We here at Legal Blog would like to encourage everyone to watch the film Hot Coffee by Susan Saladoff.
The film looks in depth at the infamous Liebeck v. McDonald?s case?and dispels many of the myths surrounding?it and Tort Reform. But it does even more.
The film painstakingly documents how civil court house doors are being shut to plaintiffs and personal injury victims through a variety of means across the country.
It shines a much needed light on Tort Reform and exposes it for what it truly is: a mortal danger to our democracy and the American way of life.
The documentary can be seen on HBO and found at www.hotcoffeethemovie.com.
Our 7th Amendment right to a trial by jury is being attacked by corporations, arbitration clauses, and elected judges who serve the special interests that pay for their campaigns.
Watch this film, then watch it again, share it with your friends, your coworkers and your family.
Contact: Ashlea Hudak ahudak@health.usf.edu 813-396-9642 University of South Florida (USF Health)
University of South Florida College of Nursing extends study nationwide to military across all service branches
July 27, 2012 (Tampa, FL) Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing have shown that brief treatments with Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) substantially reduce symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) including, depression, anxiety, sleep dysfunction and other physical and psychological symptoms. The findings of this first study of ART appear in an on-line article published June 18, 2012 in the Journal Behavioral Sciences.
ART is being studied as an alternative to traditional PTSD treatments that use drugs or lengthy psychotherapy sessions. The talk therapy uses back-and-forth eye movements as the patient fluctuates between talking about a traumatic scene, and using the eye movements to help process that information to integrate the memories from traumatic events. The two major components of ART include minimizing or eliminating physiological response associated traumatic memories, and re-envisioning painful or disturbing experiences with a novel technique known as Voluntary Image Replacement.
For the initial study, USF researchers recruited 80 adult veterans and civilians, ages 21 to 60, in the Tampa Bay area. Before receiving ART, patients were tested for symptoms of PTSD and depression, with the vast majority testing positive, 80 percent for PTSD and 90 percent for depression. After the patients received ART-based psychotherapy, the research team reported a dramatic reversal in symptoms. In as few as one to four sessions, those showing symptoms had decreased to only 17 percent for PTSD and 28 percent for depression. Improvements were also seen in trauma-related growth and self-compassion in just one to four treatments.
"From this initial assessment, ART appears to be a brief, safe, and effective treatment for symptoms of PTSD," the report concludes.
"Early results are very promising," said principal investigator Kevin E. Kip, PhD, professor and executive director of the USF College of Nursing Research Center. "Most people who came in to be treated had very high scores for PTSD, and after treatment, the majority had very large reductions. The treatment also reduced other symptoms, like depression, as well as improved sleep."
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), PTSD has become an epidemic in the United States. Recent NIH statistics show more than 7.7 million American adults and as many as 31 percent of war veterans suffer from PTSD. They experience mild to extreme symptoms, often with greatly impaired quality of life and physical and psychological functioning.
ART is a particularly promising alternative to traditional PTSD treatments, because it uses no drugs, has no serious adverse effects, and can improve symptoms in -few therapy sessions. The compelling results achieved principally with civilians in the first study prompted the USF College of Nursing to seek and facilitate expansion of a second ongoing ART study funded by the U.S. Army. This expanded study encompasses active duty service members, veterans, and reservists across all branches of service at sites around the country.
"As part of RESTORE LIVES at USF, the innovative nursing research being conducted by Dr. Kip and his team demonstrates our commitment to the health and welfare of our nation's military, veterans and their families," said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing. "We are energized that the Department of Defense has agreed to extend the scope of the current study funded by the U.S. Army. The results that the ART studies have shown so far are truly amazing, and offers new hope to those suffering from PTSD."
Earlier this month, the USF research team traveled to Las Vegas to conduct the first mobile ART study with military reservists.
"We are happy about our collaboration with USF College of Nursing," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Raul Rojas, commanding officer for the Naval Operations Support Center (NOSC). "We're honored to be the first West Coast study site for the USF College of Nursing's ART study. "We hope our relationship will help get the word out to those who can benefit from the study."
ART is one of the five sub-studies of the USF College of Nursing's Research to Rehabilitate/Restore the Lives of Veterans, Service Members and their Families (RESTORE LIVES) grant funded and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) at Fort Detrick, MD.
"All the pieces are coming together, with published results on ART, effectiveness leading to Department of Defense approval to extend the scope of the study, and our first national study site in Las Vegas. It looks like we are closer to getting a more efficient evidence-based treatment into place that will actually eliminate the traumatic response to memories and bring relief to the troops and their families," said co-principal investigator Carrie Elk, PhD, assistant professor and military liaison at the USF College of Nursing.
###
Article Citation:
Kip, K. E., Elk, C. A., Sullivan, K. L., Kadel, R., Lengacher, C. A., Long, C. J., Rosenzweig, L., Shuman, A., Hernandez, D. F., Street, J. D., Girling, S. A. & Diamond, D. M. (2012). Brief treatment of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Behavioral Sciences. 2(2), 115-134. doi:10.3390/bs2020115
USF Health's mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician's Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities.
Through 'RESTORE LIVES AT USF: Education and Research to Rehabilitate and Restore the Lives of Veterans, Service Members and their Families', USF College of Nursing faculty develop life enhancing treatments through nursing research, and educate nurses with the knowledge and skills specific to the needs of the military, veterans and their families. The ART study is an example of type of innovative research that the USF College of Nursing is developing to improve the health of service members and veterans.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: Ashlea Hudak ahudak@health.usf.edu 813-396-9642 University of South Florida (USF Health)
University of South Florida College of Nursing extends study nationwide to military across all service branches
July 27, 2012 (Tampa, FL) Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing have shown that brief treatments with Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) substantially reduce symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) including, depression, anxiety, sleep dysfunction and other physical and psychological symptoms. The findings of this first study of ART appear in an on-line article published June 18, 2012 in the Journal Behavioral Sciences.
