See: sports apparel
Following Talladega and comments by NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston on his blog, there has been a lot of discussion of the coverage of NASCAR races; more importantly how that coverage is shaping the audience’s perception of what they’re seeing.
All I can say is, it’s about time. Earlier this year I took up the topic of NASCAR and perception. No matter your feelings on the state of the sport, it’s undeniable that the color of coverage shapes what people feel.
Dustin Long interviewed Brian France on the issue of TV coverage. He touched on this issue. He said:
“We fully expect a lot of criticism for any number of reasons, judgment calls that are made, officiating calls that are made and some strategy or policy decisions that are made. We’ve always had that. That’s OK. What I’m saying is in opinions that are under the guise of criticism or being critical that just go on and on and on without much thought that’s different from some policy or rule violation that we didn’t handle correctly, somebody is more than fair to criticize us. It’s just there’s an unprecedented level that occurs when you espouse your opinion about how to do one thing or another.”
If you’re truly being honest with yourself, unless you’re out gathering news, where you get your news or in this case your racing coverage, is going to shape how you feel about it. For instance if you watch the local TV station that is big into covering local crime, chances are you’re going to believe crime is higher in your city. Likewise watching Fox News over MSNBC is likely going to shape how you see issues.
How many times in the last two seasons have you heard about ratings declines, or sagging attendance? The fact is attendance is down in the NFL and ratings are down 6% for MLB on ESPN (we’re no worse off than any other sporting event). If you hear something enough (like this race is boring) though you’ll start to believe it, it’s human nature. The sky is falling, the sky is falling!
I personally found the coverage a little much. I doubt the brass at ESPN was thrilled with it. They’re only driving away the audience for programming ESPN’s already paid for.
The NASCAR writer for the Oakland Press wrote a blog post giving kudos to ESPN for standing up to NASCAR. What are they standing up to NASCAR about? At the end of the day they’re only hurting themselves. ESPN is spending $270 million a year or $2.16 billion (from Sports Business Resource Guide) over the life of their contract for the rights to broadcast NASCAR races. Now you tell me, is it in ESPN’s best interest to say, “hey this product we’re broadcasting is really boring?” I don’t think so.
A couple of weeks ago Dustin Long did a wide-ranging interview about the state of the sport with Larry McReynolds, Kyle Petty and Jimmy Spencer. One of their big criticisms was the negativity that comes out of the sport’s media. While I think this was a pot calling the kettle black moment (they went on to criticize the sport pretty heavily) they made a good point.
Larry McReynolds said:
Darrell has put a great analogy. He goes, if you go to a restaurant and you’ve been going to that restaurant for years and you love that restaurant but you constantly read in the paper, it’s a bad restaurant, it’s a bad restaurant. Eventually, you’re going to say, I’m not going to that restaurant. Even if they rehire a complete new chef, staff, you’re still going to be hesitant about going back to that restaurant.
From time to time I like to watch old races and I’ll be honest with you, it really doesn’t look all that different. There aren’t constant battles for the lead, races do sometimes get spread out, and sometimes one car just dominates. The one big difference is you don’t hear Eli Gold or Ken Squier or Bob Jenkins criticizing the product. If you don’t believe me, track down a race from 10 or 15 years ago.
I don’t mean to suggest that NASCAR fans are more susceptible to this. But I do believe that this negativity runs rampant around here; more so than in other sports. When was the last time you were watching an NFL game and heard Joe Buck say how boring it was?
I think just like in every other sport, announcers need to walk a fine line. Criticize the league or sanctioning body for controversial decisions, fine; don’t drive fans off though by criticizing the product.
See: NFL merchandise
See: Authentic NFL jerseys
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Long term care (LTC) actually represents a wide variety of different health care services. When selecting a long term care provider or purchasing LTC insurance, one should understand the different types of care that is available. These long term care services are essentially designed to help you remain as independent as possible by providing assistance when you are not physically or psychologically capable of being completely independent.
