Short-handed Spurs fall to Heat, 105-100

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, talks to DeJuan Blair (45) and Gary Neal (14) during a time out in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, talks to DeJuan Blair (45) and Gary Neal (14) during a time out in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks to reporters before an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, in Miami. ( AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Miami Heat's LeBron James, foreground, is pursued by San Antonio Spurs' Boris Diaw (33) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, Pedro Portal) MAGAZINES OUT

San Antonio Spurs' Patrick Mills (8) drives around Miami Heat's Norris Cole (30) in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, in Miami. ( AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, right, shoots to the basket against San Antonio Spurs' DeJuan Blair, top left,and Nando De Colo, bottom, left, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, Pedro Portal) MAGAZINES OUT

MIAMI (AP) ? When Gregg Popovich gives his best players a night off to rest, it's not uncommon for the San Antonio Spurs coach to get letters from upset fans.

This time, he's going to hear from an upset commissioner ? even after Popovich's short-handed team nearly knocked off the Miami Heat.

Ray Allen's 3-pointer with 22.6 seconds left gave Miami the lead, LeBron James finished with 23 points and the Heat rallied to beat the Spurs 105-100 on Thursday night ? digging deep despite San Antonio's decision to have four top players resting at home in a move that bothered NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The Spurs played without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green, all sent back to San Antonio by Popovich, who said the move was in his team's best interest.

"I don't think Pop was in the wrong," James said.

Stern disagreed, calling the decision "unacceptable," apologizing to fans and saying that sanctions against the Spurs will be forthcoming.

"Oh, it would have been great if we won," Spurs forward Matt Bonner said after hearing about Stern's statement. "It goes back to what I was saying, I'm sure everybody else was saying before the game. We have faith in everybody on our roster. We think we have one of the deepest teams in the league."

The Heat weren't disagreeing afterward.

"We survived," Chris Bosh said. "And we won. They have a bunch of talented guys over there. I know that nobody's going to really give them credit, but they are a tough bunch."

How tough? Try this ? the Spurs led by seven with 4:48 left, and the margin was 98-93 when Gary Neal made a 3-pointer with 2:14 remaining.

From there, Miami closed on a 12-2 run.

But all anyone will likely remember from this one is Popovich's decision ? and whatever Stern does as a result.

"I apologize to all NBA fans," Stern said. "This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming."

Allen scored 20 points, Dwyane Wade added 19 and Chris Bosh finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds for Miami, now 7-0 at home.

Neal had 20 points for the Spurs. Tiago Splitter scored 18 points, Nando De Colo added 15, Boris Diaw scored 12 and Bonner had 10 for San Antonio, which finished a six-games-in-nine-nights road trip with a 5-1 record. Bonner also had 10 rebounds, one more than he had grabbed all season entering the game.

"Pop is the coach of the San Antonio Spurs," Neal said. "He did what's best for us."

The Spurs' five starters Thursday night came into the game averaging a combined 23.6 points, or 1.6 points less than James averaged entering the game.

And when the Heat ran out to a 16-6 lead, it seemed a blowout was in the offing. After all, even the oddsmakers in Las Vegas expected it to be that way ? the Heat were favored by six points in most sports books before the news broke that the Spurs' regulars were resting, after which the line swelled to 13.

Apparently, no one told the Spurs that the second-string was supposed to play second-fiddle.

San Antonio closed the first quarter on a 21-6 run, taking a 27-22 lead after the period, and simply did not go away. The Spurs led by as many as seven at one point, and after James Anderson made a pair of free throws with 0.6 seconds left in the third, San Antonio held a 76-73 lead heading into the final 12 minutes.

But once again, James-to-Allen proved magical for Miami.

With the Heat down by one, James nearly lost the ball in the lane, collected himself and kicked it out to Allen, who connected from the left wing to put Miami ahead to stay. James also set up Allen for a final-moment four-point play to lift Miami over Denver earlier this season, along with another late 3-pointer that helped the Heat edge Cleveland last weekend.

"Every time a guy turns his head I have to find the open spot so LeBron can see me," Allen said. "Anything can happen out there. We put ourselves in such a tough situation, but we kept plugging away."

Thing is, no one ever thought it would come down to that.

Before the game, Popovich said he decided to sit his core when he saw how challenging this particular part of the schedule was for his team.

"Everybody has to make decisions about their schedule, about players playing and back-to-backs and trips and that sort of thing," Popovich said before the game. "In our case, this month we've had 11 away games, after tonight. We've had an eight-day trip and a 10-day trip, and we're ending it with four (games) in five nights here. I think it'd be unwise to be playing our guys in that kind of a situation, given their history."

It's not unlike other moves Popovich has made before; in fact, not only did he give Duncan, Parker and Ginobili time off together toward the end of last season, which was condensed by a lockout, he actually flew home to San Antonio with them and took a two-game, pre-playoff sabbatical.

This decision, Popovich said, was more about a home matchup with surging Memphis on Saturday.

"Perhaps it'll give us an opportunity to stay on the court with Memphis on Saturday night," Popovich said. "Historically, when you're on a long road trip, that first game when you come home is really tough. And Memphis is one of the best teams in the league. They're of much more concern to us than playing four games in five nights. It's pretty logical."

Given Stern's statement, it's also logical to think that the Spurs could know their penalty by Saturday as well.

NOTES: Miami last played on Saturday, at home; San Antonio had played on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, all on the road. ... A moment of silence was held before the game for Sasha McHale, the daughter of Houston coach Kevin McHale. Sasha McHale died Saturday at age 23. ... It was the third straight home game in which Miami trailed in the fourth quarter.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-11-30-Spurs-Heat%20Folo/id-e52474c9da164aa8a5f7c8efdad44440

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York recreation complex planning gets fund-raising boost ...

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November 29, 2012 2:03 PM

YORK, Maine ? An estimated 100 people boosted the coffers and efforts of the Friends of the Greater York Recreational Complex by attending a $25 to $30 a head reception at the York Harbor Inn on Wednesday.

The money will be added to the $8,000 the Friends have already raised towards a $20,000 feasibility study to determine the cost, placement, revenue stream and other factors in the group?s proposal to construct a multi-million dollar complex of a swimming pool, tennis and other sports courts and all-around recreational facility in York.

