Monthly Archives: June 2012

Romney outlines plan to make health-care system like ‘consumer market’

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ORLANDO As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the constitutionality of President Obamas health-care overhaul, Mitt Romney laid out an alternative on Tuesday that would make the health insurance system more like a consumer market.

Addressing supporters in Orlando, Romney fleshed out a plan that he proposed earlier, one that would apply free-enterprise principles to the nations health-care system rather than operate it like a government-managed utility, letting competition drive down prices and increase quality. He also vowed to divert federal Medicaid money and other federal funding to state governments, making them responsible for covering the uninsured. And he promised that his plan would help cover people with preexisting conditions, one of the more popular components of Obamas law.

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Romney outlines plan to make health-care system like ‘consumer market’

Seniors program's launch brings confusion, delays for Californians

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Trinidad Contreras enjoys gardening and playing dominoes at his adult day health care center, but a state ruling has the 79-year-old fearfully anticipating an isolated existence.

"At this age, being old and being in the apartment alone, I'm afraid to be alone. I'm afraid I'll get depressed again," he said, speaking in Spanish through an interpreter.

He began to cry.

Until this year, California paid for him to attend Gardner Adult Day Health Care in San Jose.

To save money, the state limited Medi-Cal coverage for such care to those with the most serious needs. Contreras, who sometimes needs help eating because of Parkinson's disease tremors, did not make the cut.

The state this year found 7,000 seniors ineligible out of 35,000 participants in a program originally meant to save money by keeping medically fragile people out of more costly nursing homes and high-cost emergency rooms.

Some 1,800, including Contreras, have appealed, and some centers, unwilling to leave people without services, are sagging under the financial pressure of keeping their doors open to people the state no longer pays for.

In Santa Cruz County

That's the case at Elderday in Santa Cruz, the only adult day health care facility in the county. Program Director Sheri Anselmi said state rate cuts mean the center is losing about $55,000 a month, jeopardizing the Elderday's future.

Elderday sees about 130 enrollees who receive transportation to the center, meals, physical and occupational therapy, mental health services, nursing and dietician services and therapeutic activities.

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Seniors program's launch brings confusion, delays for Californians

Good News for UnitedHealth Members

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In a bid to serve its members better, the health insurer behemoth UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) took a big step by declaring that it will continue with some of the health care insurance provisions doled out by the Health Care Reform Act 2010. The insurer is planning to keep these provisions regardless of the outcome of the pending Supreme Court ruling on the reform.

Some of the provisions that UnitedHealth aims to keep include an insurance cover for children until the age of 26, as part of their parents insurance plan.

Additionally, the company will carry on providing preventive health care services without charging co-pays. A co-pay is a type of plan wherein the insured has to pay a specified dollar amount for the service availed, while the insurer pays the rest.

The health insurer is of the opinion that chopping off the co-payment clause from the plan will make preventive services more attractive to the members. These services, which include yearly medical checkups, testing for high blood pressure and standard immunization, go a long way in lowering member health care costs.

UnitedHealth also announced elimination of lifetime dollar limits on benefits received by members. Until the Health Care law was proposed, many health insurance policies used to carry a lifetime dollar limit clause. As per the clause, the enrollee would pay for the benefit, over and above the limit set up in the plan. This would often result in bankruptcy for members suffering from serious illness.

Moreover, if the policy holder crossed the lifetime dollar limit, they would get no further coverage from their health insurance plan. They were also shunned insurance coverage by other insurance companies, owing to pre-existing condition limitations.

UnitedHealth also announced that it would not rescind individual coverage policies, except in case of fraud. Prior to the Health Care Reform, insurers would defensively rescind coverage if an individual fell sick. This policy of insurers to save their claims money attracted national attention.

UnitedHealth also assured its members necessary support and assistance when they sought to appeal against an unfair decision made by the insurer. The insurer would provide its members an external appeal process, wherein the members will have a right to appeal against the denied claim to an independent reviewer. External appeal processes have been successful amongst consumers.

UnitedHealth has indeed taken a very bold step, which reflects a change in the conduct of the insurer. The move will ensure increased accessibility and affordability of health insurance for its members. The initiative will strengthen consumer and patient rights as well. Since UnitedHealth has already made a start, we expect other health insurers like Aetna Inc. (AET), CIGNA Corp. (CI), WellPoint Inc. (WLP) and others to soon follow suit.

