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In July 2007, Carrie Barrett went to the emergency room at Methodist University Hospital, complaining of shortness of breath and tightness in her chest. Her leg was swollen, she'd later recall, and her toes were turning black.
Given her family history, high blood pressure and newly diagnosed congestive heart failure, doctors performed a heart catheterization, threading a long tube through her groin and into her heart.
Her share of the two-night stay: $12,109.
Barrett, who has never made more than $12 an hour, don't remember getting any notices to pay from the hospital. But in 2010, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare sued her for the unpaid medical bills, plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Since then, the nonprofit hospital system affiliated with the United Methodist Church has doggedly pursued her, adding interest to the debt seven times and garnishing money from her paycheck on 15 occasions.
Barrett, 63, now owes about $33,000, more than twice what she earned last year, according to her tax return.
"The only thing that kept me levelheaded was praying and asking God to help me," she said.
She's among thousands of patients the massive hospital has sued for unpaid medical bills. From 2014 through 2018, Methodist filed more than 8,300 lawsuits, according to an MLK50-ProPublica analysis of Shelby County General Sessions Court records. Older cases like Barrett's, which dates back nearly a decade, remain on the court's docket.
Other hospitals in Memphis and around the country also sue patients. According to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found more than 20,000 debt lawsuits filed by Virginia hospitals in 2017. More than 9,300 garnishment cases occurred that year, and nonprofit hospitals were more likely to garnish wages.
But Methodist's aggressive collection practices stand out in a city where nearly 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line.
It's handling of poor patients begins with a financial assistance policy that, unlike many of its peers around the country, all but ignores patients with any form of health insurance, no matter their out-of-pocket costs. If they are unable to afford their bills, patients then face what experts say is rare: A licensed collection agency owned by the hospital.
Lawsuits follow. Finally, after the hospital wins a judgment, it repeatedly tries to garnish patients' wages, which it does in a far higher share of cases than other nonprofit hospitals in Memphis.
Its own employees are no exception. Since 2014, Methodist has sued dozens of its workers for unpaid medical bills, including a hospital housekeeper sued in 2017 for more than $23,000. That year, she told the court, she made $16,000. She's in a court-ordered payment plan, but in the case of more than 70 other employees, Methodist has garnished the wages it pays them to recoup its medical charges.
Nonprofit hospitals are generally exempt from local, state and federal taxes. In return, the federal government expects them to provide a significant community benefit, including charity care and financial assistance.
Methodist does provide some charity care — and pegs its community benefits as more than $226 million annually — but experts faulted it for also wielding the court as a hammer.
"If Warren Buffett walks in and needs a heart valve procedure and then stiffs the hospital, then yes, you should sue Warren Buffett," said John Colombo, a University of Illinois College of Law professor emeritus who has testified before Congress about the tax-exempt status of nonprofit hospitals. "I can't think of a situation in which thousands of your patients would fit that."
Several nonprofit hospitals don't sue patients at all, such as Bon Secours Hospitals in Virginia, which stopped pursuing debt suits in 2007, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which includes more than 20 facilities.
Some of Methodist Hospital's cousins — health systems affiliated with the United Methodist Church — also don't sue patients. That's the case with Methodist Health System, which operates four hospitals in the Dallas area. The collection policy of the seven-hospital Houston Methodist system states: "At no time will Houston Methodist impose extraordinary collection actions such as wage garnishments," liens on homes, or credit bureau notification.
"We are a faith-based institution and we don't believe taking extraordinary measures to seek bill payments is consistent with our mission and values," a Houston Methodist spokesperson said by email.
Methodist Le Bonheur, which says it is the second largest private employer in Shelby County, boasts on its website that it's committed to a "culture of compassion." Last year, Fortune magazine ranked the hospital among the 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Methodist declined repeated requests to interview its top executives.
Instead, it sent a statement that said, "Outstanding patient debts are only sent to collections and then to court as a very last resort, and only after continued efforts to work with the patients have been exhausted."
"We strongly believe in providing exceptional care to all members of the community — regardless of ability to pay."
Methodist's collection activities are playing out in the second-poorest large metropolitan area in the nation, where jobs have long been concentrated in low-wage industries such as warehousing and logistics. More than 40% of Memphis workers earn less than $15 an hour, according to one economic development report.
For the rest of this year, MLK50 and ProPublica will explore how hospitals, businesses, and others in Memphis make it nearly impossible for low-income workers to make ends meet.
Beverly Robertson, who served on Methodist's board from 2003 to 2012, said she was surprised to learn from a reporter about the hospital's collection practices. During her lengthy tenure, she said, board members were never informed about the lawsuits against patients.
"I wish I'd known some of this," said Robertson, president, and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber and previously executive director of the National Civil Rights Museum.
The Rhythm of General Sessions Court
On Jan. 16, Barrett appeared in Shelby County General Sessions Court to try to stop Methodist's latest attempt to garnish her paycheck from her part-time job at Kroger, where she makes $9.05 an hour.
She had plenty of company: All 80 lawsuits on the Division 5 docket that morning had been filed by Methodist.
On this morning, Barrett faced Judge Betty Thomas Moore, who has been on the bench for nearly 21 years. Moore expeditiously moved through cases, pausing occasionally to question defendants or lecture them on money management, and to ask Methodist's attorneys what judgment amount they sought or the monthly payment they'd accept.
Barrett, a devout woman whose denomination eschews makeup and jewelry, stood when Moore called her name.
She waited as the judge flipped through her file, which contained a record of the case, including a motion she filed to reinstate her payments at $40 a month. That's the amount a judge approved two years earlier, but Barrett had stopped making payments after she lost her job.
Barrett had submitted a sworn affidavit of income and property, which spelled out her dependents, bank account balances, debts, assets, and monthly expenses. Barrett wrote that her checking account had $20 in it. Her monthly income was $750 per month, and her expenses were about twice that.
What caught the judge's eye, though, was the amount owed to the hospital.
"It's over a $30,000 balance," Moore said, incredulously. "It has actually doubled."
Though Barrett had made sporadic payments, they were dwarfed by the mountains of interest the hospital tacked onto her account.
It wasn't that she didn't want to pay, Barrett tried to tell the judge, but that she couldn't. She had to stop working to care for her sister, who died of cancer in November.
"You gotta pay," replied Moore tersely. She too is a Christian, and from the bench, she often gives God credit for her journey from humble beginnings in South Memphis to elected office. Barrett began to tell the judge that now that she had a new job, she could pay more reliably, but Moore cut her off.
"That I don't want to hear. … It's your fourth motion. One time, you just didn't show up!" Moore said, as Barrett started coughing — a nervous reaction, she explained later.
"Have a seat, ma'am," said an irritated Moore. "I'm going to think about it for a minute."
Lots of lawsuits and garnishments
Between 2014 and 2018, more than 163,000 debt lawsuits were filed in Shelby County General Sessions Court, primarily by debt buyers, auto loan companies and hospitals.
Only one plaintiff, Midland Funding, which buys unpaid debt, sued more frequently than Methodist. (Midland declined to comment.)
Methodist filed more than 8,300 lawsuits, compared with more than 6,700 filed by competitor Baptist Memorial Health Care and just over 1,900 by Regional One Health, the county's public hospital. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, also headquartered in Memphis, doesn't bill families for care not covered by insurance.
With $2.1 billion in revenue and a health system that includes six hospitals, Methodist leads the market: In 2017, it had the most discharges per year and profits per patient, according to publicly available data analyzed by Definitive Healthcare, an analytics company. Methodist says it has "a hospital in all four quadrants of the greater Memphis area, unparalleled by any other healthcare provider in our region," plus more than 150 outpatient centers, clinics and physician practices.
The number of lawsuits Methodist files isn't out of proportion to its size, at least compared to Baptist or Regional One. But where it does stand out is the share of cases in which it seeks a wage garnishment order, an action that can upend the lives of low-wage defendants.
A court-ordered garnishment requires that the debtor's employer send to the court 25% of a worker's after-tax income, minus basic living expenses and a tiny deduction for children under 15. The court then sends that payment to the creditor.
Methodist secured garnishment orders in 46% of cases filed from 2014 through 2018, compared with 36% at Regional One and 20% at Baptist, according to an analysis of court records by MLK50 and ProPublica. It is unclear what explains this difference.
Turning to the legal system to settle debts is a choice, not a mandate, said Jenifer Bosco, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, a nonprofit focusing on consumer law for low-income and other disadvantaged people. "A lot of medical debts are just handled through the collections process," she said. "Certainly some end up in court, but it seems like this hospital is especially aggressive."
Methodist's Dogged Pursuit of the Poor
Barrett has worked only low-wage jobs, be it cleaning medical offices or sorting packages at FedEx's largest distribution facility, known as the hub.
But for the last nine years, Methodist has been on Barrett's trail, following her from one low-wage job to another.
To successfully garnish a debtor's paycheck, Methodist, like all creditors, has to clear two hurdles. First, the hospital needs to know where the person works, since garnishment requires the employer's cooperation.
Next, the debtor must have enough after-tax income to clear the law's earnings exemption, which protects $217.50 per week of a debtor's after-tax income – the equivalent of 30 hours at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
At first, the hospital couldn't figure out where Barrett worked. It filed garnishment attempts at FedEx and then at Sodexo, which provides housekeeping and other services for corporations, only to learn from the companies that Barrett hadn't worked there in years.
By September 2011, Barrett was working at T.J.Maxx, tagging clothes headed for the clearance racks. Methodist served her employer with a garnishment attempt, only to run into the second hurdle: She often didn't make enough to have her pay garnished.
Time and again over the next six years, the hospital tried to garnish Barrett's pay. Sometimes it succeeded, once collecting $3.67. Other times it failed. Four times, T.J.Maxx returned the garnishment order to the court, marking "Net Earnings Less Than Exemptions."
While state law spares the poorest debtors from wage garnishment, it doesn't stop creditors from adding interest to the underlying debt.
Methodist knew that Barrett was a low-income worker, yet it added interest to her account seven times, in amounts ranging from $46 to $7,340.
Charging that much interest to a low-income patient is "unconscionable," said Fred Morton, a retired minister of Christ United Methodist Church in East Memphis.
"That's a 21st-century version of slavery," said Morton, who serves on the economic justice committee for MICAH, a coalition of community and faith-based organizations. "That kind of indebtedness. … That's horrible to me."
By 2017, Barrett had moved in with a friend and her mother, both amputees, and cared for them in exchange for a place to stay.
In April of that year, Barrett filed a motion to stop the wage garnishment and offered to pay $40 per month. She told the court her income was $800 per month.
The judge agreed, but then Barrett's sister, who was unmarried and never had children, fell ill. When Barrett stopped working to care for her, she fell behind on her payments.
"I went and borrowed money through those payday loans to make those payments," she said. "It was just a struggle for me."
Every 30 days, she pays $60 to renew the $300 loan, at an effective annual interest rate of more than 240%.
Financial Assistance Required, but Is It Offered?
The Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's signature health care legislation, is best known for expanding access to health insurance coverage. But it also imposed new requirements on nonprofit hospitals, namely that they have charity care policies and share them with patients.
But the rules do not specify how generous those policies must be — and Methodist is among the least generous in the state, according to MLK50-ProPublica's review of policies at Tennessee nonprofit hospitals.
While dozens of hospitals offer free or highly discounted care that helps shield low- and middle-income patients, regardless of insurance status, from crushing debt, Methodist does not.
That's especially problematic for people with high-deductible health insurance plans, defined by the IRS as those with deductibles over $1,350 for an individual and over $2,700 for a family. The number of adults with employer-based, high-deductible health insurance nearly tripled from 2007 through 2017, according to a 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Methodist said it is required by insurers to collect copayments and deductibles. That said, the hospital added: "We know some insured patients have high copays and deductibles that place a financial burden on the patient. As a mission-driven organization, we will work with these patients seeking assistance."
Methodist's financial assistance policy is outdated, said Michele Johnson, executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, which advocates for expanded health care access.
"Methodist's rules were written at a time when there was just not this epidemic of underinsured people in the state," Johnson said. "The reality has changed faster than their policy has changed."
Methodist said it offers 0% interest payment plans for insured and uninsured patients who have trouble paying their bills, but only offers those before court action commences. Methodist also noted that it provides an automatic 70% discount it provides to those who identify as uninsured and the free care to patients at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, which for a single adult would be just over $15,600. Uninsured patients who earn more than that, but less than twice the poverty limit, are also eligible for discounts.
"We are committed to working with all patients who are struggling with medical expenses. Our desire is to work with patients early in the process to set up a payment plan that meets their individual need," the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital's contentions, however, do not match the text of its financial assistance, billing and collections policies or the frequently asked billing questions on the hospital's website. None of those mention interest-free payment plans.
Methodist, like its peers, also gets assistance from the state of Tennessee to help offset its costs for providing uncompensated care. In the first three months of 2019, the state gave more than $31 million to qualifying hospitals. Of that, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare's hospitals received nearly $5 million, according to a quarterly report submitted to the Tennessee General Assembly.
For years, nonprofit hospitals that sue hundreds of patients have been the subject of investigative reports and lawmakers' scrutiny.
A 2014 ProPublica report on Mosaic Life Care (formerly Heartland Regional Medical Center) in Missouri revealed that the small hospital filed 11,000 lawsuits over a five-year period. Following the story and a Senate investigation led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Mosaic rewrote its financial assistance policies and erased nearly $17 million of patients' debt.
"We were doing the medically right thing for the person, but on the financial responsibility part, we were doing the wrong thing," Dr. Mark Laney, president, and CEO of Mosaic, told the St. Joseph News-Press at the time.
Aggressive debt collection practices are "contrary to the philosophy behind tax exemption," Grassley wrote in a September 2017 op-ed for the medical and science news outlet Stat.
"Such hospitals seem to forget that tax exemption is a privilege, not a right. In addition to withholding financial assistance to low-income patients, they give top executives salaries on par with their for-profit counterparts."
In 2017, Methodist paid its president and CEO, Dr. Michael Ugwueke, $1.6 million in total compensation. That same year, Gary Shorb, the hospital's CEO from 2001 to 2016, earned more than $1.2 million for serving as Ugwueke's adviser. In 2018, the hospital brought in $86 million more than it spent, according to an end-of-year revenue bond disclosure statement.
Methodist Sends a Defendant in Circles
Across the country, medical debt is common, but it falls hardest on nonwhite residents and people who live in the South, according to the Debt in America report released by the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.
In Shelby County, twice as many nonwhite county residents have medical debt in collections as white residents — 23% compared with 11%.
More than half the county's residents are African Americans, as were more than 90% of Methodist's defendants observed by a reporter in court this year.
That includes Raquel Nelson, who appeared in court the same morning as Barrett.
Nelson's employer-provided health insurance covered the majority of a hospital bill for her 2016 hysterectomy, but she still owes $2,200.
This was not the first time Nelson had been a defendant. Methodist sued her in 2013 for $850 in hospital bills for her children, who are now grown. (She has since paid off that debt.) Three years ago, Baptist sued her for $5,000 after an overnight stay for chest pains. She's paying $50 a month.
Nelson, 43, doesn't regret choosing a career in social services, although her bachelor's and master's degrees left her with $100,000 in student loans, which are in deferment.
Prescriptions to treat chronic illnesses including hypothyroidism, plus supplies for a machine to treat sleep apnea, total more than $200 a month.
When money is tight, Nelson pays just enough on her utility bill to keep the lights on. Her June utility bill was more than $500, and about $200 is the past due amount.
She can't bring herself to keep a written budget. "If I do, it'll be frightening because I'll be thinking, 'How am I even surviving?'"
When a process server handed her the warrant on Dec. 4, stating she'd been sued by Methodist, he also gave her a card to call Consolidated Recovery Systems, a subsidiary of Revenue Assurance Professionals, the licensed debt collection agency owned by Methodist. She called the hospital's collection agency and was told that if she didn't pay $175 per month, she could meet them in court.
So Nelson went to court, where she asked the hospital to send her an itemized bill, so she could verify the debt was hers.
She returned to court in April, agreed the debt was hers and the next week filed a motion to pay $75 a month, the same amount she'd offered the collection agency.
In May, Nelson was back in court, this time before Judge John Donald. "I'm nervous," she whispered, as Donald raced through the cases.
She stood when the judge called her name. Donald asked Methodist's attorney if $75 a month would be acceptable.
"That's fine, your honor," said Dewun Settle, one of two attorneys Methodist has hired to represent the hospital in court.
"You're free to go," Donald said, waving Nelson toward the door.
Outside the courtroom, Nelson tallied her costs, including time off work, parking fees for three trips to court and a $27 filing fee all for Methodist's lawyers to agree to the same monthly payment the hospital's collection agency refused.
"They were just being greedy," she said.
A Familiar Rhythm
Methodist's attorney's tag team the cases. Settle presents the cases to the judge. R. Alan Pritchard moves between the courtroom and the hallway, where he negotiates payment plans with defendants. Attorney's fees add 33% to the initial hospital bill in each case, turning a $2,000 bill into a $2,660 lawsuit, before court fees and interest.
The judges' rulings will follow the defendants for months, years, even decades. But Settle doesn't need to say much for the judge to be the hospital's heavy.
He usually asks for more than the defendant offered, and then the judges almost always lean on the defendant.
In February, Judge Deborah Henderson was unmoved as a charter school employee explained that student loans and caring for her ailing mother kept her from paying any more than $40 per month.
"It is admirable that you are helping your disabled mom, but there is a difference between moral responsibility and legal responsibility," Henderson said. "This debt is your legal obligation," she said, before ordering the educator to pay $75 per month.
The defendant left the courtroom in tears.
Even when a defendant complies with a court order and pays the amount agreed and on time, Methodist often seeks more.
That's what happened to a FedEx worker and mother of two the hospital summoned to court in April.
Court records show she'd made her $50 per month payments as scheduled for the past year. The sworn affidavit detailing her finances showed that her monthly expenses were $170 more than her income.
Judge Lonnie Thompson, elected in 1998, had these documents before him as he listened to Settle argue that the mother should pay more.
"She is paying on time," Settle allowed. "We're seeking an increase for $100 a month so the balance won't continue to increase."
The hospital had added more than $400 since September, raising the defendant's debt to nearly $7,000.
Thompson turned to the defendant. "Can you pay $75?"
"My house is in foreclosure right now," she replied.
Thompson pressed her and the defendant grew frustrated.
"I can't agree to it if I can't pay," the defendant said.
"If I sign the order," Thompson said sternly, "you have to pay it."
"I mean, I don't have it to pay," she replied.
Thompson relented and agreed to let her continue paying $50 a month. Three weeks later, she filed for bankruptcy.
Pritchard and Settle referred questions to Methodist. Henderson and Thompson did not return emails seeking comment.
If a defendant had an attorney, the lawyer might be able to negotiate a discount on the debt or maybe a reduction in the attorney's fees.
Without counsel, defendants navigate the system on their own, often poorly. When a judge asked one defendant if she was represented by counsel, the defendant pointed to Pritchard, who shook his head.
Of 80 cases on the Jan. 16 docket, only one defendant was represented by a lawyer.
Neither the judge nor the court staffers can give legal advice.
"I was telling my daughter, and she was saying, 'You need to talk to somebody,'" Barrett recalled. She thought about going to a free legal clinic offered by Memphis Area Legal Services, she said, "but when you're the only sole support in your household, you can't just take off days."
When the Tennessee Justice Center gets the rare call from a patient drowning in hospital bills, Johnson or her staff will call their contacts at that hospital.
"We'll say, 'This is a really heartbreaking story,' and a lot of times they'll just write the bill off," she said. "I don't know if that's because they know that we know our way to the media, but we don't necessarily threaten that. But they see us on the news a lot."
Constrained by the Law
Before she ran for Shelby County General Sessions Court judge in 1998, Moore was a public defender trying capital cases. She was starting to get burned out, but she didn't want to leave public service.
She won that election and the two since.
Moore has an easy rapport with attorneys Settle and Pritchard. And she tries to maintain a firm, but friendly demeanor with defendants.
In late May, she told a courtroom packed with defendants that she'd been where they are: Sued by creditors and having her wages garnished.
It was back in the 1980s, Moore said during an interview in her chambers, when she was a new attorney with the public defender's office.
"I had a husband who walked off, left me with the kids, stopped paying child support and kept it moving. And I struggled," she said.
She filed for bankruptcy in 1995.
Her empathy surfaces on her Facebook page, where she has posted articles about a subprime auto lender and an essay about the insecurity of a life in poverty.
Years ago, she took a stand when she heard cases involving car lenders who charged what she saw as exorbitant interest rates.
"I would strike it out and say: '32%? That is unconscionable.' That's the legal word you can use to say, 'I ain't doing it,'" she said.
In response, the creditors' lawyers sent letters reminding her that the law allowed them to charge the contractual interest rate.
"I just stopped striking it out because there was really no gray area with that. The law said this is what it is."
Moore said she can't be — and isn't — swayed by the relative power of the parties involved, even when the plaintiff is a massive, profitable health care system and the defendants are often poor and without counsel. "If you start factoring that in, then you become biased."
In April, Moore heard the case of a mother of three who owed more than $3,000. In her slow pay motion, the defendant proposed paying $30 per month.
Moore turned to Settle. "What do y'all need on that?" she asked.
At least $200 a month, Settle replied.
"I can't do $200," said the defendant, who works at a warehouse.
Moore then turned to the defendant's sworn affidavit of income and property. The mother's $2,000 monthly income left her $1,300 in the red.
Moore zeroed in on the ages of her sons (11, 17 and 19) and the defendant's sizable clothing allowance and food budget. They were old enough, Moore reasoned, to sacrifice a little so their mother could pay more.
The 11-year-old is autistic, nonverbal, wears diapers and can only eat pureed foods, the mother told the judge. Moore shared that an elderly relative was on a similar diet, but she didn't cut the defendant a break.
"Even with what you told me, I think you can do $100," she said, before signing a court order directing the defendant to pay $130 per month.
On the same morning, Barrett and Nelson were in court, a Shelby County Schools kindergarten teacher came to confront a $6,800 debt.
Settle asked for $140 per month. The teacher countered with $50 a month, but the judge seemed offended.
"I won't even consider it," Moore said. The teacher's husband, who'd accompanied his wife to court, spoke up, but Moore cut him off.
"You married a grown-ass woman," Moore snapped.
"Please don't curse," the teacher said.
"I apologize," Moore said quickly. "It's just frustrating."
Taped to a door in the judge's chambers is a prayer that says in part: "Help me to treat others today as I desire to be treated."
She said she reads it every time she heads to the bench.
"I want to do and say what is right and pleasing to God because sometimes these folk, honey, they'll make you want to cuss," she said.
Debt That Will Follow Her to the Grave
After Moore heard the rest of the cases on the docket that January day, she called Barrett's name again.
Barrett stood, and Settle asked the judge to set her payments at $100 a month.
The judge agreed, denying Barrett's motion to pay $40 per month.
"This is going to be my last time setting this up," Moore said sternly. "You gone be paying on this for many, many months to come."
Months later, Barrett was still bothered by the outcome.
"If you know I can't pay $40, why you think I can pay $100?" Barrett said.
If she'd had a chance, she would have told the judge she was perpetually late on her utility bill and sometimes, she's had to let her car insurance lapse because she can't afford it. "She doesn't take but a few seconds to make that sentence. It was just moving them in and moving them out. They don't have no kind of empathy for people."
Between February and May, Barrett managed to make her payments on time, by shorting other bills and relying on payday loans. But this month, she missed her payment due date.
If Methodist doesn't add any interest to Barrett's debt and she pays as ordered, she will pay it off in 330 months.
She will be 90 years old.
Not long after her day in court, Barrett filed her 2018 taxes.
She made $13,800.
"It's in the hands of God now," she said. "There's only so much I can do."
This article was produced in partnership with MLK50, which is a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network.


