association blamed on seasonal factors was mixed with a more telling indicator of what?s to come in 2013: The share of equity sales is on the rise.
The pool of equity sales inched up to 64.9 percent from 63.4 percent in October, and represented a 14.7 percent gain from November 2011.
Equity home sales figures haven?t been this good since May 2008.
What?s more, the combined share of all distressed property sales fell to 35.1 percent in November, according to the C.A.R. report. The pool of distressed property sales stood at 49.8 percent in November 2011.
How did the hard-hit Inland region fare?
The percentage of single-family distressed home sales is still well above the state numbers, but the percentage of distressed home sales noted in November fell by the double-digits.
Realtors say they?re seeing more ?conventional? housing stock come into the marketplace, as homeowners with equity in their property see home prices began a slow recovery, rents began to rise and mortgage lending rates remain at near historic levels.
The pool of distressed homes in Riverside County fell 10 percent from November 2011 to 51 percent, down from 61 percent. In San Bernardino County, distressed property sales plunged 20 percentage points to 44 percent. In November 2011, some 64 percent of all single-family homes sold in San Bernardino County were in distress.
Write to Debra Gruszecki at dgruszecki@pe.com
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Written by: Debra Gruszecki on December 28, 2012.
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(Reuters) - Kasey Hansen, a special education teacher from Salt Lake City, Utah, says she would take a bullet for any of her students, but if faced with a gunman threatening her class, she would rather be able to shoot back.
On Thursday, she was one of 200 Utah teachers who flocked to an indoor sports arena for free instruction in the handling of firearms by gun activists who say armed educators might have a chance at thwarting deadly shooting rampages in their schools.
The event was organized by the Utah Shooting Sports Council in response to the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, this month that killed 20 children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
The council said it has typically attracted about 16 teachers each year to its concealed carry training courses. But Thursday's event near Salt Lake City, organized especially for educators in the aftermath of Newtown, drew interest from hundreds, and the class was capped at 200 for space limitations.
"I feel like I would take a bullet for any student in the school district," Hansen, a special education teacher in a Salt Lake City school district, told Reuters after the training session.
"If we should ever face a shooter like the one in Connecticut, I'm fully prepared to respond with my firearm," she said, adding that she planned to buy a weapon soon and take it to work.
The Newtown massacre reignited a national debate over gun safety. President Barack Obama signaled his support for reinstating a national ban on assault-style rifles and urged Congress to act. The National Rifle Association has called for posting armed guards at schools and rejected new gun-control measures.
'HOW DO I KEEP A GUN SAFE?'
The National Education Association and a number of school officials criticized the NRA's stance, but it got a warmer reception in some parts of the West, where hunting and guns are prevalent.
Utah is one of a handful of states that allows people with concealed-carry licenses to take their weapons onto school property, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In Arizona, Attorney General Tom Horne on Wednesday jumped into the debate over school security with a proposal to allow any school to train and arm its principal or another staff member.
The plan, which was backed by at least three sheriffs, would require approval by the legislature and the state's Republican governor, Jan Brewer.
Clark Aposhian, head of the Utah Shooting Sports Council and a certified firearms instructor, organized the event on Thursday to provide teachers with permits to allow them to carry concealed handguns in the classroom. He waived the usual $50 fee for the course.
"I genuinely felt depressed at how helpless those teachers were and those children were in Newtown," Aposhian said. "It doesn't have to be that way."
Utah teacher Kerrie Anderson was not about to participate. She is a choir and math instructor at a junior high school near Salt Lake City, and said her family is "pro-gun" and uses firearms for sports such as target shooting. But she balks at the notion of carrying a weapon into her classroom.
"How would I keep that gun safe?" she said. "I wouldn't carry (it) on my person while teaching, where a disgruntled student could overpower me and take it. And if I have it secured in my office, it might not be a viable form of protection."
