August is right around the corner which means that those proud high school graduates will be making their way to college to start their freshman year. Parents are preparing to watch their birds leave the nest and those soon to be college students are crossing the days off the calendar till the day arrives for them to embark on their new journey.
College is a very big event in life and preparing your soon to be college freshman beforehand is a must. Being away from home sounds like paradise to most teenagers, but you can bet that deep down inside they harbor some kind of worry. Since a lot of teenagers use college grants, scholarships, and student loans, they will more than likely get a crash course in budgeting within their first few weeks away from home.
Before that day comes when your teen starts packing up to go to school, take a minute and discuss with them the importance of cash management. A lot of parents believe that they have taught their child the value of the almighty dollar, but as stated before, once away from home, things change. Sitting with your teen and going over a budget on how they can make the most of their cash (without having to eat those cheap noodles everyday) might save them from asking you for extra cash. You want you"re soon to be college student to get the most out of life and be embracing the independence that comes with going away to college and this should include not having to call mom and dad for cash.
Another important thing that should be discussed before a teen goes to college is credit cards. As soon as freshmen hit the dorms you can bet that there will be numerous booths that are there to entice them with those little pieces of plastic that you as a parent knows all so well can quickly lead to debt. Let them know that if they must take out a credit card to at least discuss it with you first. You would be amazed at how much debt a college freshman can finish their year of college with by opening up many different credit card accounts.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court set the terms for boosting college admissions of African Americans and other minorities, the court may be about to issue a ruling that could restrict universities' use of race in deciding who is awarded places.
The case before the justices was brought by Abigail Fisher, a white suburban Houston student who asserted she was wrongly rejected by the University of Texas at Austin while minority students with similar grades and test scores were admitted.
The ruling is the only one the court has yet to issue following oral arguments in cases heard in October and November, the opening months of the court's annual term which lasts until the early summer. A decision might come as early as Monday, before the start of a two-week recess.
As hard as it is to predict when a ruling will be announced, it is more difficult to say how it might change the law. Still, even a small move in the Texas case could mark the beginning of a new chapter limiting college administrators' discretion in using race in deciding on admissions.
For decades, dating back at least to the John F. Kennedy administration of the 1960s, U.S. leaders have struggled with what "affirmative action" should be taken to help blacks and other minorities. In the early years, it was seen as a way to remedy racial prejudice and discrimination; in the more modern era, as a way to bring diversity to campuses and workplaces.
Since 1978, the Supreme Court has been at the center of disputes over when universities may consider applicants' race. In that year's groundbreaking Bakke decision from a University of California medical school, the justices forbade quotas but said schools could weigh race with other factors.
In another seminal university case, the court in 2003 reaffirmed the use of race in admissions to create diversity in colleges. But with the current bench more conservative than the one in 2003, there is a strong chance a majority of the justices will undercut that decade-old ruling on a University of Michigan case.
Writing for the majority in that case, Grutter v. Bollinger, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor declared that "the path to leadership" should be "visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity." That meant public universities must be able to take special steps to enroll minorities, O'Connor wrote.
O'Connor retired in January 2006 and her successor as the regular swing vote on racial dilemmas has been Justice Anthony Kennedy, who dissented in the 2003 case and may well author the ruling to come in the latest case. The student in the case, Abigail Fisher, graduated from Louisiana State University last year.
"HURT," "INJURY"
Notably, during oral argument in the University of Texas case on October 10, Kennedy referred to the "hurt" and "injury" caused by screening applicants by race. However, Kennedy's comments during arguments suggested that he was not ready to vote to forbid all racial criteria in admissions.
In his dissenting opinion in the 2003 Michigan case, he wrote that the court has long accepted universities' stance that racial diversity enhances the educational experience for all students, while insisting such policies be narrowly drawn.
Kennedy's view of when exactly race can be considered and of the discretion of college administrators in the matter are likely to be crucial.
Marvin Krislov, now president of Oberlin College in Ohio and a past vice-president and general counsel of the University of Michigan, said on Friday that university administrators were concerned about how broadly it might sweep and whether it will ultimately reduce the number of minority students on campus.
"Colleges and universities care deeply about student body diversity," he said, adding of his colleagues in higher education: "We're all watching and waiting."
Once oral arguments are held, the court's deliberations on a case are shrouded in secrecy. The timing of a particular decision is not known in advance. And racial dilemmas have never been easy for the court, a point underscored by the current delay.
When the justices ruled in the 1978 case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, they issued six separate opinions. None drew a majority. Four justices would have upheld a program that set aside a certain number of slots for minority applicants; four justices would have struck it down. Justice Lewis Powell provided the essential fifth vote, allowing universities to consider race and ethnic origin but forbidding quotas or a reserved number of places. Powell planted the seed of the diversity justification that blossomed in O'Connor's opinion in 2003.
The Michigan case divided the bench 5-4, with O'Connor joining with the more liberal members of the bench to allow race as a consideration in admissions. In a 2007 dispute testing the use of race in student placements to ensure diversity in school districts, the court tipped the opposite way. Conservatives, including O'Connor's successor Samuel Alito, curtailed such public school integration plans.
Only eight of the nine justices will be deciding the Texas case. Justice Elena Kagan, a former U.S. solicitor general, has taken herself out of the dispute because of her prior involvement in the case. The government is siding with the University of Texas.
The challenged program supplements a Texas state policy guaranteeing admission to the university for high school graduates scoring in the top 10 percent at their individual schools. University of Texas administrators argue that the "Top 10" program does not make the university sufficiently diverse.
The Texas approach, with the dual programs, is distinct. The larger issue is how a decision would affect other universities.
"The court seems to have been leaning away from allowing affirmative action for some time," said University of Virginia law professor John Jeffries, a former law clerk and biographer of Justice Lewis Powell. "If they close the door that, potentially, is a very big deal."
(Editing by Howard Goller, Martin Howell; desking by Christopher Wilson)
Some phones preordered from Best Buy will be delayed until May 9 through May 20
If you put in a preorder for the Sprint Galaxy S4 through Best Buy, you'll want to check your email. It seems that at least some of the phones aren't going to make their original shipping date.
We're sorry, but the fulfillment of your recent pre-order is taking longer than expected. We expect it to arrive between May 9 and May 20. To keep you informed of its delivery, we'll send tracking information once the item has shipped.
