Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/215150128?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Sunday, March 25, 2012
Court weighs making health coverage a fact of life
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Death, taxes and now health insurance? Having a medical plan or else paying a fine is about to become another certainty of American life, unless the Supreme Court says no.
People are split over the wisdom of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, but they are nearly united against its requirement that everybody have insurance. The mandate is intensely unpopular even though more than 8 in 10 people in the United States already are covered by workplace plans or government programs such as Medicare. When the insurance obligation kicks in, not even two years from now, most people won't need to worry or buy anything new.
Nonetheless, Americans don't like being told how to spend their money, not even if it would help solve the problem of the nation's more than 50 million uninsured.
Can the government really tell us what to buy?
Federal judges have come down on both sides of the question, leaving it to the Supreme Court to sort out. The justices are allotting an unusually long period, six hours over three days, beginning March 26, to hear arguments challenging the law's constitutionality.
Their ruling, expected in June, is shaping up as a historic moment in the century-long quest by reformers to provide affordable health care for all.
Many critics and supporters alike see the insurance requirement as the linchpin of Obama's health care law: Take away the mandate and the wheels fall off.
Politically it was a wobbly construction from the start. It seems half of Washington has flip-flopped over mandating insurance.
One critic dismissed the idea this way: "If things were that easy, I could mandate everybody to buy a house and that would solve the problem of homelessness." That was Obama as a presidential candidate, who was against health insurance mandates before he was for them.
Once elected, Obama decided a mandate could work as part of a plan that helps keep premiums down and assists those who can't afford them.
To hear Republicans rail against this attack on personal freedom, you'd never know the idea came from them.
Its model was a Massachusetts law signed in 2006 by Mitt Romney, now the front-runner of the Republican presidential race, when he was governor. Another GOP hopeful, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, supported a mandate on individuals as an alternative to President Bill Clinton's health care proposal, which put the burden on employers.
All four GOP presidential candidates now promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which they call "Obamacare." Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum calls it "the death knell for freedom."
So much for compromise.
Obama and congressional Democrats pushed the mandate through in 2010, without Republican support, in hopes of creating a fair system that ensures everyone, rich or poor, young or old, can get the health care they need. Other economically advanced countries have done it.
Doing nothing is more expensive than most people realize.
Congress found that when the uninsured go to clinics and emergency rooms, the care they can't pay for costs nearly $75 billion a year. Much of that cost is passed along and ends up adding $1,000 a year to the average family's insurance premium.
The overhaul is neither the liberal dream of a single government program supported by taxes and covering everyone nor the conservative vision of stripping away federal rules and putting free enterprise in charge.
The Obama plan relies on private companies plus lots of regulation to make sure they provide basic benefits, keep premiums reasonable, and cover the sick as well as the healthy. That's where the mandate comes in. If insurers must cover everyone, even those with existing medical conditions, healthy people have little incentive to sign up before they get sick.
Insurance companies argue that if only the sick sign up, insurers will go broke. So the law says everybody must have insurance for themselves and their children, or pay a penalty.
Also, because everyone needs health care sometime, if everyone purchases insurance, the price per person can be lower, with the cost of care spread out over many people.
After all, the government requires workers to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, whether they want the benefits or not.
One argument for the insurance mandate is that the fines are just federal taxes by another name. Another is that it falls under the government's constitutional power to regulate commerce that crosses state borders.
State governments, of course, tell people to buy lots of things, including auto insurance or motorcycle helmets.
"You can always move to another state," said Tom O'Connor, a consultant in Fairfax, Va., who thinks the health care law overreaches. "It's a little more difficult to move to another country."
Many agree.
In an Associated Press-GfK poll, 85 percent said the U.S. government should not have the power to require people to buy health insurance. When the question is worded without the specific reference to federal power, acceptance of the mandate grows a bit, but 6 in 10 are still against it.
Even among those who generally support the health care overhaul, one-third said they are against the insurance mandate.
There's also a significant minority who sees mandates as a cop-out and prefer a government program that covers everyone, Medicare for all.
It's clear that many people do not understand what the law would do or how it would affect them.
Jan Gonzales, an out-of-work bookkeeper in Pablo, Mont., calls fining people for going without insurance "the most ridiculous, asinine thing you ever heard of."