Gun-control activists have decried moves to arm teachers and said efforts at curbing gun violence in schools should be tied to tightening firearms laws.
"We think it makes a lot more sense to prevent a school shooter from getting the gun in the first place," said Kristen Rand, legislative director for the Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary ranks as the second most deadly school shooting in U.S. history. Police say Adam Lanza, 20, killed his mother before going to the school, where he committed the massacre and shot himself to death.
(Reporting and writing by Laura Zuckerman; Additional reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Steve Gorman)
Pilates is? a favorite among Hollywood starlets and well-versed fitness fanatics.
Pilates is a kind of exercise that improves flexibility, coordination and also strengthens muscles through controlled movements done as mat exercises or with equipment to tone and strengthen the body. It has been the favorite type of exercise for r dancers, athletes and actors.
Pilates Overview
Pilates daily workouts? will help your body to address unique issues or problem areas, and gets you in tune with your body as it is good for the mind and good for the body.? By doing routine Pilates exercises you can build a strong core, develop flat abdominals and create a strong back by strengthening the muscles that support your spine.
Pilates also improves mental and physical health by increasing flexibility and blood circulation. It particularly works on the body?s core or your torso. Pilates would also help you to have better posture, and in case of injury, Pilates exercises will help you to experience better overall health.
The founder of Pilates, Joseph H. Pilates, had some serious health problem such as asthma as a kid, he built his body and grew stronger and became an athlete. As a nurse in Great Britain during World War I, he designed exercise methods and equipment for immobilized patients and soldiers. He also developed a series of mat exercises that focus on the torso and by combining various exercise methods such as the mind-body formats of yoga and Chinese martial arts he created a new routine exercise. The main point of the Pilates philosophy is that our physical and mental health is intertwined. He designed his exercise program around principles that support this philosophy, including concentration, precision, control, breathing, and flowing movements.
Benefits of Pilates
There are lots of benefits of doing Pilates such as general fitness, better sleep, increasing strength, to lose weight, to increase coordination, to get toned body with lean muscles, to help to heal injuries such as back pain, joint pain, to develop mind-body and for better sexual health. Pilates teaches proper breathing and spinal and pelvic alignment, helping you become more connected with your body. Breathing properly can also help to reduce stress.
Pilates gets different results in each individual. But one thing is the same. You feel great and it?s effective. It will help you to have a lean look without bulky muscles. Your body will be strong without looking Bulky and maybe that is why Pilates is a popular exercise for gymnasts and professional dancers.
Most conventional workouts tend to create bulky muscle, but Pilates does not rely on frequent repetition, and thus no overgrown muscles. It just focuses on the whole body, not just on sections of muscles. Your focus would be on the core and around the area of the abdominal muscles and the back and you will be benefiting a lot by a proper use of the Pilates program such as the ability to increase the strength of stabilizer muscles that may not commonly be worked out in a standard exercise program.
Pilates also stresses the use of fluid movements and circulation that can be a great way to get a better sense of the kinesthetic of your body. A lot of people feel that they are better able to balance themselves regardless of the position that they are in.
Like yoga and Chinese martial arts, by engaging the mind and enhancing body awareness Pilates not only helps you to tone your body, but your mind and spirit as well and you will be more mindful of your body. Breath movement is also emphasized to put you in touch with how breath moves through your body.
The mind-body connection
Pilates has been demonstrated to reduce stress, anxiety, and helps lift depression. The mind-body connection is fundamental to the study and practice of Pilates. As you see Pilates has numerous benefits that one can attain through regular use of the exercise program. It also strengthens your body and helps prevent future injuries. Since no set of muscles is ever over or under trained, there is less risk for injury. It teaches you how to become efficient with your body. Very few exercises can help your body become more efficient in its movement. By practicing Pilates on a regular basis, you can train your body more to move in a much safer and more efficient manner.
