Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/261653561?client_source=feed&format=rss
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In terms of dealing with your arthritis and its particular signs, number of things are as good as an intensive idea of the disorder and the best way to enhance it. This handpicked choice of tricks and tips provides the perfect starting point for anyone who desires to learn more about this painful problem.
If you?re not receiving sufficient rest through the night, plan for some time rest within the mid-day. At times arthritis pain can stop you from laying within a bed furniture for longer than a couple of hours, so rather break-up your 8-10 60 minutes sleeping into controllable chunks during the day to keep your body and mind in idea-top shape.
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When you are not experiencing lots of discomfort, you should make certain you expand your bones. You can see a physical therapist that will teach you specifically which expands will work most effective for you. Folks who are suffering from joint inflammation have a tendency to sense tougher once they initial get out of bed and stretching is the best way to loosen almost everything up.
You should always extend because once you expand with joint disease it helps with all the injuries you can get throughout the day. Stretching also warms up muscle groups and muscles that happen to be more limber and less prone to get ripped, but never overstretch. You should always hear the disturbances the body can make so that you don?t around expand and injured on your own.
Get going! Physical exercise will help you to limit the pain and boost all the different movements. Exercising will likely help in reducing the fatigue you could be sensation and will help you feel good. A highly-rounded training regimen for people who have arthritis is one that features mobility workout routines to boost your range of motion, cardiovascular exercises to enhance endurance, as well as a fortifying exercise to further improve your muscles health and fitness.
If you suffer from the pain of rheumatoid arthritis flare ups, try to keep in mind to help keep your anesthetics convenient. A lot of pain-killer like ibuprofen will help alleviate signs of arthritis flare ups after as little as 15 minutes. So ensure that you keep a container of your own best Julius Peppers Jersey soreness reliever close at hand.
Do not feel bad about the inability to conduct a number of jobs any more. Bear in mind that you have to because of a medical condition, not as you are sluggish. Do not pin the blame on your self: even if there are steps you can take to enhance your situation, you cannot be blamed for your personal joint disease.
Whether you are being affected by the anguish of arthritis or have a friend else who seems to be, the recommendation in this post is invaluable. Follow these tips and learn how to deal with rheumatoid arthritis without the need of allowing the pain sensation to manipulate you together with prevent you from undertaking things that you like and appreciate.
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STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday condemned Poland for the inhumane and degrading treatment of a 14-year-old rape victim whom the authorities tried to stop having an abortion.
The girl's right to a private and family life had been flouted in 2008, the court ruled, saying she had been arbitrarily detained after being briefly placed in a home to separate her from her mother, who favored an abortion.
"The court was particularly struck that the authorities started criminal proceedings for illicit sexual relations against the adolescent who, according to the prosecutor and medical reports, should have been considered the victim of sexual abuse," the Strasbourg judges said in their verdict.
It said that Poland had violated article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights - "prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment".
A staunchly Catholic country, Poland's legislation on abortion is amongst the strictest in Europe and the Strasbourg court has already twice condemned it for failing to ensure the law on the subject is respected.
The hospitals in the southeastern city of Lublin did everything to dissuade the girl from having an abortion, sending her to see a priest before refusing to carry out the operation. Officials alerted local media to the story, prompting harassment of the girl by anti-abortion campaigners.
The abortion was finally carried out by a hospital in the northern port city of Gdansk, some 500 km (310 miles) from the girl's home.
In its ruling, the court said the case highlighted the huge gap in Poland between the statute book - which should have allowed the girl an abortion under a 1993 family planning law - and how doctors and local officials behave.
Although the case against the girl for illegal sexual relations was eventually dropped, so was the one against her alleged rapist, the court said.
The court, which has jurisdiction in the 47 countries of the Council of Europe and is not part of the European Union, awarded the girl 30,000 Euros in damages and her mother 15,000 euros.
(Reporting By Gilbert Reilhac; Writing by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/europe-rights-court-condemns-poland-abortion-rape-case-170650796.html
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Perhaps due to the popularity of Starbucks' seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte, we are inundated with pumpkin spice products this fall. From pumpkin spice Oreos to pumpkin spice beer and everything in between (air freshener!), we cannot escape this seasonal taste sensation. What do you think? Are you scarfing it all up while you can or is it getting a little old?
And what about the quality? Are all those pumpkin spice versions of your favorite packaged foods worth it?
The other day while I was at the market, I saw pumpkin spice versions of trail mix and bars, Hershey's kisses, various forms of tea and chai, ice cream, coffee creamer, instant coffee, instant and prepackaged pudding, candles and room fresheners, beer, cake mix, marshmallows, pancake mix, Oreos, Eggos. I could go on. And on.
It's true that we're not totally free of the pumpkin spice craze here in the Kitchn. Our hack of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte has been consistently one of our most popular posts since it went up in 2009. And a quick search of our archives reveals that we've also dabbled in some pumpkin spice-ifying here and there. So we get the appeal of this spice blend, which is simply a mix of cinnamon, ginger nutmeg and allspice (with an occasional a dash of clove.)