If you prefer, you can cancel this order at any time. To do so, please call us at 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289). If possible, please have your order number handy.
If we don't hear from you before the order is shipped, we'll assume you still want this item and accept this delay.
Once again, we're sorry for this inconvenience, and we’ll do our best to make things right.
We know that there are some supply issues for the Sprint version, so canceling your preorder may not be something you'll want to do. But the option is there if you'd rather.
Folks have reported success picking them up directly from Sprint over the weekend in the forums, so that's worth checking out as well. Worst case scenario? You'll be waiting until the second week of May for your new shiny from Best Buy.
PARIS (AP) ? An official says an explosion at a residential building and subsequent partial collapse of the edifice has left at least two people dead and injured nine others in France's Champagne country.
A local rescue official says more than 100 rescue workers, firefighters, and bomb and gas experts were deployed to the building in the subsidized housing complex that collapsed Sunday morning in the city of Reims, east of Paris.
Reims mayor Adeline Hazan told France's BFM television that "a very powerful explosion" had taken place but the cause was unclear. She said the bodies of the two people killed remained under the rubble.
The rescue official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter, said he couldn't immediately confirm whether an explosion had taken place.
BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian rebels seeking to topple President Bashar Assad fought intense battles with his troops on Sunday at two military air bases in northern Syria, activists said.
The fighting raged inside the sprawling Abu Zuhour air base in northwestern Idlib province and the Kweiras military air base in northern Aleppo province.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least seven fighters were killed in the fighting in Abu Zuhour, in addition to an unknown number of soldiers. The group, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said the Syrian air force conducted an airstrike on Abu Zuhour village during the fighting to ease pressure on government troops inside the air base.
Rebels control much of Idlib and Aleppo provinces, which border Turkey, although government troops still hold some areas including the provincial capital of Idlib province and parts of the city of Aleppo, Syria's largest urban center.
The fighters entered the two air bases on Saturday. Both have been under siege for months.
Syria's conflict started with largely peaceful anti-government protests in March 2011 but eventually turned into a civil war. More than 70,000 people have been killed, according to the United Nations.
The Obama administration said Thursday that intelligence indicates that government forces likely used chemical agents against rebels in two attacks.
Washington's declaration was its strongest on the topic so far, although the administration said it was still working to pin down definitive proof of the use of chemical weapons. It held back from saying Damascus had crossed what President Barack Obama has said would be a "red line" prompting tougher action in Syria.
Both sides of the civil war accuse each other of using the chemical weapons.
The deadliest such alleged attack was in the Khan al-Assal village in the Aleppo province in March. The Syrian government called for the United Nations to investigate alleged chemical weapons use by rebels in the attack that killed 31 people.
Syria, however, has not allowed a team of experts into the country because it wants the investigation limited to the single Khan al-Assal incident, while U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged "immediate and unfettered access" for an expanded investigation.
The state-run al-Thawra newspaper on Sunday accused the U.N. secretary general of being a "tool" for the United States and accused him of "bowing to American and European pressures."
In neighoring Lebanon, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported that Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met Saturday night with the pro-Syrian militant group's leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. No details emerged of the late night meeting.
The Shiite Muslim group has been drawn into the fighting in Syria and is known to be backing regime fighters in Shiite villages near the Lebanon border. The Syrian opposition accuses fighters from the group of taking part in the Syrian military crackdown inside the country.
At a Sunday morning at a news conference in Beirut, Bogdanov called for a diplomatic solution to Syria's civil war based on the Geneva Communique of June 2012. The communique is a broad but ambiguous proposal endorsed by Western powers and Russia to provide a basis for negotiations.
What could dissolve the powerful electoral coalition that powered both of President Obama?s victories? The latest Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor poll points to the greatest risk: continuing economic dissatisfaction.
The survey shows some clear continuing signs of strength for Obama with the key elements of the ?coalition of the ascendant? that reelected him. African-Americans, Hispanics, members of the millennial generation ages 18-29, and college-educated white women?the growing groups that provided Obama his critical support last November?all said in the poll they trusted Obama more than congressional Republicans to develop solutions to the country?s economic problems. All four groups are also more likely than the public overall to reject the Reaganesque argument that government is more the problem than the solution to the country?s challenges. Moreover, the first three groups are also more likely than the public overall to say Obama?s agenda will increase opportunity for people like them.
?
But the survey also highlights two potential fissures in the coalition. One is that college-educated white women?who generally lean toward liberal social positions that align them with Obama and most Democrats?tend to hold a dim view of his economic performance. Just 28 percent of them say Obama?s agenda will increase opportunity for people like them; 42 percent say it will decrease it. Obama also scores no better than a roughly even split among the college white women on the question of whether his agenda ?helped to avoid an even worse economic crisis? or ran ?up a record federal deficit while failing to significantly improve the economy.?
The bigger risk for Obama: The millennial generation and minorities are much more likely than the public overall to describe their current economic situation as only fair or poor. While 54 percent of the public overall (and just 39 percent of the college white women) put that negative designation on their current economic standing, 63 percent of millennials, 67 percent of African-Americans, and 69 percent of Hispanics say they are struggling. On issues like guns, gay marriage, and potentially immigration, congressional Republicans continue to take positions that make it difficult for all of these voters, as well as the college white women, to connect with the GOP. But if minorities and millennials remain this dissatisfied with their economic condition, Democrats will face a growing challenge to maintain through 2016 the lopsided advantages they enjoyed among them in 2012.
The latest Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll, conducted by FTI Consulting?s strategic communications practice, surveyed 1,000 adults from April 5 to 9, via landline and cell phone. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) ? Cyprus significantly eased restrictions on money transfers inside and outside the country Thursday to help businesses spur a deeply slumping economy.
The Finance Ministry said that it raised the limit on business payments and money transfers abroad that require documentation ? but not cumbersome scrutiny and approval from ministry and Central Bank officials ? from ?20,000 ($26,160) to ?500,000 ($654,000) euros.
Businesses also can now freely make domestic payments or transfers up to 300,000 euros for goods and services. Anything above that amount needs documentation, but not specific approval from officials as before.