ART is being studied as an alternative to traditional PTSD treatments that use drugs or lengthy psychotherapy sessions. The talk therapy uses back-and-forth eye movements as the patient fluctuates between talking about a traumatic scene, and using the eye movements to help process that information to integrate the memories from traumatic events. The two major components of ART include minimizing or eliminating physiological response associated traumatic memories, and re-envisioning painful or disturbing experiences with a novel technique known as Voluntary Image Replacement.
For the initial study, USF researchers recruited 80 adult veterans and civilians, ages 21 to 60, in the Tampa Bay area. Before receiving ART, patients were tested for symptoms of PTSD and depression, with the vast majority testing positive, 80 percent for PTSD and 90 percent for depression. After the patients received ART-based psychotherapy, the research team reported a dramatic reversal in symptoms. In as few as one to four sessions, those showing symptoms had decreased to only 17 percent for PTSD and 28 percent for depression. Improvements were also seen in trauma-related growth and self-compassion in just one to four treatments.
"From this initial assessment, ART appears to be a brief, safe, and effective treatment for symptoms of PTSD," the report concludes.
"Early results are very promising," said principal investigator Kevin E. Kip, PhD, professor and executive director of the USF College of Nursing Research Center. "Most people who came in to be treated had very high scores for PTSD, and after treatment, the majority had very large reductions. The treatment also reduced other symptoms, like depression, as well as improved sleep."
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), PTSD has become an epidemic in the United States. Recent NIH statistics show more than 7.7 million American adults and as many as 31 percent of war veterans suffer from PTSD. They experience mild to extreme symptoms, often with greatly impaired quality of life and physical and psychological functioning.
ART is a particularly promising alternative to traditional PTSD treatments, because it uses no drugs, has no serious adverse effects, and can improve symptoms in -few therapy sessions. The compelling results achieved principally with civilians in the first study prompted the USF College of Nursing to seek and facilitate expansion of a second ongoing ART study funded by the U.S. Army. This expanded study encompasses active duty service members, veterans, and reservists across all branches of service at sites around the country.
"As part of RESTORE LIVES at USF, the innovative nursing research being conducted by Dr. Kip and his team demonstrates our commitment to the health and welfare of our nation's military, veterans and their families," said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing. "We are energized that the Department of Defense has agreed to extend the scope of the current study funded by the U.S. Army. The results that the ART studies have shown so far are truly amazing, and offers new hope to those suffering from PTSD."
Earlier this month, the USF research team traveled to Las Vegas to conduct the first mobile ART study with military reservists.
"We are happy about our collaboration with USF College of Nursing," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Raul Rojas, commanding officer for the Naval Operations Support Center (NOSC). "We're honored to be the first West Coast study site for the USF College of Nursing's ART study. "We hope our relationship will help get the word out to those who can benefit from the study."
ART is one of the five sub-studies of the USF College of Nursing's Research to Rehabilitate/Restore the Lives of Veterans, Service Members and their Families (RESTORE LIVES) grant funded and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) at Fort Detrick, MD.
"All the pieces are coming together, with published results on ART, effectiveness leading to Department of Defense approval to extend the scope of the study, and our first national study site in Las Vegas. It looks like we are closer to getting a more efficient evidence-based treatment into place that will actually eliminate the traumatic response to memories and bring relief to the troops and their families," said co-principal investigator Carrie Elk, PhD, assistant professor and military liaison at the USF College of Nursing.
###
Article Citation:
Kip, K. E., Elk, C. A., Sullivan, K. L., Kadel, R., Lengacher, C. A., Long, C. J., Rosenzweig, L., Shuman, A., Hernandez, D. F., Street, J. D., Girling, S. A. & Diamond, D. M. (2012). Brief treatment of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Behavioral Sciences. 2(2), 115-134. doi:10.3390/bs2020115
USF Health's mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician's Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities.
Through 'RESTORE LIVES AT USF: Education and Research to Rehabilitate and Restore the Lives of Veterans, Service Members and their Families', USF College of Nursing faculty develop life enhancing treatments through nursing research, and educate nurses with the knowledge and skills specific to the needs of the military, veterans and their families. The ART study is an example of type of innovative research that the USF College of Nursing is developing to improve the health of service members and veterans.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
The July 27 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover for HTC EVO 4G LTE. This durable hard plastic case accentuates your style and personality in vibrant color while protecting your EVO 4G LTE from the elements. Made from durable, abrasion-resistant TPU, this rugged case offers the ultimate choice in style and protection. Comes in black, red and white.
The Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover is available for just $14.95, 50% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy, fast shipping and friendly support. Grab yours today!
Marucci baseball bats have been used by Major League Baseball players for a long time but they are fairly new to the youth baseball scene.
They have now become just as popular as Easton and DeMarini and if you're looking for a new baseball bat then you might want to check out Marucci.
Baseball Coloring Pages 1 year 44 weeks ago
Gather all baseball fans. Check out these baseball coloring pages. I collected best baseball coloring sheets, mlb coloring pages, printables and pictures to color from all around the web. Print and color baseball pitchers, hitters, catchers, gloves, balls, bats. Also color your favorite MLB team logos Like New York Yankees. Colouring is so much fun for your children. Find your favorite baseball quality colouring sheets and print them for your kids. Also learn how to draw baseball player. ...
The History of Baseball 2 years 37 weeks ago
This lens is about the history of baseball, in particular the history of baseball in the United States. Baseball history goes back to the 18th century, a time when baseball was an amateur sport played in a very informal way. This lens will look at baseball over the years, how its changed and some of the great players of the game. Once baseball started to become more popular, there was the introduction of semi and professional teams starting in the 1860's. ...
Homerun Monkey Review & Coupon Promo Codes for 2012 9 weeks 1 day ago
Homerun Monkey is an online retailer of bats, gloves, balls, and other products for Baseball and Softball. It has carved a nice niche for itself at the premier one-stop-shop for all things baseball and softball related. The site has become a popular place among the baseball crowd for top-notch products with exceptional service, all purchases being backed by a 150-Day Return Policy. ...
