Houston, U.S.A. – NASA completed another successful test of the Orion crew vehicle’s parachutes high above the Arizona desert in preparation for the spacecraft’s orbital flight test in 2014. Orion will carry astronauts deeper into space than ever before, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and ensure a safe re-entry and landing.

A C-17 plane dropped a test version of Orion from an altitude of 25,000 feet above the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in southwestern Arizona. This test was the second to use an Orion craft that mimics the full size and shape of the spacecraft.

Orion’s drogue chutes were deployed between 15,000 feet and 20,000 feet, followed by the pilot parachutes, which deployed the main landing parachutes. Orion descended about 25 feet per second, well below its maximum designed touchdown speed, when it landed on the desert floor.

“Across the country, NASA and industry are moving forward on the most advanced spacecraft ever designed, conducting drop and splashdown tests, preparing ground systems, designing software and computers and paving the way for the future of exploration,” said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters inWashington. “Today’s parachute test in Yuma is an important reminder of the progress being made on Orion and its ultimate mission — enabling NASA to meet the goal of sending humans to an asteroid and Mars.”

Orion parachutes have so-called reefing lines, which when cut by a pyrotechnic device, allow the parachute to open gradually, managing the initial amount of drag and force on the parachute. The main objective of the latest drop test was to determine how the entire system would respond if one of the reefing lines was cut prematurely, causing the three main parachutes to inflate too quickly.

Since 2007, the Orion program has conducted a vigorous parachute air and ground test program and provided the chutes for NASA’s successful pad abort test in 2010. All of the tests build an understanding of the chutes’ technical performance for eventual human-rated certification.

In 2014, an uncrewed Orion spacecraft will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Exploration Flight Test-1. The spacecraft will travel 3,600 miles above Earth’s surface. This is 15 times farther than the International Space Station’s orbit and farther than any spacecraft designed to carry humans has gone in more than 40 years. The main flight objective is to understand Orion’s heat shield performance at speeds generated during a return from deep space.

In 2017, Orion will be launched by NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), a heavy-lift rocket that will provide an entirely new capability for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Designed to be flexible for launching spacecraft for crew and cargo missions, SLS will enable new missions of exploration and expand human presence across the solar system.

Image Courtesy of  nasa hq photo

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Orlando, U.S.A. – AAA‘s newest app, AAA Mobile, bundles services for motorists, such as mapping and gas price comparison, as well as member-exclusive benefits including roadside assistance and discounts.

The new app available for iPhone and Android-compatible devices combines the AAA Discounts, TripTik Mobile and Roadside apps into one app creating the perfect companion for any motorist. AAA Mobile delivers a complete mobile experience for members; centering around help at the roadside, travel plans and getting the latest discount at your favorite store with AAA’s Show Your Card and Save program.

“AAA is dedicated to evolving with our members by providing them with the latest ways to stay informed and access all their AAA membership provides,” says Marshall L. Doney, AAA National Vice President, Automotive, Financial Services and e-Business. “We are very pleased to be able to provide this new app to our members and future members. The new AAA Mobile app will provide a convenient solution to those members looking to maximize their membership benefits on the go.”

Available now for free in iTunes and Google Play app stores, the AAA Mobile app features include:

• Road Service Request (app identifies location)
• AAA member discounts
• AAA Approved Auto Repair locator
• Gas station locations and updated gas price information
• Diamond Ratings for AAA Approved hotels and restaurants
• Hotel booking capability powered by Travelocity
• Listings for AAA Approved attractions and campgrounds
• AAA branch office locations
• TripTik® travel planning with interactive maps and directions
• Instant battery replacement quotes
• Electric vehicle charging station locations
• Join AAA

AAA Mobile is available to all mobile users; however some services and benefits are only available to AAA members such as roadside assistance and discounts. The app was launched as an update to the current AAA Discounts app in the iTunes and Google Play (formerly Android Market) app stores.  Any user who has the AAA Discounts app downloaded on their phone should have been notified that an update was available.

When updated, the AAA Mobile app will replace AAA Discounts on their phone.  The current AAA Roadside and AAA TripTik Mobile apps will soon be updated to display a message that these apps have been replaced with AAA Mobile, download the new app, and delete AAA Roadside and AAA TripTik Mobile apps.

Smartphones with mobile applications are valuable tools before a vehicle is in motion; however, they greatly increase motorist distractions when used while driving.  Distracted driving can have deadly consequences.  AAA urges motorists to minimize distractions behind the wheel by not using wireless devices, such as cell phones with mobile applications, while driving.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Members and non-members can visit AAA on the Internet at AAA.com.

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Atlantic City, U.S.A. – Nik Wallenda is taking the motto “DO AC” to staggering new heights. The undisputed King of the High Wire will perform a heart-pounding tightrope walk high above the Atlantic City beach. This free-to-the-public spectacle, presented by the Atlantic City Alliance, will begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 9, 2012.

“Atlantic City has a long tradition of jaw-dropping feats that entertain, inspire and amaze,” said Liza Cartmell, President of the Atlantic City Alliance. “This free event along the famed Boardwalk with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop is perfect for AC visitors. Considering the immense media attention that follows Nik and his broad appeal in pop culture, his appearance will shine a bright spotlight on AC.  We know people will not want to miss this.”

Wallenda’s perilous 1,500 foot walk will begin at Sovereign Avenue and the Beach, adjacent to Atlantic Club Casino, and finish above the beach at Tropicana Casino & Resort. Wallenda hopes to complete the walk in 27 minutes, using only a 24 foot balance pole. No harness or other safety mechanisms will be in place. In the event of rain, the high wire walk will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, August 10, 2012.

Nik Wallenda Fulfills Lifelong Dream in Niagara Falls High Wire Walk

This Atlantic City stunt comes just a month and half after an astonished world watched Nik Wallendacomplete a lifelong dream of walking across Niagara Falls. On Friday, June 15, 2012, Wallenda became the only person in the world to cross directly over the precipice of the falls.  Drawing in over 19 million viewers on live TV, the Niagara Falls stunt achieved ABC’s highest ratings of a summer non-sports telecast since 2006.  Within 24 hours of completion, the event is estimated to have been viewed by one billion people.

“Beyond the Falls: Nik Wallenda & The Wallenda Family Experience”

There is more high wire excitement to be had as Nik Wallenda is joined by his daredevil family for an acrobatic spectacular, showing August 12 through September 22 at Tropicana Casino & Resort.

“We are proud and excited to have a legendary high wire artist of Nik’s caliber adding even more thrills to the Tropicana experience. As a member of the famed Flying Wallendas circus family, Nik Wallenda is truly daredevil royalty,” said Tony Rodio, Chief Executive Officer of Tropicana Entertainment Inc.

Audience members will embark on a journey of discovery and thrills, through the Wallenda family history and multiple amazing live performances.  Nik Wallenda and his wife Erendira climb two towering steel spires known as sway-poles, combining strength, balance and daring in an array of acrobatics at dizzying heights, and an iconic Wallenda family stunt: a two-tiered, three person pyramid using a chair and two bicycles. This action-packed show is guaranteed to keep audiences of all ages on the edge of their seats.

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West Orange, U.S.A. — With summer in full swing, children and adults are spending more time outdoors – and with that comes the risk for more accidents, injuries and heat-related complications.

“Swimming, biking, and other summer sports are all great activities that offer exercise and other health benefits,” said Dr. Karen Kepler of Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. “But studies show that the potential for sprains, strains and broken bones, as well as more serious brain and spinal cord injuries, increases during the summer months. Many of these injuries can be attributed to the simple fact that more people are outdoors doing more things: whether it’s travelling to the beach, lake or pool; going boating; pursuing more extreme hiking and mountain biking; or just playing at the local playground. And what can make matters worse are the high temperatures and humidity levels that can result in heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses.”

Children are at particular risk. For example, nearly 40 percent of playground-related injuries occur between May and September when children are out of school, spending more time outdoors and often without adequate supervision. It is estimated that this summer children will be rushed to emergency departments nearly 3 million times for serious injuries and more than 2500 children will lose their lives due to an unintentional injury, according to a recent National Safe Kids Campaigns study.

