Chile's Pinera presents education-heavy 2013 budget bill

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chilean President Sebastian Pinera unveiled an education-heavy 2013 budget bill on Sunday, as he seeks to improve the right's social credentials before municipal elections in October and next year's presidential election.

The budget bill proposes increasing public spending by roughly 5 percent next year, Finance Minister Felipe Larrain said as he submitted the proposal to Congress. The measure would bring total spending to around $63 billion, a record high.

Pinera is under pressure to increase spending after more than a year of massive marches over what protesters charge is a stratified and costly education system.

"Our citizens are rightly every day more conscious of their rights and demand solutions to their problems," Pinera, who cannot run for consecutive terms, said in a national address.

"But we can't fall for the populist cries ... Amid this world in crisis, the Chilean economy is healthy, continues to grow and generate jobs and opportunities. We have to keep advancing."

Chile, the world's largest copper producer, is seen growing around 4.7 percent this year, boosted by its lynchpin mining industry, robust domestic demand and its forestry, salmon and wine exports.

While the Andean country has long been held up as an economic model in Latin America, it has the highest income inequality among OECD countries and the rate has barely fallen since 1990, according to a report by the body last year.

Billionaire Pinera is Chile's most unpopular leader since General Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship ended in 1990, although polls also show the center-left opposition bloc, the Concertacion, as unpopular.

Pinera's Economy, Public Works and Defense ministers are seen as potential presidential candidates in next year's presidential race. The left is pinning its hopes on a comeback by popular former president Michelle Bachelet, who has not said whether she will run.

The 2013 budget puts education spending at a record-high $12.8 billion, Pinera said. But the move is set to fall short in the eyes of many student groups, which are seeking a massive revamp of the system including free schooling for all.

"The president insists in maintaining the fallacy that parents have the right to choose (in terms of education). The ones who choose in Chile are only the ones who have money," student leader Gabriel Boric said on Twitter after the speech.

Pinera also said the bill puts a special emphasis on combating crime and drug trafficking. Congress has 60 days to approve or reject the bill.

(Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer and Antonio de la Jara; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; editing by Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chiles-pinera-presents-education-heavy-2013-budget-bill-003002835.html

nfl scores nfl scores Devon Walker Tom Cruise ryan reynolds Star Trek: The Original Series Carlton

Anne Hathaway marries Adam Shulman

Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images

Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman in New York in June.

By Bruna Nessif, E! Online

Anne Hathaway's big day was Saturday. The "Dark Knight Rises" star wed?fiance Adam Shulman in a private ceremony in the scenic redwood-studded coastal enclave of Big Sur, Calif., E! News has confirmed. As we previously reported, Hathaway was swathed in a gown specially designed by her friend Valentino Garavani.

The 29-year-old Oscar-nominated star found her Mr. Right, fellow actor Shulman, not long after discovering she had devoted years of her love life to Mr. Oh-So-Wrong. So in honor of their nuptials, let's take a look back at how the newlyweds' love affair began...

Five things you need to know about Anne Hathaway's hubby

January 2009: The public first caught wind of this new couple when Hathaway was spotted with Shulman at the opening gala of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where Hathaway picked up the Desert Palm Achievement Award for "Rachel Getting Married." PDA was kept to a minimum, but there was a quick lip-lock (many more to follow in the coming years).

May 2010: Anne and Adam stayed off the radar for a bit, that is, until Shulman was spotted jacking some mural art from a Manhattan construction site. Don't worry, he returned it (after paparazzi got pictures of him taking it).

August 2011: Seriously, though, where was Adam Shulman hiding? Apparently, he was a little camera shy. "He's in there hanging out with my friends," Hathaway told us during the One Day premiere?in New York City. Hey, more spotlight for his leading lady.

Anne Hathaway ties the knot with Adam in Big Sur

Nov. 28, 2011: And all of a sudden -- bam! -- this duo is engaged! Well, maybe not exactly "all of a sudden," since it had been three years, but we were happily surprised, nonetheless. Hathaway's rep confirmed the engagement to E! News, but the actress kept proposal details under wraps. Shucks!

Nov. 30, 2011: The ring! Anne showed off the unique creation made especially for her by Shulman and Kwiat jewelers. "We were honored to have the opportunity to work with Adam. He had a strong vision for what he wanted to present to Anne and we worked with him to make a custom design," a rep for the company told E! News.

December 2011: Speculation as to when the big ceremony would go down started swirling and leaned toward October 2012. Her rep denied such claims, but it clearly wasn't too far off.

Les Misrables' release date changed to Christmas

July 2012-September 2012: Remember how we said that these lovebirds kept their public displays of affection to a minimum in the beginning? Well, it seemed like all that changed once that diamond was on Anne's finger, because it became PDA all day, everyday, anywhere, any time. But it was super sweet.

Sept. 20, 2012: Most of the wedding plans have been kept hush-hush, except for one (pretty important) detail: the designer of Anne's wedding dress. And that just so happens to be Valentino Garavani. During the New York City Ballet's fall gala, the fashion icon told E! News he "did the dress" for Anne's nuptials. "She's a very good friend of mine," Valentino gushed. Like family? "Oh, yes. She's like my daughter!"

Sept. 29, 2012: The couple swap vows in Big Sur, Calif.

Let's take a stroll down memory lane with these newlyweds!

More Entertainment news:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2012/09/29/14154804-anne-hathaway-marries-adam-shulman?lite

demarcus cousins savannah brinson mount rainier ohio state football capital one bowl winter classic 2012 georgia bulldogs football

Measuring the universe's 'exit door'

Friday, September 28, 2012

The point of no return: In astronomy, it's known as a black hole ? a region in space where the pull of gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. Black holes that can be billions of times more massive than our sun may reside at the heart of most galaxies. Such supermassive black holes are so powerful that activity at their boundaries can ripple throughout their host galaxies.

Now, an international team, led by researchers at MIT's Haystack Observatory, has for the first time measured the radius of a black hole at the center of a distant galaxy ? the closest distance at which matter can approach before being irretrievably pulled into the black hole.

The scientists linked together radio dishes in Hawaii, Arizona and California to create a telescope array called the "Event Horizon Telescope" (EHT) that can see details 2,000 times finer than what's visible to the Hubble Space Telescope. These radio dishes were trained on M87, a galaxy some 50 million light years from the Milky Way. M87 harbors a black hole 6 billion times more massive than our sun; using this array, the team observed the glow of matter near the edge of this black hole ? a region known as the "event horizon."

"Once objects fall through the event horizon, they're lost forever," says Shep Doeleman, assistant director at the MIT Haystack Observatory and research associate at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. "It's an exit door from our universe. You walk through that door, you're not coming back."

Doeleman and his colleagues have published the results of their study this week in the journal Science.

Jets at the edge of a black hole

Supermassive black holes are the most extreme objects predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of gravity ? where, according to Doeleman, "gravity completely goes haywire and crushes an enormous mass into an incredibly close space." At the edge of a black hole, the gravitational force is so strong that it pulls in everything from its surroundings. However, not everything can cross the event horizon to squeeze into a black hole. The result is a "cosmic traffic jam" in which gas and dust build up, creating a flat pancake of matter known as an accretion disk. This disk of matter orbits the black hole at nearly the speed of light, feeding the black hole a steady diet of superheated material. Over time, this disk can cause the black hole to spin in the same direction as the orbiting material.