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Balance Disorders
Balance is something that many people take for granted for the bulk of their life. Early on, as young infants are first learning how to become toddlers, we cheer and celebrate as they first learn to maintain their balance. We focus on learning how to develop balance in a chair, and on a bicycle. Eventually, as life moves forward, balance becomes something a bit less reliable. We need to work to stay balanced and able to remain on our own two feet. It is often later in life when balance begins to falter, that we realize just how much we took the ability to stand on our own two feet without much effort or difficulty far too much for granted.
Loss of balance will happen to even the strongest of individuals. For some, this means spending time in a wheelchair or requiring a walking stick to help move around. For others, it is merely a short-term problem that develops following an injury. Still, for some, balance issues develop as a result of a neurological concern, as is the case with balance disorders. Issues like vertigo can prevent you from ever feeling truly stable on your feet. When this occurs, it is important to focus on regaining your balance by concentrating on improving your gait.
Bad falls are a constant worry for seniors and others who have physical challenges. And those worries aren't unfounded. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and serious health problems in the United States.
Balance Therapy
The pace and style with which you walk are referred to as your gait. When you need to improve your walking skills, it is important to look into gait training. This is something that many people have to do after a foot or leg injury, but it is also very common among athletes. Runners especially use gait training as a way to improve their leg and foot movement to increase stability and pace while running. Your gait and your ability to maintain balance while moving are interrelated—you can't master one without focusing on the other. Physical therapy helps you master these skills to decrease your risk of injury, while at the same time increasing your confidence and independence.
There are several factors that may impact your ability to maintain balance. One of which is muscle atrophy and reflexes. In some situations, it isn't an injury that holds you back from being able to move easily, but instead chronic weakness that may have developed as you recovered from an injury, or just as a result of the aging process. For many, loss of balance stems from the feeling of "running out of steam." The increased fatigue means that you are more likely to injure yourself, creating a negative feedback loop of imbalance. Slow reflexes, poor posture, and fatigue can all make moving around far more difficult than it really is.
Your ability to maintain balance is dependent on far more than a pair of healthy feet and quality shoes. Your ability to balance is connected to much of your nervous system, and beyond. Each of the following body parts play a role in your ability to stay balanced:
- Inner ears
- Eyes
- Joints
- Muscles
- Nervous system
- Cognitive functions
Therapy that improves gait and balance works with all of these systems to keep them functioning in harmony.
Gait and balance training have a range of benefits, with avoiding injuries being at the top of the list. Beyond lessening your chances of falling or feeling dizzy, you're also more likely to feel confident with your footing. In addition, those aches and pains from poor posture are likely to decrease as well.
Physical Therapy for Balance
Physical therapy is the most effective tool for improving balance. Working with an experienced physical therapist can help you to regain your strength and footing by adopting new strategies regarding movement and posture. Targeted exercises can help you feel more confident and aware on your feet, and improved strength to the surrounding muscles will reduce fatigue and thereby lessen your chance of injury via fall.
The first thing to expect when meeting with a physical therapist for balance training is a complete evaluation. You will be asked to walk, and notes will be taken concerning your foot placement, pace, and step style. Potential problems with your strength and posture will be identified, and then a strategy will be developed to determine which exercises will be best for your needs. Simple movements to test balance are also part of the assessment. Together, these basic evaluations point us in the direction of what to focus on in terms of therapy.
Hip and ankle weakness often leads to balance problems, as does poor posture. Strength and flexibility movements can help counteract these problems. These are often as simple as leg lifts while seated in a chair, or "knee marching." We may also have you practice standing on one leg, walking heel-to-toe, or tracking the movement of your thumb with your eyes as you move it in various positions.