The limit on the amount that individuals can transfer from one bank to another was raised from 3,000 to 10,000 euros per month. The limit on such transfers by individuals outside the country was raised from 2,000 to 5,000 euros, while a 5,000 euro monthly cap on credit and debit card spending abroad is lifted.
The amount of cash people can take with them while travelling abroad was raised from 2,000 to 3,000 euros. But a daily 300-euro withdrawal limit for individuals and a ban on cashing checks remain in place.
Cyprus introduced the restrictions last month ? the first that any country has imposed in the eurozone's 14-year history ? to prevent a run on its banks as part of a 23 billion euro ($30 billion) bailout deal with international creditors that forced savers with over 100,000 euros in deposits in the country's two biggest banks to take heavy losses.
Officials said the restrictions will remain in place until confidence in the banks is restored.
Cypriot lawmakers have already approved many of the austerity measures that were mandated by the creditors ? the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
They include cuts to government salaries, tax increases and breaking up the country's second largest lender Laiki ? which was hard hit by its exposure to bad Greek debt ? into a "good" bank that will be folded into the larger Bank of Cyprus and a "bad" bank that will be wound down.
Cyprus' Parliamentary Speaker Yiannakis Omirou said Thursday that lawmakers will begin debate on the bailout agreement on April 30 ahead of a vote on it.
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry issued a decree outlining the obligations of foreign bank subsidiaries operating in Cyprus while the capital controls are in place.
According to the decree, a parent bank must promise in writing to support its subsidiary's financial health so that it won't have to ask for money either from the Central Bank or the EU.
Subsidiaries must have liquid assets on hand of at least 60 percent relative to deposits, while they must provide a list to the Cyprus Central Bank of all international customers.
Also Thursday, the Cyprus Central Bank said that the Romanian operations of the Bank of Cyprus will resume April 26 after being suspended for more than three weeks.
The suspension was enacted because of an initial plan to sell the Romanian operations as part of country's bank restructuring move. But Central Bank spokeswoman Aliki Stylianou said that plan has been amended and Bank of Cyprus in Romania will reopen, although with greatly reduced assets.
That's because all of the bank's retail client savings, cash, loans as well as some corporate deposits in Romania will be transferred to the Laiki's operations in the country, which will eventually be sold off.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? A handful of senators from states without sales taxes are blocking a bill that would tax Internet purchases.
They don't have enough support to kill the bill, but they can delay a final vote until Friday ? or even this weekend ? if senators don't reach an agreement to vote earlier.
The bill would empower states to require online retailers to collect state and local sales taxes for purchases made over the Internet. Under the bill, the sales taxes would be sent to the states where a shopper lives.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is leading the fight against the bill. Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire and Delaware have no sales taxes, though the two senators from Delaware support the bill.
"It's coercive. It requires a number of states to collect the taxes of other states thousands of miles away against their will," Wyden said in an interview. "It's discrimination because this forces some people online to carry out responsibilities that brick and mortar retailers do not have to do."
Wyden said the bill also gives an advantage to foreign retailers, which would not be covered.
The bill has already survived two procedural votes this week, getting 74 votes in favor each time. If senators can't reach an agreement to vote earlier, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Senate will vote Friday morning to end the debate.
The Senate is scheduled to go on vacation next week, and Reid vowed Thursday to pass the bill before senators leave town.
"One way or another, we will finish work on this measure before we leave," Reid said.
Wyden said he doesn't want to inconvenience senators eager to go home. But, he added, "I don't want to have our constituents rolled over in the process."
Under current law, states can only require stores to collect sales taxes if the store has a physical presence in the state. As a result, many online sales are essentially tax-free, giving Internet retailers an advantage over brick-and-mortar stores.
Supporters say the bill is about fairness for local businesses that already collect sales taxes, and lost revenue for states. Opponents say the bill would impose complicated regulations on retailers and doesn't have enough protections for small businesses. Businesses with less than $1 million a year in online sales would be exempt.
Many of the nation's governors ? Republicans and Democrats ? have been lobbying the federal government for years for the authority to collect sales taxes from online sales.
The issue is getting bigger for states as more people make purchases online. Last year, Internet sales in the U.S. totaled $226 billion, up nearly 16 percent from the previous year, according to Commerce Department estimates.
The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates that states lost $23 billion last year because they couldn't collect taxes on out-of-state sales.
The bill pits brick-and-mortar stores like Wal-Mart against online services such as eBay. The National Retail federation supports it. And Amazon.com, which initially fought efforts in some states to make it collect sales taxes, supports it, too.
The bill also gets support from many Republicans who have pledged not to increase taxes. The bill's main sponsor is Sen. Mike Enzi, a conservative Republican from Wyoming. He is working closely with Sen. Dick Durbin, a liberal Democrat from Illinois.
Enzi and Durbin say the bill doesn't raise taxes. Instead, they say, it gives states a mechanism to enforce current taxes.
In many states, shoppers are required to pay unpaid sales taxes when they file state tax returns. But governors complain that few people comply.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he supports the bill in part because tax-free Internet sales are eating into sales by Delaware retailers.
"In our region, we've long benefited from significant commercial sales from residents of Maryland, of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, who come to Delaware to shop because we're a tax-free state," Coons said. "Over time, the benefit of that has eroded as folks discovered that they could buy the same things online without paying sales tax from home."
He noted that the bill would not require anyone from Delaware to pay sales taxes.
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Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap
If Gwyneth Paltrow cares about public opinion, she's getting some seriously mixed signals. The 40-year-old actress was just named the most hated person in Hollywood in Star magazine's annual fan-voted poll, but she has also just been given the title of the world's most beautiful woman.
VoloMetrix, an enterprise analytics application that helps businesses streamline their communications and performance, has raised $3.3 million in a Series A financing round led by Shasta Ventures. The startup previously raised $1.6 million from Shasta Ventures last year. VoloMetrix essentially analyzes various business applications to help managers understand what's going on in a business. Specifically, VoloMetrix ties in with collaborations systems, email, IM and CRMs to pull in data from employees and give managers actionable insights into what works and what doesn't.
At TED Education, we?re obsessed with learning. Whether it?s about the history of the cell theory, or how to write a slam poem. And since I happen to be obsessed with science, I have a particularly fond place in my heart for our science lessons. Which brings me to you, Scientific American reader, because I know you?re probably obsessed, or at least a little curious, about science too. TED-Ed needs your help. What are you curious about? What do you want to learn about? What do you want to teach the world? We?re looking for your lesson ideas, science or otherwise, to create a whole new set of TED-Ed lessons.