To help minimize the risk of injury, Kessler Institute, a national leader in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation, offers the following safety and prevention tips for children and adults:

• By the Water: Always check the depth of the water before entering, whether you’re at a pool, lake or beach. If at the ocean, watch for sand bars and changing currents or riptides. Be extra cautious if diving and never dive into an above ground pool. Know your abilities and limits and always swim with another person. It’s best to swim in designated areas where lifeguards are present.
• On Wheels: Always wear a helmet when cycling. Studies have found that this can decrease the likelihood of a serious head injury by up to 90 percent. Chinstraps should be secure and tight enough to only allow one finger between strap and chin and should be adjusted to keep the helmet over the forehead. Make sure the bicycle is the proper size for the individual and that tires are properly inflated. In addition, skateboarders and rollerbladers should wear knee and elbow pads to avoid wrist fractures and other injuries.
• At Play: A parent or other adult should check swings, slides and other equipment to make sure it is in good condition, and that children cannot reach any moving parts that might pinch or trap a body part. The protective surface of the playground should be constructed of rubber, sand or other soft materials that can reduce the risk of injury in the event of a fall. Children should wear sneakers or other well-fitting closed-toed shoes rather than sandals or flip-flops; hats, shirts and other garments should be free of ties or strings that can get caught on equipment. Be aware, too, that on hot, sunny days equipment can easily become warm enough to cause serious burns.
• In the Heat: Staying hydrated is critical in helping to reduce the risk of a heat-related illness. Drink plenty of water or sports drinks with electrolytes and, if possible, stay in the shade or an air-conditioned place during the hottest part of the day. Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, headache, muscle cramping, dry mouth or thirst, and fatigue.

Dehydration can often lead to heat cramps, which typically affect the muscles in the legs, arms or midsection, and heat exhaustion, which can cause profuse sweating, vomiting, headaches and muscle spasms. Most serious, however, is heat stroke, which occurs when the body is unable to adequately cool itself. Heat stroke, often characterized by a lack of sweating, elevated temperature, confusion and other mental changes, is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated promptly. Note that children are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses because their central nervous system, which regulates body temperature, is not yet fully developed.

“The majority of heat-related illnesses and summer injuries can be minimized by paying extra attention to weather conditions, as well as the level of physical activity. Similarly, both adults and children need to be aware of basic safety precautions when swimming, biking, playing or otherwise enjoying outdoor activities at home or on vacation,” suggests Dr. Kepler.

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Basking Ridge, U.S.A. – Verizon Wireless have announced that its green retail store design has achieved pre-certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Volume Program. Verizon Wireless is one of only eight retailers in the United States and the only wireless company to achieve pre-certification from the USGBC.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings that deliver environmental, economic and community benefits. Under the LEED Volume Program, any Verizon Wireless Communication Store constructed using the pre-certified design will earn a LEED Silver or higher rating. The company has begun certifying stores under the program, building upon its portfolio of 95 stores rated under the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system.

“Whether building new stores or transforming current retail or network locations, our goal is to lower greenhouse gas emissions and help preserve precious natural resources. By pursuing LEED certification we can improve our customer experience and environmental performance, while also achieving operational and utility savings,” said Chris Baron, vice-president, national operations, Verizon Wireless.  “USGBC’s LEED certification will also serve as key benchmarks for our Green Stores Program as we continue to look for new ways to implement environmentally friendly practices and energy savings throughout the company.”

Each LEED-certified Verizon Wireless Communications Store is expected to deliver, on average, the following environmental benefits and associated cost savings:

• 12,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year energy savings from lighting, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from the consumption of 972 gallons
• 28,000 gallons of water per year, equivalent to 455,000 glasses of water
• 28 tons of construction waste diverted from landfills, equivalent to 14 cars

“Verizon Wireless’ commitment to reducing the footprint of its retail stores shows tremendous company-wide leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair, USGBC. “The LEED Volume Program enables us to move further faster towards our shared goal of market transformation.”

The LEED Volume Program is part of Verizon’s commitment to reducing major energy drivers such as network equipment, energy efficiency requirements and aggressive energy reduction initiatives in company-operated buildings. Taken together, these efforts will help Verizon meet its aggressive goals of reducing its carbon intensity – the amount of energy used per data flowing through the company’s networks – by 50 percent within the next eight years.

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New York, U.S.A. – In the new issue of Philanthropy Management, a panel of experts from the philanthropic sector agreed that charitable giving is often hampered by misdirected government tax policies.

Sam MacDonald, charity taxation expert for Farrer & Co., a London-based law firm, told Philanthropy Management, “There’s a point where the logic of taxing charities falls down. Taxing the assets of a legitimate charity takes money from a public good and recycles it to deliver what is purportedly another public good. It can be difficult to see what benefit has been achieved.”

Government taxation of charities tends to reduce the philanthropic sector’s ability to address social needs that are often not covered by government, according to Richard Schwartz, Philanthropy Management‘s editor. “This calls into question the ability of tax authorities to assess the consequences of their policies,” he commented.

The panel considered the position shared by Stanford University’s Robert Reich that charitable giving is a form of consumption and should be taxed as such. Schwartz and other panelists questioned this thinking, noting that it equates consumption with activities that can contribute to, and strengthen, society.

Members of the panel observed that the US and UK have consistently enjoyed a high level of giving, according to a Charities’ Aid Foundation study. Perhaps not coincidentally, they also offer the most generous tax relief among developed nations. Germany was mentioned as an example of a country that offers minimal tax relief and has a much lower degree of giving as a percentage of GDP.

Panelist David Altschuler, chairman of the Board of the One to One Children’s Fund, suggested that government services and philanthropy are not mutually exclusive. “Somehow we need to find a way to work more closely together, whether fiscally or in partnership,” he said. Charles Keidan, director of the Pears Foundation, concurred that there is no reason why public-private partnerships shouldn’t exist, but cautioned that nonprofits should not undertake initiatives that are “the proper role of government.”

About Philanthropy Management

Philanthropy Management, an Asset International publication, focuses on the financial, operational and strategic services provided to foundations, endowments and other large-scale grant makers by banks, asset managers and other professional advisors. Edited by Richard Schwartz, it is distributed globally to more than 11,000 senior executives within the largest grant making entities in the Americas, Europe, Asiaand Middle East, including foundations and endowments, family foundations and family offices.

Philanthropy Management aims to provide philanthropic institutions with a broader and more refined range of tools, resources and research to measure their own success and the impact of the advisors they use. Please visit philanthropy-management.com.

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Ann Arbor, U.S.A. – A new free app developed at the University of Michigan Health System allows users to create a photographic baseline of their skin and photograph suspicious moles or other skin lesions, walking users step-by-step through a skin self-exam. The app, UMSkinCheck, sends automatic reminders so users can monitor changes to a skin lesion over time, and provides pictures of various types of skin cancers for comparisons. The app is designed for iPhone and iPad and is available to download on iTunes.

“Whole body photography is a well-established resource for following patients at risk for melanoma. However, it requires a professional photographer, is not always covered by insurance, and can be an inconvenience. Now that many people have digital cameras on their phones, it’s more feasible to do this at home,” says Michael Sabel, M.D., associate professor of surgery at the U-M Medical School, who was the lead physician involved in developing the app.

More than 2 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, and some 50,000 will be diagnosed with melanoma, the most serious kind. Regular skin checks can help people discover melanoma in its earliest stages.

The app, a collaboration of the University of Michigan’s technology and clinical expertise, guides users through a series of 23 photos, covering the body from head to toe. Photos are stored within the app and serve as a baseline for future comparisons. The app will create a reminder to repeat a skin self-exam on a regular basis.

If a mole appears to be changing or growing, the photos can then be shared with a dermatologist to help determine whether a biopsy is necessary.

“We recommend skin self-exams for everyone in order to detect skin cancer at the earliest stages, when treatment is less invasive and more successful. If you have fair skin or burn easily, have had sunburns in the past or used tanning beds, or have a family history of melanoma, you are considered high-risk, and so it’s even more important,” Sabel says.

Not sure if you’re at high risk of skin cancer? The app includes a risk calculator that allows you to input your personal data to calculate your individual risk.

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Menlo Park, California, U.S.A. — The Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded SRI International a one-year grant to develop a novel therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune nervous system disease that affects about 400,000 people in the United States and more than two million people worldwide. There is currently no cure for this disorder, which can impair vision and movement.

The grant, funded through DoD’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, will support the development of an oral drug that targets miR-326, a molecule recently found to stimulate the production of immune system mediators known as T-helper 17 (Th17) cells. Patients with MS have high levels of miR-326, and Th17 is thought to play a critical role in causing MS and other autoimmune diseases.

The new therapy will inhibit miR-326 and block the production of Th17 cells. The novel, orally administered drug will be more convenient for patients than currently available treatments. MS treatments today often require frequent hospital visits for injections or intravenous infusions.

The new drug could also help patients who do not respond to existing medications, or who experience significant side effects as a result of taking them. ”New and more convenient and effective therapeutics for multiple sclerosis are greatly needed,” saidJennifer Lam, Ph.D., a research scientist in SRI’s Biosciences Division who is spearheading the project. “Our research is directed toward the development of a novel oral therapeutic as well as a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to MS.”