However, we do recommend that if you do want more pumpkin spice in your life, that you make a homemade version so that you can control the quality and quantity of the spice mix. Just take a few minutes to watch Chow's Supertaster (above) for a cautionary tale on what can happen when you start imbibing commercially produced pumpkin spice products.
In the end, I suspect that pumpkin spice will become for the Fall what peppermint is for the holidays. Like peppermint, there will be a few excellent examples of adding this flavor (Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's!) and an avalanche of poor-to-awful versions. Buyer beware!
Are there any pumpkin spice products that you can recommend?
Related: 7 Ways to Use Pumpkin Pie Spice
(Image: McCormick)
Source: http://www.thekitchn.com/the-inescapable-mostly-pretty-awful-pumpkin-spice-trend-179220
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As host and musical guest, the doo-wop singer pulled in the show's highest ratings this season.
By Carly Wolkoff
Bruno Mars on "Saturday Night Live"
Photo: NBC
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1696008/bruno-mars-saturday-night-live-host.jhtml
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GENEVA?? Cycling's governing body agreed Monday to strip Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and ban him for life, following a report from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that accused him of leading a massive doping program on his teams.
Only on NBCNews.com
Speaking from Geneva, International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid confirmed to a news conference that UCI had decided to uphold USADA'S decision to strip Armstrong of his Tour titles.
"Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling," McQuaid said.
Now it is the turn of Tour de France organizers to have their say as the race prepares to celebrate its 100th edition next year.
Armstrong won consecutive Tours from 1999-2005. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said earlier the Tour will have no official winners for the seven races Armstrong won if he is stripped of his victories by the UCI.
USADA has said the Tour titles should not be given to other riders who finished on the podium.
The agency said 20 of the 21 riders on the podium in the Tour from 1999 through 2005 have been "directly tied to likely doping through admissions, sanctions, public investigations" or other means. It added that of the 45 riders on the podium between 1996 and 2010, 36 were by cyclists "similarly tainted by doping."
'Very difficult' weeks for Armstrong
Armstrong spoke briefly Sunday at start of his Livestrong charity's fund-raiser bike ride, telling the crowd he's faced a "very difficult" few weeks. But he did not otherwise mention USADA's report detailing evidence of performance-enhancing drug use by Armstrong and his teams or the sanctions.
"I've been better, but I've also been worse," Armstrong, a cancer survivor, told the crowd in Austin, Texas, repeating a line from his remarks at Livestrong's 15th anniversary celebration Friday night.
Livestrong celebrates successes but faces crossroads
Armstrong wore a black t-shirt instead of the charity's signature yellow derived from the yellow jerseys given to the winner of the Tour de France.
"Live strong, be safe," Armstrong said before the first riders left the gate.
Armstrong stepped down as chairman of Livestrong on Wednesday. That same day, most of his personal sponsors, including Nike and brewing giant Anheuser-Busch, dropped their contracts with him or said they would not renew when current deals expire.
Full Cycling coverage on NBCSports.com
USADA has said Armstrong should be banned and stripped of his Tour de France his titles for what the agency called "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen" within his U.S. Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams.
The USADA report said Armstrong and his teams used steroids, the blood booster EPO and blood transfusions. The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong.
Armstrong rides off in disgrace, leaving Livestrong to ride rocky road
Armstrong denies doping, pointing to hundreds of passed drug tests. But he chose not to fight USADA in one of the agency's arbitration hearings, saying the process was biased against him. Former Armstrong team director Johan Bruyneel is also facing doping charges, but he is challenging the USADA case in arbitration.
NBC News staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49500260/ns/world_news-europe/
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?I just got off the phone with Andrea Howard, president of?Social Media Maxima?after having reached out to her on behalf of Reputation.com. While I was boning up on what her agency did, I fell in love! Long story short (and this is my analogy) is that Social Media Maxima offers social media hair extensions, hair pieces, and wigs. What I mean to say is that Andrea Howard is all about making your already gorgeous head of hair even fuller and more luxuriant, building the sort of coverage and body that you?ve always wanted and maybe never have had.
Social Media Maxima doesn?t take over all of your?social media content?creation ? unless you really want them to.
What they do do is post relevant, industry-specific content 3 times per week. The content is provided by the client from agreed-upon sources culled by their research experts.
So, what they do, at the very least, is provide relevant, generous, content. Yes, only thrice-a-week, but I see so many?Twitter?and?Facebook?platforms that have been forgotten for weeks. While 3 isn?t very many, $150/month isn?t that much either ? but three times/week of good, generous, content, is just enough to act as those hair extensions that even out the bald spots of your social media posting and the limited resources you might have on hand ? especially when it comes to vacations or unforeseen oversights.
I mean, for only $275/month (not week), you can have a fully-outsourced social media package ? and why not?
Even if you, yourself, and your team are super-excited to keep up-to-date with posting, tweeting, blogging, and all of that, what harm would a little more do? As they say in theEpiscopal Church, ?many hands make light work.?
To misappropriate the?Anne-Marie Slaughter?controversial article in The Atlantic,?Why Women Still Can?t Have It All, regular companies that do most of their work and business IRL (in real life) and who have no innate desire to bog down their limited resources with a full-time director of social media or online community manager ? they just want a little more juice.
