Bob Dylan awarded Medal of Freedom. What does that say about US?

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Why did Bob Dylan look so strained during the Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House Tuesday? Perhaps because his musical insurgency was being memorialized.

President Obama awarded Bob Dylan the coveted Presidential Medal of Freedom of Tuesday. Twelve other deserving Americans got the medals, too as we wrote yesterday, US presidents can give them to anyone they want. But were focusing on Dylan today because he seems to have attracted the most attention of the awardees and because theres something about his prize we believe has been overlooked.

No, its not the sunglasses he wore to the ceremony. Lots of folks have commented on those. Nor is it his overall demeanor. Well agree he seemed uncomfortable, like a boy forced to wear a suit and stand up in front of strangers, if that boy were over 70 years old and had written more immortal songs than anyone alive in the US today.

Its this: Bob Dylan is the first rock and roll star to win the Medal of Freedom. Ever. As far as we can tell.

We admit were creating some arbitrary definitions here so that we can make this statement. First, is Mr. Dylan a rocker, per se? He started as a folkie, went electric, and now has settled into a kind of bard-like phrase, where he reinterprets old blues tunes and Confederate poems and things like that. What he really is, is a musical magpie.

There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music, said Mr. Obama, when hanging the medal around Dylans neck.

Anyway, Rolling Stone magazine called Dylan a rock and roll pioneer in their story on the award. Thats good enough for us. Even if its a publication whose name came from a Dylan song.

Second, were labeling B.B. King a blues guitarist. Bill Clinton awarded Mr. King a Medal of Freedom in 2006.

Yes, King is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But his nickname is King of the Blues, so thats what were going with. Mr. Clinton also gave Aretha Franklin the award, in 2005, but we feel safe in saying shes not rocker either.

After them, the popular musicians who have won the Presidential Medal of Freedom are mostly from eras past. They are singers such as Frank Sinatra (1985) and bandleaders such as Count Basie (1985). Presidents have also bestowed the award on many classical musicians, such as Pablo Casals (1963) and Van Cliburn (2003).

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Bob Dylan awarded Medal of Freedom. What does that say about US?

Bob Dylan getting Medal of Freedom today

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WASHINGTON (AP) Sketching impressive contributions to society in intensely personal terms, President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Freedom to more than a dozen political and cultural greats Tuesday, including rocker Bob Dylan, astronaut John Glenn and novelist Toni Morrison.

In awarding the nation's highest civilian honor to 13 recipients, living and dead, the president took note of the overflow crowd in the East Room and said it was "a testament to how cool this group is. Everybody wanted to check 'em out."

Obama then spoke of his personal connection to a number of this year's recipients, calling them "my heroes individually."

"I know how they impacted my life," the president said. He recalled reading Morrison's "Song of Solomon" in his youth and "not just trying to figure out how to write, but also how to be and how to think."

In college days, Obama said, he listened to Dylan and recalled "my world opening up, because he captured something about this country that was so vital." Dylan's appearance drew the biggest whoops from the crowd, and he dressed for the event sunglasses, bow tie and black suit embellished with shiny buckles and buttons.

Obama also recalled reading about union pathbreaker Dolores Huerta when he was starting out as a community organizer.

"Everybody on this stage has marked my life in profound ways," he said.

Obama added that Pat Summitt, who led the University of Tennessee women's basketball team to more NCAA Final Four appearances than any other team, had helped pave the way for his two daughters, "who are tall and gifted."

"They're standing up straight and diving after loose balls and feeling confident and strong," he said. "I understand that the impact that these people have had extends beyond me. It will continue for generations to come."

The Medal of Freedom is presented to people who have made meritorious contributions to the national interests of the United States, to world peace or to other significant endeavors.

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Universal Lubricants Partners with Top Eco-Responsible Auto Center

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WICHITA, Kan., May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Universal Lubricants, a provider of premier motor oil that turns used oil feedstock into re-refined base oil, announced today that its ECO ULTRA line is now the product suite of choice for Colorado-based Green Garage. The comprehensive auto care and repair center prides itself on offering individuals, corporations and fleets better "smileage" with advanced maintenance products and services that use less oil and create less waste. In addition to relying on re-refined antifreeze, dual stage oil filters that decrease oil usage by up to 70 percent and silicone windshield wiper blades, rather than petroleum-based rubber alternatives, Green Garage relies on ECO ULTRA for its motor oil change services and other environmentally-friendly solutions. Like its counterpart performance-driven, eco-responsible products Green Garage recommends, ECO ULTRA complements the center's focus on helping customers save time, money and the planet with eco-friendly auto services.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110314/NY64482LOGO)

ECO ULTRA is an American Petroleum Institute (API) licensed line of automotive and industrial lubricants that rely on used oil as feedstock to its re-refinery that produces top quality sustainable base oil. ECO ULTRA meets all Original Equipment Manufacturers' (OEM) specifications and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) requirements. Now, it's the motor oil of choice for Green Garage technicians.