Innovations from SRI International have created new industries, billions of dollars of marketplace value, and lasting benefits to society—touching our lives every day.

The project described was supported by Award Numbers W81XWH-11-1-0736 from the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity. The content of the information does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government, and no official endorsement should be inferred

For more information about SRI International please visit www.sri.com

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Houston, U.S.A. – Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), a business boot-camp that teaches qualified Texas prisoners real-world business skills so they may become productive members of the business community upon their release from incarceration, announced its Class 18 Kick-off event. The event will take place on Friday, July 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Cleveland Correctional in Cleveland, Texas, and is open to executives, politicians, and investors who can apply to attend by visiting http://www.pep.org/rsvp/about/.

On June 8, 2012, PEP graduated 64 future business owners and employees in its 17th graduation ceremony. “Having a new identity as a business owner who can contribute to the community from which we have taken something means so much to us,” said Sherif Alghali, Valedictorian of PEP’s Class 17. “This program has been absolutely wonderful.”

PEP also recently announced the addition of 14 new advisory board members whose experience ranges from highly successful entrepreneurs, investors, and politicians, to men who first came to PEP as incarcerated men.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the PEP program as I strongly believe in second chances—particularly with programs that help people who want to help themselves,” said Keith Okano, president of Bridgeway Software and PEP Houston Advisory Board member. “PEP’s requirements, selection process, and strenuous program ensure that its participants are truly committed to change and proving they are willing to work for it.”

“Since 2004, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program has been guided by some of the strongest business minds to ever lend their time and talent to the nonprofit sector,” said Bert Smith, PEP’s chief executive officer. “The experience, time, and enthusiasm these volunteers bring to PEP are critical to helping empower men in prison to stay out of prison.”

About the program

Established in 2004, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) is a Houston-based  nonprofit organization. The program’s mission is to transform inmates and executives by unlocking human potential through entrepreneurial passion, education, and mentoring. PEP’s groundbreaking results include a return-to-prison rate of less than 5%, employment rate of 100% within 90 days, and the successful launch of more than 100 businesses. To learn more, visit www.pep.org.

Image Courtesy of  spirit of america / Shutterstock.com

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New Haven, U.S.A. — New analysis from Continuity Control suggests that amid the spectacular rise of regulations, half of the nation’s 7,000 community banks are barely surviving today.

Through examination of FDIC data, Continuity Control, a financial technology company built to help community banks and credit unions meet their growing compliance requirements, has determined that the rise in operating expenses for smaller banks is greatly complicating their ability to achieve an acceptable Return on Assets (ROA).

The firm reports that these banks were forced to deal with 157 rule alerts issued in just the last year, 58 of which came down in the last six months. All together, the analysis shows 762 rule alerts were issued by the individual regulatory agencies over the last five years, with hundreds of subsequent updates.

Continuity Control has added more than 100 new controls to its platform since the beginning of the year in effort to help community financial institutions keep pace.

According to Andy Greenawalt, the firm’s Co-Founder and CEO, the costs attached to the rise of regulatory requirements are pushing the majority of community banks to a ‘compliance tipping point.’

“Without a dramatic improvement in efficiencies for handling regulatory compliance or a sudden drop in regulations, we could see 2,000 bank failures across the U.S. over the next few years,” said Mr. Greenawalt. “I believe the community banking industry, which serves as the backbone of communities across the country, is under real threat.”

Continuity Control’s analysis of FDIC data also indicates that a “broad swath” of the worst performing banks must move quickly to reengineer their operations to function with reduced overhead and an efficient regulatory operations platform.

“With a new plan of attack and the right technology, executives willing to make hard choices about change can improve their banks’ efficiency ratios,” says Mr. Greenawalt, “to the point that they’re competitive with the megabanks. A necessary element of that improvement will be the ability to operate in this complex regulatory environment with minimal overhead.”

The only complete compliance platform for community financial institutions, Continuity Control was recognized as one of the five most interesting companies in financial services at FinovateSpring 2010 and recently named among the “10 Tech Companies to Watch” by Bank Technology News.

Image Courtesy of  I-5 Design & Manufacture

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Ottawa, Canada — The most popular professional sports league in North America, the National Football League (NFL), has the most “socialist” economic system of the four major leagues inNorth America, based on an assessment by The Conference Board of Canada – the latest in its series on the pro sports market.

“It is somewhat ironic that America, land of capitalism and free enterprise, is so fond of a league that has made sharing the wealth fundamental to its business model,” said Glen Hodgson , Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist.

In the National Football League, more than 80 per cent of league and club revenues are shared among the franchises. The NFL also has a “hard” salary cap that puts a ceiling on the amount of money franchises can pay players, one that applies equally to all teams. The one market-driven aspect is the NFL’s treatment of player talent- both in terms of the high salaries paid to top stars and the ease with which players can be discarded.

Moving from the economic “left” to “right”, the National Hockey League (NHL) is similar to the NFL in having a hard player salary cap. As part of the current collective bargaining agreement with its players – negotiated in 2005 and now expiring – the NHL has a salary floor and a complex revenue-sharing system. The NHL is willing to provide subsidies to its weaker clubs to protect the value of the stronger franchises, since bankruptcy of any team is not a good signal to prospective investors.

“The NHL model is a mixed economy which does try to equalize opportunity for all its franchises to be successful on the ice and profitable in the books,” said Hodgson. “The challenge for the NHL and its players in collective bargaining this year is to tweak this system without undue disruption to the business. Hopefully, both management and the players have learned from their experience in 2004-05 and they will not risk losing another season in these negotiations.”

Both the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball operate much like a modern capitalist economy. In general, the financial playing field in these leagues is not level, and the largest, richest markets and teams tend to be the most successful. Top players command massive salaries, which leads them overwhelmingly to suit up for the wealthiest teams.

No league in North America, however, compares to European football (or soccer) for unconstrained capitalism. The presence of unbelievably wealthy owners, little sharing of revenue among teams and leagues, and eye-popping player salaries is reminiscent of the “robber baron” era of capitalism in the 19thcentury. Clubs are very much on their own. The current liquidation of the Scottish club Rangers FC – one of the most storied teams in Europe – shows there is little financial security or assistance to those that slip.

Image Courtesy of  Richard Paul Kane / Shutterstock.com

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Clinton, U.S.A. – The following is a statement by Rev. Delman Coates, Ph.D., Senior Pastor, Mt. Ennon Baptist Church:

As an African-American pastor and clergy leader, I am frequently asked how I have been able to support civil marriage protection for gay and lesbian couples. After listening to Christians debate their support of or their opposition to homosexuality, I came to the conclusion that one’s personal religious beliefs should have no bearing in determining whether other American citizens deserve equal treatment under the law.

For too long the question of equal rights for gays and lesbians has been mired in a theological debate that in my opinion is not suitable in a public policy discussion. The issue of civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples is an issue of public policy, not theology. The role of the State in a free democratic society is fundamentally different than the role of the Church, or any religious institution for that matter.

The role of the State in a pluralistic society is to provide for the common good and to protect the civil liberties of all its citizens. As a Christian in this country, I value my religious freedom, but I also recognize that I cannot impose my religious beliefs on others in matters of public policy.

It is completely legitimate for people of faith to debate the moral legitimacy of same sex marriage as a religious rite, but that question is more appropriate for a different arena; the theological seminary, the pulpit, or the Bible study group, for example. In the public policy arena, the issue is simply whether gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and civil liberties as other American citizens. For me, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.”

As a nation, we have always held that the ideals of our Constitution supersede subjective religious beliefs and views. One’s personal religious beliefs about homosexuality should not be the basis for determining whether same gender loving couples deserve equal treatment under the law.

To do so establishes a discriminatory and dangerous public policy precedent that potentially threatens the civil liberties of all people. As a Christian minister, I believe my role is to live in my faith, not to legislate it, and as long as the State does not seek to regulate the Church, the Church should not seek to regulate the State.

Civil marriage protection for gay and lesbian couples in no way infringes upon the right of religious bodies to define religious marriage as they see fit based upon their traditions, doctrine, and scriptural interpretations. Religious institutions have always acknowledged the role of the State to provide civil marriage for all citizens regardless of their belief system or religious background. Every union acknowledged by the State, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is a civil marriage, and is not synonymous with religious marriage.

Civil marriages, therefore, do not have the power to determine, delimit, or define how religious institutions treat marriage based upon their own values, beliefs, and scriptural interpretations. Religious marriage is solely province of a community of faith, and there is no legislative act that can be imposed upon faith communities to acknowledge, sanction, or perform.

