World Domination!
(abcnews) - Customers may need a map along with their membership cards to shop at the Salt LakeCostco, which is dubbed by the company as the largest worldwide.
"We decided to add a business center and combined it with a (traditional consumer) warehouse for a hybrid," said general manager Craig Jamieson. "Currently, we're the largest Costco on the planet,"
Costco is helping customers acclimate to the new building by giving them layouts of the 235,000-square-foot facility, where traditional consumers and business owners alike can shop, the Deseret News reported ( http://bit.ly/20iOYVE ).
It's estimated that the perimeter loop of the store is a third of a mile long. Jamieson said the expanded space is about 42 percent bigger than the average Costco warehouse store.
Originally 165,000 square feet when it opened in 1994, the Salt Lake warehouse added the business center to serve customers like coffee shop owners and academic institutions. Now, the facility is about 235,000 square feet. With the additional space, Costco can offer 2,700 items including pallets of soft drinks and whole lambs and roasting pigs.
"The focus is on convenience stores, offices (and) restaurants," he said. "We also added delivery as part of that process."
Jamieson said Salt Lake City was picked to launch the hybrid store concept because company officials were unsure a business-only center would work in that market.
There are 11 other Costco business centers operating in the U.S., a sector that Jamieson said the company plans to expand rapidly.
The business center opened to members in October. The official storewide grand opening is set for Nov. 12.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
More Americans On Welfare Than Work Full Time?
We need a revolution..
(townhall.com) - A new report from the Census Bureau showed a total of 108,592,000 people were on some sort of means-tested government benefits program in the fourth quarter of 2011, yet only 101,716,000 people were employed full-time for the entire year.
A individual counted as a beneficiary of a means-tested program if they resided in a household where someone received benefits.
Means-tested benefits programs are the second-largest category of government spending. The government spends more on these programs than public education and defense spending. From a Heritage Foundation report:
The 69 means-tested programmes operated by the federal government provide a wide variety of benefits. They include:
12 programmes providing food aid;
10 housing assistance programs;
10 programmes funding social services;
9 educational assistance programmes;
8 programmes providing cash assistance;
8 vocational training programmes;
7 medical assistance programs;
3 energy and utility assistance programmes; and,
2 child care and child development programmes.
Programmes such as Social Security, unemployment insurance, workers compensation, and veterans benefits are not considered to be "means tested," so recipients of those benefits are not included in the 108,592,000 figure.
Clearly, this is a huge problem. A country cannot survive if its citizens are not willing or able to work. In 35 states welfare pays better than an actual job. This is what we call an "incentive"--and the U.S. is incentivizing people to not work. Why would a person actually get a job if they could be paid more to stay home? InPennsylvania, a single women with children working a job that pays $29,000 a year actually receives $57,345 in total income when benefits are factored in. Conversely, if the woman were to work a job that paid $69,000 a year, her net pay after taxes is only $57,045.
If the woman were to make more than her $29,000 salary, she would miss out in nearly $30,000 in government benefits. Short of winning the lottery or developing some sort of hot product, a person's income is not going to increase rapidly from $29,000 to $69,000. This is referred to as the "welfare cliff." There is no incentive for the woman to better her life and stop receiving welfare.
This is a major problem with how means-tested benefits are distributed in the United States, yet nobody is actually doing anything about it. The amount of people on SNAP (food stamps) has nearly doubled since 2006, despite the economic recovery. This is not good.
Disability claims are also at record highs. Even 60 Minutes thought those numbers were suspicious and did an investigation about it. The system is being gamed.
If American welfare recipients were counted as a country, they would be the 12th largest in the world.
This is not change we can believe in. (Source)
Friday, October 30, 2015
Putin: Global Warming "a fraud"
(Daily Caller) Russian President Vladimir Putin believes global warming is a “fraud” — a plot to keep Russia from using its vast oil and natural gas reserves.
Putin believes “there is no global warming, that this is a fraud to restrain the industrial development of several countries, including Russia,” Stanislav Belkovsky, a political analyst and Putin critic, told The New York Times.
“That is why this subject is not topical for the majority of the Russian mass media and society in general,” Belkovsky said.
Read the full story ›
( SOURCE)
* * * *
Related:California: Activist spends one year in freezer to denounce global warming
Putin believes “there is no global warming, that this is a fraud to restrain the industrial development of several countries, including Russia,” Stanislav Belkovsky, a political analyst and Putin critic, told The New York Times.
“That is why this subject is not topical for the majority of the Russian mass media and society in general,” Belkovsky said.
Read the full story ›
( SOURCE)
* * * *
Related:California: Activist spends one year in freezer to denounce global warming
Daylight-saving time ends this weekend
(techinsider.io) Get ready for a shock to your system on Nov. 1 — it's time to turn back our clocks an hour for the end of daylight-saving time.
Daylight-saving time ends on November 1, 2015 at 2:00 a.m.
At 1:59 a.m. on Sunday morning our clocks will bump back an hour, to 1:00 a.m. instead of turning to 2:00 a.m. That gives us an extra hour of sleep and means the sun will seem to rise an hour earlier than we are used to.
According to lore, daylight-saving time (yes that's the right way to say it) was created during World War I to decrease energy use. This John Oliver clip also mentions that it started with the Germans during that time as a fuel-saving measure.
The debate still rages as to whether or not this time-switch does save energy (there are even groups that want to abolish it all together), but along the way we've seen signs that it has negative effects on our health and the economy. (Source)
Thursday, October 29, 2015
China to allow all couples two children to counter aging population
(Reuters) - China will ease family planning restrictions to allow all couples to have two children after decades of a strict one-child policy, the ruling Communist Party said on Thursday, a move aimed at alleviating demographic strains on the economy.
The policy is a major liberalization of the country's family planning restrictions, already eased in late 2013 when Beijing said it would allow more families to have two children when the parents met certain conditions.
A growing number of scholars had urged the government to reform the rules, introduced in the late 1970s to prevent population growth spiraling out of control, but now regarded as outdated and responsible for shrinking China's labor pool.
For the first time in decades the working age population fell in 2012, and China, the world's most populous nation, could be the first country in the world to get old before it gets rich.
By around the middle of this century, one in every three Chinese is forecast to be over 60, with a dwindling proportion of working adults to support them.
The announcement was made at the close of a key Party meeting focused on financial reforms and maintaining growth between 2016 and 2020 amid concerns over the country's slowing economy.
China will "fully implement a policy of allowing each couple to have two children as an active response to an ageing population", the party said in a statement carried by the official Xinhua news agency.
There were no immediate details on the new policy or a timeframe for implementation. (Full Story)
The policy is a major liberalization of the country's family planning restrictions, already eased in late 2013 when Beijing said it would allow more families to have two children when the parents met certain conditions.
A growing number of scholars had urged the government to reform the rules, introduced in the late 1970s to prevent population growth spiraling out of control, but now regarded as outdated and responsible for shrinking China's labor pool.
For the first time in decades the working age population fell in 2012, and China, the world's most populous nation, could be the first country in the world to get old before it gets rich.
By around the middle of this century, one in every three Chinese is forecast to be over 60, with a dwindling proportion of working adults to support them.
The announcement was made at the close of a key Party meeting focused on financial reforms and maintaining growth between 2016 and 2020 amid concerns over the country's slowing economy.
China will "fully implement a policy of allowing each couple to have two children as an active response to an ageing population", the party said in a statement carried by the official Xinhua news agency.
There were no immediate details on the new policy or a timeframe for implementation. (Full Story)
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Not again! Walmart is under fire for selling an 'Israeli soldier' costume to kids
#retailproblems
(businessinsider.com) Walmart's "Israeli soldier" costume for kids is drawing outrage on Facebook and Twitter.
The $27.44 costume includes a dark green shirt, pants, belt and red hat.
The ad for the costume features a young boy wearing the ensemble and holding a toy machine gun.
The costume has sparked anger at a time of increasing violence between Israel and the Palestinians.
"The fact that you have chosen to carry 'Israeli soldier costumes' for kids on your website and in your stores is extremely offensive and highly insensitive, not only to the millions of Palestinian-Americans that shop in your stores, but to anyone who has an ounce of humanity in their bodies," Sarah Amor Itayem wrote on the company's Facebook page.
"I urge you, as a Jewish-American, a wife of a Palestinian, a shopper, and most importantly, as a human being, that you reconsider your decision to sell these costumes and pull them from your shelves," she wrote.
We reached out to Walmart for comment on the costume and will update when we hear back. The company has in the past withdrawn costumes that provoked similar reactions.
Last year, the retailer pulled a "Pashtun Papa" costume after it was criticized as racist and offensive on social media, The Independent reports. Two years ago, it was also forced to withdraw an Osama bin Laden costume. (Full Story)
Tuberculosis now rivals AIDS as leading cause of death: WHO
(Reuters) For the first time, tuberculosis infections rivaled HIV/AIDS as a leading cause of death from infectious diseases, the World Health Organization said in a report released on Wednesday.
It found that during 2014, 1.1 million people died of TB in 2014. During the same period, HIV/AIDS killed 1.2 million people globally, including 400,000 who were infected with both HIV and TB.
Dr. Mario Raviglione, director of the WHO TB program, said the report reflects the dramatic gains in access to HIV/AIDS treatment in the past decade, which has helped many people survive their infections. But it also reflects disparities in funding for the two global killers.
