text:
42 U.S. Code § 1395w–3 - Competitive acquisition of certain items and services
prev | next
(a) Establishment of competitive acquisition programs
(1) Implementation of programs
(A) In general
The Secretary shall establish and implement programs under which competitive acquisition areas are established throughout the United States for contract award purposes for the furnishing under this part of competitively priced items and services (described in paragraph (2)) for which payment is made under this part. Such areas may differ for different items and services.
(B) Phased-in implementation
The programs—
(i) shall be phased in among competitive acquisition areas in a manner consistent with subparagraph (D) so that the competition under the programs occurs in—
(C) Waiver of certain provisions
In carrying out the programs, the Secretary may waive such provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation as are necessary for the efficient implementation of this section, other than provisions relating to confidentiality of information and such other provisions as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(D) Changes in competitive acquisition programs
(i) Round 1 of competitive acquisition program Notwithstanding subparagraph (B)(i)(I) and in implementing the first round of the competitive acquisition programs under this section—
(I) the contracts awarded under this section before July 15, 2008, are terminated, no payment shall be made under this subchapter on or after July 15, 2008, based on such a contract, and, to the extent that any damages may be applicable as a result of the termination of such contracts, such damages shall be payable from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1395t of this title;
(II) the Secretary shall conduct the competition for such round in a manner so that it occurs in 2009 with respect to the same items and services and the same areas, except as provided in subclauses (III) and (IV);
(III) the Secretary shall exclude Puerto Rico so that such round of competition covers 9, instead of 10, of the largest metropolitan statistical areas; andNothing in subclause (I) shall be construed to provide an independent cause of action or right to administrative or judicial review with regard to the termination provided under such subclause.
(ii) Round 2 of competitive acquisition program In implementing the second round of the competitive acquisition programs under this section described in subparagraph (B)(i)(II)—
(I) the metropolitan statistical areas to be included shall be those metropolitan statistical areas selected by the Secretary for such round as of June 1, 2008;
(II) the Secretary shall include the next 21 largest metropolitan statistical areas by total population (after those selected under subclause (I)) for such round; and
(iii) Exclusion of certain areas in subsequent rounds of competitive acquisition programs In implementing subsequent rounds of the competitive acquisition programs under this section, including under subparagraph (B)(i)(III), for competitions occurring before 2015, the Secretary shall exempt from the competitive acquisition program (other than national mail order) the following:
(II) Metropolitan statistical areas not selected under round 1 or round 2 with a population of less than 250,000.
(E) Verification by OIG
The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall, through post-award audit, survey, or otherwise, assess the process used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to conduct competitive bidding and subsequent pricing determinations under this section that are the basis for pivotal bid amounts and single payment amounts for items and services in competitive bidding areas under rounds 1 and 2 of the competitive acquisition programs under this section and may continue to verify such calculations for subsequent rounds of such programs.
(F) Supplier feedback on missing financial documentation
(i) In general In the case of a bid where one or more covered documents in connection with such bid have been submitted not later than the covered document review date specified in clause (ii), the Secretary—
(I) shall provide, by not later than 45 days (in the case of the first round of the competitive acquisition programs as described in subparagraph (B)(i)(I)) or 90 days (in the case of a subsequent round of such programs) after the covered document review date, for notice to the bidder of all such documents that are missing as of the covered document review date; and
(II) may not reject the bid on the basis that any covered document is missing or has not been submitted on a timely basis, if all such missing documents identified in the notice provided to the bidder under subclause (I) are submitted to the Secretary not later than 10 business days after the date of such notice.
(ii) Covered document review date The covered document review date specified in this clause with respect to a competitive acquisition program is the later of—
(I) the date that is 30 days before the final date specified by the Secretary for submission of bids under such program; or
(iii) Limitations of process The process provided under this subparagraph—
(II) does not apply to any determination as to the accuracy or completeness of covered documents submitted or whether such documents meet applicable requirements;
(III) shall not prevent the Secretary from rejecting a bid based on any basis not described in clause (i)(II); and
(iv) Covered document defined In this subparagraph, the term "covered document" means a financial, tax, or other document required to be submitted by a bidder as part of an original bid submission under a competitive acquisition program in order to meet required financial standards. Such term does not include other documents, such as the bid itself or accreditation documentation.
(2) Items and services described
The items and services referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
(A) Durable medical equipment and medical supplies
Covered items (as defined in section 1395m (a)(13) of this title) for which payment would otherwise be made under section 1395m (a) of this title, including items used in infusion and drugs (other than inhalation drugs) and supplies used in conjunction with durable medical equipment, but excluding class III devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.] and excluding certain complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs recognized by the Secretary as classified within group 3 or higher (and related accessories when furnished in connection with such wheelchairs).
(B) Other equipment and supplies
(C) Off-the-shelf orthotics
Orthotics described in section 1395x (s)(9) of this title for which payment would otherwise be made under section 1395m (h) of this title which require minimal self-adjustment for appropriate use and do not require expertise in trimming, bending, molding, assembling, or customizing to fit to the individual.
(3) Exception authority
In carrying out the programs under this section, the Secretary may exempt—
(A) rural areas and areas with low population density within urban areas that are not competitive, unless there is a significant national market through mail order for a particular item or service; and
(4) Special rule for certain rented items of durable medical equipment and oxygen
In the case of a covered item for which payment is made on a rental basis under section 1395m (a) of this title and in the case of payment for oxygen under section 1395m (a)(5) of this title, the Secretary shall establish a process by which rental agreements for the covered items and supply arrangements with oxygen suppliers entered into before the application of the competitive acquisition program under this section for the item may be continued notwithstanding this section. In the case of any such continuation, the supplier involved shall provide for appropriate servicing and replacement, as required under section 1395m (a) of this title.
(5) Physician authorization
(A) In general
With respect to items or services included within a particular HCPCS code, the Secretary may establish a process for certain items and services under which a physician may prescribe a particular brand or mode of delivery of an item or service within such code if the physician determines that use of the particular item or service would avoid an adverse medical outcome on the individual, as determined by the Secretary.
(6) Application
For each competitive acquisition area in which the program is implemented under this subsection with respect to items and services, the payment basis determined under the competition conducted under subsection (b) of this section shall be substituted for the payment basis otherwise applied under section 1395m (a) of this title, section 1395m (h) of this title, or section 1395u (s) of this title, as appropriate.
(7) Exemption from competitive acquisition
The programs under this section shall not apply to the following:
(A) Certain off-the-shelf orthotics
Items and services described in paragraph (2)(C) if furnished—
(i) by a physician or other practitioner (as defined by the Secretary) to the physician's or practitioner's own patients as part of the physician's or practitioner's professional service; or
(B) Certain durable medical equipment
Those items and services described in paragraph (2)(A)—
(i) that are furnished by a hospital to the hospital's own patients during an admission or on the date of discharge; and
(b) Program requirements
(1) In general
The Secretary shall conduct a competition among entities supplying items and services described in subsection (a)(2) of this section for each competitive acquisition area in which the program is implemented under subsection (a) of this section with respect to such items and services.
(2) Conditions for awarding contract
(A) In general
The Secretary may not award a contract to any entity under the competition conducted in an [1] competitive acquisition area pursuant to paragraph (1) to furnish such items or services unless the Secretary finds all of the following:
(i) The entity meets applicable quality standards specified by the Secretary under section 1395m (a)(20) of this title.
(ii) The entity meets applicable financial standards specified by the Secretary, taking into account the needs of small providers.
(iii) The total amounts to be paid to contractors in a competitive acquisition area are expected to be less than the total amounts that would otherwise be paid.
(B) Timely implementation of program
Any delay in the implementation of quality standards under section 1395m (a)(20) of this title or delay in the receipt of advice from the program oversight committee established under subsection (c) of this section shall not delay the implementation of the competitive acquisition program under this section.
(3) Contents of contract
(A) In general
A contract entered into with an entity under the competition conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) is subject to terms and conditions that the Secretary may specify.
(B) Term of contracts
The Secretary shall recompete contracts under this section not less often than once every 3 years.
(C) Disclosure of subcontractors
(i) Initial disclosure Not later than 10 days after the date a supplier enters into a contract with the Secretary under this section, such supplier shall disclose to the Secretary, in a form and manner specified by the Secretary, the information on—
(I) each subcontracting relationship that such supplier has in furnishing items and services under the contract; and
(II) whether each such subcontractor meets the requirement of section 1395m (a)(20)(F)(i) of this title, if applicable to such subcontractor.
(4) Limit on number of contractors
(A) In general
The Secretary may limit the number of contractors in a competitive acquisition area to the number needed to meet projected demand for items and services covered under the contracts. In awarding contracts, the Secretary shall take into account the ability of bidding entities to furnish items or services in sufficient quantities to meet the anticipated needs of individuals for such items or services in the geographic area covered under the contract on a timely basis.
(5) Payment
(A) In general
Payment under this part for competitively priced items and services described in subsection (a)(2) of this section shall be based on bids submitted and accepted under this section for such items and services. Based on such bids the Secretary shall determine a single payment amount for each item or service in each competitive acquisition area.
(B) Reduced beneficiary cost-sharing
(i) Application of coinsurance Payment under this section for items and services shall be in an amount equal to 80 percent of the payment basis described in subparagraph (A).
(C) Payment on assignment-related basis
Payment for any item or service furnished by the entity may only be made under this section on an assignment-related basis.
(6) Participating contractors
(A) In general
Except as provided in subsection (a)(4) of this section, payment shall not be made for items and services described in subsection (a)(2) of this section furnished by a contractor and for which competition is conducted under this section unless—
(B) Bid defined
In this section, the term "bid" means an offer to furnish an item or service for a particular price and time period that includes, where appropriate, any services that are attendant to the furnishing of the item or service.
(C) Rules for mergers and acquisitions
In applying subparagraph (A) to a contractor, the contractor shall include a successor entity in the case of a merger or acquisition, if the successor entity assumes such contract along with any liabilities that may have occurred thereunder.
(D) Protection of small suppliers
In developing procedures relating to bids and the awarding of contracts under this section, the Secretary shall take appropriate steps to ensure that small suppliers of items and services have an opportunity to be considered for participation in the program under this section.
(7) Consideration in determining categories for bids
The Secretary may consider the clinical efficiency and value of specific items within codes, including whether some items have a greater therapeutic advantage to individuals.
(8) Authority to contract for education, monitoring, outreach, and complaint services
The Secretary may enter into contracts with appropriate entities to address complaints from individuals who receive items and services from an entity with a contract under this section and to conduct appropriate education of and outreach to such individuals and monitoring quality of services with respect to the program.
(9) Authority to contract for implementation
The Secretary may contract with appropriate entities to implement the competitive bidding program under this section.
(10) Special rule in case of competition for diabetic testing strips
(A) In general
With respect to the competitive acquisition program for diabetic testing strips conducted after the first round of the competitive acquisition programs, if an entity does not demonstrate to the Secretary that its bid covers types of diabetic testing strip products that, in the aggregate and taking into account volume for the different products, cover 50 percent (or such higher percentage as the Secretary may specify) of all such types of products, the Secretary shall reject such bid. The volume for such types of products may be determined in accordance with such data (which may be market based data) as the Secretary recognizes.
(B) Study of types of testing strip products
Before 2011, the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study to determine the types of diabetic testing strip products by volume that could be used to make determinations pursuant to subparagraph (A) for the first competition under the competitive acquisition program described in such subparagraph and submit to the Secretary a report on the results of the study. The Inspector General shall also conduct such a study and submit such a report before the Secretary conducts a subsequent competitive acquistion [2] program described in subparagraph (A).
(11) No administrative or judicial review
There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1395ff of this title, section 1395oo of this title, or otherwise, of—
(C) the designation of competitive acquisition areas under subsection (a)(1)(A) and the identification of areas under subsection (a)(1)(D)(iii);
(D) the phased-in implementation under subsection (a)(1)(B) and implementation of subsection (a)(1)(D);
(E) the selection of items and services for competitive acquisition under subsection (a)(2) of this section;
(c) Program Advisory and Oversight Committee
(1) Establishment
The Secretary shall establish a Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Committee").
(2) Membership; terms
The Committee shall consist of such members as the Secretary may appoint who shall serve for such term as the Secretary may specify.
(3) Duties
(A) Advice
The Committee shall provide advice to the Secretary with respect to the following functions:
(ii) The establishment of financial standards for purposes of subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii) of this section.
(iii) The establishment of requirements for collection of data for the efficient management of the program.
(iv) The development of proposals for efficient interaction among manufacturers, providers of services, suppliers (as defined in section 1395x (d) of this title), and individuals.
(4) Inapplicability of FACA
The provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply.
(d) Report
Not later than July 1, 2011, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the programs under this section. The report shall include information on savings, reductions in cost-sharing, access to and quality of items and services, and satisfaction of individuals.
(f) Competitive acquisition ombudsman
The Secretary shall provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in order to respond to complaints and inquiries made by suppliers and individuals relating to the application of the competitive acquisition program under this section. The ombudsman may be within the office of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman appointed under section 1395b–9 (c) of this title. The ombudsman shall submit to Congress an annual report on the activities under this subsection, which report shall be coordinated with the report provided under section 1395b–9 (c)(2)(C) of this title.
[1] So in original. Probably should be "a".
[2] So in original. Probably should be "acquisition".
Source(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, § 1847, as added Pub. L. 105–33, title IV, § 4319(a),Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 392; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(6) [title III, § 321(c)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–366; Pub. L. 108–173, title III, § 302(b)(1),Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2224; Pub. L. 110–275, title I, §§ 145(a)(1), 154(a)(1), (b)(2), (3), (c)(2)(A), (B), (d)(1), (3), (4),July 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 2547, 2560, 2565–2568; Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6410(a),Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 773.)
References in Text
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§ 301 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 301 of Title 21 and Tables.
The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is Pub. L. 92–463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, as amended, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1395w–3, act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, § 1847, as added July 1, 1988, Pub. L. 100–360, title II, § 202(j), 102 Stat. 719; amended Oct. 13, 1988, Pub. L. 100–485, title VI, § 608(d)(5)(I), 102 Stat. 2414, provided for appointment of Prescription Drug Payment Review Commission by Director of Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 101–234, title II, § 201(a), (c),Dec. 13, 1989, 103 Stat. 1981, effective Jan. 1, 1990.
2010—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i)(II). Pub. L. 111–148, § 6410(a)(1), substituted "91" for "70".
Subsec. (a)(1)(D)(ii)(II), (III). Pub. L. 111–148, § 6410(a)(2), added subcl. (II) and redesignated former subcl. (II) as (III).
2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(a)(1)(A)(i), inserted "consistent with subparagraph (D)" after "in a manner" in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i)(II). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(a)(1)(A)(ii), substituted "an additional 70" for "80" and "in 2011" for "in 2009".
Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i)(III). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(a)(1)(A)(iii), substituted "after 2011 (or, in the case of national mail order for items and services, after 2010)" for "after 2009".
Subsec. (a)(1)(D) to (F). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(a)(1)(A)(iv), added subpars. (D) to (F).
Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(a)(1)(B), which directed amendment of par. (2)(A) of subsec. (a)(1) by inserting "and excluding certain complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs recognized by the Secretary as classified within group 3 or higher (and related accessories when furnished in connection with such wheelchairs)" before period at end, was executed by making the insertion in subsec. (a)(2)(A), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(d)(1), added par. (7).
Subsec. (b)(3)(C). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(b)(2), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(d)(3)(B), added par. (10). Former par. (10) redesignated (11).
Subsec. (b)(11). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(d)(3)(A), redesignated par. (10) as (11).
Subsec. (b)(11)(C). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(d)(4)(A), inserted "and the identification of areas under subsection (a)(1)(D)(iii)" after "(a)(1)(A)".
Subsec. (b)(11)(D). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(d)(4)(B), inserted "and implementation of subsection (a)(1)(D)" after "(a)(1)(B)".
Subsec. (b)(11)(G). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(d)(4)(C)–(E), added subpar. (G).
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(c)(2)(A), substituted "December 31, 2011" for "December 31, 2009".
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(c)(2)(B), substituted "July 1, 2011" for "July 1, 2009".
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–275, § 145(a)(1), struck out subsec. (e) which related to a demonstration project on the application of competitive acquisition to clinical diagnostic laboratory tests, terms and conditions of the project, and reporting requirement.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–275, § 154(b)(3), added subsec. (f).
2003—Pub. L. 108–173amended section catchline and text generally, substituting provisions relating to competitive acquisition of certain items and services for provisions relating to demonstration projects for competitive acquisition of items and services.
1999—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 106–113inserted "and" after "specified by the Secretary".
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Amendment by section 154 ofPub. L. 110–275effective June 30, 2008, see section 154(e) ofPub. L. 110–275, set out as a note under section 1395m of this title.
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113effective as if included in the enactment of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105–33, except as otherwise provided, see section 1000(a)(6) [title III, § 321(m)] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1395d of this title.
GAO Report on Impact of Competitive Acquisition on Suppliers
Pub. L. 108–173, title III, § 302(b)(3),Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2230, as amended by Pub. L. 110–275, title I, § 154(c)(1),July 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 2565, provided that:
"(A) Study.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the impact of competitive acquisition of durable medical equipment under section 1847 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395w–3], as amended by paragraph (1) and as amended by section 2 of the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 [probably should refer to section 154 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110–275], on suppliers and manufacturers of such equipment and on patients. Such study shall specifically examine the impact of such competitive acquisition on access to, and quality of, such equipment and service related to such equipment and the topics specified in subparagraph (C).
"(B) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the first date that payments are made under section 1847 of the Social Security Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subparagraph (A) and shall include in the report such recommendations as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.
"(C) Topics.—The topics specified in this subparagraph, for the study under subparagraph (A) concerning the competitive acquisition program, are the following:
"(i) Beneficiary access to items and services under the program, including the impact on such access of awarding contracts to bidders that—
"(I) did not have a physical presence in an area where they received a contract; or
"(II) had no previous experience providing the product category they were contracted to provide.
"(ii) Beneficiary satisfaction with the program and cost savings to beneficiaries under the program.
"(iii) Costs to suppliers of participating in the program and recommendations about ways to reduce those costs without compromising quality standards or savings to the Medicare program.
"(iv) Impact of the program on small business suppliers.
"(v) Analysis of the impact on utilization of different items and services paid within the same Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code.
"(vi) Costs to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, including payments made to contractors, for administering the program compared with administration of a fee schedule, in comparison with the relative savings of the program.
"(vii) Impact on access, Medicare spending, and beneficiary spending of any difference in treatment for diabetic testing supplies depending on how such supplies are furnished.
"(viii) Such other topics as the Comptroller General determines to be appropriate."
Report on Activities of Suppliers
Pub. L. 108–173, title III, § 302(e),Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2233, as amended by Pub. L. 110–275, title I, § 154(c)(2)(C),July 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 2566, provided that: "The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study to determine the extent to which (if any) suppliers of covered items of durable medical equipment that are subject to the competitive acquisition program under section 1847 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395w–3], as amended by subsection (a) [probably should be (b)(1)], are soliciting physicians to prescribe certain brands or modes of delivery of covered items based on profitability. Not later than July 1, 2011, the Inspector General shall submit to Congress a report on such study."
Study by GAO
Pub. L. 105–33, title IV, § 4319(c),Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 394, provided that: "The Comptroller of the United States shall study the effectiveness of the establishment of competitive acquisition areas under section 1847(a) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395w–3 (a)], as added by this section."
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