Just as the State has no jurisdiction over the theological beliefs, practices, and ordinances of any house of worship, religious institutions should not seek to restrict equal opportunity to others in matters of public policy.

While there are a range of theological views about same sex marriage, all Americans can stand united under the banner of extending civil liberties and justice to all citizens. People of faith will not allow their theological diversity on this or other issues to be exploited for political gain. The welfare of our nation rests upon growing our economy, preserving the social safety nets for the poor and the elderly, and creating a civil society of mutuality, tolerance, and respect.

The Rev. Delman Coates, Ph.D. is the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, MD, click here

Image Courtesy of  Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

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While indigenous groups in Ecuador’s Amazon face possible death and grave illness from Chevron’s “Rainforest Chernobyl” disaster, several prominent U.S. law firms and their well-known partners are billing the oil giant hundreds of millions of dollars to forestall a clean-up that could save thousands of lives, according to court documents.

Chevron’s lead outside law firm in the U.S., Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, has 60 lawyers working extensively on the case, a recent court filing revealed. The filing also showed that Chevron has paid almost 500 attorneys and paralegals from 39 different law firms since the celebrated case was filed in U.S. federal court in 1993.

The litigation was shifted to Ecuador at Chevron’s request in 2002, with a subsequent eight-year trial resulting in an $18 billion judgment against the oil giant for causing what experts believe could be the world’s worst oil-related contamination.

The Ecuador litigation represents the first time that indigenous groups have successfully sued a large oil company for harm caused to their health and ancestral lands, said Karen Hinton, the U.S. spokesperson for the Ecuadorians.  Evidence from independent health evaluations concluded that more than 9,000 rainforest dwellers face the risk of contracting cancer absent a rapid cleanup of the damage.

In all, Gibson Dunn was billing Chevron an estimated $250 million per year in 2010 and 2011 as the company launched lawsuits against the plaintiffs in 16 different federal courts, helped to litigate an international arbitration action against Ecuador’s government, filed a fraud case against the Ecuadorians and their lawyers in U.S. federal court, and supervised Chevron’s battery of local lawyers in Ecuador as they faced multiple setbacks that culminated in the adverse judgment against Chevron, said Hinton.

“Chevron’s environmental destruction in Ecuador is the best thing that ever happened to the bottom line of Gibson Dunn,” said Hinton, who noted the firm reported a 20% increase in per-partner profits in 2010 during a downturn in the economy as dozens of its lawyers worked full-bore on the Ecuador matter.

“Clearly, Gibson Dunn and several other firms are profiting from rainforest destruction,” Hinton added. “These lawyers have proven that fighting to deny the human rights of indigenous groups can be a very profitable business model.”

Gibson Dunn clearly has sold Chevron on its willingness to engage in questionable tactics and push the ethical envelope, said Hinton.  The firm boasts that it engages in “recuse operations” for clients in trouble and that if the law is in the way it is willing to maneuver around it to achieve client objectives. Several judges have sanctioned Gibson Dunn lawyers for trying to intimidate witnesses and for filing frivolous lawsuits on behalf of Chevron, and one well-known partner has been accused of trying to mislead the Congress about the case.

A federal judge in Oregon fined Chevron after a team of Gibson Dunn lawyers had harassed the executive director of a respected environmental organization that had filed a brief in support of the Ecuadorians.

Gibson Dunn also uses cookie cutter lawsuits, Hinton said, where defenders of human rights victims and their supporters are always accused of “fraud” for trying to hold wrongdoers like Chevron accountable for their misconduct.

“The basic Gibson Dunn template is to attack victims to distract from the evidence,” said Hinton.  “When that doesn’t work, the firm resorts to outright intimidation to silence any lawyer or advocate who stands up to the firm.”

Gibson Dunn’s approach also has created numerous problems for Chevron in Ecuador, the fifth-largest oil producing nation in South America.  Chevron’s legal team in Ecuador is said to be furious with the Gibson Dunn lawyers for losing the case because of their arrogant treatment of Ecuadorian judges, said Hinton.

Chevron lawyers in Ecuador working closely on the case with Gibson Dunn’s “rescue” team have been sanctioned repeatedly for filing frivolous motions (once filing a motion eighteen times in 30 minutes), threatening the presiding judge with jail time if he didn’t rule in Chevron’s favor, and paying a Chevron contractor to secretly videotape a judge to try to entrap him in a trumped-up bribe scandal.

The Ecuador court imposed a large punitive damages award on Chevron in large part for its abuse of the judicial process in Ecuador, according to the judgment.

In the meantime, the case has become a financial bonanza for several other large law firms who represent Chevron. The list of 39 law firms disclosed by the company in a U.S. court action also includes the prominent criminal defense firm of Arguedas, Cassman & Headley; Jones Day; King & Spalding; Akin, Gump, Strauss; Hauer & Feld; Holland & Knight; Jones Day; Steptoe & Johnson; and Williams & Connolly.

The all-star cast of attorneys who have worked on some aspect of the case for Chevron include Theodore Olson of Gibson Dunn, a former Solicitor General of the United States; Brendan Sullivan of Williams & Connolly, who reportedly represented a Chevron executive who faced potential criminal liability in Ecuador; Greg Craig of Skadden Arps, President Clinton’s impeachment lawyer who Chevron reportedly hired to explore settlement;

Mickey Kantor of Mayer Brown, the former U.S. Trade Representative under Clinton who spearheaded a Chevron effort to cut trade preferences for Ecuador; David Boies , whose firm helps the oil giant fight discovery actions in the U.S. designed to expose its corruption in Ecuador; and Alan Vinegrad , a former U.S. Attorney who represented a Chevron lawyer indicted on criminal charges of fraud for lying to Ecuador’s government about the results of a sham remediation.

Chevron also has used six public relations firms to push talking points denying the company caused any environmental damage in Ecuador, even though the judgment is undergirded by extensive scientific evidence and the allegations have been confirmed by numerous independent news accounts.

After an eight-year trial, the Ecuador trial court in 2011 found the oil giant systematically discharged billions of gallons of toxic waste into the rainforest, decimating indigenous groups and causing an array of oil-related health problems. An Ecuador appellate court affirmed the judgment in early January, potentially opening up Chevron to standard collection actions against its assets in jurisdictions around the world unless its posts a bond in Ecuador.

Chevron stripped its assets from Ecuador and has vowed never to pay for a cleanup, even though reports indicate it contacted the plaintiffs recently in an attempt to explore settlement possibilities. Ultimately, one must wonder how much Chevron shareholders are getting in return for these expensive legal services, she said.

In the last three years, since Gibson Dunn’s “rescue” operation was launched, Chevron was hit with the $18 billion judgment, the largest ever for an environmental case; the judgment was confirmed by a three-judge panel; multiple courts sanctioned the company for its unethical litigation tactics; and a U.S. appellate court in New York prevented Chevron from seeking a worldwide injunction to block enforcement of the judgment.

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Eddie Murphy, who was announced as the official presenter of the Oscar in 2012, resigned his position on Wednesday November 9th. Murphy left one day after Brett Ratner, a producer for the awards show, quit after using offensive terms in a press conference for his latest  comedy, Tower Heist, which also features Eddie Murphy.

In a press release on Wednesday, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Tom Sherak, released an understanding and charismatic statement about Murphy’s departure by saying: “I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well.”

Murphy also justified his actions and publicly stated that: “First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony,.”

“I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job,” Eddie added.

The problem first occurred during a session of questions and answers in the press conference of Ratner’s new movie. When the producer was asked about rehearsal sessions, he replied: “rehearsing is for fags,” the L.A. Times reported.

As if that were not enough, in one of his previous appearances, Ratner had the audacity to report having sexual intercourse with the model Olivia Munn. Although he later apologized and confessed to have lied, the statement hit the public causing a polemic shock.

Ratner publicly apologized for his actions and word choices, but groups of gay rights advocates and a few members of the Academy that are also responsible for organizing the Oscars, found his usage of the expression “fag’’ inexcusable.

The producer gave his letter of resignation on the morning of Tuesday. Academy President Tom Sherak accepted Ratner’s letter of resignation and further added: “He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself’. Billy Crystal has officially been selected to substitute Eddy Murphy and will host the 2012 Oscars.

Crystal, who has hosted the award eighth times tweeted, “Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show,” Brian Grazer was chosen to replace Brett Ratner and to be the official producer of the ceremony.

The 84th annual Academy Awards ceremony will be held on February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California.

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U.S. students don’t know their own country’s history.