The most widely known type of long term care is the Nursing Home. A nursing home is a facility intended to provide care to individuals who cannot be cared for at home or in the community. Individuals entering a nursing home are usually incapable of taking care of themselves for physical or psychological reasons and require constant care around the clock. Nursing homes provide skilled nursing care and provide assistance in performing basic living skills, such as eating, using the toilet, or taking a bath. Costs for nursing homes vary from state to state, and according to the level of medical care required.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities are somewhat more upscale solutions that offer seniors a housing and care package that evolves with the health of the senior. Seniors purchase a housing unit in the community while still in good health. Over time, as their health deteriorates, they remain in the comfort of their community but are transferred from independent living to assisted living and ultimately to nursing home care as needed. This type of community provides a broad continuum of different long term care services.
Assisted Living is another type of long term care. Assisted living provides housing which can be a room or apartment organized in a small community. Patients in an assisted living facility are somewhat more independent and generally require a lower level of care than those in a nursing home. Assisted living communities provide some assistance in daily living tasks, organize social activities among members, and provide ready access to medical care when needed. Costs for assisted living vary depending on the type of housing provided.
Housing Programs are a healthcare version of a group or boarding home, where the patient lives with a group of people in a single residence or facility. Patients need some assistance in basic living skills but not skilled nursing care. Other types of housing programs may actually provide independent apartments when subsidized by the government for low income individuals.
Residential Care Homes are single family homes that provide a bed and bathroom for a patient along with services from a caregiver. These services typically include assistance in daily living tasks and meals. Fees for the room and healthcare are provided to the owner of the home. The patient lives with a family and typically one member of that family is a trained caregiver.
Community Services are partly underwritten by communities and include services such as adult day care, meals on wheels, transportation services, and case management services. These services are intended to help those patients that are receiving care from their families.
The last major type of care is informal care. This type of care is probably the most widely used type of long term care because it carries no cost. Informal care is provided by a patient's family and while there is no financial cost, there is usually a significant burden placed on the family member who is the caregiver.
This continuum of health care services may vary from state to state and be called slightly different names. Being familiar with your long term care options will help you to evaluate all your choices and make the best long term care choice in relation to your specific needs and financial situation.
A few years ago while I was working at an organization that consisted of various departments, the Chief Executive Officer requested that each department make a video informing the public about the functions of their respective department. These videos were also to show how each department work towards the vision and goals of the organization. Most employees in each department were trained, skilled professionals so we all anticipated a high standard of videos. I was excited and filled with enthusiasm and quickly volunteered to spearhead this project for my department. I was certain I could create this video because while at College, I had created an informative and instructional video for one of my classes. I will share with you tips our department used to create a video that was of a high quality and received favorable comments from our CEO.
Tip # 1
Determine the exact purpose of the video specifying exactly what you want the viewers to gain from the video. Be specific and create in your mind a vision of how your finished video should look. Our video was both informational and instructional so we had to gather information and put together props for practical instruction.
Tip # 2
Identify the audience to whom you desire to present the information. This will enable you to plan what information to put together in the video and at what level so that listeners would benefit.
Tip # 3
Write out a plan so that your video will be organized. Divide the plan into sections and for each section, write out the information, equipment, place and personnel to be included in the video. Plan your camera angle and the time for each shot.
Tip # 4
Try to use your own experiences to provide information in the video and research information from credible sources. We had tremendous amount of information from employees within our department.
Tip # 5
Unless you have a professional video recorder, use a professional service to provide and handle the video equipment. Your job will be to direct and explain how you desire the outcome of the video. Wow, imagine being a director for a video production! We used the information services department within our organization to shoot and edit our presentation. If you have to purchase the needed equipment I recommend brands such as Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, only because I have these appliances from these companies. I usually go for a brand name product. You will also need a cordless microphone and a tripod, and, if you decide to edit yourself, you will need editing software. These items are available from the same department stores as the camcorders. Total cost for these items could be upwards of five hundred dollars.