text:
Jeff Pentlandfree agent
Team Official | Ht: | Wt:
|Yankees | Yankees hire two hitting coaches
Sun, 11 Jan 2015 15:39:15 -0800
The New York Yankees have reportedly hired Jeff Pentland as the team's main hitting coach and Alan Cockrell to be the assistant hitting coach Sunday, Jan. 11.
|Comment (0)
|| Share:
|| Source: MLB.com - Paul Casella
|Mariners | Jeff Pentland hired at Triple-A
Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:38:42 -0800
Jeff Pentland, who formerly served as the Seattle Mariners' hitting coach, was rehired by the Mariners to serve in the same capacity at Triple-A Tacoma. Pentland was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
|Comment (0)
|| Share:
|| Source: MLB.com - Greg Johns
|Dodgers | Jeff Pentland fired
Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:52:03 -0700
The Los Angeles Dodgers have fired hitting coach Jeff Pentland and have named assistant coach Dave Hansen as their interim hitting coach.
|Comment (0)
|| Share:
|| Source: MLB.com - Ken Gurnick
|Dodgers | Staff announced
Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:48:07 -0800
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the finalization of their coaching staff Monday, Nov. 22, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com's Tony Jackson. The team has agreed with first base coach Davey Lopes, bench coach Trey Hillman, hitting coach Jeff Pentland, third base coach Tim Wallach, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and bullpen coach Ken Howell. Dave Hansen will join the team as a secondary hitting coach.
|Comment (0)
|| Share:
|| Source: ESPNLosAngeles.com - Tony Jackson

