Friday, August 31, 2012

Health Policy Brief: Risk Adjustment In Health Insurance ? Health ...



August 31st, 2012

A new Health Policy Brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation looks at so-called risk adjustment?an approach that will be needed in insurance exchanges scheduled to open in 2014. When the exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act are up and running and millions of Americans are buying coverage through them, some new enrollees will be healthy, but many others may have preexisting or high-cost conditions. To remove incentives for insurance companies to seek only the healthiest enrollees, insurance plans will be compensated through risk adjustment.

This policy brief explains how risk adjustment works and the issues involved in putting it into practice. Topics covered in the brief include:
.

  • Why risk adjustment is needed. Since the 1990s, many policy makers have argued that structured insurance market competition could be an important way to lower health insurance costs. Appropriate payment, as determined by risk-adjustment calculations, is a key ingredient in the overall success of the innovations in the Affordable Care Act, because health plans will compete on the basis of quality and efficiency, not by avoiding high-cost patients.
  • What risk adjustment is and how it works. The brief explains how, in risk adjustment, a third party, such as the federal government or a state, collects and organizes data from insurance claims and clinical diagnoses for all enrollees in every participating health plan or provider organization in a particular market. Using what?s known as a risk-assessment tool or methodology, this entity then converts the data into a risk score for each person, and uses that score to determine whether the person is healthier or sicker than average and thus how payment to the plan should be adjusted as a result.
  • Backstops to risk adjustment.As a supplement to risk-adjusted payments to plans, two additional stop-gap measures will be in place during the first three years of the Affordable Care Act, in case the adjustments don?t work as expected. ?Transitional reinsurance programs? will assess fees on insurers based on their relative market share; those funds will then be channeled to any plans that cover patients with extraordinarily high medical costs. ?Risk corridors? constitute another mechanism of transferring funds from plans with below-average risks to those with above-average risks. Funds will be collected from insurance companies whose target costs projections are at least 3 percent lower than expected and channeled to insurers whose actual costs turn out to be at least 3 percent higher than projected.

About Health Policy Briefs

Health Policy Briefs are aimed at policy makers, congressional staffers, and others who need short, jargon-free explanations of health policy basics. The briefs, which are reviewed by experts in the field, include competing arguments on policy proposals and the relevant research supporting each perspective.

You can sign up for e-mail alerts about upcoming briefs. The briefs are also available from the RWJF Web site. Please feel free to forward to any of your colleagues who are tracking health issues. And after you?ve taken a look, we would welcome your feedback at hpbrief@healthaffairs.org.

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Source: http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2012/08/31/health-policy-brief-risk-adjustment-in-health-insurance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=health-policy-brief-risk-adjustment-in-health-insurance

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Vellum Scrapbooking Kit: 8 Complete Kits (Ships Next Business Day ...

Who loves to scrapbook? I DO! When I have the time of course! ;) Today you can get this entire set for only $39.99. Retail value is $200.00! All of us that scrapbook know how expensive supplies are! See below what is included: Click here to check it out! It gets even better? $1.99 FLAT RATE SHIPPING today!!! There are only 800 available!?

Get 8 Scrapbooking Kits For 1 Great Low Price!

  • Perfect for any scrapbooking enthusiast
  • Coordinating alphabet and tag cardstock stickers
  • Alphabet & Tag sheets: 12? x 12?, 80-lb. cardstock pages
  • Vellum sheets feature phrases and sayings to caption your favorite moments
  • Vellum sheets: 12? x 12? translucent sheets
  • Alphabet cardstock stickers feature uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation
  • Each sticker is approximately .75 x .75 inches

Each of the 8 kits include:

  • 25 vellum pages (200 total sheets)
  • Two sheets of alphabet and number stickers (16 total sheets)
  • Two pages of sticker embellishments (16 total sheets)

Quotes On The Vellum Paper Include:

  • Autumnal Winds Vellum Scrapbook Kit: ? ?Thankful Thoughts?, ?Pumpkin Patch?, ?Lingering Shadows?, ?Fall Fancy? and more!
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Source: http://couponinoncoffee.com/2012/08/31/vellum-scrapbooking-kit-8-complete-kits-ships-next-business-day-only-39-99/

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Channel Partners Conference & Expo | Business Phone Service and ...

August 30th, 2012

Mobilize integrated Cisco Unified Communications and Microsoft Lync to Improve Collaboration, Productivity, and Cost Savings.

CallTower will be showcasing the efficiency that can be delivered through the CallTower hosted enterprise communications service, which leverages the individual and combined strengths of fully integrated Cisco UCS and Microsoft Lync. Demonstrations will be given at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Orlando, FL September 12-14, 2012.

?The Channel Partners Conference & Expo is the communications industry?s only event exclusively for indirect sales organizations ? agents, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and consultants ? focused on transforming their businesses to become next-generation solutions providers.??www.channelpartnersconference.com

?The CallTower hosted enterprise communications offering not only provides sales organizations with access to fully-integrated market leading technology based on Cisco and Microsoft?, said Clay Shubin, VP of Sales for CallTower, ?but also offers an aggressive partner program for those looking to provide such an offering to their clients.?