But first, let?s back up. What is TED-Ed? We?re an initiative of TED Conferences, known for TED Talks. Our focus is on creating and sharing lessons to spread great ideas for all educators and learners?mainly high school and college students. So we team up with educators and animators to make short, beautiful and educational videos that anyone who?s curious about the world can enjoy.
Some of my favorite science lessons that we?ve done so far range from pizza physics, to the origins of the universe. To get a taste of TED-Ed, here are a few of those science lessons that I love.
This amazing and wacky animation takes you through the life and times of a blue whale. Why are they so big? How do they even survive?
Why do New Yorkers fold their pizza? And what does that have to do with physics? Let a talking pizza explain it to you:
In a partnership with CERN, we explored the origin of the universe. Tom Whyntie?s conclusion? The universe is a good thing, and it would be awesome if we could figure out how it was formed:
And this beautiful hand-made animation explains why cancer patients hair falls out ? and how cancer works in general.
These lessons came to us from educators of all types ? people like you who are passionate about an idea, who want to teach others about the world. We say educators for a reason, you don?t have to be a traditional teacher to get involved. In fact, we want your ideas, and we want them now! Want to help write a TED-Ed lesson? Send us your lesson ideas here, and you could see your vision in classrooms and computer screens all over the world:
CAIRO (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Wednesday the U.S. effort to determine whether Syria has used chemical weapons is a "serious business" that cannot be decided in a rush just because several countries believe evidence supports that conclusion.
"Suspicions are one thing, evidence is another," Hagel told reporters as he wrapped up a visit to Egypt that included talks about Syria and other regional issues.
"I think we have to be very careful here before we make any conclusions (and) draw any conclusions based on real intelligence. That's not at all questioning other nations' intelligence. But the United States relies on its own intelligence."
The United States has warned that any chemical weapons use by Syria, now convulsed by civil war, would cross a "red line" that would trigger some unspecified response.
Hagel rejected suggestions the United States was undermining its credibility by saying it was continuing to assess the issue, even as France, Britain and Israel have concluded evidence suggests chemical arms have been used in Syria's conflict.
A top Israeli military intelligence officer said on Tuesday that evidence supported the conclusion Syrian government forces had used chemical weapons - probably sarin - several times against rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
The officer's remarks came in the final moments of a three-day visit by Hagel to Israel.
SYRIA SAYS WOULD NOT USE CHEMICAL ARMS
Syria's information minister was quoted as saying on Wednesday that Damascus would not resort to chemical weapons against its own citizens or even in the event of war with its neighbor Israel.
Hagel, who had not previously commented on the Israeli report, said that while he had discussed the Syrian conflict and chemical weapons with Israeli leaders, he had not been given the findings cited by the intelligence officer.
"When I was in Israel they did not give me that assessment. I guess it wasn't complete so I haven't seen the specifics, haven't talked to any Israeli officials, nor have I talked to any of our intelligence officials specifically about it."
U.S. defense officials said it wasn't immediately clear whether the intelligence report reflected the final conclusions of the Israeli government or simply the Israeli military.
Hagel declined to elaborate on his discussions about Syrian chemical weapons with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon.
Asked whether the assessments by France, Britain and Israel put pressure on Washington to make a judgment more quickly, Hagel said, "I don't think you judge these kinds of serious matters based on a time line.
"This is serious business and you want to be as sure as you can be on these kind of things, and until I see our intelligence assessments and the results of those, I can't respond any further," he said.
The Syrian government and rebels each accused the other of launching a chemical attack near the embattled city of Aleppo last month.
Syrian authorities last year acknowledged having chemical and biological weapons and said they could be used if foreign countries intervened in the conflict, a threat that elicited strong warnings from Washington and its allies.
Specialist Michael Pistillo, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Stock indexes are little changed in early trading on Wall Street following mixed earnings results from Apple, Ford, Boeing and other major U.S. companies. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Specialist Michael Pistillo, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Stock indexes are little changed in early trading on Wall Street following mixed earnings results from Apple, Ford, Boeing and other major U.S. companies. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Specialist Joseph Mastrolia, left, and trader Gregory Rowe, work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Stock indexes are little changed in early trading on Wall Street following mixed earnings results from Apple, Ford, Boeing and other major U.S. companies. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Traders Brandon Barb, left, and Fady Tanios work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Stock indexes are little changed in early trading on Wall Street following mixed earnings results from Apple, Ford, Boeing and other major U.S. companies. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Trader Neil Catania works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Stock indexes are little changed in early trading on Wall Street following mixed earnings results from Apple, Ford, Boeing and other major U.S. companies. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
NEW YORK (AP) ? The stock market finished pretty much where it started Wednesday as a mixed bag of earnings from big-name American companies left investors uninspired.
The Dow closed down 43.16 points, or 0.3 percent, at 14,676.30. The Standard & Poor's 500 index ? the market's most widely used barometer ?was flat at 1,578.79.
In other markets, the price of oil soared, posting its biggest gain this year. The price of gold and the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury rose.
The Dow was held back by big drops in Procter & Gamble and AT&T. P&G issued a weak quarterly profit forecast and AT&T lost subscribers from its contract-based plans for the first time.
But other companies impressed investors and boosted their stock prices with strong quarterly earnings: Defense contractor General Dynamics and airplane maker Boeing easily beat expectations from financial analysts.
While the majority of corporations have delivered profits that were better than expected in the first quarter, their revenue hasn't been as impressive, suggesting they are struggling to grow.
"Overall, the earnings environment is very lackluster, for want of a better word," said Robbert van Batenburg, director of market strategy at Newedge.
P&G, the maker of Tide detergent and Gillette razors, dropped $4.82, or 5.1 percent, to $77.12 after its forecast came in below what financial analysts were expecting. P&G was hurt by uneven demand for new products.
AT&T dropped $1.96, or 5.2 percent, to $37.04 after it lost phone subscribers from its contract-based plans in its latest quarter. It's a sign that industry growth is slowing now that most American have smartphones.