Caught up in this spiraling flow are magnetic fields, which accelerate hot material along powerful beams above the accretion disk The resulting high-speed jet, launched by the black hole and the disk, shoots out across the galaxy, extending for hundreds of thousands of light-years. These jets can influence many galactic processes, including how fast stars form.

'Is Einstein right?'

A jet's trajectory may help scientists understand the dynamics of black holes in the region where their gravity is the dominant force. Doeleman says such an extreme environment is perfect for confirming Einstein's theory of general relativity ? today's definitive description of gravitation.

"Einstein's theories have been verified in low-gravitational field cases, like on Earth or in the solar system," Doeleman says. "But they have not been verified precisely in the only place in the universe where Einstein's theories might break down ? which is right at the edge of a black hole."

According to Einstein's theory, a black hole's mass and its spin determine how closely material can orbit before becoming unstable and falling in toward the event horizon. Because M87's jet is magnetically launched from this smallest orbit, astronomers can estimate the black hole's spin through careful measurement of the jet's size as it leaves the black hole. Until now, no telescope has had the magnifying power required for this kind of observation.

"We are now in a position to ask the question, 'Is Einstein right?'" Doeleman says. "We can identify features and signatures predicted by his theories, in this very strong gravitational field."

The team used a technique called Very Long Baseline Interferometry, or VLBI, which links data from radio dishes located thousands of miles apart. Signals from the various dishes, taken together, create a "virtual telescope" with the resolving power of a single telescope as big as the space between the disparate dishes. The technique enables scientists to view extremely precise details in faraway galaxies.

Using the technique, Doeleman and his team measured the innermost orbit of the accretion disk to be only 5.5 times the size of the black hole event horizon. According to the laws of physics, this size suggests that the accretion disk is spinning in the same direction as the black hole ? the first direct observation to confirm theories of how black holes power jets from the centers of galaxies.

The team plans to expand its telescope array, adding radio dishes in Chile, Europe, Mexico, Greenland and Antarctica, in order to obtain even more detailed pictures of black holes in the future.

###

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice

Thanks to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 31 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/123963/Measuring_the_universe_s__exit_door_

Kourtney Kardashian Baby Girl Ashton Eaton London 2012 basketball London 2012 Slalom Canoe Alex Morgan Misty May Treanor Lolo Jones

A rare apology in the Middle East. Cherish it.

Libyan leader Megarif apologizes to the world and the US for past and current actions. With so much invective and violence in the Middle East, the region needs the healing power of such humility and contrition.

By the Monitor's Editorial Board / September 28, 2012

Libya's interim President Mohammed el-Megarif prepares to address the United Nations General Assembly Sept. 27. He offered an apology for the acts of the former regime of Muammar Qaddafi.

Reuters

Enlarge

With Iran?s president speaking of ?uncivilized Zionists? and the Israeli prime minister calling Iran ?the most dangerous country in the world,? it may seem odd for one Middle East leader to stand before the United Nations this week and apologize for his country?s past violence.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

Yet that is what Mohammed el-Megarif, Libya?s interim president, did on Thursday.

He actually gave two apologies on behalf of all Libyans for the actions of Muammar Qaddafi. One was for the late leader?s disrespect toward the UN Charter on rights. The other was for ?all the harm, all the crimes committed by that despot against so many innocents ... for the extortion and terrorism he meted on so many states.?

Just days earlier, Mr. Megarif also apologized personally to US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Sept. 12 attack in Benghazi that killed four American diplomats. (Details of that assault remain unclear.)

And perhaps in a sign of a trend in the Middle East, Yemen?s president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, also apologized ? for an attack by a crowd on the US embassy over the anti-Muslim video posted on YouTube.

For Americans, who by now have seen waves of apologies from public figures like Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Tiger Woods, it may be easy to overlook this unusual contrition in one of the world?s toughest neighborhoods. Yet humility, vulnerability, and making amends is just what the Middle East needs to deal with its intense, long-lasting conflicts.

If apologies are heartfelt, they can have real healing power. They bring trust and honesty to a relationship, even if they are not made by the perpetrator but simply on behalf of a country or institution.

They can help prevent a repeat of an offense. And they are better still if they also come with some restorative justice. Libya?s leader, for example, promises to cooperate with the United States in bringing the embassy attackers to justice.

Postwar Germany set a high standard for the world in its apologies for Nazi atrocities. In 1970, German Chancellor Willy Brandt dropped to his knees during a visit to a memorial for Polish Jews killed during the Warsaw Ghetto uprising of 1943.

Many US presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush, have apologized for current or past acts by the government. In the 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney has often accused President Obama of apologizing for past US deeds, mainly in the Middle East. (Mr. Romney?s 2010 book is titled ?No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.?)

While the word ?apologize? or ?sorry? wasn?t used by Mr. Obama in cases cited by Romney, the president has criticized the actions of his predecessor before foreign audiences, claiming they were not representative of American values.

Such domestic disputes over values may make Americans less sensitive to hearing important apologies like those of Libya?s Megarif. He even stressed his country?s ?solidarity? with the US and that Libya?s future will be ?chartered by people like Chris Stevens [the slain ambassador], not by people like his killers.?

Today?s apology culture in the US can sometimes be overdone. And detecting sincerity in a public figure?s utterance of ?sorry? isn?t always easy. Yet Americans seem past the time when they will follow the advice of actor John Wayne who, in a 1949 western movie, said: ?Never apologize and never explain ? it?s a sign of weakness.?

So, thank you, Libya. Apology accepted. Let a new day dawn.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/tzGJWNKsWC8/A-rare-apology-in-the-Middle-East.-Cherish-it

Kanye West sex tape emmys emmys torrey smith torrey smith sofia vergara oakland raiders

The food blog: running a restaurant in London

The London restaurant scene is finally putting the recession behind it after a recent Zagat survey revealed there has been a "dramatic rise" in restaurant openings in the past 12 months.

I bought my favourite local restaurant two years ago, The Laughing Gravy near Waterloo, a move that many thought was insane. The restaurant had fallen into the wrong hands and had been run into the ground. One friend warned me: "You may as well take your money and throw it into the gutter."

But I was determined and steadfast in my belief that Londoners still wanted good, honest places to go out to eat even if funds were tight.

I knew that this wasn't going to be an easy task. I wanted to create a place that served top quality food and meals but in a relaxed, informal and friendly environment. With the continuing rising cost of food and the overheads of a small business it has become harder and harder to offer quality produce at fair prices.

And so I turned to other sources to try and sustain my ideals. We use herbs and vegetables from a Tate funded community garden right next door to the restaurant.? Our walls our adorned with art from a local gallery based in the Oxo tower and we have a library of books in the bar to add to the cosy feel - all bought from a nearby charity shop, with customers invited to swap books when they come to dine.

It's a tough business for sure. We're open all week and on weekend nights there can be 100 covers. My days are generally16 hours long and I firmly believe that you have to fully immerse yourself in the business to keep it ticking along and to ensure it doesn't sink under the financial strain.

So I work as general manager, PR department, book keeper, accountant, cleaner and when I can? customer. The enjoyment of seeing a busy dining room on a nightly basis when so many said it wasn't possible is enough satisfaction to make all the hard work worth while.? And to then have customers taking time out of their own busy lives to leave reviews on review websites makes it even more rewarding.

So despite the recession this has been proof that if you build a business that caters to peoples' needs, they will come to it.