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Angara Tanzanite Diamond Engagement Ring in Yellow Gold Tt8lwAoJ
Alór Noir MultiRow Bangle w/ White Diamond Pave Black 79pUKZmcT5
Angara Akoya Cultured Pearl Lariat Style Necklace with Diamonds N2TztB
2015 Best of the Bay Double Test Ride - Rider Time Splits
Angara EmeraldCut Tanzanite Studs with Diamond Accents kSKr36Bo3
2015 Best of the Bay Double Test Ride - Photos by Anny Beck
Difficulty Rating: Extremely High For more information, send an e-mail to Cheryl Hopkins at:
Angara Solitaire Round Sapphire Celtic Knot Ring 9s2YwBTYI
Enjoy the foothills of the western Sierras including Bass Lake and Pine Flat Lake, riding the quiet country roads of Fresno County. The first 18 miles passes through the city of Clovis on towards North Fresno will be flat terrain. Then the route becomes rolling terrain starting from "Broken Bridge" all the way to the first rest stop. Make sure you stock up on hydration fuel as there will be a series of challenging climbs on North Fork all the way towards Bass Lake. You will be treated with a very scenic loop around the lake. Mile-55 rest stop will serve late breakfast, so take your time there to relax. The ride then goes down through the town of North Fork. Please be mindful of your speed when going downhill through Road-222 which leads to "Power House". Then it'll be another major climb towards the town of Auberry for the 3rd rest stop at the elementary school. The route will then head back via Prather along Auberry Road (another popular smooth roadway) all the way back to North Fresno. Late lunch will be served at "Dry Creek Trailhead" park, at mile-105. The next 30 miles will be mostly flat towards Winton Park, a dual out-n-back rest stop. From there, Trimmer Springs Road becomes rolling terrain with a moderate 700ft climb towards the lake, then the road continues further East. Along the way, the rider has a grand view of Pine Flat Lake. The turn-around point will be right after a bridge (at mile 150.7), please don't forget to check-in your bib# here. Once you are rested fueled, head back on the same road towards Belmont, then all the way to Clovis via Ashlan Avenue.
Hipchik St Tropez Beaded Leather Tassel Necklace oyPKgE8Mc
for all the information.
A spectacular 200 mile route in Southern California's most scenic and most popular cycling region! Riders will start on the back roads of Solvang, Ballard and Santa Ynez before joining the traditional Spring route on Happy Canyon and over to Foxen Canyon. After the first checkpoint in Sisquoc (mile 41.2), the scenery changes! The first big climb of the day is Tepusquet Road. This is a meandering 9 miles of climbing - with a few steep pitches in the 8-10% range. It has little traffic and the asphalt is excellent. The five mile descent is a blast! Enjoy the ride! At the bottom riders hang a left on Highway 166, where they'll roll along to the second checkpoint and fine refreshments. The route continues down 166, then hangs a right on Thompson Road, heading towards San Luis Obispo via Nipomo and Arroyo Grande. This part of the route will be familiar to veterans. After the third checkpoint ("lunch") in San Luis Obispo, riders will continue straight onto Tank Farm Road, and then work their way south via the quiet and beautiful Prefumo Canyon Road. This is the second big climb of the day - and it's a quad buster! Bring some gears - as you'll need them for the occasional 12-16% grades. Less than a mile down from the summit, there's a 1.5 mile section of unpaved (dirt) road that must be ridden with an abundance of caution (meaning "slowly"). After the pavement resumes, comes a very rewarding descent. Then the route once again meets up with the original Spring route at San Luis Bay Road, winds back down Avila Beach Road, ultimately continuing south through Pismo Beach, Shell Beach and on to the fourth checkpoint at Guadalupe. The route then diverts off Hwy 1 on Black Road which becomes the awesome Lompoc-Casmalia Road. Then comes the third big climb of the day, up Hwy 1 and the challenging Vandenberg Grade. After a nice descent to the edge of Lompoc, riders come to the last checkpoint at River Park Campground. From there they'll make their way back via the beautiful, rolling Santa Rosa Road (usually with a super strong tail wind), and Hwy 246 back to Solvang. 202 miles with 10,100' of climbing. This route is significantly more challenging than the Spring route - with substantially more climbing and many steep pitches. Riders should expect to require a bit more time on the bike between checkpoints. As such, if a rider is concerned about riding 40+ challenging miles between water/food stops, then a camelbak or other hydration system is recommended. Time Limit: 18 Hours
Two Trumps are definitely not better than one. | Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Clinton clarified just why she doesn't think Ivanka will become the
Perle de lune 18kt Gold Pink Garnet Ear Cuff Left zCov37W
. "We don't want any more inexperienced Trumps in the White House," she argued.
"Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and shame on me." Clinton added, "The American people have seen for themselves what happens when a reality TV candidate wins."
Next: Clinton has sensed this from U.S. citizens.
Clinton is optimistic about the future for Democrats. | Win McNamee/Getty Images
Clinton knows she isn't alone in wanting the Trump family
Elizabeth Showers Simone Large Eternity Hoop Earrings Blue Turquoise 8Ht2z
. She attested, "I really believe there's an enormous amount of pent-up energy to take our country back away from the Trump administration."
She continued, "And I believe we've got a very good chance of winning the House of Representatives, which will begin the process of righting the ship of state."
Next: This woman hopes to see Ivanka make history as president.
Ivana hopes her namesake will do big things. | Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images
Trump's first wife and Ivanka's mother, Ivana Trump, clearly has
Greenbeads FiveStrand Midnight Blue Statement Necklace 4ZCKTY2w
. In her 2017 memoir, Raising Trump , Ivana shared her belief that her daughter has a chance.
"Who knows? One day, she might be the first female —
Angara Diamond Halo Peridot Drop Pendant in Yellow Gold KvpZGY7
— POTUS," she wrote.
Next: This author believes Ivanka's plan is to become president.
It was the author of this book who planted the idea of Ivanka in the White House. |
Angara Womens Half Eternity Double Row Diamond Wedding Band hw5YFa6kru
Michael Wolff, author of the now infamous book,
Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House
, led his readers to believe
True Rocks Medium Sterling Silver Pen Nib Pendant eOhOYbOfi
in becoming the future female POTUS. Wolff wrote:
Balancing risk against reward, both Jared [Kushner] and Ivanka decided to accept roles in the West Wing over the advice of almost everyone they knew. It was a joint decision by the couple, and, in some sense, a joint job. Between themselves, the two had made an earnest deal: If sometime in the future the opportunity arose, she'd be the one to run for president. The first woman president, Ivanka entertained, would not be Hillary Clinton; it would be Ivanka Trump.
Now take a look at the Wikipedia history of slavery. Interesting. First sentence says this: "The history of slavery spans nearly every culture, race and religion, and from ancient times to the present day. Slavery was a legally recognized system in which people were legally considered the property or chattel of another".
A little later it says this: " Slavery was a common practice among Africans. There were three types: those who were slaves through conquest, those who were slaves due to unpaid debts or those whose parents gave them as slaves to tribal chiefs."
Now what I couldn't find anywhere Benjamin, were historical accounts of any of these other slave descendants (pick the culture) who 150 years after their enslavement committed high rates of murder and rape attributable to their great great great great grandparents misfortune….as you claim is the case for the African American community. Or did I miss something?
I don't know… but if you ask me I think you are saying the African Americans, unlike every other enslaved culture, are incapable of getting over this slavery thing. They aren't as good as other societies at overcoming diversity. Typical white lib it seems. Have little or no expectations of blacks and cover for them by helping them perpetuate these myths about slavery. Just an enabler. I wonder what African Americans really think of whites like you?
In contrast, we conservatives know African Americans are more than capable of righting themselves, as they proved before the government started to "help" them with the great society. All things considered, they did pretty damn well until then. I give them a lot of credit for that. They can get back to that if they would turn their backs on big government, race hustlers and panderers like you, and take matters into their own hands like they once did.
It's called projection. When you're politics are far right, almost everything seems to be far left of you. But unlike you, I'm not ideologically obsessed. I don't generally concern myself with labeling authors I read in order to decide what is politically correct to my viewpoint.
There is nothing from reading The New Jim Crow that would make one think that Michelle Alexander was a Marxist or whatever. Scholars like William Julius Wilson have even be labeled as conservatives by others, because I suppose he is to the right of someone who is more of a left-winger (he downplays racism as having a major role as in the past), but in reality he seems more of a moderate.
These are serious scholars dealing with facts. Any conservative who is intellectually honest shouldn't be afraid of facts. For example, here is a conservative review of Loewen's book:
Zoë Chicco Solid Gold Cross Stud Earring 171yJVGG
I read other authors on race issues as well. For example, I've enjoyed some of Thomas Sowell's writings. He sometimes writes about race, but he isn't specifically a scholar in this area. I also read authors like Glenn C. Loury who spent much of his career as an ardent conservative.
Comparandovinos.com is a web site created by and for lovers of wine, spirits and sparkling, in order to add value to final consumers. We provide clear, accurate and real-time information for the best and most popular online sites of this products.Our slogan "Compare ... and always buy at the best price" sums up our philosophy.Angara Classic Solitaire FreshWater Cultured Pearl Ring gP7MsRsZ2