Read the Full Research Report on WLP

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Good News for UnitedHealth Members

VA Medical Article Discusses Specialized Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran Health Care Needs

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians offer a comprehensive review of the health concerns of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans and practical management guidelines for primary care providers in an article entitled Post Deployment Care for Returning Combat Veterans, and published in Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM).

We at VA are always seeking ways to improve the quality of health care we provide to our Veterans, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. This article provides valuable insight into the fastest-growing segment of the Veteran population at a time they are currently returning from combat.

Since September 11, 2001, approximately 2.4 million military personnel have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The health care needs of this particular patient population are complex, and require a well integrated interdisciplinary approach to care.

The article, written by Juliette F. Spelman, MD; Stephen C. Hunt, MD, MPH; Karen H. Seal, MD, MPH; and Lucile Burgo-Black, MD, reviews how combat deployments can impact the physical, psychological, and social health of Veterans and describes their unique health care needs. This includes the need for assessment and management of injuries associated with blast exposures (including mild traumatic brain injury) as well as mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse.

Other important health concerns discussed include chronic musculoskeletal pain, medically unexplained symptoms, complications from environmental exposures, heightened suicide risk, sleep disturbances, and impairments in family, occupational and social functioning.

The article summarizes evidence which supports elevated frequencies of physiological and behavioral cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and tobacco use, raising concerns about future health implications for these Veterans. In light of relationships between physical, psychological and psychosocial concerns in this population, the VA authors recommend an interdisciplinary approach to care directed toward mitigating the long-term health impacts of combat.

This comprehensive review by VA clinicians will help both VA and non-VA health providers offer Veterans the best possible care as they return from combat deployments. It affords all involved the opportunity to develop greater collaboration between VA and community providers to insure optimal post-deployment care and services for our returning combat Veterans and their families.

Each VA medical center has a highly specialized Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) Care Management team in place that coordinates and oversees transition and care for OEF/OIF/OND Servicemembers and Veterans. A dedicated case manager is assigned to work with the Servicemember/Veteran and family to screen for case management needs and implement a plan of care to completion, or as long as needed.

JGIM is the official journal of the Society of General Internal Medicine. It promotes improved patient care, research, and education in primary care, general internal medicine, and hospital medicine. Its articles focus on clinical medicine, epidemiology, prevention, health care delivery, curriculum development, and some non-traditional themes. JGIM offers early publication on http://www.SpringerLink.com to reach a broad audience,with online access to abstracts and full articles rapidly growing each year. Learn more about JGIM at http://www.sgim.org/go/jgim.

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VA Medical Article Discusses Specialized Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran Health Care Needs

Pioneer Health Care Organizations Share Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead

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Dave Chase??is CEO of Avado, which provides patient relationship management systems for healthcare and is a member of White House Roundtable on Patient Access to Data. ? The biggest mega-trend in healthcare is a shift towards fee-for-value from what some call the ?do more, bill more? era of healthcare that is bankrupting governments??and impacting business? ...

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Pioneer Health Care Organizations Share Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead

Scientists Find New Genetic Path to Deadly Diarrheal Disease

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Newswise ATHENS, Ohio (June 11, 2012)Scientists have found new genetic information that shows how harmful bacteria cause the acute diarrheal disease shigellosis, which kills more than a million people worldwide each year.

The research, which could lead to the development of future treatments, was published today in the journal PLoS ONE. The study was led by Ohio University scientist Erin Murphy and doctoral student William Broach, with contributions from University of Nevada, Las Vegas and University of Texas at Austin researchers.

When the disease-causing bacterium Shigella invades a human host, environmental conditions there, such as changes in temperature or pH, stimulate a genetic expression pathway within the bacterium that allows it to survive and cause disease. Central to this genetic pathway are two proteins, VirF and VirB. VirF functions to increase production of VirB which, in turn, promotes the production of factors that increases the bacteriums virulence, or ability to cause illness in its host.

Its like a domino effect, said Murphy, assistant professor of bacteriology in the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Murphy and Broachs new study, however, suggests that production of VirB can be controlled independently of VirF. It also shows that the VirF-independent regulation is mediated by a specific small RNA, a special type of molecule whose job is to control the production of particular targets. This is the first study to demonstrate that transcription of virB is regulated by any factor other than VirF, Murphy explained.