Based on recent national test scores, results show less than one-fourth of students are “proficient” in American history, CNN reports.

The Nation’s Report Card: U.S. History 2010, test results report by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education showed 20 percent of fourth graders, 17 percent of eighth graders and 12 percent of 12th graders showed “solid academic performance” on the tests.

Exam statics are based on 7,000 fourth graders, 11,000 eighth graders and 12,000 12th graders.
When it comes to testing, it doesn’t seem as though history is the most important subject for students to know anyways. U.S. history is not even tested in the No Child left Behind policy.

Knowing history also can’t help students pass the SAT, because there’s no history section on that test. Most jobs don’t even focus on employees’ abilities to remember what year the civil war started or who the president was during that time period.

Teachers tend to focus on subjects such as English and math, which have more practical and vocational applications for students, beyond standardized testing.

There could be many factors and reasons why students are doing so poorly in U.S. history. Teachers may need to venture into new methods of teaching history to the country’s children.

“All of these students will be voters… and almost 40 percent were already eligible to vote when they took the assessment,” said Diane Ravitch, a New York University research professor of education in a statement released after the results of the study were published. “They will be making decisions in the voting booth that influence our lives.

They should be well informed and capable of weighing the contending claims of candidates, especially when the candidates rest their arguments on historical precedent.”

Knowing history may not help to perform well on the job at McDonalds or Starbucks. But, knowing history helps those who are informed make better decisions in life.

“If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree,” the words of Michael Crichton an American writer.

Jorg Hackemann / Shutterstock.com

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The US government decided that the problem of obesity amongst children in America has gone far enough and will be stepping in to regulate. The government will be limiting what foods can be advertised to children.

Data from the National Health and Examination Survey shows that about one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese. Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.

According to the New York Times 11 food giants, including McDonald’s, Campbell Soup and PepsiCo, have already agreed to stop advertising products that do not meet nutritional standards to children 12 years old and younger.

“We are hopeful that people will look at this and say that the community has done a substantial, enormous amount of work,” Dan Jaffe, executive vice president of the Association of National Advertisers told the New York Times.

The Council of Better Business Bureaus and its Children’s Advertising Review Unit will be reviewing these companies marketing plans and will report to the public on their findings.

The Times reports, according to industry estimates, advertisers spend almost $900 million annually on television made for children younger than 12.

“This is great public relations for the companies, but it doesn’t go nearly far enough,” said Susan Linn, co-founder of the Boston-based group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. “It is going to be impossible to monitor if the companies are actually doing what they say.”

Obesity currently results in an estimated 400,000 deaths a year in the United States and costs the national economy almost $122.9 billion yearly.

Obesity and weight gain are caused by consuming more calories than the body needs. It is most commonly cause by having a poor diet, consuming high calories, fatty foods, and living an inactive lifestyle.
Obesity impacts more than people’s lifestyles, it can also lead to lower self-esteem, cause depression and can cause people to be uncomfortable in social situations; Obesity can considerably weaken someone’s quality of life.

The government stepping in plays a role in the fight against childhood obesity. But parents need to do their part as well. To avoid childhood obesity, parents should incorporate healthy diets and exercise into their children’s daily lives.

Both children and parents should participant in activities that involve physical exercise and limit the time watching TV, playing video games or on the computer.

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Despite the new look for McDonald’s Happy Meals starting in Sept in the U.S. critics say McDonald’s can still do more.

The golden arches will be offering a healthier option for their Happy Meals. But the University of Minnesota’s Simone French believes McDonald is missing a bigger chance to help children’s health. French believe McDonald should get rid of the soda.

The kids’ meals will be adding 1/4 cup of apples to their meals in addition to serving a smaller portion of french fries.

This change with cut 130 calories from the current Happy Meal. -The new Happy Meal with four pieces of McNuggets, apple slices, smaller French Fries and 1% milk will have 410 calories, 19 grams of fat and 560 milligrams of sodium.

French is an expert on marketing and societal influences that affect eating behaviors and is studying how to improve the diets and habits of low-income Minnesota families. These families are particularly affected by fast food practices, she said, because those restaurants offer food they can afford.

“What you could do is not even offer a sugar-sweetened beverage in a kids’ meal,” she said to Star Tribune. “If parents want it, they should have to order it separately off the menu.

Childhood obesity has become a growing problem in the U.S. and health advocates have pointed fingers at McDonalds for contributing to the problem. But McDonald’s is taking steps to change that, “by adding fruit in every Happy Meal, McDonald’s hopes to address a challenge children face in meeting the recommended daily consumption of produce,” according to the corporation’s statement.

The changes follow first lady Michelle Obama’s public health campaign to prevent childhood obesity. The first lady says she commends the progress McDonalds is making by providing more fruit and reducing the calories in its Happy Meals, “I’ve always said that everyone has a role to play in making America healthier, and these are positive steps toward the goal of solving the problem of childhood obesity,” Michelle Obama in a statement.

“McDonald’s is taking steps in the right direction, but we should be careful in heaping praise on corporations for simply reducing the scope of the problem they continue to create,” said Kelle Louaillier, executive director of Corporate Accountability International to CNN Health. “Ultimately corporate responsibility is not about securing public relations for cleaning up your own mess, but for not creating the problem in the first place. In this case, that means stopping the marketing of junk food to kids.”

The suggested retail price of the Happy Meal will not change, remaining between $2.99 and $3.49.

“McDonald’s has been engaging suppliers, government and non-government organizations to determine ways it could play a role in helping society address today’s obesity concerns,” the company’s press release said. “McDonald’s will develop additional fruit and vegetable choices and expects them to roll out over the next few years.”

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Joe Jonas and his new album will bring a twist regarding his music style and his sex appeal.

The album named “Fast Life” will be released on October 2011.

In an interview with MTV, songwriter Claude Kelly, who has already composed previous songs for Joe Jonas, commented a little bit about the new Joe Jonas album and what should his fans expect from it.

“It’s gonna be good, absolutely, and that’s the fun part: to let fans figure it out and let them listen to it over and over and dissect those parts. So, I was blown away about how together he was on this record and how willing he was to take chances.”

Kelly also added that this album will focus also on Joe’s personal experiences, and past relationships. “My process when I go in with an artist is to ask them right off the bat, ‘What’s going on in your life?’ … and he hasn’t held back at all, He’s like, ‘I want to talk about this girl or how hot she is or we’re breaking up or we’re together.’ He’ll say it, and he’ll put his life in the song, which makes the best songs.”

But not only will the new album expose songs with meaningful lyrics, but it will also show a matured Joe, who has left his childhood behind and his freshlook reflects nothing less than a sex symbol.

Nelly added, “Obviously, he’s a sex symbol already, but he’s really gonna play into a sex-symbol role and get the girls on his side”

Joe Jonas is ready to bring it all and come up to the stage with a different look, meaningful songs, and also a revised music style. The songwriter exponed: “He’s doing edgier, more urban music. I’ve been working with [producer] Danja. It’s edgy, urban pop where he can showcase his voice in a way people haven’t heard him before. So, he’s singing more edgy things and the music is more mature, but fun still”.

And just to make a things a little bit more exciting, he also announced on Facebook, that he will be performing at the Britney Spears, Femme Fatale Tour. “BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: I’m performing at the Britney Spears concert in NJ on Aug 5. And get ready for Fastlife in stores October 11″.

So for all the fans out there, keep a hold on to your seats because this time Joe is coming with everything he has.

Music4mix / Shutterstock.com

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According to Beyoncé’s debut single Girls Run The World from her latest album 4: “My persuasion can build a nation. Endless power our love we can devour. You’ll do anything for me” – the album hit stores June 28.

This anthem was the lead single from Beyoncé’s latest solo album 4. The song samples “Pon De Floor” by Major Lazer and has been met with mixed feelings. The radio doesn’t seem to be picking it up as a summer hit. Some feel this song is controversial because it sends messages of false hope; this song has a nice beat and interesting dance pieces in the music video.

“It’s definitely riskier than something a bit more…simple,” Beyoncé told Billboard.com of the single. “I just heard the track and loved that it was so different: it felt a bit African, a bit electronic and futuristic. It reminded me of what I love, which is mixing different cultures and eras — things that typically don’t go together — to create a new sound.”

Despite ridicule, 4 is doing well, it debuted at #1 last week on the Billboard albums chart, and most likely will remain there a 2nd week.

“You’ve got to remember that Beyoncé, being typical Beyoncé, her albums generally are anchored by really big hits; this album doesn’t have those hits yet,” Us Weekly senior music editor Ian Drew told MTV News. “It’s not to say that it won’t. There are some very strong songs on the album, but they have not been released yet. There are those songs on it, but they have not come out yet and they haven’t struck yet. Beyoncé is coming out at a time when radio is very crowded.”