Benefits of Pilates for Older Adults
Unfortunately when we get older our bodies get stiff and we feel pain in our joints. Even if you start Pilates at the older age you can still get some of the benefits to prevent the elderly pain from arthritis and other bone problems.
Even adults undergoing serious rehabilitation therapy can use Pilates to increase their range of motion and overall muscle strength. ?As a senior you need to consult with your doctor or a medical professional to make sure that Pilates will benefit you, but in most cases it has been very helpful for adult with back and joint pain.? Make sure that you never feel pain while practicing Pilates and stop as you start to feel any pain. Pilates was designed to progress naturally from one movement to another. If you feel stopped at one movement, don?t give up. Start at the beginning and work your way back to the areas you found most challenging.
Remember that practice makes perfect and that you cannot do it all in one day.
Take your time practicing Pilates and you will reap the rewards this great exercise regimen.
A study that suggests mechanical force could combat breast cancer is getting a lot of play around the web the last few days. It's also getting a lot of boob-squeezing spin.
Here's one example from the article we posted on the study:
Teenage boys have been waiting for this news for years.?
According to a new study, squeezing breasts can prevent cancer. Yes, really.
More specifically, the, ahem, fresh?research from UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found?that mechanical force can stop the rapid growth of cancer cells as well as guide them back to a normal, healthy growth pattern.
The original press release was much more measured about the findings. Here's how it starts:
Researchers at the UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have put the squeeze ? literally ? on malignant mammary cells to guide them back into a normal growth pattern.
The findings, presented Monday, Dec. 17 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco, show for the first time that mechanical forces alone can revert and stop the out-of-control growth of cancer cells. This change happens even though the genetic mutations responsible for malignancy remain, setting up a nature-versus-nurture battle in determining a cell?s fate.
As you can see, not one mention of copping a feel. Here's some more reasons the headlines don't fit the research:
There were no boobs squeezed in the study. It was a cell culture experiment, not an experiment on boobs or on people with breast cancer. While a study that involves boob squeezing probably sounds fun to our male readers, that's not what this study was about.
The headlines all took the "boob squeezing is good," angle, though the researchers specifically state that: "Compression, in and of itself, is not likely to be a therapy."
The reports say "prevent breast cancer" when the study shows nothing of the sort ? it shows that under cell culture conditions, application of manual forces can change the breast cancer cells. Actual breast cancer is much much more complicated than cells growing in a dish.?
Or, maybe I just don't want men going around grabbing boobs and claiming it's "for science."
Thursday’s LogicBUY Deal is the?10.1″ Lenovo 32GB IdeaTab S2110 Android 4.0 tablet with bundled keyboard dock (2258E5U)?for?$463.20. ?Features: Qualcomm 1.5GHz dual-core 1GB of LPDDR2 RAM Android 4.0 IPS screen with HD resolution Keyboard dock doubles the battery life compared to the tablet alone Two USB ports 3-in-1 card reader Front and rear cameras Dual speakers [...]
Indonesia was the hot spot for global real-estate growth in 2012, with Jakarta growing 28.5 percent by the end of the third quarter, according to the Prime Global Cities Index published by Knight Frank property consultancy. Other cities with double-digit growth included Nairobi, London, Miami and Dubai. European cities were the worst performers.
The index, which tracks 26 cities, showed flat or positive growth in 15 cities through September, increasing to 20 cities in just the third quarter alone. That indicates improvement overall in the global market as the year progressed.
The company attributes strengthening demand to economic uncertainty and strong performance in alternative asset classes, along with appeal of these particular cities to luxury property-buyers. The performance of regional economies appears to have little influence on the hottest cities.
Since 2009, the index has improved by 18.7 percent, with Hong Kong, London and Beijing being the strongest performers over the three-year period.