text:
Leading up to Week 8, Carolyn Hately largely has been in the red.
But, come Week 8, the Durangoan with the Gridiron Green online handle of reddurango finished squarely in the black. She won our Green with a 12-for-14 effort, just one off the pace of national champion Todd Blumb of Robbinsdale, Minn.
Your fearless Gridiron Guru was just plain Blumb awful last week 6-8 to run his overall count to 64-53, barely pickin and swimmin with his prognosticatin head above water.
Meanwhile, edonelan assumed our Gridiron Green lead, first through eight weeks out of 911 competitors, and tnewhard leads our Gridiron Gold.
Week 9
Byes: N.Y. Jets, New England, San Francisco, St. Louis
Thursday, Nov. 1
Kansas City at San Diego, 6:20 p.m. (NFL Network) The once-proud Chiefs cant even beat the woebegone Raiders at a sleepy Arrowhead Stadium, so I doubt they fare much better elsewhere. However, the Chargers couldnt clip the Browns and arent much better. Maybe a short trip to the West Coast and far away from the shell of its empty stadium is just what the Cassel and his castellans need. Pick: Chiefs, 26-13. Line: Chargers by 8.
Sunday, Nov. 4
Arizona at Green Bay, 11 a.m. The Packers have become too predictable pass, pass, pass. But, Ill pass on the Cardinals. Pick: Packers, 31-13. Line: Packers by 11.
Chicago at Tennessee, 11 a.m. Cutler and the Bears are cut from a different cloth. Pick: Bears, 27-13. Line: Bears by 3½.
Buffalo at Houston, 11 a.m. If there were a stone cold lock this week, here it is. Pick: Texans, 33-20. Line: Texans by 10.
Carolina at Washington, 11 a.m. (KASA) Cam Newtons sophomore slump meets the real RG3 a freshman on fire. Pick: Redskins, 27-20. Line: Redskins by 3½.
Detroit at Jacksonville, 11 a.m. Is it finally Stafford to Johnson time? Pick: Lions, 22-20. Line: Lions by 3½.
Denver at Cincinnati, 11 a.m. (KCNC, KREZ) The Broncos are bucking on O and D. Pick: Broncos, 27-24. Line: Broncos by 3½.
Baltimore at Cleveland, 11 a.m. Surely the Ravens can do better than a 7-6 outcome. Pick: Ravens, 23-10. Line: Ravens by 3½.
Miami at Indianapolis, 11 a.m. Which of the overachievers will overachieve this week? Pick: Dolphins, 17-16. Line: Dolphins by 2½.
Minnesota at Seattle, 2:05 p.m. The Vikings ship has been grounded. Pick: Seahawks, 23-16. Line: Seahawks by 5.
Tampa Bay at Oakland, 2:05 p.m. The Bucs are balling. Pick: Bucs, 23-21. Line: Raiders by 1½.
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Giants, 2:25 p.m. (KCNC, KREZ) In the wake of Sandy, Steelers get beached. Pick: Giants, 24-20. Line: Giants by 3½.
Dallas at Atlanta, 6:20 p.m. (KOBF, KUSA) Make that 8-0. Pick: Falcons, 28-27. Line: Falcons by 4.
Monday, Nov. 5
Philadelphia at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN) Vick wins, with an assist from the Saints D. Pick: Eagles, 30-20. Line: Saints by 3½.


text:
Tom Ricketts and Theo Epstein Already Sound Like a Great Match
Despite the lofty numbers being bandied about, Theo Epstein isn't coming to Chicago for the money.
Epstein's current salary with the Boston Red Sox is believed to be in the $3 million range, so, setting aside the "transfer bonus" he's receiving, his move to Chicago doesn't actually increase his take-home pay by an appreciable amount (although it extends him four additional years of security, I'm thinking he wouldn't have had trouble finding that from any number of teams).
So, if it isn't the money, why is Epstein jumping ship from his hometown team to come to the war zone that is the Chicago Cubs' front office? Dave Kaplan says, aside from the professional challenge, it's primarily because of team Chairman and Owner, Tom Ricketts.
Sources tell us that Ricketts laid out his plan to Epstein and offered him near total authority on baseball decisions with no one to answer to other than the Ricketts family themselves. Epstein has no interest in running the business side of the organization and Ricketts organizational structure is set up to separate both the baseball and the business sides leaving Epstein to concentrate on fixing an organization that needs a new philosophy and must change the culture in the major league clubhouse.
Ricketts outlined his plan to build through the farm system while also spending wisely on the acquisition of veteran stars who can make an immediate impact on the Cubs. In fact, sources tell us that Ricketts is not opposed to spending big money on a star player, but for him to sign a mega contract the player must fit long-term with the organization. The acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez by the Red Sox is the type of player and commitment that Ricketts is willing to take on with the Cubs. He looks at Gonzalez as a star player, in the prime of his career and a player who is solid both offensively and defensively in addition to being a person of impeccable character. When opportunities like that come along he wants his Cubs to be in a position to make a move for a superstar. It was that willingness to spend when it makes sense in addition to the increased power and salary that will come with his contract that sold Epstein on Ricketts vision for the organization.
Taken together, Kaplan says, Epstein was "blown away" by Ricketts and his plans for the Cubs.
I think too few recognize and appreciate the long view Ricketts has taken to ownership of a scuffling franchise like the Cubs. From the improved Spring Training facilities, to the renovations at and around Wrigley Field, to the upcoming Dominican academy, to the spending on international and draft prospects, to the long-term plan for television revenues, Ricketts has demonstrated that he sees steady, long-range success for the Cubs' organization as the model that will take it to the promised land. It's easy to see why Epstein would be attracted to that.
And, given that philosophy, it's easy to see why Ricketts would be likewise attracted to Epstein.
I'm not too proud – or too afraid of the obvious jokes – to say that I'm crazy attracted to both of them right now.
(Reminder: get the latest on the Cubs' offseason moves – including a certain upcoming managerial search – by "liking" Bleacher Nation on Facebook and following it on Twitter.)