"If I can't put food on the table for my children, how can I pay for health care coverage?" asks Gonzales, who's been without insurance for seven years. "What moron came up with that idea?"
Of course, she might qualify for the law's exemptions for those too poor to pay and for assistance for low-income people, as well as many in the middle class.
There also are some religious exemptions. .
Estimates vary widely of how many uninsured people will get insurance once it's required in January 2014.
About 4 million people would pay a penalty to the Internal Revenue Service for being uninsured in 2016, the Congressional Budget Office estimates.
By 2016, the fine reaches $695 per uninsured adult or 2.5 percent of family income, up to $12,500 per year. The IRS is in charge of the penalties but can't prosecute violators or place liens against them. Its only enforcement option may be withholding money from refunds.
That leaves insurance companies, who stand to gain lots of new customers, worried that people instead will shrug off the weak mandate.
Meanwhile, the state-federal Medicaid program will expand to cover more low-income people, and that's another issue before the Supreme Court, because many states say they cannot afford the extra cost.
___
Online:
Health care law: http://www.healthcare.gov
Supreme Court: http://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/PPAACA.aspx
___
Associated Press writer Stacy A. Anderson contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/court-weighs-making-health-coverage-fact-life-133951595.html
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Saturday, March 24, 2012
Secrets to eating well in Italy
Vanessa Berberian
Alfresco dining between Piazza Farnese and Campo de' Fiori in Rome.
By Beth Collins, Frommers.com
If you think that stepping foot into Italy means giving up any ambitions of eating healthy, think again. Sure, there's pizza and carb-heavy pasta around every corner, but the country's culinary scene offers so much more. With all the fish, beans, veggies and foods made with healthy types of flour, it's possible to eat like a king without turning into a giant. Nutritionist Lauren Antonucci, owner/director of?Nutrition Energy NYC,?walks us through what to order -- and what to avoid -- while traveling in this foodie paradise.?
Slideshow: See these and other tips about eating well
How to pick the best types of pasta
This category is the backbone of Italian cuisine, so you certainly don't want to avoid it altogether. But if healthy eating is your goal, you do want to avoid traditional white pasta when you can. Fortunately, you can choose from delicious alternatives. If you want to stick to pasta, Antonucci suggests opting for?whole wheat, which has about 6 grams of fiber per cup, or?fregola, which is made from semolina and water and has a slightly higher protein content than white pasta.?
Better yet, venture into the grain family and order?farro. "It's an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, protein and fiber," says Antonucci. If you're a risotto fan, proceed with caution. Stock-based risotto isn't so bad, but when made with cream and cheese, one cup of the highly absorbent Arborio rice can contain up to 500 calories.
How to choose the best sauces
Authentic Italian restaurants don't overload dishes with sauce -- all the more reason to eat like a local. "The real Italian way is fresh food, light on the sauce and small portions," explains Antonucci. Still, it's wise to choose carefully.
Cream sauces are hotbeds of fat and cholesterol, so either enjoy in moderation or avoid altogether.?Red sauces?are a much better option, Antonucci says. The tomato base is a great source of lycopene, and red sauces are often packed with other healthy veggies, garlic and herbs. Added bonus: with a tomato-based sauce, you don't have to feel guilty sopping up the extra with fresh-baked Italian bread.
How to order the best wine & drinks
"Wine is always a great option," Antonucci says. "A 5-ounce glass of?red wine?contains 150 calories and even supplies you with powerful antioxidants," she explains. If you prefer white wine, you'll save about 30 calories per glass.
After dinner, Italians love their?limoncello, a digestif made from lemons, simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) and vodka. It comes in such small servings that one small glass isn't going to destroy your diet.
How to order the best coffee
The good news: an Italian?espresso?contains almost no calories at all. Of course, the more milk and sugar you add, the more of an indulgence it is. To keep the calories in check, "shoot for nonfat or low-fat milk," suggests Antonucci, "and treat your milk as a sweetener."
And instead of ordering a latte or a cappuccino, opt for a?macchiato, which is an espresso with just a dollop of foam on top.
How to pack the perfect picnic
It's nearly impossible to travel around Italy without coming across at least one farmer's market each day. The country may not have invented the outdoor food market, but it has certainly perfected it, with fresh produce, farm eggs and artisan cheeses, meats and breads. Planning to throw together a picnic lunch? Here's how to make smart food choices.