Tip # 6
Pay attention to the place where the recording would be done especially to images that will appear in the background. Clean and prepare the area to look professional. You can place items in strategic positions that can help promote the purpose of the video. Just do not clutter the video with too many images.
Tip # 7
Practice makes perfect. This applies very much to creating a video presentation. Go through your plan and rehearse what you would say. Get a stop clock and time yourself. Make every minute count. Practice what you would say on the video. Believe it or not the excellent videos that you see on TV are put together after hours of practice. Try not to use many statistics as this would come over as boring to the viewers. Make it exciting. Use personnel to do interesting demonstrations.
Tip # 8
If you are doing the video recording yourself pay attention to the light and use a tripod to set the camera. Shakiness would produce a poor quality and blurry video. Use colors of apparel that would be enhanced. White, cream and very light colors usually appear pale and dull. Get some colors in but not bright or shocking colors - these appear unprofessional and immature. Practice your posture - no sloppiness. When we did our instructional video, our solution to inappropriate movements and hand gestures were solved by using items that we work with in our department for our demonstrations. Your tone of voice is important. In College we used the Voice Lab where we answered questions into a computer and replay to listen to our voices. The first time I listened to my voice I realized I needed to work on sounding more enthusiastic. I recommend that you get a digital recorder and listen to your voice. After a few tries you would learn how to control the tone and pitch and sound excited at the same time. During excitement your voice tends to take on a squeakish characteristic which is the last thing you want on any video. Keep practicing and compare it to the reporters on TV. You will get there. Remember if you do not sound excited and confident - your viewers would not be enthusiastic about what you have to present. Check your grammar - this is all so important. Make eye contact with the lens as often as you can. Never turn your back towards the camera. Don't forget your hair - it would be nice to pull your hair back but whatever hairstyle you chose - avoid the hair in the face catastrophy.
Tip # 9
Text visuals help to make your instructional videos easier to understand and appear professional. For titles use a text size of 30 - 36 pt, for subtitle 24 pt, and for text use 18 pt. The Arial typeface looks very well for titles or emphasis and the Times Roman looks well for text. You wouldn't need a lot of text as it is used at the beginning of the video. The color of your text would depend on the color of the background of the video.
Tip # 10
Get your video edited. Again we used the same professional service to get this done properly. There will be some recordings that are definitely not needed or some lighting to adjust. Then there's the text to get in there - so if you cannot do this yourself - get professional help. Making an instructional video is very exciting, take the time to write your plan, get your equipment and remember practice makes perfect. Remember the first time you bought your digital camera and it took some experimenting to know how to use the zoom, voice recorder and other features - well this is no different, take the time to practice and you would have videos that you would want to look at over and over again. Follow these tips and I guarantee excellent results whether you are promoting a product or giving instructions.
Re: long term care facilities
According to a recent New York Times article, “More Profit and Less Nursing at Many Homes”, the investment private companies have made in long-term care facilities has been at the cost of the residents who live in them. However, a formal statement made by the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care made on Sunday September 23, the New York Times' analysis of the data they collected is somewhat misleading.
In their article, the New York Times claims they analyzed data collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The New York Times claimed they discovered through their analysis of the data that private investors buy out large chains of nursing homes, immediately cut costs by laying off clinical nurses, and as a result make significant profit each year.
The Times claims that as a result of decreased care for residents, nursing home residents suffer. Specifically the New York Times asserts that federal and state regulators told the paper that the cut in staffing would account for the increased administration of wrong medication to residents, moldy food, and restraining residents for long duration of time in every large nursing owned by large private investors during a six year period between 2000 and 2006.
Finally, the Times asserts that private companies that buy large chains of nursing homes evade many lawsuits for negligent care by not making who controls the nursing homes public knowledge.
In a formal statement, the Alliance for Quality of Nursing Home Care, President Alan Rosenbloom responded to the New York Times article.
In his statement, he asserted that the data the New York Times analyzed was a mere small percentage of the United States long-term care ownership category. He further asserted that the data analyzed was not representative of the overall quality of long-term care facilities in the United States. He said that the quality of care in long-term care facilities in America is improving overall.