"We're a business that finds strategic value striving to be part of the zero waste community," said Steve Kirchner, President of Green Garage. "Used motor oil is one of those valuable resources that can be kept in productive use rather than labeled as waste. In fact, motor oil that takes used oil as feedstock actually offers enhanced performance precisely because it begins with a feedstock that's cleaner than crude. That's why we chose ECO ULTRA for our green oil changes. Not only is it a performance product that helps our business soften the auto industry's environmental impact, but ECO ULTRA is part of Universal Lubricants' Closed Loop Process that turns petroleum into a true renewable resource."

"ECO ULTRA is another product that reinforces our brand promise," said Ryan Ferrero, founder, chief executive officer and 'chief carhugger' of Green Garage. "Based on our research, this oil is the best choice to complement our suite of eco-friendly parts and services."

The U.S. produces approximately 1.1 billion gallons of used motor oil every year, of which approximately 800 million gallons is collected for re-use. However, less than 20 percent of that 800 million gallons collected is re-refined. Most of the collected oil is burned as an industrial fuel, reducing supplies of limited petroleum reserves and perpetuating the need to import foreign oil. What's more, an estimated 200 million gallons of used motor oil is disposed of improperly, damaging the environment. Universal Lubricants is dedicated to reversing this trend with its Closed Loop Process by completely controlling every aspect of the proprietary system. The company collects, re-refines, blends, packages and redistributes its own oil, including the ECO ULTRA line without ever losing guardianship within the chain in an infinitely repeatable, sustainable cycle.

"The auto and trucking industries are reaching a tipping point when it comes to aftercare best practices," said John Wesley, Universal Lubricants' chief executive officer. "Increasing numbers of service centers and fleet operators, including Green Garage, are finding real value by factoring environmental considerations into their business models. Products that hinge on repurposing and recycling lead to streamlined processes, greater efficiency, and measurably longer product lives, all of which generate financial savings without sacrificing quality or performance."

Added Wesley: "Products like ECO ULTRA blend and bolster environmental and economic benefits for businesses and bottom-lines don't lie."

For more information about Universal Lubricants' ECO ULTRA products, visit http://www.ecoultraoil.com.

About Universal Lubricants

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Report: Hull’s Nantasket Beach Is Greater Boston’s Cleanest

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Nantasket Beach in Hull scored 100 percent for overall beach safety in the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay rankings. (Timothy Valentine/Flickr)

Some of Greater Bostons beaches rank among the cleanest urban beaches in the nation, but others continue to have pollution problems, according to a new report.

The environmental advocacy group Save the Harbor/Save the Bays first-ever beach report card, which ranked 18 Department of Conservation and Recreation beaches based on the percentage of time it was safe to swim in the water and on the accuracy of the flag system notifying swimmers of safe conditions, has high marks for a handful of local beaches.

Some of the regions beaches, including Nantasket Beach in Hull and the South Boston beaches, are safe for swimming nearly every day and rank among the cleanest urban beaches in the nation, Bruce Berman, the groups communications director, said in a release.

Nantasket Beach scored 100 percent for overall beach safety, followed by four South Boston beaches, all with scores above 94 percent.

However, Berman continued in the release, there continue to be pollution problems at some of the regions public beaches, including most of Wollaston Beach in Quincy, at Tenean Beach in Dorchester and at Kings Beach in Lynn. We need to address them

Of the 18 ranked by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, Kings Beach in Lynn came in last, with 73 percent overall beach safety.

Speaking to our Newscast unit, Berman credited recent projects to remove garbage and human waste from Boston waters for the citys high beach rankings.

Before we began the project, the beaches in South Boston were closed for swimming as often as one out of five days, he said. And like I said, last year they were clean more than 98 percent of the time.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay did find fault, however, with the warning flag system in South Boston and elsewhere.