And even if you?re the corner pizza joint or the small place that sells second-hand baby stuff, you cannot ignore your social media footprint ? you really still need to control and update yourPinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and?Google+?profiles. Why?
Well, because social media has zero-barrier-to-entry and because so many people actually do use?Google?and social sharing and online chatter to find, discover, retweet, and refer just about everything in their lives, one cannot ignore or avoid social media, social media engagement, social media marketing, and also social media content-creation.
However, if you?re not passionate about any of this stuff ? and if you?re not passionate about all of it, you really need to make certain that you?re not relegated to have to do all of this ? from Pinterest to Instagram, from your Facebook Profile to your Facebook Pages, from Twitter to Google+ ? because you?ll only end up wanting to take out your eyes, smash your various and sundry smart devices, and you?ll surely end up petering out before long, leaving your entire online Kingdom to the ravages of time, the shifting sands, and tumbling tumbleweeds ? you?ll end up with a useless ghost town that will surely portray your company, your brand, your storefront, and your practice as zombiefied.
I know, I know: you wonder how a company like Andreas? ever gets your company pitch-perfect? Get over yourself! I guarantee that a) you?re not that special b) you?re not that unique c) social media?s not a ghost-written autobiography (which everyone does, anyway) d) and, to be honest, a professional writer can do a much better job of emulating your best self than you can do representing your own authentic self. Yes, I said it: a fake communications pro can always be you better than you can ever imagine yourself to be, more consistently, more professionally, and without fail, than you can. That?s why you bloody well hire a PR person and a copywriter and a content guy and a graphic designer and all that other stuff.
And yet, too many of us persist on thinking that we can somehow nail our image, perfectly, forever, on social media, by ourselves.
I didn?t know that Andrea Howard and Social Media Maxima even?existed?until this afternoon, and I have never met her ? and I am not telling her about this; that said, I am impressed with what she?s doing ? and especially her price-point and her willingness to not need to take over social media from her clients outright but rather to create a hybrid, allowing her clients to contribute as much content as often as they like, themselves, while still knowing that the entire social media strategy is not dependent only on when the Muses visit but every single week, every single year.
If you?ll indulge me, it?s sort of like landscaping: I love gardening but I don?t like maintaining, feeding, and trimming lawns and hedges. If I am made to do lawn care and hedge-trimming all my myself, I will end up hating it all and will probably abandon gardening as well ? and I might move into an apartment since I hate mowing so much; however, if I hire a landscaping service, it doesn?t mean I don?t have a green thumb, it just means I am focusing on doing only the things I love and relinquishing the things I hate to people who are either better at them or more prepared to get them done on your behalf, for whatever reason. In this case, for pay.
So, get over yourself. Take a hybrid approach. Keep the things you like doing on social media, and outsource the rest, be it to Andrea Howard?s Social Media Maxima or someone else. You will surely not lose your soul if you outsource the things that drive you nuts and you hate to someone who does it better than you do and for a living.?
We thank Chris for his insights and support of our approach to social media management. Please read his impressive bio and reach out to him at Reputation.com ? an outstanding resource in the field of online reputation management.
Chris Abraham, Team Lead, Special Projects,Reputation.com, is a leading expert in digital: online relationship management (ORM), Internet privacy, and online public relations with a focus on blogger outreach, blogger engagement, and Internet crisis response.
A pioneer in online social networks and publishing, with a natural facility for anticipating the next big thing, Chris is an Internet analyst, web strategy consultant and advisor to the industries? leading firms. He specializes in Web 2.0 technologies, including content syndication, online collaboration, blogging, and consumer generated media.
Prior to Reputation.com, Chris ran his own digital PR and marketing company, Abraham Harrison, LLC, with clients including Kimberly Clark, The Daily, Habitat for Humanity, Greenpeace, The Fresh Air Fund, International Medical Corps, Sharp, Pew, Alzheimer?s Association, and others. Previous to starting AH, Chris worked on the Interactive Team at Edelman Public Affairs in Washington, DC, consulting with clients such as Wal-Mart, Shell, and GE on blogger and social media strategy. Before Edelman, Chris was Technology Strategist for New Media Strategies, a pioneer in online brand promotion and protection with clients including Sci-Fi Channel, Buena Vista, TomTom, Paramount Pictures, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Disney, Reebok, EA, RCA, and NBC.
In the early nineties, Chris joined The Meta Network, a seminal online virtual community based in Washington, and so began his career as an expert in online community development, social media, social networking, and online collaboration. Chris has had a web presence since 1993 and started blogging in 1999, focusing on community, connection, innovation, and brand extension. As a technologist, Chris has consulted T. Rowe Price, the US Department of Treasury CIO, Friendster, Deutsche Telekom, and others.
Chris has taught blogging courses for the Writer?s Center of Bethesda, has been a guest lecturer on public affairs blogging at Columbia University?s SIPA school and the American University in Washington, DC, and is the Emergent Technologies Advisor to the Urban Institute?s Communications Advisory Board. Additionally, he is the go-to expert on social media, citizen journalism, technology, and the Internet for BBC World Service, CNN Radio, and CNet?s BNet.