However, Rosenbloom recognizes, in his statement released by the Alliance for Quality of Nursing Home Care, that while the overall quality of care in long-term facilities has improved, there are areas that need improving: “We concur with the Government Accountability Office, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other independent sources finding that while there have been specific measurable quality improvements in several important clinical areas, there is still far more to do”.
Finally, Rosenbloom asserted that he is excited about the ways in which quality of nursing home care has improved in the past decade, and he affirmed that he is committed to continuing to improve nursing home care quality for future retirees.
To read Rosenbloom's full statement, please visit: http://www.aqnhc.org/email/20070923.html.
Sources:
Alliance for Quality of Nursing Home Care:
http://www.aqnhc.org/email/20070923.html
New York Times: “More Profit and Less Nursing in Many Homes”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/business/23nursing.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin
One in seven couples has difficulty conceiving 1: A third of each time traced to the woman or male. Otherwise, the infertility concern is traced to each partner or no cause is found. 2 Accounting for more than ninety-nine percent of all assisted reproductive technology has been in vitro fertilization (IVF). “About 48,000 IVF babies are born each year in the United States.” 3 However, in vitro fertilization risk serious health concerns for the mother when hormonal fertility drugs are administered and produce many more eggs than is needed. A new advanced technique for assisted reproduction is known as in vitro maturation (IVM). In vitro maturation is a viable fertility solution for women who meet certain criteria. This procedure eliminates health risk factors associated to IVF: Minimal or no drugs are administered, less expensive fertility solution, and reduce patient discomfort. 4 Since October 2007: “Around 400 babies worldwide have been born using IVM, compared to around 2 million IVF babies.” 5
The procedure for In Vitro fertilization (”Test tube baby” 6) begins when a fertility drug is taken in the beginning of the menstrual cycle to stimulate the ovaries to develop several mature eggs. Also, medication may be prescribed such as synthetic hormone called Lupron prevent releasing eggs to early. When an ultra sound confirms the eggs have reached mature stage: Removal of the eggs through the vaginal wall is done under anesthetic with a needle by a physician. In a laboratory the eggs are combined in a dish with the partner's sperm. After two or five days, the fertilized eggs become an embryo. A thin catheter holding two or three embryos inserted into the uterus through the cervix.”On average, you have a 35 percent chance of getting pregnant and a 28 percent possibility of delivering a baby with each cycle of treatment.” The outcome is contingent upon the age of the women (younger women have healthier eggs) and extent of the couple's fertility problems. Vitro fertilization has a thirty percent chance of having twins or more. 3
In Vitro fertilization encompasses health concerns and other issues: Up to four percent of women develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) from fertility medication, usually a couple of days after embryo transfer. Women who experience this condition have abdominal bloating and pelvic discomfort. One percent of women who have OHSS, the situation is severe enough to cause abdominal pain and fluid retention. Hospitalization is required to provide correcting the fluid imbalance with an intravenous drip and injecting pain relief medication. Besides additional treatment require: “injections of heparin to counter the tendency of the blood to clot abnormally.” Rare occasions OHSS can cause strokes and severe lung problems from abnormal blood clotting, fluid accumulation interfering with normal function of the lungs and heart, surgery to correct enlarged ovaries that twist or bruise and kidneys or liver function stops working effectively. 7 Selective reduction of pregnancy may be considered when to many fetuses develop placing an unsafe amount of stress on the women (saving her life from complications), and can endanger the fetuses as well: “The chances of complete miscarriage (25% 11) or damage to the surviving fetus(es) are very low.” 8
Procedure for in vitro maturation (IVM): Immature eggs are collected from the ovaries and allowed to mature in a Petri dish (laboratory for 48 hours 13) before being fertilized and returned to the womb.14 In Vitro Maturation is challenging procedure as described by Dr. Randy Morris (first successful IVM procedure performed in the United States): “The follicles which contain those immature eggs are less than half the size of follicles containing mature eggs. This makes them harder to spot and harder to retrieve. The immature eggs are more delicate than mature eggs. We also have to provide a special nutrient and hormone solution so those eggs can mature in a Petri dish before they're fertilized and implanted into the uterus.” 18
In vitro maturation is viable solution for fertility problems for certain women:
Women less than 35 years old
Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (Major cause of infertility related to hormonal disorder. In the United States at least 5 - 10% of reproductive aged women. 10)
Women with a history of hyperstimulation on fertility medications
Women with a history of poor oocyte (egg) quality (”If the eggs are of poor quality, especially in patients over 40, oocyte donation may be needed. 11)
Women planning to have chemotherapy (Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology Director of the McGill University Reproductive Centre, Dr. Seang-Lin Tan said referencing to eight female cancer patients undergone in-vitro maturation: “We were able to immediately remove a number of healthy eggs without delaying chemotherapy.”) 12) “4
Benefits of In vitro maturation (IVM): No fertility drugs are administered or less medication is prescribed (Saving estimated over $5,000 including blood checks 18). 9
First babies born by in Vitro Maturation:
In Britain, twins born by caesarean (at 38 weeks) on October 18, 2007, first conceived by In Vitro Maturation, Ilia (6lbs, 11ozs 16) and Isabella's (5lbs, 14ozs. 16) mother Tina, thirty. Mother had polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS - “cysts on the ovaries which can affect fertility.”) prevented natural child birth, IVM procedure proven successful. 15 In the United States first women pregnant using IVM Cortney Webb and her physician Dr. Randy Morris, a reproductive endocrinologist. During the procedure thirty-three immature eggs from the ovaries where removed. Subsequently, three fertilized eggs were implanted and one resulted in a pregnancy. Coney Webb and her husband were informed they are having a baby boy. “Webb said she and her husband were excited trying this, because there was little risk to me and my health.” 17
In Vitro maturation is not advisable for older women: “Their ovaries have fewer eggs, and because many eggs fail to mature in the laboratory, a high number are needed to begin with.” 13 Long term effects using immature eggs and maturing them in a laboratory is not known, but researchers believe no long term health concerns is eminent. 16
Women & Infant Center for Reproduction and Infertility among services provided include in vitro maturation (IVM) - http://www.womenandinfants.org/body.cfm?ID=91&type=patients&CFID=4901227&CFTOKEN=30158621
Expected in the future, millions of women will become knowledgeable of IVM assisted reproductive technology for genetic selection of offspring, fewer in vitro fertilization procedures will be performed. Advances in vitro maturation has increased the number of successful births in assisted reproductive technology. 14
References:
1.) Fertility LifeLines - http://www.fertilitylifelines.com/
2.) Infertility - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infertility.html
3.) Fertility treatment: In vitro fertilization (IVF) - http://www.babycenter.com/0_fertility-treatment-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf_4094.bc?articleId=4094
4.) Is In Vitro Maturation right for me? - http://www.womenandinfants.org/body.cfm?id=983
5.) Twins born after new fertility treatment - http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/oct/25/1
6.) In vitro fertilisation - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_fertilisation
7.) fact sheets - ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome - http://www.monashivf.com/default.asp?action=article&ID=21855
8.) Additional In Vitro Fertilization Information - http://www.ncfmc.com/consider-invitro-fertilization.htm
9.) Is In Vitro Maturation right for me? - http://www.womenandinfants.org/body.cfm?id=983
10.) POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME PCOS - http://www.newyorkfertility.com/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-pcos.htm
11.) Our In Vitro Fertilization Program - http://obgyn.umc.edu/ivf.html
12.) New Method of Preserving Fertility in Young Women with Cancer - http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/505542/
13.) 'Mild' form of IVF just as effective, researchers claim - http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/nov/10/ivm-ivf
14.) In Vitro Maturation Cuts Costs and Risks for Test Tube Babies - http://futurepundit.com/archives/cat_biotech_reproduction.html
15.) Our 'L95 IVF' twins: First British mother to conceive from new treatment that's bringing hope to thousands - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1120670/Our-95-IVF-twins-First-British-mother-conceive-new-treatment-thats-bringing-hope-thousands.html
16.) In Vito Maturation - http://infertility.suite101.com/article.cfm/in_vitro_maturation
17.) New In-Vitro Treatment Shuns Shots - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/28/earlyshow/health/main4759856.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4759856
18.) Chicago Doctor Produces Nations First IVF Baby - Without Fertility Drugs - http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2008/12/prweb1756744.htm
Found: Apply For a £1000 Loan
Having a bad credit rating may result in you being turned down for loans, credit cards, auto financing, and home mortgages. People who have bad credit and are not sure where to go, often turn to a credit union or bank. Typically though, these lenders do not offer loan to people with bad credit mortgage refinance . In order to get approval, you must work with the right type of lender, especially if you have bad credit.