"The good news is that TB intervention has saved some 43 million lives since 2000," but given that most cases of TB can be successfully treated, the death rate remained "unacceptably high," Raviglione said in a telephone interview.
The report features data from 205 countries and territories on all aspects of TB, including drug-resistant forms, research and development and financing.
It found that 6 million new cases of TB were reported to the WHO in 2014, fewer than two-thirds of the 9.6 million people worldwide estimated to have fallen sick with TB last year.
Among the estimated 480,000 cases of multi-drug resistant TB in 2014 - a superbug form of the disease that resists the two most potent anti-TB drugs -, only one in four was diagnosed.
Dr. Grania Brigden, interim medical director of Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, said the report "should serve as a wake-up call that enormous work still needs to be done to reduce the burden of this ancient, yet curable disease."
Funding disparities were a key issue, Raviglione said, noting that international funding for HIV/AIDS is 10 times higher than for TB, with $8 million spent on HIV/AIDS interventions, compared with a total of $800,000 spent on TB.
Part of that disparity is because HIV/AIDS largely affects resource-poor countries in Africa, whereas TB is more prevalent in countries such as India and China, which are better able to finance their own domestic efforts to address TB infections.
Even so, there remains a $1.4 billion gap in the amount of funding needed for TB interventions in 2015.
Raviglione said it is time to start funding TB at a level that can make even more of a difference in curbing global deaths. (Full Story)
Monday, October 26, 2015
Will Middle East Become Too Hot For Human Survival?
(yahoonews) - The Persian Gulf could soon become too hot for human survival because of climate change, a study released Monday shows. Extreme heat waves more intense than anything experienced so far on Earth will hit Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha, Qatar, and coastal cities in Iran starting in 2070 if climate trends continue, the study found.
“Our results expose a specific regional hot spot where climate change, in the absence of significant [carbon cuts], is likely to severely impact human habitability in the future,” said Jeremy Pal and Elfatih Eltahir of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, writing in the journal Nature Climate Change.
The Middle East is already grappling with extreme weather conditions. A heat wave across the gulf this summer saw temperatures climb to 122 degrees. But the study concluded that lowering greenhouse gas emissions now could eventually avoid the too-hot-for-humans climate.
“We would hope that information like this would be helpful in making sure there is interest [in cutting carbon emissions] for the countries in the region," Elfatih said of Middle East leaders. "They have a vital interest in supporting measures that would help reduce the concentration of CO2 in the future.”
The scientists used standard climate computer models to come up with the extreme future weather conditions. They predicted summer temperatures of 140 degrees in Kuwait City. Events such as the hajj, the annual pilgrimage that draws millions of Muslims to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, could “become hazardous to human health," especially for elderly travelers, the study said.
“Under such conditions, climate change would possibly lead to premature death of the weakest -- namely children and the elderly,” the researchers concluded.
Wealthy nations would likely react to such conditions by increasing air conditioning usage, but less affluent nations such as Yemen would suffer.
“The new study thus shows that the threats to human health [from climate change] may be more severe than previously thought, and may occur in the current century,” Christoph Schär of the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science in Zurich writes in a commentary accompanying the study. (Full Story)
“Our results expose a specific regional hot spot where climate change, in the absence of significant [carbon cuts], is likely to severely impact human habitability in the future,” said Jeremy Pal and Elfatih Eltahir of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, writing in the journal Nature Climate Change.
The Middle East is already grappling with extreme weather conditions. A heat wave across the gulf this summer saw temperatures climb to 122 degrees. But the study concluded that lowering greenhouse gas emissions now could eventually avoid the too-hot-for-humans climate.
“We would hope that information like this would be helpful in making sure there is interest [in cutting carbon emissions] for the countries in the region," Elfatih said of Middle East leaders. "They have a vital interest in supporting measures that would help reduce the concentration of CO2 in the future.”
The scientists used standard climate computer models to come up with the extreme future weather conditions. They predicted summer temperatures of 140 degrees in Kuwait City. Events such as the hajj, the annual pilgrimage that draws millions of Muslims to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, could “become hazardous to human health," especially for elderly travelers, the study said.
“Under such conditions, climate change would possibly lead to premature death of the weakest -- namely children and the elderly,” the researchers concluded.
Wealthy nations would likely react to such conditions by increasing air conditioning usage, but less affluent nations such as Yemen would suffer.
“The new study thus shows that the threats to human health [from climate change] may be more severe than previously thought, and may occur in the current century,” Christoph Schär of the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science in Zurich writes in a commentary accompanying the study. (Full Story)
Saturday, October 24, 2015
ISIS making $50 million a month from oil sales
(Associated Press) The Islamic State rakes in up to $50 million a month from selling crude from oilfields under its control in Iraq and Syria, part of a well-run industry that U.S. diplomacy and airstrikes have so far failed to shut down, according to Iraqi intelligence and U.S. officials.
Oil sales — the extremists’ largest single source of continual income — are a key reason they have been able to maintain their rule over their self-declared “caliphate” stretching across large parts of Syria and Iraq. With the funds to rebuild infrastructure and provide the largesse that shore up its fighters’ loyalty, it has been able to withstand ground fighting against its opponents and more than a year of bombardment in the U.S.-led air campaign.
Read the full story ›
(SOURCE)
Friday, October 23, 2015
'Extremely Dangerous' Hurricane Patricia Makes Landfall in Mexico
We are the world Mexico, we are the world!
(nbcnews.com) 10/24/15 - Hurricane Patricia weakened to a category 4 storm Friday, hours after slamming into southwestern Mexico and bringing lashing winds and rainfall that has the potential to create life-threatening flash floods.
The U.S. National Hurricane Centre warned that the hurricane, which was once clocking 200 mph winds and was being called the strongest storm ever recorded, remained "an extremely dangerous major hurricane."
The hurricane had winds of 130 mph and was about 85 miles north-northwest of Manzanillo as of 10 p.m. local time (11 p.m. ET), the hurricane center said.
Hurricane Patricia was a category 5 and had 165 mph winds when it made landfall near Cuixmala, west-northwest of Manzanillo, at 6:15 p.m. local time (7:15 p.m. ET). Palm trees bent and rain whipped in sideways as the storm made its first appearance on land.
"The winds are really strong. It's amazing, even the cars are moving," Laura Barajas, a 30-year-old hotel worker from the major cargo port of Manzanillo near where the storm hit, told Reuters.
Patricia's "potentially catastrophic landfall" would affect a stretch of coast between the popular tourist destinations of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, theWorld Meteorological Organization said. Hurricane force winds covered 35 miles, while tropical storm force winds extended 175 miles, according to the NHC.
More than 7 million people were in the storm's path. There were no initial reports of casualties Friday.
About 3,500 people were evacuated from the state of Jalisco, which encompasses Puerto Vallarta and the Guadalajara metro area, ahead of the storm, the government said. Aircraft were prepared to rescue people from the region on Saturday.
Jalisco Gov. Aristóteles Sandoval said Friday night that 6,333 people were in shelters and there was no loss of life reported.
Rainfall amounts of up to a foot in a short span of time between Friday night and Saturday over the Mexican states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán and Guerrero could trigger "life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," according to the hurricane center.
A strong storm surge, accompanied by massive waves, near the coast could intensify the flooding. The Mexican national water commission, CONAGUA, said waves could swell to up to 40 feet.
Hurricane Patricia quickly grew in intensity Thursday, and on Friday data from Air Force planes measured wind speeds of more than 200 mph, making it the strongest storm ever recorded.
At that point, the World Meteorological Organization compared the storm to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013.
The storm weakened as it made landfall, but it was still the strongest to ever hit Mexico's west coast. Patricia is the third strongest storm in Mexico's history, said NBC meteorologist Bill Karins. (Full Story)
(nbcnews.com) 10/24/15 - Hurricane Patricia weakened to a category 4 storm Friday, hours after slamming into southwestern Mexico and bringing lashing winds and rainfall that has the potential to create life-threatening flash floods.
The U.S. National Hurricane Centre warned that the hurricane, which was once clocking 200 mph winds and was being called the strongest storm ever recorded, remained "an extremely dangerous major hurricane."
The hurricane had winds of 130 mph and was about 85 miles north-northwest of Manzanillo as of 10 p.m. local time (11 p.m. ET), the hurricane center said.
Hurricane Patricia was a category 5 and had 165 mph winds when it made landfall near Cuixmala, west-northwest of Manzanillo, at 6:15 p.m. local time (7:15 p.m. ET). Palm trees bent and rain whipped in sideways as the storm made its first appearance on land.
"The winds are really strong. It's amazing, even the cars are moving," Laura Barajas, a 30-year-old hotel worker from the major cargo port of Manzanillo near where the storm hit, told Reuters.
Patricia's "potentially catastrophic landfall" would affect a stretch of coast between the popular tourist destinations of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, theWorld Meteorological Organization said. Hurricane force winds covered 35 miles, while tropical storm force winds extended 175 miles, according to the NHC.
More than 7 million people were in the storm's path. There were no initial reports of casualties Friday.
About 3,500 people were evacuated from the state of Jalisco, which encompasses Puerto Vallarta and the Guadalajara metro area, ahead of the storm, the government said. Aircraft were prepared to rescue people from the region on Saturday.
Jalisco Gov. Aristóteles Sandoval said Friday night that 6,333 people were in shelters and there was no loss of life reported.
Rainfall amounts of up to a foot in a short span of time between Friday night and Saturday over the Mexican states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán and Guerrero could trigger "life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," according to the hurricane center.