text:
Ian Ziering and Tara Reid have officially signed on for the sequel to TV movie phenomenon Sharknado.
The actors both experienced a career boost when the 2013 disaster film became a break-out hit, and now the stars, who played a former couple in the original, are reteaming for the New York-set follow-up.
Ziering will reprise his role as Fin Shepard and Reid will be back as April Wexler.
In Sharknado 2, the gang moves from Los Angeles to the Big Apple, where yet another freak natural disaster unleashes a rain of killer sharks, and Ziering and Reid's characters become the only ones able to save the citizens of New York City.
Last July (13), the made-for-TV movie took the country by storm as thousands of fans and critics alike took to Twitter.com to talk about the film as it debuted, helping to make it an unlikely success.
Production on the sequel begins next month (Feb14).


text:
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has just announced that it will be repaving its infield track section this summer, in-time for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, which is being held August 26th-28th. Expected to break ground June 9th, The Brickyard will be repaving the 1.5 mile section of the infield track between Turn 5 and Turn 16. The news is a boon to MotoGP fans and riders, as the latter has been complaining about track surface conditions from sicne the word 'go', and the prior group has been concerned about the conditions prompting MotoGP to take its toys and play elsewhere.
This announcement means that the infield will be repaved for the first time since its construction in 2000, as no surfacing was done when the road course was created in 2008 for MotoGP. Piecing together a mix of sections that had varying types of asphalt, the inconsistencies in the design have been the Midwest track's biggest flaw, making it impossible for teams to setup a motorcycle for a consistent response through the infield corners. Belaying any worry that the infield would have different conditions than the oval section, IMS says the new asphalt will be consistent with the other sections of the course.


text:
The implicit knowledge that being thin is an extraordinary advantage and would result in major positive consequences, and yet choosing to ignore this fact due to ones inability to stop eating high calorie foods (such as Kit Kats).
"If he/she lost some weight, they really wouldn't be bad looking."
"What can you say, Kit Kat theory at work"
"What can you say, Kit Kat theory at work"
by TheHarrison123 October 28, 2013
buy the domain for your cat site


text:
Caffeine Unreal 4 Trailer - March 27, 2014
Caffeine Pre-Alpha Gameplay Trailer 2, Teasers, New Screens, Info - March 3, 2014
Caffeine Pre-Alpha Gameplay Video, Concept Level Images, Info - February 3, 2014
Indie developer dylserx has released a proof of concept playable demo built with the Unreal 3 engine. It's available from the game's IndieDB page.
If you think that looks good, it's about to get a whole lot better. Behold a trailer demonstrating the crisp, modern graphical detail yielded by the Unreal 4 engine.
Additionally, the developer will launch an IndieGoGo campaign for Caffeine on March 31, 2014. If you like what you see, your support will be most appreciated.


text:
Higher education is expensive, challenging, and time consuming, but ultimately it's an investment that pays off in today's knowledge-based economy.
On average, those with bachelor's degrees or higher earn more and enjoy far more job security than workers with only high school or even associate's degrees, according to several national and local studies. And the demand for highly educated workers is only expected to grow in coming years as US and Massachusetts companies increasingly demand brains over brawn when it comes to job skills, economists and other workforce experts say.
"The economic and financial rewards of having a college degree are very clear," said Michael Goodman, chairman of the department of public policy at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. "There's no guarantee that a college degree will bring everyone success. But on average, college is still the best career choice for most people."
A college graduate will earn an average of $2.3 million over the course of a working life — $1 million more than the lifetime earnings of someone with just a high school diploma, according to data from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
College graduates are also more likely to stay employed. In 2011, the unemployment rate nationally for those with at least a bachelor's degree was 5.3 percent, well below the overall US rate of 9.1 percent. Unemployment among those with just a high school diploma was 12.5 percent. The jobless rate for high school dropouts was nearly 19 percent.
Jeff Strohl, director of research at the Center on Education and the Workforce, said the advantages of a college degree become apparent almost immediately after graduation.
Last year, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates — those 24 or younger — was 8.9 percent, just below the overall national average. In contrast, nearly one-third, 31.5 percent, of young high school dropouts were jobless, as were more than one-fifth, or 22.9 percent, of young workers with just a high school diploma, according to the Georgetown data.
"A bachelor's degree in the long term can more than pay off tuition costs," Strohl said. "Education pays."
Granted, in today's tough labor market, not all those college graduates have found jobs in their preferred fields, with many taking jobs that might not require a bachelor's degree. But that has only made it harder for those without degrees.
Many recent college grads are, for instance, taking jobs as waiters and waitresses or as behind-the-counter sales representatives in retail outlets — effectively bumping noncollege workers out of those positions, said Neil Sullivan, executive director of the Boston Private Industry Council, a nonprofit job training and employment organization.
He calls that phenomenon "push down."
"Boston is a good place for college grads," Sullivan said, "but there's no guarantee that they'll get the jobs they trained for."
But, labor specialists stress, not all college degrees are created equal when it comes to earning power.
The median pay for those holding liberal arts degrees is about $44,000 a year, compared with the median pay for engineering-degree holders of about $75,000, according to the Georgetown data.
Such pay discrepancies are the reasons why people like Andrew Sum, an economist and director of the Northeastern University Center for Labor Market Studies, are reluctant to pronounce college-level jobs as automatically superior to positions that don't require degrees.
He noted that many construction, manufacturing, and other traditionally blue-collar jobs often pay competitively or more than some positions held by college-educated employees, such as social service workers.
"There's a lot of variability around the earnings power of college degrees," said Sum, "depending on what type of degree you get and the job market."
With the costs of higher education only expected rise, people should carefully consider the types of degrees they want to pursue, analysts said. The average debt at graduation for bachelor's degree recipients in 2011 was about $27,000, up about 50 percent over the past 10 years, according to a recent study by FinAid.org, an online publisher that tracks college finance trends.
But the debt load for many college grads is far higher, severely burdening them with monthly loan payments at a time when they're scrambling to find any type of work.
UMass Dartmouth's Goodman said people need to weigh the costs of a degree against potential earnings.
In some cases, shorter-term and lower-cost certificate and associate's degree programs can provide skills for good-paying jobs in fields such as health care and biotechnology. "Not everyone needs to get a college degree," Goodman said.
Labor specialists agreed there are career variables and pitfalls in almost any field, but on average, bachelor's and advanced degrees mean higher earnings and more job security. In today's economy, they said, education pays a premium.