4 is definitely different from Beyoncé’s first solo albums. This album focuses more on her vocals and shows she is growing and experiencing life, like any newly married 29-year-old woman. You can hear this in the lyrics of some songs, “When I think of the time I almost loved you/ You showed your ass and I saw the real you,” Best Thing I Never Had the second single off the album 4.

4 is an inspired title, Beyoncé gave her fans the credit with coming up with it. In addition to it being her favorite number. “It’s the day I was born. My mother’s birthday, and a lot of my friends’ birthdays are on the fourth . . . April 4th (or 4/4) is my wedding date,” Beyoncé explained.
More than 60 songs were recorded for this album.

This past year Beyoncé ditched her father as her manger and is currently managing herself. “I’ve only parted ways with my father on a business level. He is my father for life and I love my dad dearly. I am grateful for everything he has taught me.” Beyoncé said in a statement.

Her father, Matthew Knowles oversaw all aspects of Beyoncé career, from music to movies to fashion and more, he was there from the beginning, Destiny’s Child to her solo career, Beyoncé’s publicist stated.

“At this point, I really know who I am, and don’t feel like I have to put myself in a box. I’m not afraid of taking risks – no one can define me,” Beyoncé said.

4 is a deep, soulful album, some of the tracks are very romantic, dealing with being in love, to getting your heartbroken.

Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

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The FBI launched a national television ad in an attempt to track down one of America’s 10 Most Wanted: James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, an 81-year-old Boston gangster. Bulger was; wanted in connection with 19 murders. The ad featured Catherine Greig, a 60-year-old former dental hygienist who has been on the run with him.

The couple was on the run for 16 years, last seen together in London in 2002

The FBI ran a 30-second public service announcement in areas where they believed Bulger and Greig still had connections. They believed that broadcasting Catherine Geig’s photo amongst those in her age group would lead to a tip about her whereabouts and ultimately to the arrest of Bulger.

The ad wasn’t the most creative. Regardless, “the just the facts” method, featuring not the suspect, but his girlfriend, was successful. About 36 hours after the ad debuted in 14 cities, the FBI found Bulger and his girlfriend Greig in Santa Monica, Calif.
FBI spokesman Greg Comcowich said a tipster called the FBI after she saw the ad. The tipster led agents to the California home of Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger and his longtime girlfriend, The Associated Press reported.

The FBI’s 30-second TV commercial was created by two small agencies in Maine: Northeast Media Associates and Blackfly Media.
The FBI used about $5,000 for the TV production, in addition to $45,000 for the use of media publication, which included two cities in California: San Francisco and San Diego.

The FBI has used TV ads in the past but not to this extent, said Daymon Katz, chief counsel at the FBI’s Boston division. The ad ran during daytime programs such as: The View, The Dr. Oz Show and Rachael Ray, Katz added. These shows appeal to women in the same age demographic as Grieg.

The ad was scheduled to run for a week, but right after Bulger’s arrest it was pulled. The government is seeking a refund for the remainder of the time according to Katz.

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Last night, Quito welcomed the Spanish Singer Enrique Iglesias, who started his tour “Euphoria”.

The concert began Yesterday 30^th of June, at 20:00 P.M local time, in the Capital of Ecuador, Quito at the Rumiñahui Coliseum.

The Romanian DJ Edward Maya, winner of a Billboard opened the concert. Spicing up the atmosphere with some electronic dance music.

Enrique entered the stage and his words of wisdom for his audience were: “Quito…Tonight I’m fuc%&$ you”.

The singer performed an amazing show, accompanied with incredible music, dances and even some kisses. He sang the new songs from his recent album Euphoria. Which is the number 9th album that he recorded. The album was released on July 5th of 2010, and it features many artists such as:  Akon, Usher, Juan Luis Guerra, Pitbull, Nicole Scherzinger, Wisin and Yandel and Ludacris.

He brought on stage a lucky girl from the audience. But the things begin to turn a bit hot when he started singing to her the song, “Hero”. To heat things a little bit, and give the audience something to talk about. He begin to sing to the girl in a sensually manner, and kissed her on the mouth.

There have been already previous concerts, where he has already kissed a fan. But every time he makes sure his shows keep rising the degrees and makes things CALIENTES!

The tickets cost $35  (General) $75 (V.I.P) and $130 (Blackbox)

The tour will keep going until the end of October.

The upcoming concerts throughout South and Central America are:

• La Paz, Bolivia: July 2, 2011
• Santa Cruz, Bolivia, July 5, 2011
• 3.Caracas, Venezuela, July 7, 2011
• 4.Tegucigalpa, Honduras, July 9, 2011

Then the Artist will head up to Australia:

• 5. July 23, Sydney Aus
• 6. July 25 Brisbane, Aus
• 7. July 27 Melbourne, Aus
• 8. July 28, Melbourne, Victoria, Aus

And to end things up he will head to U.S.A, where in most of the concerts Pitbull will be the special guest.

• Starting September 22nd in Boston
• September 23, Philadelphia, pa
• September 24, Newark, NJ
• September 27, Washington, DC
• September 29 Toronto
• September 30 Detroit
• October 1 Chicago
• October 3 Kansas City
• October 6, Los Angeles
• October 7, San Jose
• October 8, Las Vegas
• October 12, Houston
• October 13, San Antonio
• October 15 El Paso
• October 16 Laredo
• October 18, Dallas
• October 20 Atlanta
• October 21 Orlando

The last day of the tour, will be the 22nd of October in Miami Florida.

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“I love music. The best thing of doing music is the people you get to meet and the opportunities you get to have to help people out. I’m grateful that we are able to do something that can benefit others.” These are the words of Simeon Lawrence, Jr. (“Young Sim”) talking about his Record Label Feel Good Music Coalition.

Feel Good Music Coalition, is a unique record label that tries to make a difference in regards to its music and production. In a personal interview, we had the pleasure to speak with Simeon, the CEO, Founder and Artist of the record label. Young Sim talked to us and gave us an inside look into his music production, the values and mission of the record label, along with some insight into the rest of the members forming the project.

At the beginning of the interview he told us about his background and roots. Young Sim was born in 1984 in Monrovia, Liberia. At the young age of 4, Simeon and his family left Liberia due to the civil war and ended up moving to United States. When asked about how this experience affected him as a person Simeon responded, “That is probably one of the most poignant experiences in my life as you know my character concerned.”

He explained how he and his family ended up moving to the US to seek political asylum. The Lawrence family found roots in Upper Darby (West Philadelphia), PA and restarted their whole life over from nothing. “Growing up as an urban kid and all of that just instilled me with the confidence that you can make something out of anything out of nothing,” Simeon said. “That was a very poignant experience in my life that shaped me as far as the man I am today.”

Growing up in Philadelphia, Young Sim fell in love with music and sounds. At the age of 7 while at Stonehurst Hills Elementary, Simeon began playing the Viola and continued until he graduated high school. “I don’t even know why I picked the Viola,” he said. “I just liked the sound and kept playing until I graduated. That really shaped my mind with how sounds are concerned. I fell in love with how sounds can set your emotions.” A lot of people don’t know that Simeon can still play the viola today. His label mates try to get him to pick it back up, but I have a feeling we won’t be seeing Young Sim with the viola in any videos any time soon. Listen to any of Young Sim’s tracks and you will hear his passion for music and different sounds and you’ll feel his emotion through your speakers.

When asked about the relation of his music and emotions Simeon replied, “For me music has the ability to take me to specific time periods. It has the ability to take me to specific settings. My beats are like the soundtrack of my life. How I feel is one of the first things I tackle in order to write a song.” Simeon’s passion for music and urban environment led him to the ever evolving world of hip hop.

“I was a victim of my circumstances,” he said chuckling. “When we came to the United States, we moved to West Philadelphia, and that’s a hot bed for hip hop. I grew up listening to Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff and all the pioneers. And that was just the voice for our culture.” Simeon’s experiences, love of music and frustration with the corporate structure of the music industry led him to start his own label. “I was 17 when the idea came up,” Simeon said.

“I was frustrated that a lot of my friends were making good music, and they were being asked to cater to the executives, who think they know the culture and know what people want to hear. I am a big fan of putting the power right back in the hands of the people, and so the only way to do that is to do it from the ground up, revolutionary style. So I just figured, I am going to set my guidelines and how I feel about music, and anyone that wants to join me can”.