The Laughing Gravy, 154-156 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8EN (020 7998 1707, thelaughinggravy.co.uk)

Latest from the food blog:

What it's really like on the Gingerline

Urban Food Week: How to feast using what's on your doorstep

Lima London: the rise of London's cevicherias

Fifty shapes of cake

Festival food

Is Acklam Village the new place to eat in Portobello?

How to make pizza like Jamie Oliver does

For more food and drink ideas, click here

Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/the-food-blog-running-a-restaurant-in-london-8180449.html

buckeye west side story final four 2012 bridesmaids winning lottery numbers megamillions winner kansas jayhawks

Garden serves as spot of hope (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/252027180?client_source=feed&format=rss

appleton super bowl recipes denver weather planned parenthood what time does the superbowl start kobayashi roseanne barr

Motorola RAZR i to begin shipping in the UK from October 1.

Right from launch day we'd heard early October would be the release timeframe for Motorola's new RAZR i. Now, at least one British retailer has narrowed that down further, and confirmed the device will begin shipping on October 1. 

Clove Technology are set to receive stocks of the device imminently, and have taken to their official blog to confirm that they will be shipping the new Intel powered RAZR i this coming Monday. At £342 we still feel it's a little on the pricey side, but there is a lot to like. It sets the ball rolling in the Motorola/Intel partnership and we're excited to see where things go from here. 

If you're interested in purchasing a RAZR i, be sure to check out our full review first, before parting with your hard earned. 

Source: Clove

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/yDkdIVzR7bo/story01.htm

snow day neti pot iron chef bath and body works coupons jeff probst jeff probst king jong il dead

Sweet Sweat Launches Newest All-Natural ... - Body Health & Fitness

Sweet Sweat, the world-renowned scientifically-tested thermogenic workout enhancer, will be one of the participants in the upcoming Mr. Olympia Trade Show that will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 27 and 30. Coinciding with this big event is the launch of their newest supplement SVETOL Green Coffee Bean Extract ? an all-natural fitness supplement with virgin coconut oil-infused soft gels. Team Sweet Sweat will also do live product demonstrations at booth number 1312.

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) September 27, 2012

Sweet Sweat, the world-renowned scientifically-tested topical thermogenic workout enhancer from Sports Research, will be one of the many participants in the upcoming Mr. Olympia Trade Show that will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 29 and 30, 2012. Coinciding with this huge event is the launch of Sports Research Corporation?s newest supplement, SVETOL Green Coffee Bean Extract. This latest line of fitness supplements from the California-based company has all-natural ingredients sealed by virgin coconut oil-infused soft gels, making it truly one of a kind.

This year?s Mr. Olympia Trade Show will be held on September 29-30, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 750 booths will be featuring top fitness products, supplements, and apparel from all over the world. Attendees will also get their chance to get free samples, purchase new products, and meet celebrities, athletes, and other sports and fitness icons. What?s more, team Sweet Sweat will also be doing live product demonstrations at booth number 1312. The Las Vegas Convention Center will be filled with eager fitness enthusiasts and throngs of attendees as highly anticipated events like the 212 Showdown, Bikini Olympia, Ms. Olympia, and more, are expected to take place.

?We?re thrilled to be participating in this huge event. Renowned bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts from all over the country, including those from overseas, are expected to be there. What?s even more exciting is that we get to launch our newest weight loss supplement, the SVETOL Green Coffee Bean Extract. It?s an all-natural supplement that?s unique because its liquid formula is sealed in soft gels infused with virgin coconut oil. We?ll also be doing live product demos to show people how highly effective our products are. People will really get to see how Sweet Sweat actually works,? said Jeff Pedersen Jr., Sweet Sweat?s Vice-President for Sales and Marketing.

The product demo will involve a member of Team Sweet Sweat applying the thermogenic workout enhancer on one side of his or her body before jumping rope in front of a thermographic camera. The camera will then reveal how Sweet Sweat works by showing infrared heat patterns demonstrating increased blood circulation in the areas where Sweet Sweat was applied.

Aside from live product demonstrations, Team Sweet Sweat will also be giving out helpful tips to teach health-conscious people what to look for when buying green coffee bean extract with SVETOL. Looking for the term ?SVETOL? or ?GCA? on the label is a great example. ?Our SVETOL Green Coffee Bean extract actually has the same formula recommended by Dr. Oz. It has 45 percent chlorogenic acid, zero fillers, zero binders, and zero artificial ingredients. It basically helps with natural weight management and glucose control among others,? added Pedersen.

For more information about Sweet Sweat or any of Sports Research?s products, visit http://www.sweetsweat.com/, email info(at)sweetsweat(dot)com, or call +8006339308.

About Sweet Sweat:

Sweet Sweat was developed by fitness expert Jeff Pedersen, Sr., the first baseball player in NCAA history to start on three straight national champion teams. The elder Pedersen launched Sweet Sweat in 1980, and Sweet Sweat products are now available in 54 countries worldwide. Sweet Sweat is manufactured by Sports Research, a California-based company that also produces dietary supplements and other fitness products.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/9/prweb9952871.htm

Source: http://www.bodyhealthandfitness.net/sweet-sweat-launches-newest-all-natural-supplement-and-offers-product/

lake havasu halo 4 jewel san francisco earthquake san francisco earthquake terminator salvation terminator salvation

Second-generation Razer Blade hands-on (update: video)

Razer's second attempt at a gaming laptop is just as sleek as its first try, and even more powerful. The second-generation Razer Blade -- Razer Blade 2.0, we're calling it -- packs some serious hardware: an unannounced Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics (a big step up from last year's GT 555M inclusion), 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM, a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, and 64GB of solid state storage. All that hardware is stuffed in a nigh identical aluminum chassis to the first edition, with a 17.3-inch high def screen and the infamous multitouch LCD Switchblade interface (read: that bizarre little touch screen built into the keyboard). And all this for the low, low price of ... nearly $2,500. Yikes.

For the savvy, independently wealthy gamer on the go, however, little else on the market compares to Razer's Blade laptop. The second generation focuses on beefing up the tech specs from last year, and that's immediately apparent with the inclusion of the Kepler-grade GTX 660M. Not much else is changed in the hardware department otherwise, with the exception of the USB slots all being upgraded to 3.0 -- the same LCD touch panel display sits on the right side of the keyboard, and its been bolstered with a new software suite.

Gallery: Razer Blade 2 hands-on

Continue reading Second-generation Razer Blade hands-on (update: video)

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

Second-generation Razer Blade hands-on (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/27/razer-blade-2-hands-on/

gronkowski new hunger games trailer sasquatch david choe national wear red day gunner kiel gunner kiel

Expedition Fatherhood: Surprises

When a fat man goes on Weight Watchers, and starts losing weight rapidly, he produces vapors and aromas which can be an olfactory assault unparalleled in human history. It is truly awful.

Not even the dog will come near me - and he licks his own butt!

But, in all seriousness, so far I am quite surprised. I had discounted WW, but Sweetheart I finally managed to get each other on it last week. I'm actually not having hunger pains, which really shocked me, and in seven days, I'm down six pounds.

And no member of my family will near me...

Source: http://expeditionfatherhood.blogspot.com/2012/09/surprises.html

seth macfarlane justin tv justin tv Black Mesa NFL.com matt ryan matt ryan

Live Well Omaha ? Blog Archive ? Celebrate Health on the 29th!