A strong storm surge, accompanied by massive waves, near the coast could intensify the flooding. The Mexican national water commission, CONAGUA, said waves could swell to up to 40 feet.
Hurricane Patricia quickly grew in intensity Thursday, and on Friday data from Air Force planes measured wind speeds of more than 200 mph, making it the strongest storm ever recorded.
At that point, the World Meteorological Organization compared the storm to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013.
The storm weakened as it made landfall, but it was still the strongest to ever hit Mexico's west coast. Patricia is the third strongest storm in Mexico's history, said NBC meteorologist Bill Karins. (Full Story)
The Collapse of U.S. Middle Class? Half of U.S. workers earn less than $30,000, 25% have negative net worth
(economiccollapsenews) A lot of Americans believe the American Dream as well as the concept of the middle class has come to an end. The amount of taxes, the erosion of the United States dollar, the rising cost of living and a weak economy are all ingredients for a recipe to the collapse of the middle class.
At the same time, however, if you have $10 in your pocket and zero debt then you’re richer than 25 percent of Americans!
A new report from the Social Security Administration (SSA) discovered that more than half (51 percent) of workers in the U.S. earn less than $30,000. With rents and housing costs reaching all-time highs, it can be pretty tough for a family to live on that amount of money, which is equal to $2,500 per month. Don’t forget about the taxes!
Here are the 2014 figures from the report that was released this week:
– 71 percent of U.S. workers earned less than $50,000.
– 62 percent of U.S. workers earned less than $40,000.
– 51 percent of U.S. workers earned less than $30,000.
– 38 percent of U.S. workers earned less than $20,000.
– 14 percent of U.S. workers earned less than $5,000.
As Michael Snyder of The End of the American Dream opines:
“And of course the numbers above are only for those that are actually working. As I discussed just recently, there are 7.9 million working age Americans that are ‘officially unemployed’ right now and another 94.7 million working age Americans that are considered to be ‘not in the labor force’. When you add those two numbers together, you get a grand total of 102.6 million working age Americans that do not have a job right now.”
It should also be noted that one-quarter of Americans maintain a negative net worth, according to a new report from Credit Suisse.
In its annual Global Wealth Report, released last week, Credit Suisse estimates that half of the world has a net worth of less than $3,210. Unfortunately, a large number of Americans and Europeans can’t even have that because their net worth is negative.
Although the major headline was that the one percent own half of the nation’s wealth, the real headline should be that you’re richer if you have a few bucks in your pocket and absolutely zero debt! Considering how indebted everybody is, if you’re reading this article then there is a good chance you’re richer than the person next door. (Full Story)
It should also be noted that one-quarter of Americans maintain a negative net worth, according to a new report from Credit Suisse.
In its annual Global Wealth Report, released last week, Credit Suisse estimates that half of the world has a net worth of less than $3,210. Unfortunately, a large number of Americans and Europeans can’t even have that because their net worth is negative.
“If you’ve no debts and have $10 in your pocket you have more wealth than 25% of Americans. More than 25% of Americans have collectively that is.”
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Russia President, Vladimir Putin accuses US of backing terrorism in Middle East
(msnnews) - Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a stinging attack on US policy in the Middle East on Thursday, accusing Washington of backing terrorism and playing a “double game” in the Middle East.
In a speech at the annual gathering of the Valdai Club, a group of Russian and international analysts and politicians, Putin said the US had attempted to use terrorist groups in its own interests.
“It’s always hard to play a double game: to declare a fight against terrorists, but at the same time try to use some of them to move the pieces on the Middle Eastern chessboard in your own favour,” said the Russian leader.
“There’s no need to play with words and split terrorists into moderate and not moderate. I would like to know what the difference is.”
Western capitals have accused Moscow of targeting moderate rebel groups during its bombing campaign in Syria, which Russia says is mainly aimed at targets linked to the Islamic State. However, Putin’s talk of “playing with words” and other statements by government officials suggest Moscow believes all armed opposition to Assad is a legitimate target.
Putin received Assad at the Kremlin on Tuesday evening and underlined on Thursday that he considers the Syrian president and his government to be “fully legitimate”.
He said the west was guilty of shortsightedness, focusing on the figure of Assad while ignoring the much greater threat of Isis.
“The so-called Islamic State has taken control of a huge territory. How was that possible? Think about it: if Damascus or Baghdad are seized by the terrorist groups, they will be almost the official authorities, and will have a launchpad for global expansion. Is anyone thinking about this or not?”
This year, the Valdai Club met at a luxury hotel in the mountain resort of Krasnaya Polyana, one of the venues for last year’s winter Olympics.
Putin arrived at the venue in a bright green Lada, part of an effort to promote the domestic automobile industry. He arrived late, keeping the assembled delegates waiting for nearly two hours before speaking.
A survey released on Thursday suggested that Putin’s approval rating had hit a record high of almost 90%, boosted by the Syria air strikes. The president’s approval ratings, according to the state-run pollster, are now at 89.9%, up from 58.8% in January 2012, prior to a crackdown on opposition and the annexation of Crimea.
“Such a high level of approval for the work of the Russian president is linked, in the first instance, to events in Syria, to Russian air strikes on terrorist positions there,” the polling agency, VTsIOM, said in a statement. (Full Story)
In a speech at the annual gathering of the Valdai Club, a group of Russian and international analysts and politicians, Putin said the US had attempted to use terrorist groups in its own interests.
“It’s always hard to play a double game: to declare a fight against terrorists, but at the same time try to use some of them to move the pieces on the Middle Eastern chessboard in your own favour,” said the Russian leader.
“There’s no need to play with words and split terrorists into moderate and not moderate. I would like to know what the difference is.”
Western capitals have accused Moscow of targeting moderate rebel groups during its bombing campaign in Syria, which Russia says is mainly aimed at targets linked to the Islamic State. However, Putin’s talk of “playing with words” and other statements by government officials suggest Moscow believes all armed opposition to Assad is a legitimate target.
Putin received Assad at the Kremlin on Tuesday evening and underlined on Thursday that he considers the Syrian president and his government to be “fully legitimate”.
He said the west was guilty of shortsightedness, focusing on the figure of Assad while ignoring the much greater threat of Isis.
“The so-called Islamic State has taken control of a huge territory. How was that possible? Think about it: if Damascus or Baghdad are seized by the terrorist groups, they will be almost the official authorities, and will have a launchpad for global expansion. Is anyone thinking about this or not?”
This year, the Valdai Club met at a luxury hotel in the mountain resort of Krasnaya Polyana, one of the venues for last year’s winter Olympics.
Putin arrived at the venue in a bright green Lada, part of an effort to promote the domestic automobile industry. He arrived late, keeping the assembled delegates waiting for nearly two hours before speaking.
A survey released on Thursday suggested that Putin’s approval rating had hit a record high of almost 90%, boosted by the Syria air strikes. The president’s approval ratings, according to the state-run pollster, are now at 89.9%, up from 58.8% in January 2012, prior to a crackdown on opposition and the annexation of Crimea.
“Such a high level of approval for the work of the Russian president is linked, in the first instance, to events in Syria, to Russian air strikes on terrorist positions there,” the polling agency, VTsIOM, said in a statement. (Full Story)
Welfare Queen McDonald's stock hits record high as turnaround takes hold
Global sales at established restaurants were up a much better-than-expected 4 percent in the third quarter, ending six straight quarters of flat or falling results. And, Easterbrook said, the trend would continue in the current quarter.
Shares of the world's biggest restaurant chain by sales jumped more than 8 percent to a record $110.88 in early trading as a renewed focus on value and service helped business around the world.
"The progress we have made in a short amount of time gives me confidence we're making the right moves to turn around our business and reposition McDonald's as a modern, progressive burger company," Easterbrook said on a conference call with analysts and investors.
The United States, McDonald's No. 1 market for profit, reported a surprise 0.9 percent increase in sales at restaurants open at least 13 months. McDonald's said a new Premium Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Deluxe sandwich and its decision to swap butter for margarine on its Egg McMuffins helped the division break a two-year streak of quarterly sales declines.
China's same-restaurant sales, which had plummeted after a food safety scandal in July 2014, were up a whopping 26.8 percent for the quarter, helped by a focus on value and breakfast.
Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada also contributed to the quarterly rise in sales at restaurants open at least 13 months, after McDonald's tweaked menus, improved service and refined its offering of inexpensive food.
Easterbrook, now eight months into his tenure as CEO, has announced plans to speed up service, simplify menus and boost food quality.
In the United States, he rolled out all-day breakfast, began switching to chicken from birds raised without important antibiotics and raised wages for workers in restaurants run by the corporation.
On Thursday, Easterbrook said winning back customers remains a top priority in the United States, where competition is fierce and speed is key. (Full Story)
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
North Dakota ranked top in US for economic performance
(bismarcktribune.com) North Dakota has been ranked first in the nation on its economic performance and the talent in its pipeline by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
In addition, the state was ranked sixth in overall business climate, according to the foundation's sixth annual "Enterprising States: States Innovate" study released Tuesday.
The study highlights the states best poised for the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) focused economy.
North Dakota is at the top in STEM job growth but is still low in the actual number of STEM jobs per capita, according to the study.
"There's still plenty of room to catch up," said Mark Schill, vice president of Praxis Strategy Group.
Schill said the chamber study took into account a variety of businesses, ranging from software companies to engineering firms to research and development companies and a few select manufacturers. It also counted workers at the technician level as well as those with four years or more of education.