?? Sprint Logo??? Microsoft Gold Certified

CallTower, Inc. is?the leading?provider of?hosted enterprise-class unified communications?solutions for growing businesses nationwide.?We enhance our clients? strategic and business operational capabilities by integrating business phone service, mobile applications, email hosting, unified messaging,? instant messaging, audio, web and video conferencing, and collaboration tools?into one reliable platform.

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Source: http://www.calltower.com/news/channel-partners-conference-expo/

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Advocates condemn some Sheriffs' profound distortion of - Arc of '72

August 28, 2012 ? Today, a broad coalition of human rights advocates and legal experts condemned a statement made by the office of Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca Friday that the sheriff would defy the TRUST Act (AB 1081-Ammiano) if enacted, despite the fact that the bill is legally sound, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ?hold? requests the bill limits are voluntary. Other Sheriffs, including Sheriff Freitas of Sonoma, Sheriff Gore of San Diego, and Sheriff Sniff of Riverside also suggested in comments to the Los Angeles times that they may take similar actions.

Today?s response comes after about 500 Californians from across the state rallied in Sacramento in support of the bill. It also comes as fresh statistics revealed the number of deportations under the controversial ?Secure? Communities program in the state has now reached 80,000 ? about 7 in 10 of whom either had no convictions or minor offenses.

In a joint statement, the groups, ACLU of California, Asian Law Caucus, California Immigrant Policy Center, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, DREAM Alliance of Sonoma County, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, MALDEF, San Francisco Organizing Project, and National Day Laborer Organizing Network, remarked:

?To be blunt, Sheriff Baca?s?statement?has zero relationship to reality. ? It is crystal clear that ICE hold requests are just that ? requests. ?In one stunning statement, Sheriff Baca revealed both his fundamental misunderstanding of federal immigration law and his unwillingness to join the rest of us in a good faith policy discussion to reform our broken system. ?In short, Sheriff Baca?s irresponsible statement ?has proven the need for the TRUST Act. The fact is, it is entirely within the legal authority of the state of California to limit how it responds to burdensome ICE hold requests. The sheriffs? recent statements are further proof that immigration enforcement should remain the purview of the federal government.

And it is urgent for California to take action. Each month, thousands of parents, workers, and other Californians who aspire to be citizens are torn from their families due to the most trivial of arrests. They are trapped in our local jails for days, weeks or months after they would otherwise be released. This rogue group of Sheriffs- a vocal minority within the law enforcement community- falsely claims they have no discretion to stop these painful and costly practices. ? They are wrong, and we are only left to speculate why they have pledged to defy California lawmakers.

There is too much at stake for California to allow them to poison the waters. ?This illogical opposition proves the need for Governor Brown to sign the TRUST Act and return the state?s participation in the ?Secure Communities? program back to its original intent.

Additional comments from prominent experts:

Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF:??Any sheriff who fails to exercise discretion with respect to matters that are discretionary under the law engages in an ongoing dereliction of duty. ?Treating ICE detainer requests as mandates is simply a failure to engage in the discretionary decisionmaking that is expected of government leaders. ?It is far better for the state to establish policy on that discretion through the TRUST Act than for local law enforcement to be embroiled in individual immigration enforcement decisions. ?Thus, while avoiding decisionmaking in this area may be desirable for sheriffs, that is only possible with state legislation. ?Under current law without the TRUST Act, these sheriffs are harming the community and neglecting their responsibilities by treating as mandatory what is legally discretionary. ?They are also exposing themselves to possible legal action and liability.?

Hector Villagra,?Executive Director,?ACLU of Southern California???Secure Communities has shattered the relationship between law enforcement and the communities it?s supposed to protect. The TRUST Act restores that bond by stating clearly when local law enforcement should help with immigration enforcement ? in cases of serious crimes ? and when it shouldn?t. Sheriff Baca?s statements show ignorance both of how the TRUST Act works, and the limits of his own power.?

Background: The TRUST Act has captured national attention as a legally permissible alternative to neighboring Arizona?s extreme anti-immigrant measure, SB 1070. The bill would save local resources and rebuild community confidence in law enforcement by limiting limit unfair detentions for deportation purposes in local jails. Specifically, local law enforcement could only submit to burdensome ? and optional ? requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain individuals for extra time, at local expense, for deportation, if the individual has been charged or convicted of a serious or violent felony. That such requests are NOT mandatory is well established by the courts and federal regulations themselves.

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Source: http://arcof72.com/2012/08/28/advocates-condemn-some-sheriffs-profound-distortion-of-immigration-law-ca-cant-afford-to-let-minority-of-officials-go-rogue-on-trust-act/

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U.N. chief excoriates Iran for threats to Israel, Holocaust denial

DUBAI (Reuters) - Without naming Iran, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon denounced his hosts in Tehran on Thursday for threatening to destroy Israel and for denying the Holocaust.