Look for?homemade bruschetta toast?topped with caponata or garden-fresh tomatoes and basil, suggests Antonucci. "Certainly choose some cheeses and meats," she says, "but add some fresh fruits and veggies, such as spinach, avocado, tomato, asparagus and roasted peppers."?
More from Frommers.com
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Source: http://itineraries.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/15/10703816-secrets-to-eating-well-in-italy
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Florida Retail Federation Seeks Nominations | Lakeland Chamber ...
The Retailer of the Year Award (ROY), began in 1999, ROY is a way to pay tribute to just a few of the many fine retailers in our state who demonstrate a blend of sound business practices with commitments to their communities, customers and employees.
Each year through its Retailer of the Year Award (ROY), FRF recognizes a few of the state?s many outstanding retailers who have demonstrated a blend of sound business practices with commitments to their communities, customers and employees. Instituted in 1999, retailers operating all sizes and types of businesses have been honored with a ROY award. The ROY is given to individual retailers ? not to their businesses ? although the success of the business in which the ROY candidate is engaged will be considered.
Retailers are some of the hardest working innovators in business, and it?s time to recognize them for their excellence. Please nominate your favorite retailer today for the 2012 Retailer of the Year Award, sponsored by the Florida Retail Federation (FRF).
The Florida Retail Federation is accepting nominations now through Wednesday, April 11, for the statewide award. The Retailer of the Year Award honors retailers operating all types of retail establishments in Florida who blend sound business practices with commitments to their communities, customers and employees. Nominations can be made online at www.frf.org, or by calling 1-888-FL-RETAIL.
?The retail industry attracts the most innovative and dedicated individuals in Florida, and we want to recognize them for their work,? said Rick McAllister, FRF president and CEO. ?The Retailer of the Year Award pays tribute to the outstanding retailers who make Florida such an energetic and vibrant state for business.?
Nomination criteria: Anyone may make a nomination and may submit more than one retailer for consideration in any given award year. Previous nominees who didn?t receive a top award may be nominated again. Self-nominations are appropriate. Nominees must have a physical presence in the operation and / or management of a retail business in Florida. Please note that retailers are defined as those who sell products and services directly to consumers.
Eligible retailers are those who work for, own, or operate a Florida retail business that has an annual sales volume of $5 million or less. Upon being nominated, each nominee will be sent an entry form that must be completed and returned to FRF no later than May 7, 2012.
The recipient will be honored during a special luncheon held in conjunction with the University of Florida?s ?Retail Smarter? symposium on Thursday, June 21, 2012, at the Caribe Royale in Orlando. The person who nominated the award winner will also be invited to attend. The winner will receive a distinctive award, local and statewide recognition, complimentary symposium registration, and hotel accommodations to attend the luncheon.
For more information visit www.frf.org or contact Brenda Grindstaff at 1.888.357.3824 or frfawards@frf.org This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Source: http://blog.lakelandchamber.com/2012/03/florida-retail-federation-seeks-nominations/
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Friday, March 23, 2012
Kony director's "unfortunate incident" caused by psychosis: wife
(Reuters) - The director of a video calling for the arrest of fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony was suffering from "brief reactive psychosis" when he was hospitalized last week in California following reports he was acting bizarrely, his wife said on Wednesday.
Jason Russell, who directed the 30-minute "Kony 2012" Internet film that went viral earlier this month, was detained by police in San Diego last week after witnesses reported a man in "various stages of undress" who was "acting bizarrely, running into traffic" in public, police said.
"Jason's incident was in no way the result of drugs or alcohol in his body. The preliminary diagnosis he received is called brief reactive psychosis, an acute state brought on by extreme exhaustion, stress and dehydration," Russell's wife, Danica, said in a statement.
The "Kony 2012" film became an Internet sensation this month, racking up more than 84 million hits on YouTube since it was posted, and thrusting its director into the spotlight.
The video's aim was to wake up the world to the atrocities committed by Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army, including kidnapping children and forcing them to fight.
The phenomenal success of Russell's video has been hailed for inspiring young people to activism, but has suffered some criticism including that it oversimplified a long-standing human rights crisis.
Russell was not arrested following what his organization has called an "unfortunate incident," but officers transported him to a medical facility and he was treated for "exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition."