The data came from various research foundations and government entities and measured long- and short-term job growth, export growth, creation of new companies, lending and higher education rates.
Schill said one bright spot of the study was that North Dakota ranked third, behind Massachusetts and Minnesota, highest for 25- to 44-year-olds with at least a two-year college degree. Of that population in the state, 51 percent have degrees.
Schill said that story was true across the Great Plains.
“With one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates, North Dakota is a pillar of economic stability,” Carolyn Cawley, managing director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, said in a statement. “Much of North Dakota’s success can be attributed to its stable foundation of solid economic programs and strategies designed to bolster entrepreneurship while also positioning the state to deftly weather recent declines in oil prices, slower growth and lower-than-projected budget surpluses.”
The study also highlighted unique state programs and those that potentially could be applied in other states. Among those was North Dakota’s state-owned bank with its loan guarantees of up to $200,000 for small business. (Full Story)
Monday, October 19, 2015
Is any amount of alcohol safe during pregnancy?
(cbsnews) - While some research suggests that small amounts of alcohol may be harmless during pregnancy, a new report from a leading U.S. pediatricians' group warns that drinking is never a good idea for expectant moms.
"The research suggests that the smartest choice for women who are pregnant is to just abstain from alcohol completely," Dr. Janet Williams, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center and co-author of the new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), said in a statement.
According to the paper, published online today in the journal Pediatrics, "there is no safe trimester to drink alcohol" and "all forms of alcohol, such as beer, wine, and liquor pose similar risk."
The authors report that prenatal exposure to alcohol is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities in children.
Known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, these conditions are lifelong and can include structural or functional problems with the brain, heart, bones and spine, kidneys, vision and hearing. Prenatal alcohol exposure is also associated with higher incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and specific learning disabilities such as difficulties with mathematics and language, visual-spatial functioning, information processing and memory skills.
While early recognition and intervention can improve a child's health, the researchers say a lack of uniformly accepted diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol-related disorders limits these efforts.
"Even though fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the most commonly identifiable causes of developmental delays and intellectual disabilities, they remain significantly under-recognized," Williams said.
Some studies have found children suffer no measurable harm if mothers consume one or two drinks a week while pregnant. But the Pediatrics report notes that there is no consensus on what level of drinking may be considered safe. "Harmful effects are well documented related to moderate or greater [prenatal alcohol exposure] and to binge drinking," the report says. "The potential for fetal harm increases as maternal alcohol consumption rises."
A recent survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one in 10 women in the United States consumes alcohol while pregnant and 3 percent have admitted to binge drinking - consuming four or more alcoholic drinks at a time.
Of course, some women may inadvertently drink alcohol when they do not realize they are pregnant. As a precaution, experts recommend taking some steps to ensure this doesn't happen.
"Women of childbearing age who drink alcohol should consider their pattern of drinking. For example, avoid binge drinking and avoid pregnancy as long as they are drinking. If pregnancy is planned, then alcohol can be discontinued," Christina Chambers, a professor of pediatrics at the Center for Better Beginnings at the University of California, San Diego told HealthDay.
Chambers said she hopes the new AAP report "will lead to less stigma associated with [fetal alcohol spectrum disorders] and to more access to and uptake of prevention and treatment services." (Full Story)
"The research suggests that the smartest choice for women who are pregnant is to just abstain from alcohol completely," Dr. Janet Williams, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center and co-author of the new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), said in a statement.
According to the paper, published online today in the journal Pediatrics, "there is no safe trimester to drink alcohol" and "all forms of alcohol, such as beer, wine, and liquor pose similar risk."
The authors report that prenatal exposure to alcohol is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities in children.
Known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, these conditions are lifelong and can include structural or functional problems with the brain, heart, bones and spine, kidneys, vision and hearing. Prenatal alcohol exposure is also associated with higher incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and specific learning disabilities such as difficulties with mathematics and language, visual-spatial functioning, information processing and memory skills.
While early recognition and intervention can improve a child's health, the researchers say a lack of uniformly accepted diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol-related disorders limits these efforts.
"Even though fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the most commonly identifiable causes of developmental delays and intellectual disabilities, they remain significantly under-recognized," Williams said.
Some studies have found children suffer no measurable harm if mothers consume one or two drinks a week while pregnant. But the Pediatrics report notes that there is no consensus on what level of drinking may be considered safe. "Harmful effects are well documented related to moderate or greater [prenatal alcohol exposure] and to binge drinking," the report says. "The potential for fetal harm increases as maternal alcohol consumption rises."
A recent survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one in 10 women in the United States consumes alcohol while pregnant and 3 percent have admitted to binge drinking - consuming four or more alcoholic drinks at a time.
Of course, some women may inadvertently drink alcohol when they do not realize they are pregnant. As a precaution, experts recommend taking some steps to ensure this doesn't happen.
"Women of childbearing age who drink alcohol should consider their pattern of drinking. For example, avoid binge drinking and avoid pregnancy as long as they are drinking. If pregnancy is planned, then alcohol can be discontinued," Christina Chambers, a professor of pediatrics at the Center for Better Beginnings at the University of California, San Diego told HealthDay.
Chambers said she hopes the new AAP report "will lead to less stigma associated with [fetal alcohol spectrum disorders] and to more access to and uptake of prevention and treatment services." (Full Story)
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Are Black Friday stores saying goodbye to Thanksgiving hours?
(csmonitor.com) We don't remember shoppers ever getting so riled up about a doorbuster as they do about Black Friday's ongoing encroachment on Thanksgiving's turf. A few retailers already have announced or hinted at their Black Friday plans for 2015, and for the first time we're seeing signs that perhaps the tide is starting to retreat.
In 2007, the average start time was right around 5am on Black Friday. Retailers understood better than anyone that the early bird gets the worm, opening earlier and earlier until in 2014 the average start time was 6pm on Thursday. This shift has prompted many to wryly dub Thanksgiving "Black Thursday" or "Gray Thursday."
Charting a trajectory through to 2015, it's easy to speculate that Thursday 4pm will be the norm for those retailers who are planning Thanksgiving hours.
Opting Out: Staples and GameStop
Staples was the first relatively large retailer to announce its Black Friday hours, pulling its start back to 6am on Black Friday for the first time since 2011.
“We want our customers and associates to enjoy Thanksgiving their own way,” said Demos Parneros, president, North American stores and online, Staples. “On Thanksgiving Day, customers can shop from home on Staples.com and then continue their shopping in stores starting at 6 a.m. on Black Friday. Whether our customers like the convenience of shopping online, in our stores or a combination of both, Staples will have amazing products at great prices throughout the holiday season.”
GameStop likewise took a stand when it declared a 5am Black Friday start time.
“We believe strongly that our customers and associates should have the opportunity to spend the Thanksgiving holiday relaxing with family and friends, and not worrying with the stress of where to find the best shopping deals. We know this is in stark contrast to what many other retailers are doing, but we are taking a stance to protect family time during this important holiday,” said Mike Buskey, executive vice president and president of U.S. Stores.
It's worth noting, however, that although they posted a midnight start from 2011 to 2014, GameStop has never actually opened on Thanksgiving anyway. On the other hand, the move really does make it easier for GameStop employees to enjoy some turkey and cranberries with their families.
Even if it is just puffery in some corners, it's clear that many retailers are starting to see value in dropping their in-store Thanksgiving sales. And they're not doing so quietly, instead choosing to making it part of their strategy to attract shoppers. The executive quotes we've seen so far strike a tone that is simultaneously nostalgic, defiant, and family-oriented, clearly setting themselves up as one of the good guys in the Gray Thursday debate. Look for more retailers to make their own pro-Thanksgiving announcements over the next few weeks. (Full Story)
Friday, October 16, 2015
Sweden may ‘become world’s first cashless nation’
(timesofindia.com) LONDON: Sweden is on track to becoming the world's first cashless society, thanks to the country's embrace of information technology as well as a crackdown on organized crime and terror, according to a new study.
Niklas Arvidsson, a researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, said that the widespread and growing embrace of the mobile payment system, Swish, is helping hasten the day when Sweden replaces cash altogether.
"Cash is still an important means of payment in many countries' markets, but that no longer applies here in Sweden. Our use of cash is small, and it's decreasing rapidly," Arvidsson said.
In a country where bank cards are routinely used for even the smallest purchases, there are less than 80 billion Swedish crowns in circulation, a sharp decline from just six years ago, when 106 billion Swedish crowns were in circulation.
"And out of that amount, only somewhere between 40 and 60 per cent is actually in regular circulation," he said.
The rest is socked away in people's homes and bank deposit boxes, or can be found circulating in the underground economy. The result of collaboration between major Swedish and Danish banks, Swish is a direct payment app that is used for transactions between individuals, in real time.
The service's direct collaboration with Bankgiro and Sweden's national bank, Riksbanken, is a critical factor in its success, researchers said. But if Swish starts to be used on a larger scale and grow to include retail transactions and e-commerce, Arvidsson said it is likely the country's entire payment system infrastructure will have to be revamped.
Arvidsson said Swish is already revolutionising the banking system.
With digital giro systems, early electronic payment services and other advances in online financial services, Swedish banks have been early adopters of advanced IT systems, he said. Besides simplicity and lower costs, digital payments also add transparency to the nation's payment system.
Several banks in Sweden already have 100 per cent digitalised branches that will simply not accept cash.
