Drug protects against kidney injury from imaging dye in ACS patients

Mar. 10, 2013 ? High doses of a popular cholesterol-lowering drug significantly reduced the rate of acute kidney injury caused by dye used in imaging in acute coronary syndrome patients who underwent a coronary procedure, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 62nd Annual Scientific Session. This group of patients is at high risk for kidney damage related to contrast agents used in imaging tests.

Previous studies have demonstrated the kidney-protective value of various statins administered before patients undergo angioplasty. Rosuvastatin was chosen for this phase IV study because inflammation is involved in development of both acute coronary syndrome and kidney injury, and the drug has anti-inflammatory properties and reported clinical benefits in preventing events that can harm the heart. U.S. and European guidelines recommend statins for all acute coronary syndrome patients, regardless of cholesterol levels, within one to four days after admission.

A total of 504 patients were randomly assigned to the statin or control group. None of the patients had taken statins before; all were slated for diagnostic angiographic imaging with intent to perform angioplasty, had iodixanol injected for imaging and had non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome, which carries high risk for heart attack. The statin patients received one 40-mg dose of rosuvastatin as soon as they were admitted to the coronary care unit plus a single 20-mg dose daily until they were discharged, then continued with post-discharge rosuvastatin at 20 mg/day or 10 mg/day, depending on kidney function determined by creatinine clearance. The control group received atorvastatin at 40 mg/day after discharge and no statin before then.

On the primary endpoint -- contrast-induced acute kidney injury, defined as a rise in creatinine of at least 0.5 mg/dl or at least 25 percent from baseline within 72 hours -- the statin group had significantly better results (6.7 percent vs. 15.1 percent). Rosuvastatin showed comparable benefits with other definitions of kidney injury as well: creatinine increase of at least 0.3 mg/dl from baseline within 48 hours (3.6 vs. 8.7 percent) and within 72 hours (4.4 vs. 10.7 percent).

"The beneficial impact of statin pre-administration was consistent in all subgroups and in particular in patients with kidney dysfunction shown by creatinine clearance less than 60 ml/min, where kidney injury incidence was 8.6 percent compared with 20.9 percent in the control group," said Anna Toso, MD, clinical and interventional cardiologist with the Division of Cardiology, Misericordia e Dolce Hospital, Prato, Italy, and the study's principal investigator.

The number of ACS patients who undergo angiographic procedures is growing and includes a population that's getting more elderly and has more risk factors, she noted.

The statin group also demonstrated superior results for 30-day adverse clinical events of death, dialysis, heart attack, stroke and persistent kidney damage, with cumulative incidence of 3.9 percent compared with 7.9 percent for the control group.

"Our study shows that early administration of high-dose statin has a protective effect against kidney damage due to contrast medium in patients with ACS," Dr. Toso said. "The results help define better the timing of early administration of statins, which should be given as soon as possible after admission and always before the angiographic procedure, to reduce kidney complications and achieve clinical benefits, even before hospital discharge."

This research is part of the larger PRATO-ACS clinical project to explore rosuvastatin's pleiotropic effects -- actions other than those for which the drug was developed (in this case, lowering cholesterol) -- on a number of targets, including contrast-induced acute kidney injury.

"It would be interesting to compare the effects of lipophilic and hydrophilic statins," Dr. Toso said. "We are now planning the PRATO-ACS 2 project, a head-to-head comparison between high-dose rosuvastatin [hydrophilic] and high-dose atorvastatin [lipophilic] administered on admission to statin-na?ve ACS patients scheduled for early invasive strategy."

Researchers say a multicenter study is needed. The PRATO-ACS study was supported by the nonprofit Centro Cardiopatici Toscani.

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1yzccUOmmUw/130311101754.htm

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How to Minimize the Red Tape and Taxes of a Startup

One of the first questions that I get from many entrepreneurs is ?How should I set up my company to minimize my setup costs, tax liabilities, and risk of lawsuits?? The answers are different in every part of the world, but the parameters here in the US should give you the considerations you need in any environment. I?ll offer you a few simple rules of thumb.

If you are certain that you are building a large national corporation with more than 100 investors, and multiple classes of stock, then you might as well start with a Delaware or Nevada C-Corp. If you aren?t so sure, need something fast, or need to keep your costs low, then an LLC is the best legal and taxable entity to facilitate your startup. Here are the key steps:

1. Form the simplest legal entity early to cover your efforts. Don?t wait for that first investor, the first prototype, or that first lawsuit. Incorporate your startup after the business plan, but before you spend a dollar on product development. The alternatives include a sole proprietorship, LLC (Limited Liability Company), S-Corp (Subchapter-S Corporation), or C-Corp (US Corporation).

   While the sole proprietorship is the simplest, it is essentially co-mingling your personal and business assets. The harsh downside is that you might lose your house and all personal possessions if your business fails, or gets sued. Each of the other three has the great legal advantage of limiting liability to the entity, preserving personal assets.

2. Declare a separate taxable entity to optimize taxes. Many entrepreneurs don?t realize that the tax entity election doesn?t have to match the legal entity. For example, an LLC with two or more members (even husband and wife) will default to a partnership for tax purposes, and report income through Schedule K-1.

   Any LLC or S-Corp can elect to be treated for tax purposes as a sole proprietorship (Schedule C) or partnership (Schedule K). Or any LLC can use Form 2553 Election by a Small Business Corporation to be treated for tax purposes as an S-Corp. Now would be a good time to see your lawyer or accountant if you need more details.