The York Senior Center, currently in the same century old former schoolhouse as the police station, is also under consideration to locate to the new facility after police move to a new building.

How the private business enterprise fits with a town proposed $3.5 million recreation and community center, which has long been on a long-term capital plan, is scheduled to be discussed at a public Capital Planning meeting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the superintendent?s office.

The Friends have said they envision a private/public partnership. When the Friends first pitched the idea for the Greater York Recreational Complex earlier this year, they suggested a membership-funded tennis and swimming facility on town-owned land on Bog Road.

Group founder Norm Martinen of Portsmouth, N.H., has since left the Friends, as his original idea has gone beyond a proposal for tennis courts and a pool, and become more community focused, according to Julie Edminster, vice president for the Friends? board of directors. The new facility, however, is slated to be open to residents beyond York.

Features of the recreational complex, its cost, where it should be built, how its operation will be funded and who should run it, await results of a feasibility study, Edminster said.

?The main objective is to come up with the square footage, the features, court costs, operating expenses and revenue streams,? she said.

The Friends is headed by Ray McMahon of York, president of the board of directors. McMahon formerly lived in Pennsylvania, where there was a recreational facility which had 5,000 members, funded by a private and public partnership, he said.

?We are working on this tirelessly,? McMahon told the crowd at the reception. ?We just know it?s going to happen. It?s tough, the economy is still not good, we know that.?

Once the money is raised, the feasibility study should take about a month and a half to complete, according to Laurel Pollard, finance chairman for the group.

The Friends on Wednesday released results of a survey of 220 people conducted in September and October. Most respondents were from York, said board member Tracy Keirns. They ranked the importance of potential features from high to low. Indoor swimming, aerobics, fitness, a track and multi-sports courts ranked higher than a senior center, child care facilities, arts and crafts space and a kitchen, according to the results.

About 80 percent said they would use the facility at least once a week. One-third said they travelled to Portsmouth for fitness or to use the city?s indoor pool, Keirns said. ?There?s quite a bit of money they?re taking when they go,? she said.

Many of those at Wednesday?s reception were couples who said they wanted a recreational facility where they could bring the kids.

?We have two children in York schools, we use the pool in Portsmouth,? said Barrie Hanlon of York.

Lisa Corcoran of York said she has two children, age 5 and 8. A facility the whole family could use, ?would be amazing,? she said.

Robert Palmer, chairman of the York Budget Committee said he could not speak for the committee, but as an individual, supports the recreational complex. ?I think it?s something the community needs,? he said.

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Source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20121129-NEWS-121129746

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Maths helps mobiles & tablets match eyes' ability to switch from sunshine to shadow

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Alan Chalmers
Alan.Chalmers@gohdr.com
44-024-765-22102
University of Warwick

Researchers have pushed the boundaries of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video to match our own eyes' ability to cope with the real world's ever rapidly changing light intensity - such as sun simply going behind clouds. Now researchers at WMG at the University of Warwick, have found a way to compress and stream HDR video directly to monitors and mobile devices, such as an iPad, bringing enormous benefits to industries including gaming and security.

Researchers at WMG at the University of Warwick, working in partnership with spinout company goHDR Ltd, have succeeded in achieving and patenting a method of real-time encoding and remote display of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video. Working with their Portuguese partner INESC Tec, they have also been able to demonstrate the technique in action on an iPad. This means that full HDR video content can now be encoded and streamed directly to remote displays, including mobile devices, or sent for storage back at home-base. Gaming will be transformed too, with HDR content being directly available for interactive online and cloud-based games.

HDR imagery delivers the wide range of light intensity levels found in real scenes ranging from direct sunlight to details of dark shade. HDR video thus offers "True Brightness"; a significantly enhanced viewing experience. The amount of data required to capture all this extra detail, however, is huge, with high definition True Brightness footage generating the equivalent of a CD worth of data every second. goHDR has a patented algorithm that is capable of compressing HDR frames by at least 150:1 with minimal perceptual loss of quality. The partners have now developed a new method that enables uncompressed HDR frames to be encoded and streamed to a remote device in real-time. Encoding rates of over 60 frames per second (fps) have been achieved for 720p resolution on a modern 16-core computer.

Professor Alan Chalmers, Professor of Visualisation at WMG, University of Warwick and Founder and Innovation Director of goHDR, said:

"This project has brought together worldwide expertise in HDR imaging from the University of Warwick and INESC Tec with the innovation and patented HDR video compression technology of goHDR. Together the partners have clearly demonstrated the technical feasibility of encoding and streaming HDR video content to mobile devices in real-time."

"Previously HDR video compression had to be done off-line. This meant the HDR video data from a camera had to be first stored on special high-speed disks, encoded and finally transmitted. This could take many minutes, precluding any live broadcasts. Real-time encoding now opens up many more opportunities for people to experience HDR content directly. For example:

• In games, it allows full HDR game content to be delivered, even to a player of interactive games, from the cloud. Most video games are generated in HDR but until now, a data transmission bottleneck has prevented this extra realism from being delivered to the user.
• In security, it enables surveillance cameras to deliver live HDR feeds, immediately providing all the details within a scene, even in extreme lighting conditions
• In leisure, it allows streaming HDR content from a consumer camera, for example when snowboarding down a mountain, to your friends watching on their tablets back at home.

Professor Chalmers added: "Our work opens up the real-time delivery of HDR video to a wide range of devices. We expect in the future it will even be possible, with real-time encoding, to capture and stream HDR video from mobile devices."

Dr Maximino Bessa, lead researcher of the project at INESC Tec said: "Mobile devices are rapidly becoming the main means for viewing content and playing games. Delivering HDR video to a tablet brings about a step change in viewing experience for mobile devices."