text:
The SCAD Museum of Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design presents Little Black Dress, curated by André Leon Talley, SCAD trustee, editor at large for Numéro Russia and contributing editor at Vogue. The exhibition will take place in France at the Mona Bismarck American Center for art and culture, 34 avenue de New York, 75116 Paris. Sponsored by M·A·C Cosmetics, it is on view to the public July 3-Sept. 22.
Little Black Dress charts the historic and contemporary significance of a singular sartorial phenomenon. Featuring approximately 50 looks, the exhibition includes contributions from a canon of modern fashion designers and international best-dressed list stars including Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Miuccia Prada, Tom Ford, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta and Lady Gaga. The exhibition was inaugurated in Savannah, Georgia, at the SCAD Museum of Art in September 2012.
"Little Black Dress is designed to showcase the divergent and individual manifestations of the little black dress across this century and the last," said Talley. "The exhibition highlights the strength of individualism, charting the evolution of the little black dress from its original definition of invariable propriety, to new and distinctly contemporary explorations of texture, tone and silhouette."
Tracing the bold curve of history across the 20th and 21st centuries, Little Black Dress explores the evolution of a definitive yet democratic style that, for more than a century, has embodied the shifting social tides of the modern world. In its ubiquity and versatility, the little black dress has delivered some of the most indelible images of our visual age. Endlessly appropriated and translated, each dress is imbued with the value of its day—from service to independence, from restraint to temptation, from glamour to grace.
"This exhibition celebrates the little black dress in its myriad forms, from the pleated Fortuny dress of the late C.Z. Guest, a style icon and great friend; to the impossibly elegant Madame Grès silk crêpe de chine dress from 1977," said Talley. "Little Black Dress also includes the work of a recent SCAD graduate: Alexis Asplundh, who works in neoprene (the new crêpe de chine for designers like Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, who also has a neoprene dress in the exhibition)."
John Demsey, group president of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. added, "We at M·A·C Cosmetics believe passionately in educational partnerships and in supporting exhibitions such as Little Black Dress, and we have a history of doing just that. We know the SCAD community and the public alike will truly enjoy this retrospective of the most well-known and trusted garment in any woman's wardrobe. It is an honor to support SCAD and André for this exciting project."
Other featured garments presented in Little Black Dress include a selection from Prabal Gurung's Fall 2011 collection, previously worn by Sarah Jessica Parker, and a Stella McCartney worn by Rihanna. Many other iconic pieces will be displayed including those from L'Wren Scott, Givenchy, Cushnie et Ochs and Yves Saint Laurent, among others.
"SCAD is proud to introduce Little Black Dress to a new audience at the Mona Bismarck American Center," said Paula Wallace, SCAD president and cofounder. "Tailored to the Parisian summer, it will be a 'must have' this season."
André Leon Talley, SCAD trustee, Numéro Russia editor at large and Vogue contributing editor, has served as a mentor for SCAD fashion students for more than a decade. Talley began his career assisting Diana Vreeland at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute and later wrote for Interview magazine and Women's Wear Daily, before joining Vogue in 1983.
Little Black Dress is the second exhibition curated by Talley for the SCAD Museum of Art. Talley's first exhibition at the museum, High Style, organized for the reopening of the expanded SCAD Museum of Art in October 2011, featured the works of esteemed recipients of SCAD's André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award. In October 2011, Talley curated Joaquín Sorolla and the Glory of Spanish Dress, a seminal exhibition at the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute in New York, analyzing the rich history of Spain's regional clothing styles through the monumental paintings of Valencian artist Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (1863–1923).
The André Leon Talley Gallery, the only dedicated couture gallery in the southern United States, celebrates style in its myriad forms. The gallery is housed in the new SCAD Museum of Art, the most extensive preservation project in the university's renowned history of adaptive reuse and community revitalization. The gallery's position within the museum allows its exhibitions to engage with a diverse panorama of contemporary art exhibitions by internationally renowned artists, the prestigious Walter O. Evans Center for African American Studies, and other permanent holdings, including fashion photographs from 19th- and 20th-century masters.
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees at distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 areas of study, as well as minors in more than 60 disciplines in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; in Hong Kong; in Lacoste, France; and online through SCAD eLearning. SCAD has more than 25,000 alumni and offers an exceptional education and unparalleled career preparation. The diverse student body, consisting of more than 11,000 students, comes from all 50 U.S., states and more than 100 countries worldwide. Each student is nurtured and motivated by a faculty of nearly 700 professors with extraordinary academic credentials and valuable professional experience.
For more information, visit scadmoa.org. Follow the SCAD Museum of Art on Twitter @scadmoa.
M·A·C (Makeup Art Cosmetics), a leading brand of professional cosmetics, was created in Toronto in 1984 and is part of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. The company's popularity has grown through a tradition of word-of-mouth endorsement from makeup artists, models, photographers and journalists around the world. M·A·C is now sold in 83 countries and territories worldwide.
Follow M·A·C on Twitter @MACcosmetics, become a M·A·C fan on Facebook, watch M·A·C videos on YouTube and find our M·A·C senior artists at macartiststweets.com. For a M·A·C location visit maccosmetics.com.
The Mona Bismarck American Center for art and culture aims to offer the public a wide variety of arts and cultural experiences through American innovative programming choices in the heart of Paris. The new Mona Bismarck American Center was launched in 2011, based on the foundations of the former Mona Bismarck Foundation. The foundation became active in 1986, following the death of its founder and patron, the American philanthropist Countess Mona Bismarck, formerly Mrs. Harrison Williams.
Passionate about art and culture, Mona Bismarck has made numerous donations. In order to perpetuate her work, she bequeathed her mansion and the majority of its assets to the foundation in order to further strengthen the Franco-American friendship through art and culture, which remains, to this day, the main mission of the Center.
For more information, visit monabismarck.org.


text:
Murphy says NRA's political clout is a myth
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a leader in the drive for tighter gun laws, challenged what he called the "myth" of the National Rifle Association's political power Tuesday and issued a report that dubbed the pro-gun advocacy group a "paper tiger when it comes to elections."
Contrary to popular belief, the NRA is not a political powerhouse that can unilaterally defeat federal policymakers, Murphy declared in the report titled, "A Look at the NRA's Ineffective Political Spending."
Murphy said he was releasing the report to give fellow lawmakers the "political courage" to support gun-control measures. He said the report shows that members of Congress who may want to do the "right thing" on gun control "now have the political permission to do so. There's little political price to pay for being on the other side of an issue from the NRA."
Murphy said, "The power and the stature of the NRA has reached almost mythical heights" over the past two decades. But recent political spending by the organization paints a much different picture -- one of ineffectiveness and lack of power, the freshman senator said.
Murphy's report called the NRA an "arm of the Republican Party" and said research has shown that the group "had virtually no impact in the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 elections." Murphy's report cited campaign financing data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, the Sunlight Foundation and the liberal blog, ThinkProgress.
The NRA did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment.
NRA affiliates were relatively inactive in the 2012 Connecticut Senate race where Murphy beat Republican candidate Linda McMahon -- partially because McMahon largely self-funded her campaign.
Murphy is a co-sponsor of sweeping, gun-control legislation introduced last week in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in the aftermath of the Dec. 14 massacre of 20 students and six staffers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Murphy is a former House member whose district included Newtown.
Noting the recent flood of recommendations for dealing with gun violence, Murphy said the NRA "has contributed very little to this conversation beyond repeated claims that the way to solve the epidemic of gun violence in America is through the use of more guns."
Murphy also said:
Of the 16 contested U.S. Senate races in 2012, the NRA lost 13 races for a 19-percent winning percentage. Of the seven races where the NRA spent money both for Republicans and against Democrats -- Wisconsin, Virginia, Ohio, Nevada, Missouri, Michigan and Florida -- only one NRA-backed candidate won.
Of the $18.5 million it spent on the 2012 U.S. Senate and presidential elections, $13.2 million, or 72 percent, was spent against Democrats and less than 1 percent was spent supporting Democrats. The majority of the remaining amount (27 percent) was spent in support of Republicans, and only 1 percent was spent against Republicans.
The NRA also was wrong on the 2012 presidential race, spending more than $10.3 million against President Barack Obama and $2.7 million in support of Mitt Romney.
"The NRA's reputation as an unstoppable force is one of the biggest misperceptions in Washington" and the group cannot unilaterally elect or remove policymakers, Murphy said.
"This isn't your father's NRA," he said. Elected officials "have nothing to fear about the modern version of the NRA."
Murphy said the group "has done a good job of marginalizing itself already," pointing to statements last month by Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the NRA, who called for armed guards at schools as a way to protect students.
LaPierre will repeat that proposal on Wednesday when he testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee that is considering gun control legislation.
"It's time to throw an immediate blanket of security around our children," LaPierre will contend, according to his prepared testimony. "About a third of our schools have armed security already -- because it works."
LaPierre's testimony criticizes Feinstein's proposal to ban military-style assault weapons.
"Semi-automatic weapons are among the most popular guns made for hunting, target shooting and self-defense," he is expected to say.
Congress banned the manufacture and sale of hundreds of semi-automatic firearms and magazines from 1994 to 2004 but "independent studies, including a study from the Clinton Justice Department, proved that ban had no impact on lowering crime," LaPierre adds.
His testimony also calls for the enforcement of existing gun laws.
"Proposing more gun control laws -- while failing to enforce the thousands we already have -- is not a serious solution to reducing crime," his testimony asserts.
"While we're ready to participate in a meaningful effort to solve these pressing problems, we must respectfully -- but honestly and firmly -- disagree with some members of this committee, many in the media, and all of the gun control groups on what will keep our kids and our streets safe," LaPierre's prepared testimony states.
"Law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals. Nor do we believe the government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families."
He scoffs at calls for universal background checks on would-be gun purchases.
"Let's be honest -- background checks will never be `universal' -- because criminals will never submit to them," LaPierre's testimony alleges.