"I strongly reject threats by any member state to destroy another or outrageous attempts to deny historical facts such as the Holocaust," Ban said in his speech to a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in the Iranian capital.

"Claiming that Israel does not have the right to exist or describing it in racist terms is not only wrong but undermines the very principle we all have pledged to uphold," he added.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly denied the Holocaust and this month described Israel as a "cancerous tumor". In 2005 he caused uproar by being quoted as saying that Israel should be "wiped off the map".

Persian language scholars say a more correct translation of his comment would read: "Israel must vanish from the page of time."

Ban was attending the NAM summit despite calls from the United States and Israel that he should boycott the event. (Reporting By Marcus George; Editing by Alistair Lyon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/un-chief-excoriates-iran-threats-israel-holocaust-denial-091204760.html

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Plants' fungi allies may not help store climate change's extra carbon

ScienceDaily (Aug. 30, 2012) ? Fungi found in plants may not be the answer to mitigating climate change by storing additional carbon in soils as some previously thought, according to an international team of plant biologists.

The researchers found that increased carbon dioxide stimulates the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) -- a type of fungus that is often found in the roots of most land plants -- which then leads to higher decomposition rates of organic materials, said Lei Cheng, post doctorate fellow in plant science, Penn State. This decomposition releases more carbon dioxide back into the air, which means that terrestrial ecosystems may have limited capacity to halt climate change by cleaning up excessive greenhouse gases, according to the researchers.

"Prior to our study, there have been few studies on whether elevated levels of carbon dioxide would stimulate organic carbon decomposition through AMF," said Cheng.

To study the effect of higher levels of carbon dioxide on AMF-mediated decomposition, the researchers conducted four experiments, two in greenhouses and two in fields to mimic Earth's expected North American atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. They studied plots of a wild oat species, which is native to Eurasia and now common in North American grasslands, and wheat.

In the experiments, one plot was treated with AMF, the other did not have the fungus. Both plots were exposed to higher than currently existing carbon dioxide levels. After a ten-week gestation period, the sample of plants with AMF had 9 percent less carbon in the soil than the plot that was not treated with AMF, indicating that the carbon was released back into the atmosphere.

"Basically, we showed that elevated carbon dioxide increases carbon allocation to AMF to increase plant nitrogen uptake, and higher AMF facilitate organic residue decomposition which releases carbon dioxide into the air," said Cheng.

Elevated levels of carbon dioxide did significantly increase the size of the AMF colonies and carbon allocation underground, according to the researchers, who released their findings in the Aug. 30 issue of Science. However, the storage of carbon is offset by the role of AMF in facilitating decomposition.

"We used to think that this excess carbon would be sequestered in the soil," said Cheng. "So, that could help mitigate climate change, but it doesn't appear to be so."

They also studied the effect on a wheat and soybean field. In this experiment, Cheng said elevated levels of carbon dioxide increased both the size of AMF colonies and decomposition.

AMF colonies, which are found in the roots of 80 percent of land plant species, play a critical role in Earth's carbon cycle. The fungus receives and stores carbon -- a byproduct of the plant's photosynthesis -- from its host plant in its long vein-like structures. A plant stores about 20 percent of its carbon in AMF, according to Cheng.

AMF also help the plant capture nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen.

"We found that, under elevated carbon dioxide levels, AMF supply more nitrogen to their host plants by acquiring ammonium directly from decomposing residues," Cheng said. "So the good news is that AMF's role in the plant's nitrogen uptake may open up the possibility of keeping carbon in the soil."

When there are higher carbon dioxide levels, the plant's ability to take in nitrates is inhibited and it then adds more carbon to fungi like AMF to acquire ammonium, said Cheng. The management of soil nitrogen transformations may provide a promising strategy of restoring levels of carbon sequestration under higher carbon dioxide conditions.

Cheng worked with Fitzgerald L. Booker, plant physiologist and professor of crop science, and Kent O. Burkey, plant physiologist and professor of crop science and botany, both of North Carolina State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service; Thomas W. Rufty, Bayer Distinguished Professor, department of crop science, Shuijin Hu, associate professor of plant pathology, H. David Shew, professor of plant pathology, and Cong Tu, research specialist, all of North Carolina State University, and Lishi Zhou, department of plant pathology, North Carolina State University and State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science.

The USDA supported this work.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Penn State.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. L. Cheng, F. L. Booker, C. Tu, K. O. Burkey, L. Zhou, H. D. Shew, T. W. Rufty, S. Hu. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase Organic Carbon Decomposition Under Elevated CO2. Science, 2012; 337 (6098): 1084 DOI: 10.1126/science.1224304

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SYRfesn7C0U/120830141345.htm

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Laptop or computer Money Generator | Contacts Manufacturer ...

A lot of individuals are using the worldwide access afforded us by the internet to earn income. Can you genuinely use your computer to create a House Based Enterprise or to generate money working from the comfort of one?s dwelling Yes, numerous people are currently operating from household in quite a few unique parts of your globe.