###

For more information please contact:

Professor Alan Chalmers, WMG, University of Warwick
Innovation Director, goHDR Ltd.
Tel: +44 (0)2476 522102
Email: Alan.Chalmers@gohdr.com

Peter Dunn, email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Head of Communications, Communications Office, University of Warwick,
Tel: +44(0)24 76 523708 Mobile/Cell +44(0)7767 655860

Dr Maximino Bessa
INESC Tec, Portugal
Tel: +351 (0) 259350324
Email: maxbessa@utad.pt

Notes for Editors:

goHDR provides advanced data compression algorithms to customers developing HDR technology. The encoding/decoding software developed by goHDR enables the adoption of HDR video across many sectors, including film and television, computer games, security and mobile devices.

INESC TEC is the name of the Associate Laboratory coordinated by INESC Porto, a private non-profit association with over 25 years of experience in R&D and technology transfer. INESC TEC incorporates 12 Units with complementary competences, always looking to the international market. At INESC TEC, the knowledge and results generated as part of fundamental research are typically applied in technology transfer projects, always guaranteeing added and immediate social relevance. With the recent launching of INESC P&D BRASIL (in So Paulo, Brazil), INESC TEC has strengthened its presence worldwide, always associating Portugal to international scientific excellence.

PR210 29th November 2012

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Alan Chalmers
Alan.Chalmers@gohdr.com
44-024-765-22102
University of Warwick

Researchers have pushed the boundaries of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video to match our own eyes' ability to cope with the real world's ever rapidly changing light intensity - such as sun simply going behind clouds. Now researchers at WMG at the University of Warwick, have found a way to compress and stream HDR video directly to monitors and mobile devices, such as an iPad, bringing enormous benefits to industries including gaming and security.

Researchers at WMG at the University of Warwick, working in partnership with spinout company goHDR Ltd, have succeeded in achieving and patenting a method of real-time encoding and remote display of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video. Working with their Portuguese partner INESC Tec, they have also been able to demonstrate the technique in action on an iPad. This means that full HDR video content can now be encoded and streamed directly to remote displays, including mobile devices, or sent for storage back at home-base. Gaming will be transformed too, with HDR content being directly available for interactive online and cloud-based games.

HDR imagery delivers the wide range of light intensity levels found in real scenes ranging from direct sunlight to details of dark shade. HDR video thus offers "True Brightness"; a significantly enhanced viewing experience. The amount of data required to capture all this extra detail, however, is huge, with high definition True Brightness footage generating the equivalent of a CD worth of data every second. goHDR has a patented algorithm that is capable of compressing HDR frames by at least 150:1 with minimal perceptual loss of quality. The partners have now developed a new method that enables uncompressed HDR frames to be encoded and streamed to a remote device in real-time. Encoding rates of over 60 frames per second (fps) have been achieved for 720p resolution on a modern 16-core computer.

Professor Alan Chalmers, Professor of Visualisation at WMG, University of Warwick and Founder and Innovation Director of goHDR, said:

"This project has brought together worldwide expertise in HDR imaging from the University of Warwick and INESC Tec with the innovation and patented HDR video compression technology of goHDR. Together the partners have clearly demonstrated the technical feasibility of encoding and streaming HDR video content to mobile devices in real-time."

"Previously HDR video compression had to be done off-line. This meant the HDR video data from a camera had to be first stored on special high-speed disks, encoded and finally transmitted. This could take many minutes, precluding any live broadcasts. Real-time encoding now opens up many more opportunities for people to experience HDR content directly. For example:

• In games, it allows full HDR game content to be delivered, even to a player of interactive games, from the cloud. Most video games are generated in HDR but until now, a data transmission bottleneck has prevented this extra realism from being delivered to the user.
• In security, it enables surveillance cameras to deliver live HDR feeds, immediately providing all the details within a scene, even in extreme lighting conditions
• In leisure, it allows streaming HDR content from a consumer camera, for example when snowboarding down a mountain, to your friends watching on their tablets back at home.

Professor Chalmers added: "Our work opens up the real-time delivery of HDR video to a wide range of devices. We expect in the future it will even be possible, with real-time encoding, to capture and stream HDR video from mobile devices."

Dr Maximino Bessa, lead researcher of the project at INESC Tec said: "Mobile devices are rapidly becoming the main means for viewing content and playing games. Delivering HDR video to a tablet brings about a step change in viewing experience for mobile devices."

###

For more information please contact:

Professor Alan Chalmers, WMG, University of Warwick
Innovation Director, goHDR Ltd.
Tel: +44 (0)2476 522102
Email: Alan.Chalmers@gohdr.com

Peter Dunn, email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Head of Communications, Communications Office, University of Warwick,
Tel: +44(0)24 76 523708 Mobile/Cell +44(0)7767 655860

Dr Maximino Bessa
INESC Tec, Portugal
Tel: +351 (0) 259350324
Email: maxbessa@utad.pt

Notes for Editors:

goHDR provides advanced data compression algorithms to customers developing HDR technology. The encoding/decoding software developed by goHDR enables the adoption of HDR video across many sectors, including film and television, computer games, security and mobile devices.

INESC TEC is the name of the Associate Laboratory coordinated by INESC Porto, a private non-profit association with over 25 years of experience in R&D and technology transfer. INESC TEC incorporates 12 Units with complementary competences, always looking to the international market. At INESC TEC, the knowledge and results generated as part of fundamental research are typically applied in technology transfer projects, always guaranteeing added and immediate social relevance. With the recent launching of INESC P&D BRASIL (in So Paulo, Brazil), INESC TEC has strengthened its presence worldwide, always associating Portugal to international scientific excellence.

PR210 29th November 2012

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/uow-mhm112912.php

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Former President George H.W. Bush hospitalized

By Elizabeth Chuck and Jamie Gangel, NBC News

Richard Carson / Reuters file

Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush stands during the national anthem at an NFL game in Houston on Nov. 4.

Former President George H.W. Bush has been hospitalized in Houston?with bronchitis.

Bush, 88, has been suffering from a severe cough, and he?s been in and out of the hospital for the last couple of weeks. He was admitted out of "an abundance of caution" due to his age, a source close to the family told NBC News.

"President Bush has been in and out of The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center being treated for complications related to his bronchitis. He is in stable condition, and is expected to be released within the next 72 hours," Methodist Hospital said in a statement Thursday.