Are their options for mortgage refinancing if I have bad credit?
Mortgage rates have been dropping rapidly, and a lot of homeowners are looking into refinancing or home loan modification. Not too many years ago average interest rates were around 9%, while today average interest rates for a mortgage are around 5%. Homeowners who refinance at this low rate will see lower monthly payments, and big savings. This money can be used to better the homeowners financial position.
Check If You Qualify…………!
Homeowners with a low credit rating can save a lot, and see big benefits from getting a mortgage refinance. Sub prime mortgage lenders are specialists who deal with homeowners who have bad credit. They will be able to offer you better mortgage rates than a typical prime mortgage lender would be able to, which is the whole point of refinancing or getting a Loan Modification.
Benefits to Homeowners with a Low Credit Rating who want to Refinance
Refinancing a home loan with not good credit will include extra expenses to minimize the lenders risk. However, a home loan modification or refinance is a great way to rebuild, restore, and improve your credit rating. Also, some homeowners will have the choice to walk away with a lot of cash through a cash out refinance should they choose to do so. This money can be used for anything, but would be put to a better use if they are used to pay off other debts, and further increase your credit rating.
Check If You Qualify…..!
Finding a Sub Prime Mortgage Lender
Homeowners who have a bad credit rating can easily use the internet to help them. Most of the time, lenders and banks will have applications which you can fill out online. You will still need to supply relevant information such as pay stubs, bank statements, bills and debts, and all related information.
In 1826, Arkansas was still 10 years away from statehood, life was rough, politics were dangerous and the forests and wild bears of Arkansas circled the small settlement of Little Rock, waiting on a chance to reclaim the cleared land. It was also the year that Jesse Hinderliter began work on Hinderlinter Grog Shop, Little Rock's oldest surviving building. The Grog Shop,along with four other pre-Civil War homes, now serves as the centerpiece of the Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock.
The Grog Shop served as a tavern on its lower floor and the home for Hinderliter, his wife and two slaves. The building began its life as a red oak log structure. Clapboard siding was added, along with a porch, at a later date. The tavern served as a sometime meeting place for the territorial legislature, and local legend maintains that the last meeting of that body was held in the Grog Shop.
William Woodruff's Print Shop was an early home of Arkansas's first newspaper, The Arkansas Gazette, a paper that lives on in the form of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Woodruff moved from New York to Arkansas in 1819, bringing with him a Rampage Press. The Print Shop features a replica of that press, along with many of Woodruff's original furnishings. The medicinal herb garden outside is maintained by the Herb Society if America and features plants used by early Arkansas settlers and Native Americans.
In 1848, Scottish stonemason Robert Brownlee built a brick Federal style home for James and Isabelle Brownlee, his brother and sister-in-law. The house features marbleized wood fireplace mantles, similar to what is seen in the Old State House, which was built during the same time period. The Brownlee home is furnished as it would have been in the mid 1800s with furniture that belonged to former resident C.F.M. Nolan.