Chris received his BA in American Literature from The George Washington University, studied American Literature at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and studied French at the University of Hawaii. He splits his time between Berlin, Germany, and Washington, DC.
Source: http://socialmediamaxima.com/2012/10/17/a-very-nice-testimonial-blog-from-chris-abraham/
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With just 20 days remaining until Election Day, Rep. Richard Hanna has released his first TV ad of the campaign, which protrays him as a hard-working guy who prefers his home in what is now the 22nd Congressional District to being down in D.C.
The spot shows the freshman Republican hard at work, interacting with constituents, driving a car. (You get the picture). It makes no mention of his party affiliation, which is interesting, since he?s one of the more moderate members of the GOP conference ? a fact that surprised some attendees at a recent debate between the congressman and his Democratic opponent, Dan Lamb, a former aide to retiring Rep. Maurice Hinchey.
For example, Hanna is pro-choice, and he raised some eyebrows ? and received national attention ? when he attended a rally for the Equal Rights Amendment?back in March and urged women to contribute their political cash to the Democrats.
The NY-22 battle is not one of New York?s most competitive House races. Hanna has consistently out-fundraised his opponent and is viewed as relatively safe. Still, better safe than sorry, which explains this ad. Here?s the script:
?I?ve worked for you these two years like I?d expect my representative to work for my family: thoughtfully, compassionately working for solutions knowing our future is at stake.?
?So I?m focused on rebuilding our economy, reducing the spending that?s strangling our country, and making sure Medicare is secure. I come home every weekend, listen to you and go back to work. Thank you for the privilege.?
?I?m Richard Hanna and I approve this message.?
Read more...
Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/160747/homebody-hanna-releases-first-tv-ad/
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Volunteers training to learn how to support children struggling to read.
Children inReadingwill get help with their ABC thanks to a local housing association.
Thames Valley Housing (TVH) has donated ?5,000 pounds from its Community Chest fund to Assisting Berkshire Children to read (ABC to Read) ??to train 14 volunteers to work with children who have difficulty reading.
Tessa Dove, Chief Officer at ABC to Read, said, ?Children who struggle with reading often lack the skills and confidence to fulfil their potential.?? One to one help from the education system will always be limited, so teachers put them forward to receive help from us.?
"Our volunteers work with each child individually, for half an hour twice a week, for up to one year, if necessary.? ?We are really grateful to TVH for this funding.? Increasing our volunteers means we will be able to support up to 40 more children inReadingwho are struggling to learn to read.?
ABC to Read works in 50 Berkshire primary schools, 22 of which are inReading, and currently supports around 100 children in the Borough. ?
Tessa Bird, Community Investment Officer at TVH, said, ?This kind of support results in a more positive attitude to reading, ensures the child can go on to further education and improves their self-esteem and confidence.? Our residents have told us that improving access to education is important to them, and I am delighted we?ve been given the opportunity to assist this vital project?
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If you would like any more information about our Community Chest fund or Thames Valley Housing, please ring Rosalind Grozieron 020 8607 0886 or email her: rosalind_grozier@tvha.co.uk? .? You can also visit www.tvha.co.uk?
?
?Thames Valley Housing is based in Twickenham, South West London and houses a wide range of people who have many different needs. Founded in 1966, the association owns, manages and administers loans for over 14,500 properties inLondon, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire andSussex, and has 200 properties under construction. Thames Valley Housing provides affordable rented homes, shared ownership, market rent, student and key worker accommodation, working with eight NHS Trusts.
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Falling right into line with the Galaxy Nexus devices receiving an OTA, the Wi-Fi Motorola Xoom seems to be getting a 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update as well. Users in our forums are starting to report that their devices are pulling down the update and although these updates are usually on a staggered rollout, we would expect it to start showing up on all devices shortly.
We've seen the official 4.1.2 Jelly Bean changelog at this point -- with most improvements coming to the Nexus 7 -- but have yet to receive an official update page from Motorola. It will likely be put up once the OTA is a bit more widespread. For now, hit up the link to the forums below and share your thoughts on the new update.
Source: Android Central Forums
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/ykXrogM0_oY/story01.htm
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A Silicon Valley start-up company is putting the MENA region at the heart of its global expansion plans, as it seeks to change ways users browse the Internet.
AnchorFree is an Internet security provider whose latest product, HotSpot Shield, works by encrypting accessed webpages providing a ?private tunnel? and preventing hackers from gaining access through public WiFi connections.
The software has been downloaded more than 75 million times across 190 countries.
The announcement comes ahead of GITEX ? the GCC?s biggest technology event ? and at a time when online businesses and website development is surging in the region.
David Gorodyansky, chief executive officer at AnchorFree, said: ?For too long, internet users have been vulnerable to hackers, identity thieves and potentially debilitating malware.
?MENA is one of our absolute key growth markets. With some of the world?s most youthful and tech-savvy populations, the possibilities inspired by unencumbered web access and enhanced online privacy and security will underpin every aspect of this region?s innovative future.?