All you actually need to have, in most cases, is actually a personal computer, access for the Online and some no cost time. A lot of times should you determine to make a web-based internet based business the time essential decreases as your earnings increases. The world wide web has really leveled the playing field for millions of daily persons like you and I.

The fees to get oneself up and running is minimal when compared to the expense and overhead of a standard brick and mortar small business. You might be questioning what types of perform could you do or if there had been a Household Based Business and what would it be

I?ve listed below some from the work at home jobs and house based corporations out there upon researching the web.

* Online Paid Surveys
* Data Entry
* Sort At Home
* At Property Phone Jobs
* Chat room supervisors
* Mystery shoppers
* Course of action rebates from home
* Email processing
* On the internet Jewelry Stores
* On the internet Retail Stores
* On-line Dollar Stores
* On line Shopping Malls

This is just a few of the many sorts of possibilities out there to you. You might be asking yourself how do you go about deciding what to perform subsequent The first thing you should do is usually to realize what your perform at property profile is. This is recognizing your ability sets, obtainable time, earnings objectives and comfort level. You can add to this list, but these are the essential ones. I?ve noticed over the past couple of years that men and women seem to be getting success when ensuring that the type of perform at dwelling job or residence based business enterprise they choose matches his or her operate at residence profile. For example you would not want to produce a Residence Based Enterprise, which takes far more time to acquire up and running, should you wanted to merely perform from home to produce some added money.

Many individuals will perform two ? three programs in parallel with creating their online web company. Later they may perhaps go on to focus on the ones they enjoy most or just use their home business to generate the income they desire.

It?s crucial to either use a website like mine, but not necessarily mine, which has accomplished some study for you or be prepared to spend the days doing it yourself. It should be done as you will find far to lots of applications available that may take your revenue and waste your time leaving you discouraged.

Take your time, do your study, narrow down your alternatives to 2 ? three programs that meet your function at house profile, join, train and start your work at residence endeavor.

You won?t make something from residence when you do not attempt. Why not give oneself a chance For less than it expense to take your loved ones out to dinner and also a movie one particular evening you must be capable of join the programs needed. Please really feel free to read each this short article or 1 of my several other people by going to my link in the resource box below. I usually delight in obtaining emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your feedback is essential to me.

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Source: http://blog.1stfind.com/?p=499997&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=laptop-or-computer-money-generator-2

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Fresh clashes kill three Pakistan soldiers, 11 militants

Fresh clashes in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area along the Afghan border on Tuesday left three soldiers and 11 militants dead, security officials said.

The latest fighting occurred as part of a Pakistan army operation to repel Taliban militants who had crossed over from Kunar province in Afghanistan early Friday and occupied the village of Batwar in the Bajaur tribal district.

Officials said several soldiers were also missing in the clashes.

The fighting has so far left 50 dead including 31 militants, three soldiers and two members of a government backed peace committee who were killed on Monday.

"During the ongoing clashes in the Batwar border area of Bajaur, 11 militants were killed today while several were injured," a senior security official based in the region's main city of Peshawar told AFP.

"Three security personal have also embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while some are missing," he said.

Pakistani troops arrested eight militants while "the dead bodies of some militants are in the custody of security forces," he added.

Another government official from Khar, the main town of the Bajaur tribal district, confirmed the latest fighting and new death toll. He requested anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media.

The area is cut off to journalists and aid workers and it was not possible to confirm the death toll independently.

Bajaur is one of seven districts in Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal belt, where Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants have carved out strongholds used to plot attacks on Pakistan.

Pakistan has lost more than 3,000 soldiers in the fight against homegrown insurgents but has resisted US pressure to do more to eliminate havens used by those fighting the Americans in Afghanistan.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fresh-clashes-kill-three-pakistan-soldiers-11-militants-174749254.html

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Fiverjobsite.com ? How Online Business Owners Can Market ...

PRLog (Press Release) ? Aug 28, 2012 -
Many online business owners are confused about what kind of marketing they should be doing with their online business. Should it be through brand advertising? Should it be through referrals? Should it be through non-trackable advertising?In a nutshell, the answer is no.The way most online business owners should market their business is through direct response marketing. Not to get into any kind of rant, but this is a highly-effective means of promoting products on the web. Direct response is simply centered around the idea that any promotion that is created should produce good response immediately.

If there?s a ?waiting time?, or you have to wait for ?exposure? ? let the campaign go and venture into another niche. There?s nothing more expensive than waiting for results ? where instead, online business owners could be implementing better marketing plans for their business.

There are alot of online marketing strategies for online business owners. There?s pay per click advertising (PPC), forum marketing, blog marketing, article marketing, video marketing, and etc. With all of these traffic avenues, it should be fairly simple to have success in business. But sometimes, these things aren?t enough to make an online business successful.

Luckily, there?s a resource that can show online business owners how they can market their business in the best way as possible.

At the resource above, the essentials of internet marketing will be revealed, and online business success will be finally within reach. Good luck with marketing online today.