The McVicar House was built on the same block by Brownlee's good friend James McVicar. The house was built from white oak as opposed to the brick that Brownlee favored. Both homes feature the symmetrical style that was popular in the 1840s. McVicar, who was a veteran of the U.S.-Mexican War, left Arkansas in 1849 for the California Gold Rush. He eventually returned to Arkansas where he married and lived out his remaining years.
The Plum Bayou Log House is the only home on the grounds that is not on its original block. Originally located in the small Scott township, the building is thought to date to the 1830s. In 1857, the structure was found to be in a state of disrepair. The Pemberton family of North Carolina restored the home for their own use. It was move to the museum grounds in the 1970s and now serves as a hands-on educational exhibit, allowing visitors to experience life on the frontier.
The Historic Arkansas Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tours are given hourly except during the noon hour. Admission is free, but guided tours are $2.50 for adults, $1.50 for seniors and $1 for children under 18. Free tours are offered the first Sunday of every month.
a href=http://newsweek.com/id/38584/a pb class=ohAnalysis: Courting doctors in special interest war/b/p
pWASHINGTON mdash; In the special interest war over health care, the White House and congressional Democrats have the nation#8217;s drug makers and hospitals generally on their side; the insurance industry, not so much./p
pspan id=more-200491/span/p
pNow the bill#8217;s supporters are making a play to lock in the American Medical Association, the organization that says it represents 250,000 doctors and medical students in every state and congressional district. The principal enticement, a $247 billion measure making its way to the Senate floor, aims to wipe out a scheduled 21 percent rate cut for doctors treating Medicare patients and replace it with a permanent, predictable system for future fee increases./p
pThe AMA, firmly in favor of higher pay for doctors, began airing ads last week saying the increase would #8220;protect seniors#8217; access to quality care.#8221; In case lawmakers need any inducement to act, a late 2008 study by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which advises Congress, found that nearly 30 percent of Medicare patients looking for a new primary care doctor had trouble finding one./p
pYet the AMA won#8217;t yet pledge support for the major health care bill that is the chief objective of the White House and congressional Democrats, despite a request that several officials say was made at a meeting last week with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev./p
pNor does it seem eager to soft-pedal another of its own top priorities, legislation to restrict medical malpractice payments./p
p#8220;We continue to press for significant medical liability reform because we know that is a very important contributor to unnecessary health care costs,#8221; Dr. J. James Rohack, president of the AMA, said in an interview in which he declined repeatedly to say whether the organization had been asked to back off./p
pHigher payments to doctors and curbs on medical malpractice awards #8220;in my mind are separate issues. I can#8217;t speak for how other people are putting this whole thing together,#8221; he added./p
pEvidently not in the minds of Democrats. Several officials say that request, too, was conveyed to the AMA and other doctor groups in last week#8217;s session with Reid. Not coincidentally, any limitations in medical malpractice awards are anathema to trial lawyers, whom Democrats count as among their most reliable and generous campaign supporters./p
pThe dance is one of many in the long-running health care debate, the issue that has consumed Congress, the administration and a vast constellation of outside groups for months./p
pTake the Senate Finance Committee, which last week approved a middle-of-the-road measure that may eventually prove a template for a compromise on an issue that has defied solution for decades. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine drew headlines when she became the first Republican to support White House-backed health care legislation./p
pBut according to some of the bill#8217;s supporters, a vote that occurred with little fanfare several evenings earlier was crucial to the legislation#8217;s survival./p
pIt pitted the drug makers and the White House on one side and most of the committee#8217;s Democrats on the other./p
pAt issue was a plan by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., to sweeten drug benefits for certain Medicare beneficiaries mdash; normally something all lawmakers can favor. In this case, Nelson proposed raising fees on drug companies by $106 billion over a decade to cover the costs. #8220;Did PhRMA come to the table in the agreement with the White House with enough? A number of us feel that is not the case,#8221; he said of the industry./p