Men diagnosed with prostate cancer are less likely to die from the disease than from largely preventable conditions such as heart disease, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). It is the largest study to date that looks at causes of death among men with prostate cancer, and suggests that encouraging healthy lifestyle changes should play an important role in prostate cancer management.
"Our results are relevant for several million men living with prostate cancer in the United States," said first author Mara Epstein, a postdoctoral researcher at HSPH. "We hope this study will encourage physicians to use a prostate cancer diagnosis as a teachable moment to encourage a healthier lifestyle, which could improve the overall health of men with prostate cancer, increasing both the duration and quality of their life."
The study was published July 25, 2012 in the Advance Access online Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer, affecting one in six men during their lifetime. While incidence of prostate cancer has greatly increased in the United States, Sweden, and other Western countries in recent decades, the likelihood that a newly diagnosed man in these countries will die from the disease has declined. The researchers attribute this to the widespread use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which has resulted in a higher proportion of men diagnosed with lower-risk forms of the disease.
The researchers examined causes of death among prostate cancer cases recorded in the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (over 490,000 men from 1973 to 2008) and the nationwide Swedish Cancer and Cause of Death registries (over 210,000 men from 1961 to 2008).
The results showed that during the study period, prostate cancer accounted for 52% of all reported deaths in Sweden and 30% of reported deaths in the United States among men with prostate cancer; however, only 35% of Swedish men and 16% of U.S. men diagnosed with prostate cancer died from this disease. In both populations, the risk of prostate cancer-specific death declined, while the risk of death from heart disease and non-prostate cancer remained constant. The five-year cumulative incidence of death from prostate cancer was 29% in Sweden and 11% in the United States.
Death rates from prostate cancer varied by age and calendar year of diagnosis, with the highest number of deaths from the disease among men diagnosed at older ages and those diagnosed in the earlier years of the surveys (especially in the years before the introduction of PSA screening).
"Our study shows that lifestyle changes such as losing weight, increasing physical activity, and quitting smoking, may indeed have a greater impact on patients' survival than the treatment they receive for their prostate cancer," said senior author Hans-Olov Adami, professor of epidemiology at HSPH.
If your company hires an executive vice president of Level-Marketing can expect to pay more than $ 175,000 in wages and benefits for beginners. While his new vice president may be able to develop a marketing strategy, the company will continue to allocate a substantial budget to outsource creative projects, outsourcing to a full-service multimedia agency that paid for all services - although not with them. The operating costs of each department should be borne by all customers. An outsourcing company strategically combines the best of both worlds. A dedicated outsourced marketing firm works with you to develop a marketing strategy that is tailored to the needs of your business to develop. ??? The company such as Hinge Marketing also offers strategic outsourcing your company technology with a wide range of experience in the market under one roof to its message to an increasingly demanding and brings them more difficult to achieve. The main difference with a strategic outsourcing company is that you only pay for what you need - when you need it! Online marketing is still? If you do not take advantage of the Internet, are not you. A marketing consultant can help a website; customers are in the search market, and each click on your web account. ??? Is it from marketing? Your adviser can help you with your marketing strategy and presentation. The consultant may also be able, in touch with people who could help, help improve their local advertising efforts. If you want to outsource marketing services in search of all your marketing needs or if you have a specific campaign or a particular segment can help your company or if you want to help, help with a problem of a particular consultant. Often it takes someone outside your organization to do things that will help you make the changes that can be easy to implement, but in dramatic terms to see the results.
Could this be the endgame for HIV? Pioneers of HIV research last week announced a united goal: to stamp out the virus forever.
"Finding a cure is going to be one of multiple strategies to end the epidemic," says Sharon Lewin of the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, who is one of the 34 founders of the global scientific strategy called "Towards an HIV Cure". The announcement came ahead of the 21st International AIDS Conference in Washington DC this week.
HIV can be suppressed using antiretroviral drugs but not cured, because the drugs only kill cells in which the virus is multiplying. HIV can lay low by inserting dormant copies of itself into the DNA of healthy cells. Lewin and others are researching new approaches to flush out HIV. She is managing a trial exploring a promising avenue ? giving people a cancer drug called vorinostat that "wakes up the virus" so it can be destroyed with antiretroviral drugs.
Other avenues include loading immune cells with genes to sabotage a white-blood-cell's surface protein, CCR5, which HIV uses to enter cells. A treatment aimed at biochemically chipping the virus out of infected people's DNA is also in development.
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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU regulators are seeking concessions from Google which could be applied worldwide to resolve concerns about its business practices, the EU's antitrust chief said on Wednesday, raising the stakes in forthcoming settlement talks.
Google, whose search engine is used for around four-fifths of Internet searches in Europe, has been accused by rivals of abusing its dominant market position, and the European Commission said in May it was concerned about its alleged anti-competitive behavior.
The Commission typically looks for concessions that would benefit European consumers, but has on occasions asked for remedies with a broader scope.
"We will look for worldwide solutions, it will not be very useful to get European-wide solutions," EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia told a news conference.
The Google case is a critical one for Almunia, and his demand for globally applicable solutions -- which might see an EU decision serving as a template for worldwide regulators -- shows another way in which he is trying to stamp his mark on EU competition policy.
He is also keen for more speed, especially for an industry that is constantly innovating. In May he said he wanted the Commission to get a faster resolution over Google than it has in past cases. One involving Microsoft was brought in 1998 and only received a final court judgment this year.
The EU watchdog has said the Google's search results may unfairly favor its services over its rivals' and may have copied material from other websites, such as travel and restaurant reviews, without permission.
NO LENGTHY BATTLE, NO FINES?
Google too is anxious to avoid a lengthy battle such as Microsoft's, as well as a penalty: Microsoft was fined more than a billion euros by the Commission.
The company has carefully avoided public confrontation with the Commission, and has tried to build an image in Europe as a sponsor of techy cultural projects.