Bronchitis is a common condition in which the bronchial tubes in the lungs become inflamed and produce mucus, which creates the need to cough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can turn serious in people with weak immune systems, including children and the elderly. Symptoms such as chest pain, weakness and coughing typically last two weeks, but can linger for as much as two months.?

The former president?s illness, though concerning, shouldn?t be life-threatening, said Dr. Zab Mosenifar, medical director of the Women?s Guild Lung Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Bronchitis in the elderly is ?very, very common,? he said, but also very treatable.?

It?s possible the illness could progress to pneumonia, a frequent complication of bronchitis, which would require antibiotics and further treatment.?

?As far as I know, he doesn?t have history of smoking,? Mosenifar said.??He is a healthy person and he should do fine.??

Bush served as the 41st?president of the United States from 1989-1993, the capstone of a long career of public service. He lost his first bid for the Republican nomination for presidency in 1980, at which time Ronald Reagan chose him to be his running mate. He went on to serve two terms as Reagan?s vice president.

Bush had been a Texas Republican member of the House of Representatives in the 1960s and 1970s and head of the CIA from 1976-1977.?The organization?s headquarters in Langley, Va., was later?renamed the ?George Bush Center for Intelligence.?

Before moving to Texas, where Bush made money in oil and petroleum,?Bush?served?as a combat pilot during World War II and attended Yale University. He got married in 1945.

Bush and his wife, Barbara, had six children; one, Robin, died as a child, according to his official?WhiteHouse.gov biography. His son George W. Bush became the 43rd president of the United States; another son, Jeb Bush, was governor of Florida for nearly a decade, and is considered a?top contender for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Bush has had an active post-presidential life. He teamed up with Bill Clinton to raise money for the victims of the Asian tsunami in late 2004. That effort was so successful, the two former presidents did the same for Katrina victims in 2005.?

NBC News' JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.

Robert Sullivan / AFP - Getty Images

Leader of an American political dynasty, George Bush's influence was felt beyond his terms as president and vice president. Take a look back at his life and career.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/29/15543363-former-president-george-hw-bush-88-hospitalized-with-bronchitis?lite

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Bankruptcy Court Warns on WARN

Judge Martin Glenn of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York recently dismissed a putative class action complaint filed on behalf of former employees of MF Global that alleged the chapter 11 trustee for MF Global Holdings Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries and the SIPA trustee for MF Global Inc. failed to provide sufficient notice under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (the ?WARN Act?) and the New York version of the WARN Act prior to terminating such employees.? In its memorandum opinion and order, the bankruptcy court considered whether the SIPA trustee and chapter 11 trustee were ?employers? for purposes of the WARN Act and the NY WARN Act or ?liquidating fiduciaries? who are excepted from the obligation to comply with advance notice requirements under the WARN statutes, in which case the actions of the trustees would be protected.

On October 31, 2011, pursuant to the Securities Investor Protection Act, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered the order commencing the liquidation of MF Global Inc., the U.S. broker-dealer arm of the MF Global enterprise, and appointed James W. Giddens as the SIPA trustee.? (Under SIPA section 78eee, upon the grant by the district court of the ?protective decree? and the appointment of the SIPA trustee, the liquidation proceeding is removed to the bankruptcy court.)? SIPA section 78fff(a), among other things, requires a SIPA trustee to liquidate the broker-dealer business.? That same day, the broker-dealer?s parent company, MF Global Holdings Ltd., and its affiliated financing company, MF Global Finance USA Inc., filed voluntary chapter 11 petitions.? Approximately two weeks later, on November 11, 2011, the putative class members were dismissed from their employment.? On November 21, 2011, the debtors and the statutory creditors? committee filed a joint emergency motion seeking the appointment of a chapter 11 trustee, which the court granted a week later.

The only purpose of the SIPA proceeding for the MF broker-dealer (which employed the bulk of the terminated MF employees) could be liquidation.? The stated purpose of the chapter 11 filings, however, was less clear. ?Although the first day affidavit and the statements at the first day hearing indicated that the MF Global chapter 11 cases were filed with the hope of reorganizing, these statements conflicted with those made in the emergency motion seeking the appointment of a chapter 11 trustee ?to reorganize and/or liquidate the [d]ebtors? assets for the benefit of the . . . estates,? which also stated that ?[t]he primary objective for the duration of the chapter 11 cases is the orderly wind-down of the [d]ebtors? various assets.?? The bankruptcy court observed, ?With the appointment of the Chapter 11 Trustee on November 28, 2011, it became clear that the only possible outcome for the chapter 11 [d]ebtors was liquidation.? But between October 31, 2011 and November 22, 2011, there is nothing in the record to establish that the chapter 11 [d]ebtors intended to liquidate.?

Having established the differing original objectives of the SIPA proceeding and the chapter 11 cases, Judge Glenn then considered whether the trustees were ?employers? for the purposes of the WARN statutes.? Both trustees relied upon the preamble to the explanatory WARN Act Regulations issued by the Secretary of the Department of Labor to exclude themselves from the definition of ?employer.?? As a matter of law, the bankruptcy court concluded that the MF broker-dealer was liquidating when the layoffs occurred because the SIPA trustee was empowered by law only to liquidate the business, and as such, the SIPA trustee was a ?liquidating fiduciary? and did not fall within the definition of ?employer.?? Accordingly, the SIPA trustee was excepted from the obligation to comply with the advance notice requirements under the WARN statutes.

Although the bankruptcy court also granted the chapter 11 trustee?s motion to dismiss, it did so without prejudice and without basing its decision on the ?liquidating fiduciary? principle.? Unlike the SIPA trustee?s motion to dismiss, disputed issues of fact existed with respect to the chapter 11 debtors.? Moreover, the class action complaint itself did not allege whether the debtors were seeking to reorganize or to liquidate.? Having concluded that the allegations in the complaint were deficient, the court granted the chapter 11 trustee?s motion to dismiss, but also granted the putative class representatives leave to amend their complaint within thirty days.? The bankruptcy court noted, however, that any subsequent amendment of the complaint would not preclude the court from dismissing the amended complaint based on the ?liquidating fiduciary? principle.