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Texas Beaches Will Remain Open and Accessible

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Note:This article originally appeared atThe Texas Tribune

The recent Texas Supreme Court decision inSeverance v. Pattersonhas some worried that the millions of Texans who visit the Texas coast each year will lose access to the states public beaches.

Despite such predictions of doom, Texas beaches will remain open and accessible. All the Court did is ensure that private property rights are not trampled by the public on their way to the beach.

After Hurricane Rita slammed into the Texas coast in 2005 and dramatically altered the vegetation line near the shore, Carol Severance found her house suddenly sitting on the beach.

She wasnt surprised by that because she knew the risk she was taking when she bought property near the beach. She was surprised, however, that the state of Texas intended to claim that her house now sat on thepublicbeach and was potentially subject to uncompensated demolition.

There is no dispute that prior to Rita a public easement allowed access to the beach seaward of Severances property. With the former beach under several feet of water, however, the question became whether that easement suddenly rolled landward after the hurricane to make Severances land the new public beach. A federal court hearing her dispute with the statewhich had sought to enforce an easement on her propertyasked the Texas Supreme Court for guidance on that question.

One of us, Bill Peacock, was in 2003-04 the primary official under the land commissioner responsible for the General Land Offices oversight of Texas beaches.

After touring the beaches numerous times and seeing the effects of both years of continuous erosion and recent stormsincluding houses on the beach and in the Gulf, it became obvious to him that the idea of public access to the beach suddenly being imposed onto private property after a storm presented major challenges to anyone interested in protecting private property rights.

Fortunately, Mr Peacock wasnt required to suspend his support of property rights to properly enforce the law.

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Texas Beaches Will Remain Open and Accessible

UHH astronomy professor dies in rollover Jeep crash

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By JOHN BURNETT

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Richard Crowe, co-founder of the University of Hawaii at Hilos astronomy program and astronomer-in-residence at Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, was killed Sunday in a bizarre Jeep accident near Chinle, Ariz. He was 60.

Crowe and his wife, Debra, were on the mainland for the recent wedding of their older daughter, Ginger Albrecht, in Albuquerque, N.M., their younger daughter, Jasmine Miranda Anderson, said Monday.

We were all together at my sisters wedding in Albuquerque, and he and my mother went to Sedona (Ariz.) on a road trip. They were there for about a week, Anderson said.

While in Sedona, Richard and Debra Crowe took a commercial Jeep tour to Canyon de Chelly. On the return trip, the Jeep went off the edge of a narrow road and rolled end over end down a hillside. Richard Crowe jumped from the Jeep and was struck by the vehicle.

Debra Crowe was treated for minor injuries and released at a nearby hospital.

She didnt really understand how badly he was injured, Anderson said. It took three hours for the helicopter to come and take them (to the hospital), I think.

Crowes condition worsened and others on the tour initiated CPR while waiting for the medevac chopper to arrive. Medics attempted defibrillation, but he died at the scene. Anderson said the family is in shock.

Its really hard, she said. Its just totally unexpected and out of the blue. Were all just pretty shaken up about it and really devastated.

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UHH astronomy professor dies in rollover Jeep crash

New Dean of Science has high hopes for his faculty

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Selena Phillips-Boyle

CHECKMATE The man who solved checkers is setting his sights on the Faculty of Science

Artificial intelligence has been the focus of Jonathan Schaeffers research during his past 28 years at the University of Alberta, but his new role as Dean of Science will rely solely on his own intelligence.

The Board of Governors appointed Schaeffer to the position last week, which will commence July 1 for a five-year term.

Schaeffer succeeds Gregory Taylor, who had held the position since 2003. The incoming dean has been heavily involved in the Department of Computing Science, where he has served as both professor and chair of the department. For the past four years, he has also held the positions of Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Information Technology) at the U of A.

Schaeffer said he developed a strong appreciation for the Faculty of Science as a whole during his term as the Chair of Computing Science in 2005. When he became a part of the annual faculty evaluation process, he was able to see more of the work being done by a variety of scientists, ranging from physicists to psychologists.

You just started reading their annual reports and went, Wow, look what this guy is doing, and My god, this guy if he does that, he could change the world, Schaeffer said.

It was all just really exciting and it made me appreciate what a fabulous faculty we have here in sciences.

His own research in the area of computer science has earned him international recognition, as well as numerous awards.

One accomplishment that broke the Guinness Book of World Records was Chinook: first computer to win a game of checkers in a human world championship.