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Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook reacts during the final minute of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Miami, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Heat won 103-97. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook reacts during the final minute of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Miami, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Heat won 103-97. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Miami Heat's LeBron James hangs onto the net during the final minute of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Miami, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Heat won 103-97. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant (35) reacts after being charged with a foul against the Miami Heat during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Heat won 103-97. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) tends to his leg after being knocked to the floor during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Miami, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Heat won 103-97. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) dunks as Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook (0) and Heat's Mario Chalmers (15) watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
MIAMI (AP) ? Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to score 54 points, more than any set of teammates had managed in a game against Miami all season.
Oklahoma City needed them to score at least three more.
That didn't happen, and an NBA Finals rematch went just as last year's title series did ? to the Heat.
LeBron James had 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 21, and the Heat survived a frantic finish to beat the Thunder 103-97 on Tuesday night, a game where Durant and Westbrook both missed potential tying 3-pointers in the final seconds.
"A great game to play," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said, "and a great game to coach."
For the Heat, it was just a little greater.
Mario Chalmers scored a season-high 20 for the Heat, who were 19 for 19 from the foul line, the second-best effort in franchise history behind only a 30-for-30 game in Boston on March 24, 1993. Chris Bosh added 16 points for Miami, which has beaten the Thunder five straight times dating to last June's title series.
"Felt a little bit like a different month," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Regardless of what your script is coming into the game, when you play this team, it's not going to go according to script. They're too good."
It's the first losing streak of the season for the Thunder, who had been 4-0 after losses. Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin each scored 15 for Oklahoma City.
The game had a little of everything ? a fast start by the reigning champions, a one-handed dunk by James on an offensive rebound that will be added to his copious highlight reel, a scrum after a hard foul that led to double-technicals on Wade and Ibaka early in the fourth, an easy rally by the Thunder from an early double-digit deficit, and even workout partners in Durant and James barking back and forth in the final minutes.
Such was the intensity that James slumped over the scorer's table with 1:08 left, exhausted.
"I'm tired as hell right now," James said ? and that was more than an hour after the game ended.
With good reason. On an emotional day, there was a wild finish.
Wade lost the ball on an ill-advised, behind-the-back dribble, and the turnover set up Durant for a two-handed dunk that got the Thunder within 96-95 with 44.1 seconds remaining.
Needing a stop on the next trip, the Thunder instead forgot to play defense. Kendrick Perkins and Ibaka both were confused on the ensuing Miami possession, and Bosh was left alone to take a pass from James and throw down a dunk that restored Miami's three-point edge.
"We went over and helped," Durant said. "We just needed to help on the backside. There was miscommunication but we still had a chance to go into overtime."
Two chances, actually.
Oklahoma City got within one when Durant made a jumper over James, but no closer. Ray Allen's two free throws with 15.6 seconds left made it 100-97, and Miami's last three points came from the line. Durant missed a 3-pointer that James contested, Westbrook wound up with a second chance that Wade defended, and the Thunder guard smacked a nearby table arguing that he was fouled.
"Part of the game," Westbrook said.
While the stars were stars, the Heat got help from one unexpected source. Chalmers was making everything, even unintended plays. Allen lost possession on what looked to be a pass to no one, but Chalmers picked up the bouncing ball on the right wing, whirled and made a 3-pointer ? putting Miami up 86-79 with 8:14 left.
In the end, that cushion was necessary.
"I got going early," Chalmers said, "and I stuck with it."
The Heat came out flying, opening a quick 13-2 lead after making six of their first seven shots. About all that didn't go right for the Heat early on was James committing a foul, the first time he was called for a personal since Dec. 8.
It happened 4:03 into the game ? 254 minutes and 7 seconds of on-court time since his last one ? when James fouled Ibaka on a dunk attempt.
Chalmers had 12 points, matching his season high, in the opening quarter alone, and that was also Miami's lead after his layup for a 15-3 edge. When Durant headed to the bench after being called for his second personal, plus a technical, with 2:08 left in the first, the Heat led 27-16.
But even with Durant out, Oklahoma City scored the last eight points of the quarter, six coming from the line. The Thunder shot 17 of the game's first 18 free throws and finished with a 38-19 edge in tries from the stripe.