3. The initial paperwork defines the start date of your business. The first step can be done online in a few minutes by filling out Form SS-4 to request an EIN (Employer Identification Number). An LLC or S-Corp or C-Corp requires several more forms to create, and publication in a newspaper. If you do it yourself, this process will likely take a couple of months and cost a few hundred dollars (much more if you use a lawyer).

4. Every startup business needs annual tax return coverage. For corporations, the annual tax return due date is March 16^th in the US. LLCs and sole-proprietorships become part of your personal tax filing package, so the due date for these is April 16^th. In addition, corporations have quarterly filing requirements, and even monthly ones, if you collect sales taxes and hire employees.

5. Upgrade your business entity as required. Legal requirements and tax requirements change as a business grows, so your entity needs to be reviewed regularly. For example, you and your partner may be perfectly happy with an LLC, but venture capital or Angel investors may insist on having ?preferred? stock, forcing an upgrade to a C-Corp. A few states, like Delaware and Nevada, offer tax advantages to large companies.

If you need help, there are plenty of places you can go online, like BusinessUSA.gov. If you are totally confused by the online information, make an appointment with a local agency such as your industry association, your local SCORE office, or your nearest Small Business Development Center (SBDC). If all else fails, hire an attorney to guide you through the special cases.

But don?t be misled. Minimizing red tape and taxes is a necessary, but not sufficient, effort to ensure the success of your startup. On the other hand, I?ve seen several innovative and substantial startup efforts derailed by lack of focus on legal or taxation issues. That?s a painful way to die, or wish you had never started.

Marty Zwilling

Disclosure: I am blogging on behalf of Visa Business and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa's. Information and opinions are presented solely for informational purposes, and are not intended, nor should they be construed, as a substitute for legal, accounting or tax advice. You should consult an attorney or tax advisor for individual advice regarding your own situation.

Visit http://facebook.com/visasmallbiz to take a look at the reinvented Facebook Page: Well Sourced by Visa Business. The Page serves as a space where small business owners can access educational resources, read success stories from other business owners, engage with peers, and find tips to help businesses run more efficiently.

Every month, the Page will introduce a new theme that will focus on a topic important to a small business owner's success. For additional tips and advice, and information about Visa's small business solutions, follow @VisaSmallBiz and visit http://visa.com/business.

Source: http://blog.startupprofessionals.com/2013/03/how-to-minimize-red-tape-and-taxes-of.html

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Trail Tuesday: Carvin's Cove, Roanoke, Virginia | Singletracks ...

While there are hundreds of miles of bike-legal singletrack in the Roanoke region (not to mention all the gravel roads and doubletrack), Carvin?s Cove is the undisputed hotspot. With the main trailhead located just 15 miles from downtown Roanoke (a metro area of 315,000 people), not only are the trails excellent, but they?re accessible as well.

Photo: Dan Lucas.

By the time I hit Carvin?s Cove during my trip last November, I had already put in two long days of hard Appalachian Mountain riding, and I had a fourth long day planned for the ?morrow. With 32 miles of trails in the Carvin?s Cove Trail System, there was no way we were going to be able to fully explore the singletrack solely under our own power. Thankfully, my local friend (Dan Lucas of Wilderness Adventure) is deeply involved in the local riding scene and was able to talk Chris from Roanoke Parks and Recreation into spending a half day shuttling us up to the top of the mountain to hit the higher trails. In addition to helping us save our legs, I was also able to get the low-down from Chris on what?s going on at Carvin?s Cove.

After several conversation-filled rides to the top, I discovered that Carvin?s Cove is a pretty unique trail system. All of the land the trails are located on is owned by the City of Roanoke and, at 12,000 acres in size, it is the second largest municipal park in the United States (behind South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona). All of the land (and the trail system on it) is managed by the Roanoke Parks and Recreation department.

Jeff and mudhunny used to live relatively close to Roanoke and rode Carvin?s Cove back in 2005. After chatting with Jeff and reading their reviews from that time, apparently there were already many trails on that tract of land, but they weren?t very well maintained and the signage was poor. Back then their general impression was that mountain biking at Carvin?s was tolerated more than it was encouraged.

Photo: Dan Lucas.

In the intervening seven years, the city?s approach to the trail system has changed dramatically! Signage across the entire system is now excellent, and Roanoke Parks and Rec and the local mountain clubs have been investing time and money to improve and expand the trail system. The historic, largely unplanned trails that formed the core of the original trail system have been joined by sculpted, purpose-built mountain bike singletrack.

This change of heart is in accordance with Roanoke?s general drive to rebrand itself as an outdoor recreation destination. With the Appalachian Trail running along the ridge across from Carvin?s Cove (including Mcafee Knob, the most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail), many rivers and streams, several rock climbing crags, and the massive George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Roanoke truly has a lot going for it!

Also, while with 32 miles of trail there?s already a full day?s worth of riding at Carvin?s Cove, Roanoke isn?t satisfied with resting on its laurels. A master plan currently pending approval calls for up to 20 more miles of singletrack to be added to Carvin?s Cove (if everything is approved). With the possibility of a full 50+ miles of trail at Carvin?s Cove in addition to all of the other nearby trails, Roanoke is quickly developing into one of the top mountain biking destinations on the East Coast.

The Trails

Photo: Dan Lucas.

I know what you?re thinking: ?Yeah, enough of these boring numbers. What are the trails actually like?! If the riding sucks, all of these numbers mean nothing.?