"At the offices which do handle banknotes and coins, the customer must explain where the cash comes from, according to the regulations aimed at money laundering and terrorist financing," he said. In spite of its popularity, Sweden will still have to ensure that all people are able to participate in the new payment system, Arvidsson said.
The transformation would present serious challenges for those who are unfamiliar with computers and mobile phones — mainly older people living in rural areas. (Full Story)
Niklas Arvidsson, a researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, said that the widespread and growing embrace of the mobile payment system, Swish, is helping hasten the day when Sweden replaces cash altogether.
"Cash is still an important means of payment in many countries' markets, but that no longer applies here in Sweden. Our use of cash is small, and it's decreasing rapidly," Arvidsson said.
In a country where bank cards are routinely used for even the smallest purchases, there are less than 80 billion Swedish crowns in circulation, a sharp decline from just six years ago, when 106 billion Swedish crowns were in circulation.
"And out of that amount, only somewhere between 40 and 60 per cent is actually in regular circulation," he said.
The rest is socked away in people's homes and bank deposit boxes, or can be found circulating in the underground economy. The result of collaboration between major Swedish and Danish banks, Swish is a direct payment app that is used for transactions between individuals, in real time.
The service's direct collaboration with Bankgiro and Sweden's national bank, Riksbanken, is a critical factor in its success, researchers said. But if Swish starts to be used on a larger scale and grow to include retail transactions and e-commerce, Arvidsson said it is likely the country's entire payment system infrastructure will have to be revamped.
Arvidsson said Swish is already revolutionising the banking system.
With digital giro systems, early electronic payment services and other advances in online financial services, Swedish banks have been early adopters of advanced IT systems, he said. Besides simplicity and lower costs, digital payments also add transparency to the nation's payment system.
Several banks in Sweden already have 100 per cent digitalised branches that will simply not accept cash.
"At the offices which do handle banknotes and coins, the customer must explain where the cash comes from, according to the regulations aimed at money laundering and terrorist financing," he said. In spite of its popularity, Sweden will still have to ensure that all people are able to participate in the new payment system, Arvidsson said.
The transformation would present serious challenges for those who are unfamiliar with computers and mobile phones — mainly older people living in rural areas. (Full Story)
Thursday, October 15, 2015
High Job Stress May Boost Stroke Risk
(medscape.com) - Working in a highly stressful job may raise the risk for stroke, particularly for women, suggests a meta-analysis of relevant research.
"Epidemiological studies have shown that high strain jobs are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. However, studies regarding the association between job strain categories and the risk of stroke are inconsistent," investigator Dingli Xu, MD, from Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, told Medscape Medical News.
"In this meta-analysis, we included data from more than 130,000 individuals and found that being exposed to high-strain jobs was associated with an increased risk of stroke, especially for ischemic stroke. The harmful effect of work stress may be more significant in women," Dr Xu said.
The analysis, which was published online October 14 inNeurology, included six studies on job strain and stroke risk involving a total of 138,782 participants who were followed for 3 to 17 years.
Jobs were classified into 1 of 4 categories according to how much control workers had over their jobs and how hard they worked, or the psychological (but not physical) demands of the job, such as time pressure, mental load, and coordination burdens. They are:
Passive jobs with low demand and low control, including the jobs performed by janitors, miners, and other manual laborers.
Low-strain jobs with low demand and high control, such as those done by natural scientists and architects.
High-strain jobs with high demand and low control, as found in service industry workers (waitresses and nursing aides, for example). This category made up 11% to 27% of participants in all six studies.
Active jobs with high demand and high control, including those performed by doctors, teachers, and engineers.
The researchers found that people with high-strain jobs had a 22% higher risk for stroke than those with low-strain jobs (relative risk [RR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 - 1.47). The risk with high-strain work was most pronounced for ischemic stroke (RR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.12 - 2.23) and in women (RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04 - 1.69). No other job strain types were associated with stroke risk.
The researchers calculated a population attributable risk for stroke with high-strain jobs of 4.4% overall and 6.5% for women.
"Many mechanisms may be involved in the association between high-stress job and the risk of stroke," said Dr Xu. "The most important is that high-stress jobs may lead to more unhealthy behaviors, such as poor eating habits, smoking, and a lack of exercise. So it is of vital importance for subjects with high-stress occupations to address these lifestyle issues."
"Second, psychotherapy methods aiming to help individual to cope with psychological stress, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy, and multimodal interventions, may be needed in high-risk subpopulations with high- strain occupations combined with other cardiovascular risk factors, especially in women," Dr Xu added.
The fact that job stress was measured at only one point and that other factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, were not adequately adjusted for in the original studies are limitations of the meta-analysis, the researchers say.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Halloween Costumes Set on Fire Inside San Leandro California Walmart
(nbcbayarea.com) - Someone sprayed a rack of Halloween costumes with lighter fluid and set them on fire inside a Bay Area Walmart store on Tuesday afternoon, police said, forcing the store to close and customers to evacuate while authorities investigated.
The suspect took the lighter fluid from a store shelf before using it to douse the Halloween section before starting the fire, police said. Frightened witnesses called 911.
The suspect, a 40-year-old man police believe is from Oakland, was arrested on suspicion of arson after the fire was set inside the store at about 1:30 p.m., San Leandro police Lt. Robert McManus said.
Store security managed to apprehend the suspect before police arrived, Lt. McManus said.
The store, at 15555 Hesperian Blvd., has since been closed while San Leandro police and Alameda County firefighters investigate. According to McManus, there is still a strong odor from the fire at the store.
“We are still reviewing surveillance video from the store, interviewing witnesses and evaluating evidence, hoping to piece this incident together,” Lt. McManus said. “Although we don’t know how many customers and employees were in the store when the fire started, we do know that it was a very dangerous situation that placed others in danger." (Full Story)
* * * *
Related: Walmart's biggest owners lose $14.7B in a day!
Wal-Mart Tumbles Most in 15 Years After Predicting Profit Slump
The suspect took the lighter fluid from a store shelf before using it to douse the Halloween section before starting the fire, police said. Frightened witnesses called 911.
The suspect, a 40-year-old man police believe is from Oakland, was arrested on suspicion of arson after the fire was set inside the store at about 1:30 p.m., San Leandro police Lt. Robert McManus said.
Store security managed to apprehend the suspect before police arrived, Lt. McManus said.
The store, at 15555 Hesperian Blvd., has since been closed while San Leandro police and Alameda County firefighters investigate. According to McManus, there is still a strong odor from the fire at the store.
“We are still reviewing surveillance video from the store, interviewing witnesses and evaluating evidence, hoping to piece this incident together,” Lt. McManus said. “Although we don’t know how many customers and employees were in the store when the fire started, we do know that it was a very dangerous situation that placed others in danger." (Full Story)
* * * *
Related: Walmart's biggest owners lose $14.7B in a day!
Wal-Mart Tumbles Most in 15 Years After Predicting Profit Slump
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Meth still grips Iowa, even if it's become less visible
- (desmoinesregister.com) The threat of methamphetamine labs has waned in Iowa, but the drug continues to hook people here and devastate families, experts said Tuesday.
“Some may think meth is yesterday’s problem, and indeed it seems like other illegal drugs often make the headlines more than meth,” U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said in opening a Des Moines hearing on the subject. But he noted that record numbers of Iowans are seeking treatment for meth addiction, and prison authorities are seeing more new inmates whose crimes are related to the drug.
“Meth is obviously continuing to impact Iowa in terrible ways,” said Grassley, an Iowa Republican who is chairman of the Senate’s powerful Judiciary Committee.
Grassley touted a bill he recently sponsored to make it easier for federal prosecutors to target Mexican cartels that sell meth or its chemical ingredients. The Senate recently passed the bill unanimously and sent it to the House.
At Tuesday’s hearing at the State Historical Building, several experts explained how Mexican smuggling rings now supply most of the meth sold in Iowa.
The cartels ramped up their efforts here after state and federal laws made it harder for Iowans to buy meth ingredients, such as the cold medicine pseudoephedrine, and use such chemicals to concoct the drug in makeshift labs. After those laws went into effect, the number of Iowa meth labs being seized plummeted from 1,500 in 2004 to 174 in 2014, according to the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy. Meth abuse has not fallen, however, said the office’s director, Steve Lukan. He said meth remains “arguably the most problematic drug in Iowa.”
Imported meth is made in factory-level labs, and it is much more powerful than the versions produced in most home labs, the experts said. The average purity of meth seized in Iowa has skyrocketed from 35 percent in 2008 to 93 percent in 2014, Lukan’s office reports.
Jay Hansen, executive director of the Prairie Ridge addiction treatment center in Mason City, said there’s a sliver of good news in the fact that the meth supply has become purer. At least addicts using those drugs aren’t being ravaged by the side-effects of random chemicals often found in homemade meth, he said.
Hansen, who also is chairman of the Iowa Board of Health, said meth induces the brain to make vast amounts of dopamine, a chemical that produces euphoria. “It’s hugely rewarding,” he said. “The reason we have problems with drugs in the country is because they work — they make people feel good.”
After the initial meth high, however, the brain compensates by clamping down on its natural production of dopamine, leaving users feeling depressed, Hansen said. That cycle leads to quick addiction, as users crave more and more meth just to feel normal. They keep abusing it, even when they know their addiction will have devastating consequences, such as jail or the loss (Full Story)
Monday, October 12, 2015
Amid Russian airstrikes, a Putin craze takes hold in Mideast
(msn.com) BEIRUT — Amid the ornate walls of Damascus' famed Omayyad Mosque, preacher Maamoun Rahmeh stood before worshippers last week, declaring Russian President Vladimir Putin a "giant and beloved leader" who has "destroyed the myth of the self-aggrandizing America."