HotSpot Shield protects from more than 3.5 million malware, phishing and spam sites and is available on mobile platforms including Apple?s iOS and Android.
Earlier this year the company raised $52 million in C-round funding.
Source: http://gulfbusiness.com/2012/10/silicon-valley-start-up-targets-mena-growth/
James Snow, chief executive officer at financial outsourcing & lending software provider Target Group, explains why third party servicers need to be agile, embrace change and ?up their game? to meet lender challenges as new products and operational transformation become key enablers to improved profitability and business growth
The market continues to evolve, lenders are under constant pressure to re-think their business models in order to compete with each other and new market entrants. With new regulatory demands, changing customer needs, plus the challenge of reducing operating costs and ensuring operational efficiency, outsourcers must be in a position to help lenders meet the dynamic market challenges. We are seeing increasing prod?uct and service diversification, as well as new innovation launching into the market, as lenders strive to differentiate themselves from the competition.
Working with the right outsourcer can be transformational, enabling clients to access new funding, progressive technology, smart processes, market insight and operational expertise along with the assurance of predictable costs. Outsourcing must be a partnership arrangement which allows lenders to be released from non-core back office processes and to focus more on their market and customers.
Outsourcing can also remove barriers to growth, provide better cost management through closer alignment of operational costs to either reducing or increasing loan volumes, whilst addressing the demanding challenge of managing regulatory changes and compliance. A third party service arrangement can help secure new funding arrangements providing warehouse funders with a more ring fenced approach and greater security over assets.
Loan servicers must be agile enough to adapt quickly to market requirements and undertake multiple roles including acting as a partner for non-core or closed portfolios, as a standby servicer and process consultant or as a manager of defined stages throughout the customer lifecycle. These are all enablers that help lenders manage risk, diversify and adapt to the changing market conditions.
Facilitating new lending
For start-ups or for established lenders moving into new product areas, partnering with an outsourcer can keep market entry costs low by reducing fixed cost overheads such as staff, IT systems and premises along with investment in key servicing infrastructure.
As the lending operation grows, there should always be the option that some or all elements of these functions could be brought back in-house and the reliance on the third party administrator scaled back. This approach enables new entrants to focus on growing their business and controlling costs. By working closely with clients from inception the outsourcer gets to understand the DNA of their client?s business objectives and brand.
One recent example is new lender Castle Trust, coming to market with a new business proposition designed to unlock the UK market for both investors and home owners. Castle Trust chose Target as a key supplier to help them launch their new partnership mortgages. Key to Castle Trust?s decision to outsource to Target was our track record of working with new start-ups and the adaptability of our loan processing software and service model to support new product innovation.
We have also been appointed by a number of lenders who have sought a service partner to support the on-going management of their loan portfolio, but also with the ability to support the launch of additional loan products in the future. As the initial portfolio and balance sheet has continued to grow, these lenders have become confident to diversify into related markets and drive organic growth.
A case study: Servicing a diverse multi?product portfolio
Our client, a large financial services business with a proud heritage needed to seek ways to more efficiently service its existing multi-product portfolios. Our client took the business decision to outsource portfolio management to Target consisting of residential mortgages, commercial mortgages and equity release products.
The business quickly needed a highly skilled outsourcing partner with experienced people, efficient processes and a single software platform capable of servicing multiple product types in order to ensure a seamless and fast transition period. Minimal disruption to their customers and portfolio performance was of paramount importance.
Working with an outsourcer with a track record in multiple product portfolio management was key in their selection criteria as was a provider who would become a guardian for their brand and reputation.
Service migration was achieved within 12 weeks, without impact on customers.
Transforming operational efficiency
Equally as beneficial for existing market players in this changing landscape is the ability to increase operating efficiency through process change and increased automation. At the very least, outsourcers should perform back office tasks efficiently, therefore reducing the need to increase headcount and ensuring leaner processes are deployed effectively.
Taking this further, more sophisticated systems and processes can be harnessed over time in a continual improvement programme which can deliver operational and financial benefits back to the lender but also reduces the need for additional capital expenditure. This approach can be useful in preserving valuable investment capital normally swallowed up by in house IT and service operational infrastructure and resourcing needs.
However, quite often lenders want to maintain ownership of key elements of the customer lifecycle, for example, originations. The optimum model here is to deploy a shared service utilising the same processing platform. This hybrid model provides all parties with consistent and current data, business intelligence support enabling informed decisions, process efficiencies and seamless hand-offs between the outsource partner, the lender and back again.
From the initial on-boarding of portfolios to the servicing platform itself, the need for flexible and efficient software enabling experienced people to perform at their best will be?come even more critical for ensuring a successful outsourcing partnership.
At Target we place the lender?s customers at the core of the service. Progressive systems should deliver a single view of all customer relationships. By bringing together all products held by a customer reduces risk, identifies cross-sell opportunities, aids process efficiencies, and enables effective and intelligent customer service, all key elements that need to be consid?ered by any growing financial services business.
Agile software
In 2011 a new and ambitious change programme began at Target. The Agile framework was chosen to provide a new set of tools and techniques to further improve new software delivery ? the enabler of transformational business process outsourcing for our clients.