Well friend, let me tell you very emphatically: the riding is anything but sucky!

One of the things that makes Carvin?s Cove such a gem is the diversity of mountain biking opportunities available. The trails can be mentally divided into two different areas: ?up high? and ?down low.? While the trails in both of the areas connect seamlessly, the ?up high? trails feature much more elevation gain and loss and are generally much more technically difficult. The ?down low? trails still have a little climbing and descending, but it?s a much more moderate up-down-up-down style of singletrack. Also in the down low area, there are some very flowy intermediate trails and some flat singletrack trails that are very accessible to beginners.

Up High

All of the trails in the trail system are technically two-way, and while you can climb the singletrack to the top, most riders instead choose to climb the gated gravel road that we shuttled up and down.

Buck

Buck is a steep, rather techy descent off the top of the ridge. With plenty of off-camber roots and sections of sharp shale to keep you on your toes, the very narrow tread and pretty serious exposure in places compound the difficulty and create a trail that begs to be ridden fast but demands absolute control. Be sure to watch it in the switchbacks!

Hi-Dee-Hoe

Hi-Dee-Hoe has the same super-exposed super-narrow bench cut tread as Buck. This trail requires laser-focus to descend fast?one moment of inattention and you could find yourself tumbling down the mountain side! The switchbacks up high can be a bit tricky too: keep your eyes open! After descending the steep side of the ridge, the trail continues to descend towards the trailhead but at a more gradual, rolling pace.

The Trough

Mtbgreg1 railing a berm on The Trough. Photo: Dan Lucas.

This fast descent off the top of the mountain will leave you wishing for more when you drop out at the bottom. The trail ends up on Timberview Road on the opposite side of the mountain from the main Bennett Springs trailhead, so just be aware that if you drop down this side you will either need to climb back up and over the ridge, circle all the way around the far end of the mountain, or hitch a ride.

Dan airing out one of the jumps on The Trough. Photo: mtbgreg1.

The Trough is also home to an optional freeride section, housing most of the freeride features at Carvin?s. With berms, jumps, and drops of various sizes, The Trough is proof that Carvin?s Cove isn?t just a one-trick pony: it caters to all different types of riders!

The Gauntlet

This is the fastest, rowdiest trail in the entire trail system! While some of the descents off the top are tight and exposed with hairpin switchbacks, The Gauntlet, on average, is much more open with much better flow, allowing you to conserve your speed and blast down the mountain! There are tons of corners to carve up towards the top, but as the trail descends it gets rockier and rootier, transitioning into a high-speed suspension testing zone. Drop the saddle and be prepared to rock on this trail!

Note: Like The Trough, The Gauntlet does drop you down on the east side of the ridge, on the other side of the mountain from the Bennett Springs Trailhead.

Down Low

While the down low trails are significantly easier than the steep up high trails, there?s still tons of great singletrack to be had!

Comet

Comet is a great descent despite being down low, with some super fast, entertaining sections! Still, this trail is pretty easy overall and a fun ride in either direction.

Four Gorge and Four Gorge Extension

Airborne Goblin on Four Gorge. Photo: Dan Lucas.

Four Gorge is ?down low? but still features a little climbing; I?d describe it as ?rolling.? This intermediate trail features new school IMBA construction with excellent bench cutting, grade reversals, and trail armoring.

Flowy rollers on Four Gorge Ext. Photo: Dan Lucas.

If Four Gorge is a great contoured trail, Four Gorge Extension is that times 10! The newest trail at Carvin?s Cove, Four Gorge Ext. was built with IMBA guidance and uses the latest and greatest IMBA trail building techniques. Excellent bench cutting, grade reversals, superb rock armoring, rollers, and excellent flow are all apparent on this short but oh-so-sweet trail.

Enchanted Forest

Chris Heslin of Underdog Bikes riding in the Enchanted Forest. Photo: Dan Lucas.

A unique trail in this system, this flat singletrack runs through a stand of old growth pine trees. Evergreens aren?t very common in this region, so riding through the deep trees on the quiet of the pine straw is a rare treat for the locals.

Conclusion

While there are many trails that I didn?t talk about specifically in this blog post, that doesn?t mean they aren?t worth riding! Head on out to Carvin?s Cove and check them out for yourself!

Your Turn: Have you ever ridden Carvin?s Cove? What were your thoughts and impressions?

Related posts:

1. mountain biking in roanoke, va
2. Trail Tuesday: Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, New Zealand
3. Trail Tuesday: Soquel Demonstration Forest, Santa Cruz, California
4. Trail Tuesday: Bent Creek, Asheville, NC
5. Trail Tuesday: Bear Creek & Pinhoti Trail

Source: http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-trails/trail-tuesday-carvins-cove-roanoke-virginia/

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Why President Obama's charm offensive is headed for pressure testing -- right away (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/290542148?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Photos: Mapping Mars in the Utah desert

A view of the night sky above the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is seen outside Hanksville in the Utah desert March 2, 2013. The MDRS aims to investigate the feasibility of a human exploration of Mars and uses the Utah desert's Mars-like terrain to simulate working conditions on the red planet. Scientists, students and enthusiasts work together developing field tactics and studying the terrain. All outdoor exploration is done wearing ... more?A view of the night sky above the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is seen outside Hanksville in the Utah desert March 2, 2013. The MDRS aims to investigate the feasibility of a human exploration of Mars and uses the Utah desert's Mars-like terrain to simulate working conditions on the red planet. Scientists, students and enthusiasts work together developing field tactics and studying the terrain. All outdoor exploration is done wearing simulated spacesuits and carrying air supply packs and crews live together in a small communication base with limited amounts of electricity, food, oxygen and water. Everything needed to survive must be produced, fixed and replaced on site. Picture taken March 2, 2013. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart (UNITED STATES - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT) ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 31 OF 31 FOR PACKAGE 'MARS IN THE DESERT' SEARCH 'JIM MARS' FOR ALL IMAGES less?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/mars-in-the-utah-desert-slideshow/

