Politics & Public Policy of US Healthcare - Washington, D.C.

0 comments Thursday 31 March 2011


  1. A more tumultuous year in healthcare would be hard to envision. In March 2010, after contentious debate, Health Reform was passed and signed into law. Since then healthcare providers and related organizations have initiated efforts at all levels to map operations to coincide with specific reforms and deadlines. Nine months later, federal elections made it clear that changes to healthcare reform may be likely, possibly even repeal
  2. .How will these events impact your organization? How would you like them to impact your organization? During a week-long immersion in Washington, DC, you will build relationships with key legislative, agency and industry leaders through meetings in and around Capitol Hill to ensure your voice is heard. You’ll learn about the roles federal, state and local government play in healthcare and how you can influence them. Ultimately, the skills and relationships that result will help participants advocate more effectively and assume greater leadership responsibility. 
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Share your Hyatt disaster memories

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The Kansas City Star is producing a book and a special Web presentation this summer to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the skywalks' collapse at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on July 17, 1981. We would like to interview people who were there that night. We also would like to gather pictures of the 114 people who died. That is so sad moment.

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Chicken Biryani - Authentic and delicious dish.

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Chicken Biryani is a dish where the rice (mostly basmati rice) is cooked separately from the thick sauce. The word ‘biryani’ is derived from the Persian word berya(n), which means fried or roasted. A biryani can be both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. The species and condiments included in biryani are – cloves, ghee, cumin, cardamom, bay leaves, coriander, mint, ginger, garlic and onion. But for a non-vegetarian biryani the main ingredient is meat – beef, chicken, goat, lamb, fish or shrimp. There are many types of biryani namely- Hyderabadi Biryani, Iranian Biryani, Thai Biryani, Dindigul Biryani, Sindhi Biryani, Sri Lankan Biryani and many more.
                          One such is Chicken Biryani, which is an authentic and delicious dish prepared with chicken pieces marinated in a spice and curd mixture and cooked with basmati rice. Here is the chicken biryane recipe.

1/2 KG Boneless Chicken
4 Cups of Basmati Rice
3-4 Onion Chopped
Puree of 3-4 Tomatoes
2 tbs Ginger Garlic Paste
1 tbs Chilli Powder
1/2 tbs Turmeric
1 tbs Coriander Powder
1 tbs Roasted Cumin Powder
1/2 tbs Garam Masala Powder -
Garam masala items - 2 cloves, 1 bay leaf, 1 cardamom, 2 medium sized cinnamon sticks, a pinch of saunf
1 Cup Yogurt
Mint leaves 1 cup
Salt to taste
Oil 2-3 tbs
6 Cups of Water (For cooking rice)

Preparation for Marination:
Mix Yogurt, Tomato puree, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, turmeric, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, biryani masala and salt for taste in a big bowl. Take 1/2 kg chicken and then marinate for 1 hour in the mixture.
Soak Rice for 1/2 hr.

For garnishing:
Coriander leaves - a little
Fresh mint - a little
Raisins - 5 (optional)
Cashews - 8 (optional)

Method:
Take a large pan and heat some oil, add garam masala items and onions. Then add the mint leaves, ginger garlic paste and fry for a few minutes. Then add tomatoes, green chillies, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin seed powder and salt. Fry this mix for few minutes adding a little water. Then add the chicken pieces and sauté for 15 minutes. Then close the pan with a lid after adding some water in it, allowing the chicken to cook.

One should cook the basmati rice separately, taking care that the rice are not over-cooked or sticky. In between you have to soak a pinch of saffron in a little water. And then roast cashews and raisins separately. Then in a large dist, put the layer of rice and spread a little saffron water on it. Then add some chicken masala and mix it. Then repeat the action of adding another layer of rice and spread chicken masala with the saffron water, until all rice is completed. Coat it with cashews and raisins, mint and coriander leaves and serve hot with raita.
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Red Jacket girls track is six-time reigning West champ

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For all the numbers that have distinguished the Red Jacket girl’s outdoor track and field team — the six-straight league trophies, the 46 division champions, the No. 1 team for the past half-dozen years — the Indians last spring accomplished a feat that placed them in conversation of all-time best.

The Indians haven’t lost a meet in six years, nine months and 27 days, their last being a defeat to Bloomfield, 76-65, in the 2004 regular season finale. Red Jacket has since won 30-straight against Finger Lakes West squads, and are 30-1 overall. Their only interruption came against Palmyra-Macedon, a non-league neighbor, losing 91-35 in 2006.