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Aerospace summit to take flight next week in Norman

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NORMAN Oklahomas aerospace workforce will gather in Norman to listen, learn, share, and celebrate the industry that is responsible for tens of thousands of jobs in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Summit and Expo will be Tuesday at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Norman. This years mission is to connect hundreds of aerospace companies to the states five military installations and the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

The expo will encompass a wide variety of categories within the industry, including commercial and military aerospace, unmanned aerial systems, space exploration and transport, general and business aviation, and a host of suppliers that exist to support the Oklahoma aerospace industry.

The Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Alliance (OADA) is proud to focus our attention on the opportunities that exist because of the presence of some of our nations finest military bases, said Jim Rice, Pro-Fab CEO and incoming OADA Chair. Our industry is stronger because of the business that is done with five military bases and our own Oklahoma National Guard.

Keynote speaker will be Frank Kendall, under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.

This will be the11th annual Oklahoma Aerospace summit and the first time it will be presented by the OADA and held in Norman.

Previous summits being held in Oklahoma City or Tulsa. Although those cities house the largest clusters of aerospace/aviation related businesses, aerospace business is sprinkled all over the state, due in large part to Oklahomas five military bases.

Organizers and participants hope the summit will shine a spotlight on these smaller entities and help reinforce Oklahoma as a strong market for the industry.

Defense is a big deal in Oklahoma! said Paul Berry, ARINC and chairman of the summit planning team this year. My company, like so many in Oklahoma, does business with private sector aerospace companies, and often with the Department of Defense. It is important that Oklahoma companies and companies outside of Oklahoma know that we have a real strength in our defense related sector.

A panel representing all five military bases and the Oklahoma National Guard will be led by Oklahoma Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs, Major Gen. Rita Aragon.

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Veracity Technology Solutions Names New President

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OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

AGC Aerospace & Defense is pleased to announce the promotion of Kevin McKinley to President of Veracity Technology Solutions effective June 1st, 2012.

Kevin has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strong technical capability since joining the company, stated Veracity CEO Jeff Davis. I am confident that Kevin will be an outstanding steward of our company as we look ahead to an exciting future.

McKinley has been with Veracity since 2007 serving first as Director of Power Generation, served as VP of Operations & Development since 2010 and has extensive industry experience in the nondestructive inspection industry as a development engineer.

I am both humbled and excited to be named president and look forward to the opportunities ahead for Veracity as we move through this exciting growth stage and into the future, added McKinley.

McKinley is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force receiving an honorable discharge after serving as the Course Supervisor for the Army and Air Force Nondestructive Inspection Schools located at Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL.

He replaces Gary Hensley, who will remain with the company to lead its business development and sales effort as the VP of Business Development and Co-Founder.

Gary Hensley has been tremendous as the companys first president, co-founder and unwavering leader, said Davis. His new role will allow him to focus on building the companys presence in the power generation and aerospace markets.

Veracity Technology Solutions develops customized nondestructive inspection solutions for aerospace and defense systems. Veracitys technicians use proven, proprietary technology to check for defects or potential problems on applications such as, wings, rotor blades, and landing gear. The methodology and technology help customers extend the service life of high-value assets, lower inspection costs, and eliminate hazardous processes.

AGC Aerospace & Defense is a global supplier of technologies, systems and services that support key commercial and military programs. Capabilities within the AGC Aerospace & Defense portfolio include: financing, engineering, integration services, manufacturing, logistics and aircraft modifications.

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Aerospace Businesses Increase Presence Near MacArthur Airport

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Southwest Airlines planes are seen at MacArthur Airport Ronkonkoma, NY Nov 9, 2010 Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -There are signs of new life for Long Islands once booming aerospace industry, WCBS880 Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported.

WCBS880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs On The Story

Weve seen recently within the town of Islip certain contractors, certain aerospace manufacturers actually expanding their space, Islip Town Supervisor Tom Crocitold Xirinachs.

Croci cited CPIs expansion at the Heartland Industrial Complex.

He held an aerospace summit at Long Island MacArthur Airport on Wednesday, where he organized CEOs in the industry and encouraged them to grow there.

Americans will take risk. You just got to help them create the favorable conditions to make risk, Crocisaid. Business wants to expand. Lets encourage that. Lets not get in the way.

He said Long Island leaders are doing all they can to strengthen the islands once strong aerospace industry.