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Marking anniversary of Fukushima HPS publishes special paper on nuclear radiation

Public release date: 11-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kelly Classic
media@hps.org
Health Physics Society

WASHINGTON, DC (MARCH 8, 2013) Marking the anniversary of the March 2011 Japan tsunami and resulting damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility, the Health Physics Society (HPS) has published Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives online (http://www.hps.org/documents/radiation_and_risk.pdf), the first of a series of special publications on radiation and its effects on human and environmental health.

The paper, authored by leading scientists in the fields of engineering, medicine, health physics, environmental health and public safety, is a compilation of research perspectives on topics including natural radiation, medical radiation application, effects of radiation on the environment, safety controls of nuclear energy production, risk communication and the regulatory implications of radiation safety. Notable perspectives include:

• Robert Peter Gale, MD, PhD, DSc, FACP of Imperial College, Section of Haematology, Department of Medicine and F. Owen Hoffman, PhD of SENES Oak Ridge, Inc., Center for Risk Analysis;
• Joxel Garcia, MD, MBA of the International Healthcare Solutions group, past U.S. Secretary for Health and U.S. Representative to the World Health Organization Executive Board;
• Richard Vetter, PhD, CHP of the Mayo Clinic;
• F. Ward Whicker of the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences at Colorado State University;
• Kathryn Higley of Oregon State University's Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics;
• Dr. Robert Emery of the University of Texas, School of Public Health;
• Louis Wagner, PhD of the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School;
• Bernard Cohen of the University of Pittsburgh, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy; and
• Howard Dickson, President of Dickson Consulting, LLC and Web Operations editor-in-chief of the Health Physics Society.

"The contributors to this piece present objective, science-based information, helping us navigate through some of the most important and timely issues in radiation and nuclear energy," said Armin Ansari, President of the Health Physics Society. "Their research includes first-hand experience with the three most-well-known nuclear reactor accidents in history Fukushima, Chernobyl and the 1979 Three Mile Island accident informing their work and providing insights unseen anywhere else."

This compilation of research papers is a result of a panel discussion sponsored by HPS at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on March 1, 2012, where a group of radiation scientists recognized the one-year anniversary of Fukushima and discussed radiation risks with the general public.

HPS Web Operations have published Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives in hopes that these perspectives provide a meaningful and understandable explanation of radiation risk to human health and well-being.

###

About Health Physics Society

The Health Physics Society is a nonprofit organization formed in 1956 with the primary mission of excellence in the science and practice of radiation safety. The Society has over 5,500 radiation safety professional members in 44 countries, whose activities include ensuring safe and beneficial uses of radiation and radioactive materials, assisting in the development of standards and regulations and communicating radiation safety information. Visit http://www.hps.org for more information.

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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.

Public release date: 11-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kelly Classic
media@hps.org
Health Physics Society

WASHINGTON, DC (MARCH 8, 2013) Marking the anniversary of the March 2011 Japan tsunami and resulting damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility, the Health Physics Society (HPS) has published Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives online (http://www.hps.org/documents/radiation_and_risk.pdf), the first of a series of special publications on radiation and its effects on human and environmental health.

The paper, authored by leading scientists in the fields of engineering, medicine, health physics, environmental health and public safety, is a compilation of research perspectives on topics including natural radiation, medical radiation application, effects of radiation on the environment, safety controls of nuclear energy production, risk communication and the regulatory implications of radiation safety. Notable perspectives include:

• Robert Peter Gale, MD, PhD, DSc, FACP of Imperial College, Section of Haematology, Department of Medicine and F. Owen Hoffman, PhD of SENES Oak Ridge, Inc., Center for Risk Analysis;
• Joxel Garcia, MD, MBA of the International Healthcare Solutions group, past U.S. Secretary for Health and U.S. Representative to the World Health Organization Executive Board;
• Richard Vetter, PhD, CHP of the Mayo Clinic;
• F. Ward Whicker of the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences at Colorado State University;
• Kathryn Higley of Oregon State University's Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics;
• Dr. Robert Emery of the University of Texas, School of Public Health;
• Louis Wagner, PhD of the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School;
• Bernard Cohen of the University of Pittsburgh, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy; and
• Howard Dickson, President of Dickson Consulting, LLC and Web Operations editor-in-chief of the Health Physics Society.

"The contributors to this piece present objective, science-based information, helping us navigate through some of the most important and timely issues in radiation and nuclear energy," said Armin Ansari, President of the Health Physics Society. "Their research includes first-hand experience with the three most-well-known nuclear reactor accidents in history Fukushima, Chernobyl and the 1979 Three Mile Island accident informing their work and providing insights unseen anywhere else."

This compilation of research papers is a result of a panel discussion sponsored by HPS at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on March 1, 2012, where a group of radiation scientists recognized the one-year anniversary of Fukushima and discussed radiation risks with the general public.

HPS Web Operations have published Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives in hopes that these perspectives provide a meaningful and understandable explanation of radiation risk to human health and well-being.