The research not only reveals the intricate level of gene expression the bacteria employ to survive in the human body, but potentially could lead to new treatments. Currently, antibiotics are prescribed to patients with the disease.

These findings are feeding into the basic understanding of this gene expression so that future researchers can work to disrupt it, Broach said. The more we know about it, the more targets we have to disrupt it and to possibly develop targeted antibiotic treatments.

For those living in developing countries, where access to clean drinking water can be scarce, an improved medical treatment for shigellosis could mean the difference between life and death.

In the United States, if we get severe diarrhea we can go to the store and get Gatorade, Murphy said. But if you're already starving to begin with because you don't have access to good food and clean water, then you get shigellosis on top of thatand you dont have good water to rehydrate yourselfthats when the deaths happen.

The disease, which is transmitted person to person or through contaminated food or water sources, has an infectious dose of just 10 organisms, meaning as few as 10 organisms can cause disease in a healthy person. This infectious dose is exceedingly low compared to other bacteria that require tens of thousands of organisms to cause disease.

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Scientists Find New Genetic Path to Deadly Diarrheal Disease

Powerful new method to analyze genetic data

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ScienceDaily (June 12, 2012) University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have developed a powerful visual analytical approach to explore genetic data, enabling scientists to identify novel patterns of information that could be crucial to human health.

The method, which combines three different "bipartite visual representations" of genetic information, is described in an article to appear in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. The work won a distinguished paper award when it was presented at the AMIA Summit on Translational Bioinformatics in March 2012.

In the paper, the authors use their technique to analyze data on genetic alterations in humans known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs. Among other things, the frequencies of particular SNPs are associated with an individual's ancestral origins; for the study, the researchers chose to examine SNP data from 60 individuals from Nigeria and 60 individuals from Utah.

"We selected SNPs that we already knew differentiated between the two groups, and then showed that our method can reveal more about the data than traditional methods," said UTMB associate professor Suresh Bhavnani, lead author on the JAMIA paper and a member of UTMB's Institute for Translational Sciences. "This is a fresh way of looking at genetic data, a methodological contribution that we believe can help biologists and clinicians make better sense of a variety of biomarkers."

Like many kinds of biomedical data, Bhavnani said, datasets describing individuals and their SNPs are particularly suited to visual representations that are bipartite: that is, they simultaneously present two different classes of data. In the case of the Utah-Nigeria SNP data, Bhavnani and his colleagues started with what is known as a bipartite network visualization -- an intricate computer-generated arrangement of colored dots and black, gray and white lines.

"In the bipartite network you see both the individuals and their genetic profiles simultaneously, and cognitively that's really important," Bhavnani said. "You can look at the individuals and know immediately which SNPs make them different from others, and conversely you can look at the SNPs to see how they are co-occurring, and with which individuals they are co-occurring. This rich representation enables you to quickly comprehend the complex bipartite relationships in the data"

The bipartite network visualization of the Utah-Nigeria individual-SNP data has distinct clusters on its left and right sides that correspond to the Utah and Nigerian subjects and SNPs. It also accurately portrays a genetic phenomenon called admixture, in which an individual possesses SNPs that are characteristic of individuals from Utah as well as from Nigeria. Admixed individuals are placed on the edges of their clusters, relatively close to the center of the visualization. The identification of admixed individuals, and the implicated SNPs could help in the design of case-control studies where there is a need for the selection of homogenous sets of individual from different ancestral origins.

To produce an even more detailed picture of the individual-SNP information, the researchers applied two other bipartite visualization techniques to the data: the bipartite heat map, and the bipartite Circos ideogram. In the heat map, rectangular cells laid out in a spreadsheet-like arrangement and colored white, gray, or black helped precisely define the boundaries of the clusters by clarifying individual-SNP relationships. In the Circos ideogram, individuals and SNPs placed around the perimeter of a circle and linked with curved lines, enabling the researchers to more closely examine the admixed individuals' ties to SNPs in the clusters associated with both Utah and Nigeria.

"The network representation is very powerful because it gives you the overall structure of the data, but to really understand the complex relationships, you need these additional bipartite representations," Bhavnani said.