The Heat were held to two points in the first 5:05 of the third, and the Thunder grabbed the lead for the first time. Durant connected on a baseline jumper while falling out of bounds and getting fouled by James. The resulting free throw gave Oklahoma City a 58-56 edge.
With that, the back-and-forth began, and Miami found a way.
"Both teams really played up to the billing," Wade said. "An excellent basketball game."
NOTES: James scored at least 20 points for the 30th straight regular-season game and 46th overall. ... Wade is 7-1 on Christmas, and James has won six straight on the holiday. ... Miami's Mike Miller became the 48th active player to reach 10,000 points. ... The Thunder have used the same starting lineup for all 27 games. ... James passed Bernard King for 39th on the NBA career scoring list. ... Attendance was 20,300, the largest crowd for a Heat home game since they moved into AmericanAirlines Arena.
We took a look at Mophie's OutRide ruggedized action-cam case back at IFA in August, but the month of December notoriously brings many more photo ops. Perhaps that's why the company has chosen to announce availability of the case, which sports a lens capable of 170-degree viewing angles, on the cusp of year-end holidays. The waterproof OutRide is available now for $150 -- and that price includes a variety of mounts for handlebars, surfboards and helmets. A companion app is a free download from the App Store and lets users edit and share their recorded footage. The OutRide is currently only compatible with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, so those who are gifted Apple's latest handset will have to sit this one out.
LG is in the midst of a whirlwind tour of its 2013 CES introductions, and the next stop is its AV catalog. The running theme this year is NFC: both the BH9430PW 9.1-channel home theater and the BP730 Blu-ray player include the short-range wireless format to simplify mirroring content from your Optimus G (and, most likely, other NFC phones). The surround system also packs an iPod dock and a Private Audio Mode that funnels sound to a nearby smartphone when a quiet house is paramount. Beyond these two devices, LG promises the Bluetooth-equipped, 310W NB4530A sound bar, a ND8630 speaker dock with both Android and iOS support (including AirPlay and Bluetooth) and an NP6630 portable speaker that stuffs AirPlay, Bluetooth and NFC into its frame. We'll know more at CES next month, but those who want LG's overview can see it for themselves after the break.
VATICAN CITY (AP) ? In his Christmas message to the world Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to the slaughter in Syria and for more meaningful negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, while encouraging more religious freedom under China's new leaders.
Delivering the traditional speech from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Benedict also encouraged Arab spring nations, especially Egypt, to build just and respectful societies.
The pope prayed that China's new leadership may "esteem the contribution of the religions, in respect for each other" to help build a "fraternal society for the benefit of that noble people."
It was a clear reference to the Chinese government's often harsh treatment of Catholics loyal to the pontiff instead of to the state-sanctioned church. Earlier this month, the Vatican refused to accept the decision by Chinese authorities to revoke the title of a Shanghai bishop, who had been appointed in a rare show of consensus between the Holy See and China.
As the 85-year-old pontiff, bundled up in an ermine-trimmed red cape, gingerly stepped foot on the balcony, the pilgrims, tourists and Romans below backing St. Peter's Square erupted in cheers.
Less than 12 hours earlier, Benedict had led a two-hour long Christmas Eve ceremony in the basilica. He sounded hoarse and looked weary as he read his Christmas message and then holiday greetings in 65 languages.
In his "Urbi et Orbi" speech, which traditionally reviews world events and global challenges, Benedict prayed that "peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict that does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims."
He called for easier access to help refugees and for "dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict."
Benedict prayed that God "grant Israelis and Palestinians courage to end long years of conflict and division, and to embark resolutely on the path to negotiation."
Israel, backed by the United States, opposed the Palestinian statehood bid, saying it was a ploy to bypass negotiations, something the Palestinians deny. Talks stalled four years ago.
Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said that in a meeting with the pope last week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "emphasized our total readiness to resume negotiations." The Palestinians have not dropped their demand that Israel first stop settlement activities before returning to the negotiating table.
Hours earlier, in the ancient Bethlehem church built over the site where tradition holds Jesus was born, candles illuminated the sacred site and the joyous sound of prayer filled its overflowing halls.
Overcast skies and a cold wind in the Holy Land didn't dampen the spirits of worshippers in the biblical West Bank town. Bells pealed and long lines formed inside the fourth-century Church of the Nativity complex as Christian faithful waited to see the grotto that is Jesus' traditional birthplace.
Duncan Hardock, 24, a writer from MacLean, Virginia, traveled to Bethlehem from the republic of Georgia, where he had been teaching English. After passing through the separation barrier Israel built to ward off West Bank attackers, he walked to Bethlehem's Manger Square where the church stands.
"I feel we got to see both sides of Bethlehem in a really short period of time," Hardock said. "On our walk from the wall, we got to see the lonesome, closed side of Bethlehem ... But the moment we got into town, we're suddenly in the middle of the party."
Bethlehem lies 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Jerusalem. Entry to the city is controlled by Israel, which occupied the West Bank in 1967.
For those who couldn't fit into the cavernous Bethlehem church, a loudspeaker outside broadcast the Christmas day service to hundreds of faithful in the square.
Their Palestinian hosts, who welcome this holiday as the high point of their city's year, were especially joyous this season, proud of the United Nations' recognition of an independent state of Palestine just last month.
"From this holy place, I invite politicians and men of good will to work with determination for peace and reconciliation that encompasses Palestine and Israel in the midst of all the suffering in the Middle East," said the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal in his annual address.
Back at the Vatican, Benedict offered encouragement to countries after the Arab spring of democracy protests. He had a special word for Egypt, "blessed by the childhood of Jesus."
Without citing the tumultuous politics and clashes in the region, he urged the North African region to build societies "founded on justice and respect for the dignity of every person."
Benedict prayed for the return of peace in Mali and harmony in Nigeria, where, he recalled "savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians."
The Vatican for decades has been worried about the well-being of its flock in China, who are loyal to the pope in defiance of the communist's government support of an officially sponsored church, and relations between Beijing and the Holy See are often tense.
Speaking about China's newly installed regime leaders, Benedict expressed hope that "they will esteem the contribution of the religions, in respect for each other, in such a way that they can help to build a fraternal society for the benefit of that noble people and of the whole world."
Acknowledging Latin America's predominant Christian population, he urged government leaders to carry out commitments to development and to fighting organized crime.
In Britain, the royal family was attending Christmas Day church services at St. Mary Magdelene Church on Queen Elizabeth II's sprawling Sandringham estate, though there were a few notable absences. Prince William is spending the holiday with his pregnant wife Kate and his in-laws in the southern England village of Bucklebury, while Prince Harry is serving with British troops in Afghanistan.
Later Tuesday, the queen delivered her traditional, prerecorded Christmas message, which for the first time was broadcast in 3D.
At Canterbury cathedral, Anglican leader Rowan Williams delivered his final Christmas day sermon as archbishop of Canterbury. He acknowledged how the church's General Synod's vote against allowing women to become bishops had cost credibility and said the faithful felt a "real sense of loss" over the decision.
In the U.S., the Rev. Jesse Jackson brought his message of anti-violence and gun control to a Chicago jail, using his traditional Christmas Day sermon at the facility to challenge inmates to help get guns off the streets.
"We've all been grieving about the violence in Newtown, Connecticut, the last few days," he told reporters after addressing inmates, referring to the school shooting that killed 26 children and adults. "Most of those here today ... have either shot somebody or been shot. We're recruiting them to help us stop the flow of guns."
___
Dalia Nammari in Bethlehem, Cassandra Vinograd in London and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report.