###

About Health Physics Society

The Health Physics Society is a nonprofit organization formed in 1956 with the primary mission of excellence in the science and practice of radiation safety. The Society has over 5,500 radiation safety professional members in 44 countries, whose activities include ensuring safe and beneficial uses of radiation and radioactive materials, assisting in the development of standards and regulations and communicating radiation safety information. Visit http://www.hps.org for more information.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/hps-mao031113.php

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AP source: Google to pay $7M to settle Wi-Fi case

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Google will pay a $7 million penalty to settle a multistate investigation into the Internet search leader's collection of emails, passwords and other sensitive information sent over wireless networks several years ago in neighborhoods scattered around the world.

The resolution will close a joint investigation by attorneys general in about 30 states, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person asked not to be identified because the settlement isn't expected to be announced until early next week.

The $7 million will be shared among all the states, the person said. Google's revenue this year is expected to surpass $61 billion. At that pace, Google brings in an average of $7 million in revenue per hour.

The case dates back to 2010 when Google Inc. revealed that company cars taking street-level photos for its online mapping service also had been vacuuming up personal data transmitted over wireless networks that weren't protected by passwords. Google blamed the snooping, which started in 2007, on an overzealous engineer who installed an intrusive piece of software on equipment that the company said was only supposed to detect the location of wireless networks.

That explanation didn't placate outraged privacy watchdogs or government regulators in the U.S. and other countries who opened investigations into the company's surveillance of Wi-Fi networks that were operating mostly in homes and small businesses.

The multistate inquiry in the U.S. initially was being led by Connecticut, which is now part of an executive committee overseeing the matter.

A spokeswoman for Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen declined to say whether Google had agreed to a settlement. The investigation is still "active and ongoing," Jepsen spokeswoman Susan Kinsman said Friday.

Google has maintained it didn't break any U.S. laws by grabbing information sent over open networks, but has repeatedly apologized for a breach of online etiquette. The company, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., issued another note of contrition when contacted Friday.

"We work hard to get privacy right at Google," the company said. "But in this case we didn't, which is why we quickly tightened up our systems to address the issue."

The $7 million will represent the largest sum that the Google has paid so far in the various U.S. investigations into the so-called "Wi-Spy" matter. Last year, the Federal Communications Commission fined Google $25,000 for impeding its investigation. The Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission both decided not to penalize Google after looking into the Wi-Fi data-gathering.

Google has committed other privacy gaffes that have gotten it into trouble with the FTC. In the most expensive episode so far, Google last year faced allegations that it had been secretly tracking the online activities of Web surfers using Apple Inc.'s Safari browser. Without acknowledging any wrongdoing, Google paid a $22.5 million fine to the FTC in that case.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-03-08-Google-Wi-Fi%20Investigation/id-460f587a5a5c40289f0d408120ad46c4

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IberiaBank Visa Gold Cash Back Rewards Card vs. Chase Freedom ...

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Welcome to?My Personal Finance Journey! If you are new here, please read the "About" or "First-Time Visitor" pages to find out more about us. If you would like to receive free updates on articles like this by email, then?sign up here?or you can?subscribe to the RSS feed. Also, check us out on?Twitter?or?Facebook. Thanks for visiting! Keep on learning!
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Let's face it. Sometimes, reading about personal finance can make for some pretty dry reading. Annual fee this, interest rate that, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Are you still awake?

So, in an attempt to spice things up a little bit, I decided to start a series on MPFJ called,?Credit Card Boxing. In each match, two credit cards (of the same general category of credit card) will be compared side by side in an attempt to determine which reigns supreme over the other. When applicable, the winner from the previous match will advance to compete in the next round.

In this, the 3rd match of the series, we're again comparing?two general purpose credit cards.

In the left corner, we have weighing in at a hefty 5.23 g (weighed in the scale in my lab), my favorite credit card that I use for almost all of my purchases, the?Chase Freedom Visa Card. If you missed the?first and second MPFJ credit card boxing matches the past two weeks, this card beat out both the new?Discover it Card?(although it was a close match) and the Barclaycard Rewards MasterCard. ?

In the right corner,?we have weighing in at a respectable 5.6 g, the IberiaBank Visa Gold Cash Back Rewards Card. I haven't personally tried out this card yet, so I was curious to learn a little more about it.

Shown below is a screenshot from?CreditCards.com?(the first place I go for looking up information on credit cards) listing all of the pertinent details for the?Chase Freedom Visa Card.

• Chase Freedom Visa?Pluses
• There is no annual fee.
• A very nice $100 bonus for signing up.
• 5% cash back in rotating categories every quarter. From personal experience, I can tell you that these categories are actually quite useful. They are not highly specific like with some cards. For example, right now, they are doing 5% cash back for gas stations. I think pretty much anyone can relate to the benefits of getting cash back for gas purchases. They have also done grocery stores in the past, although discount stores like WalMart, Sam's, and Costco do not qualify for this.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Chase Freedom Visa?Minuses
• Requires excellent credit history, which can be a deal breaker for some folks.?
• 3% transaction fee for all transactions completed in a foreign currency. This can add up quickly if you plan on using this credit card whilst traveling!?

And, shown below is a table listing out all of the pertinent details for the?IberiaBank Visa Gold Cash Back Rewards Card. You can also?click here?to view the card's Terms and Conditions as well.?