General Dynamics, the aerospace and defense company, jumped $4.62, or 6.9 percent, to $71.73. CEO Phebe Novakovic called the quarter's results a "strong start" to achieving the company's goals this year, saying they reflected its focus on cuttings costs and generating cash.
Boeing climbed $2.65, or 3 percent, to $90.83 after the airplane maker said its first-quarter net income rose 20 percent despite problems with the 787 Dreamliner. The company said it would meet its financial and airplane delivery goals this year.
So far, 175 of the companies in the S&P 500, or 35 percent, have reported quarterly earnings and two-thirds of the Dow's 30 members have reported.
Sixty-nine percent of companies in the S&P 500 have beaten profit expectations, better than the 10-year average of 62 percent, according to S&P Capital IQ. However, only 39 percent have beaten revenue forecasts.
Looking ahead, the outlook dims. Of the 35 companies that have given earnings forecasts for the second quarter, 28 have been "negative," according to S&P Capital IQ, with only four "positive" and three "in-line."
"We think that most managements are appropriately cautious in their outlooks, because it's very possible that the second-quarter will continue to slow," said Jim Russell, a regional investment director at U.S. Bank. "We're watching with cautious optimism that this is a second-quarter-only soft patch in the economic data."
A report Wednesday that orders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods fell more than economists expected added to concerns that global growth is slowing.
The Commerce Department said orders for durable goods declined 5.7 percent in March following a 4.3 percent gain the previous month. February's figure was also revised lower.
The Nasdaq composite edged up 0.32 point at 3,269.55. The Russell 2000 index of small-company stocks fared better. It rose 0.5 percent, or 4.75 points, to 934.11.
Last week, stocks logged their biggest weekly drop in five months after growth in China, the world's second-biggest economy, slowed and commodity prices plunged. Weaker hiring and manufacturing growth in the U.S. have also weighed on the stock market.
The Dow and S&P 500 reached record highs on April 11, but their gains have slowed sharply since then. The Dow is up just 0.7 percent this month while the S&P 500 has gained 0.6 percent.
During the first three months of the year, the indexes averaged monthly gains of more than 3 percent, driven by optimism that the housing and job markets were recovering and that company earnings would continue to climb.
Companies made money in the first quarter, however, and are on track to increase their earnings by an average of almost 3 percent, according to S&P Capital IQ.
"Overall, I'm really quite comforted," said David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Funds. "It's not an easy environment in which to make money, but companies are finding ways in which to hold costs in line and grow earnings."
Crude oil rose $2.25 to finish at $91.43 a barrel as U.S. supplies rose less than expected last week. Gold for June delivery rose $14.90 to $1,423.70 an ounce.
In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.71 percent from 1.70. The yield fell to 1.69 percent last week, close to its lowest of the year.
To share or not to share was never a question for the creation of the PS4 -- it was always more about the how. Right from the start, Sony's upcoming, next-gen console had been planned with a social networking bent, but as Shuhei Yoshida, the company's head of Worldwide Studios, revealed to Edge, the decision to build a Share button into the DualShock 4 was the result of one first-party developer's eureka moment, not a cross-SCEI compromise. All credit is due Nathan Gary, creative director at Santa Monica Studio (best known for its God of War series), who successfully pitched the concept of a dedicated controller button to the PS4 team; an idea that was not only quickly met with unanimous praise, but also immediately implemented into the final product. It's yet further proof that Sony's learned from its past PS3 fumbling and has crafted a machine for developers, by developers.
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's official population fell last year for the first time since records began as immigrants fled a five-year on-and-off recession that has sent unemployment soaring.
The number of residents fell by 206,000 to 47.1 million, the National Statistics Institute said on Monday, a figure entirely accounted for by the fall in the number of registered foreign residents.
It was the first time a population drop had been recorded in official statistics since records began in 1857 - although until 1998 figures were published roughly every decade, rather than annually.
Spain and the rest of Southern Europe are suffering twin economic and fiscal crises.
During a long economic boom that ended abruptly in 2008, Spanish-speaking immigrants from Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia flocked to Spain to work in construction. Between 2000 and 2010, the immigrant population swelled from 924,000 to 5.7 million.
But building has come to a standstill since a housing bubble burst, and a government spending squeeze to try to meet strict deficit cutting targets imposed by Brussels has further strained the economy. As the unemployment rate has soared to 26 percent, many immigrants have returned home.
The biggest fall in registered foreign residents was among South Americans, especially Ecuadoreans and Colombians, the statistics agency said.
"There was extraordinary growth (in immigrants) from 2000 to 2009, which is reversing quickly due to the economic crisis," demographer Albert Esteve of the Barcelona Centre for Demographic Studies told Spain National Radio.
"Spain is less attractive because there are no jobs."
Spain's two largest groups of immigrants, Romanians and Moroccans, both shrank last year.
Not only are immigrants returning home; many Spaniards are also leaving to look for work abroad. The youth unemployment rate is higher than 50 percent.
The population of native Spaniards grew last year by 10,000, a smaller increase than in recent years, only minimally offsetting a fell of 216,000 in the number of registered foreigners.
(This story has been fixed to make it clear that the fall in population is the first ever, not first since 1946)
(Additional reporting by Inmaculada Sanz; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Psy, the viral K-pop star, wants a chef to cook for him on his world tour. So naturally he made a YouTube video about it rather than write a help-wanted ad.
It's part of a promotion with Bibigo, a Korean food web site.
The cooking part is real, however.
The rules of the contest require candidates to upload videos of the cooking skills. This is the first prize:
THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A TRAINING PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS AND WILL TAKE ON THE ROLE OF PSY'S CHEF FOR A PERIOD OF ONE MONTH STARTING FROM JULY 1ST, 2013.
?
The salary: $40,000. Not bad for one 31 days' work.
It is to my happiness I finally have a commercial about my Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Business! Its short but to the point. This particular commercial will be showing every 20 minutes around the clock at the Veterinary Specialty (animal) Hospital in Sorrento Valley (San Diego). They contacted me and asked me if I?d like to be part of their Advertisement Program and I would be featured as the ONLY pet sitting and dog walking service on their network. I?m so excited! I hope you like the short video commercial!
Lobbying may earn more money, but Mike Bloomquist is drawn to other things Capitol Hill has to offer. And as general counsel to the Energy and Commerce Committee?which has jurisdiction over everything from health and energy policy to amusement-park safety?there?s a lot.