Asked on Wednesday to comment on Almunia's remarks, Google spokesman Al Verney said: "We are continuing to work cooperatively with the European Commission."
The Commission said it had reached "a level of good understanding" with Google that would form the basis for technical discussions towards a resolution of its concerns.
Google -- to comply with EU demands -- revised initial proposals to resolve the dispute to cover all platforms, including computers, tablets and mobile devices, someone familiar with the case told Reuters.
Regulators will discuss the technical details of Google's proposals in the coming weeks, though there is no deadline for a decision, Almunia said.
However, analysts cautioned that a statement of objections -- a formal charge sheet -- remained a possibility despite the apparent progress towards a settlement.
Almunia's demand for a global solution underscores the global nature of the technology industry, an issue which regulators in different jurisdictions will have to deal with. Google is also currently under investigation in the United States.
"With tech markets, we can expect to see more and more remedies for a global market," said Mark Tricker, a partner at law firm Norton Rose.
"It is in Google's interest to agree to that. If it is being investigated in other countries, it can then say these concerns have been dealt with in the EU."
The European Commission can fine companies up to 10 percent of their annual revenues, which in Google's case amounts to some $4 billion.
Almunia said other parts of Google's business could still come under scrutiny.
"We have not opened any other investigations, but I don't exclude that in the future other aspects of Google activity can also follow the path of the investigation we launched in 2010," he said.
He had previously said other complaints related to Google's top-selling smartphone operating system Android, which competes with systems by Apple, Microsoft, Research in Motion and others.
(Additional reporting by Sebastian Moffett; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)
NCI Cancer Bulletin for July 24, 2012 - National Cancer Institute A molecular analysis of colon and rectal tumors has yielded insights that could lead to more targeted treatments for patients with this disease, according to a report by investigators from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network. Their findings are publicly available (here and here) and summarized in Nature this month. TCGA investigators have previously reported on the molecular changes underlying ovarian cancer and glioblastoma, an often deadly brain cancer. In the new analysis, the researchers comprehensively characterized the genomes of 224 colon or rectal tumors, as well as matched normal DNA from the donors. After excluding from their analysis tumors that had abnormally high rates of genetic mutation (hypermutated tumors), the researchers found no significant genomic differences between colon and rectal tumors, based on a variety of measures, including the number of copies of genes and the gene expression profiles of the tumors. But an analysis of the molecular pathways in colorectal tumors showed that pathways could be disrupted in a number of ways. Some tumors had potentially cancer-related changes in multiple pathways, suggesting to the researchers that targeting a single pathway would not be sufficient to treat these tumors. Most of the approved treatments for colorectal cancer are chemotherapies that produce poor response rates, noted Dr. Raju Kucherlapati of Harvard Medical School, who co-led the study. The new findings could form the basis for developing and testing therapies that target the molecular changes driving the disease, he added. ?There are a number of genetic changes present [in the tumors we examined], and drugs that target many of these changes are already in development,? Dr. Kucherlapati continued. For selected patients, new targeted drugs ?have the potential to be highly effective.?? He and his colleagues in the TCGA Research Network also found that 16 percent of the tumors were hypermutated. This phenomenon may be caused by defects in a cell?s ability to repair damaged DNA. Hypermutated tumors may also be aggressive. Three-quarters of the specimens had a genetic change called microsatellite instability, which is associated with a better prognosis. The researchers also found that the gene IGF2, which plays a role in cell proliferation, was altered in some tumors. Drugs that target the product of this gene or its receptor are in development and could be tested in patients whose tumors have alterations in IGF2. The data from this study ?provide an unprecedented resource for understanding this deadly disease and identifying possibilities for treating it in a targeted way,? the authors concluded. This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (U24CA143799, U24CA143835, U24CA143840, U24CA143843, U24CA143845, U24CA143848, U24CA143858, U24CA143866, U24CA143867, U24CA143882, U24CA143883, U24CA144025, U54HG003067, U54HG003079, and U54HG003273).
Consumer finance agency says college students hurt by ?subprime-style? lending ? ? The Star-Ledger
Andrew Harrer/BloombergRichard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The agency along with the U.S. Department of Education has criticized the private student loan market and urged reforms.
Students grew indebted and went into default at the hands of a ?subprime-style? private loan market that contracted amid the financial crisis, a U.S. government report issued today concluded.
?Our findings reveal that students were yet another group of consumers that were hurt by the boom and bust,? Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said in an e-mailed statement. ?Too many student loan borrowers are struggling to pay off private student loans that they did not understand and cannot afford.?
Education Secretary Arne Duncan, whose department co-wrote the study, urged students to make federal loans their ?first option? to pay for college.
?Subprime-style lending went to college and now students are paying the price,? Duncan said in the statement. ?We still have some work to do to ensure that students who take out private student loans have the same kinds of protections offered by federal loans.?
Private loans can have higher interest rates and lack the same protections as federal loans, including fixed rates, deferments and income-based repayment programs. They represent about 15 percent of the $1 trillion educational debt load.
The CFPB was created by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act to help consumers understand financial products including student loans, mortgages and credit cards. The act requires a report by it and the Education Department about the private loan industry one year after the CFPB officially started work on July 21, 2011.
Cordray recommended that Congress require schools to certify that private loans being offered do not exceed the borrower?s need and that it reconsider a 2005 law that made it harder to discharge student debt in bankruptcy. He also called for better publicly available data on private loans.
CFPB Authority
In a conference call with reporters, Cordray declined to specify what the CFPB might do with its authority under the Dodd-Frank law to regulate private loan terms.
Duncan made similar recommendations in the report. He also suggested Congress require schools to determine whether students exhaust their eligibility for federal loans which often have lower interest rates before resorting to private lenders.
The Obama administration has highlighted student lending issues as college-bound Americans grapple with the rising cost of a higher education. Earlier this year, the CFPB and the Education Department created a model form for outlining the costs to attend college, explaining the difference between loans that have to be repaid and grants that don?t.