• IberiaBank Visa Gold Cash Back Rewards Card?Pluses
• No annual fee - always a nice thing!
• 1% cash back on all purchases.
• IberiaBank Visa Gold Cash Back Rewards Card?Minuses
• 2% transaction fee for all transactions completed in a foreign currency (so slightly less than the Chase Freedom Card above).

Although I honestly wouldn't be ashamed of having either of these cards, I would have to say that for my money,?the clear winner here is the Chase Freedom Visa Card.?

What made me lean towards this one was because Chase Freedom offers higher cash back benefits than the IberiaBank Visa Card (5% vs only 1%). Of course, this does assume that you can qualify for both cards, which might be a little difficult given that Chase Freedom requires pretty good credit history. Thus, the IberiaBank Card might be good to look in to if you find yourself being denied from your first choice cards. ?

How about you all? Do you think the Chase Freedom Visa or?IberiaBank Visa Gold Cash Back Rewards Card?sounds like a better deal?

Do you personally carry either of these cards?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

Source: http://www.mypersonalfinancejourney.com/2013/03/iberiabank-visa-gold-cash-back-rewards.html

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The Bachelor Preview: Who Should Win the Final Rose (and What is the Letter)?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/the-bachelor-preview-who-should-win-the-final-rose-and-what-is-t/

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Top 10 Corporate Interview Processes for Hires that Fit ...

Without the ability to hire a great team, your business won?t prosper. The most successful businesses know exactly what they are looking for in a candidate because they know the position well and the company culture better. Interviews are used to determine whether or not the candidate has the qualities and characteristics you?re looking for in a great hire. These ten companies have established specialized interview processes that are able to identify great hires who become members of high performing teams.

10.?Tesla Motors?practices a collaborative hiring process, introducing the candidate to the entire company when he or she comes into interview. At Tesla Motors prospective employees should expect to spend an entire day with the Tesla Staff getting to know the facilities on a tour as well as multiple interviews with members across all departments. A friend of mine who currently works there said, ?Expect rapid-fire interview questions. Right as you?re finishing one answer they?re starting the next question. It?s like an agility challenge for your brain.? Becoming employed with the mechanically inclined is no easy feat. Tesla Motors is looking to hire employees as innovative and as quick as their product.

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9.?The Washington Post?uses a targeted selection behavioral system. Their passionate team of journalists, developers, designers and editors are eager to?share jobs, but cautious about who they hire to ensure they have a great cohesive team. The targeted selection interview process means The Washington Post asks questions to evaluate past performance that will predict future success. This interview style will require the candidate to be reflective and critical about their job history and past performance. ?Interviewees should be prepared to give concrete examples of trials, tribulations and successes.

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8.?Procter & Gamble prides themselves on their ability to develop top talent from within the organization. P&G makes a large investment in their employees, and planning for this they want to make the right hire the first time around. After submitting an application, candidates will go through three tests before they can even have their first interview. A ?success-driver assessment? is used to determine work related attitudes and measure compatibility to P&G. The next step is the ?reasoning screen,? this cognitive exam is designed to be complex and match the continually changing P&G environment. Finally, a ?reasoning test,? think SATS for adults.

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7.?Gallup?s interview process is designed to see how candidates respond under pressure. In a fast paced data driven environment, Gallup needs to ensure that their employees are able to maintain composure and provide accurate results. Gallup chooses to, ?invest in the best.? Gallup has a specialized series of interviews starting with an online assessment, used to match candidate?s talents to the job description. To some this interview process may seem extra lengthy and tedious, but Gallup?s methods are based on their own studies of their most successful employees. For Gallup, all aspects of the interview are based on data.

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6. Production Resource Group?is, ?disruptive to the entertainment?technology?industry?hiring process,? says?Manager of Recruiting and Employment, Richard Rubin. Unlike many other companies PRG?s interviewing process is not formulaic. Each interview is catered to the position the candidate is applying for and the culture of the company?s different locations. Each candidate should be prepared to?exemplify?the skills of the positio. For some positions PRG will ask a candidate to prepare a presentation based on their impression of how the job should be done if they were ?running the show.? PRGs interviews are about performance in action and focused strictly on the job.

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5.?Teach for America needs candidates that can teach and excel in difficult circumstances. TFA teachers have to be prepared to stick with the program and invest in the children, as heavily as TFA invest in them as employees, if not more. The?Huffington Post reports?one of the toughest questions is:??What would cause you to want to dropout of Teach For America if you were chosen?? ?TFA wants to see how honestly you will respond, and the obvious answer will probably not always be the right one. ?After making it through a series of phone interviews and one on one assessments, TFA candidates will have an opportunity to hear and real life accounts from other TFA members, and participate in group activities to test leadership skills, and their ability to listen and learn.

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4.?Google?has an infamously unique interview process. Their candidate will be expected to answer theoretical questions, as well as result processing ones.? From writing codes for Sudoku boards, to asking how you?d spend money there are few questions that are off limits. One candidate reports after his first time applying, he was told Google would follow up with him after he earned two years of experience. In most situations the likelihood of hearing back from a company would be slim to none. Two years exactly after their first contact, the candidate received a call. This a prime example of a company that knows exactly what they are looking for in candidates, and understand sometimes waiting for the best one is the best option.