Once Young Sim went full steam ahead, he created the record label and decided to name it Feel Good Music Coalition. When asked about how the name came about, he laughs. “That’s a good question,” he said. “In hind sight, it came from the emotion of the music. People used to come up and say I can really feel what you’re saying in your music and it makes me feel good. Then I just started saying we make that feel good music. And then coalition is just because I am trying to build it into something bigger than myself. I want this movement entertainment company to outlive me.”

Feel Good Music Coalition is a unique hip hop record label and is not willing to stray from their definition of good music. They also differ from other hip-hop labels in the sense that they don’t curse or use sexual innuendo in any of the lyrics. “It is just something I am uncomfortable with,” Simeon said. “I got a mother who wouldn’t listen to my music if it was like that. I got a grandmother and I just take the responsibility as a person that feels responsible for his actions. I just refuse to do something that I wouldn’t feel comfortable having them listen to.” Some may think that being based in Utah, Feel Good Music would have a difficult time being embraced by the community, but that would be a misconception. Simeon told us, “The community has been great in embracing us. They appreciate good music. And the hip hop community in Utah itself can hold their own against any city in the United States.”

The team at Feel Good Music Coalition is large and growing. Simeon refers to them just as one big family that loves music. “We are always looking to add to the label. Right now we are focused on a lot of individual projects, but we are looking to put a compilation album for everyone to get to know the label.”

For those of you not familiar with Feel Good Music Coalition, you can check out their song “Teach Me How to Jimmer” track, which went viral a day after being released. “That was crazy,” Young Sim said. “That song definitely got us a lot of buzz here in Utah. Definit approached me to do the chorus. And it actually sat in my in box for a day. After I listened to it, I thought it had some potential. So I did the chorus and added a verse and the very next day we put it out and it went crazy.” I highly recommend picking up a copy of Young Sim’s “Audio Diary” available on iTunes.

There you will get a look into the label and some of his label mates such as Definit, another younger talent with an interesting story. So far, Feel Good Music has experienced some success but is has all come from hard work. Anyone that knows Simeon knows that he is really low key, but a workaholic. He is ether in the Studio, shooting a video or doing an interview every day.

Young Sim has a very positive outlook on life and knows it’s take a lot of hard work to be successful. He lives his life with the motto, “Progress is a process, period.” He believes life is supposed to be hard and it’s supposed to be fun. “I feel like take the opportunities that you have to succeed and don’t live for yourself. Don’t be selfish. Do what you can to help others, and you’ll have a much more enjoyable life.”

His main message would be if you have a dream, focus and do what you can independent what other say.” You check out Feel Good Music Coalition’s tracks, projects, events and upcoming shows on their site anytime: www.feelgoodmusiccoalition.com.

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Their great music comes again like a lightning thunder. The band Death Cab for Cutie brings up a big smile onto their fans and followers faces, by by releasing their new album new album named Codes and Keys yesterday May 31^st , via Atlantic Records.

With this release, the band will already reach a sum of seven albums. You can hear the tracklist  that is being featured on npr.com.

The fans could interact for about one hour with the band on Facebook. Once the Album was released the comments and wall posts flooded Death Cab for Cutie’s page on Facebook. The band was talking to their fans, and responded to many comments, and questions.

The album features singles: “You are a Tourist, “Codes and Keys, and “Home is a Fire” which will arrive first in U.K May 30, and a day later in U.S.A.

The album is componed by eleven songs that involve the listener into a great atmosphere where the instruments just blend with the voices and create the perfect mixture. Death Cab’s style is unique, and they offer great Indie Music.

This are the eleven tracks that the album features:

1. Home Is a Fire
2. Codes and Keys
3. Some Boys
4. Doors Unlocked and Open
5. You Are a Tourist
6. Unobstructed Views
7. Monday Morning
8. Portable Television
9. Underneath the Sycamore
10. St. Peter’s Cathedral
11. Stay Young, Go Dancing

A great description about the album was described by Andy Gill in The Independent, mentioning that : “there’s an ease and comfort about the songs that suggests they fell into place naturally, rather than suffering endless alterations; and the band seem content to let them breathe and take on a life of their own, rather than freight them with unnecessary adornment”.

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25 years of history making, and life changing television, ended yesterday, on May 25, 2011.  An atmosphere full of emotions surrounded Oprah’s final show. Goodbye is always a sad word. That denotes that something has ended and its time to say farewell. After being an iconic figure, a role model, and an admirable woman, she says goodbye to the screen.

Taking once again the stage, and standing in front of her audience, she began to say the first words of her final episode “”There are no words to match this moment.” The showed reveal all the greatest achievements that Oprah considered were made by her, or the ones that she had most pride for. “Every day that I stood here I knew that this was exactly where I was meant to be.”

The show had around 7 million of spectators that day. Exposing a remarkable cipher, and becoming the most important Oprah moment, in her 25 years debut on T.V.  The Oprah Winfrey’s Show was one of the longest running talk shows in United States. It began on 1986, and had emitted 24 seasons, and more than 4,000 episodes.

Everyone has a platform, Winfrey said. “Mine is a stage in a studio. Yours is wherever you are, with your own reach.” We’ve seen Oprah grow, and we have watched her ups and downs during her career. With a rough background and childhood, she found a way to start again, and succeeded becoming one of the most powerful women on the world.

Remarkably, every advertisement that was emitted during the final episode, having duration of 30 seconds was valued in one million of dollars.

The final program was recorded in the United Center and 15.000 people attended as an audience. During the record of the last episode, many artists, and important figures were present such as:  Beyonce, Madonna, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Halley Berry, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Dakota Fanning, Jamie Fox Queen Latifah and many others.

“Well, I say, all sweet, no bitter. And here’s why. Many of us have been together for 25 years. We have hooted and hollered together, had our a-ha moments, we ugly-cried together and we did our gratitude journals. So I thank you all for your support and your trust in me. I thank you for sharing this yellow brick road of blessings. …I thank you for being as much of a sweet inspiration for me as I’ve tried to be for you. I won’t say goodbye. I’ll just say, until we meet again. To God be the glory.

But for her fans out there not everything is sad news, because she will not be leaving the small screen completely. She will dedicate her time completely to the channel OWN T.V, that stands for Oprah Winfrey Network. Released a couple months ago.

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I heard them live playing for the first time about 3 months ago at the Café Glocksee in Hanover. This was the first time that I heard about this group, Houston’s Wild Moccasins. I was there as any other person in the bar, where suddenly I begin to hear them play. My first impression was that they look pretty young but I was quite amazed by the way the just entered the stage and begin to play.

At first what grabbed my attention was the beat and sound of the tracks, they exposed a unique blend of Indie pop. The woman vocalist of the band, Zahira Gutierrez has a unique voice. Her voice mixed with the rest of the music instruments is the perfect combination.

5 young artists, Zahira Gutierrez, Andrew Ortiz, Cody Swann, Nick Cody and Andrew Lee, integrate the band. The minute that you begin listen to them you just have a feeling of immediate connection. The feeling is strange, cause you know it’s the first time you listen to them but at the same time you feel as if you are familiar with their style and rhythm.

I was listening to them and the whole crowd was cheering and dancing along the songs, and it did not take me long to just begin to move my head and then a minute later I was almost jumping and trying to mumble the songs and pretend to know the lyrics.

I write this article for all the indie fans, I know that you will like this group, and therefore I just let you know the talent that this band has, and just put it out there for you to grasp a touch of their music.

They just finished their European tour 2011 that covered many cities and countries in Europe such as: Belgium, Germany, Paris, Austria, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Luxemburg.

Two upcoming concerts are coming on the month of June, at Houston, Texas, where the band comes from. The First concert starts on June 4 at the  Summerfest – Eleanor Tinsley Park, and the next one will be June 10th at Fitzgerald’s w/ The Thermals.

The band has already recorded two labels, the first on in the year 2009, Microscopio Metronomes, and the second one Skin Collision Past released on 2010.

Video: Wild Moccasins, \”Skin Collision Past\”

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The relationship among United States and Pakistan  was damaged at a certain degree, due to the fact that Osama bin Laden was found in Pakistan.

Yesterday, the United States senator, John Kerry democrat of Massachusetts and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, landed in Islamabad. He claimed that the ties between both countries were severely damaged, but he emphasized that this situation was needed to be treat in an adequate and careful manner, since a good, and stable relationship is crucial for both sides. During his visit, he claimed that both countries had agreed to: “ work together in future actions, against of great value objectives in Pakistan”.

In his visit he made clear his position. “ I did not came to apologize, for what I consider a triumph against terrorism without precedents, but I came to talk about how we should manage this significant relationship”, stated yesterday Kerry.