Red Jacket’s string of consecutive league titles stands as a West record, and their 30-1 overall run is also the third-best mark in girls track history in the Finger Lakes. Pal-Mac went 43-0 overall and 37-0 in the Central, and Victor made a 38-0 run overall and 35-0 in the East.

On a muggy 78-degree afternoon last May, Red Jacket “hit the ground running” at Alfred State College. For the first time in their program’s history, the Indians cradled that coveted piece of lumber; they were finally sectional champions… and won by 67 points.

"I was so happy for the girls, especially the seniors," said third-year head coach Erin Gerbasi. "To finally capture a sectional title was special. It was great to see the girls take so much pride in our program."

There’s no surprise when you battle Red Jacket.

The Indians have puréed West contestants since the White Sox last won the World Series. Winning by attrition has become a Tuesday afternoon tradition; the Indians’ dual meet formula has equated into a 100-point average. And, there’s no false bravado.

Sam Turner sizzled the straight and commanded the curve last spring. The speed merchant went uncontested in the 100m (12.81), 200m (25.92), and 100m hurdles (16.55) and won sectionals in all three. Thoroughbred Sarah Coon claimed sectional titles in the 1,500m (4:58.03) and 3,000m (11:17.02) and later competed in the New York state meet in the 800m (2:19.96). After winning sectional shot put (28-11 1/4) and discus (112-7) titles, Cristi VanCaeseele joined coon in the states in the discus.

All three return this season along with Gerbasi, who took over for Kim (Breed) Blanchet, who guided Red Jacket to its first-ever league crown and a 20-1 overall career record.

"The idea of taking over this team after Kim had stepped down was a bit daunting," said Gerbasi, who tripled jumped 36-2 at John F. Kennedy high school in her heyday. "Luckily, the transition for both me and the girls was seamless and we have been able to continue the tradition of strong track at Red Jacket."
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the game tv show

0 comments Wednesday 30 March 2011

TROY, N.Y. (AP) - An upstate New York community college will be offering a certificate program in Animal Advocacy with the help of TV game show legend Bob Barker of "The Price Is Right."
Barker has donated $100,000 to Hudson Valley Community College to create the Bob Barker Animal Advocacy Fund at the college, which will be used to support animal law courses.
HVCC says it's the only community college in the nation offering this type of academic certificate program in Animal Advocacy.
Course offerings include Animal Cruelty Investigation, Legal Issues for Animal Control, Lobbying and Legislating for Animal Protection, Shelter and Rescue Management and Veterinary Forensics.
Graduates can pursue careers in humane law enforcement, animal control, humane education, shelter management, lobbying and policy-making.
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Cleveland Cavalier fans, it is almost over

0 comments Tuesday 29 March 2011

Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Atlanta Hawks; final score, Hawks 99, Cavs 83. It's almost over fans. The Cavaliers will end this season by finishing off the remaining ten game in the next sixteen days. While I could simply recite the negatives and complain about another Sunday loss, which brings them to a grand total of 11 Sunday losses, or moan about Samardo Samuels(notes) sprained wrist, I won't. As a fan who is willing to stand by them to the end, I will throw out as much good news as I can find.
Good News
Coach Byron Scott Says
When asked if there was anything positive to take from Sundays game he said, "They only got two offensive rebounds. They got 12 transition points in the first half and zero in the second, so we did a much better job of getting back."
He admits to looking at the bright side here, "They only had two offensive rebounds but you can look at it the other way; they shot 50% so there weren't a whole lot of offensive rebounds that they had to get. I'm going to go the other way; I'm going to take it as a positive that they only got two offensive rebounds. That's something that we have to continue to work on."
Welcome Back Man
Joe Tait was back after five months. He is 50 pounds lighter and had to use a cane to walk to his perch, but it was good to see and hear him Sunday. His trademark sweater and customary sarcasm during the play by play was a welcome addition.
Mo Williams tweeted from LA, "Big shout out to Joe Tait. Love u man. Welcome back." and fans came with welcome back signs and gave Tait a standing ovation in the first quarter.
Tait has been the Cavaliers' play-by-play radio announcer since 1970. Although he is retiring after this season, he wants to end his career with the Cavaliers his way, as he said, "standing up."
"There's mixed opinions in the medical world as to whether this was the smartest thing I've ever done in my life," Tait said. "But I wanted to give it a shot." While doctors wondered if it was the smartest move, Tait was confident he wouldn't overexert. The Cavaliers have not been exactly exciting to watch lately. The Cavs did not even score until over five minutes into the game. I enjoyed his wry remarks like, "He missed everything but the parking lot." when Alonzo Gee tossed up his second airball of the game.
Good Stats
Baron Davis added 19 points and seven assists. J.J. Hickson had his third straight double-double, 20th of the season and 24th of his career.
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April Fools Day Pranks Start Early – Jackie Chan Death Hoax