Source: http://fiverjobsite.com/blog/how-online-business-owners-can-market-themselves-correctly/

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Find Affordable Rental Homes | Real Estate Leasing Guide

Posted on August 28, 2012

Everyone likes to have a rental accommodation which is not only good in terms of the amenities but also available at a cheap rate. Most of the people believe that it is impossible to find such rental houses. But the fact is that through the Internet it is definitely possible for you to access such property options in no time.

In general cases, if you are looking for the cheap results in the right rental property website then the chances are negligible that you will actually get caught in the wrong deal. The properties are normally shown or displayed through the photographs, floor plans and the virtual tours. It will help you to get a better estimate of the homes for rent available and whether they are compatible to all your requirements or not.

When you navigate through some of the most credible property portals available on the Internet then you would find that some of them classify the rental property ads according to some special categories. If your preference is to go for the cheap houses for rent then it is not hard to find one of the classified segments dealing with the same. While seeking out the houses for rent at the cheap prices, it is necessary for you to make a proper assessment of the features and amenities available to serve your needs in a better way. If the photographs are not available with the advertisement then it is advisable to ask the concerned company or owner/ property manager to mail the photos to you. Or at least, they can provide you the link of the images in the same regard.

When it is about the affordable rental homes then it is necessary to make sure that the concerned properties chosen by you for rent are still available or not. It is quite obvious that lucrative rental deals never wait for a long time. After the selection of a particular property, immediately make a call and confirm if the property is sold out or is still available for rent. Although some good property websites/ portals always keep themselves well updated with the information but still it is necessary not to take chance.

In order to access the best property dealers in the market, it is necessary to first of all reach the right property website in the market. It is certainly not an easy task as there are an incalculable numbers of websites available to choose from. For better selection in the apartment homes for rent, it is suggestive to take the help of search engines or go for a reliable reference. It is definitely feasible for you to get your dream house for rent. All you are required is to find the right source and trust the services of the same.

Source: http://www.slowfoodcup.org/134-find-affordable-rental-homes.html

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Mahindra's compact SUV 'Quanto' to be launched in second half of ...

India's largest utility vehicle maker, Mahindra & Mahindra has christened its compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) as 'Quanto', which will hit the market in the second half of September 2012. At a sub-4 meter length, the?Quanto?will be the smallest?SUV?in Mahindra's product portfolio, which is aimed at the buyers of diesel hatchback and entry level sedan customers.

Based on the 'Ingenio' platform, Quanto will be a sub-4 metre SUV, which will be powered by 1.5 litre diesel engine, thereby it will enjoy the excise duty of small cars. While, M&M has not revealed the prices yet, the SUV is likely to be priced between Rs 5.5-7.5 lakh. The launch comes at a time, when a lot of car buyers are graduating from small car to SUVs instead of sedans and the Quanto will also try to win away some of the prospective hatchback customers.

Pawan Goenka, president, automotive & farm equipment sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra said, "With the Quanto, Mahindra is aiming to fill a need gap in the Indian automotive market for a versatile and compact SUV. We are confident that with its unique value proposition, the Quanto will carve out a segment for itself in the market. We expect the Quanto to offer an exciting upgrade at a premium to customers who are otherwise looking for premium diesel hatchbacks or entry level diesel sedans."

The Quanto will cater to the needs of young urban India which enjoys an active lifestyle, added Goenka.
The statement issued by the company said, ""(Quanto) Derived from the word 'Quantum', the name has an association with the product promise of more space, more power, more seats and superior performance. The Quanto has the tough and rugged DNA of Mahindra SUVs, thus offering a distinctive advantage over hatchbacks and sedans.""

Source: http://www.wheelomania.com/2012/08/mahindras-compact-suv-quanto-to-be.html

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Gamer hits top 'Guild Wars 2' level before it officially launches

3 hrs.

If you're a fan of massively multiplayer online games, then you're very?likely?waiting, perhaps not-so-patiently, to jump into "Guild Wars 2" ? the highly anticipated online fantasy role-playing?game that?officially?launches Tuesday.

In fact, if you're a big enough fan then?you may already be playing "Guild Wars 2" ? thanks to an early-access?program that opened the gates to the world of?Tyria?on Saturday for those who pre-purchased the game.

If you are one of the?early starters, just how far have you leveled up your character/characters in the past two and a half days? Have you worked your way to?level 10 yet? How about level?20? Apparently a?French gamer going by the name Surfeuze has become the first player to reach level 80 ??which is the highest level?you can achieve in?"Guild Wars 2."?

According to the Massively blog,?Surfeuze is a member of the French guild?War Legend. The guild says it took him about 32 hours to reach the game's cap while?playing as an Elementalist. Apparently he maxed out his character by doing a whole lot of crafting using materials donated by his guild.

But some of?the methods Surfueze used won't be available for much longer.?Over at Reddit,?Mike?O'Brien, president of developer ArenaNet, has chimed in with this:

Level 80 is always something to celebrate, but be aware that this was not through normal leveling. A few users have made us aware of unusual ways to level very fast. We're fixing these issues as I type.