text:
Online Payment
Client Portal
About Us
R&D Tax
Financial Planning
News and Blog
Contact Us
What you need to know about FBT 2018
Ask Us A Question
We're here to help
Ask A Question
We're here to help
Give Feedback
Monday, March 12, 2018
ROCG Perth - Tax & Business Advisory
20 Aug, 2018
Are you holding back your business?
Overcoming the biggest problems in business often comes down to the simple things. Here are a few simple things you can do to capitalise on your opportunities and reduce your risks.
17 Aug, 2018
Accounting Software - Go Live!
Various clients ask us at year end about helping update their Myob, Xero or Quickbooks data files for our adjusting entries to ensure their books are the same as our final version used to complete year end Tax returns.
13 Aug, 2018
Clothing deductions hung out to dry
The Australian Taxation Office is closely examining work-related clothing and laundry expense claims of taxpayers submitting their 2017-18 tax returns.
06 Aug, 2018
Will Australians pay more for a good cause?
In the same month that desperate farmers made headlines preparing to destroy starving flocks and pleading with the public to pay a few cents more for their dairy products, Dick Smith's nationalistic brand announced its closure. The question is, will Australians pay more for a cause?
30 Jul, 2018
$20k accelerated deductions for small business extended another year
The ability for small business entities to claim an immediate deduction for assets costing less than $20,000 has been extended for another 12 months until 30 June 2019.
23 Jul, 2018
$10k limit on cash payments to business
One of the interesting approaches to tackling the black economy in the recent 2018-19 Federal Budget was the announcement of a $10,000 limit on cash payments to business.
23 Jul, 2018
When can you take your super?
The cash sitting in your superannuation fund can be tempting, particularly if you are short of cash. But, the reality is there are very few ways you can take advantage of your superannuation once it has been contributed to the fund – even if you change your mind.
16 Jul, 2018
New minimum pay rates from 1 July 2018
New award wages and allowances come into effect from 1 July 2018. If you're an employer, it's important that you are aware of the new rates and apply them. The Fair Work Ombudsman's online Pay Calculator can help you determine the right rates to apply.
09 Jul, 2018
1 July 2018 Personal income tax cuts
New personal income tax rates come into effect from 1 July 2018.
02 Jul, 2018
Company tax change in limbo
An issue that many business owners and investors will need to grapple with is uncertainty on the tax rate that applies to companies for the year ended 30 June 2018 and the maximum franking rate on dividends paid during the 2018 income year.
25 Jun, 2018
Who gets a tax cut from 1 July?
1 July 2018 is the start date for the seven year income tax plan announced in the recent 2018-19 Federal Budget. The seven year plan benefits low and middle income earners in the first few years before expanding out to a broader restructure of the tax rates and brackets for everyone.
11 Jun, 2018
What's changing on 1 July 2018?
Read on for the summary on key changes for Individuals, Businesses and Superannuation.
02 May, 2018
Year End Strategies for 2018
In this guide: • Property investment tax tips • Preparing for year end • Preparing for Single Touch Payroll • Keeping on top of your bookkeeping • ATO targeting holiday homes • End of financial year: super strategies • Year end 2018 checklist • Deadline approaching for CGT relief • Getting GST right • Crackdown: work-related expenses
12 Apr, 2018
A survey of Australian SMEs has found that they prefer fixed-fee billing from their accountant
We are proud to say that we've been a fixed price billing Accountant for many years now.
28 Mar, 2018
Single Touch Payroll: what you need to know
Single Touch Payroll (STP) – the direct reporting of salary and wages, PAYG withholding and superannuation contribution information to the ATO – comes into effect from 1 July 2018.
12 Feb, 2018
The ATO's FBT Hot Spots
The Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year ends on 31 March
05 Feb, 2018
Directors on 'hit list' for not paying employee super
Proposed legislation would see the ATO pursue criminal charges against Directors who fail to meet their superannuation guarantee (SG) obligations.
01 Feb, 2018
Introducing our new team members
We welcome some new team members this month!
15 Jan, 2018
New data breach laws come into effect
New data breach rules in effect from 22 February 2018 place an onus on business to protect and notify individuals whose personal information is involved in a data breach that is likely to result in 'serious harm'.
01 Dec, 2017
Why 'property flipping' is the next ATO target
The tax law does not allow you to 'flip' a property tax-free even if you are living in it. Most people think that they can move into a property, renovate it, and then sell it without paying tax.
Personalised Financial Consultations Available
Personalised Financial Consultations Available
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send us a message. We aim to reply within 24 hours.
Full Name
Type of Consultation / Subject


text:
Take one step at a time to meet fitness goals
Want to live longer? Get a dog.
That will force you to take walks – and walking will improve your health.
"A dog helps keep you accountable," said a smiling Courtney Moskal, a health coach and registered dietitian with BlueCross BlueShield of WNY.
Except for the very young and very infirm among us, we all can walk. There are strategies to get the most out of a walk, but the benefits of getting up, out and on our feet create an abundance of good reasons to do so:
• Walking can add years to your life, ward off sickness and prevent the onset of chronic disease as you age, according to a recent report by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Cooper Institute.
• Other research has shown that a brisk walk, most days a week, will help with weight loss, "which in turn will help to lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol profile, and improve your blood-sugar control," said Dr. Brian Riegel, of Buffalo Cardiology and Pulmonary Associates in Amherst. "Stress reduction and sleep quality are also a part of that," he added.
• A walking versus running study released this month shows walking may be more effective than running when it comes to better health, though both are good.
There are other ways to get the health benefits of a brisk walk, but walking is accessible to almost everyone, in almost all conditions, including indoors at malls and museums when the weather outdoors stinks.
Walking a mile burns off about 100 calories. You want to aim for about 10,000 steps a day, or about 5 miles, Moskal said. Those with office jobs, who spend most of the work day sitting, walk an average of about 2 miles a day. That's why a 3-mile walk after work can be a great way to stay in shape, she said.
There are several ways to get the most out of a walk, according to Moskal, Riegel and Dr. Robert Gatewood, also with Buffalo Cardiology and Pulmonary Associates:
1. Buy the right shoes: Go to a store that specializes in walking and running shoes. Yes, the price will be higher, but employees will put you on a treadmill and watch how you walk, giving you the best fit possible. Such stores include Fleet Feet, Free Speed and Runner's Roost.
2. Stretch before and afterward: Start with stretches that work on your hamstrings, quadriceps and hips. "If you're walking at a brisk pace, the last couple minutes just take it easy, slow down and pace a little bit, and stretch out your core muscles in your legs," Moskal said. "It allows your heart rate to go back to your normal pace."
3. Use the right technique: Stand straight as you walk, drop your shoulders back a bit, keep your eyes forward. Swing your arms, Moskal said. Walk smoothly, rolling your foot from heel to toe. Gently tighten your stomach muscles. "It should feel like you're pushing yourself," Gatewood said, "but it shouldn't be to the level where you … couldn't can't carry on a conversation."
4. Build momentum: "Start 10 to 15 minutes twice a week," Moskal suggested, "and then work your way up to a goal of 30 to 60 [minutes] as many days as you can every week." Break down that time into two daily walks if that's easier, she said.
5. Walk with friends: This improves safety, assures more accountability and tends to make a walk more fun.
6. Variety helps: Take different routes, walk at different speeds, maybe even jog part of the way, and switch between walking on flat and hilly landscapes.
7. Walk instead of ride: Take the stairs at work instead of the elevator; if you have a short errand, slip on the walking shoes instead of slipping into the car.
You have to walk twice as far as you run to get the same health benefits, Riegel and Gatewood said, but there is a silver lining in that statistic – walking is easier on your joints and the University of Texas study showed that walkers tend to meet their exercise goals more often than runners.
email: email@example.com
Related: See findings of an American Heart Association study on walking versus running, and find out how you can take the Western New York Healthy Walking Challenge, Page 10


text:
Dorothy Berry Bussey
Dorothy Berry Bussey, 94 of Charleston, SC formerly of Camden, AR passed away Friday, July 19, 2013.
A graveside service will be held 10:30 AM Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at Bethesda Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest register, visit www.proctorfuneralhome.com


text:
Potential Kane Co. hire sparks calls of cronyism
The potential hiring of a running mate has Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen facing the same accusations of cronyism he campaigned against.
Lauzen acknowledged Wednesday the county's animal control department is in the final stages of creating a new billing manager position. He said Interim Health Department Director Barb Jeffers, whose department oversees animal control, is eyeing unsuccessful county board candidate Robert Sauceda for the job, a move Lauzen supports.
It may not be a move his fellow county board members support, though. Sauceda and Lauzen ran under the "Reform Party" banner in the 2012 elections. One of the planks of the group's platform was "draining the swamp of cronyism." Lauzen went on to victory, but Sauceda fell short in his primary race against incumbent Mike Kenyon.
A few weeks ago, Lauzen pushed Sauceda's name forward in a closed-door meeting to be the new administrator for the beleaguered animal control department. The department has suffered through a series of failed administrators and financial woes, including overdue payments on its building.
County board members blasted Lauzen in that meeting for trying to hire Sauceda because of their personal connection and Sauceda's lack of background with animals. That sentiment is now spilling over to his looming hire as a billing manager.
"He probably doesn't even own a dog," said Sauceda's old political foe, Kenyon. "If this hire isn't about cronyism, then what is it about?"
Lauzen said it's about the ticking clock on animal control's financial problems. He said the department is on pace to fall up to $500,000 short of its revenue projections for the year. That adds to the $186,000 in back mortgage payments animal control owes the county for money it borrowed to build the animal control facility.
Sauceda would be hired, perhaps temporarily, to be a debt collector and get the financial books in line for the department, Lauzen said. Just as important, he's ready and able to start that work right now, he added.
"Robert Sauceda is a very tremendous guy," Lauzen said. "And if he comes in and collects the money, then you're a hero. If not, then you get someone else. This is not any kind of political hiring. Let's take the veneer off. The people who are criticizing this already failed three times to get that department in order, and it's cost us.
"What I'm saying is while you guys are playing politics, we're going to start collecting money so that we can pay the mortgage."
Sauceda was not available for comment Wednesday.