What do you think Long Island leaders should be doing to encourage the aerospace industry to expand? Sound off in the comments section below.

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Aerospace Businesses Increase Presence Near MacArthur Airport

Research and Markets: Biophysics: A Physiological Approach

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6c8w7q/biophysics_a_phys) has announced the addition of the "Biophysics. A Physiological Approach" report to their offering.

Specifically tailored to life science students, this textbook explains quantitative aspects of human biophysics with examples drawn from contemporary physiology, genetics and nanobiology.

It outlines important physical ideas, equations and examples at the heart of contemporary physiology, along with the organization necessary to understand that knowledge.

The wide range of biophysical topics covered include energetics, bond formation and dissociation, diffusion and directed transport, muscle and connective tissue physics, fluid flow, membrane structure, electrical properties and transport, pharmacokinetics and system dynamics and stability.

Enabling students to understand the uses of quantitation in modern biology, equations are presented in the context of their application, rather than derivation. They are each directed toward the understanding of a biological principle, with a particular emphasis on human biology.

Key Topics Covered:

1. The energy around us

2. Molecular contacts

3. Diffusion and directed transport

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Research and Markets: Biophysics: A Physiological Approach

Practical Nutrition: Eating for two

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If you've ever been pregnant, you may have thought "I feel fat!" While pregnant women become larger, they're growing a baby, not just packing on the pounds.

Weight gain associated with pregnancy has very real components. On average it's made up of about 7.5 pounds baby, 7 pounds maternal stores of protein, fat and other nutrients, 4 pounds extra blood, 4 pounds other body fluids, 2 pounds uterus growth, 2 pounds breast tissue, 1.5 pounds placenta, and 2 pounds amniotic fluid.

Healthy weight gain is based on pre-pregnancy weight and body mass index, or BMI. A woman who is underweight (BMI less than 18.5) would need to gain 28 to 40 pounds. Those at a healthy weight, BMI 18.5 to 24.9, should gain 25 to 35 pounds.

An overweight woman (BMI 25 to 29.9) should gain 15 to 25 pounds, but if she's obese (BMI higher than 30) only 11 to 20 pounds.

Women expecting twins or triplets may need to gain 35 to 55 pounds depending on their BMI.

To determine your BMI, go to http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi.

Unfortunately, many women take the old saying "eating for two" too seriously and gain extra weight. It can lead to health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy. And it can be difficult to lose that extra weight after delivery, which can add up between pregnancies.

For most women, a mere 300 extra calories per day is all that's needed to achieve the desired weight.

Calcium is important for mom's bone health as well as the baby's. Select three to four servings of dairy products daily to meet these needs. One serving equals 8 ounces milk, 8 ounces yogurt, or 1.5 to 2 ounces of cheese.

Pregnant women need to consume iron-rich foods daily. Include enriched and fortified grains and cereal, red meats, liver, fish, chicken, dried beans, nuts, dried fruits and leafy green vegetables throughout the day.

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Practical Nutrition: Eating for two

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. to Change its NYSE Ticker Symbol to SHF

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SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., (WNI) is scheduled to change its NYSE ticker symbol and, effective June 11, the stock will begin trading under the symbol SHF.

Schiff has been nourishing life through nature and science for over 75 years, stated company CEO Tarang Amin. We are focused on building premium brands and leading innovation in heart health, joint care, immune support, digestive health and other key nutritional supplement conditions. We are excited to begin trading under a new ticker symbol NYSE: SHF that more closely reflects our company name.

The company was first listed on the New York Stock exchange in 1997 as Weider Nutrition International (WNI). In 2005, the company changed its name to Schiff Nutrition International.

About Schiff Nutrition

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. is a leading nutritional supplement company offering vitamins, nutritional supplements and nutrition bars in the United States and abroad. Schiffs portfolio of well-known brands includes Move Free, MegaRed, Airborne, Tiger's Milk, Sustenex, Digestive Advantage and Schiff Vitamins. Focused on quality for 75 years, Schiffs headquarters and award-winning manufacturing and distribution facility are based in Salt Lake City, Utah. To learn more about Schiff, please visit the web site http://www.schiffnutrition.com.

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Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. to Change its NYSE Ticker Symbol to SHF

Personality Genes May Affect Your Longevity

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The 1993 movie Grumpy Old Men played up a common stereotype about those who live well beyond their golden years. With lines like, "Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow," they're not the nicest lot. But a study published in the May 2012 issue of Aging found that those who lived to be 100 generally had a "positive attitude towards life and emotional expression." It also found that those positive traits are located in your genes.