While I can appreciate the desire to set a record, racing to level 80 in 32 hours doesn't actually sound like much ... fun.

I think Massively commenter?yearofshorty?summed it up perfectly when they?compared leveling this fast to?"buying a gourmet steak dinner then putting it into a blender, just so you can consume it as fast as possible."

If you haven't had a chance to play "Guild Wars 2" yet, feed your anticipation with this video from InGame editor Todd Kenreck who takes a look at the game's gorgeous art direction:

Via?MMO Culture, Massively

Winda Benedetti?writes?about video?games for NBC?News. You can follow her tweets about games and other things?on Twitter?here?@WindaBenedetti?and you can?follow her?on?Google+.?Meanwhile, be sure to check?out the?IN-GAME?FACEBOOK PAGE?to discuss the day's?gaming news and reviews.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/ingame/gamer-hits-top-guild-wars-2-level-it-officially-launches-966226

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Key Differences Of Drug Abuse Programs ?

Not all drug treatment programs are the same. When examining the 12-Step program to a non-12 Step rehabilitation method, you have to know the different forms of rehab models and what you can anticipate after you make a decision. I will show you a couple of core distinctions between the medical, social educational, mental and 12-Step treatment services and I am going to make it quick and uncomplicated.

Medical

? Acceptance of the belief that a disease is causing the drug addiction. The disorder theory hasn?t been extensively approved or validated by drug addiction specialists, which means this remains a debatable point.

? Dealing with the drug addiction is a life-long battle and needs to be handled with counseling and drugs. Relapses are expected.

? This is typically a short or one month intensive program. If the condition persists, on-going visits to doctors and drugs for long-term periods are used.

? Costs for intensive treatments, medical plans and pharmacy costs are around $5,000 to $10,000 per week for a week to three months; in a medical facility or hospital environment with nurses.

Social Educational

? Addiction is typically a result of personal issues that they have avoided and not yet fixed.

? Ending addiction is anticipated through your own efforts or through participating in gaining greater skills and abilities.

? Nearly all plans are drug-free thus, no drugs are offered.

? Usually a preliminary intensive study period done in an in- or out-patient setting (usually a period of detoxification), followed by an ongoing use of life skills.

? Cost for intensive treatment plans without ongoing costs around $1,000 to $2,000 every week for 1-4 months. These programs typically go on for months as they are acquiring new techniques.

Mental

? Re-evaluation of conditions with counseling; requires considerable examinations and a lot of different strategies.

? Procedures are as diverse as the number of trained counselors practicing in drug addictions.

? This is typically a short or one month intensive program, regular therapy appointments, or may require a concurrent drug regimen as well.

? Costs for intensive rehab plans plus costs of appointments and medicines as necessary are around $2,000 to $10,000 per week for 7 days to 3 months. In a residential or center setting with various levels of care providers and counselors.

12-Step Program

? Admitting that you are powerless over your drug dependency.

? Accepting a self-given name as being addicted or an alcoholic.

? Very accommodating schedules; help groups in nearly all cities; no financial investment for rehabilitation except the periodic coffee donations.

? Completion time is around 1 week to 3 months.

? Costs are the following: Halfway houses are $300 every week plus mandatory group meetings; Mid-range In-patient plans are $3,000 per week, in a nice location with fairly dependable and knowledgeable staff; and Executive class programs are $5,000 to $10,000 every week, in great locations and with expert staffs.

Twelve-Step plans use fellowship meetings and application of the 12 Steps in someone?s life. Some of the first steps either turn individuals toward or away from the 12 Step fellowship meetings.

Picking between which procedure of rehab is best to cope their addiction depends on personal objectives for rehabilitation.

Several big decisions need to be made once you have decided on the basic strategy to achieve recuperation. Do you need to abruptly break the cycle of addiction? Has the alcoholism or drug dependency caused enough damage or pain? Deciding to stop an abusive pattern is the initial step to get rid of drug dependency. The next step would be choosing among the drug treatment centers for the best technique to take to get you there.

Deon Carlisle has a degree in healthcare and can manage to write features related to
drug rehabilitation centers in East Providence. You can also check out drug rehabilitation centers in Santa Clarita to grab important information you may need in handling substance abuse.

Source: http://all-articles-directory.com/key-differences-of-drug-abuse-programs/

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Quake of 7.4 magnitude hits off El Salvador coast: USGS

(Reuters) - A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit in the Pacific Ocean about 78 miles off the coast of El Salvador late Sunday night, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

No destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is expected, and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The center said, however, that although it did not know if a tsunami had been generated, a warning was in effect for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico.

The earthquake struck 74 miles south of Usulutan, El Salvador, at a depth of 33 miles, the Geological Survey said.

There were no immediate reports of damage to coastal areas or to shipping.