The JAMIA paper, according to Bhavnani, represents a proof of concept for the researchers' novel combination of methods, which can be applied to a wide range of biomedical questions. "You can think of anything -- for example you could examine cases and controls in Alzheimer's disease, or you could compare children who are prone to ear infections and those aren't prone," Bhavnani said. "Whatever your disease or trait of interest is, our approach can handle it."

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Powerful new method to analyze genetic data

Study enables genetically engineered chips

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Genetic engineering could hold the key to artificially creating semiconductors in a lab.

A team of academics at the University of California, Santa Barbara is looking at ways to create synthetic proteins that could form new structures of silicon dioxide to make computer chips with. These chips would then be used in all kinds of electronics. The proteins could also form titanium dioxide, used in solar cells.

The process is a bit different from regular genetic engineering because it uses synthetic cells made of the randomly combined genes of two related silicateins replete with random mutations, surrounded by a nucleus of minute plastic beads.

The artificial cells are put through the proverbial wringer, killing many along the way. Those that survive the process have their genes cherry picked by the scientists from either the silicon or titanium dioxide-forming proteins.

The results were somewhat surprising, with researchers finding not just the original silicateins used to form the artificial cell in the first place, but also another, different gene.

Tests on the new gene found it contained a silica-forming protein which has been dubbed silicatein X1, which may prove useful in the making of folded sheets of silica-protein fibers.

Silica skeletons of radiolaria in false color.

While that may sound strange and complicated, it's worth noting that even in nature, creatures like marine sponges can produce materials like fiberglass, while ARS notes that some bacteria can even build magnetic nanoparticles.

Now that scientists know it's possible to create entirely different silica proteins, the next step will be to change the conditions in order to achieve things like semiconductor performance.

- Sylvie Barak EE Times

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Study enables genetically engineered chips

Freedom Rider Joan Mulholland Visits Civil Rights Museum

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MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Former Freedom Rider Joan Mulholland, a Virginia native who dropped out of college to join the Civil Rights Movement in the early 1960's, paid a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum to take a look back at part of her history.

"This is awesome," Mulholland said while sitting at the lunch counter depicting her sit-in at the Woolworth in Jackson, Mississippi on May 28, 1963. She told abc24.com that sit-in "was pretty hairy."

Mulholland said when she made the decision to leave Duke University and join the fight against segregation, her family didn't like it. "Mother didn't take to this very well. She was from rural Georgia and a product of her environment," she said.

While thinking back to her trip and subsequent arrest in Jackson for being a part of the Freedom Riders, Mulholland shared her most vivid memory of that experience.

"I stepped out the paddy wagon as a Freedom Rider in Jackson, Mississippi, the police reached out to help me down but then it suddenly hit him, 'she's the outside agitator,' and he jerked back."

She said she joined the movement because her Christian faith told her that was the right thing to do and segregation had to end.

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Freedom Rider Joan Mulholland Visits Civil Rights Museum

Truth, freedom and classical music

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Malek Jandali, born in Germany to Syrian parents in 1972, is an award-winning prolific composer and pianist. For the first time in his career, Jandali will be performing in the historic Cadogan Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London on June 19. Jandalis musical career began in 1988 after winning the first prize at the National Young Artists competition followed by the 1997 Outstanding Musical Performer Award in the United States. Jandali is the first Arab musician to arrange the oldest music notation in the world, which was featured in his 2008 album Echoes from Ugarit. He was the recipient of the 2011 Freedom of Expression award in Los Angeles for his song Watani Ana I am my Homeland, as well as his activism in the Arab Spring movement for human rights and democracy. In 2012, he was recognized in New York City with the Arab-American Cultural Achievement Award. Jandali shares his passion for his homeland and the inspiration of his latest album "Emessa", which includes original compositions recorded with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra.

What has been the reaction regionally and internationally to Freedom Qashoush Symphony? Art is about beauty, truth and freedom. The role of an artist is to be the true voice of the people and mirror the reality on the ground. I composed Freedom to support all people, anytime, anywhere, in their noble, peaceful quest for liberty and human rights. The reaction was amazing both here in the US and back home in Syria and throughout the Arab world. The music was a bridge between the Arab Spring movement and the world in an attempt to tell the story of a true Syrian artist Ibrahim Qashoush who was murdered during the peaceful demonstrations of the Syrian revolution.