?With the diversity of issues, I couldn?t ask for more,? he said.
Bloomquist, 44, a native of Scarsdale, N.Y., spent years doing legal work and lobbying for major law firms such as Patton Boggs and Wiley Rein. He has also worked for the House Science Committee.
Bloomquist said he learned a lot about the budget and appropriations processes while serving as general counsel for the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction?the so-called super committee?which tried unsuccessfully to reach a deal that would have avoided the across-the-board sequestration cuts that are now in effect.
In his off time, he coaches a middle-school lacrosse team that includes his oldest daughter. Bloomquist and his wife of 15 years also have two other daughters.
Boston Marathon bombs believed carried in dark, heavy bags
BOSTON (Reuters) - Authorities suspect whoever perpetrated the Boston Marathon bombings carried heavy devices made out of pressure cookers in dark-colored nylon bags or backpacks before dropping them near the finish line, causing the worst attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001. The twin blasts on Monday killed three people including an 8-year-old boy and injured 176 others, some of whom were maimed by bombs packed with ball bearings and nails.
Pakistan bears brunt of Iranian earthquake, 35 killed
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake struck a border area of southeast Iran on Tuesday killing at least 35 people in neighboring Pakistan, destroying hundreds of houses and shaking buildings as far away as India and Gulf Arab states. Communications with the sparsely-populated desert and mountain region were largely cut off, making it difficult to assess Iranian casualties. But an Iranian provincial governor later said there were no reports of deaths there so far.
Venezuela accuses opposition of plotting coup, seven dead
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President-elect Nicolas Maduro accused the opposition on Tuesday of planning a coup against him after seven government supporters were killed in clashes over his disputed election victory. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles wants a full recount of votes from Sunday's election after official results showed a narrow victory for Maduro, who is late socialist leader Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor.
At least nine killed in blast at Pakistan election rally
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - At least nine people were killed and more than 50 wounded on Tuesday when a suicide bomber attacked an election rally for a party opposed to Pakistan's Taliban movement, police said. The blast struck a gathering called by senior politicians of the Awami National Party (ANP) in the northwestern city of Peshawar ahead of the May 11 general elections.
Ivory Coast wants surveillance drones to replace U.N. troops
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council should consider deploying surveillance drones in Ivory Coast to aid the world body's peacekeeping mission in the west African country, Ivory Coast's U.N. envoy said on Tuesday, echoing a recommendation by the U.N. chief. Ivory Coast U.N. Ambassador Youssoufou Bamba told the 15-member council that surveillance drones should be deployed to offset any planned cuts to the peacekeeping force in the world's biggest cocoa producer.
Quake of 6.8 magnitude recorded off Papua New Guinea: USGS
SYDNEY (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 was recorded off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. (Reporting by Paul Tait; Editing by John Mair)
Serbian U.N. official blasts "intimidation" over justice meeting
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The Serbian president of the U.N. General Assembly accused his critics on Tuesday of trying to intimidate and pressure him into canceling a special meeting on international criminal justice that the United States and other nations boycotted. The meeting last week was set up by former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who is serving as president of the 193-nation assembly, a largely ceremonial but high-profile post. Critics of the event said Jeremic organized it as an excuse to attack the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - an allegation Jeremic rejected.
North Korea issues new threats over protests in South
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea issued new threats against South Korea on Tuesday, vowing "sledge-hammer blows" of retaliation if South Korea did not apologize for anti-North Korean protests the previous day when the North was celebrating the birth of its founding leader. The North also rejected what it called "cunning" U.S. overtures for talks, saying it will not be humiliated into being dragged to sit at the negotiating table by Washington.
Plea deal sought by U.S. soldier accused in Iraq killings: lawyer
SEATTLE (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier charged with killing five fellow servicemen in 2009 at a military counseling center in Iraq is seeking a plea deal with Army prosecutors that would spare him from facing the death penalty, his lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday. Army Sergeant John Russell faces five charges of premeditated murder, one charge of aggravated assault and one charge of attempted murder in the shootings that killed two medical staff officers and three soldiers at Camp Liberty, near Baghdad airport.
Congo army battalion accused of mass rape U.S. trained: U.N. envoy
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - An army battalion in the Democratic Republic of Congo, some of whose members have been accused of mass rape, was trained by the United States, a senior U.N. envoy said on Tuesday. The United Nations said 126 women were raped in Minova in Congo's volatile east in November after Congolese army troops fled to the town when M23 rebels briefly captured the nearby provincial capital, Goma.
Apr. 15, 2013 ? As small and active flying mammals, bats have very high mass-specific energy requirements and as such continually adjust their rates of activity and metabolism in response to ambient temperature and other seasonal variation. In particular, during the autumn mating season, male bats must carefully balance time spent foraging (to gain enough fat to last the winter hibernation) with time spent finding a mate. Because both activities require significant effort, how do male bats do it?
In an upcoming issue of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, Nina Becker and colleagues reveal that the answer lies in the bats' resting metabolic rate.
In their study, the group monitored the thermoregulation, energy intake, activity, and metabolism of free-ranging Daubenton's bats Myotis daubentonii during this insectivorous species' main activity period of the year (mid-April to mid-October).
Becker et al. found that during spring, when ambient temperatures are low, prey is scarce, and the male bats are reproductively inactive, M. daubentonii used daily torpor (decreased body temperature) to balance their energy budgets.
In summer, when temperatures and abundance of insects increase, bats shift their behavior away from long and frequent bouts of torpor and toward more intake of food. In males it is predicted that this increase in feeding is done in anticipation of the impending mating season, when energy requirements are high but low insect abundance and significant time spent finding a mate (and therefore not foraging) mean that food intake will be at its lowest during the animals' entire period of activity.
In autumn, for male M. daubentonii to accommodate the high energy demands of reproduction and low energy intake and also sufficiently prepare for hibernation, Becker and colleagues report that the bats do not increase torpor, as they do in spring, but instead employ metabolic compensation to reduce resting metabolic rate. In this way, energy expenditures are reduced and thus the low amount of food the bats consume is enough for them to survive the winter. The exact mechanism allowing this reduction in resting metabolic rate is still in question, but the authors speculate it is likely due to a decrease in activity of either the digestive system or the brain.