A significant investment in Agile training and coaching from expert consultants was made ? all designed to continually improve the software development process, exceed client expectations and deliver better commercial results.
The objectives of the Agile programme were:
1.????? To refine the organisation and change how client and supplier work to improve client satisfaction.
Even greater flexibility is now built into the DNA of Target?s working practices. This enables the client to re-prioritise and the team to respond effectively.
2.????? To improve and energise the team.
Understanding and communication between colleagues has improved. There is greater visibility of individuals work, interdependency and output. Ownership, accountability and responsibility are devolved.
3.????? Improved commercial performance.
The delivery of results has accelerated considerably. Processes are optimised, work is re-used more effectively.
The three essential elements required to deliver success were identified as:
i.??????????? Strategic leadership and evangelism
ii.??????????? Establishing new organisational structures
iii.??????????? Improved operational practices
New practices were introduced following structured training. This ensured Agile became embedded and refined to build in-house capability. A commitment to quality and continuous improvement was reaffirmed adopting the CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) framework.
Agile development case study project
Project X is part of a multi-million pound mortgage outsourcing contract for Target. Applying Agile development to this project was bold.
The results so far have been impressive. After 10 months, 23 sprints are complete within 100 per cent of expectation in both time and budget. The project was delivered on time and within budget last month.
The behavioural changes have been significant. Improved communication, improved understanding of tasks and their relationship to other colleagues work makes each team member more accountable for their work, deadlines to complete, and the quality standard demanded by the group.
Commenting on Target?s approach to Agile, John Wright, lead consultant at Indigo Blue, said: ?What sets Target apart is the staggering pace of change driven through their development teams. They have embraced Agile. They have ambition and drive and are really going for it.?
James Rudolf, managing director of Target, commented: ?The teams have responded with professionalism and energy. At our 2011 staff conference I asked the team to embrace change, make a difference, get involved positively. The team has risen to this challenge. We?re continuing to improve, we don?t stand still.?
Reducing costs
Third party servicers should be able to provide flexible, tried and trusted processes, progressive tech?nology and specialist staff, also predictable, controlled and proportionate service costs which removes the need for additional capital expenditure and inward investment by the lender.
Target can provide lenders with the benefits of economies of scale being a ?one-stop shop? for the most efficient, tried and tested lending applications. Satisfying all service needs under one roof reduces the lender?s total cost of ownership.
On top of reducing costs an outsourcer can add value to client processes and also remove the burden of regulatory changes. An outsourcer removes the need to employ a separate technology provider and avoids the risk of building or buying software from scratch, along with the cost and time it takes to bed in a new system.
Control your portfolio and control the outcomes
Fundamentally, maintaining the right level of control and oversight is key. Although, quite often lenders will want the servicer to take on the burden of non-core business lines and free up management time for other more strategic business areas.
Lenders will still want to exercise the appropriate levels of governance and therefore servicers need to be accountable for the administration of the loans and provide sufficient transparency across their operation.
From recruiting high calibre client service and operational teams, to applying proven processes and technology, all these combine to ensure lenders can outsource with assurance and confidence of delivery and on-going effective performance from their service partner.
It is critical to have easy access to accurate MI to enable financial and service performance monitoring. Access to highly specialist financial accounting and expert portfolio analysis can enable lenders to maximise loan book performance.
All focus must be to equip clients with the data and insight to enable better decision making and to retain a higher level of control of the strategic direction of the portfolio and desired financial outcomes. This can be particularly true of strategies around the packaging of assets for a current or future sale or to support other divestment strategies.
To ensure success, outsourcers must be flexible to adapt to the evolving needs of lenders to diversify, innovate and retain their competitive edge. They must have the flexibility and not be afraid of wearing multiple hats ? be it launching a new lender or product, providing a standby servicer agreement, outsourcing specific elements of the process, or providing a full end to end outsource service, all are of equal importance to the lender.
They must continue to invest in technology, recruit and retain experienced professionals to effectively deliver great service and improved portfolio performance which means more cash collected, better customer service and improved client profitability.
For outsourcers the challenge is to drive for greater efficiency and flexibility, whilst still delivering the defined customer experience and the client?s business objectives.
Date: October 9, 2012
Source: http://www.mortgagefinancegazette.com/features/outsourcing-to-an-agile-framework/
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Contact: Alexander Brown
alexander.brown@springer.com
212-860-8063
Springer Science+Business Media
A new study provides evidence that gamblers interpret near-misses as frustrating losses rather than near-wins. This frustration stimulates the reward systems in the brain to promote continued gambling, according to Mike Dixon from the University of Waterloo in Canada, and his colleagues. This, in turn, may contribute to addictive gambling behavior. Their work is published online in Springer's Journal of Gambling Studies.
Dr. Dixon comments, "Our findings support the hypothesis that these types of near-misses are a particularly frustrating form of loss, and contradict the supposition that they are a mis-categorized win. Specifically, following these types of near-misses, participants may be driven to spin again as quickly as possible to remove themselves from a particularly frustrating state."