What is the message of your music? The message of my music is universal and my role as an artist is to spread the message of peace, harmony and love through music. I have the responsibility to ensure that the voice of the people is being heard, and is not tainted with fear or oppression.

Which Philharmonic orchestra would you most desire to play your music with? As you know, I recorded both Emessa and Echoes from Ugarit with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow. Performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is wonderful. I dream to perform my music with a world class Philharmonic orchestra, which we still lack in the Arab world but the Vienna Philharmonic is definitely on the top of my list.

Your song Watani Ana brought great trauma to your family. Do you think Syria can achieve the freedom and peace your song speaks off? Every day, the brave people in Syria are faced with atrocities and crimes that are much more vicious than the attack on my parents. The kidnapping, torture and murders of thousands of innocent civilians, including women, children and even babies is nothing short of crimes against humanity. The first peace treaty in human history was recorded in Homs, Syria at the battle of Kadesh in 1274 BC when the Syrian people chose love and peace over hatred and war. Today, this free spirit of love and freedom is alive again after thousands of years. All Syrians regardless of their religion, ethnic background or race are marching for freedom similar to what the American people and the French people did when they demanded their beautiful freedom that they are enjoying today. The time has come for the Syrian people and we are paying a very high price. The people in Syria know that freedom is never free but the beat of freedom is unstoppable and the voice of the people will never be silenced again.

Your elderly parents were forced to flee Syria. How do your parents feel about the song now? My beloved parents loved the song prior to my release date on April 17 the Independence Day of Syria. Today, after the brutal attack by the Syrian government security forces, they dont just love it but they adore it. My courageous mother and wise father told me that this assault is worth at least one song of yours so keep going son. This was a source of both motivation and inspiration from the two most important people in my life.

Why do you think your song scared the Syrian government so much? This regime has proven to the world that it is incapable of true, meaningful dialogue and reform, and is prepared to eradicate any semblance of opposition, even peaceful demonstrations. When this regime realized that they could not stop the universal message of peace and humanity, they resorted to actual violence against my family and murdered over 3,000 innocent Syrian.

What impact do you think your song has had, both here and in Syria? The Syrian people have taught me, and the world, lessons in courage especially those who have sacrificed their lives while chanting for freedom and dignity. I hope that my five-minute song provided them some comfort and support. I believe that this simple song helped in building a musical bridge between the Arab Spring peaceful revolution and the American people who are now more aware of the atrocities committed by the Assad regime against innocent Syrians.

You are one of very few composers/musicians speaking out against Assads regime. Why is that the case? In Syria, all artists are limited in one way or another. The government controls all aspects of the arts and media, and therefore we lack true, free artistic expression. This strategy restricts the advancement of artists and results in hollow, fictitious art. In short, when there is no freedom, there is no true art. This brutal regime also controls people abroad through intimidation and illegal tactics by a staff of Syrian embassies from Washington, DC to London.

What is next for you? My journey will continue in my upcoming album Emessa (the Roman name of the city of Homs), which will reflect the historical events of the peaceful Syrian revolution. I just came back from Moscow after recording my new album with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. I will dedicate this album to the Syrian people, especially in Homs since the highest number of martyrs, so far have been from this city of peace.

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Freedom deals away its remaining properties

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Freedom Communications,whichearlier this month announced the pending sale of The Free Press and its other properties in North Carolina and Florida, plans to sell its flagship newspaper and remaining properties to a Massachusetts company, it was announced Monday.

What remains of the Irvine, Calif.-based company, owners of The Free Press since 1973, will now become part of 2100 Trust, LLC, in a merger with a subsidiary of 2100 Trust, according to a news release from Freedom.

The stock-only deal includes the Freedom flagship newspaper, the Orange CountyRegister, and the companys second-largest newspaper, the Colorado Springs, (Colo.) Gazette. Five other newspapers in California and Arizona are also included: The Barstow Desert Dispatch; Marysville Appeal-Democrat; Porterville Record, Victorville Daily Press; and The Sun in Yuma, Ariz.

The sale of its 21 North Carolina and Florida papers to Halifax Media Holdings, based in Daytona Beach, Fla.,is expected to close within the month. Prior to that announcement, Freedom had sold in separate deals its television stations and its newspapers in New Mexico, Texas and, as a package, in Ohio, Illinois and Missouri.

Terms of the agreement with 2100 Trust were not released. The transaction is expected to close within 30 days, company officials said.