Posters of Putin are popping up on cars and billboards elsewhere in parts of Syria and Iraq, praising the Russian military intervention in Syria as one that will redress the balance of power in the region.
The Russian leader is winning accolades from many in Iraq and Syria, who see Russian airstrikes in Syria as a turning point after more than a year of largely ineffectual efforts by the U.S.-led coalition to dislodge the Islamic State militants who have occupied significant parts of the two countries.
The reactions underscore that while the West may criticize Putin for supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad, there is some relief in the region at the emergence of a player with a coherent — if controversial — strategy.
"Putin does more than just speak," said Sohban Elewi of Damascus, summing up the views of Syrians on opposing camps who regard U.S. policy in Syria and Iraq as fumbled and confused.
Russia began its air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30, joining the fray of those bombing Syria at a critical time for Assad and his embattled troops. The Syrian army's loss of the northern province of Idlib opened the way for rebels to come dangerously close to the coastal Alawite heartland, leaving his soldiers there vulnerable and dejected.
Russia insists it is targeting the Islamic State group and other "terrorists." But Syrian rebels and opposition activists say Moscow's warplanes in recent days have focused on Idlib and the central province of Hama, hitting U.S.-backed rebels in areas with no IS militants. (Full Story)
The planes also have provided air cover for Syrian ground troops who launched an offensive in central Syria, reinforcing the belief that Russia's main aim is to shore up Assad's forces.
Posters of Putin are popping up on cars and billboards elsewhere in parts of Syria and Iraq, praising the Russian military intervention in Syria as one that will redress the balance of power in the region.
The Russian leader is winning accolades from many in Iraq and Syria, who see Russian airstrikes in Syria as a turning point after more than a year of largely ineffectual efforts by the U.S.-led coalition to dislodge the Islamic State militants who have occupied significant parts of the two countries.
The reactions underscore that while the West may criticize Putin for supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad, there is some relief in the region at the emergence of a player with a coherent — if controversial — strategy.
"Putin does more than just speak," said Sohban Elewi of Damascus, summing up the views of Syrians on opposing camps who regard U.S. policy in Syria and Iraq as fumbled and confused.
Russia began its air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30, joining the fray of those bombing Syria at a critical time for Assad and his embattled troops. The Syrian army's loss of the northern province of Idlib opened the way for rebels to come dangerously close to the coastal Alawite heartland, leaving his soldiers there vulnerable and dejected.
Russia insists it is targeting the Islamic State group and other "terrorists." But Syrian rebels and opposition activists say Moscow's warplanes in recent days have focused on Idlib and the central province of Hama, hitting U.S.-backed rebels in areas with no IS militants. (Full Story)
The planes also have provided air cover for Syrian ground troops who launched an offensive in central Syria, reinforcing the belief that Russia's main aim is to shore up Assad's forces.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Can Diamonds Detect Cancer?
Diamonds may soon be everyone’s best friend.
A new study out of Australia found synthetic versions of the bright gems to be effective at detecting early-stage cancerous tumors through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With the American Cancer Society’s estimating that 1.6 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and over 500,000 will die in 2015, the study could prove lifesaving for years to come.
Published in Nature Communications Friday, the study explores diamonds’ ability to light up cancer cells that are generally undetectable. The experiments were performed by a group of physicists from the University of Sydney who focused their study on nano-diamonds, 4-5 nanometer diamonds found inside meteorites.
The tiny gems have been explored in the cancer world before. In 2011, a study inScience Translational Medicine found that attaching them to chemotherapy drugs increased the effectiveness of the drug—effectively, shrinking tumors in mice. The Northwestern University engineers behind the study said there are two key characteristics that make nano-diamonds so useful: size and non-toxicity. This means that both the immune system and kidneys will not try to attack them.
It was this previous research that inspired the University of Sydney physics professor David Reilly to expand the research into the gems benefits.
"We knew nano-diamonds were of interest for delivering drugs during chemotherapy because they are largely non-toxic and non-reactive," said Reilly. "We thought we could build on these non-toxic properties realizing that diamonds have magnetic characteristics enabling them to act as beacons in MRIs. We effectively turned a pharmaceutical problem into a physics problem."
In order to study the nano-diamond’s ability to detect cancerous tumors, the researchers had to “hyperpolarize” them, which they describe as a “process of aligning atoms inside a diamond so they create a signal detectable by an MRI scanner.” The hyperpolarized nano-diamonds were attached to specific cancer-fighting molecules, so that they could be tracked throughout the body.
Watching these nano-diamonds provided a roadmap of cancer cells in the body—wherever they traveled, the cancer-fighting molecules were traveling too. "This is a great example of how quantum physics research tackles real-world problems,” says Reilly. “In this case opening the way for us to image and target cancers long before they become life-threatening.”
While diamonds’ role in both detecting and treating cancer sounds promising, it’s not the only shiny object to be explored by science. A growing body of evidence is now suggesting that gold may have its own unique powers when it comes to fighting cancer. (Full Story)
Friday, October 9, 2015
California: Activist spends one year in freezer to denounce global warming
(Worldnewsdailyreport.com) 10/07/15
San Francisco| A Californian woman certainly found an original way to raise popular consciousness about the climate changes affecting the planet.
26-year old Greenpeace activist, Jade Martens, spent an entire year in a small commercial freezer, in order to denounce the poor results of the Obama administration on the subject of carbon dioxide emissions.
The young woman eats, sleeps and even relieves herself in a small chest freezer of 6′x3′x4′, located in the hall of the San Francisco Congress Center, only allowing herself to stand up a few times a day to stretch.
She hopes that her incredible stunt will help to educate people on the importance of the environment.
“The government and the corporations aren’t doing anything for the environment,”she told reporters. “Somebody had to do something, so I decided to take action myself. I hope that my actions can help raise awareness about global warming, and can eventually bring some political change.”
According to Miss Martens, her action is putting a great strain on her mental and physical condition, but she intends to remain in her freezer for at least another year, and possibly even more, if her health allows her.
San Francisco| A Californian woman certainly found an original way to raise popular consciousness about the climate changes affecting the planet.
26-year old Greenpeace activist, Jade Martens, spent an entire year in a small commercial freezer, in order to denounce the poor results of the Obama administration on the subject of carbon dioxide emissions.
The young woman eats, sleeps and even relieves herself in a small chest freezer of 6′x3′x4′, located in the hall of the San Francisco Congress Center, only allowing herself to stand up a few times a day to stretch.
She hopes that her incredible stunt will help to educate people on the importance of the environment.
“The government and the corporations aren’t doing anything for the environment,”she told reporters. “Somebody had to do something, so I decided to take action myself. I hope that my actions can help raise awareness about global warming, and can eventually bring some political change.”
According to Miss Martens, her action is putting a great strain on her mental and physical condition, but she intends to remain in her freezer for at least another year, and possibly even more, if her health allows her.
“This is an important political action for which I have already made a lot of sacrifices” she says. “There is no way I am going to abandon now! The stakes are too high, I can’t give up. I am doing this for Mother Earth!”
Even if most people passing by at the San Francisco Congress Center seem to be either indifferent or amused by Ms. Martens’ stunt, she believes that her sacrifice is necessary and that, with time, it can generate some important changes.
Even if most people passing by at the San Francisco Congress Center seem to be either indifferent or amused by Ms. Martens’ stunt, she believes that her sacrifice is necessary and that, with time, it can generate some important changes.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
NY minimum wage push spurs US debate, faces hurdles at home
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s plan to give fast-food workers a $15 minimum hourly wage is spurring similar efforts in other states even as Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s effort to enact a $15 wage for all workers faces vocal opposition at home.
In a campaign modeled after the successful push by fast-food workers in New York, groups in 18 states are creating citizen wage boards to pressure elected officials to raise the minimum wage. While the boards have no legal or governmental power to raise wages, they reflect the increasingly potent political muscle of low-wage workers.
“New York has done yeoman’s work. It’s one of the states that is leading the way,” said Michigan state Sen. Bert Johnson, a Democrat from Highland Park. “It’s a growing conversation around the country. Other states show that this can be done.”
New York became the first state to enact a $15 minimum wage though the one approved by Cuomo’s administration last month applies only to fast-food workers at chain restaurants. Cuomo bypassed the Legislature by having his labor commissioner appoint a state Wage Board to recommend the increase.
The Democratic governor said he will seek to raise the minimum hourly wage to $15 for all industries, an idea sure to face opposition in the state’s Republican-controlled Senate, where members say such a sharp increase would devastate small businesses. The state minimum is now $8.75 and was already set to rise to $9 at year’s end.
Restaurant owners continue to mull a legal challenge to the larger increase, saying it’s unfair and should have gone through the Legislature. Business groups, meanwhile, are preparing for a fight in the Legislature over Cuomo’s broader proposal. The Business Council of New York State, an influential organization of state business leaders, this week estimated that raising the wage to $15 for all workers would increase total private sector labor costs by $15.7 billion a year.
“In my particular business it would mean a 20 percent increase in prices,” said Bill Pompa, president of Mr. Subb, an 18-store sandwich chain in the Albany area. “I understand you can’t make the minimum wage and support a family. But I don’t think the minimum wage was ever designed to support a family.”