(Reporting by Philip Barbara; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/quake-7-4-magnitude-strikes-pacific-off-el-045855126--sector.html

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

EcoXPower Will Charge Your Phone And Keep the Lights On While You Bike [Gadgets]

Making use of pedal-power to charge your phone or power headlights isn't a brand new biking technology, but the EcoXPower brings something new to the table by letting you do both of those simultaneously. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/wD0hmtn348E/ecoxpower-will-charge-your-phone-and-keep-the-lights-on-while-you-bike

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Pistorius runs again, this time at Paralympics

A Paralympic Games symbol hangs from Tower Bridge in London as City workers walk across London Bridge, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. The London 2012 Paralympic Games starts on Wednesday, Aug. 29. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

A Paralympic Games symbol hangs from Tower Bridge in London as City workers walk across London Bridge, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. The London 2012 Paralympic Games starts on Wednesday, Aug. 29. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

FILE - this is a Tuesday Sept. 16, 2008 file photo of Oscar Pistorius of South Africa, left, as he waves in front of a cameraman after he won the gold medal in the Men's 400m T44 final at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. With more global broadcast coverage than ever before, the London 2012 Paralympic Games in London will win its largest ever live television audience, except in the United States, where no events will be screened live by a traditional broadcaster, prompting complaints from some equality campaigners.(AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

A Paralympic Games symbol hangs from Tower Bridge in London, with a Beefeater games mascot Mandeville, in foregroud, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. The London 2012 Paralympic Games starts on Wednesday, Aug. 29. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

LONDON (AP) ? The Olympic rings have disappeared across London, and the Paralympic symbols hoisted in their place. Let the games begin ? again.

Thousands of athletes have already arrived for Wednesday's opening ceremony as the Paralympics return to their roots.

The familiar face of Oscar Pistorius and his even more recognizable blades have helped to take the Paralympic movement to the masses ? with 2.3 million tickets already sold.

August has been a groundbreaking month for Pistorius.

The South African will be defending the three titles won four years ago at the Beijing Paralympics, just weeks after becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics.

"I am incredibly excited to be back in London," said Pistorius, who raced in the 400 meters and 4x400 relay earlier this month in the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium. "It was an incredible experience to compete at the Olympic Games and the reception from the crowd I will remember for the rest of my life."

The 25-year-old Pistorius had to contend with battles on and off the track to become the poster boy of the Paralympics, where he will be competing over 100, 200 and 400.

"He is massive," London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe said. "In Trafalgar Square this time last year for International Paralympic Day, (there was) a queue of kids who were screaming his name out and wanting autographs."

But Coe stressed that the medals "are not nailed on for him" at the Paralympics.

"Sport is at its best when you have head to heads," he added.

The thrilling duel should come in the 100, with Pistorius no longer the fastest man on no legs.

The "Blade Runner" experienced his first defeat in Paralympic competition in seven years when Jerome Singleton of the United States beat him by 0.002 seconds to win the 100 world title last year, while Jonnie Peacock of Britain has the world record.

"The 100m will be the most competitive 100m race I believe we will have ever seen at the games," Pistorius said.

"I am very well aware of the competition that's out there and I've never been one to be too self-assured or too brash," he added. "I'm comfortable with where I am, as far as my speed work goes on the 100m but I'm very well aware that the other guys are posting quick times."

Pistorius has helped shine the spotlight on the Paralympics more than ever before.

"The Paralympic movement has come of age," International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven said. "Having a sellout is amazing. A sellout prior to the games starting is unheard of ... it makes you feel good as an athlete."

Many of the 4,200 athletes from 165 countries will parade in the opening ceremony that will celebrate the visionary doctor who conceived the Paralympics.

Ludwig Guttmann used sport in the rehabilitation of servicemen injured in World War II, and organized a hospital games at the time of the 1948 London Olympics that evolved from 1960 into the Paralympics.

"Without sounding too nationalistic or even jingoistic about it, it was created here in '48, we drove all the early stages of the movement," Coe said. "A lot of us do feel they are coming home."

And it's a chance to raise the profile further.

"This really is an opportunity to change attitudes and confront some of the misconceptions that are still out there about disability," Coe said.

That's achieved by creating one festival of sport in the summer in London, with the Paralympics the second element, sharing the same "London 2012" branding.

"We have never treated it as an after show and I think Beijing was a great example of it never being an after show," Craven said.

But for all Craven talks about infusing "equal splendor" between the Olympics and Paralympics, there is frustration at the lack of parity with television coverage.

"It's particularly a disappointment when I look at it from the view of the American public, they will have a great team over here," Craven said.

"It just shows the USA isn't (always) right at the forefront of new things and new ideas ... we know the American public is ready for Paralympic sport."

U.S. audiences must contend with just 5 1/2 hours of programming, with some only airing after the 11-day competition in London has concluded on Sept. 9.

But there will be widespread live coverage in Brazil, China, Britain and Australia.