Thielmann reminds (or perhaps warns) debtors and their professionals that the interplay between the Bankruptcy Code and various federal and state statutes can be complicated and often ill-defined.? Moreover, what may appear to be innocuous, generic statements made in first day pleadings may have implications later.?? Unless a debtor-entity is excepted from the definition of ?employer? pursuant to the WARN statutes, a debtor (or its trustee) is warned to WARN.

Disclosure:? Although Weil is not involved in the WARN litigation, we represent the Administrators in certain of the proceedings relating to MF Global?s UK subsidiaries, including its UK broker-dealer.

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Source: http://business-finance-restructuring.weil.com/notices/bankruptcy-court-warns-on-warn/

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Wal-Mart, Disney clothes found in Bangladesh fire

Boxes of garments lay near equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory,on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

Boxes of garments lay near equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory,on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

A Disney brand sweater lays among equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

Walmart's Faded Glory label is seen on a piece of clothing laying among equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

A Disney brand sweater lays among the equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 people Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

A piece of clothing with a label referring to German brand KIK as the buyer lays among equipment charred in the fire that killed 112 workers Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaha, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of them ? Wal-Mart ? had been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. (AP Photo/Ashraful Alam Tito)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) ? The garment factory in Bangladesh where 112 people were killed in a fire had been making clothes for Wal-Mart, Disney, Sears and other major global retailers ? some of whom say they thought they had stopped doing business with the place.

The apparent confusion underscored what some industry experts say is a major obstacle to improving factory safety in developing nations: Many retailers in the U.S. and Europe rely on such a long and complex chain of manufacturers, vendors and middlemen to keep their shelves stocked that it is difficult to keep track of where certain products are made.

Amid the blackened tables and melted sewing machines at Tazreen Fashions Ltd., an Associated Press reporter discovered clothes and account books Wednesday that indicated the factory was used by a host of U.S. and European retailers.

Among the items discovered: children's shorts with Wal-Mart's Faded Glory label, hooded sweaters marked "Disney Pixar," shorts with hip-hop star Sean Combs' ENYCE tag, and sweaters from the French company Teddy Smith and the Scottish company Edinburgh Woollen Mill. Sears was among the companies listed in the account books.

The tragedy is putting a spotlight on dangerous workplace conditions around the world, with no clear answers to how consumers should react or who is ultimately responsible.

Wal-Mart said that it received a safety audit that showed the factory was "high-risk" and had decided well before the blaze to stop doing business with Tazreen. But it said a supplier had continued to use Tazreen without authorization.

When pressed for an explanation of how a supplier could use a factory without the retailer's approval and whether it happened often, Kevin Gardner, a Wal-Mart spokesman, did not directly address the issue in emails to The Associated Press.

Sears said it learned after the blaze that its merchandise was being produced there without its approval through a vendor, which has since been fired. Walt Disney Co., which licenses its characters to clothing makers, said its records indicate that none of its licensees have been permitted to make Disney-brand products at the factory for at least a year.

Retailers like Wal-Mart have contract clauses that require suppliers to disclose all factories and subcontractors producing merchandise for sale. But it's hard to crack down on unauthorized subcontracting, said Josh Green, chief executive of New York-based Panjiva, which tracks shipments for factories outside the U.S.

"The reality is you have to have round-the-clock monitoring of every aspect of the supplier's operations," he said. "It's just not feasible."

Green noted that subcontracting is pervasive as suppliers look for ways to cut costs.

"You have relentless pressure that consumers put on retailers and that retailers put on their suppliers to deliver lower and lower prices," he said. "And that pressure is a key reason why you see factories cutting corners."

Bangladesh's fast-growing garment industry ? second only to China's in exports ? has long provided jobs and revenue for the desperately poor country, while turning out the low-priced products shoppers in the U.S. and other countries have come to enjoy. But the industry has a ghastly safety record; more than 300 workers have died in garment factory fires in Bangladesh since 2006.

Labor activists have seized on the blaze ? the deadliest in Bangladesh's nearly 35-year history of exporting clothing ? to argue that retailers must insist on more stringent fire standards.

Charles Kernaghan, director of the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, said nothing will change unless clothing companies protect workers as vigorously as they do their brands.

"The labels are legally protected," he said. "But there are no similar laws to protect rights of the worker."

Green said some companies are more conscientious than others in selecting factories. Some pick a manufacturer and do little or no investigation, he said, while others analyze factories' past infractions and pay monthly visits.

"There's a fundamental difference between companies who do the check-the-box approach and companies who are serious about due diligence," he said.

On Wednesday, police arrested three factory officials suspected of locking in the workers who died in Saturday's blaze on the outskirts of Dhaka. Police Chief Habibur Rahman said the three will be questioned. He said the factory owner was not among those arrested.

About 1,400 people worked at the factory, about 70 percent of them women. Survivors said exit doors were locked, and a fire official said the death toll would have been much lower if the eight-story building had had an emergency exit.

The fire broke out on the ground floor, where a factory worker named Nasima said stacks of yarn and clothes blocked part of the stairway. Nasima, who uses only one name, and other workers said that when they tried to flee, managers told them to go back to their work stations.

"Everyone was screaming for help," Nasima said. "Total chaos, panic and screaming. Everyone was trying to escape and come out. I was pulling the shirt of a man. I fainted and when I woke up I found myself lying on the road outside the factory. I don't know how I survived."

Workers expressed support for the factory owner, Delwar Hossain. Mohammad Rajib said he is "a gentle man" who heeded workers when they protested for more pay and against rough treatment by some managers.

"He took action and fired some of them," he said. "He did not sack any worker. He told us: 'You are my people. If you survive, I will survive.'"

___

Associated Press writers Farid Hossain in Dhaka and Mae Anderson and Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-28-Bangladesh-Factory%20Fire/id-7b83cb1fd1cd4f1ca1e1b00b854a5c79

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Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing on How the Music Industry is ...

Mike's blog is MKDO.co. ?He raises some excellent points with this post.

Forget piracy. The music industry?s biggest money-loser is an inability to connect with older people that used to spend money on music, and don?t anymore.