"The doctors say this is a common experience given the great mental, emotional and physical shock his body has gone through in these last two weeks," Russell's wife said.
Russell will continue to remain under hospital care for a number of weeks, and his wife said the recovery process "could take months" before the director is able to resume his work with Invisible Children.
Russell, who narrates the Kony video with a personal story that juxtaposes shots of his young son in San Diego with the hopelessness of Ugandan children, has said the video was meant as a kick-starter to a complicated issue.
A host of celebrities, including George Clooney, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Oprah have joined the virtual chorus of support for the cause.
Mixed reactions in Uganda include criticism that the attention came too late, that much of the armed conflict in the area has subsided and the film leaves out that the Ugandan military is often accused of committing the same atrocities as Kony's fighters. In addition, Kony is believed to have long since fled Uganda and now only commands a few hundred followers.
Invisible Children also has faced questions about its governance in light of financial statements showing a large proportion of funds were used for travel and film production rather than charity work.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kony-directors-unfortunate-incident-caused-psychosis-wife-190542966.html
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Thursday, March 22, 2012
Live your life like there's no tomorrow with David Lee Roth in a box (video)
Continue reading Live your life like there's no tomorrow with David Lee Roth in a box (video)
Live your life like there's no tomorrow with David Lee Roth in a box (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Parents upset about Whittier's Developmental Preschool moving to ...
Seattle Public Schools is moving the Developmental Preschool program at Whittier Elementary School in Ballard to Viewlands Elementary in North Greenwood/Crown Hill next year. But, some parents in the Developmental Preschool are upset because they weren?t involved in the decision-making process, and they were given very little notice.
The Developmental Preschool is located on the bottom floor of Whittier Elementary.
The district says it is moving the program because it anticipates higher enrollment at Whittier in the next few years, and may need an extra classroom. Whittier?s boundaries include the western edge of parts of Phinney Ridge and Greenwood.
Amy Thompson, whose 4-year-old daughter, Ava, has attended the Developmental Preschool for the last two years, says the district apparently made the decision in February, but didn?t notify parents until Monday. She said the district posted a letter on its website on Feb. 17 detailing various district-wide Special Education changes, and the preschool change consisted of one line in that document. But no one from the district or Whittier Elementary notified parents of that letter on the website.
?It was deeply buried,? Thompson says of the notice. ?And who?s going to go looking for that if they don?t know to look for it??
Thompson says she heard about the move last Thursday from Whittier Principal Linda Robinson. Preschool families received a notification letter on Monday, and that same letter was sent home with all Whittier students on Tuesday.
Here is an excerpt from the letter by Pegi McEvoy, Assistant Superintendent for Operations:
At this time, we have tentatively planned to maintain the same number of homerooms currently at Whittier; however, the situation is such that we need to be prepared to add a homeroom as additional Open Enrollment date becomes available. This type of decision obviously needs to be made in advance. In anticipation of potential space needs for an additional homeroom at Whittier next year, we have decided to relocate the Developmental Preschool to Viewlands Elementary beginning in the 2012-13 school year. Consideration was given to the addition of a portable; however it was determined to be unfeasible.
SPS also says it is studying the need for additional Development Preschools at other sites throughout the district, including North Seattle.
The Whittier PTA has formally opposed the move, arguing that Whittier?s enrollment figures do not necessitate another homeroom next year. On Monday, the PTA sent a letter to district officials (see end of this post for the full letter).
Thompson said her family?s reference school is Adams Elementary, but they chose to enroll their 6-year-old son, Campbell, in kindergarten at Whittier this year, so he and his sister could attend the same school. With the preschool moving to Whittier, they will be split up.
Thompson said she understands school capacity issues, but the real issue is with timely notification. Since the Open Enrollment period has passed, she no longer has the option of moving her son to Viewlands next year, to keep her children at the same school.
?If it is a foregone conclusion that the program is moving, at a minimum, just give us a year of transition to work these issues out,? she pleaded.
Thompson says routines and structure are especially important for children with developmental issues. Her daughter has significant?development delays and requires intensive speech, occupational and physical therapy. When Ava started going to the Developmental Preschool program at the age of 3, she used a walker to get around. Today she walks independently, and Thompson attributes that to the teachers and intense therapy at the preschool.