Families are expected to consider private loans more as a financing option as the gap increases between the cost to attend college and federal loan limits.
Pre-Crisis Cycle
The report outlines a pre-crisis cycle that resembles the one from which the housing market is still recovering. Pushed by demand for asset-backed securities, many lenders made profits by originating and selling private student loans with declining regard for the borrowers? creditworthiness.
The market for private loans rose from $5 billion in 2001 to over $20 billion in 2008 before shrinking to less than $6 billion in 2011, by which time many investors had pulled out of the market.
Using data from lenders and other sources, the agencies found that students now owe $864 billion in federal loans and about $150 billion to private lenders. Students are in default on more than $8.1 billion, representing 850,000 distinct loans.
Richard Hunt, head of the Arlington, Virginia-based Consumer Bankers Association, which represents lenders, said companies see student loans as a part of the retail business, which is focusing on building deeper relationships with customers.
Borrower Preference
?Some people would rather deal with their bank than the federal government,? Hunt said in an interview. ?They do all their other banking there like auto or mortgage, and they can do student lending too.?
Hunt said the report should also have considered the impact of federal student loans, which he said constitute most of the market. ?The report does not provide a complete, clear and objective analysis of the student lending market,? he said in an e-mail.
Critics of the private lending business don?t dispute the need for it, since federal loans can?t cover the rising cost of a higher education. They do emphasize the need for students to use all of their federal options before getting private loans.
?It?s like taking a subprime mortgage if you qualify for a prime loan,? Pauline Abernathy, vice president at The Institute for College Access and Success, an advocacy group. ?There?s no reason to do it.?
Senate Bill
Senators Richard Durbin and Tom Harkin, Democrats from Illinois and Iowa, respectively, introduced a bill in March that would require colleges to counsel students about taking out the maximum in federal loans before taking out private educational debt.
About 30 lenders are issuing private loans today. Among the largest are SLM Corp., better known as Sallie Mae; Wells Fargo Co.; and Discover Financial Services, according to the consumer bankers group.
?Some banks have exited, some have stayed. Very, very few have entered,? said Hunt. ?But the ones that have stayed have seen a good retention rate and a slight increase in the portfolio.?
Private loans offer mostly variable rates that can be more than twice what some people pay in the federal program. The rate for unsubsidized Stafford loans for undergraduates is 6.8 percent. Several private lenders have introduced fixed-rate student loans.
In addition to banks, some quasi-state agencies can issue private loans, including the Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp., the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority and the South Carolina Student Loan Corp. Many of those nonprofit agencies offer fixed- rate loans.
"Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller doesn't give a rat's behind what you think of her sometimes harsh way of teaching the young wannabes at her Pittsburgh dancing school.
"You know, the criticism is from the dance community and they're all just jealous that they don't have a show," Miller said at the Teen Choice Awards.
Oh?
"Come on," she said, "if Lifetime approached them, you don't think they would have said yes?"
READ: More from E! Online: Lifetime replaces Bristol Palin's 'Life's a Tripp' with 'Dance Moms' ?reruns
In February, "Dancing With the Stars pros" Derek Hough and Mark Ballas took to Twitter to voice their (very strong) disapproval of Miller's teaching methods.
"I'm sorry but this Dance mom show is straight up abusive," Hough tweeted. "Kids Run !!!!!! It ain't right. Child abuse isn't right. I'm livid right now...(There's) nothing productive about screaming and making little girls cry over being on the wrong foot."
Describing Miller as "crazy," Ballas tweeted, "Dance is meant to be fun and inspirational, not abusive. Kids are impressionable and I don't want young children being afraid to take up dance because of this lady."
Despite what we may see on the show (screaming fights, anyone?), Miller insists she actually stays out of the mommy drama. "I have to or I would lose my flippin' mind," she said. "I've been doing this for 30 years and before there wasn't one mom that traveled with us. The kids all had their money in an envelope and we left and we were gone all summer. We'd be in Orlando, Vegas, L.A. and so on."
Photos from E! Online: Reality TV hookups?
Yes, some were with her and walking the pink carpet at Teen Choice.
But Miller is willing to put up with her critics and the clients because of, well, the paycheck.
Asked how much longer she'd want to do the Lifetime show, Miller howled, "Until I pay everything off."
Do you think Abby Lee Miller goes to far? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
NEW YORK (AP) ? Amazon.com is expected to post sharply higher revenue when it reports second-quarter results Thursday after the market closes, but its investments in new distribution facilities may weigh on the online retailer.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Because Amazon's revenue has been strong, investors are likely to focus on the company's profit margins and bottom line. The company has been reinvesting a lot of its earnings to build up a distribution network so that it can better grow its business over the long term.
The effects of the weak economy in Europe on sales will also be a focus. In addition, looming sales tax requirements, a slowdown in Kindle Fire shipments ahead of the launch of a new version and rising costs for acquiring content should "warrant some caution" regarding Amazon's results, said Baird analyst Colin Sebastian.
Amazon.com Inc. only collects sales tax from residents of Kentucky, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Washington and has said that it wants Congress, not individual states, to resolve the issue of whether it is required to do so.
WHY IT MATTERS: As the world's largest online retailer, Amazon's results can provide a glimpse into the mood of consumers, which power 70 percent of all growth in the U.S. economy. In general, online retailers have been weathering the shaky economy better than their brick-and-mortar counterparts, as eBay Inc.'s strong second-quarter results showed last week.
WHAT'S EXPECTED: Analysts, on average, are expecting earnings of 1 cent per share on revenue of $12.92 billion, according to a poll by FactSet.
Amazon said in April it expects revenue to grow between 20 percent and 34 percent, or to between $11.9 billion and $13.3 billion.
LAST YEAR'S QUARTER: Amazon earned $191 million, or 41 cents per share, on revenue of $9.91 billion.
[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
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Many who have taken up Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak?s call to provide feedback for the Budget 2013 have placed affordable housing at the top of their wish list.