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Live Well

Have plans Saturday? Saturday, September 29 is a day to celebrate health! Family Health & Fitness Day USA? and World Heart Day happen to fall on the same day this year.

Family Health & Fitness Day USA? promotes family involvement in physical activity. Take the day to celebrate a healthy lifestyle with your family with healthy activities for everyone to enjoy.

World Heart Day and the World Heart Federation are spending Saturday raising awareness about being heart healthy. It is a proven fact that if main risk factors are controlled ? tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity ? serious health problems can be avoided.

Across the nation, organizations will be celebrating this day by sponsoring walks and runs, health screenings or workshops. Find an activity in your neighborhood ? or create one!

The benefits to a healthy lifestyle are endless ? how is your family going to celebrate this double dose of healthy happenings?

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Live Well

It?s already partway through September, but it?s not too late to kick your school year off to a healthy start! Here are just a few tips to add to your healthy routines:

• Walk or bike to school. Take advantage of the weather before the snow sweeps in and find a safe and healthy routes to school.
• Stay active. Don?t limit your child?s physical activity to school recess. Find ways to move before and after school. Go for a morning walk, go to the park after school or go for an evening bike ride.?
• Snack healthy. Share healthy (but fun) snacks with your children after school. Need creative ideas? Check out these from Pinterest! Also, find how to access healthy food throughout the community to share with your family here.

How are you and your family staying healthy? Share your ideas with us! Make this school year the best (and healthiest) yet!

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Live Well

This guest blog contribution is from Brandon Serna with Ticket Express, a local Omaha ticketing source for concerts, events and Husker football tickets.

Even if you only go to a few sporting events per year, they can really wreak havoc on your healthy lifestyle. People often assume that unhealthy fare is the only option, but that?s not always the case. Besides, there are ways to avoid the temptation of gooey nachos and foot-long hot dogs. If you do indulge, you can do so without going overboard. In the case of children?s sporting events, bringing a cooler that?s stocked with water, fruits and veggies shouldn?t be a problem. Professional sporting events are a whole other story. Pick up a few terrific tips for eating well at sporting events below.

Avoid Falling Off the Healthy-Living Wagon at Sporting Events with These Tips?

Eat a Healthy Meal before You Leave?- When hunger strikes, resisting fatty, greasy, calorie-laden foods is a lot more difficult. Therefore, you should never arrive at a sporting event with an empty stomach. Sit down and enjoy a healthy lunch or dinner before heading out the door. You?ll thank yourself later.

Ditch the Carbs in Favor of Protein-Rich Foods?- If you?d like to treat yourself to a hamburger or hot dog during the game, you can mitigate the damage by either ditching the bun entirely or by only eating half a bun.

Go Easy on the Condiments?- Do you really need an extra serving of cheese with those nachos? By using condiments as sparingly as possible, you?ll be able to consume a lot fewer calories during the game. Besides, condiments are messy. If you?d like to walk out of the game without everyone knowing what you had to eat, try to steer clear of them as much as you can.

Split a Snack with Someone Else?- Portion sizes are notoriously huge at sporting events. Why not share something with another person? The only issue here is that you both have to agree on one thing. However, you?ll both benefit by sharing one massive snack. The odds of either of you still being hungry after tackling that enormous plate of nachos are extremely slim.

Bring the Right People?- If you?re determined not to ruin your diet during the game, be careful about who you bring along. By attending the game with health-conscious people, you?ll be less likely to be surrounded by bad choices. For instance, if you snag the perfect seats for the next Huskers game, think long and hard about who to invite. Do you really want that healthy friend or relative to see you chowing down on a foot-long hot dog that?s laden with all the fixings?

Avoid Extra-Large Souvenir Cups?- Sure, souvenir cups are a lot of fun. How many do you really need though? Furthermore, they are only offered in truly gargantuan sizes. Whether it?s filled with beer or soda, a single souvenir cup is sure to contain several hundred calories? worth of liquid. If it?s sitting right in front of you, you?re more likely to consume it too.

Limit Your Alcohol Intake?- It?s smart to limit the amount of alcohol you consume during the sporting event for many reasons. When you consider how many calories are in the average cup of beer, being more conservative about how much you drink should be a lot easier. Plan on having no more than two drinks during the game.

Try a Restaurant at the Venue?- Many modern stadiums and arenas have actual sit-down restaurants. By arriving early, you can sit down and enjoy a much healthier meal right before the game starts. At a regular restaurant, you should be able to take your pick from many reasonably healthy options. When the game starts, you?ll be nice and full, so you won?t be tempted to indulge in unhealthy snacks.

By making the right choices and planning ahead, you can leave the stadium without having to undo the button of your pants. You can also breathe easy in the knowledge that you haven?t totally ruined your healthy diet, which feels pretty good too.

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Live Well

We know that childcare providers are nice people; they cut the crust off of toast and teach kids how to wait in line. Did you know that they help shape behaviors of children that last for a lifetime? Studies show that early childhood is one of the best times to teach children healthy eating and physical activity habits that will influence how they live into adulthood. One group of childcare owners and teachers are challenging themselves to create a place where children have a chance to practice healthy habits. Live Well Omaha Kids (LWOK) is helping these centers look at how they promote good nutrition and physical activity for their children, and how they can maximize the healthy options available to children.

LWOK does this by offering a free program called the NAP SACC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment for Child Care) Learning Collaborative, giving child care providers incentives and time away from the center to plan for and make lasting, healthy changes.

Here are some examples of the terrific work going on at participating centers:

• Alegent Health Child Development Centers are creating a change to require structured physical activity every day for every age group.
• Aunt Rhonda?s Daycare Center is starting weekly lessons to educate kids and staff about healthy eating.
• Buzy Kidz Learning Center is introducing new foods by having kids sample and select different cultural dishes for their weekly menus.

If you are a parent or child care provider interested in helping a childcare center make healthy changes that give kids the healthiest start, contact Kelly Bouxsein at kelly.bouxsein@gmail.com or 410-925-3665. The next series of workshops starts in September.

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Live Well

Don?t you feel like summer is the best time to pick up books you?ve been thinking about but haven?t had time to read? Summer reading is often thought of easy, light reading, but there?s no reason not to incorporate some useful ideas into the pleasure of your summer reading!

Here are two great reads to add to your summer reading list, courtesy of your friends at Live Well Omaha:

Food Rules: An Eater?s Manual by Michael Pollan
This little book has been floating around since 2009 but it still feels fresh and relevant. It?s only 140 pages but most of them are simply headlines and drawings, which makes this a book you can read with many interruptions at the pool or during an afternoon in your hammock. Pollan?s straightforward and charming ?instructions? will stay with you. Be sure to pass it on!

Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne
David Byrne (yes, that David Byrne) has been riding a bike as his principal means of transportation in New York City for nearly 30 years. After discovering folding bikes, he expanded his ability to gain insight and understanding of the places he visits while on tour by taking his bike with him.

Bicycle Diaries is an account of what he observes and the people he meets as he pedals through cities around the globe. His topics range from world music, urban planning, fashion and architecture to cultural dislocation and the roots of our creative process. It?s a great summer selection because it makes you want to hop on your bike and explore your own corner of the world.

Do you have any inspiring summer reading recommendations we should add to our Live Well Omaha summer reading list? We?d love to hear about it.

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Live Well

We know the causes of obesity are more complex and involve more factors than not eating healthy or exercising.