subset: commoncrawl


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Army prepares for workforce cuts, but not sequestration specifically
Official says planning for the automatic reductions could be detrimental.
Army Undersecretary Joseph Westphal said Wednesday the service is not planning any contingencies for sequestration and warned the cuts would threaten the Army's stability.
Speaking at an event the Government Executive Media Group hosted, Westphal said any systematic planning for sequestration -- automatic, governmentwide across-the-board cuts set to go into effect on Jan. 2, 2013 -- would create a "self-fulfilling prophecy" toward eliminating programs.
He added even if the cuts do not go into effect, there will be a reduction in the Army's civilian workforce due to outstanding budget constraints and the personnel buildup that resulted from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Now that were going back to a more balanced force," Westphal said, "were going to probably need to reduce our workforce."
He highlighted attrition, reduction in redundancies and a cutback on contractors as ways to decrease the number of Army employees.
The undersecretary discussed how the Army is modernizing and emphasized the need to train and educate its soldiers and civilian workers.
"I think we really have to focus on our people," Westphal said. "They are our tool, they are our instrument, they are our weapons, they are our strength. I think the first thing we have to do as we transition to a smaller force and into a force of a future . . . is we have to invest in these individuals. We have to have the best educated army of any time, any place."
Focusing on educating and training Army personnel will allow the service as a whole to be more adaptable and mission ready, he added.
Part of that adaptability, according to Westphal, requires coordination among all branches of the military and across government.
"We're doing this in concert," he said.
A smarter, slimmer and more integrated workforce, as well as a focus on long-term strategies, will help the Army prepare for any impending event.
"You can't anticipate what a future president will require and what kind of situations will arise," Westphal said. "You have to be ready for any eventual situation in the future."
He added that things could be drastically different in the long term: "Maybe we'll be like starship troopers fighting insects in space."