All current Freedom employees at the operating locations will transition to the new ownership, said Mitchell Stern, Freedoms chief executive officer.

While providing the value that our shareholders have sought, this transaction also ensures Freedoms communities that our newspapers serve will continue to receive the outstanding service that has been our hallmark, Stern said. Our employees will be able to continue the community journalism at which they so excel.

The agreement marks the end of Freedom Communications. R.C. Hoiles founded Freedom after acquiring what was then the Santa Ana Register in 1935. The company eventually grew to be one of the largest media companies in the country with 100 daily and weekly newspapers, numerous news websites and specialty publications and eight broadcast stations.

Its holdings in North Carolina grew to include, in addition to The Free Press, the Gazette in Gastonia, the Star in Shelby, the Times-News in Burlington, the Sun Journal in New Bern, the Daily News in Jacksonville and several weekies, including the Jones Post.

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Freedom deals away its remaining properties

Star-spangled Spectacular: '4th of July Freedom Fest' at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating in star-spangled style, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is unfurling its "Fourth of July Freedom Fest," a four-day event with free concerts, fireworks, all-American fare and poolside fun, with vacation packages benefitting military families, June 30- July 3, 2012.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120514/LA06971)

Each night of the fest, revelers celebrate with live music under the stars, patriotic salutes and fireworks finales:

To honor the military, the concerts begin with a Presentation of the Colors, a flyover and a drop-in from inspirational sky diver Dana Bowman, a retired member of the U.S. Army's elite parachute team, the Golden Knights, who lost both of his legs in a sky diving accident in 1994.

Throughout the fest, the 5th Hole of the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course becomes "Freedom Hill" where Apache and Black Hawk helicopters land and guests can get up-close to the aircraft and meet the pilots. Around the resort, guests can check-out the rock-climbing wall, pedal go-carts, Humvees and boot camp exercise classes at Willow Stream Spa.

Like any great summer day, poolside is the place to be. At Sonoran Splash, families have a ball with 200-foot waterslides, poolside barbecues, red, white and blue frozen drinks, glitter tattoos, water balloon tosses, watermelon eating contests and Uncle Sam on stilts. At night, the new Techno Waterslide After Dark lights up with fog, lasers, colored lights and disco music. Nearby, families float and watch a Dive-In movie, nightly during the Fest. The Techno Waterslide and Dive-In movies are offered Friday and Saturday night weekends, with fireworks every Saturday night, through Labor Day.

Room rates during $179 per night, which includes a daily $50 resort credit toward spa, dining, tennis or Bobcat Billy's Clubhouse. The package includes the concerts, fireworks and any complimentary resort activities.

A portion from every Freedom Fest vacation package benefits military organizations such as the USO, the Arizona National Guard Emergency Relief Fund and Friends of Freedom, a local non-profit assisting military families.

For reservations, dial (480) 585-4848, toll-free at (866) 540-4495 or visit http://www.scottsdaleprincess.com. The resort is located at 7575 East Princess Drive in Scottsdale, Ariz.

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Star-spangled Spectacular: '4th of July Freedom Fest' at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Eugenics compensation winds through legislature

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A bill to compensate the more than 130 victims of the states early and mid-20th Century sterilization program 19 of whom resided in Lenoir County is winding its way through the legislature.

The bill passed the N.C. House this month 86-31 with strong bipartisan support Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg County was among the 35 GOP members who voted with House Democrats on House Bill 947, the Eugenics Compensation Program.

Local Reps. William Wainwright, D-Craven, and Pat McElraft, R-Carteret, voted for the bill. Rep. Stephen LaRoque, R-Lenoir, voted against it.

None of the three could be reached for comment before press time Monday.

The bill is now before the Senates Judiciary Committee; if it passes the General Assembly and is signed by Gov. Bev Perdue, each sterilization victim would receive lump sum compensation of $50,000.

Perdue has included $10.3 million in her version of this years budget for a compensation fund.

We cannot change the terrible things that happened to so many of our most vulnerable citizens, but we can take responsibility for our states mistakes and show that we do not tolerate violations of basic human rights, the governor stated.

Between 1933 and 1977, about 7,600 North Carolinians, male and female and black and white, were forcibly sterilized officials at the time felt the procedures were for the patients own good.