The Institute of Medicine shares a graphic of beneficial statistics and areas of improvement to help us see possible solutions. These key areas include ? physical activity, food and beverages, marketing, healthcare and workplace, and schools ? Live Well Omaha, the Douglas County Health Department and our collaborating partners have been focusing our efforts in these areas.

How can we jump start our nation into a healthy trend? The graphic shares five solutions for improving our community?s health ?

1. Integrate physical activity every day in every way.
2. Market what matters for a healthy life.
3. Strengthen schools as the heart of health.
4. Activate employers and health care professionals.
5. Make healthy foods available everywhere.

Spend some time with the graphic below for more information and statistics. What can we do together to make the healthy choice the easy choice? Share your ideas with us and joining the conversations on Facebook, Twitter or consider joining Live Well Omaha and help us build a healthier community!

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Live Well

College baseball in June is an Omaha tradition. Activate Omaha and Omaha Bikes invite you to start a new tradition and Bike to the Ballpark! Ride your bicycle to the games and enjoy a worry-free series without parking fees and traffic.

Make the healthy choice the easy choice and take advantage of this opportunity ? the benefits are endless! Here are five reasons to hop on that bike:

1. Prime bike parking will be available very close to the stadium for free or a small donation to Omaha Bikes.
2. More flexibility ? no need to go from one parking spot to another if you?re headed to the Old Market or other post-game destinations.
3. No need to worry about a lock because volunteers will watch the bicycles.
4. Ride straight from your home or save money by parking your car several blocks away and ride the rest of the way.
5. It?s more fun!

Everybody benefits: when you bike, roads and parking structures are less congested making it safer for pedestrians, more parking is available for cars, and there is less air and noise pollution.

Make your trek to the series healthy, easy and enjoyable. A biker?s bliss!

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Live Well

Being active is a big part of a healthy lifestyle, and forming the habit early in life helps us stay that way ? that?s why families who want to be healthy often find it best to do something fun and energetic together.? But in the middle of winter, it can be hard to find the space and opportunity to get moving.

Last Saturday was a rare and fun exception.? As I drove into the UNO campus for the Get Your Family Movin? event, I was amazed to see sidewalks filled with parents and children heading to the recreation center.?? But the real surprise came when I entered the building and saw a hallway and gym abuzz with children and adults having fun!? As I strolled through the display tables I learned about active opportunities for children and families and experienced a variety of healthy food choices.? The air was filled with laughter and shouts of enthusiasm, and a peek inside the gym clearly showed why: children of all sizes, from toddlers to teens, were busy being active while parents acted as coaches and fans.? The obstacle course proved to be a fun challenge for the shortest members of the crowd as they zigzagged through running courses and jumped over hurdles.

As I crossed the room, I heard the delightful squeals of kids bouncing up, down and around inside the inflatable bounce house.? Parents and children played with hula hoops, threw footballs, learned a dance routine, or even spun plates with the professional jugglers.? The former Husker stars that came to sign autographs were quickly drawn into play with their youngest fans.? The only thing interrupting the fun was the occasional voice on the loud speaker announcing winning raffle ticket numbers for the day?s prizes.? And if a child ever got hungry during their romp, they could head to one of the display tables to have a healthy snack!

What I saw on Saturday was a community working together to make physical activity fun.? This was a place and time where parents had the opportunity to see fun ways to be healthy and share the joy of being active with their children.? In a community where more than a quarter of our children are obese and only a third of us find a way to be physically active on a regular basis, opportunities like these help us all build active lives and change those statistics.? I hope everyone who attended learned at least one easy way to be more active, make wholesome food choices, and live a healthy, fun-filled life!

Posted by Mary Balluff. Mary is Chief of Community Health and Nutrition Services at Douglas County Health Department and leads Douglas County Putting Prevention to Work with Live Well Omaha.?

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Joanna Sutter

Making positive adjustments isn?t always easy, especially when you?re trying to do it by yourself. That?s why Partners for a Healthy City was formed. Together we?ve made a special commitment to help create a healthier city by making healthy eating and active living options available in everyday environments. This community-wide effort aims to increase opportunities for better health by putting the focus on prevention?and to help all of us make the healthy choice, at any time and in any place.

More than 350 organizations across the city have signed on to participate in this initiative by becoming a Partner for a Healthy City. Together, Omaha-based businesses, nonprofits, schools, faith-based and community organizations are enacting policies to support active lifestyles and healthy food choices. Their individual efforts, like installing bike racks, holding walking-instead-of-sitting meetings and offering healthy onsite meal options, are adding up to make a big difference.

We?re counting on you to support our initiatives and to spread the word about healthy living. Learn more at www.partnersforahealthycommunity.org.

Look who?s making healthy happen?