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The Double-Daring Book for Girls is an even more daring guide to everything from making a raft to learning how to play football to the art of the Japanese Tea ceremony. This second volume, with all new original material, promises to be even more of a daring adventure than the first.
Girls will learn how to surf, get horseback riding tips, make a labyrinth, find out about April Fool's Day history and pranks, how to organize a croquet tournament, find out about cowgirls, the Nobel Prize, being a detective and much more! Just as packed with creative and exciting material as the original, but twice as fun, this audiobook will be beloved by all Daring fans everywhere!


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Global settings
After installing Feedreader Connect Personal Edition (FCPE) open Tools > Feedreader Connect Control Panel and specify global settings.
FCPE has three modules that can be enabled for use:
- Feed Uploader
- Mail Forwarder
- Instant Messaging Gateway.
You have to setup up and enable only these services that you intend to use. Below we will go through all three modules and their setup options.
Feed Uploader
Click on Feed Uploader Settings button to set up Feed Uploader. There are three things that are needed for Feed Uploader to function:
- FTP Server address
- FTP Server username
- FTP Server password
If these fields are not filled in then Feed Uploader will not function.
Mail Forwarder
In Mail Forwarder Settings you can only specify the delay between every sent email. This is good for eliminating potential network load.
You also have to input mail server settings. These settings should be inputed in Tools > Program options > Connection tab.
Instant Messaging Gateway
Instant Messaging Gateway is used for notifying Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger) users about new articles.
Please input Windows Live Messenger username and password under Instant Messaging Gateway settings dialog.
You do not have to change MSN server address. If you delete MSN Server address accidentally then use 220.127.116.11 as data for this field.
Configuring a feed or smartfeed for use with Feedreader Connect
If you have set up all needed modules you can move on to detailed level of configuration.
If you click on feed name with right mouse button then you will see new menu item "Feedreader Connect Options" under every feed. From here you can enable or disable all Feedreader Connect modules on per feed basis.
In "Feedreader Connect options" you will see three tabs – one for every module. In next sections we will talk about possible configuration options for each module.
Feed Uploader settings
Enable Feed Uploader – enable or disable Feed Uploader
Transform XML – by default Feedreader outputs all data in XML format. If you'd like to output data as HTML (or your own format) then choose stylesheet that Feedreader will use for transforming XML formated data to your format. If you would like to get output as HTML formated web page then choose email.xsl as stylesheet.
Folder on server – by default Feedreader will upload files to your home directory in server. Here you can specify alternate directory. For example inputing public_html/feedreader will upload your data to feedreader folder under public_html folder
Filename on server – here you can name the uploaded file in FTP server.
Number of articles to show – specify how many articles you'd like to see in your uploaded file.
Instant Messaging Settings
Enable Instant Messaging Gateway – Enable or disable IM Gateway
Recipients – input 1-10 recipients separated by ",". In DEMO mode FCPE will only accept one recipient. Make sure that all recipients also add sender MSN address to friends list.
Message content – You can specify how message looks like. Use variables and free text to generate customized MSN message. For example message can look like ON %date %filtername SAYS that "%articletitle"
Mail Forwarder Settings
Enable Mail Forwarder – Enable or disable Mail Forwarder
Recipients – input 1-10 recipients separated by ",". In DEMO mode FCPE will only accept one recipient. Make sure that all recipients also add sender MSN address to friends list.
Mail subject – You can specify how mail subject looks like. Use variables and free text to generate customized mail subject. For example subject can look like ON %date %filtername SAYS that "%articletitle"
Transform XML with stylesheet – By default Feedreader sends out email with XML formated content. If you want to produce human readable email message, then please choose email.xsl as stylesheet.
Send articles as attachments – If you enable this option then message content will be attached to email message instead of displaying it inline.
Attachment file extension – If "send articles as attachments" is enabled then you should also input attachment extension. If you are using XML formated attachments then "xml" is ok, if you are transforming XML to HTML then extension should be "htm".
Event viewer
You can always monitor FCPE from "Event viewer" panel under Tools > Feedreader Connect Control Panel. Event viewer displays all sent articles, uploaded web pages, and sent instant messages.
Triggering Feed Upload
If you have configured some feed or smartfeed to be uploaded with Feed Uploader then you can trigger feed upload manually from feed context menu.


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Build income on your own terms with Kyäni's business opportunity!
We get what you're up against.
Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck? At Kyäni, we understand the frustration that comes with balancing the demands of work and home life and wondering how to cover it all. Typical expenses that plague today's households include:
Rising Cost of Living
Stagnant Wages
High Cost of Education
Personal Debt
Huge Insurance Premiums
What's in it for me?
Kyäni's unique business opportunity provides a solid partnership and valuable tools and training you need to start your own side hustle. Our Business Partners enjoy the freedom of working when and how they choose.
Just imagine:
Setting your own schedule
Flexibility on when, where and how much you work
Helping others feel their best
Building a team of
like-minded partners
Live life on your own terms
Kyäni offers several ways to earn a supplemental income centered around helping others take control of their wellness and nutrition.
The more sales you and your team generate, the more you earn!
The process is simple:
We believe in a three-step approach to finding success with your Kyäni business. With Kyäni's unparalleled wellness products as your foundation, you'll be positioned to help those around you discover the Healthy Living lifestyle, while continually learning from your team and mentors. Build your business at the pace you choose through consistent, daily actions.
Follow your team and mentors
Be consistent with daily business building activities
Partner with Kyäni today
Good nutrition is at the core of your quality of life. Kyäni has developed a simple, yet extraordinary nutritional system that has helped hundreds of thousands around the world to achieve optimal wellness.
The noticeable benefits that people experience continue to help enlarge Kyäni's loyal Customer base, which represents a unique and potentially lucrative business opportunity for those who partner with Kyäni.
As a Business Partner, you can feel confident that you're providing high-quality products that can enhance lives–including yours! This helps Kyäni to attract the very best business partners. And because we want you to succeed, we continue to innovate with new products, business tools, and the training you need to build a thriving business.
Follow your team
and mentor
What is the key to a successful business? Besides having Kyäni as your business partner, you also need someone who has history and experience, offers new perspectives, and someone to challenge and follow up with you.
Having a mentor and belonging to a team have proven to be great advantages to those who are starting businesses. Your mentor might be the person who sponsored you, or another leader in your team. Either way, no one should be left alone to reinvent the wheel.
Your mentor and team can help you duplicate the success that they've achieved, and help you to accomplish your business goals. If you follow the system and put in the work, you can potentially generate more income.
Be consistent with daily business building activities
Enjoy the freedom of working your own hours and spending time on the things that really matter—family, friends, and good health. As a society, we sometimes neglect the things that matter most. Our physical/mental health, relationships with friends and family, and time to actually live.
Whatever the time of day, if you're consistent with daily business-building activities, you can earn the income you're looking for and enjoy the flexibility of entrepreneurship. With a small investment and focused work, you can own your business without your business owning you. The time is now. Be a part of the global Healthy Living movement. Partner with Kyäni today!
NAME: Catalina G.
RANK: Sapphire
Catalina Grija needed coffee to stay energized every day before using the Kyäni products. After a week of taking the products, she realized she didn't need the coffee anymore. Now she has sustained energy throughout the day and wakes up feeling rested! ¹
As a physician, this opened her eyes to the power of nutrition to support her patients' health. Her passion for medicine, coupled with nutrition, enabled her to move to Internal Medicine, where she empowers people to live healthier lives every day.
NAME: Mekan M.
RANK: Emerald
Mekan has over 800 Business Partners in 16 different countries. But the numbers aren't what bring him fulfillment.
He understands that when you invite someone to join Kyäni, you aren't asking for something from them. You're giving them better wellness and more opportunities to enjoy life! He teaches his team to live by this concept and continues to see those blessings come to pass in their lives.
All he uses are his belief in the Kyäni Opportunity, an internet connection, and his laptop, and he achieves self-fulfillment every day helping his team grow!
NAME: Daniel S.
RANK: Jade
Charity and family are important values for the Schwab family. Daniel and his wife have supported the Huntsman Cancer Foundation for over 10 years. The thought of simply writing a donation check, instead of asking friends and family for donations and selling fundraiser cards to raise money, brings tears to his eyes. Because of their Kyäni Business, they can do just that.
They also get to spend less time working and more time loving their children. They get to travel as a family, giving their kids some of the experiences they never had.
Download our free PDF, "Five Keys to Financial Peace."
1Kyäni Sunrise contains Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 which contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Kyäni Nitro Xtreme contains Niacin which contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Kyäni FIT20 contains Magnesium which contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Kyäni ON contains Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 which contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.