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3.?Apple has built a reputation not only for their products, but also for their people. Steve Jobs said, ?You need to have a collaborative hiring process,? and this style achieved a team that builds some of the most innovative and popular products of our time. Apple depends on the secrecy of it?s employees to make and distribute great products that no one else is. Knowing this, candidates should be prepared to answer hypothetical questions about how to approach working in a hyper secretive environment. Apple is looking for employees that are passionate and knowledgeable about their product before they start working there. Engineering questions, math problems, logic exams, programming, prototype testing- nothing is off limits.?For example, ?In a stream of integers from 1 to n, only one number will be repeated. How can you tell what that number is?? Do the math.

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2.?Pizza Hut is capitalizing on South By Southwest to find their new digital talent. Inspired by the available job positions each interview will be 140 seconds, yes that?s right, just like Twitter. Pizza Hut?s approach is like speed dating for a great hire. Candidates get a 140 second shot to make a great impression and show off their quick thinking abilities and social media skills. This method shows that Pizza Hut is aware of the times and the new generation of talent. They want their candidates to be expert micro-bloggers that can respond effectively within a few moments. I think it?s a great way to find exactly what you?re looking for in a candidate.

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1.?Salesforce.com has multiple ways of recruiting new employees. One of the most unique approaches I?ve ever heard of is their, ?Build Your Own Dream-Team? event. Instead of candidates coming in like a typical job fair and meeting different departments handing out stack of resumes, candidates were encouraged to bring group of people that they would like to work with (talk about social recruiting). After a happy hour and teams finalizing, collaborative activities and assessments were used to identify skills and potential strengths. Grand-prize winners get offered a job. This approach is much less intimidating than the typical interview style, it?s a great way to meet people, and emphasizes the social atmosphere of salesfore.com.

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These Big Brands have been successful because of their ability to hire great teams that are able to propel their business forward. Their specialized interview processes are proof that they know exactly what they are looking for in a candidate and they are not willing to compromise. To some candidates these companies? styles may seem overwhelming and intimidating and if that?s the case?well, you?re just not the right person for the job. Having an interview process that?s caters to identifying the talent you?re looking for, is a great way to insure your quality of hire isn?t just good ? it?s great!

Source: http://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/top-10-corporate-interview-processes-for-hires-that-fit/

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How NOT To Respond To Negative Reviews Online (aka How To ...

Is the Customer Always Right?

Most people are familiar with the old adage ?There is no such thing as bad publicity.? Well, that may have been true back in the 19th century when P.T. Barnum, the showman and circus owner most often credited for the quote, was wowing the crowds across America. But recent business catastrophes such as the 2010 Toyota Recall and the BP oil spill disaster have proven that stance to be dramatically wrong.

Bad Publicity Effects Small Businesses, Too

However, what many business owners may not realize is that you don?t have to be a multi-billion dollar company making international headlines to be affected by bad publicity. With the amount of activity on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, one person?s complaint about a particular aspect of your business can quickly turn into an avalanche of negative feedback if not handled properly.

Worse still, handling the initial negative comment or comments incorrectly can have an even more damaging effect on your business and its image. Take this example?

Chef Learns How Not to Handle a Bad Review

Let?s look at the case of amateur food critic James Isherwood and UK celebrity chef Claude Bosi in November of 2012. Isherwood runs a very small blog called ?Dining with James? where he reviews local restaurants. Considering the 100 or so Twitter followers he had before November 8th, 2012, you would say that James was anything but well-known in the foodie circles.

Something dramatic happened when Isherwood published his seemingly innocent review of Hibiscus. It definitely struck a chord with chef Bosi because he immediately lashed out with a scathing outburst on Twitter:

From there the battle was joined on both sides from people coming to Isherwood?s defense as well as other celebrity chefs like Tom Kerridge, Sat Bains and Tristan Welch taking up the cry of outrage against people like Isherwood (a.k.a. customers with an opinion and the guts to publish it) under the hashtag of #chefsunite. The whole thing spun so far out of control that national papers like The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Daily Mail all ran stories on the debacle.

The Chef?s Response Created 99% Of The Issue

The important take away for small business owners and CEOs is that it was Bosi?s outburst that brought the bad review to the attention of thousands, if not millions, of people who may or may not have gone to Hibiscus when they visited London.

The truth of the matter is that Isherwood had a reach of less than 300 people between his blog and Twitter. He also published a review on Trip Advisor (the real cause of Bosi?s outrage), but it was far from the only negative review of Hibiscus on the site and would have passed into oblivion as new reviews came in.

Now, let?s take a look at what happened because of Bosi?s ill-advised tirades. If you take the time to add up all of the shares across various social platforms, comments and other metrics we can actually see from the news stories alone, you will find more than 4,000 individual social interactions. That means a few thousand people who actually took the time to spread the news and countless others who just read the story without actually joining in. If Bosi?doesn?t?think that he lost $1,000?s and an infinite amount of respect from his fellow Brits then he is very out of touch with business in the social media age.

So What Should We Do When We Get A Bad Review?

Let?s face it. Regardless of how good your products and services may be, at some point someone is going to feel like they got short changed. It?s just a fact of business. Twenty years ago it may have resulted in an angry call or letter, or maybe a few neighbors got an earful about how horrible your company was and that?s about as far as it went.

Fast forward to 2013 ? social media and review sites like Yelp or Trip Advisor have changed the business landscape forever. Now an angry customer has the power to create a wave of distrust or fear with a few well-placed reviews or tweet to their fans. So how do you deal with something like that?

Earlier I mentioned the 2010 Toyota recall. It was a complete PR nightmare, impacting customer confidence in the previously?unshakable?Toyota brand. But Toyota did something that few companies, let alone major corporations, usually do. They addressed the concerns and negative comments being passed around the Internet by leveraging social media in what was called a Digg Dialogg, where they gathered questions voted on by Digg users and posted the answers on YouTube.