Abante Marketing
Accessories
Aflac, Incorporated
African American Empowerment Network
African American Empowerment Network Health and Healthy Families Committee
Alegent Health Benson Clinic
Alegent Health
Alegent Health ? Immanuel Child Development Center
Alegent Health Clinic located at Maple Hills
Alegent Health Clinic located at 50th & L
Alegent Health Clinic located at 8141 West Center Road
Alegent Health Clinic located at 144th & Eagle Run Drive
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Ally Insurance Brokers of Omaha
American Lung Association
Andrea Maleki, State Farm
Angel?s Childcare
Antioch Baptist church
Anytime Fitness L Street Marketplace
Aon Risk Services
Assembly Of The Saints
Associated Engineering, Inc
Autotek
Baird Holm Law Firm
Baptist Pastors and Ministers Council
Baptist Pastors and Ministers Wives Council
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church Grover
Bendicion church
Bentley Apartments
Beth Israel Synagogue
Bethany Lutheran Church
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands
Blossoms Apartments
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska
B-N-C Retail Goods Market
Bob Beck?s Barbery
Boy Scouts of America
Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands
Boys Town- Bergan
Boys Town Institute for Child Health Improvement
Boys Town-88th Street
Boys Town-Lakeside
Boys Town-Pacific St
Briarwood Apartments
Broadmoor
Broadmoor at Askarben Village
Broadmoor Hills Apartments
Brownell Talbot School
C & A Industries
CAS, Inc.
Cassling
Centro comercial El Sol
Charles Drew Health Center
Children?s-Creighton
Children?s-Dundee
Children?s-Eagle Run
Children?s-Mission Village
Children?s-Spring Valley
Children?s-West Village Point
Church Of The Resurrection
City of Omaha ? Mayor?s Office
Clair Memorial United Methodist Church
CMA Neurology
Comfort Inn Southwest
Community Bike Project Omaha
Community Covenant Church
Community of Grace
Complete Nutrition Inc
Completely Nourished
Confia Insurance Agency L.L.C
Creighton Medical Associates- Cardiology
Creighton Medical Associates- Laboratories
Creighton Medical Associates- Laboratories
Creighton Medical Associates- Orthopedics
Creighton Medical Associates- Orthopedics
Creighton Medical Associates- Pediatrics
Creighton Medical Associates- Psychiatry Office
Creighton Medical Associates- Pulmonary
Creighton Medical Associates-Dundee/Central Clinic
Creighton Medical Associates-Eagle Run/ Northwest
Creighton Medical Associates-Internal Medicine
Creighton Medical Associates-John Galt/Southwest
Creighton Medical Associates-Old Market/ Downtown
Creighton Medical Associates-Surgery
Creighton Preparatory High School
Creighton Student Health Center
Creighton University Medical Center
Cummins Central Power, LLC
Curves-Ralston
CyberWorx
Dentist, Dr. William A. Steiner
Dora?s Daycare
Douglas County Health Department
Druid Hill
Dundee Orthapedic Physical Therapy
Dundee Presbyterian Church
EHA Wellness
El Dorado
El museo latino
Elegant Beauty Salon
Emspace Group
ENCAP-Community action Partnership
Enclave Apartments
Endeveren Family Medicine
Esperanza de Vida Centro Comunitario
Estetica Daniela
Estetica Gelued
Faith Covenant Church
Family Connections, Inc.
Family Housing Advisory Services Inc
Family Medicine- 108th Ct.
Family Practice-120th and Elm
Farmers Insurance
Fe y Esperanza Church
First Central Congregational
First Christian Church
First Lutheran Church
First National Bank of Omaha
First Presbyterian Church
First United Methodist Church
Fit in the City
Fortino?s Flowers
Fraternidad cristiana
Fuego pentecostes church
Fuente de vida
Fusion Medical Staffing
Gallup
GIKK Ortho Specialists
Girls Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
Goodwill Industries, Inc
Great Plains Black History Museum
Greater New Hope Baptist Church
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
Hanscom Park United Methodist
Harolds Koffee House
Harrison Hills Apartments
Heartland Family Service
Heartland Family Service
Heartland Family Service
Heartland Family Service
Heartland Family Service Youth Links
Heartland Workers Center
Holmes and Munyon PC
Holy Cross Catholic Church
Home Instead, Inc.
Hope Presbyterian Church
Human Resources Association of the Midlands
Iglesia del Pueblo
Iglesia P. Jesus de Nazaret
Iglesia Rios De Alabanza Church
Immanuel Health Systems
Inspirational Church
Intercultural Senior Center ? ISC
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Internal Medicine- 78th and Wakeley
Internal Medicine PC-Farnam St.
Internal Medicine Physicians PC #102
Interpublic Group (IPG)
Janes Health Market
Jewish Community Center of Omaha
J-N-J Grocery
Joe?s Cafe?
Juan Diego Center
Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O.
Kountze Memorial Church
Kubat Pharmacy
KVC
Las Nenas
Latino Center of the Midlands
Latinos Unidos
Leo A Daly
Lilys Beauty Salon
LingoDocs Marketing
London Square Apartments
Lord Of Host World Outreach
Lord Of Life Lutheran Church
Lord Of Love Lutheran Church
los Solecitos Home Daycare
Loui?s Tires
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church
Lutz & Company, PC
MADD HATTER
March of Dimes
Maria Bonita Mexican Cuisine
Marriott Global Sales
Mary Our Queen Church
Master Tune-up Specialists
Maximum Health Solutions
Mayita?s Daycare
MECA/Qwest Center
Members.MD
Messiah Lutheran Church
Methodist Family Practice-Regency
Methodist Health System
Methodist Hospital
Methodist Internal Medicine-Regency
Methodist Pediatrics-Regency
Methodist Women?s Hospital
Methodist-Hawthorne Ct
Methodist-Millard
Metro Air Freight, Inc./ Distribution By Air
Midlands Choice
Midlands Testing Services, Inc.
Midlans Latino Community Development Corporation
Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates, P.C.
Millard Lumber, Inc.
Ministerios Tumba Vacia
Mis hijos Child Care
Montanez Tax Services
Monte Sinai Church
Morning Star Baptist Church
Mount Moriah Missionary? Baptist Church
Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church
Mujeres Activas
Multi-Options Systems, Inc
Mutual of Omaha
Mystical Infusions
NAACP
Nebraska Center for Healthy Families
Nebraska Childrens Home Society
Nebraska Childrens Home Society
Nebraska Furniture Mart
Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Methodist College
New Beginning Baptist Communty Church
New Era Baptist State Convention of Nebraska, Inc.
New Life Colors Inc.
New Venture Brokers
Oakview Internal Medicine
Offwire, Inc.
Omaha Blue Waves
Omaha Children?s Clinic
Omaha Public Library
Omaha Public Power District
Omaha State Bank
Omaha Steaks
Omni Behavioral Health
Omni Behavioral Health Eating Disorder Clinic
Omni Behavioral Health Poppleton
Omni Behavioral Health Rockbrook
Omni Behavioral Health Westridge
One World Community Health Center
Open Door Mission
Optimum Fitness, Inc.
Oriental Trading Company
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Pacific Springs Assembly of God
Paleteria Y Neveria
Papa Chris Chicago Originals
Paradise Baptist Church
Payless Check Cashing / BancoMex
PayPal
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church
Pleasant Green Baptist Church
Powers Chiropractic, P.C.
Prairie Hill Community Of Christ
Primary Home Health Care
Prince of Peace Baptist Church
RDG Planning and Design
Real Corp
restauracion con poder Church
Restauracion en Jesucristo Church
Risen Son Baptist Church
SAC Federal Credit Union Omaha-Metro
Salem Baptist Church
Salem Children?s Center
Salon Erisel
Security National Bank of Omaha
Sheppard?s Business Interiors
SilverStone Group
Simply Well, LLC
Skin Solutions
Smith Hayes Financial Services
SOS Goods & Services
South Omaha Arts Institute
South Seventh-day adventist church
SPOTEE
Spring Tree Apartments
St Augustine?s Episcopal Chr
St Bernards Church
St Gerald?s Catholic Church
St Joan Of Arc Church
St Leo Roman Catholic Church
St Margaret Mary?s Church
St Paul Lutheran Church
St Paul United Methodist Chr
St Philip Neri Church
St. Mark Baptist Church
St. Matthews? Baptist Church
St. Michael?s Lutheran Church
St. Paul Lutheran Chruch
St. Thomas Lutheran Church
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
Steskal Chiropractic
Table Grace Ministries
Tachitos Daycare
Taqueria El Paisa
Ted E. Bear Hollow
Templo Canaan
Templo Victoria Church
Tenaska Inc.
The? Master Beauty Salon
The Basement
The Center for Human Nutrition
The Designers
The Jackson Apartments
The Nebraska Medical Center
The Tradition Apartments
Thomasville Apartments
Total Wellness
Touch Base Auto
Travel and Transport
Trinity Lutheran Church
Union Pacific Railroad
United Food & Commercial Workers Union
University of Nebraska at Omaha ? College of Health, Physical Education & Recreation
University of Nebraska at Omaha-Collge of Arts and Science
UNL Extension in Douglas & Sarpy Counties
UNMC Center for Reducing Health Disparities
UNMC Physicians ? Geriatric Medicine
UNMC Physicians- Bellevue Medical Center
UNMC Physicians- Ear Nose Throat/Oral Facial Prosthetics Durham Outpatient Center
UNMC Physicians- Eye Specialty
UNMC Physicians- Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center
UNMC Physicians- Family Medicine- Eagle Run
UNMC Physicians- Human Resources
UNMC Physicians- Internal Medicine Durham Outpatient Center
UNMC Physicians- Internal Medicine Midtown Clinic
UNMC Physicians Neurological Sciences
UNMC Physicians- Olson Center for Women?s Health
UNMC Physicians- Orthopedics Durham Outpatient Center
UNMC Physicians- Pediatrics- Durahm Outpatient Center
UNMC Physicians- Plattsmouth
UNMC Physicians- Surgery and Urology Durham Outpatient Center
UNMC Physicians- The Heart Center Durham Outpatient Center
UNMC Physicians- Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery and Dreams Spa
UNMC Physicians- Village Pointe Medical Center
UNMC Physicians-Baker Place
UNMC Physicians-Clarkson West Family Medicine
UNO Student Health Center
VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System
Valmont Industries
Vanguard Cleaning Services
Victory boxing club
Village Point Pediatrics
Visiting Nurse Association
Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Walgreens
Warren Distribution, Inc.
Water?s Edge
WELCOM
Western Douglas Chamber of Commerce
Westside Early Childhood Center Underwood Hills
Williams Family Practice
Willow Park Apartments
Willow Park South Apartments
Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society
World Fellowship Christian Center
Wycliffe Apartments
Xiomara?s Daycare
YMCA of Greater Omaha
Youth Emergency Services
Z Family Practice
Zesto
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc
Zion Baptist Church