?All of them require a special level of education services, so whether it comes in the form of cognitive therapy, learning or physical therapy, their routines are very structured that way,? she explains. ?It takes a while to develop that routine with your educators.?
She?s worried about the same level of services being available at Viewlands, after the district informed parents that the new Developmental Preschool room at Viewlands is not equipped for physical therapy, as it is at Whittier.
?Not having those things in place is a pretty big setback to their progress and overall development plan,? she says.
Thompson says the preschool has done a great job of integrating with the regular education program at Whittier, even having 5th graders as learning buddies for the preschoolers.
?The great thing about it is that as a parent with two typically developing children and one atypically developing, is it integrates the learning environment. So our whole family can participate, instead of Ava being off to one side.?
Parents in the preschool program have started an online?petition to ask the district to hold off on moving the program for one year.
We contacted Seattle Public Schools yesterday for more information on the decision-making process to close the preschool. We will update this post when we hear back.
(Disclosure: My son goes to Whittier, but has no connection to the Developmental Preschool.)
?
Here?s the letter from the Whittier PTA to the Seattle School Board, opposing the preschool?s move:
To: Seattle School Board
From: Lisa Melenyzer & April Brown, on behalf of the Whittier PTA General Membership
Date: March 19, 2012
RE: Relocation of Whittier Developmental Preschool
The following letter is written on behalf of the PTA families and supporters of the Whittier Elementary School Developmental Preschool program. The program has been a powerful tool in serving the developmental needs of area children, providing a high quality early education environment and helping each student to realize their full potential. The program and its students have been put at risk as the classroom has been slated to relocate to another school next year. The PTA is formally requesting a reversal of that decision, maintaining the program at Whittier Elementary.
There are four primary reasons to reverse this decision on behalf of the students, faculty and parents at Whittier Elementary:
1. Capacity is a Non-issue
? This migration decision was purportedly motivated by concerns about classroom capacity at Whittier Elementary, however, the District-projected enrollment provided with Whittier?s Budget Allocation indicate that Whittier is expecting a decrease in enrollment, down to 451 from the October 2011 headcount of 460 students.
? A letter written to the Whittier community in January of 2012 by Pegi McEvoy indicated that if ?enrollment is not as high as anticipated, we will not add an additional homeroom.? With no increase in enrollment, and no additional staffing for another homeroom, there appear to be no plans for 2012-13 for the classroom currently housing the Developmental Preschool.
2. The Decision for Program Migration Lacks Thoughtful Planning
? Despite a posting of the program change on February 17, 2012, students and families have yet to receive formal notice about the change, thus they were not afforded the opportunity to make alternative plans for siblings during the Open Enrollment period.
? Students and families were not consulted during the decision making process.
? Program officials have yet to confirm availability of Intensive services (e.g. speech, occupational therapies) or provide any insight on staffing positions in the new classroom.
? With principal changes planned this year for Whittier and Viewlands schools, the best way to ensure stability in the Developmental Preschool program is to let it continue in its present form with the support of the Whittier community.
3. The Decision Does Not Consider the Best Interests of our Children
? Disruption to learning environment removes routines and consistency which are critical for children with developmental needs.
? The move will divide families with siblings attending Whittier Elementary across two schools increasing demands on resources (e.g. travel) and reducing parental involvement (e.g. two PTAs, teacher conferences).
4. The Decision Does Not Honor the Interests of our Educators and Whittier Elementary
? Educators, administrators and the Whittier Elementary community were not sufficiently involved in decision-making processes.
? Removing the Developmental Preschool program reduces diversity and makes the school less representative of the community it serves.
? The Whittier staff has a proven track record of working collaboratively with the Preschool team and sharing resources to improve the experience of both the preschool and K-5 populations.
Given the lack of thoughtful planning, negative impact to children, families, educators and Whittier Elementary, the PTA is formally requesting a reversal of the relocation decision. In absence of a rationale to the contrary, we feel that a move at this time is unjustified and unnecessarily destabilizes the preschool population. Please consult with the District and ensure that the children and families served by the Developmental Preschool are being served appropriately and protected from unnecessary tumult.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your speedy response to this request.
Signed,
Lisa Melenyzer and April Brown
Co-Presidents of the Whittier PTA
On behalf of the General Membership of the Whittier PTA
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