According to a case study by Mashable, though not the only factor, the humble way in which Toyota dealt with the crisis helped them bounce back into the good graces of the consumers. While it?wasn?t?a full recovery, it was certainly the start of a positive trend that has since continued.

A Better Way To Deal With A Negative Review

Employ a bit of the grass roots strategy used by the Internet savvy owners of Boloco, an East Coast chain of burrito restaurants. Their strategy is surprisingly simple:

1. Monitor social media channels for mentions of their brand
2. Respond personally to each and every comment in the most engaging, funny, and/or humble way possible
3. Rinse and repeat

You may think that it sounds silly and even bordering on a ?waste of time,? but I can guarantee that the positive sentiment these small gestures will produce will be magnified exponentially by creating loyal fans who will recommend you at every opportunity.

Don?t believe me? Check out how Boloco tackled one customer who said that they felt sick after eating there:

Have you ever had a business take that kind of time to express concern for what you?ve been through with their product or service? I sure haven?t. Want proof that the gesture didn?t go unnoticed? Check out what she replied:

Stop for a second and think about what you just saw. The fact that I was able to share that with you means that the information is freely available online for anyone to see anytime. How powerful is that? How easily could you leverage something like this in your business to send your customer approval ratings and overall trust factor through the roof?

Want even more awesome examples? I thought so. Check out these 4 inspiring case studies about Humanizing Your Restaurant to Respond to Bad Reviews. While these examples focus on the restaurant industry, the lessons and strategies they promote can AND should be applied to ANY business.

View Negative Reviews As An Opportunity

Stop seeing bad reviews as the customer?s fault or some horrible plot against your business. Take a step back and see if there?s a way to leverage it to your benefit. The customer may not always be right, but in the 21st century they have a lot more power to do real harm to your brand so don?t pull a ?Bosi? and try to be a bit more ?Boloco.?

Adam J Thompson is the founder of RYP Marketing, an online marketing agency based in Roanoke, VA. Need help with your SEO, link building, or conversion optimization strategies? Reach out to Adam via Twitter or email for a free "quick strategy review".

Source: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/how-not-to-respond-to-negative-reviews-online-aka-how-to-make-people-hate-your-brand/59903/

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My Biz University 03/08 by Home Based Business | Blog Talk Radio

On his show, Comedian Rodney Perry covers arts and entertainment, everything from comedy and politics to music and acting, with his signature comedic slant.

MashUp Radio is a 30-minute podcast that discusses the fusion of technology, life, culture and science. Host Peter Biddle, engineer and executive for Intel?s Atom Software, dishes up a thought-provoking discussion.

Joy Keys provides her listeners with insight to improve their lives mentally, physically, monetarily and emotionally. Past guests on the show have included Meshell Nedegeocello, Blair Underwood, in addition to an impressive list of CEOs, humanitarians and authors.

Host Barry Moltz gets small businesses unstuck. He has founded and run small businesses with a great deal of success and failure for more than 15 years. This is a business radio show where he shares all the craziness of small business. It?s that craziness that actually makes it exciting, interesting and totally unpredictable.

The Bottom Line Sports Show is hosted by former NBA stars Penny Hardaway, Charles Oakley, Mateen Cleaves. Tune in to get the inside scoop on what's happening in sports today.

Hits Radio covers basketball, sports culture and entertainment with past guests including Jason Kidd, Robin Lundberg and Chris Herren.

Listeners get an earful on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show, Talk Radio for Fine Minds. Whether it?s the current political cocktail or the latest must-read award-winning book, Halli tackles all topics and likes to stir ? and sometimes shakes ? things up.

Official Internet radio show of forthcoming epic paranormal investigation book by Eric Olsen and "Haunted Housewife" Theresa Argie.

Award-winning World Footprints is a leading voice in socially responsible travel and lifestyle. Hosts Ian & Tonya celebrate culture and heritage and bring a unique voice to the world of travel.

Football Reporters Online is a group of veteran football experts in the fields of coaching, scouting, talent evaluation, and writing/broadcasting/media placement. Combined, the group brings well over 100 years of expertise in sports.

Host John Martin interviews the nation's leading entrepreneurs and small biz experts to educate small business owners on how to be successful. Past guests have included Emeril Lagasse and Guy Kawasaki.

The Movie Geeks share their passion for the art through interviews with the stars of and creative minds behind your favorite flicks and pay tribute to big-screen legends. From James Cameron and Francis Ford Coppola to Ellen Burstyn and Robert Duvall, The Geeks have got'em all.

Sylvia Global presents global conversations pertaining to women, wealth, business, faith and philanthropy. Sylvia has interviewed an eclectic mix from CEOs and musicians to fashion designers and philanthropists including Randolph Duke and Ne-Yo.

Mr. Media host Bob Andelman goes one-on-one with the hottest, most influential minds from the worlds of film, TV, music, comedy, journalism and literature. That means A-listers like Kirk Douglas, Christian Slater, Kathy Ireland, Rick Fox, Chris Hansen and Jackie Collins.

Paula Begoun, best-selling author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, separates fact from fiction on achieving a radiant, youthful complexion at any age. She?s regularly joined by health and beauty experts who offer the latest on keeping your skin in tip-top shape.

Source: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/homebasedbusinessuniversity/2013/03/08/my-biz-university

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