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There are many considerations and problems to solve for anyone getting out in the market and starting their own business. One of the first considerations in starting your own company will be choosing a business name. Many people over look this task and simply jump right into a business name they believe sound good or somehow just works for what they are doing. Often, little consideration is given to the actual business and legal considerations involved in your company name. While we do not suggest you rack your brain for weeks trying to choose a name for your business, we do suggest a few really quick considerations. Provided here is a short checklist of issues we believe all entrepreneurs should consider in naming their company.
Business Considerations in Naming Your Company
Name relates to product or service but does not unduly limit future expansion into new products or services. Keep the name specific to your industry but not so specific you paint yourself into a corner with name that wouldn?t make sense for any future expansion you could predict.
Name relates to location of business but does not unduly limit future expansion of market area. For instance, when our firm started, if we would have named ourselves Utah Business Advisors LLC or something similar, that name would not work if our law firm expanded into other markets like Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
Name will result in advantageous business directory placement. This is a big one for marketing purposes. A key word specific name can help with online marketing placement in directories.
Name is easy to remember, spell, and pronounce.
Name sounds or looks appealing and avoids negative connotations. Seems obvious but some companies don?t realize their name may have alternative meanings.
Name captures attention and is unique in the business from its competitors.
Name, or a derivative of the name, is available as a domain name for a Web site. In today?s online marketing world, this is huge. If you are a tech company, this is absolutely necessary.
Legal Considerations in Choosing a Business Name
Name, or one that is confusingly similar, is not being used by other companies in your market area. In Utah, you can?t choose a name already chosen by another company. However, you may be able to choose one that is confusingly similar which could turn into a trademark or other legal battle with a competitor.
Name is not registered or recorded as an assumed business name in the state or county.
Nameis not being used by a corporation or limited partnership in the state.
Name is not registered as a trademark or trade name in the state.
Name is not registered as a federal trademark or service mark. Even if the name is not trademark in your state?s system, if it is trademarked federally you should absolutely avoid using that name.
Name is subject to enforcement and registration as a trademark or service mark (for example, it is not merely descriptive of the goods or service of the business). This is important because if you are unable to trademark your name and your company is successfully, you can bet someone else will try to capitalize on your hard earned work into that name.
Utah Business Attorney
For more information, and to get help with your particular business, call and speak with a Utah Business Attorney at Salcido Law Firm today. We look forward to your call.
VOSTOCHNY COSMODROME, Russia | Sat Apr 13, 2013 7:24am EDT
VOSTOCHNY COSMODROME, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin told astronauts in orbit on Friday that Russia will send up the first manned flights from its own soil in 2018, using a new launch pad he said will help the once-pioneering space power explore deep space and the moon.
Speaking by video link with the International Space Station's crew from the building site, Putin said it will be open to use by the United States and Europe - playing up cooperation on the anniversary of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's 1961 flight, which set off the Cold War space race.
But with the image of a fiery rocket launch as a backdrop, Putin also said he wants the Vostochny Cosmodrome to help Russia catch up with other powers in exploring beyond Earth's orbit.
"We are lagging behind the world in some areas," Putin said on a tour of the future launch site in eastern Siberia near the border with China. "We've developed a noticeable gap from the leading space powers in the technologies of so-called deep space exploration."
Russia wants Vostochny, where it hopes to exploit a new generation of rockets carrying heavier payloads, to rival its current launch site in Kazakhstan, the lease of which has been in contention since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.
Since NASA retired its shuttles last year, Russian rockets blasting off from the Soviet-built Baikonur launch pad provide astronauts around the world with the only ride to the $100-billion research laboratory some 250 miles above Earth.
While NASA pays a steep fee for the trip, the upkeep and lease of the Baikonour Cosmodrome comes at Russia's expense.
Congratulating astronauts on what is known in Russia as Space Exploration Day, Putin said: "These are not just any greetings, these are greetings from the construction site of our future."
He said the first launch from Vostochny will be in 2015 and the first manned flight in 2018. The site, near Russia's Pacific Coast, was chosen to allow cosmonauts to splash down on water after their mission.
"I very much hope that it will be used not only by our specialists, but by our colleagues from the United States, Europe and other countries," he said.
"Space is a sphere of activity that allows us to forget about all the difficulties of international relations," said Putin, who has faced criticism from the United States and Europe over human rights since his return to the Kremlin last May.
Even after the new site is built, Putin said Russia will continue to use Baikonour, which it leases at a cost of $115 million a year under a deal that expires in 2050. But he said the facility on Kazakh soil was "physically aged."
RETURNING TO DEEP SPACE
Putin, whose ambition is to restore Moscow's Soviet-era might, said Russia will spend 1.6 trillion roubles ($52 billion) on space exploration through 2020.
"It's clear that in the 21st century Russia must preserve its status as a leading space power," he said, estimating the size of the space-launch market will grow to be worth $1.5 trillion by 2030 from $300 billion-$400 billion today.
The Soviet Union got a jump on the United States in the space race when it launched the Sputnik satellite in 1957, a moon probe in 1959 and Gagarin on his 108-minute orbit in 1961. But Russia has been absent from deep space for more than 20 years.
It bungled the 2011 launch of what was meant to be post-Soviet Russia's interplanetary debut - the Phobos-Grunt Mars moon probe - amid a string of costly botched launches.
But it signed a deal last month to join Europe on Mars sampling mission, one of a number of projects that it hopes will help it claw back its reputation in the sector.
Moscow has also revived a long-dormant quest to explore the moon. The launch of the unmanned probe, the Luna-Globe or Moon Globe, is planned to be the first from Vostochny in 2015.
(The story corrects to say Russia will spend $52 billion on space exploration, not $52 million, in paragraph 13)
(Writing by Alissa de Carbonnel; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
American College of Physicians unveils tools to improve acute coronary syndrome carePublic release date: 12-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Steve Majewski smajewski@acponline.org 415-978-3714 American College of Physicians
Interventions aim to improve health outcomes in patients after blood flow to heart muscle is suddenly blocked
April 12, 2013 -- The American College of Physicians (ACP) today unveiled two evidence-based interventions and two videos to improve the health outcomes of patients in the first year following an initial acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event such as heart attack and unstable angina (chest pain or discomfort but no part of the heart muscle dies), the most common indications of ACS.