Of the first 100 suggestions ranked by popularity, a large number of people asked that premier take steps to ensure affordable housing particularly for the middle income group.
?I hope the government will do something about the sky-rocketing price of houses available for the common rakyat. It is simply too inaccessible for many to own a decent house these days,? suggested a user named Teryyck which garnered 183 ?likes?.
Similarly, Mathew from Klang Valley stated: ?Government needs to seriously establish mechanisms to control price of properties that has spiralled out of control as they are bought by speculators and foreign buyers as investments (thereby) encouraging developers to build homes for them rather than locals?.
?We need affordable houses?Please oh please make the price and size of houses worth buying,? said Ammaray93 from Selangor.
Another user by the name of Ir Fird even suggested that housing programmes for the poor and hardcore poor be made available to the middle class.
?Rumah Mesra Rakyat 1 Malaysia and Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) should be opened to middle income group? The fact is that low income group have houses but middle income group is still renting in the big city is so sad and pitiful,? he said.
Among other popular requests that top the list include breaking the monopoly of satellite broadcaster Astro and an increase in tax relief.
Affordable satellite TV a must
?Break Astro?s monopoly. Licences for MEASAT satellite and satellite television should be opened to other companies. Encourage competition so that prices can be more competitive and consumers? rights will be protected,? said Amirul from Johor whose suggestion received 130 ?likes?.
?Astro should bear the six percent service charge, not the customers,? added Adi Shah from Kuala Lumpur.
On tax relief, Cik Kiah from Perlis said: ?I hope the government can increase tax relief for children.
?RM1,000 per year for one child is no longer relevant to the cost of living now?.
Meanwhile Ling from Penang said: ?Give more tax reduction to middle income group. We are suffering from Inflation. Separate the life insurance and Employees? Providence Fund (EPF) deduction and increase personal deduction from RM9,000 to RM11,000. Things are very expensive now?.
Other issues that were raised included improvement to public transportation, affordable cars, improved policing and security, tax relief for the purchase of green technology products and concerns about the influx of immigrants.
Najib who is also finance minister had on July 16 called on Malaysians to chip in on what they would like to see in the upcoming budget due to be tabled Sept 28.
As of today, a total of 1,032 people have submitted 1,295 suggestions to the premier. The online budget feedback will run until July 29 and any suggestions for the premier can be submitted?here.
Ever wonder if a police officer can legally check your glove box during a traffic stop? What about the street under the Monorail, can you change lanes under there? What about the neighbor?s cat that keeps coming into my yard ? is that technically illegal?
These and more common Seattle law questions are answered below by people who enforce them. The questions and answers are pulled from previous posts in our Answers for Readers series.
To see the full list of questions, scroll through the question menu below. And if you?re an attorney, don?t get uptight. These questions were asked of the people who write tickets. If a reader is seriously worried about a legal question, consult a lawyer ? obviously.
Common law questions
Why don't police stop jaywalkers around Pike Place Market?
Many of those people aren't likely jaywalking. The Seattle Municipal code prohibits pedestrians from crossing an arterial street other than in a crosswalk except upon the following portions of streets within the Pike Place Market Historical District:
Pike, Pine, Stewart and Virginia streets west of First Avenue
Pike Place between Pike Street and Virginia Street. (seattlepi.,com file photo)
Is it legal to change lanes under the Monorail tracks?
"A motorist can change lanes under the elevated monorail guideway along Fifth Avenue, but that said, it must be done with extra caution making sure that there are no vehicles approaching in the lane to which the driver is moving," Department of Transportation spokeswoman Peg Nielsen said.
"It's not impossible," Seattle Police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said of making the lane change safely. "You just have to be incredibly cautious." (seattlepi.com file)
Is it true cop radar guns don't work in rain or darkness?
No.
"Our radar and LIDAR units do work in the dark, rain and even fog," State Patrol Trooper Dan McDonald said. "It?\'s concerning that you were asked that question because those are three major conditions of limited visibility and poor driving conditions. In these conditions motorists shouldn't worry about getting caught speeding, they should naturally slow down for their safety and the safety of other motorists and pedestrians around them."
LIDAR stands for light detection and ranging, and is used in place of a radar gun. (DOD/Wikimedia Commons)
Should I call 911 for disabled parking violators?
"It's probably best to use the non-emergency number if it's not an emergency," Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson said. That number is (206) 625-5011. Calls to police are prioritized on a numerical scale based on importance. An armed robbery in progress is a high priority, for example. A noise complaint is lower on the scale. Police can take calls for disabled parking violations through the 911 line. The call volume at a given time also affects response times. (Tdmalone/Wikimedia Commons)
What's the penalty for drinking in a movie theater?
Police say what will likely happen is the theater will ask you to leave. "If the person didn't leave, that's trespassing," Det. Jeff Kappel said. Someone is guilty of trespassing of if he or she "knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises of another," according to the Seattle Municipal Code.
Second-degree trespassing is a misdemeanor, which could lead to an arrest. Police say a theater staff also could have an officer issue a trespass warning, notifying the person that he would be arrested if he returns. Another option is that Seattle police could give a ticket for violating the city's open container law. That's a $27 fine. (seattlepi.com file)
Who pays for cops at construction sites?
"Typically it's an off-duty job," Seattle Police Officer Mark Jamieson said. "Usually a construction company or other businesses will pay to have an officer work there directing traffic and things like that."
Seattle police work with Seattle Security Inc., a company that specializes in providing state-certified, off-duty Seattle officers to private citizens and businesses in the greater Seattle area. Established in 1997, SSI also has officers work other events, such as concerts and private gatherings. (seattlepi.com file)
Can police search my trunk or locked glove box?
If someone is arrested, deputies need a search warrant to look into a locked trunk or glove box, King County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said in 2009. "The police cannot search a locked compartment or a glove box in a car without a search warrant," he said.