I had a long call with people I work with, and I had ideas about finding my way to new listeners. Having this excellent second-act career, as a middle-aged artist, making singer-songwriter music that some Soul Coughing fans don?t like?and, pointedly, vice-versa?I want to get in front of the audiences of other artists with listeners in their late 30s, 40s, early 50s; to generally find older people that would like the songs. I?d like to widen my audience.

They were all ears?as was I, to their ideas. My agents (at High Road) and my management (Hornblow) are samurais. Unfortunately, our business is utterly focused on strategies to get music in front of people in their teens and 20s. Other than pushing what worked on younger people, and complaining that those avenues are ineffective with those same fans as adults, the bulk of our business isn?t TRYING to reach older listeners. However skilled, there?s only so much rain my peeps can make, without a wider culture built to help.

You get told that adults aren?t interested in music. That?s bunk. People who like art don?t stop liking art. They go to movies. The film industry makes a lot of money on blockbusters that young people love, but they also make money on subtler, artier stuff, that adults like, in a way that the music business hasn?t figured out.

If you put on an awesome rock record, singer/songwriter record, 80s/90s-style hip-hop record, middle-aged (let?s begin by being unafraid of that term) adults will dig it.

Read the rest of the post here.

Me? ?I'd love to see Mike perform this Soul Coughing classic.

Source: http://www.alancross.ca/a-journal-of-musical-things/2012/11/27/mike-doughty-of-soul-coughing-on-how-the-music-industry-is-i.html

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ramgopall987456ramgopall987456: Hobby Lobby Stores - AppAggie

Added: 6 hours ago
via: Android Market
Category: Lifestyle
By: Hobby Lobby...
Updated: November 15, 2012
????? 60 ratings
Requires Android 2.3.3 and up

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We are not just an arts and crafts store. With over 65,000 items to explore including Home Accents, Crafts, Hobbies, Picture Framing, Jewelry Making, Fashion Fabrics, Floral, Cards & Party, Baskets, Wearable Art and Holiday Supplies, Hobby Lobby is the place to shop with super savings and super selections every day!
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The Hobby Lobby coupon you have come to love is just a tap away! Use it in the store or online!
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Tap to find the closest Hobby Lobby! Each store provides an enjoyable and enriched shopping experience providing exceptional value and the widest variety of home dcor merchandise and crafting supplies, all under one roof.
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Did you receive a gift card and need to check your balance? Tap to check your balance. Now you can plan your next shopping experience at Hobby Lobby!
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What?s in this version:

- Bug fixes

Source: http://appaggie.com/2012/11/18/hobby-lobby-stores/

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Android 4.2.1 update hitting Nexus 4 and Nexus 10

'December birthday' bug in People app fixed in latest OTA

According to reports from the Android Central forums and XDA, Google's new Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 devices are currently being upgraded over-the-air to a new version of Android, ver. 4.2.1. We've not yet been able to confirm whether 4.2.1 is also hitting the Nexus 7 or Galaxy Nexus, but we're sure these devices will get this latest update soon if it's not already going out.

The update fixes the notorious "December birthday" bug, which prevented any date in the month of December from being selected as a birthday or anniversary in the People app. So far we haven't noticed any other differences in the new software, which carries the build number JOP40D.

On the Nexus 4, the radio firmware version is unchanged from 4.2, and the hidden option that enabled some to use LTE on band 4 still seems to be present in the latest software. We can't verify first-hand that this unadvertised feature still works, but it doesn't look like this update has done anything to disable it.

As is always the case with these over-the-air updates, not all devices will get the update immediately, and we'd expect it to take a few days before everyone is up-to-date on 4.2.1. Nevertheless, we'll keep this post updated with direct links to the OTA packages for advanced users who want to flash them directly.

Google OTA links:

• Android 4.2 to 4.2.1 - Nexus 4

Source: XDA (1, 2), Android Central forums (1, 2)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/7rhVM6L7ml8/story01.htm

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700 - Turning Your Hobby into a Business

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE FIRST BRAND IN THE MARKETPLACE WAS?AND DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY WORK SO WELL THESE DAYS?? ?Everybody is talking about ?their? brand. ?Maybe it is time you began to wkr on yours.

Nothing has influenced the marketplace as much as personal branding has over these last few years. ?And few individuals ever give ?branding? much attention. ?But if you are going to separate yourself in the marketplace?you gotta have a brand.

THIS NEXT THREE WEBINARS ARE

1. ?PERSONAL BUSINESS BRANDING THEORY

2. ?BUILDING YOUR OWN BRAND IDEAS

3. ?HOW TO USE YOUR BRAND

The marketplace is fast becoming a very competitive place. ?The whole internet is ??on fire? with anything and everything about PERSONAL BRANDING. ?Perhaps this is a series you shouldn?t miss. ?I know it is a busy time of the year?but that is also the very reason a ?brand? helps with your marketing efforts. ?THIS IS AN IDEA THT WILL HELP YOUR NAME AND REPUTATION GROW EVEN FASTER NEXT YEAR. ?See you there at 7 pm. ?Lew

Source: http://lewjensenstudio.com/why-brands-work-brand-one/

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Why are Qatar and Iran courting Palestine's rebels?

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? The courtship of Hamas between rivals Iran and Qatar has been one of the Middle East's intriguing subplots of the Arab Spring. The bloodshed in Gaza has now sharpened their competition for influence with the Palestinian militant group and the direction it takes in the future.

Qatar has sought to use its vast wealth to win over Hamas with investments and humanitarian aid and encouraging Arab partners to do the same ? part of the hyper-rich U.S. allied nation's broader campaign to bring under its wing Islamist movements that have risen to power in the region the past two years. Qatar's influence with Hamas could edge it away from armed action toward diplomacy.

Iran, meanwhile, is invigorating its longtime role as the builder of the rocket arsenal for Hamas' military wing.

For Hamas, there are benefits in both directions ? and it's happy to play both sides. During a celebration rally in Gaza City after an Egyptian-mediated cease-fire came into place ending fighting between Israel and Hamas, Gazans wildly waved flags of Qatar, along with those of Egypt and Turkey, in gratitude for those countries' diplomatic support.