But the study is a long way from proving that a positive outlook causes these centenarians to live longer, said Dr. Nir Barzilai, one of the study's researchers. "There are personality changes and physiological changes that make a lot of elderly people become just more agreeable personalities," Barzilai said. "It has nothing to do with what got them to be 100."

Researchers looked at a group of more than 500 Ashkenazi Jews age 95 to 107, and 700 of their offspring. They're a favorite in longevity studies because they're genetically homogenous (40 percent of Ashkenazim derive from just four Jewish mothers). By creating a personality trait index focusing on levels of neuroticism, positive attitudes toward life and emotional expression, researchers found that the group was less likely to have high levels of neuroticism and were more likely to be extroverts. The same was true of their children, creating an argument for personality genes.

"My own interpretation from the study is that, yes, this is the personality were seeing [but] we still have to figure out if its important," Barzilai said. "The most interesting thing for me is to see if the longevity genes influence the personality."

Yet the health benefits of a sunny disposition can't be denied, the study notes:

The study's findings hew closely to what other researchers have found regarding the link between personality genes and longevity. The George Centenarian Study, the Swedish Centenarian Study and a study done in Japan found that centenarians had a more positive outlook than those in their respective mixed-age population.

The next step for the researchers is a study that will look at people who are the offspring of centenarians and those who aren't "to see the association between longevity phenotype and genotype and personality," Barzilai said. "Then well see if personality is part of living longer. Well watch them until theyll die to see if theyre personality changed or if it was personality that was part of what was important for longevity."

For readers who think they should change their attitudes so they can live longer, Barzilai has this to say: "Yes, everybody [should] become nicer," he laughed. But those are his thoughts "just as a citizen though, not as a responsible scientist."

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Council committees discuss suspending longevity pay

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PARKERSBURG - City council members, acting in committees, unanimously agreed to suspend the employee longevity pay program for another year.

The committees also agreed to look at across-the-board pay raises for employees and a reclassification of positions that could result in base pay raises greater than the annual longevity raises traditionally doled out.

"We want a system our employees can count on," said personnel committee chairwoman Sharon Lynch. "We want to retain our employees."

"We want to do something better than longevity," Mayor Bob Newell said.

Both the personnel and finance committees met Tuesday and agreed to the continued suspension of longevity pay for city employees. The suspension will not affect the previously approved 20-cent-an-hour pay increase approved by council earlier this year.

Discussion bogged down between the committees with regard to across-the-board pay raises. Members of the personnel committee wanted to see how much money they have to work with for possible base pay raises for employees.

Lynch submitted possibilities that included an increased base rate, plus a 1 percent increase on the base. The committee could reach no consensus to act.

Members of the finance committee voted to postpone discussion on base wages until the personnel committee had a figure.

"How much money do we need?" finance committee chairman Jim Reed asked.

"We are all in agreement that this needs to be done," said finance committee member Nancy Wilcox. "We need to know where the revenue is coming from forever."

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Longevity goal of Pacers coach

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INDIANAPOLIS Pacers coach Frank Vogel hopes to steal the script from his NFL neighbors.

Five days after Indiana ended its longest playoff run in seven years, Vogel told reporters he believes if the progress continues at this rate, the Pacers could become the NBAs version of the Colts perennial championship contenders for nearly a decade.

I think weve built something thats sustainable here around a young group of guys, and I think were going to have a chance every year for the next five to seven years, Vogel said Tuesday. I think thats what the Colts had for about eight to 10 years where every year might not be a Super Bowl year, but they were always in the mix.

Pacers fans would certainly take it after enduring the misery of the previous six seasons.

Following the 2004 brawl in Detroit and the subsequent retirement of star guard Reggie Miller, the combination of legal woes and playoff failures left loyal fans dismayed. Many stayed home and opted to follow a Colts team that won seven division crowns, two AFC titles and a Super Bowl championship between 2003 and 2010.

Now, the tables may be turning again with the Colts rebuilding and the Pacers emerging as one of the NBAs best young teams.

This season proved just how good the Pacers could be.