"If you just pull somebody over on a traffic stop, you can't search the car at all," Urquhart said. "In fact, the most recent case law says you can't search the interior of a car after an arrest on a criminal charge unless you have a reasonable belief that evidence of the crime for which the person was just arrested is in the car. But you can't search the trunk or any locked areas without a warrant." (Q4RadioGuy/Wikimedia Commons)
When are kids required to be in booster seats?
"Age 4 to 8, unless they're 4-feet-9 inches tall," State Patrol Trooper Cliff Pratt said. "Anything 4-feet 9 inches or taller should be in a safety belt." That?' also detailed in the Revised Code of Washington.
In a booster seat, the "shoulder belt should cross the shoulder and the chest," Pratt said. "It should never be under the child or behind the back. The lap belt should rest low across the lap or upper thigh area, not across the stomach." (Cschirp/Wikimedia Commons)
Do cats and small pets have to stay on the owner's property?
There is not a leash law for cats, Seattle Animal Shelter Enforcement Director Don Baxter said. If the cat is just walking through a neighbor's yard there is no violation. If the cat defecates, digs up plants, scratches cars, etc. on the neighbor's property, these would be violations for which the cat could be trapped and impounded. If the upset neighbor lives in Seattle, he would need to call the shelter and request to be put on the trapping list. There is no fee for the traps, but with that there is also a waiting list that is about a month long and at times can be longer. (seattlepi.,com file)
How do I get a weapons permit here if I'm from out of state?
Washington accepts concealed pistol licenses issued by some other states, as long as the handgun is carried in accordance with Washington law, according to the state Department of Licensing. The state Attorney General's office lists those states as Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah.
Some people can also get a non-resident concealed weapons permit in Washington. The process typically takes 60 days, and the request can be made through any law enforcement agency in the state. (seattlepi.com file)
How long can storage units legally stay on city streets?
A storage unit can stay in the street up to 120 days if the person to whom the unit belongs has a street use permit. That permit can be renewed for more time beyond the 120 days, but the cost does go up. The same permit requirement and time frame apply to a storage unit on a sidewalk. The only difference is that a permit for the sidewalk will require a five-foot clearance on the sidewalk for other users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists. Street use permits can be obtained on the 23rd floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower. (seattlepi.com file)
Like these questions and answers? Here are some commonly asked bike law questions.
Bike law questions
Can someone riding a bike receive a ticket for speeding?
Yes. Police point to section 46.61.755 of the Revised Code of Washington. That states in part: ?Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway??shall be subject to the same duties applicable to a driver of a vehicle by this chapter [46.61]?except as to those provisions in this chapter which by their nature can have no application.? There is no specific speed violation for bicycles like there is for cars, so the speeding fine would be $103 for violating RCW 46.61.755, police say. (seattlepi.com file)
What is the fine for riding a bike without a helmet in Seattle?
Seattle police give a $103 fine. Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said officers do write tickets for that offense, but the numbers weren?t immediately available. The helmet requirement is outlined in the King County Board of Health Code, Title 9. Click here to read a PDF of that title. Seattle police and other agencies in King County can enforce the code. That authority is outlined in section 10.93 of the Revised Code of Washington. (seattlepi.com file)
Does a teen have to be licensed to bike on an arterial?
No. There aren?t age requirements for someone to ride a bike, ?and they certainly don?t have to have a permit to ride a bike,? Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson said. State Patrol spokesman Dan Coon also noted there is not specific age limits on bicycle riders, however there are some interstate and state routes were bicycle riders where cyclists are not allowed. People riding on those roads can get a $124 ticket. (seattlepi.com file)
What is the fine if a car is too close to a green bike box?
$124 or $194 if there?s an accident, according to Seattle police. The penalty is the same as when cars go too close to a sidewalk. Drivers are supposed to stop on the leading edge of the green bike box ? the edge closest to a car ? Seattle Department of Transportation spokesman Rick Sheridan said. This is covered in section 11.50.320 of the Seattle Municipal Code. (seattlepi.com file)
Is there a speed limit for bikes on the Burke Gilman Trail?
There is no speed limit on the trail in Seattle ? that?s why there aren?t bike speed limit signs on the trail here ? according to Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Joelle Hammerstad. But there are signs for a 15 mph speed limit on some sections of the Burke Gilman Trial. That?s regulated by section 7.12.295 of the King County Code, which Hammerstad said doesn?t apply in Seattle, according to the City Attorney?s Office. (seattlepi.com file)
Can bicyclists legally ride two in a lane?
It depends on the lane. Doubling up in a lane, defined as riding two abreast in the Seattle Municipal Code, is outlined in section 11.44.060: ?Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway or sidewalk shall not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. (RCW 46.61.770(2))? Section 46.61.770(2) of the Revised Code of Washington states: ?Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.? The fine is $103, police spokesman Jeff Kappel said. (seattlepi.com file)
Do bikes or people have the legal Burke-Gilman right-of-way?
Bicyclists should yield to pedestrians, according to city spokespeople. Section 11.44.120 of the Seattle Municipal Code ? as well as the county code and state code ? states bicyclists are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicle, according to the city Department of Transportation Web site. (seattlepi.com file)
Aren?t bicyclists required to walk at crosswalks?
The law doesn?t require that. Section 46.61.235 of the Revised Code of Washington states only that, ?No pedestrian or bicycle shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk, run, or otherwise move into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop.? (seattlepi.com file)
Why don?t police arrest more Critical Mass cyclists?
Seattle police don?t exactly have a hands-off policy, but they?re not going to devote significant resources to the regular act of civil disobedience, spokesman Mark Jamieson said. A few officers are often at the protests to make sure they stay peaceful. Most annoy drivers, but don?t have major disruptions. Police can step in when needed. (seattlepi.com file)
Is it legal for bikers ?riding the line? of bike lanes?
?There is no specification for where to ride in a bike lane,? Bellevue Police spokesman Greg Grannis said. ?Common sense and safety should dictate that the bicyclist would want to stay actually in the bike lane.? He recommended bike riders ride as close to the right side of the right lane as safely possible on regular lanes. They can also ride on the left side of the far left lane, if desired, on a one-way street, he said. Grannis pointed readers to RCW 46.61.770 for further information. (seattlepi.com file)
Who has the right of way on sidewalks, bikes or people?