pBut his approach happened to run afoul of a deal the industry made months ago with the White House and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee#8217;s chairman. Drug makers would cover $80 billion of the cost of the legislation over a decade, and the White House and Baucus would help shield them from attempts by other lawmakers to impose additional fees or taxes./p
pLeft undisclosed for weeks was a critical codicil mdash; that the industry would bankroll an expensive advertising campaign to promote the bill#8217;s passage, at a cost of $100 million or more./p
pPassage of Nelson#8217;s proposal #8220;may well undermine our ability to pass comprehensive health care reform in this Congress and I think that would be a great tragedy,#8221; Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., said shortly before the vote./p
pBaucus, too, spoke against Nelson#8217;s recommendation, although he added, #8220;we have to find some other time and some other way to fill the doughnut hole,#8221; a reference to a gap in coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program./p
pOf Nelson, Baucus said, #8220;I frankly wish the senator had decided not to push#8221; for a vote./p
pNot only Baucus, but also the White House had urged Nelson to drop his amendment, according to Senate sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. On the vote, the chairman, Carper and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., joined all committee Republicans in opposing the plan, and it failed on a vote of 13-10./p
pThe drug deal was secure, and so, too, the bill./p
pSpecial interest politics was also at play for the nation#8217;s hospitals. They, too, have a side deal with the White House and Baucus, and they also received a measure of protection in the bill that cleared the committee./p
pAt the last minute, the chairman decided to shield them from any future cuts to be recommended by an independent commission charged with recommending savings in Medicare./p
pThe insurance industry?/p
pReid made an unusual appearance at a Senate committee hearing recently to support repeal of 60-year-old antitrust laws that benefit insurance companies./p
pEDITOR#8217;S NOTE mdash; David Espo is chief congressional correspondent for The Associated Press./p
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re: fishing stuff
Fishing has many uses and therefore is a skill in Runescape worth learning. Fishing can be used for healing your hitpoints, training your cooking level, selling for money etc.
Level 1-5
You've just begun to train your fishing, you should have already got your crayfish cage and small fishing net. If you haven't, go to the fishing store nearby the lumbridge castle and general store and grab 1, they're free so you don't need to prepare any money. There are a few places for your level to train at, Draynor Village, Lumbridge and Al-Kharid. I recommend you go to Draynor if you want to bank your fishes because there's a bank really close to the fishing area, but you can only fish shrimps. If you're just interested in training, you can fish in Lumbridge, which is behind the sheep, because there is a general store and fishing store nearby in which you can sell your fishes to. I don't recommend you go to Al-Kharid because there are scorpions which will attack you if you have a low combat level.
Level 5-20
Now that you are level 5, you can start using a fishing rod. Buy some bait, either from the fishing shop, or the Grand Exchange, whichever is cheaper. Now, I still recommend you go to Draynor, because it is close by to the bank. Remember to click bait, instead of net when you're fishing.
Level 20-40
You've reached level 20 in fishing now! Now you have access to the fastest way to train your fishing in Runescape as a non-member - Fly Fishing. Instead of using bait, now just buy a fly fishing rod and feathers (or you could kill chickens for them) and head over to Lumbridge. This time, instead of going behind the sheep, go across the Lumbridge river, so that you are on the opposite side of the river to the Lumbridge castle. Just start fishing, and when you're done, you could either bank them in the Lumbridge bank or you could sell the fish to the general store or fishing shop.
Level 40-50
Now that you've reached level 40 in fishing, you can now fish one of the most traded fish for non-members, the Lobster. All you need is a lobster cage, no bait, feathers or anything like that is needed. You'd need 60gp though to make a run to and back from Karamja, because that is the only place non-members can fish lobsters besides going to the wilderness and risk being attacked by revenants. If you have the explorer ring 3, then you only need 30gp because you can just use the cabbage teleport.
Level 50-99
You now have access to fishing all the fishes non-members have to offer with level 50 fishing. You can fish swordfish, which sells for a higher price than lobsters, but the are caught along with tuna. I usually just run to the general store in Karamja to sell them or I just drop them. But remember, fly fishing is still the quickest way to train fishing as a non-member in Runescape.
Have fun fishing and playing Runescape
by JCT
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