New York law allowed Cuomo to raise the minimum wage for a particular industry without legislative approval. But raising the wage for all workers would require legislation and a fight with opponents.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Obama praises unions, workers' rights at White House Summit
(Reuters) - Oct 7 President Barack Obama called for higher blue-collar wages and benefits and promoted collective bargaining on Wednesday, courting workers' unions as his advancing Pacific Rim trade deal has disenchanted many labor groups.
In a speech to workers, union leaders, lawmakers and employers, Obama supported the defense of workers' rights and urged workers to band together in an increasingly technology-driven sharing economy.
"I believe when people attack unions, they're attacking the middle class," Obama told attendees of the first-ever White House Summit on Worker Voice.
"We've got to make sure as we continue to move forward, both in this 'on-demand' economy and in the more traditional economy, that ... working Americans don't get lost in the shuffle," he said. "They can come together and they can win."
Obama pointed to companies like Lyft and Uber, ride-sharing services, and Handy and TaskRabbit, which help users outsource housekeeping and chores, as innovators that help increase workers' flexibility and autonomy.
But he cautioned that such companies, which are not unionized, could also be detrimental to workers.
"If the combination of globalization and automation undermines the capacity of the ordinary worker and the ordinary family to be able to support themselves ... then we're going to have problems," he said.
Obama and union leaders have recently been at odds, with the president advocating for a 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership that labor groups fear could destroy U.S. jobs. The pact was announced early Monday and is awaiting approval from Congress.
At the summit, Obama highlighted unions as a means to empower workers. He cited the website coworker.org, which helps employees organize online, and the Fight for $15 movement, which successfully fought for a higher minimum wage for fast-food workers in New York and Los Angeles, as "good things happening in America."
Terrence Wise, a second-generation fast-food worker at both Burger King Corp and McDonald's Corp, introduced the president.
"I have seen firsthand how we are heard - and how we make change - when workers like us stick together," he said. "We are united as working people, as moms and dads, as proud Americans, to make sure all work pays what we need to support our families." (Source)
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
In Bid To End Poor Sales, McDonald's Launches All-Day Breakfast
<nbcnews.com> - (10/06/15) On Tuesday, McDonald's is ditching a long-held stance — that it's just too difficult to flip burgers and serve McMuffins at the same time.
There's good reason why the Golden Arches would want to pivot and launch all-day breakfast. The restaurant chain needs to reverse domestic sales declines, and breakfast is the only segment delivering strong growth for restaurants.
Breakfast visits jumped 5 percent in the year ended in June, while lunch ticked just 1 percent higher and dinner visits were flat, according to data from the NPD Group.
"Breakfast has been such a growth area because consumers feel it's a good way to jumpstart their day. It's a lower priced occasion. Especially for fast food, it's convenient," said Bonnie Riggs, a NPD restaurant industry analyst.
McDonald's competitors are also doubling down on breakfast.
Last year, Taco Bell launched its own spin on the meal, which has already grown to 7 percent of its sales mix with particular strength on the West Coast. Its offerings include portable takes on typical breakfast fare, like the biscuit taco or the AM crunchwrap.
Meanwhile, Starbucks CFO Scott Maw told analysts in September that breakfast remains the chain's "biggest opportunity" on a dollar basis. During its last quarter, breakfast sandwiches grew 30 percent.
As McDonald's retools operations to accommodate a pared-down version of its breakfast menu all day, Riggs said its strategy will likely have limited downside.
"The only potential risk is it's a growth opportunity, but it could cannibalize other menu items," she said.
The bright side?
"It may generate repeat business or attract those customers who just come to McDonald's for breakfast," Riggs added. (Source)
There's good reason why the Golden Arches would want to pivot and launch all-day breakfast. The restaurant chain needs to reverse domestic sales declines, and breakfast is the only segment delivering strong growth for restaurants.
Breakfast visits jumped 5 percent in the year ended in June, while lunch ticked just 1 percent higher and dinner visits were flat, according to data from the NPD Group.
"Breakfast has been such a growth area because consumers feel it's a good way to jumpstart their day. It's a lower priced occasion. Especially for fast food, it's convenient," said Bonnie Riggs, a NPD restaurant industry analyst.
McDonald's competitors are also doubling down on breakfast.
Last year, Taco Bell launched its own spin on the meal, which has already grown to 7 percent of its sales mix with particular strength on the West Coast. Its offerings include portable takes on typical breakfast fare, like the biscuit taco or the AM crunchwrap.
Meanwhile, Starbucks CFO Scott Maw told analysts in September that breakfast remains the chain's "biggest opportunity" on a dollar basis. During its last quarter, breakfast sandwiches grew 30 percent.
As McDonald's retools operations to accommodate a pared-down version of its breakfast menu all day, Riggs said its strategy will likely have limited downside.
"The only potential risk is it's a growth opportunity, but it could cannibalize other menu items," she said.
The bright side?
"It may generate repeat business or attract those customers who just come to McDonald's for breakfast," Riggs added. (Source)
Monday, October 5, 2015
Five Ways Capitalism Is Ripping Off the American People
(this is for education purposes only)
(09/30/13) (truth-out.org) - There are more than five ways, of course. There are numerous product ripoffs and there are many industry-specific ripoffs, most notably in health care. We have the most expensive health care system in the world, and yet we're falling behind other developed countries in numerous health measures.
Here are five more industry-specific ripoffs of the American people:
1. The Retail Industry (Walmart): Building Owner Fortunes With Public Tax Money
A study in Wisconsin by the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce determined that a typical Walmart store costs taxpayers over $1.7 million per year, or about $5,815 per employee. A 2004 study in California put the cost per employee at $2,103.
For the year 2012, Walmart's pre-tax U.S. income was almost $18.7 billion. That's over $14,000 per U.S. Walmart employee.
For the year 2012, the four Walton family members made over $20 billion from their investments. That's over $15,000 per Walmart employee.
2. The Financial Industry: Printing Their Own Money
Thanks in good part to the derivatives market, the world's wealth has doubled in ten years. Estimates of the speculative value of the financial derivatives market vary, from $708 trillion to $1.2 quadrillion. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange alone reported a 2011 trading volume of over $1 quadrillion on 3.4 billion annual contracts.
A quadrillion is a thousand trillion. A return to the financiers of just .1 percent (a tenth of a penny from every dollar) would generate $1 trillion, the total Adjusted Gross Income for half of Americans.
3. The Private Prison Industry: Billing Taxpayers for Empty Cells, Then Selling Inmate Labor and Paying Them Sub-Minimum Wages
Almost two-thirds of the private prison contracts analyzed by In the Public Interest "included occupancy guarantees in the form of quotas or required payments for empty prison cells (a 'low-crime tax')."
Some private prisons, such as Corrections Corporation of America and G4S, sell inmate labor to corporations like Chevron, Bank of America, AT&T, and IBM, and pay the prisoners less than a dollar an hour.
4. The Telecommunications Industry: Low Quality at High Prices
In the 1990s the FCC deregulated phone and cable and Internet companies, with the intention of promoting competition. But just a few companies -- Verizon and AT&T and Comcast and Time Warner -- have divided up the market, reducing competition as they remain poorly regulated.
So now South Korea has Internet access speeds 200 times faster than us at half the cost. Same thing in Hong Kong. And in Europe unlimited texting and voice from Verizon costs about a third of U.S. prices.
It gets worse, according to David Cay Johnston, who reports that regulations have been written that allow large corporations to add unsubstantiated charges to cell phones, cable TV, internet service providers and others that can cost American families over $2,000 per year.
5. The Drug Industry: Buy American...but Tax Us Like We're Foreigners
Bernie Sanders notes that pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer have lobbied to keep Americans from buying cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and Europe, but then they their shift drug patents and profits to offshore tax havens to avoid paying U.S. taxes.
Higher drug prices cost an average American family over $1250 per year.
Drug companies also participate in "Pay-for-Delay" deals, through which brand-name firms pay generic makers to keep their cheaper drugs out of the market for a number of years.
That's capitalism. Ripping a once-strong society into little pieces. (Source link)
Facebook to beam free internet to Africa with satellites
(cnnmoney) - Facebook is one step closer to finally beaming Internet down from space.
The social network is teaming up with the French satellite company Eutelsat (ETCMY) to launch a satellite that will provide internet access to people in sub-Saharan Africa. The satellite will launch next year and service will start in the second half of 2016. It will reach 14 countries in West, East and Southern Africa.
Facebook (FB, Tech30) will use the satellite to bring free Internet access to rural areas. The company is using satellites, lasers and drones to get the "next billion" people around the world online as part of its Internet.org initiative. It has already connected people in nearly 20 countries.
"Facebook's mission is to connect the world and we believe that satellites will play an important role in addressing the significant barriers that exist in connecting the people of Africa," said Chris Daniels, VP of Internet.org, in a statement.
Facebook and Eutelsat are leasing the AMOS-6 satellite from Israeli company Spacecom. The two companies will share the satellite and use it for their own individual services. Eutelsat will expand its paid broadband connections in the region for businesses and well-off individuals.
Internet.org has been criticized for limiting what services people can access through the free smartphone app. It currently includes free access to 60 services, including health and finance tools and, of course, Facebook. The app was recently renamed "Free Basics by Facebook" in an attempt to distance it from other Internet.org projects. In May, Facebook launched an platform so third-party developers could develop their own services for Internet.org.