Every person riding a bike on a sidewalk or public path shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian and must give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian, Seattle police spokesman Jeff Kappel said. Riders who don?t violate a city ordinance, though statistics on how often riders were ticketed were not immediately available. Kappel pointed out the right-of-way issue on sidewalks is specified in Seattle Municipal Code 11.44.120. (seattlepi.com file)
Is it illegal to drive in bicycle lanes?
Yes, it is illegal, Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson said. His answer is spelled out in Seattle Municipal Code 11.53.190 regarding driving in a bicycle lane: ?The operator of a motor vehicle shall not drive in a bicycle lane except to execute a turning maneuver, yielding to all persons riding bicycles thereon.? Police did not have immediately have statistics on how often people are cited for violating this law, but said drivers who don?t could face a $124 ticket. (seattlepi.com)
Is car-to-sidewalk switch on bikes legal?
Bicyclists in the street have to stop at stop signs and obey traffic laws just as motor vehicles would. But it?s legal for bicyclists to ride on the sidewalk. They must, however, yield to pedestrians and make a sound signal before passing someone on foot. So in the case with the red light mentioned above, the cyclist is not doing anything illegal. Police point out that if there is a red light, there also likely is a well-marked crosswalk for the bicyclist. (seattlepi.com)
Can Vespas legally travel in bike lanes?
Only for turning, Seattle police said. Department spokesman Mark Jamieson referred to Seattle Municipal Code 11.53.190, regarding driving in a bicycle lane: ?The operator of a motor vehicle shall not drive in a bicycle lane except to execute a turning maneuver, yielding to all persons riding bicycles thereon,? the code states. If drivers get busted for traveling in the bike lane, they could face a $124 fine. Police say it doesn?t matter how small the motor on the scooter may be. If it has one, police don?t considered it a bike. (seattlepi.com file)
Are bicyclists allowed on Aurora Avenue North?
Bicyclists are allowed to ride on Aurora Avenue North and the bridge. ?It?s not very smart,? Seattle police spokeswoman Renee Witt said, ?but it?s not against the law.? Some bicyclists, however, don?t share that view. A bike map designed by the Seattle Department of Transportation does not list the bridge or Aurora Avenue North as a commonly used street. Lane width on the bridge from west to east is 10 feet, 9 feet, 9.5 feet, 9.5 feet, 9 feet and 10 feet. The speed limit is 40 miles per hour, though drivers often break that. (seattlepi.com file)
Are electric bikes allowed on Burke-Gilman Trail?
No, city officials say. They?re not allowed because the Burke-Gilman Trail is intended for people-powered transportation, Seattle Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman Dewey Potter said. ?It is a rule and not a law, and there is some expectation that people will respect their fellow pedestrians and cyclists,? she said. Motorized foot scooters also are not allowed in bicycle lanes or on park pathways intended for recreation, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation. That includes the Burke-Gilman Trail. Someone busted for riding an electric-powered scooter on some public trails would likely get a $124 ticket for violating a Washington Administrative Code. (seattlepi.com file)
For more Seattle police and crime news visit the front page of the Seattle 911 blog.
Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com. Follow Casey on Twitter at twitter.com/mcnerthney.
Besides particular acne treatment products, contraceptive drugs may also be used to cope with acne amongst girls. Loud. years, physicians were only conceptualizing how many choices that common contraceptive pills enable acne to be relieved by you. These days however, we already have a lot of oral contraceptives which have been licensed by the FDAas reliable acne remedies medications.Though contraceptive supplements allow you to help address acne issues, skin doctors explain that these birth control techniques shouldn?t be utilized because first distinctive safety against acne breakouts. Such are advised by doctors only after careful consideration from the lady?s reproductive features and needs. Generally, such is only recommended only in fact another endemic and related remedies for acne symptoms are already tried and tried. This can also be employed if the woman with acne really wants to use contraception anyway.Many contraceptive pills contain certain quantity of progestin and estrogen. These kind of supplements work by modifying the genuine hormonal practices of women when using the estrogen component ? ethinyl etradiol. They minimize the level of testosterone in the body which can help reduce pimple attributable to hormone fluctuations. Once androgenic hormone or testosterone creation is decreased, the themes sebaceous glands in addition produce less quantity of gas. Consequently, promoting and clogging from the pores on the skin may be reduced, and even entirely prevented.Women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome tend to be prone to pimples. In such circumstances, contraception pills may be completely efficient in cleaning the skin lesions and surgical scars as a result of the problem. Contraceptive pills which have progesterone parts may possibly also reduce the breakout motion by decreasing how much androgen hormones in the blood stream. Furthermore to eradicating acne breakouts, oral contraception techniques may also slow up the abnormal hair growth due to the syndrom.Contraceptive pills should be taken daily. During the first 3 days in the month, the ?active? drugs must be considered by you. The placebo is then taken on the a week ago, back then when monthly time arises too.The area relationship between contraceptive pills will vary significantly from individual to an alternative. Negative results were not encountered by others and some may possibly have problems with severe diseases. Many individuals statement of additional weight, queasiness, chest discomfort, menstrual recognizing, and irritability. Several reports furthermore reported that oral birth control methods as acne cure options may also cause blood clots, center stroke, dilemmas, gallstones, raise in hypertension, and depression.Depending on the system and also the substances from the tablets, they may also cause an in the testosterone total body. If this occurs, the acne problem could end up worse. For probably the most effective effects, it?s going to be best just in case you speak to your doctor before using any pill. Basically, there are lots of kinds of supplements which can be used, according to the cause and harshness of the skin condition. The skin physician knows which solution will probably be best for your acne problem.
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Public release date: 27-Jul-2012
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?Astro should bear the six percent service charge, not the customers,? added Adi Shah from Kuala Lumpur.