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'Lotus #49'
courtesy of 'Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie'
The shops lining M Street and Wisconsin Avenue have had a turbulent year. We've lost American Eagle, Commander Salamander, Up Against The Wall, FYE, Smith and Hawken, Nathan's, etc. However, we have gained North Face, True Religion Jeans, Arisu, etc. A full survey from late January of the closings and openings can be found at Georgetownmetropolitan.com.
Now comes word from Georgetown blogger Carol Joynt that more stores are closed or in peril. According the Joynt, Benneton has already shuttered, Sisley is soon to follow and the Aldo's "remodeling" is suspect.


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Below are the events being hosted by the community. [freespace] is participant driven and you can host your event at [freespace] by submitting and event here.
[freespace] is open from noon-8PM Tuesday – Friday and noon-5PM Saturday and Sunday, closed on Monday. Come by anytime and use the space to unleash your creativity!
- Name:


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When completed in 2016, the West Texas solar plant will be the largest in Texas.
Austin Energy, the Texas capital city's electricity provider, announced May 15 that it has awarded a contract to Recurrent Energy, a San Francisco-based solar project developer, to build a 150 MW solar power facility in West Texas. The power will be delivered to Austin Energy pursuant to a 20-year purchase agreement.
When the plant is completed in 2016, it will be Texas' largest single solar power plant.
"Recurrent Energy, which is well-established nationally, will construct a West Texas solar plant to provide 150 megawatts of power at a competitive rate," said Larry Weis, Austin Energy's general manager. "This one action gives us a major step forward in meeting the Austin City Council's goal of acquiring 200 megawatts of solar energy while keeping rates in line with affordability goals. Austin Energy's commitment to renewable power began in the 1990s, when it signed up to take power from the state's first commercial wind plant. We have learned a lot about how to incorporate renewable power into our overall portfolio."
"The Texas market represents one of the most exciting opportunities for the solar industry," said Arno Harris, chairman and CEO of Recurrent Energy. "The industry's growing scale and decreasing costs are enabling us to successfully compete against conventional energy in deregulated markets like ERCOT. This award from Austin Energy further proves solar's ability to move into the mainstream energy mix."
Austin Energy is the nation's eighth largest publicly owned electric utility.
This free educational webinar will provide a detailed process for climate-driven "pre-response" in a variety of key areas including: Supply Chain Disruptions, Employee Safety and Productivity, Regulatory and Compliance Risks …and many more areas.


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Portable toilet rentals in Austin are an incredibly convenient option whether you are hosting an event or have workers out in the field for hours on end. Access to supplemental porta potties on site (in addition to existing facilities) can be a lifesaver when you have more guests than usual or you don't want people trudging through your home or building during an event. Aptera makes renting portable toilets in Austin, Pflugerville and Manor even more convenient than managing heavy traffic to and from onsite private restrooms.
Enter Your Zip Code for Pricing
For most people in Travis County a portable toilet isn't their first choice when they need to use the restroom. But they are a necessity during outdoor festivals, concerts, marathons and more, so it will help if you know the best portable toilet companies in Austin, what type/size of toilets they can deliver, their daily/week/monthly rental rates, their reputation and more. We have done to legwork to take out the guesswork involved when you rent a porta potty or restroom trailer in Austin. At Aptera we speak with every single partner we work with to ensure quality customer service and that their reviews are up to par.
There are an incredible number of options for portable toilet and restroom trailer rental in Austin, Pflugerville and Manor, ranging for basic and small to large with various amenities. Choose from the following options:
Standard porta potties are only large enough for a single person to use the restroom at one time. While sizes vary slightly, a standard portable toilet in Travis County is typically 35 square inches.
*Note that the relatively tight squeeze inside the most basic portable toilets can make it difficult for larger people, or those with less mobility.
Options for basic units vary, starting with single, non-flushing toilet. Upgrades available include a flushing toilet (requires more space to support a large tank of water to be used for flushing), a separate urinal, toilet seat covers, hand sanitizer, or a hand washing station. Additionally, they often include toilet paper the length of the rental period.
A standard portable toilet most often has a 70 gallon tank attached, which is adequate for an event with 50 guests which lasts no more than four hours. (if you are serving alcohol at your event prepare for 25% more usage of the units as a rule of thumb) Porta potty companies in Austin, Pflugerville, Manor and Spicewood will usually service the units once per week if you are renting for ten days or more. For a frame of reference a single toilet can be used by a crew of ten individuals for a typical forty hour work week.
While some variation in price does exist across Travis County, the cost of renting a standard portable toilet is typically fairly similar from company to company.
A standard, non-flushing unit costs between $50-$120 for a one day toilet rental in Austin. For a monthly rental, without weekly service, the cost is between $130-$350.
The premium for a standard, flushing portable toilet is about 30% to 50%. For a monthly rental, without weekly service, the costs are between $310-$550 for a month. *note that delivery fees can vary widely, make sure that this cost is included in your quote.
For events with guests requiring wheelchair accessible options, most rental companies have an ADA Compliant Portable Restroom available. These units have wider doors, larger interiors, and handrails for safety. While sizes vary, a handicap accessible portable restroom is typically between 62 and 77 square inches. Some cheaper units are "handicap accessible" but not ADA compliant. ADA compliant restroom trailers in Austin are slightly larger and cost more, but they will pass all safety codes and more importantly better serve the needs of your disabled guests.
Some portable toilet options can be connected to the main sewer line for a full flushing and better smelling experience. These toilets are best suited for long term rentals such as a construction site where work may continue for months, as the process of connecting the main sewer line takes some planning and cost a little more. However, short term expenses can be mitigated by the reduced need for servicing portable toilets as often. Pro Tip: this can be a point of leverage when negotiating on a long term project.
Upscale events demand upscale bathroom options, and restroom trailers get the job done every time. As always, you have plenty of options:
Before renting a porta potty in Austin, there a few questions you may want to ask to avoid any surprises and ensure your expectations are met. Remember that some companies try to deliver the minimum level of service and quality of toilet to drive the cost down, while others cater to those who want a nicer experience. It is up to you to communicate your needs and find the right match for your company.
It is important to know ahead of time if your rental will include toilet paper, hand sanitizer, or cleaning services, whether or not there will be a hand washing station, and what the delivery and service fee is. Or do they charge extra to clean out the porta potty if it is a multi-month rental?
Some companies may charge an additional fee for delivery and pick up, plan ahead by asking about the delivery cost before signing a rental agreement.
Certain seasons (summer!) are busier than others, and some companies may require you to place a deposit in advance to secure porta potties in advance.
It is important that portable toilet rental companies carry a minimum of liability insurance which protects renters in case of theft, damage, injury, or other unplanned events.
If you are renting for over a week, make sure to check with your provider to see how often they will be servicing the unit.
If you are renting a portable toilet, be sure to check if having your toilet serviced is included in the rental cost.
For weekend events, you may need to be ready to accept delivery on a Friday, and pickup on a Monday.
Additional resources:
American Restroom Association - www.americanrestroom.org
Portable Sanitation Association International - www.psai.org
Affordable Portable Toilets Austin
3755 S Capital Of Texas Hwy Ste 190Quickcan Portable Toilets Austin
210 Guadalupe StCleanbox Porta Potty Rental
713 E 6th StCrenshaw Services
Po Box 685018Crenshaw Services, Llc/austin Outhouse
Po Box 685018Express Portable Toilets Austin
1013 Blanco StEasy Porta Potty Rental Austin
1211 Baylor StAustin Outhouse
5910 Johnny Morris RdHappy Plop
8411 Galeana Trace CvEric Harold Throne
1313 Nova CtAustin special event portable toilet costs $155, porta potty rental costs $172.
Three Bros Porta Potty Rental
Sorento 4707 Portillo WayPflugerville special event portable toilet costs $174, porta potty rental costs $194.
Manor special event portable toilet costs $177, porta potty rental costs $198.
Spicewood special event portable toilet costs $155, porta potty rental costs $173.
Del Valle special event portable toilet costs $168, porta potty rental costs $187.
Manchaca special event portable toilet costs $169, porta potty rental costs $188.
Affordable Portable Toilets Austin
3755 S Capital Of Texas Hwy Ste 190Quickcan Portable Toilets Austin
210 Guadalupe StCleanbox Porta Potty Rental
713 E 6th StCrenshaw Services
Po Box 685018Crenshaw Services, Llc/austin Outhouse
Po Box 685018Express Portable Toilets Austin
1013 Blanco StEasy Porta Potty Rental Austin
1211 Baylor StAustin Outhouse
5910 Johnny Morris RdHappy Plop
8411 Galeana Trace CvEric Harold Throne
1313 Nova CtThree Bros Porta Potty Rental
Sorento 4707 Portillo WayCity | Avg. Cost | Low Cost | High Cost |
Austin | $155 | $127 | $200 |
Del Valle | $168 | $115 | $254 |
Manchaca | $169 | $126 | $248 |
Manor | $177 | $126 | $201 |
Pflugerville | $174 | $131 | $239 |
Spicewood | $155 | $105 | $229 |
City | Avg. Cost | Low Cost | High Cost |
Austin | $172 | $160 | $200 |
Del Valle | $187 | $146 | $254 |
Manchaca | $188 | $159 | $248 |
Manor | $198 | $159 | $201 |
Pflugerville | $194 | $165 | $239 |
Spicewood | $173 | $132 | $229 |
City | Avg. Cost | Low Cost | High Cost |
Austin | $752 | $766 | $1,332 |
Del Valle | $814 | $698 | $1,692 |
Manchaca | $820 | $764 | $1,656 |
Manor | $861 | $762 | $1,340 |
Pflugerville | $846 | $789 | $1,592 |
Spicewood | $755 | $634 | $1,529 |