In July, Facebook unveiled a new custom drone it is building to bring internet to hard-to-reach and underserved locations. Other companies are also racing to bring low-cost, low-bandwidth Internet to the world. Google is working on Project Loon which uses hot air balloons. (Full Story)
The social network is teaming up with the French satellite company Eutelsat (ETCMY) to launch a satellite that will provide internet access to people in sub-Saharan Africa. The satellite will launch next year and service will start in the second half of 2016. It will reach 14 countries in West, East and Southern Africa.
Facebook (FB, Tech30) will use the satellite to bring free Internet access to rural areas. The company is using satellites, lasers and drones to get the "next billion" people around the world online as part of its Internet.org initiative. It has already connected people in nearly 20 countries.
"Facebook's mission is to connect the world and we believe that satellites will play an important role in addressing the significant barriers that exist in connecting the people of Africa," said Chris Daniels, VP of Internet.org, in a statement.
Facebook and Eutelsat are leasing the AMOS-6 satellite from Israeli company Spacecom. The two companies will share the satellite and use it for their own individual services. Eutelsat will expand its paid broadband connections in the region for businesses and well-off individuals.
Internet.org has been criticized for limiting what services people can access through the free smartphone app. It currently includes free access to 60 services, including health and finance tools and, of course, Facebook. The app was recently renamed "Free Basics by Facebook" in an attempt to distance it from other Internet.org projects. In May, Facebook launched an platform so third-party developers could develop their own services for Internet.org.
In July, Facebook unveiled a new custom drone it is building to bring internet to hard-to-reach and underserved locations. Other companies are also racing to bring low-cost, low-bandwidth Internet to the world. Google is working on Project Loon which uses hot air balloons. (Full Story)
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Study: Asians to become largest US immigrant group
(dailyrecord.com) WASHINGTON — In a major shift in immigration patterns over the next 50 years, Asians will have surged past Hispanics to become the largest group of immigrants heading to the United States, according to estimates in a new study of immigration patterns.
The study looks in detail at what will happen by 2065, but the actual tipping point comes in 2055.
An increase in Asian and Hispanic immigration will also drive U.S. population growth, with foreign-born residents expected to make up 18 percent of the country’s projected 441 million people in 50 years, the Pew Research Center said in a report being released Monday. This will be a record, higher than the nearly 15 percent during the wave of immigration from Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, immigrants make up 14 percent of the population, an increase from 5 percent in 1965.
The actual change is expected to come in 2055, when Asians will become the largest immigrant group at 36 percent, compared with Hispanics at 34 percent. White immigrants to America, 80 percent back in 1965, will hover somewhere between 18percent and 20 percent, with black immigrants in the 8 percent to 9 percent range, the study said.
Currently, 47 percent of immigrants living in the United States are Hispanic, but by 2065 that number will have dropped to 31 percent. Asians currently make up 26percent of the immigrant population, but in 50 years that percentage is expected to increase to 38 percent.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Staples to customers: Stay away on Thanksgiving Day
“We want our customers and associates to enjoy Thanksgiving their own way.”
(fortune.com) 10/01/15 - Last year’s Black Friday was marked by a heady one-upmanship between retailers to open earlier and earlier and intruding on Thanksgiving Day. Stores including Macy’s, J.C. Penney, and Kohl’s opened as early as 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, giving employees little digestion time before having to get back to work.
This year, in an early announcement, Staples is warning customers to stay away on Thanksgiving. “We want our customers and associates to enjoy Thanksgiving their own way,” Demos Parneros, Staples’ president of North American stores and online said in a press releaseThursday. “On Thanksgiving Day, customers can shop from home on Staples.com and then continue their shopping in stores starting at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.”
The retailer was open during Thanksgiving for the last two years. Despite last year’s trend of early opening, the holiday weekend sales fell from the previous year by as much as 11%. (Full Story)
(fortune.com) 10/01/15 - Last year’s Black Friday was marked by a heady one-upmanship between retailers to open earlier and earlier and intruding on Thanksgiving Day. Stores including Macy’s, J.C. Penney, and Kohl’s opened as early as 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, giving employees little digestion time before having to get back to work.
This year, in an early announcement, Staples is warning customers to stay away on Thanksgiving. “We want our customers and associates to enjoy Thanksgiving their own way,” Demos Parneros, Staples’ president of North American stores and online said in a press releaseThursday. “On Thanksgiving Day, customers can shop from home on Staples.com and then continue their shopping in stores starting at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.”
The retailer was open during Thanksgiving for the last two years. Despite last year’s trend of early opening, the holiday weekend sales fell from the previous year by as much as 11%. (Full Story)
Sweden flirts with six hour work day
"work makes you free"
(cnnmoney) - The world has come to love Swedish massage, Swedish meatballs, even IKEA. The world may love the next big thing coming out of Sweden -- the six hour work day.
The 40 hour work week for a full-time employee has been trimmed to 30 hours at some Swedish firms, and studies have found that the result is more productivity and better morale.
Brath, an SEO specialist startup, shifted to six hour days three years ago.
"The reason is that we actually care about our employees, we care enough to prioritize their time with the family, cooking or doing something else they love doing," the company's CEO Maria Bråth wrote last month in a blog post.
Toyota Services in Gothenburg switched to a six-hour workday 13 years ago and reported higher profits and happier staff.
Swedish companies ranging from startups to retirement homes are experimenting with this trend in recent years.
The Gothenburg government started an experiment in April 2014 with nurses working shorter shifts. The results will be out at the end of 2016 but so far, the nurses are less fatigued and therefore, more efficient, initial reports said.
"The eight-hour work day is not as effective as one would think," Linus Feldt, CEO of Filimundus, an app developer based in the capital city of Stockholm, told Fast Company. "To stay focused on a specific work task for eight hours is a huge challenge. In order to cope, we mix in things and pauses to make the work day more endurable. At the same time, we are having it hard to manage our private life outside of work."
In order to implement the shorter working hours well, employees must reduce their personal business, such as check on Facebook (FB, Tech30), and non-essential meetings must be eliminated.
But even in Sweden, the concept is not commonplace. The Local Sweden, an English-language news network in Europe, reported that only a few companies have been slashing the work hours. The majority of the companies in Sweden still work the typical 40 hour week .
In America, where employees work an average of almost 47 hours a week, workers would rather have more flexible time on the job then less time. Full Story
(cnnmoney) - The world has come to love Swedish massage, Swedish meatballs, even IKEA. The world may love the next big thing coming out of Sweden -- the six hour work day.
The 40 hour work week for a full-time employee has been trimmed to 30 hours at some Swedish firms, and studies have found that the result is more productivity and better morale.
Brath, an SEO specialist startup, shifted to six hour days three years ago.
"The reason is that we actually care about our employees, we care enough to prioritize their time with the family, cooking or doing something else they love doing," the company's CEO Maria Bråth wrote last month in a blog post.
Toyota Services in Gothenburg switched to a six-hour workday 13 years ago and reported higher profits and happier staff.
Swedish companies ranging from startups to retirement homes are experimenting with this trend in recent years.
The Gothenburg government started an experiment in April 2014 with nurses working shorter shifts. The results will be out at the end of 2016 but so far, the nurses are less fatigued and therefore, more efficient, initial reports said.
"The eight-hour work day is not as effective as one would think," Linus Feldt, CEO of Filimundus, an app developer based in the capital city of Stockholm, told Fast Company. "To stay focused on a specific work task for eight hours is a huge challenge. In order to cope, we mix in things and pauses to make the work day more endurable. At the same time, we are having it hard to manage our private life outside of work."
In order to implement the shorter working hours well, employees must reduce their personal business, such as check on Facebook (FB, Tech30), and non-essential meetings must be eliminated.
But even in Sweden, the concept is not commonplace. The Local Sweden, an English-language news network in Europe, reported that only a few companies have been slashing the work hours. The majority of the companies in Sweden still work the typical 40 hour week .
In America, where employees work an average of almost 47 hours a week, workers would rather have more flexible time on the job then less time. Full Story
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Hunger in Missouri, Ozarks among highest in the Union
(kspr.com) - Struggling to find that next meal is a feeling all too familiar with many here in the Ozarks.
Now a new U.S. Department of Agriculture study ranks Missouri in the bottom 10 of places with food insecurities in the United States.
The major issue is there's just not enough money.
The director at Crosslines, Mark Struckhoff, says many in the state of Missouri don't make enough to buy food for their families on top of all their other expenses.
Making the problem even worse is the fact that many people hide their hunger.That makes it more difficult for people in the community to find those who need help.
Many who go to Crosslines are working parents who say it's hard making it on a limited income.
“This is actually my first time coming here they have things like that where i am from but it's...they run out of things fast because it's a lot worse there but it's nice to have an organization to help you like this,” says Katie Conway who recently moved to Springfield for more opportunities from Flint, Mich.
Conway is looking for a full time job and she says if Missouri raises its minimum wage it would make a big difference for people who are struggling.
Struckhoff says many of the people who come here also have other issues that affect their ability to buy food. That includes disabilities, unexpected circumstances and family illness.
Crosslines says it's already served 34,000 people this year at its food bank and the director says poverty has doubled in Greene County in the last ten years.
However, Struckhoff says city leaders in Springfield seem to be trying to make changes to address the need for food and we should start seeing some changes in the near future.
Sign-ups for Crosslines holiday food baskets will start later this month.
That will be October 19th, Crosslines says it's looking for volunteers and money to assist those families needing a little more help during the holidays.
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