Studies to date have shown that near-misses support persistent gambling and activate brain areas that reinforce certain behaviors. If near-misses are seen as near-wins, then they should be pleasurable. If, however, near-misses are highly frustrating losses, then they should be unpleasant. Dixon and team set out to shed light on this debate.
They measured the time between the result of a spin and the initiation of the next spin following losses, near-misses and wins of various sizes among 122 participants as they played a slot machine simulator. Of the 122 gamblers, 22 were non-problem gamblers, 37 were at risk players and 23 were problem gamblers. The researchers also assessed the players' frustration levels by measuring the rate at which electricity travels through the skin. Skin responses reflect psychophysical changes as a result of frustration.
The analyses showed that progressively larger wins led to longer pauses between spins and increased arousal levels. Near-misses with jackpot symbols landing on the first two reels led to significantly larger skin responses than regular losses and other types of near-misses. In addition, the gamblers were compelled to repeat the spin as quickly as possible after this type of near miss.
"By activating what we call the appetitive component of the mesolimbic rewards system, these near-misses may help a player develop a hopeful, subjective impression that the next win is imminent," said Dixon. "This might ultimately contribute to the sensitization of the appetitive system, which plays a key role in addictive behavior."
###
Reference
Dixon MJ et al (2012). The frustrating effects of just missing the jackpot: slot machines near-misses trigger large skin conductance responses, but no post-reinforcement pauses. Journal of Gambling Studies DOI 10.1007/s10899-012-9333-x.
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: Alexander Brown
alexander.brown@springer.com
212-860-8063
Springer Science+Business Media
A new study provides evidence that gamblers interpret near-misses as frustrating losses rather than near-wins. This frustration stimulates the reward systems in the brain to promote continued gambling, according to Mike Dixon from the University of Waterloo in Canada, and his colleagues. This, in turn, may contribute to addictive gambling behavior. Their work is published online in Springer's Journal of Gambling Studies.
Dr. Dixon comments, "Our findings support the hypothesis that these types of near-misses are a particularly frustrating form of loss, and contradict the supposition that they are a mis-categorized win. Specifically, following these types of near-misses, participants may be driven to spin again as quickly as possible to remove themselves from a particularly frustrating state."
Studies to date have shown that near-misses support persistent gambling and activate brain areas that reinforce certain behaviors. If near-misses are seen as near-wins, then they should be pleasurable. If, however, near-misses are highly frustrating losses, then they should be unpleasant. Dixon and team set out to shed light on this debate.
They measured the time between the result of a spin and the initiation of the next spin following losses, near-misses and wins of various sizes among 122 participants as they played a slot machine simulator. Of the 122 gamblers, 22 were non-problem gamblers, 37 were at risk players and 23 were problem gamblers. The researchers also assessed the players' frustration levels by measuring the rate at which electricity travels through the skin. Skin responses reflect psychophysical changes as a result of frustration.
The analyses showed that progressively larger wins led to longer pauses between spins and increased arousal levels. Near-misses with jackpot symbols landing on the first two reels led to significantly larger skin responses than regular losses and other types of near-misses. In addition, the gamblers were compelled to repeat the spin as quickly as possible after this type of near miss.
"By activating what we call the appetitive component of the mesolimbic rewards system, these near-misses may help a player develop a hopeful, subjective impression that the next win is imminent," said Dixon. "This might ultimately contribute to the sensitization of the appetitive system, which plays a key role in addictive behavior."
###
Reference
Dixon MJ et al (2012). The frustrating effects of just missing the jackpot: slot machines near-misses trigger large skin conductance responses, but no post-reinforcement pauses. Journal of Gambling Studies DOI 10.1007/s10899-012-9333-x.
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/ssm-gia100912.php
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When the pioneers of the air conditioning industry first set out to try and protect themselves from the hot sun, many looked to ice for air. Roman Caesars would send slaves to the mountains to retrieve snow, or Persians would stuff snow between their walls. To an extent these ideas were successful, but the problem resulted in there just not being enough ice around. However, a new company called Ice Energy has developed a new modification to contemporary air conditioning called the Ice Bear. It appears that ice may be making a comeback.
The ice bear changes the air conditioning game by altering how and when an air conditioner draws energy, and here?s how it works.
Ice Energy is a very new company, but with an idea and critical reviews this good, Ice Energy is projected to boom and boom big. They have projected profits of 5 million dollars this year and upwards of 50 million next year. As this technology becomes more sophisticated the Ice Bear will become smaller and more efficient, effectively changing the way we air condition our homes forever.
Source: http://www.heatingcoolingservice.com/the-ice-bear-an-old-idea-with-a-new-twist/
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ScienceDaily (Oct. 7, 2012) ? They may not be green but they do live in an ocean far, far away, and now they share the same moniker as the diminutive Jedi master in the Star Wars blockbusters.
Yoda purpurata -- to be exact -- is the name now given by a University of Aberdeen-led team of scientists to one of three new species of deep sea acorn worms or Enteropneusts discovered 2,500m or around 1.5 miles below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.
There is much interest in these deep sea hemichordates since they are close to the evolutionary link between vertebrates and invertebrates.