At the same time, Hamas' leader-in-exile Khaled Mashaal, who is based out of Qatar, gave a very public thanks to Iran for standing by Gaza with crucial military assistance. Fighters in Gaza also hailed the new reach of their arsenal, with Iranian-designed Fajr-5 rattling Israel by reaching the outskirts of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Visiting the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday, Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani, who is close to the country's supreme leader, promised leaders of Palestinian militant groups that his country would continue to boost "the resistance's capabilities in confronting the Zionist arrogance and aggression," according to Palestinian official Khaled Abdul-Hamid, who attended the meeting.

The reminder of Hamas' reliance on Iran for weapons could help smooth a relationship that has been running through a rough patch because of the civil war in Syria, Iran's top ally.

Embarrassed by the Syrian regime's crackdown on a mainly Sunni Muslim uprising, Hamas leaders based in Damascus for years broke with Syria and left for Qatar and Egypt. Though Iran continued to send weapons to Hamas, the break undermined the "Axis of Resistance" grouping Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas that Iran has assembled in the Arab world.

It's doubtful Iran can fully reclaim its position as the main big brother for Hamas. But Tehran's image is certain to receive some lingering boost in Gaza.

For Hamas, hyper-rich Qatar is a political and economic lifeline, a key part of the militant group's attempts to bolster its ties with the Western-backed Gulf states in efforts gain more international legitimacy. Last month, Qatar's emir became the first head of state to visit the Gaza Strip since Hamas took control five years ago. The Gulf state pledged nearly $500 million in aid and a song called "Thank you, Qatar" played on Gaza radio and TV as the emir was given a hero's welcome.

During the heat of the Gaza battle the past week, Qatar's prime minister gave a blistering dressing down to the Arab League during an emergency meeting, saying Arab nations had to do more to fight Gaza's poverty and isolation than just pass resolutions.

"We can't give hope without delivering," Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani told the gathering last week in Cairo.

Two days after his outburst at the Arab League meeting in Cairo, Sheik Hamad suggested that his country would be willing to open dialogue with Israel on a long-term Gaza truce if it leads to lifting the blockade. The Arab Spring, he added, has made Israel feel more vulnerable, but also perhaps more ready to make deals.

"We need to talk with everyone to reach a comprehensive peace," he told CNN on Monday.

For Qatar, the outreach to Gaza also is part of far wider ambitions to become a major policy-shaper in the Middle East. The tiny Gulf nation has emerged as a strong backer of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has risen to power in Tunisia and Egypt after the fall of those countries' autocratic leaders in early 2011.

In February, Qatar brokered talks between Hamas' Mashaal and his longtime rival, internationally backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Qatar has also sought to influence Syria's rebels. This month, it hosted Syrian opposition groups in a breakthrough effort to unite rebel factions under one coalition, which has opened the way for greater international recognition and promises of aid. Qatar had led calls to supply Syrian rebels with heavy weapons to counter air and tank attacks by Bashar Assad's forces. Qatar also was a key backer of the Libyan uprising.

On Thursday, Qatar also invited the newly formed Syrian opposition coalition to appoint its ambassador to the Gulf state, the Qatari news agency reported.

Salman Shaikh, director of The Brookings Doha Center in Qatar, said it's not a matter of "having to go all for Iran or all for Qatar.'

"What Qatar is trying to do is change the reality. They are trying to blaze a trail that will weaken the international isolation of Gaza from the Israeli blockade," he said.

Qatar has so far stopped short of offering any kind of military support for Gaza to avoid a rift with Washington, Israel's most powerful ally.

Iran takes a very different view.

Officials in Tehran boasted this week about its longtime arms support for Hamas militants ? part of Iran's bookend strategy to equip anti-Israel factions in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon on Israel's northern border.

Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, the head of the Revolutionary Guard, said Iran supplied fighters in Gaza with the technology to "quickly" produce the Fajr-5 missiles. The statement fits with previous Iranian denials that it is not directly sending missiles to Gaza, but suggests close coordination on construction and movement of supplies, presumably through the smugglers' tunnels linking Gaza and Egypt.

The Gaza fighting, at the least, bought Iran some restored street credibility as its image was battered by its backing for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"The war with Israel reminded Hamas that Israel is the main issue not Syria," said Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a professor in politics in Tehran's Allameh University.

But Hamid Reza Shokouhi, editor of Iran's independent Mardomsalari daily, said the bump in Iran's popularity with Gazans could be only "short-term." He questioned whether Iran could sustain its influence in Gaza against the almost unlimited resources of Qatar and its Gulf partners.

Iran's Foreign Ministry and a parliamentary committee have applied for permission to visit Gaza in the coming weeks via the border crossing with Egypt, said Hasan Qashqavi, deputy foreign minister in charge of consular affairs.

Qatar's prime minister said the competition for influence is Gaza only likely to intensify as other nations such as Turkey and Egypt reach out.

"We are not trying to take Hamas from anybody else, from Iran or others," he said in the CNN interview. "Hamas, they have to decide for themselves. I think they are pretty mature to decide for themselves."

___

Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/two-powers-qatar-iran-try-sway-hamas-170329267.html

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Gamers pwn young doctors at robotic surgery ? Video Games ...

The next time you have to go under the knife, you might want to ask the doctor if he?s played any good video games lately. According to a new medical study, gamers have are more likely to have the strong hand-eye coordination skills required for robotic surgery than non-gaming medical residents.

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston took a sample of high school sophomores as well as college students, all of whom said they played video games for multiple hours every day, and then tested their skills in a robotic surgery simulator. The same tests were also given to a sampling of the medical school?s residents.

Their performance was rated across 20 different parameters. Surprisingly (but perhaps not), the high school students ? average age 16 ? had the best average scores. The college students had the second best scores, while the UTMB residents were at the bottom of group.

As if that wasn?t evidence enough, the entire idea for the study was sparked when lead author Dr. Sami Kilic took was with his son, an ?avid gamer,? at a medical convention. Kilic said he was amazed when he saw his son try out a robotic surgery simulator that was on display. He was ?immediately at ease with the technology,? Kilic said.

Robotic surgery is quickly becoming a highly practiced form of medicine. From robotic prostate removal to incredibly precise eye surgery, this emerging form of medical technology is safer, and drastically cuts back on patient recovery time.