In a report taken from the Associated Press, Kerry expressed the following:

“The important thing is to understand that major, significant events have taken place in last days that have a profound impact on what we have called the war on terror, a profound impact on our relationship as a result,” Kerry said.

He added, “We need to find a way to march forward if it is possible. If it is not possible, there are sets of downside consequences that can be profound.” Both countries are strategic partners and have a strong dependence on each other. They both share the same enemy, which is terrorism. The senator added: “ Both have sacrificed so much, that there is no pint to allow a relationship break up “.

Kerry added that he counted with the backup and support of the President Barack Obama. He made clear, that the strategic solutions to improve the bilateral relations would be based on the actions taken, rather than words.

The senator Kerry, acted as a very important figure since it is the first American that visits Pakistan after the Geronimo Operation, which lead to the kill of Osama bin Laden, the 2 of May. The American Senator handed a list of “ Concrete Requirements” to the Pakistani Chief of State, Ashfaq Kayani, in order to ease the relationship and erase any doubt or suspicion regarding that the Asian country host’s terrorist.

John A. Boehner, The House speaker, who went to Pakistan last month, said on Thursday that the United States should remain engaged with Pakistan as an ally against terrorists, but that Pakistani leaders must demonstrate their determination in fighting terrorist groups. He stated: “It’s time to look the Pakistanis in the eye and get a commitment that they are fully onboard with us. If we’re going to continue to provide aid and strengthen this relationship, I think we need to have a clearer understanding.”

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Yesterday, President Obama honored the 3,000 people that were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He placed a wreath, made of flowers of different colors such as red, white and blue at the ground zero.

The garland was placed at the base of a tree, known as the Survivor Tree, which was founded in the ruins; and replanted as a commemorative symbol. This was an emblematic moment in order to commemorate all the people that passed away and marked the death of Osama bin Laden.

The ceremony started with Mr. Obama’s statement regarding Sunday night, when the American commandos killed Bin Laden in Pakistan. “What happened Sunday, because of the courage of our military and the outstanding work of our intelligence, sent a message,” he affirmed. “When we say we will never forget, we mean what we say.”

With these words, the memorial brought a different feeling, exposing the sentiment that justice had been done.

President Obama visited many people who experience loses during the terrorist attack. During four hours, he conducted personal meetings with different people, such as policeman, fireman’s, and relatives of the people that had lost someone due to the terrorist attack 10 years ago.

The President, articulated emotive words to the police officers located in the First Precinct station house: “A lot of you have probably comforted loved ones of those who were lost; a lot of you have probably looked after kids who grew up without a parent, what we did on Sunday was directly connected to what you do every single day.”

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The soldier Bradley Manning, who was accused by leaking more than 260,000 diplomatic cables, thousands of reports and one military attack video known as “Collateral Murder”. To Wikileaks, has been recently transferred from Quantico, which is a base of the Marine infantry to a military jail in  (Kansas).

The conditions the soldier faced at Quantico had been criticized by the congress, and for many civil rights groups. The Pentagon’s lawyer “ Jeh Johnson announced that Manning’s movement should not be interpret as an acceptance of the critics, since this “is not the case”. The detention conditions of Manning had been adjusted to all the legal standards, in each aspect”. Nevertheless, the Pentagon considers that the installations at Kansas are “ more appropriated for his continuous preventive detention”, Johnson claimed.

Due to the fact that the young soldier of 23 years old, has faced preventive detention from around 10 months, Manning lawyer, has solicited for manning to be submitted into an evaluation in order to determine and analyze if he has the appropriate “mental capability” to affront the trial.

Organization like International Amnesty, human rights organizations have criticize the detainment conditions, which Manning had to experience. Manning’s lawyers denounced by the beginning of March that the soldier had been receiving “inappropriate treatments in Quantico. Manning’s conditions were tough; he had to be in the cell 23 hours a day. The cell was not well equipped. He did not count with a pillow, sheets, and personal objects.

He was obligated to sleep naked, supposedly to guarantee his safety and lower the risk of suicidal attempt. According to the New York Times: President Obama and other administration officials have defended Private Manning’s treatment at Quantico, but Philip J. Crowley resigned as the State Department spokesman last month after publicly criticizing the Pentagon as “’ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid” in its treatment of him.

The new installations at Fort Leavenworth appear to be more suitable and appropriate. Lt. Col. Dawn Hilton, who is the garrison commander at Fort Leavenworth said: “ I encourage you to come out and see how wonderful our facility is,” she told reporters.

She also made clear, that once Manning arrived Leavenworth, he would be conducting an assessment by the mental health professionals at Leavenworth. Once verifying that the chances of him being a threat to himself and others, he would eat three meals a day in a group dining hall, also he will count with recreational time, indoors and out, during three hours per day. Finally he will also be allowed to interact with other prisoners.

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For all the Mac fans out there, and for all the future Mac users that are already expecting to acquire one of these fabulous brand innovations. There is great news for all of you out there. On march 25^th of 2011, the new iPad 2 is going to be released at an international scale.

The announcement of the iPad 2 is bringing tons of expectations. The Slogan for this new innovation is Thinner. Lighter. Faster. Facetime, Smart covers, 10HR battery. The Release date in the United States is on March 11^th, and its price starts up in $499.

Apple announced that it is exposing to the market a new device, the iPad 2! On March 25^th it would be launch simultaneously reaching 26 countries, many countries from the European Union, the U.K., Finland, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, Hungary, Greece and many more. The company wants to expand its new product around many countries in the world as possible.

Compared to the previous iPad the new design possess lighter and thinner characteristics, and it wants to give its users the ability to have less in their hands, but more at their fingertips. Its producers are amazed by the way they have been able to improve the second iPad version making greater advances, and still having the ability to simplifying it.

It has been completely redesign in such a small period of time. IPad 2 is a 3rd thinner and 15% lighter; it has integrated a 2-side camera with HD resolution. It became more light and comfortable to have it in the hand by reducing one of the surface layers, narrowing the edge corners that the previous iPad had, that made it heavier.

The iPad has a cover, which adapts perfectly and hooks the iPad from its corners throughout a magnetism system, which helps protect the screen, and its material also maintains the screen clean. The cover is very flexible and docile so it allows using it in many ways. The design has the advantages of being more didactic, and simplified but at the same time its functionality increased. There are a lot of new applications, which are introduced into this new iPad, and this creates a closer relationship with a consumer by providing a fun experience. The iPad reacts to what the user is doing. The only thing you need to do I tap it away.

The price for acquiring the iPad 2 outside the United States has not been announced yet. Still the Apple Stores located world widely are not accepting the solicitation of any kind of pre-orders, or providing further details of the iPad 2 characteristics and functionalities. Users can only sing up for getting notifications and additional release details when the tablet is out to the market.

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What do you think about artists that use the resources they’ve got surrounding them to create their own style of music? If you love already what I am telling you, wait until you hear them. Their band is named, Freelance Whales, and they are exposing their unique style to the world.

With different beats and sounds, the five integrants who form the band Freelance Whales, offer their listeners a great mixture of sounds, Their viewers will have a smile on their faces since the moment they start hearing this multi-instrumentalists artists that offer a diverse and new way of mixing and integrating instruments together. The members of the band define themselves as “collectors”. This word describes the group’s personality since they collect their instruments and focus to produce their music with the tools they possess.

They decided to perform altogether for the first time in an original place that suited the bands style. It occurred in January 2009, in Staten Island. In Farm Colony, which was an abandoned farm. Here the band felt they could find the connection and inspiration they needed surrounded with an old farm that contained many different small rooms.

After the performance at Farm Colony, the group didn’t stayed with the arms closed, they decided to take the lead to perform in other places such as city streets, subway platforms and other stages.

This group offers a distinct kind of music. Their style is so unique that it cannot be compared to any other bands. They intertwine rhythmic patters, and embed the sounds with a light sound of vocals. The songs represent something mystical and spooky at the same time. All of the members in the band sing and play instruments which is something that already differs itself from other bands. Here you can feel a great connection among the members and their sounds fit in the adequate beats.

The record they work on wants to tell a love story, “where the young male falls in love with a spectral young femme who haunts his childhood home. He chases her in his dreams but finds her to be mostly elusive. He imagines her alive, and wonders if someday he’ll take on her responsibilities of ghosting, or If maybe he’ll join her, elsewhere.” (Freelance Whales)

And so, after playing in New York City, almost exclusively, for about a year, they embarked on their first tour of the United States, and Canada. They differ from different artists, because they do not seek being famous and becoming really commercial.

The only thing left out to say for the band is to wish them luck, and appreciate the different kind of music they bring to us!

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