---

Click here to read information about our guest bloggers.

by Joanna Sutter

A new on-line web portal was unveiled during the 2011 Live Well Omaha Health Summit providing important data about the health of our community. This new resource combines the most current health, education, environment, economy, public safety, social environment, government & policies, and transportation with the latest news and best practices.

Health Matters in Douglas County, Nebraska can be found at www.douglascohealth.org and is sponsored by Live Well Omaha, Douglas County Health Department and three hospital systems, Alegent Health, Methodist and The Nebraska Medical Center.

The site provides:

• A dashboard with more than 100 health and quality of life indicators that shows trends, and breaks down some of the data by county region gender, age and other factors.
• More than 1,800 promising practices, which are programs proven to work around the nation, including contact information to make it easy to potentially discuss the practices further before adapting.
• National news articles related to important topics updated three times a week
• A link to other local reports
• Up-to-date air quality data and several other features.

?One of the cool tools is a walking score,? said, Dr. Adi Pour, Douglas County Health Director. ?By putting in your home address it provides you a walking score between 0 ? 100, based on if you require a car or if you live in ?walker?s paradise? where daily errands can be done without a car.?? This has importance for community planners, Dr. Pour said, since research tells us that the average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 6 ? 10 pounds less than one who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.

The website is updated by the Healthy Communities Institute which was started by the University of California at Berkley. Local data and reports will be added to the website by Live Well Omaha and the Douglas County Health Department.

?At the end of the day, I am urging residents to use this portal as a platform from which to gain knowledge and simultaneously encourage action,? says Dr. Pour.? ?Informed residents are their own best health advocates and the best voices for a healthy community and more importantly, an engaged community becomes part of the solution to improve public health.?

---

Source: http://livewellomaha.org/news/celebrate-health-on-the-29th/

adrianne curry hoekstra best superbowl commercials 2012 best super bowl ads chrysler super bowl commercial madonna half time show fiat 500 abarth

The New Essential Apps September 2012 [Apps]

iPhones. iPads. Android. Windows Phone. We've updated all of our essential apps lists to include a few forgotten favorites, some long awaited arrivals and, as always, even more amazing apps. Check them out! More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/MNH_EOQnm2Q/the-new-essential-apps-september-2012

rock center christine christine will ferrell double fine adventure turbo tax katharine mcphee

Voter registration problems widening in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) ? What first appeared to be an isolated problem in one Florida county has now spread statewide, with election officials in at least seven counties informing prosecutors or state election officials about questionable voter registration forms filled out on behalf of the Republican Party of Florida.

State Republican officials already have fired the vendor it had hired to register voters, and on Thursday took the additional step of filing an election fraud complaint against the company, Strategic Allied Consulting, with state officials.

A spokesman for Florida's GOP said the matter was being treated very seriously.

"We are doing what we can to find out how broad the scope is," said Brian Burgess, the spokesman.

Florida is the battleground state where past election problems led to the chaotic recount that followed the 2000 presidential election.

The Florida state party has paid Strategic Allied Consulting more than $1.3 million, and the Republican National Committee used the group for nearly $3 million of work in Nevada, North Carolina, Colorado and Virginia.

The company said earlier this week that it was cooperating with elections officials in Florida. It said the suspect forms were turned in by one person, who has been fired.

"Strategic has a zero-tolerance policy for breaking the law," Fred Petti, a company attorney, said Thursday.

An email request to the company seeking additional comment, following the company's instructions, was not immediately returned Friday.

In Florida, it is a third-degree felony to "willfully submit" any false voter registration information, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

The questionable forms have showed up in South Florida, including Miami-Dade, as well as northeast Florida and the Florida Panhandle.

Election officials in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties on Thursday handed over more than 100 suspect forms to local prosecutors. They did so days after officials in Palm Beach County also alerted prosecutors.

Ann Bodenstein, the elections supervisor for Santa Rosa County, said her staff started raising questions after an employee saw a form that changed the home address of a neighbor.

Paul Lux, election supervisor for Okaloosa County, said questionable forms in the Florida Panhandle appear to have all come from Strategic's effort based at the local Republican Party headquarters. He said his office has turned up dozens of suspect forms.

Lux said there have been forms that listed dead people and were either incomplete or illegible. He met with local prosecutors on Friday, but added that his staff was still going through hundreds of forms dropped off by Strategic employees.

Lux, who is a Republican, said he warned local party officials earlier this month when he first learned the company was paying people to register voters.

"I told them 'This is not going to end well,'" Lux said.

But Lux added that he did not blame the Republican Party of Florida.

"I can't place the blame on RPOF if they hired a firm and that firm wasn't following the rules they were given to follow," Lux said.

Lux also heard a complaint from the head of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, who raised questions about Strategic employees.

Mary Blackwell said the league's Okaloosa County chapter held a voter registration drive at a college campus in Niceville and that a person who was registering voters told her he was "lucky" he only had applications from Republicans or independents. Blackwell said she was "distressed" by the comments and became worried that he may be discarding voter registration forms filled out by Democrats.

The state party filed the complaint against Strategic Allied Consulting with state election officials, who can refer the case to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement if it is found legally sufficient.

__

Follow Gary Fineout on Twitter: http://twitter.com/fineout

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-09-28-Voter%20Registration-Florida/id-6cc2c4ced316419e8fdeb08f39af061d

jon bon jovi kim jong il died warren hellman survivor south pacific survivor south pacific house of wax patrick willis

Syrian military's text to rebels: 'Game over'

BEIRUT (AP) ? Cellphones in Syria rang, buzzed and chirped Thursday with an ominous text message from the military to members of the armed rebellion: "Game over."

The rebels provided their own response to the regime's warning to surrender and disarm by launching new attacks to drive government troops out of the largest city of Aleppo.

There's no indication that the stalemated civil war has taken a decisive turn in any direction, however, and the bloodshed that has already claimed more than 30,000 lives looks likely to drag on for many more months.

Compounding the grim outlook, sharp disagreements between Syria's foreign friends and foes ? on display at the U.N. General Assembly this week ? have prevented a diplomatic solution from taking shape.

Syrians with subscriptions to the country's two cellphone service providers said they began receiving the text messages signed by the Syrian Arab Army urging the rebels to surrender their weapons and warning that a countdown to evict any foreign fighters in the country has begun. Those with prepaid phones did not receive a message, according to residents in the capital of Damascus.

The texts appeared to be a kind of psychological warfare against the rebels by the regime of President Bashar Assad. In August, army helicopters dropped leaflets warning rebels in Damascus to disarm and seek amnesty. Government officials were not available for comment.