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It seems like April Fool’s Day pranks have started early this year. Earlier today Daily Planet Dispatch reported that rumors of Jackie Chan’s death were going viral. This is not the first time, of course, that the 56 year old legendary martial arts actor and producer’s early demise had been reported as a hoax.
The power of social media networks like Facebook and Twitter in helping a story go viral were demonstarted in a rather silly string of thousands of real-time results showing up in Google, Google Trends and Twitter trends as fans of the comedian started posting “RIP Jackie Chan” without one corroborating story backing up the original, a ‘pastehtml’ site, put up to look like a Yahoo7 News page.
The power of social media networks like Facebook and Twitter in helping a story go viral were demonstarted in a rather silly string of thousands of real-time results showing up in Google, Google Trends and Twitter trends as fans of the comedian started posting “RIP Jackie Chan” without one corroborating story backing up the original, a ‘pastehtml’ site, put up to look like a Yahoo7 News page.
The ‘pastehtml’ site even tried to make the story look real by reporting that Will Smith and President Barack Obama had paid tribute to the celebrity’s life.
Now Jackie Chan’s representatives have had to step in to quash the rumors – with their own message on Twitter and a note on the Hong Kong actor’s Facebook page stating: “Jackie is fine and busy preparing for filming his next movie”.
Fortunately, many Twitter fans were wise to the idea that this might be some kind of early April Fool’s Day Prank and started to limit the effects of the hoax by posting Tweets that asked people to think about the facts of the matter. There have been a smattering of Hoax RIP claims concerning celebrities sent viral on the site in the recent past including the purported deaths of Justin Bieber and Jeff Goldblum.
It looks like somebody, in very poor taste, tried to get their April Fool’s Day pranks in early this year, unfortunately for Jackie Chan. Knowing his character, though, he’ll just laugh it off and enjoy the added publicity.
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Donny Osmond visits BYU spring practice, Jake Heaps

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The young BYU quarterback has invested a lot of TV time watching Donny and Marie Osmond compete on "Dancing with the Stars" in recent years. Donny heard about that and decided to attend BYU football practice and thank Heaps in person.
The former teen idol spent a little time with Heaps before practice on Tuesday and watched some of the drills before leaving for a flight to Las Vegas, where he'll resume performing with his sister Marie at the Flamingo Hotel.
Tossing the ball back and forth, Osmond teased Heaps, "Come on, let's see what you've got. Quit throwing it like Betty White."
With teammates wondering what in the heck was going on and center Terence Brown yelling out, "Let me throw the ball," Heaps rifled a pass at Osmond, who buckled over, groaned and fell to the ground, but held on to the pigskin.
He took off his coat, threw it about 10 feet and told Heaps he wanted him to get serious and not baby it.
It was the first time Osmond had attended BYU football practice since he was 18 years old. Producers of the original Donny and Marie Show set up a shoot with LaVell Edwards for a segment in the shot. He wore a jersey with double zero and his brother Jay was the quarterback.
Jay told BYU defenders to take it easy on Donny but make it look real. Donny went over to the secondary and told them to disregard Jay and make it very real. "I went out for a pass, Jay threw it and I caught it and got hit. It was the last thing I remember that day."
Osmond offered Heaps advice about being in the public spotlight, something Donny has experienced since grade school when the Osmond brothers started their careers at Disneyland, singing on a patio.
Donny Osmond has sold over 80 million records over five decades and has achieved 33 gold records, 18 of them before the age of 13.
He knows the scrutiny the freshman Heaps can face these days.
So, why did Donny show up Wednesday? It surprised Heaps and his teammates.
I asked him.
"Jake Heaps' mom and dad came to our show in Las Vegas during the Mountain West basketball tournament and told me Jake watched every episode of '"Dancing with the Stars' and that Jake was a big fan of mine, so I wanted to meet him," said Donny.
What advice did he give Heaps?
"Do you mean from my experience of winning the Heisman Trophy, a BCS bowl and national championship?" Osmond asked. "I told him to always be mindful you are representing not only yourself, but also BYU and the LDS Church, and that the adversary knows that, and he will be trying to work on you.
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