About five million patients in the U.S. are at risk for ACS and approximately 134,000 die from it every year. ACS results in almost 1.2 million hospitalizations annually with 70 percent of those from heart attack and 30 percent from unstable angina.
ACP's Initiative on Acute Coronary Syndrome aims to bridge the communication gap between clinicians and patients in the home or hospital. Because care in the 12 months after an initial ACS event is so important, the initiative focuses on improving health outcomes in the first year utilizing four key interventions suited to the varied needs of patients and clinicians: a patient guide, a clinician support tool, and two videos.
"These easy-to-understand, straightforward materials in multiple formats will facilitate communication between clinicians and patients, helping to prevent instances of and improve treatment of heart attack and unstable angina," said David L. Bronson, MD, FACP, president, ACP.
"Keeping Your Heart Healthy: What You and Your Family Should Do"
This reader-friendly educational guide is designed to enhance patient-clinician communication by helping patients and caregivers talk to the physician and other members of the health care team and encouraging them to ask questions. The guide includes information to help patients maintain a healthy heart with sections on lifestyle modifications, medications and supplements, and recovery issues, such as when to go back to work and when normal activities can be resumed. Color coded sections further emphasize necessary actions such as when to call 911 (red) or the doctor (yellow).
"Practice Guide for the Post Acute Coronary Syndrome Hospitalization Office Visit"
This decision support tool enables busy clinicians to make the most of the first post-discharge office visit. Assessment suggestions, such as medication adherence and lifestyle modifications, include a corresponding intervention, such as teach-back or reviewing approved physical activities like walking or driving.
In addition to these print materials, two patient videos geared toward empowering patients to actively engage in their care have been produced: "Discharge from the Hospital" and "Medications after a Heart Attack."
"By working with experts in clinical practice, health care quality, and patient advocacy to develop interventions that close gaps in understanding and communication, ACP has developed interventions to improve patient comprehension and management of ACS," said Doron Schneider, MD, FACP, chief safety and quality officer, Abington Health System and a member of the initiative's National Steering Committee. "Improved patient understanding coupled with evidence-based practice is essential to better health outcomes."
Members of the National Steering Committee that developed the interventions include experts from ACP, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the American College of Cardiology, the American Pharmacists Association, The Joint Commission, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and America's Health Insurance Plans.
###
The materials for acute coronary syndrome can be ordered at http://www.acponline.org/acs or by calling ACP Customer Service at 800-523-1546, extension 2600. They are available for all physicians to order for their patients for free.
ACP's Initiative on Acute Coronary Syndrome is funded by a grant from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 133,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
American College of Physicians unveils tools to improve acute coronary syndrome carePublic release date: 12-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Steve Majewski smajewski@acponline.org 415-978-3714 American College of Physicians
Interventions aim to improve health outcomes in patients after blood flow to heart muscle is suddenly blocked
April 12, 2013 -- The American College of Physicians (ACP) today unveiled two evidence-based interventions and two videos to improve the health outcomes of patients in the first year following an initial acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event such as heart attack and unstable angina (chest pain or discomfort but no part of the heart muscle dies), the most common indications of ACS.
About five million patients in the U.S. are at risk for ACS and approximately 134,000 die from it every year. ACS results in almost 1.2 million hospitalizations annually with 70 percent of those from heart attack and 30 percent from unstable angina.
ACP's Initiative on Acute Coronary Syndrome aims to bridge the communication gap between clinicians and patients in the home or hospital. Because care in the 12 months after an initial ACS event is so important, the initiative focuses on improving health outcomes in the first year utilizing four key interventions suited to the varied needs of patients and clinicians: a patient guide, a clinician support tool, and two videos.
"These easy-to-understand, straightforward materials in multiple formats will facilitate communication between clinicians and patients, helping to prevent instances of and improve treatment of heart attack and unstable angina," said David L. Bronson, MD, FACP, president, ACP.
"Keeping Your Heart Healthy: What You and Your Family Should Do"
This reader-friendly educational guide is designed to enhance patient-clinician communication by helping patients and caregivers talk to the physician and other members of the health care team and encouraging them to ask questions. The guide includes information to help patients maintain a healthy heart with sections on lifestyle modifications, medications and supplements, and recovery issues, such as when to go back to work and when normal activities can be resumed. Color coded sections further emphasize necessary actions such as when to call 911 (red) or the doctor (yellow).
"Practice Guide for the Post Acute Coronary Syndrome Hospitalization Office Visit"
This decision support tool enables busy clinicians to make the most of the first post-discharge office visit. Assessment suggestions, such as medication adherence and lifestyle modifications, include a corresponding intervention, such as teach-back or reviewing approved physical activities like walking or driving.
In addition to these print materials, two patient videos geared toward empowering patients to actively engage in their care have been produced: "Discharge from the Hospital" and "Medications after a Heart Attack."
"By working with experts in clinical practice, health care quality, and patient advocacy to develop interventions that close gaps in understanding and communication, ACP has developed interventions to improve patient comprehension and management of ACS," said Doron Schneider, MD, FACP, chief safety and quality officer, Abington Health System and a member of the initiative's National Steering Committee. "Improved patient understanding coupled with evidence-based practice is essential to better health outcomes."
Members of the National Steering Committee that developed the interventions include experts from ACP, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the American College of Cardiology, the American Pharmacists Association, The Joint Commission, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and America's Health Insurance Plans.
###
The materials for acute coronary syndrome can be ordered at http://www.acponline.org/acs or by calling ACP Customer Service at 800-523-1546, extension 2600. They are available for all physicians to order for their patients for free.
ACP's Initiative on Acute Coronary Syndrome is funded by a grant from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 133,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
At TED Education, we?re obsessed with learning. Whether it?s about the history of the cell theory, or how to write a slam poem. And since I happen to be obsessed with science, I have a particularly fond place in my heart for our science lessons. Which brings me to you, Scientific American reader, because I know you?re probably obsessed, or at least a little curious, about science too. TED-Ed needs your help. What are you curious about? What do you want to learn about? What do you want to teach the world? We?re looking for your lesson ideas, science or otherwise, to create a whole new set of TED-Ed lessons.
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Public release date: 12-Apr-2013
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