The messages are highly unlikely to have any effect on fighters intent on toppling Assad, and rebel supporters shrugged off the regime's warning as a sign of desperation.

Ali, a 28-year-old member of the rebels' Free Syrian Army, said he found the message comical.

"I will never hand over my weapon because the game is not over yet," he said, giving only his first name for fear of reprisals. "It won't be over until Assad's death."

The rebels on Thursday stepped up attacks against regime forces in Aleppo, parts of which they seized two months ago, although they have been unable to dislodge pro-Assad troops from the rest of the northern city of 3 million people.

Opposition activists reported heavy clashes in more than a dozen areas. Government forces shelled several districts, said Mohammed Saeed, a local activist, speaking via Skype. Mortar shells, presumably fired by rebels, also struck several government-held neighborhoods, activists said.

By late Thursday, fighting was still heavy in many areas of the city, said Rami Abdul-Rahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group that compiles reports from Syria. Abdul-Rahman said at least 23 people were killed in several hours of clashes in Aleppo, but that the toll was expected to rise.

The regime said several weeks ago it would retake the city within days, but it has failed to do so, even after sending more ground forces and unleashing near-daily air bombardments and artillery attacks on rebel-held neighborhoods.

Rebel fighters in Damascus staged a brazen attack Wednesday, setting off twin explosions that engulfed the Syrian army headquarters in flames.

Video on Lebanon's Al Manar TV on Thursday showed that rebels briefly occupied the command center before being driven out by government forces, demonstrating the scale of the security breach of the heavily guarded capital.

At least 305 people were killed Wednesday, the highest daily toll so far, said the Observatory. On Thursday, there were more than 80 dead across Syria, including the 23 killed in Aleppo, the group said.

The rate of killings has accelerated, with nearly two-thirds of the conflict's deaths reported in the past five months.

The rising casualties are a result of an increasingly violent war of attrition in which neither side is able to score a decisive blow, even though on paper Assad's military seems vastly superior, both in weapons and troop strength.

Military analysts said the army doesn't have enough reliable troops to tightly control all of the country. Thousands of soldiers have defected to the rebels, while the regime cannot count on many of the remaining forces ? more than 400,000 if counting reserve soldiers and paramilitary groups ? to fight for Assad, they say.

Assad and many in the army command belong to Syria's Alawite minority, followers of an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while a majority of the rebels and of the army conscripts are Sunni Muslims.

This relative shortage of ground troops has enabled the rebels to take over large areas of the countryside in the narrow slice of western Syria where most of the population is concentrated, said Joseph Holliday of the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.

"It's a tradeoff the regime has been forced to make in order to maintain its ... stranglehold on the largest population centers," Holliday said. "It's been forced to cede the countryside to the rebels."

Holliday estimated the rebels have at least 40,000 fighters, based on a unit-by-unit count conducted through phone interviews in June.

The rebels are believed to have received reinforcements over the summer after capturing several border crossings with Turkey and Iraq.

They also boosted their arsenal of rifles, heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades through smuggling, but mainly by capturing weapons from Syrian troops, said Ausama Monajed, a member of the Syrian National Council, the main opposition group in exile. Monajed said he believes the opposition has anywhere between 20,000 and 40,000 fighters.

The regime's response to the initially largely peaceful uprising in March 2011 has escalated steadily ? from shooting at unarmed protesters to sending tanks, shelling neighborhoods and bombing from the air.

Western diplomats at the U.N.'s annual gathering of top leaders expressed frustration over the impasse ? with British Prime Minister David Cameron saying the blood of Syrian children "is a terrible stain" on the deadlocked U.N., where Syria allies Russia and China have blocked harsher anti-Syria sanctions in the Security Council. Russian President Vladimir Putin countered that bloody regime change would only lead to more violence.

"The way things stand, this could go on for a very long time, quite a few months," said Yezid Sayigh, a Beirut-based analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center. "It's not obvious why anything in particular should change dramatically."

Syria's civilians are facing increasingly greater threats.

The U.N. said the number of Syrian refugees could rise to more than 700,000 by the end of the year, from 294,000 who already fled to Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. It said 2,000 to 3,000 refugees are crossing into neighboring countries each day. The U.N. refugee agency said it needs close to $490 million to help the refugees, or three times what donors gave so far.

Earlier this week, the U.N.'s World Food Program estimated that those who need food aid in Syria, most of them civilians who left their homes to escape the fighting, has grown from six-fold since April, to about 1.5 million.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-militarys-text-rebels-game-over-202224699.html

ed reed football schedule jo paterno dead south carolina tuskegee airmen mike james red tails

Legally Blonde The Musical | Triangle Arts and Entertainment

NORTH CAROLINA THEATRE TO PRODUCE BROADWAY SMASH HIT LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL -

Runner-up on MTV reality show ?The Search for Elle Woods? to star

RALEIGH, N.C. ? North Carolina Theatre, the region?s premier producer of professional Broadway musicals is excited to produce the North Carolina Theatre premiere of Legally Blonde The Musical, running Tuesday, October 9^th through Sunday, October 14^th, 2012 in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

College sweetheart and sorority star Elle Woods doesn?t take ?no? for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone ?serious,? Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law School.

In casting news, NCT is excited to announce that Autumn Hurlbert will star in the role of ?Elle.? Autumn was runner-up in the MTV- produced reality program Legally Blonde: The Search for the Next Elle Woods, a talent-based show which sought to recast the role of ?Elle? on Broadway after Tony Award nominee Laura Bell Bundy left the production. Some of Autumn?s other credits include ?Beth March? in the first national tour of Little Women and ?Sybil? in Private Lives at the Huntington Theatre Company. Joining ?Elle??on stage will be her faithful pup, ?Bruiser,? being played by Chico the Chihuahua, the original dog from the Broadway production of Legally Blonde.

Legally Blonde The Musical features music and lyrics by Laurence O?Keefe and Nell Benjamin with a book by Heather Hach. Based on the hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde The Musical is an award-winning Broadway sensation and winner of ?Best New Musical? at the 2011 Laurence Olivier Awards in London. Legally Blonde The Musical premiered on Broadway in 2007 with direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell. The Broadway musical continued its successful run through the fall of 2008, running for 595 performances. The Independent wrote Legally Blonde The Musical is ?ridiculously enjoyable from start to finish.?

NCT?s production of Legally Blonde will be directed and choreagraphed by Denis Jones,who served as associate choreographer for the original Broadway production.

Performance Schedule:
10/9: 7:30 PM
10/10: 7:30 PM
10/11: 7:30 PM
10/12: 7:30 PM
10/13: 2 PM & 7:30 PM
10/14: 2 PM & 7:30 PM

?

?Legally Blonde The Musical is a high-energy, musical comedy that features fun songs and a fun night out at the theatre for the whole family,? says Casey Hushion, Artistic Director for North Carolina TheatreThis production is an all-singing, all-dancing, feel good musical comedy that is one ?Elle of a show?

?

Ticket Information

To purchase single tickets to Legally Blonde The Musical, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Season tickets to North Carolina Theatre?s 2013 Broadway season are on sale now, for more information please visits www.nctheatre.com. ? ? ?

VN:F [1.9.20_1166]

Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Source: http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/event/legally-blonde-the-musical/

nsx chad ochocinco roman numerals new england patriots madonna madonna superbowl halftime