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Corsair upgraded their Vengeance line of products with the Vengeance K95 Gaming Keyboard, Vengeance M95 and M65 mice, Vengeance MM600 Gaming Mat, and driver enhancements for the Vengeance 200 Wireless Gaming Headset.
Vengeance K95 Gaming Keyboard
Courtesy of Corsair
The Vengeance K95 Gaming Keyboard is an evolutionary step in the growth of Corsair's award-winning keyboard line. Corsair used the K90 keyboard as a foundation, and added a brushed-aluminum chassis and Cherry MX key mechanical switches on all keys. Additionally, the K95 keyboard features 18 programmable macro keys and a 1ms reporting rate.
Courtesy of Corsair
Corsair further enhanced the original K90's design by added individually back-lit keys with adjustable light intensity. The keyboard back-lighting can be macro-controlled and is adjustable to four pre-set levels.
The Vengeance K95 Gaming Keyboard will be available at a retailer near you in January at an MSRP of $149.99.
The Vengeance Gaming Mouse – Enhanced
Building on a successful design, Corsair pushed the envelope with the Vengeance M95 and M65 Gaming Mice. Both are encased in stylishly designed uni-body aluminum chassis and feature the Avago Technologies ADNS-9800 LaserStream™ gaming sensor. With this sensor, both mice boast a maximum tracking resolution of 8200 DPI more than enough to defeat any electronic foe.
Vengeance M95 Gaming Mouse
Courtesy of Corsair
The Vengeance M95 Gaming Mouse has been fully optimized for MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) gamers with 15 intuitively placed, programmable buttons. Further, the M95's on-board memory can store up to six macro profiles.
Courtesy of Corsair
The M95 Gaming Mouse also includes a fully back-lit mouse-wheel house area and back-lit buttons. The Vengeance M95 is available in both Gunmetal Black and Arctic White colors.
The Vengeance M95 Gaming Mouse will be available at a retailer near you in January at an MSRP of $79.99.
Vengeance M65 Gaming Mouse
Courtesy of Corsair
The Vengeance M65 Gaming Mouse was designed with FPS (First Person Shooter) gamers in mind with a programmable Sniper button, instantly adjustable DPI, and adjustable center of gravity. The Sniper button is the red thumb button on the left side of the mouse, placed for easy access for instant toggle action.
Courtesy of Corsair
Courtesy of Corsair
Similar to the M95, the M65 Gaming Mouse includes a fully back-lit mouse-wheel house area and back-lit buttons. The Vengeance M65 is available in Gunmetal Black, Military Green, and Arctic White colors.
The Vengeance M65 Gaming Mouse will be available at a retailer near you in January at an MSRP of $69.99.
Vengeance MM600 Dual-sided Gaming Mat
Corsair designed the MM600 Dual-side Gaming Mat to appeal to many types of gamers. One side of the mat has a more textured design for superior mouse control, while the other side is a smooth texture for high-speed gliding. The MM600 is designed with a 3mm piece of aircraft-grade aluminum at its heart to provide a rigid surface and is encased in a specially designed polymer for superior performance and longevity. Additionally, Corsair includes non-slip rubber corners on the mat so that the surface stays in place during those critical fragging moments.
The Vengeance MM600 Dual-sided Gaming Mat will be available at a retailer near you in January at an MSRP of $39.99.
Vengeance 2000 Wireless Gaming Headset Driver Update
To further enhance you audio gaming experience, Corsair will be releasing driver support for the Dolby 2.0 Headphone spec on the Vengeance 2000 Wireless Gaming Headset series. With this updated support, the Vengeance 2000 series will fully support audio delivery in full 7.1-channel surround sound. Corsair expects to release this update sometime in February.
Press release after the break.
PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.
Follow all of our coverage of the show at https://pcper.com/ces!
Next-Gen Corsair Vengeance Gaming Keyboard and Mice Unleashed
– Corsair Announces Free Software Driver Update to Add Dolby Headphone 7.1-channel Surround Sound to Vengeance 2000 Wireless Gaming Headset –
CES 2013 — Las Vegas, Nevada — January 8, 2013 — Corsair®, a worldwide designer of high-performance PC gaming peripherals, today announced next-generation additions to the premier Corsair Vengeance® line of gaming keyboards, mice, and mouse mats. Also announced is an upcoming free software driver update for the Vengeance 2000 wireless gaming headset which adds Dolby® Headphone 2.0 7.1-channel surround sound.
To create the Vengeance K95 keyboard, the Corsair design team started with the successful and award-winning K90 and added a never-before-seen level of precision, technology, and styling. The result is the Vengeance K95, the most advanced keyboard in the Vengeance gaming line. Now clad in a black anodized brushed aluminum chassis and equipped with luminous white LED lighting, the Vengeance K95 keyboard has been upgraded with Cherry MX Red key mechanical switches on every key including the function and macro keys. Each key is now individually backlit, enabling the keys to be independently enabled or disabled, and overall backlighting can be adjusted to four levels of intensity. The keyboard includes 18 dedicated macro keys that can be programmed via software or on-the-fly, and macros and lighting profiles can be stored in onboard flash memory. The Vengeance K95 also features full anti-ghosting, 20-key rollover, and a 1ms reporting rate.
Vengeance K95 Gaming Keyboard: The New Top-dog
With Voyager Air, multiple users can enjoy their stored movies, TV shows, music and photos at the office, on a road trip, or while on vacation. Voyager Air is a self-contained streaming media server with a wireless hub built-in, so Voyager Air can wirelessly stream digital content to other playback devices directly with no Internet connection required. Voyager Air provides solid, fast, and secure 802.11n/b/g Wi-Fi connections for multiple users at ranges up to 90 feet, and can stream highdefinition video to up to five devices at once. The high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to seven hours of video streaming between recharges.
Vengeance M95 and M65 Gaming Mice: Precision-tuned and More Dangerous than Ever
Designed for serious gamers, the Vengeance M95 and M65 mice are built upon an ergonomic aluminum unibody chassis and fitted with an Avago Technologies ADNS-9800 LaserStream™ gaming sensor. The new 8200 DPI sensor provides a 30% boost in tracking resolution versus last generation mice, for increased speed and lethal precision when moving, looking, and targeting. The new mice incorporate new ruggedized, high-precision button switches for rapid triggering and solid durability. In addition, both mice feature on-the-fly resolution switching, programmable lift detection, a highmass scroll wheel, and PTFE glide pads.
The Vengeance M95 is optimized for MMO gamers. It has 15 fully programmable buttons, arranged and tuned for intuitive operation, and on-board flash memory to store macros in up to six profiles that can be switched on-the-fly. An included intuitive Microsoft® Windows® software utility allows management of macro keys, on-board profiles, and sensor settings to allow gamers to customize the M95 to match their gaming style. The Vengeance M95 is available in two colors, Arctic White and Gunmetal Black.
The Vengeance M65 is designed for FPS enthusiasts. It features an innovative Sniper button, allowing an instant toggle from fast movement, high DPI-resolution mode down to a high-precision mode for more accurate aiming. Its aluminum body has an adjustable center of gravity to allow gamers to balance the mouse to their preference. The Vengeance M65 is available in three colors— Military Green, Arctic White and Gunmetal Black.
Vengeance MM600 Dual-sided Gaming Mat – Choose High-speed or Precision to Match Your Game
The MM600 is double-sided mat designed with foundation of a solid piece of 3mm thick aircraftgrade aluminum to provide a flatter, more rigid surface and no-slip rubber corners to minimize slippage during frenzied gaming sessions. Each side of the mat has a high-quality polymer surface that has been tuned to deliver distinct glide characteristics. The smooth-texture side is designed to provide an exceptional high-speed glide, while the heavy-texture side is designed to deliver superior control. Both surface materials have excellent characteristics for high-precision sensors like those found in Corsair's laser gaming mice.
"Our first generation keyboards and mice were designed to translate thoughts into action with ruthless efficiency," said Ruben Mookerjee, VP and General Manager of the Peripherals Business Unit at Corsair. "We've honed that competitive advantage to a new level of precision with the Vengeance K95, M95, and M65, creating next-generation mice and keyboards to help keep gamers at the top of the leaderboards."
Vengeance 2000 Wireless Gaming Headset – Now with Dolby 7.1-channel Surround Sound
Corsair will soon release a free software driver update which adds Dolby Headphone 2.0 to the Vengeance 2000 wireless gaming headset. Dolby® Headphone is a revolutionary signal processing technology that delivers up to 7.1-channel surround sound over headphones for richer, more spacious headphone audio. The driver is expected to be released in February. Existing owners will be able to download the update on the product's download page on www.corsair.com.
Pricing, Availability, and Warranty
The new Corsair Vengeance M95 and M65 mice and MM600 mouse mat will be available in January at suggested prices of $79.99, $69.99, and $39.99 respectively. The Vengeance K95 gaming keyboard is expected to be available early spring with a suggested retail price of $149.99.
About Corsair
Founded in 1994, Corsair supplies high performance products purchased primarily by PC gaming enthusiasts who build their own PCs or buy pre-assembled customized systems. The company's award-winning products include DDR3 memory upgrades, USB flash drives, power supply units, solid-state drives, PC speakers, gaming headsets, gaming keyboards, laser gaming mice, system monitoring and control devices, PC cooling products, and computer cases.