Indiana finished with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference (42-24) and closed the regular season with 12 wins in 15 games. It rebounded from an inexplicable stumble in Game 1 to win four straight against Orlando, giving the Pacers their first playoff series win in seven years. Then, after taking a 2-1 lead against Miami in Round 2 and being on the verge of pulling a huge upset, Indiana fans spent May tracking developments at both the Indianapolis 500 and Bankers Life Fieldhouse with equal vigor, just like the good old days.

And playoff games were actually sold out.

Despite losing the last three games to Miami, this seasons success has renewed hope in Indianapolis.

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Longevity goal of Pacers coach

Center for Productive Longevity Seeking Best Stories on Entrepreneurship and Inspired Living From People 55+

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BOULDER, CO--(Marketwire -05/30/12)- The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, is organizing a nationwide competition to select the best entrepreneur success story and inspiring life story from people 55 and older.

The Later-Life Story Contest begins on June 1, 2012 and ends on August 31, 2012 with the winner in each category selected by a panel of three independent judges. Each winner will receive $1,000 and a specially designed trophy. The best stories will be posted on the CPL website throughout the duration of the contest. The winners will be announced on October 1, 2012 and will be posted on the CPL website (ctrpl.org) under "Success Stories".

CPL created the contest to stimulate discussion and dialogue about how people 55 and older can continue adding value to their extended lives in an era when they are living 30 years longer than people did at the beginning of the 20th century. The Later-Life Story Contest is intended to achieve three objectives:

1) Stimulate people to continue leading meaningful and rewarding lives after reaching the age of 55. Baby Boomers were acculturated to believe that when they reached a certain age (55, 60, 65), they were over the hill and out of the game. Many of them need to understand that, with their increased longevity, they have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs or lead inspirational lives.

2) Demonstrate that older people can remain productively engaged and live inspiring lives into their latter 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond. There are 78 million Baby Boomers who began reaching traditional retirement age of 65 in 2011 and will continue to do so each year through 2029 at the rate of 4.2 million per year. These are people with experience, expertise, seasoned judgment and proven performance (referred to as EESP). Many of them have also acquired some accumulated wisdom. At a time when unemployment is high and economic growth low, creating a new business is a bright spot on a gloomy employment horizon. Stories about how older entrepreneurs have successfully taken the new-business route may stimulate others to do so. Stories about how people 55 and older have led inspirational lives may have a similar impact.

3) Change the pervasive national mindset that when people reach a certain age, they should move to the sidelines. This thinking encourages older workers to shed the wrinkles, hide the years, and pretend to be younger than they are. With people living substantially longer lives, Americans must recognize and find ways to enable this large and growing talent pool to continue adding value.

"We look forward to learning about the trailblazers around the country and to celebrating their stories," says William Zinke, 85, Founder and President of CPL. "We believe that this contest can achieve these three objectives and look forward to sharing success stories with the public."

We have selected three highly qualified judges for the competition:

All have had substantial experience regarding the productive engagement of people 55 and older.

To submit a story, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/laterlifestorycontest and complete a submission form. Entrants must be over the age of 55, have a compelling story to share, and be willing to have it posted on the CPL website for viewing by the general public and for possible publication. Stories may also be emailed to James R. Hooks, Director of Marketing and Technology, at jhooks@ctrpl.org.

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Center for Productive Longevity Seeking Best Stories on Entrepreneurship and Inspired Living From People 55+

Defense to explore DNA, mental health in Utica woman’s death

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Even though police say Craig Ingersolls DNA links him to the body of a Utica woman who was killed more than five years ago, that doesnt necessarily mean he sexually assaulted and strangled her, his defense attorney said Wednesday.

As Ingersoll, 30, of Herkimer Road, spends the next month considering whether he will plead guilty in connection to the 2007 death of 29-year-old Jennifer Bennett, Assistant Public Defender Luke Nebush said the circumstances surrounding Ingersolls DNA will be open to discussion.

Where the DNA was found is also a critical issue in this case, Nebush said, without clarifying exactly where Ingersolls genetic material was located on either Bennetts body or clothing, or anywhere else.

Nebush also would not comment when asked whether the circumstances of Bennetts death leave any room to be interpreted as an innocent accident.

Ingersoll pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning in Oneida County Court after he was indicted last week on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree criminal sexual act.

He is due back in front of Judge Barry M. Donalty on Tuesday, June 26, to either accept or reject the prosecutions plea offer.

In the meantime, Nebush said he expects to further review additional evidence provided by Assistant District Attorney Laurie Lisi and to look further into Ingersolls psychiatric background.