It is not that surprising that gamers would be able to grasp the controls and have the precision required for such a task. And in fact, there are actually video games that simulate surgery. So if games can teach people how to drive, why not surgery too?

via Eureka Alert

Source: http://www.geek.com/articles/games/gamers-pwn-doctors-surgery-20121122/

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Expansion, excellence, equity - Education News

A committee formed by the Kerala State Higher Education Council outlines its vision for 10 years

The establishment of a women?s university and separate universities for individual professional courses, 80 per cent commonality of name and content for degree courses across Kerala and the setting up of a State council for social sciences and Humanities are among the major recommendations in an interim report prepared by a committee formed by the Kerala State Higher Education Council to give a new shape to the State?s education policy.

The interim report, presented to the executive council of the council in Thiruvanananthapuram on October 19, outlines a vision for the next 10 years under the titles of ?Expansion,? ?Excellence? and ?Equity.? To bring all these reforms to fruition, the ?tentative financial implication,? as calculated by the committee, is Rs. 3,995 crore.

Under the ?Expansion? title, the committee recommends the institution of separate universities for professional courses. This means separate universities for engineering and medicine (which the State is already moving to) and for nursing, paramedical education, dental science, law and teacher education.

New colleges

While new colleges should be established in the backward districts of Malappuram, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kannur and Idukki, 10 women?s colleges, with full hostel facilities, should be opened, it says.

?The institutional infrastructure and facilities should be increased in order to improve quality and intake in all degree programmes, which are in demand and are relevant to the industry and society,? the committee says.

All institutions should increase their intake by 50 per cent in the next five years and by 100 per cent in the next 10 years for programmes of relevance and demand.

The interim report calls for setting up a State university for distance education. Apart from the dissemination of distance education, this will help phase out the private registration system, it says.

?A modified version of Distance Education called ?Twinning Programme? successfully implemented at Pondicherry University can be adopted by the State Open University of Kerala. This programme is an improved version of the existing system of short contact programmes at the study centres. Under the Twinning Programme, a 120-hour per semester, continuous coaching is offered by established and accredited colleges in the evening hours and weekends, using their own permanent faculty, rather than allowing study centres to hold limited contact classes with hired faculty. The model is based on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and sharing of revenue,? the report notes.

Moreover, all distance education programmes now being offered by various State universities should be brought under a separate directorate of distance education within each university and are to be separated from the mainstream programmes.

The State needs to experiment with community colleges, which offer vocational degree, diploma and certificate programmes ?with potential of job placements of youth, not only in India but also overseas,? the report suggests.

A committee has to be set up to ?identify and frame? the content for those programmes. ?During the XII Plan, at least two community colleges need to be established in the State with complete hostel facilities,? the report recommends.

Current relevance

Higher education programmes of current relevance and demand should be strengthened by modernisation of the curriculum, enhancement of infrastructure and facilities and should only be offered through the choice-based credit and semester system.

Universities and colleges should review the feasibility of continuing with programmes which have low demand and either suspend such courses or restrict them to select colleges, the committee says.

To enhance mobility of students within the State, the committee has called for 80 per cent commonality for degree courses in name and content. A State-level system of coding for all degree programmes should be developed, wherein each course (of three or four credits) is to be designed with a model curriculum and a unique code.

The requirement of total credits and earning a particular degree should be defined with a minimum number of core and optional courses. A 20 per cent flexibility is to be given to each university to modify this content, the committee says.

A panel comprising university and college teachers should be constituted to prepare a manual of minimum educational and infrastructural standards. The Higher Education Council should be entrusted with this task.

As part of a larger initiative for strengthening university and college libraries, a State library portal should be set up. All State universities should become part of this network and all libraries should progressively shift to digital and e-resources for reference books and research journals. A Kerala State library network should be established. Kerala should propose to the University Grants Commission the establishment of a centralised and sophisticated instrumentation facility to be accessed by all teachers and researchers across the State.

Integrated courses

The committee has suggested that all colleges and universities be encouraged to introduce five-year integrated programmes with provision for ?lateral exit? at the end of three or four years with a Bachelor?s degree or a honours degree, respectively. Similarly, universities should be encouraged to start integrated Master?s and doctoral programmes. The concept of evening colleges and evening courses should be fully explored for optimum use of resources and space, the committee suggests.

CCMCU

The committee has called for the abolishment of the affiliation system and has suggested a ?college cluster multiple campus universities (CCMCU) approach? instead. Under this system, colleges are not affiliated but remain part of the university as autonomous entities.

?A college cluster university does not demand huge land areas as it will not have a separate teaching campus, but will have a centralised university office system with centralised examination and academic monitoring. Each of the college that forms an autonomous campus will be headed by a dean and the university office will have the entire administrative system of a university,? the report notes. In addition to multi-campus professional universities, there shall be at least one CCMCU for every district, ?which shall have all the colleges of the district as campuses of that university rather than standalone colleges affiliated to a university,? the report reads.

Substantial Central funding can be expected for this venture. Kerala can also set the tone for the rest of the country by coming up with an Act for establishment of college cluster universities, the report recommends. Each cluster can have 10 to 30 colleges. The State should provide free education to all physically challenged students, the report recommends.

Source: http://www.educationnews.com/2012/11/21/expansion-excellence-equity/

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Third Person Dies After Eating Poisonous Mushrooms At Loomis ...

LOOMIS (CBS13) ? A third person has died after eating poisonous mushrooms at an assisted living home in Placer County earlier this month.

The California Department of Social Services confirms that a third person has died after eating soup made with wild mushrooms at the Gold Age Villa Elder Care Facility on Horseshoe Bar Road in Loomis.

The name of the latest victim has not yet been released. It?s not clear if the victim is one of the residents or the caregiver who made the soup.

The two other victims were identified as 86-year-old Barbara Lopes and 73-year-old Teresa Olesniewicz.

The Gold Age Villa Elder Care Facility is licensed to hold up to six residents.

The incident is still under investigation by the California Department of Social Services, the agency that licenses senior care facilities.

Source: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/11/21/third-person-dies-after-eating-poisonous-mushrooms-at-loomis-elder-care-facility/

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