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Plugins & Stats Screen
The Plugins screen shows information and statistics about the status and performance of various plugins running in each Solr core. You can find information about the performance of the Solr caches, the state of Solr's searchers, and the configuration of Request Handlers and Search Components.
Choose an area of interest on the right, and then drill down into more specifics by clicking on one of the names that appear in the central part of the window. In this example, we've chosen to look at the Searcher stats, from the Core area:
The display is a snapshot taken when the page is loaded. You can get updated status by choosing to either Watch Changes or Refresh Values. Watching the changes will highlight those areas that have changed, while refreshing the values will reload the page with updated information.


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The content of this page is available only in French. A machine-translated version (without any human intervention) is available by using Google Translate. Ville de Gatineau is not responsible for the linguistic quality of the translations or the technical quality of their content, nor of any of the possible problems, direct or indirect, that could be raised as a consequence of its use by the readers.
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Recognized for its quality of life, Gatineau is a city of 292,000 inhabitants. It is located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, and extends east and west of the Gatineau River.


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The 3-D action-thriller Sanctum, from executive producer James Cameron, follows a team of underwater cave divers on a treacherous expedition to the largest, most beautiful and least accessible cave system on Earth. When a tropical storm forces them deep into the caverns, they must fight raging water, deadly terrain and creeping panic as they search for an unknown escape route to the sea.
Master diver Frank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh) has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team—including 17-year-old son Josh (Rhys Wakefield) and financier Carl Hurley (Ioan Gruffudd)—are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out. Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question: Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever?
Shot on location on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, Sanctum employs 3-D photography techniques Cameron developed to lens Avatar. Designed to operate in extreme environments, the technology used to shoot the action-thriller will bring audiences on a breathless journey across plunging cliffs and into the furthest reaches of our subterranean world.


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After a truck payment, insurance is often the biggest fixed cost for owner-operators, particularly those running under their own authority. When shopping for damage and liability insurance, finding the most coverage at lowest price should be your goal, but minimizing costs is more directly related to how you operate your business.
Whether you're leased or running under your own authority, there's plenty you can do to reduce costs when updating existing policies or shopping for new ones.
Optimizing current coverage
Owner-operator Rick Ash, leased to HVH Transportation of Denver, insures via Continental Owner-Operators Ltd. (coolmembers.com), a Billings, Mont.-based association that aggregates risk by offering a large group insurance plan to owner-operators. Many fleet plans are structured in this manner, as are association plans like that of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (ooida.com). For physical damage and non-trucking-use liability, or bobtail, insurance, Ash pays $283 a month, including occupational accident insurance. "Every year, when my policy renews, they ask me if I've had accidents, and if personal info has changed," he says.
Both could affect liability rates, whether like Ash you're leased and need only bobtail insurance or you have your authority and need primary or commercial auto liability. If Ash goes a year without any accidents, his insurer sends him a rebate check of $125 to $150.
Updating business information, such as freight, miles driven and area of haul, is crucial to obtaining accurate rates. For instance, "liability will vary depending on whether the operator is in regional or long-haul," says Wes Brackey, president of Great Plains Casualty (greatplainscasualty.com), writing physical damage and bobtail through its Independent Contractor Services Association. Rates go up with long haul "because they'll more often find themselves in unfamiliar places," he explains.
Freight also will impact rates, says Trent Tillman of the True North Insurance (truenorthcompanies.com) agency. "Intermodal carriers will have lower liability premiums – their accidents are small losses, typically," he says. "They're driving around town at low speed." Physical damage premiums, though, likely will be high for most intermodal operators on a percentage of value basis. If a $15,000 truck gets in a fender-bender-type accident "it's not much difference in the price to replace the bumper than it would be for a $100,000 truck," he says. The insurance company can charge the $100,000-truck operator a much lower percent of stated value and extract the same premium.
The insurance industry is moving toward more frequent rate updates utilizing GPS technology to track actual mileage, says Paul Brocklebank, chief underwriting officer for Canal Insurance (canalinsurance.com). "Instead of guessing at what the miles driven every year will be, let's on a quarterly basis validate that and adjust the premium quarterly," he says. "I think the insured owner-operator benefits."
The same may apply to physical damage insurance. The stated value percentage on which most insurers base physical damage premiums, says Brackey, is "3 percent to 4 percent on an annual basis." Unlike the personal auto market, where value estimation updates are fairly automatic for underwriters, updating the stated value of your equipment for physical damage coverage is largely your responsibility.
Bob and Linda Caffee, team expediters leased to FedEx Custom Critical, recently upgraded their power unit from a 2005 model to a 2012 Freightliner Cascadia with a big-bunk sleeper. Their insurance package with Progressive Insurance "went up right around $1,300," says Linda, but with a new truck, "you adjust your insurance a little bit quicker, the value declines so fast. On our new truck, I'll adjust it every six months for the first three years" to keep physical damage premiums low.
On how much to reduce the value, Ash says, "I was always told 15 percent of new value every six months for the first 18 months." The association he buys through sends a yearly reminder to him to adjust his value and, "when they send that letter, I usually go to TruckPaper.com and punch in my truck's specs and gauge it that way," he says. If there's a big difference between sale prices for his truck model and his stated coverage, he tells COOL to drop coverage amounts.
If fair market value of your truck drops below what you owe, consider physical damage "gap" insurance to cover the difference. That coverage is included in Arkansas-based dry bulk carrier Oakley Trucking's physical damage policy, offered to business owners in its 520-power-unit all-owner-operator fleet. Giving the example of an owner-operator involved in a total loss who owes $80,000 on a truck worth $50,000, Oakley Office Manager Tommy Mitchell says gap insurance would cover the $30,000 spread to assure the lender gets paid in full. Rates in Oakley's physical damage insurance offering, written by Great American Insurance, run at 3 percent of stated value, while non-trucking liability is a flat $31 monthly.
Shopping for new coverage
Brackey says it's important to fully understand coverage when comparing policies. That includes knowing your deductible and exclusions, and whether you want to assume more risk by choosing a higher deductible that will reduce your premium.
Independent agents like Roemer Insurance (insuremyrig.com), C.M. Brown & Associates (based in Perryville, Mo.; (573) 547-4508) and True North can give an operator access to dozens of competing insurance carriers, plus the benefit of dealing with a single person on a claim. "We're the bridge between the insurance carriers and owner-operators," says Gabe Hotop, with C.M. Brown. Hotop worked with Overdrive 2010 Trucker of the Year Mike Crawford when he transitioned from being leased to Prime Inc. to running under his own authority and dedicated to Prime.
If you're getting insurance where you're leased, Tillman notes that volume pricing may dictate good rates for the group policy. Brackey says, however, for operators with good maintenance and driving records, it may make sense to buy an individual liability and damage policy.
"Rates can vary a lot between companies," says Progressive Commercial Auto Marketing Director Mike Miller (progressivecommercial.com). While Progressive is one of the few insurers that sells direct to operators, Miller also promotes independent agents. The company works "closely with a sub-segment of agents who specialize in serving the needs of owner-operators. If an owner-operator chooses to purchase insurance from Progressive through an agent or directly from the company, he or she will receive the same quoted rate."
1st Guard Insurance Company (1stguard.com), however, believes its direct-write model for physical damage insurance benefits owner-operators "because we are not paying agents the normal 15 to 25 percent commission," says Wilson. "We do not work through agents/brokers."
Wake-up call for new independents
One of the biggest changes for an owner-operator transitioning from a leased operation to running under his own authority is insurance costs. Operator Mike Crawford found this out last year. Leased to Prime, he'd bought into the company's group policy for bobtail insurance and paid $32 a month, he says. Physical damage insurance on his 1994 Freightliner, bought through the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association's insurance program, ran him around $65 a month. The total $1,154 he paid yearly for those coverages is a small fraction of the $5,600-plus he now pays for liability and damage with his own authority.
The big difference is in the typical $1 million worth of liability coverage. "Where non-trucking liability will run $400 to $500 a year" in premiums, says Gabe Hotop, with independent insurance agent C.M. Brown & Associates," primary liability will be $4,000 to $5,000 a year." Canal Insurance's Paul Brocklebank says, "Our single power-unit range is between $4,000 and $7,000 for preferred to standard risk."
It's a cost more operators may face if more carriers shift from leasing owner-operators to working instead with subcontracted owner-operators who have their own authority. Rudolph Freight Systems of Murray, Ky., formerly a dry freight motor carrier, now operates under a Freight Forwarder DOT authority and contracts with independents. Company founder Robbie Rudolph says his approximately 100 independents work "with an agreement with us to be dedicated carriage."
They also handle all their own primary liability insurance. Rudolph says the company has been able to arrange a settlement deduction program via True North Insurance, in this case with a policy written for each individual operator rather than as a group. "A one-truck operator really wants to run and make money," says Rudolph. "We want to take safety and insurance concerns off of him as much as we can. We're the intermediary hooking him up with" insurers and safety consultants.
Participating in the settlement deduction program for dedicated operators avoids the need for a 15 percent to 25 percent down payment on yearly liability premiums, says Rudolph. The company pays its providers weekly and deducts insurance costs weekly.
More Insurance Tips
• Mind the deductible. You can raise your policy's deductible to lower the premium, but independents should beware, warns Mike Lawrence with agency Roemer Insurance. "I always tell my clients to take the lowest deductible that you can afford. If you have a $2,500 deductible on the tractor and the trailer and cargo insurance, and it all comes into play in a loss, $7,500 adds up fast." If you're leasing to a carrier, read the lease carefully. Some will hold the operator responsible for a certain amount of carrier liability or cargo deductibles in a loss. For instance, says owner-operator Rick Ash about his carrier, "If they deem me responsible for freight damage due to negligence, it is written into my lease that they can hold me responsible for the first $1,500 of the claim."
• KEEP CREDIT HISTORY CLEAN. Credit reports are often pulled by underwriters to determine owner-operator insurance rates. Pay your bills on time and follow other practices to maintain a high credit score.
• INCLUDE AFTERMARKET ITEMS IN STATED VALUE. When you determine fair market value during policy updates, use online and dealer resources to help determine aftermarket add-ons' real effect on your rig's resale value. "You're trying to hit the maximum amount the insurance company will give you in a total loss," says Jeff Clark, leased to America's Service Line. Items like deer catchers and anti-theft devices, notes 1st Guard Insurance's Courtney Wilson, can bring rate discounts, too.
• ACCOUNT FOR SAFETY. Don't be shy about communicating a strong safety record during any rate quote or policy update, says Wilson.
• WORK ON RELATIONSHIPS.While it may be tempting to shop for the best rate every year, longevity with an insurer may pay off, says Canal Insurance's Paul Brocklebank.
The company's "until-canceled" policy is automatically renewed yearly, and offers discounts for operators. "Our insureds tend to do best with us when they stay with us for a long time," he says.
Leased owner-operator averages
3.7% of stated value for physical damage premiums*
$420 yearly for non-trucking liability*
$6,000 yearly for primary liability**
* From True North Insurance's settlement-deduction programs set up with motor carriers leasing owner-operators nationwide
** Overdrive's 2011-12 Partners in Business manual