Thats something were going to explore, to determine whether any psychiatric issues actually exist, Nebush said.

Ingersoll is accused of killing Bennett sometime between Jan. 7 and 9 in 2007 while using forcible compulsion during a sexual assault on the woman.

After Oneida County sheriffs investigators spent years trying to identify unknown Bennetts killer, Ingersoll unexpectedly became the prime suspect several months ago after a statewide DNA database for previously convicted criminals matched Ingersolls DNA with DNA that was found with Bennetts body behind a Deerfield Fire Department pavilion on Jan. 11, 2007.

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Defense to explore DNA, mental health in Utica woman’s death

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Ember Therapeutics Expands Scientific Leadership to Advance Metabolic Pipeline

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BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Ember Therapeutics, Inc., a company harnessing breakthroughs in brown fat biology and insulin sensitization to revolutionize the treatment of metabolic disease, today announced the appointment of Jasbir Seehra, Ph.D., to chief scientific officer; also, Jeff Saunders, Ph.D., joins Ember as vice president, small molecule drug discovery. Drs. Seehra and Saunders will advance the companys work in translating its world-class biology into a proprietary pipeline of groundbreaking therapies for metabolic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Both Jas and Jeff have extensive, proven track records leading drug discovery efforts and translating promising science into clinical programs, said Lou Tartaglia, Ph.D., president and interim chief executive officer of Ember Therapeutics and partner at Third Rock Ventures, LLC. Jas has already played a key role at Ember as part of our world-class team of scientific advisors, and his expertise will be instrumental as we work toward meeting the critical need for novel therapeutic approaches in the metabolic disease space. Im looking forward to working closely with Jas and Jeff as we accelerate and advance our brown fat biology and selective insulin sensitization programs toward the clinic.

Dr. Seehra has served as an advisor on Embers scientific advisory board since the companys launch last year. With greater than 25 years of experience developing innovative small molecule and biologic drugs, Dr. Seehra served as chief scientific officer of Acceleron Pharma, Inc., which he co-founded in 2003. He has also served as vice president of biological chemistry at Wyeth and led the small molecule lead discovery effort at Genetics Institute, Inc., where he successfully built the institutes small molecule drug discovery capabilities, including medicinal chemistry, high throughput screening and structural biology. Dr. Seehra has authored numerous publications and is an inventor on 33 patents. Dr. Seehra received his B.S. and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Southampton in England. He completed his postdoctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

With its innovative and proprietary programs, key intellectual property and unparalleled team of scientific co-founders, Ember has rapidly positioned itself at the forefront of the emerging area of brown fat biology, said Dr. Seehra. I am enthusiastic about the impact Ember can have on the lives of patients affected by metabolic disease and committed to working with the team to realize the potential of Embers unique therapeutic programs.

Dr. Saunders has extensive experience leading small molecule discovery and development for emerging biotechnology companies. Prior to joining Ember Therapeutics, Dr. Saunders served as the vice president of chemistry at Agios Pharmaceuticals. Previously, he worked as a consultant at Elixir Pharmaceuticals, where he managed all chemistry and related intellectual property. Prior to that, Dr. Saunders held the position of principal investigator at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where he worked for 14 years as chemistry head and project head for multiple programs. Previously, he was a research scientist at the Squibb Institute for Medical Research. Dr. Saunders received his B.A. in chemistry from Hope College in Michigan and his Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of South Carolina. He held a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

About Ember Therapeutics, Inc.

Ember Therapeutics is a product-focused company harnessing breakthroughs in brown fat biology and insulin sensitization to revolutionize the treatment of metabolic disease. Todays rising epidemic of obesity and Type 2 diabetes coupled with the lack of innovation in the industrys metabolic disorder treatment pipeline underscores the need for novel, peripherally-acting treatments with improved safety profiles. Embers unique approach leverages recent research breakthroughs in brown fat biology to develop a pipeline of proprietary biologics and small molecules designed to amplify the bodys innate ability to efficiently burn fuels like glucose. Embers expertise is also driving the development of the next generation of highly selective insulin sensitizers that have robust anti-diabetic effects, but lack the serious side effects of currently approved insulin sensitizers. Ember is a private company launched in 2011 by renowned scientific founders, an experienced leadership team and Third Rock Ventures. For more information, please visit http://www.embertx.com.

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Ember Therapeutics Expands Scientific Leadership to Advance Metabolic Pipeline