text:
Obama's Running Mate
Mitt Romney's ObamaCare problem.
Mitt Romney travels to Ann Arbor today to deliver what his campaign bills as a major address laying out his "2012 principles for health-care reform." These are likely to be sensible, but what we'll be listening for is how he explains his health-care principles of five years ago.
As everyone knows, the health reform Mr. Romney passed in 2006 as Massachusetts Governor was the prototype for President Obama's version and gave national health care a huge political boost. Mr. Romney now claims ObamaCare should be repealed, but his failure to explain his own role or admit any errors suggests serious flaws both in his candidacy and as a potential President.
There's a lot to learn from the failure of the ObamaCare model that began in Massachusetts, which is now moving to impose price controls on all hospitals, doctors and other providers. Not that anyone would know listening to Mr. Romney. In the paperback edition of his campaign book "No Apology," he calls the plan a "success," and he has defended it in numerous media appearances as he plans his White House run.
Mr. Romney has lately qualified his praise, saying in a speech in New Hampshire in March that "our experiment wasn't perfect—some things worked, some things didn't, and some things I'd change." He's mostly avoided specifics other than retreating to the cover of state experimentation, but we can fill in the details based on interviews with Romney staffers as well as others present at the creation.
When Mr. Romney took office in 2003, the state was already enforcing public utility-style regulation of insurers for premiums and multiple benefit mandates. The resulting distortions were increasing rates fast, along with the natural increases from good but expensive Massachusetts medicine.
Mr. Romney applied the approach that succeeded when he was a Bain & Company business consultant: He convened an expert task force. His health-care commission immersed itself in data, crunched the numbers and came up with a technocratic solution.
The conceit was that a universal reform would cover everyone and all but pay for itself by reorganizing the state's health-care finances. Since 1985, Massachusetts footed most of the bill when the uninsured showed up for treatment through a $800 million fund for uncompensated care. That money, along with extra federal Medicaid dollars under a special waiver, would subsidize lower- and middle-income residents.
In the name of personal responsibility, Mr. Romney also introduced the individual mandate, first in the nation, requiring everyone to buy coverage or else pay a penalty. Free riders, he said, transferred their own costs to others, either through higher premiums or taxes. This is the same argument the Obama Administration is now using to justify the coercion of the individual mandate in the federal courts. Because the states have police powers under the Constitution, Mr. Romney's plan posed no legal problems. His blunder was his philosophy of government.
The people who don't buy coverage though they can afford it aren't really a major fiscal problem—unless the goal of the individual mandate is to force them to subsidize others. People who are priced out of coverage require subsidies—so in practice the logic of the individual mandate is that it is a government mandate too. Entitlements automatically grow and grow, and then the political class begins to make decisions that used to be left to markets and individuals.
Massachusetts took off on this entitlement trajectory after Mr. Romney signed the bill in 2006 and stepped down to run for President two years later. Let's go to the data, all of which are state-reported, in search of evidence of Mr. Romney's "success."
The only good news we can find is that the uninsured rate has dropped to 2% today from 6% in 2006. Yet four out of five of the newly insured receive low- or no-cost coverage from the government. The subsidies will cost at least $830 million in 2011 and are growing, conservatively measured, at 5.1% a year. Total state health-care spending as a share of the budget has grown from about 16% in the 1980s to 30% in 2006 to 40% today. The national state average is about 25%.
The safety-net fund that was supposed to be unwound, well, wasn't. Uncompensated hospital care rose 5% from 2008 to 2009, and 15% from 2009 to 2010, hitting $475 million (though the state only paid out $405 million). "Avoidable" use of emergency rooms—that is, for routine care like a sore throat—increased 9% between 2004 and 2008. Meanwhile, unsubsidized insurance premiums for individuals and small businesses have climbed to among the highest in the nation.
Like Mr. Obama's reform, RomneyCare was predicated on the illusion that insurance would be less expensive if everyone were covered. Even if this theory were plausible, it is not true in Massachusetts today. So as costs continue to climb, Mr. Romney's Democratic successor now wants to create a central board of political appointees to decide how much doctors and hospitals should be paid for thousands of services.
The Romney camp blames all this on a failure of execution, not of design. But by this cause-and-effect standard, Mr. Romney could push someone out of an airplane and blame the ground for killing him. Once government takes on the direct or implicit liability of paying for health care for everyone, the only way to afford it is through raw political control of all medical decisions.
Mr. Romney's refusal to appreciate this, then and now, reveals a troubling failure of political understanding and principle. The raucous national debate over health care isn't about this or that technocratic detail, but about basic differences over the role of government. In the current debate over Medicare, Paul Ryan wants to reduce costs by encouraging private competition while Mr. Obama wants the cost-cutting done by a body of unelected experts like the one emerging in Massachusetts.
Mr. Romney's fundamental error was assuming that such differences could be parsed by his own group of experts, as if government can be run by management consultants. He still seems to believe he somehow squared the views of Jonathan Gruber, the MIT evangelist for ObamaCare, with those of the Heritage Foundation.
In reality, his ostensible liberal allies like the late Ted Kennedy saw an opening to advance their own priorities, and in Mr. Romney they took advantage of a politician who still doesn't seem to understand how government works. It's no accident that RomneyCare's most vociferous defenders now are in the White House and left-wing media and think tanks. They know what happened, even if he doesn't.
For a potential President whose core argument is that he knows how to revive free market economic growth, this amounts to a fatal flaw. Presidents lead by offering a vision for the country rooted in certain principles, not by promising a technocracy that runs on "data." Mr. Romney's highest principle seems to be faith in his own expertise.
More immediately for his Republican candidacy, the debate over ObamaCare and the larger entitlement state may be the central question of the 2012 election. On that question, Mr. Romney is compromised and not credible. If he does not change his message, he might as well try to knock off Joe Biden and get on the Obama ticket.


text:
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Heat head back home Friday after a gritty performance in Game 2 saw the team even the series at one game apiece. It was another solid game from NBA MVP LeBron James and another great game from the unlikeliest of heroes, Shane Battier.
The Big Three of the Heat combined to score 72 points in Game 2 without making a single 3-point shot in the game. LeBron kept the pressure on the Thunder throughout the game by consistently getting to the basket and forcing the Thunder to either foul or give up the easy basket.
LeBron finished the game with 32 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. His 12-12 free throw performance only accentuated the phenomenal season he has put together with the Heat. But it was the contributions from Battier, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade that pushed the Heat over the top.
Battier was 6-8 from the field, including 5-7 from behind the 3-point line. He finished the game with 17 big points to help key big runs for the Heat, while playing more than 40 minutes. Not to be outdone, Bosh scored 16 points, but was HUGE on the glass.
Bosh pulled down 15 total rebounds, including 7 offensive boards, in his first return to the starting lineup since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.
Wade was roundly criticized for not being aggressive enough in Game 1 and responded in a big way. Wade finished the game 10-20 from the field for 24 points, with 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Plus, Wade was able to get some more rest in the game thanks to others picking up the scoring load.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra dug a little deeper into his bench in Game 2. He played both James Jones and rookie Norris Cole for a combined 19+ minutes. Cole was brought in at times because Mario Chalmers was largely ineffective from the offensive end. Chalmers finished with just 3 points in the game.
But Chalmers' performance was about the only offensive performance you could fault.
Defensively, the Heat played with a much bigger fire that helped them hold the Thunder to just 43 percent shooting for the game. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook struggled the most shooting just 39 percent from the field. He scored 27 points, but needed 26 shots to get those points.
The Thunder got a much better performance from James Harden in Game 2, as he went for 21 big points that kept the Thunder from getting blown out in the first half after Miami opened the game with an 18-2 run.
After the initial burst, Oklahoma City closed the gap to two late in the fourth quarter, but as he did throughout the game, LeBron hit big shots and free throws to stop any rally in its tracks.
The series now comes to Miami for three straight games (Games 3-5). Miami will need at least two wins if it wants to stay in command in the series. Its possible Miami could win the championship on its home court, but that would require the Heat to sweep three straight games from OKC.


text:
The Source
Update on Infonet
November 30, 2012
As many of you have heard, Infonet is going away. After many years in service, it is antiquated and it no longer makes sense to maintain either the hardware or the software. This is especially the case when much of the functionality of Infonet is also available in WebAdvisor.
Our initial plans were to turn Infonet off in December. However, after closer consideration we will plan a slow migration of services over Spring semester with the goal of discontinuing Infonet in May, 2013.
Part of the migration process is getting feedback from you as to how you use Infonet, what tools are important to you and what tools we might add or improve in WebAdvisor, both short term and long-term. To this end, we have scheduled two focus groups for staff and faculty to come and give us your ideas and feedback. The first of these will be Wednesday, December 12 at 10:30 a.m. and the second will be Thursday, December 13 at 3:30 p.m., both in the Watzek Library Classroom (room 245). During these meetings we will provide a brief overview of our plans but primarily we want to hear your thoughts and ideas. If you are unable to attend either meeting but would like to share your thoughts, please email email@example.com.


text:
In the United States, stroke affects more than 750,000 people each year. It is the leading cause of adult disability and is the fourth-leading cause of death. Learn more about the different types of strokes, the warning signs, stroke causes, and risk factors.
The different types of stroke include:
Back to top
A stroke most often occurs when blood flow to the brain becomes blocked (called ischemic stroke).
One of the following problems may cause this blockage:
A stroke also may occur if a blood vessel breaks and bleeds into or around the brain. If this happens, it is called a hemorrhagic stroke.
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, watch for these common warning signs.
It's important to call 911 immediately at any sign of a stroke.
Tests that help doctors diagnose stroke include:
UPMC Stroke Institute 1350 Locust St., Suite 105Pittsburgh, PA 15219Phone: 412-232-8840
Complete a contact form »
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
| Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com