Researchers were completing the last leg of the ?2m NERC-funded ECOMAR research programme examining the occurrence, distribution and ecology of animals along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and the Azores when they recovered the specimens two years ago during a voyage aboard the RSS James Cook.
Now, after studying the specimens, scientists have officially named the three new species identified as belonging to the Torquaratoridae family.
In a paper published in the journal Invertebrate Biology, the scientists -- including Professor Monty Priede, Director of the University of Aberdeen's Oceanlab, who led the research -- reveal the new names.
A reddish-purple acorn worm with large lips either side of its head region reminded researchers of floppy-eared Star Wars character Yoda while pupurata is Latin for purple and describes its colourful hue.
Allapasus isidis is the name given to a white acorn worm which was named after the NERC-owned remotely operated vehicle, ROV Isis, which collected the specimens from the ocean.
Tergivelum cinnabarinum is the name given to a vibrant scarlet-orange acorn worm -- cinnabarinum is Latin for cinnabar which is a red coloured mineral.
Professor Monty Priede said: "It's incredibly exciting to find new species and when we retrieved them back on board the ship everyone was amazed at the striking differences in colour which led to nicknames such as 'northern pink', 'southern purple' and 'southern white' which captured their colour as well as where on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge they were found.
"Our colleague in California Nick Holland, the world authority on the Enteropneusts, chose the name Yoda, for the new genus characterised by its large ear-like lips.
"Shallow water acorn worms live in burrows and are rarely seen, whereas deep sea species browse on the sea floor leaving spiral poo traces that resemble crop circles. These traces have been seen in fossil form but until recently no-one knew what produced them.
"It is only 10 years since the first species of deep sea torquaratorid acorn worm was found in the Pacific Ocean; now we have three new species from the Atlantic it seems different species will be found throughout the deep sea.
"There is much interest in the acorn worms from the point of view of understanding the early evolution of the vertebrates. In particular the deep sea species show how a primitive animal with some chordate characteristics but no tail or limbs can drag itself across the sea floor using a muscular collar to gather food and then float above the sea floor to new feeding sites.
"Whilst they are not strictly a missing link in our own evolution they give an insight into what the lifestyle of our remote ancestors might have been like.
"Despite their recent discovery these animals are not rare in the deep, and now we have the technology we are finding them in abundance. The next question to be addressed is the role they play in the deep sea ecosystem."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by The University of Aberdeen.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q69YCdH2-mE/121007140704.htm
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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-opposition-may-accept-role-assads-party-091644015.html
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The Mannings and Hardaway join a minority group that includes singer and actor Justin Timberlake and a couple Memphis businessmen, the person told The Associated Press Thursday on condition of anonymity because prospective buyer Robert J. Pera's purchase of the Grizzlies is pending approval by the NBA.
The addition of Manning and Hardaway first was reported by The Chris Vernon Show on WMFS-FM on Thursday.
Pera, owner of a California tech company, agreed to buy the Grizzlies from Michael Heisley in June. The NBA is expected to approve the sale this month.
Source: http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/sports/NFL-star-agree-to-join-group-buying-NBA-team-172696761.html
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BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina and Iran will keep talking until they resolve diplomatically sensitive issues stemming from two 1990s attacks on Jewish targets in Buenos Aires that were allegedly sponsored by Tehran, both countries said on Thursday.
Dialogue with Tehran is risky for Argentina, even if the focus is on Tehran's possible culpability in a pair of bombings. The opening of a diplomatic channel with Tehran could anger the United States and Israel, which are seeking to isolate Iran as it appears to pursue nuclear weapons.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez surprised the United Nations General Assembly this week by announcing the talks.
The foreign ministers of the two countries held their first meeting at U.N. headquarters in New York. They issued a statement saying their lawyers will meet next month in Geneva.
"The goal is to explore a legal mechanism that does not go against the systems of either Argentina or Iran," the statement said. "This process will continue until a mutually agreed solution is found to all issues concerning the case."
Argentine courts have accused Iran of sponsoring a 1994 attack on a Buenos Aires Jewish center that killed 85 people.
That assault came two years after a group linked to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a bombing attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which killed 29. Tehran has denied links to either attack.
Talking with Iran is a gamble for Fernandez, whose popularity has fallen since her October 2011 re-election. Argentina is home to Latin America's largest Jewish population.
"The risks for Argentina at the domestic and international level are high," said Ignacio Labaqui, a political science professor at the Catholic University of Argentina.
"Approaching Iran is not the best signal that the government can send to the U.S. and Israel," he added. "For Iran though, this is a diplomatic success. Any measure reducing isolationism is good for Iran."
Speculation over a possible Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear installations has increased in recent months. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also come under fire recently for anti-Israeli rhetoric, including his statement on Monday that Israel will be "eliminated.
Guillermo Borger, head of Argentina's AMIA Jewish association, the headquarters of which was bombed in the 1994 attack, told local radio that talking with Iran was an "improbable and absolutely unreliable" approach to seeking justice over the attacks.
(Reporting By Hugh Bronstein; editing by Todd Eastham)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/argentina-iran-talk-until-1990s-bombings-resolved-012821408.html
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