The website for the N.C. History Project states: The Eugenics Board believed sterilizations improved the lives of those sterilized. According to the Board, the procedures were not punishments.

Sterilizations took place in all 100 counties, and officials with the N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation have identified 132 victims living in 51 counties.

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Eugenics compensation winds through legislature

No eugenics funding in NC Senate budget plan

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RALEIGH, NC (AP) - The North Carolina Senate's largest committee has moved along the Republicans' budget proposal for next year without making changes sought by advocates for the public schools and the prevention of teen smoking and adolescent pregnancy. The Senate Appropriations Committee agreed Tuesday on a voice vote to recommend the $20.1 billion spending plan, which spends $127 million less than a House budget proposal approved two weeks ago. Committee chairmen gave the public the chance to speak on the bill before several amendments were taken up. Kristy Andrews urged senators to set aside money from the national tobacco settlement agreement for youth smoking prevention and cessation programs. Andrews' husband began smoking early and died from cancer at age 30. The bill is expected to be voted on Wednesday by the full Senate. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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No eugenics funding in NC Senate budget plan

Porsche hybrid an eco rocket

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0 of 0

Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid sports car.

Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid sports car.

Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid sports car.

Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid sports car.

Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid sports car.

With a top speed of more than 320kmh and the ability to secure a less than three litres per 100km fuel economy rating, Porsche's multi-million dollar 918 Spyder is a vehicle of precocious talent.

The 918, an experimental open-topped mid-engined supercar, does not hang around on its way to that top speed either, with a zero to "sorry, officer" time of under three seconds, which means it is quicker than Ferrari's new 458 and the Chevrolet Z07 Corvette.

It all comes from a drive system that combines a fairly conventional mid-engined, 4.6-litre, rear-drive V8 with two electric motors, one for the front wheels and the second in the driveline to assist the rear wheels. It all works via a hybrid system boosted by the car's petrol power unit, as well as by energy drawn from the Porsche's brakes when they haul the supercar down from high speed.

The V8 engine puts out about 570 horsepower and the electric motors conspire to help produce a total of 770kW, which is why the car can be so fast and yet so frugal on petrol.

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Porsche hybrid an eco rocket

10 Best Startup Eco Systems In The World

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Clearwater Systems' Eco-Friendly Water Treatment Technology Contributes To Verizon Wireless Data Center Clinching …

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MIDDLETOWN, Conn., June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwater Systems Corp., an established leader in providing environmentally responsible water treatment systems to customer facilities around the globe, today announced that its Dolphin WaterCare technology was a major factor in Verizon Wireless winning a 2012 Green Enterprise IT (GEIT) Award from the Uptime Institute. The award, granted in the Facility Design Implementation category, recognizes the combination of resource efficiency, environmental responsibility, and scalability in building a Tier III, LEED Gold certified data center in Twinsburg, Ohio.

"We are delighted to be part of Verizon Wireless winning this prestigious award. It's further affirmation that our water treatment solutions are dramatically helping customers improve the sustainability of their operations," stated Anupam Bhargava, CEO of Clearwater Systems.

Dolphin WaterCare was installed in the center's cooling system to treat a maximum cooling load of approximately 2,600 tons on this mission critical application. Use of Dolphin WaterCare results in a water discharge reduction of more than 20% (1.6 million gallons) compared to chemically treated water. Additionally, the clean Dolphin technology provides the Twinsburg Data Center with an opportunity for water reuse. By utilizing the discharge water from the cooling tower, grey water applications such as landscape irrigation can be implemented. Given the chemical-free operation of Dolphin WaterCare, this Verizon Wireless facility also avoids the cost, use, storage, and waste generated by the use of typical chemical water treatment.

This is the second year running that Dolphin WaterCare has been instrumental in helping a client win a prestigious GEIT Award. Last year, Dolphin WaterCare assisted Harris Corporation and Lee Technologies in winning the GEIT Award for a data center in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

About Clearwater Systems

Clearwater Systems Corp. has developed and provided environmentally responsible water treatment systems for more than a decade. The company's state-of-the-art technology, marketed globally as Dolphin WaterCare, is installed in nearly 5,000 customer facilities around the world. The company is focused on the design and delivery of advanced water treatment solutions that support building resource efficiencyprimarily water and energy savingswhile contributing to pollution prevention and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit http://www.dolphinwatercare.com.

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