PRLog (Press Release) - Dec. 24, 2012 - Ever sat in a class, hoping the teacher won?t look at you, or even worse ask you a question in front of everybody. Have you been to a talk and really wanted to ask a question but didn?t just in case other people might be critical? How many possibly helpful things have you NOT done because you have avoided the situation.
Avoiding everyday things we know we need to do is a sure sign of stress. When we stress out about doing something we know could be helpful, we will often behave as if the situation is much worse than it really is. Avoiding truly bad stuff is important to do, like walking around dangerous neighbourhoods after dark. But NOT having that difficult conversation at work or running that presentation could hold us back in life. Avoiding the everyday uncomfortable stuff is unhealthy and if you are doing this then you probably already know you need to do something about it.
There is lots of Stress Management (https://www.calmconfidentme.com/stress-management-techniques) help out there, unfortunately it is almost all aimed at relieving the symptoms of stress. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, worry beads, stress balls, breathing exercises, yoga and jogging all work on helping us after we become stressed. ?Man, I am so stressed I just have to have a surf?, first you get stressed then you relieve the symptoms. Well how about this for an idea, treat the cause of stress and stop or reduce the stress before it gets you.
Treating the cause of stress is both easy and hard. Like football, it?s easy to understand you need to control the ball but in a game it?s much harder to do. Now you wouldn?t expect to improve your football or tennis without some sort of help and the same is true for learning how to deal with stress. Getting an individual coach could be expensive, time consuming and personally intrusive even if you could find someone who knows what to do and how to work with you. Fortunately there is a short cut to learning the causes of stress and how to deal with them. A new stress reduction program (https://www.calmconfidentme.com/stress-reduction-program) called Calm Confident Me packages the best of therapy techniques and practical experience in an 8 week self-improvement program. It is available for download at www.CalmConfidentMe.com and is written by a Masters qualified counselor with over 15 years of practical experience. Because it?s self-paced learning you work in the privacy of your own home. There are no waiting rooms or hassles with appointments and it comes with a sixty day money back guarantee. You can?t lose.
Calm Confident Me uses a practical, easy to understand approach to self-understanding and self-control. Once you know in everyday terms what it is you are doing to stress yourself out and simple ways to manage your stress reactions you can relax more and get on with enjoying your life. Try it out with a money back guarantee in the privacy of your own home; Calm Confident Me teaches stress management techniques to help you build self confidence, become calmer and happier. It?s a recipe for personal success.
CalmConfidentMe is an online business selling a digital self-education stress management program. We believe that clients can live better through a neuroscience approach to skills training.
For more information ? Calm Confident Me Ian Berghofer ianbmail@aol.com infocalmconfidentme@gmail.com PO Box 1221 Elanora P.O. Qld Australia 4221
Mobile gets bigger
Hardcore online games will match the quality of console games
The battle royale for gaming will commence
Microsoft and Sony will both announce and launch their next-generation systems
Nintendo?s Wii U console will fail
Smart TV games will finally become a reality
Gesture technologies will take off
First-person shooter games will grab market share on tablets
The game controller will become the king maker
The barriers will come down between real-money gambling and social casino games
eSports will take off
Gamification will continue to spread the influence of games
The founder of Pilates, Joseph H. Pilates, had some serious health problem such as asthma as a kid, he built his body and grew stronger and became an athlete. As a nurse in Great Britain during World War I, he designed exercise methods and equipment for immobilized patients and soldiers. He also developed a series of mat exercises that focus on the torso and by combining various exercise methods such as the mind-body formats of yoga and Chinese martial arts he created a new routine exercise.
Pilates has been demonstrated to reduce stress, anxiety, and helps lift depression. The mind-body connection is fundamental to the study and practice of Pilates. As you see Pilates has numerous benefits that one can attain through regular use of the exercise program. It also strengthens your body and helps prevent future injuries. Since no set of muscles is ever over or under trained, there is less risk for injury.