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U.S. health officials on Tuesday restated their recommendation that Americans wear masks on planes, trains and buses, despite a court ruling last month that struck down a national mask mandate on public transportation.
Americans age 2 and older should wear a well-fitting mask while on public transportation, including in airports and train stations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended, citing the current spread of coronavirus and projections of future COVID-19 trends.
For months, the Transportation Security Administration had been enforcing a requirement that passengers and workers wear masks.
The government had repeatedly extended the mandate, and the latest one had been set to expire May 3. But a federal judge in Florida struck down the rule on April 18. The same day, the TSA said it would no longer enforce the mandate.
The CDC asked the Justice Department to appeal the decision, which the department did. On Tuesday, CDC officials declined to comment on the status of the appeal. DOJ officials did not immediately respond to a request for information.


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Catboy is a revolutionary Crypto-Project with a unique Al Waifu Chatbot and RPG P2E Game.
London, United Kingdom, 6th Nov 2023- Catboy, the fastest-growing community in the DeFi space, is proud to announce the launch of its revolutionary crypto-project. Catboy is a community-led NFT project, founded and built by comic, manga, anime, and pet lovers, aimed at bringing together like-minded individuals and promoting the spirit of sharing, cohesion, and memes, manga, and comic-loving communities around the globe.
"We are excited to finally launch Catboy, a project that has been in the making for quite some time," says the owner of Catboy. "We believe Catboy will revolutionize the DeFi space with its innovative Al Waifu chatbot and RPG P2E Game, offering attractive rewards from our NFT and token staking pools."
The Al Waifu chatbot is a revolutionary addition to the Catboy project, allowing users to connect and interact with their chosen waifu. The more you interact positively with your waifu, the higher your relationship status upgrades and the more rewards you can earn. With a ranking system similar to the Sims game, the chatbot allows users to progress from acquaintances to soulmates through positive interactions, while negative conversations can lead to a breakup.
"Catboy's Al Waifu chatbot is not just a chatbot, but a unique dating chatbot that informs users about our project," says the owner. "With our different interactions with different waifus according to their personality, users can have a personalized experience that keeps them engaged and excited about the project."
In addition to the Al Waifu chatbot, Catboy also features an RPG P2E Game, allowing users to enter the battle with their NFTs against other players fighting to win big prize pools. The game's unique feature is that players can stake Catboy Founder's Edition NFTs and Catboy Profile pictures to gain Catboy tokens.
"Catboy's RPG-P2E Game offers players a chance to win big prize pools while staking their NFTs and profile pictures," says the owner. "The game is designed to keep users engaged and incentivized to earn more tokens while having fun battling with their NFTs."
Catboy is also integrating with the Ethereum chain and BSC, making it more accessible to users across different blockchain networks. With top influencers endorsing the project and top investment partnerships, Catboy is set to become one of the most popular crypto-projects in the DeFi space.
"At Catboy, we care about the real value that the project brings," says the owner. "Besides building a strong community, we are bringing Catboy merchandise, a Catboy NFT marketplace, and building a worldwide network of users to donate to feral cats and support struggling cat owners."
Catboy's NFTs will have three different variations that allow exclusive access to merchandise by holding these NFTs. Users can also buy or sell Catboy Founder Edition NFTs, profile pictures, and Chibi NFTs on Catboy's decentralized NFT open market.
About the Company
Catboy is a community-led cryptocurrency project that offers attractive staking rewards from its NFT and token staking pools. With the first blockchain Al Waifu chatbot and RPG play-to-earn game, Catboy allows users to connect with their favorite waifus and earn tokens.
Media Contact
Organization: Catboy.io
Contact Person: Haru Bene
Website: https://catboy.io/
Email: email@example.com
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Release Id: 0611237532
The post Catboy launched to bring the ultimate DeFi Experience appeared first on King NewsWire. It is provided by a third-party content provider. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.


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"Closing price" generally refers to the last price at which a stock trades during a regular trading session. For many U.S. markets, regular trading sessions run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
A number of markets offer after-hours trading and some financial publications and market data vendors use the last trade in these after-hours markets as the closing price for the day. Others use the 4:00 p.m. price as the closing price and display prices for after-hours trading separately.
To avoid confusion, the central distributor of transaction prices for exchange-traded securities – the Consolidated Tape Association – implemented a system designed to make closing prices uniform. Under this system, the regular session closing price for stocks is the 4:00 p.m. price. Any trades that take place during after-hours trading sessions are "tagged" with the letter "T" on the consolidated tape and will not affect the regular session closing price or the regular session high and low prices. The Nasdaq Stock Market uses similar conventions.
However, the closing price for the same stock may continue to be reported differently by various media and market data vendors. This discrepancy in how the media and others report closing prices can cause confusion – especially when a single, low-volume after-hours trade occurs at a price that is substantially different from the 4:00 p.m. closing price. For example, the closing price listed on a company's website could be different from the price shown on the consolidated tape flashing across the bottom of a television screen. Or, the next day, the investor might hear that the stock opened "up" even though it opened "down" compared with the price at the 4:00 p.m. close.
Investors who check closing prices may want to consider the following:
Is the closing price based on the regular trading session price established on the security's primary market?
Does the closing price reflect the last trade reported over the consolidated tape as of the close of the regular trading session at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time?
Does the closing price reflect the last trade reported over the consolidated tape in after-hours trading?


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Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, released from jail
The doctor convicted of killing Michael Jackson was released from jail Monday after serving nearly two years of a four-year sentence.
Conrad Murray was released from a downtown Los Angeles jail at 12:01 a.m., according to the sheriff's office. A change in California law allowed his incarceration time to be significantly cut down.
The former cardiologist was convicted in 2011 of causing Jackson's death in June 2009 by providing the superstar with an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid. Jackson was in the midst of preparations for a series of comeback concerts and Murray was serving as his personal physician.
Murray's prospects are uncertain: At age 60 his licence to practice medicine has been suspended or revoked in three states and his face and name are well known due to his association with Jackson and his highly publicized involuntary manslaughter trial.
The former doctor is appealing his conviction, although an appeals court has questioned whether it needs to hear the case. His attorney Valerie Wass has argued that the court should not dismiss the appeal because it could alter his overall sentence and reduce some of the stigma his conviction has caused.
Despite being jailed, Murray hasn't been entirely silent. Audio recordings of his calls have been posted on celebrity website TMZ and the ex-doctor told the Today show that he cried tears of joy after a civil jury recently determined that the promoters of Jackson's comeback shows did not negligently hire Murray.
He did not, however, testify in the civil case or take the stand during his criminal trial.
Served sentence in L.A. jail
Murray previously maintained clinics in Houston and Las Vegas and frequently complained about conditions in jail after his conviction. He was allowed to serve his entire sentence in a Los Angeles jail rather than a state prison due to a law aimed at easing overcrowding by shifting nonviolent offenders to local lockups.
"Dr. Murray has not received any special treatment in jail and in fact has many less privileges than most inmates because of his notoriety," Wass said in a statement earlier this year. She said he "is very much looking forward to his release and getting on with his life. However, the fact of his incarceration is increasingly difficult for him."
Jurors in a lawsuit filed by Jackson's mother against concert giant AEG Live LLC determined that the doctor was not unfit or incompetent to serve as Jackson's tour doctor earlier this month. The panel heard testimony about Jackson and Murray's relationship throughout the five-month trial, but the panel said it did not condone the physician's conduct.
"That doesn't mean we felt he was ethical," jury foreman Gregg Barden said of Murray after the AEG Live verdict.
No doctor or medical expert has condoned Murray's treatments of Jackson during either the ex-doctor's criminal case or the civil litigation. The former cardiologist told police he gave the superstar nightly doses of propofol to help him sleep but lacked the proper medical or monitoring equipment that's required to administer anesthesia.
Although widely used, propofol is intended only for surgical settings and experts have noted that its effects are not actually sleep.
For the original report go to http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/michael-jackson-s-doctor-conrad-murray-released-from-jail-1.2253987