"Countries learn over time, they get to know the Paralympics, they don't think it's much to begin with and once they see it they can't get enough of it," Craven said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-26-OLY-Paralympics/id-1524c5b6e91b42048ff20e9dff02b392

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Saturday, August 25, 2012

2 Tickets to The Pines of Rome Masterworks Concert from Colorado Springs Philharmonic {giveaway} ends 8/30

I have many passions, and music is one of them.? Classical music to be exact.? My roommates in College?thought I was a little off my rocker because I would study to Vivaldi and fall asleep to Chopin (they made me wear headphones).? I would prefer that dates take me to campus orchestra recitals instead of a movie.? The funny thing is, I never had the desire to play an instrument myself, but I sure do love the energy that comes from hearing an orchestra play!? I am grateful to have a daughter who at only 12 years old?is in her 4th year of playing the violin.? It brings me such joy to hear her play.? Needless to say, I am thrilled to share a little more about our very own Colorado Springs Philharmonic with you today.

?

From the Colorado Springs Philharmonic website:

?Who?we are:??Classical music has been alive and well in Colorado Springs since 1927, when 27 local musicians banded together to form the Philharmonic?s distant predecessor, the Colorado Springs Symphony Ensemble. Since then the musicians of our community have distinguished themselves in numerous ways, giving performances of the highest quality to grateful audiences.

Our vision:? Become the epicenter of music and culture in Colorado Springs.

Our mission:? To reflect the greatness of our community and the best of human potential through musical excellence, creative discovery, and civic leadership.

Our values:

We?re guided by the following principles:

  • Performing with excellence
  • Doing the right things
  • Respecting others
  • Managing the dynamic tension between good business and artistic impact

The Pines of Rome Masterworks Concert is coming to the Colorado Springs Philharmonic on Sept. 15th and 16th.

Josep Caball?-Domenech, conductor

Verdi Overture from I vespri siciliani (The Sicilian Vespers)

Rota Suite from La Strada

Respighi Fontane di Roma (The Fountains of Rome)

Respighi Pini di Roma (The Pines of Rome)

Where:? Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903.? You can purchase tickets for this event here.

Today the Colorado Springs Philharmonic is giving away 2 tickets to the Pines of Rome Masterworks Concert on Sunday, September 16th @ 2:30 pm.

To enter to win today?s giveaway, complete the form below.? You may choose any one, two, three, four, or all five entries.? The winning entry will be validated to ensure that all entry requirements were completed.? If you?re reading this in an email, click here to enter the giveaway.? Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Source: http://coloradospringsgiveaways.com/08/24/2-tickets-to-the-pines-of-rome-masterworks-concert-from-colorado-springs-philharmonic-giveaway-ends-830/

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Orlando SEO Services Are Who You Should Turn To Get Your ...

If you are looking for great services from someone who can help you reach your business goals; an Orlando SEO team have the skills to help you. There is nothing more beautiful than a Florida view the weather in Florida except for the possibility of making good returns on your business. You need to remain focused and keep your eye on the prize at the end of the day. If you advertise the right way you will see that people will visit your shop or your online business; many people visit Florida so there is always a good chance that they will shop with you.

You can gain recognition by advertising on certain popular sites such as: Facebook, My Space, Twitter and many others. If you are looking for a solution for help with your growing business, you may want to turn to these kinds of experts who specialize in search engine optimization, link building services, paid search management, web development and conversion rate optimization. There is no sense in trying to take on this daunting task by yourself; when you can use a team that is experienced in all of these services, you would be a fool to pass up these kinds of resources. If you try to do all of this alone you are more than likely going to fail and your business could suffer because of it.

If you are looking to bring more and more people to your website, then you should make sure to get help from search engine optimization services. When it comes down to it, you will see that having such services for your site will help you to get on the top pages of the search engines and stay there. There are many techniques that you will find to be a big help in improving various aspects for your growing business.

Outside of search engine work, you can also get help designing a successful website that will sure be able to get business directed to your site. You will have continuous assistance and around the clock maintenance. All businesses are just as important as the next; it doesn?t matter how big or small it is; the fact is that when you need help they will be there for you.

The bigger cities such as Tampa and Florida require strategic planning before opening a business; local Internet marketing will help you along the way of planning. Florida brings in so many tourists each year and you know if there are tourists, there is money to be made. The smartest thing most people do is to make an itinerary for when they are there so they can get some shopping time in with local businesses before they go back home. This is when an Internet search is going to come into play; they will want to know what kind of shops are in the area of their travels. You wouldn?t want to miss out on the revenue that can make all the difference for the growth of your business.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Source: http://www.ofloveandtreason.com/orlando-seo-services-are-who-you-should-turn-to-get-your-business-recognized

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Book Review : The Good, the True, and the Beautiful: A Neuronal Approach by Jean-Pierre Changeux

Please alert Science News to any inappropriate posts by clicking the REPORT SPAM link within the post. Comments will be reviewed before posting.

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Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/343216/title/Book_Review__The_Good,_the_True,_and_the_Beautiful_A_Neuronal_Approach__by_Jean-Pierre_Changeux

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Shell-based spray keeps bananas fresh

3 hrs.

Chemists from China are working on a spray made from shrimp and crab shells that could extend the life of your bananas from a day or two to a week or more.

Fruit going bad from when it was picked?isn't just a simple question of time; there's a complex interplay between the sugars and other substances that make up the fruit, the bacteria that live inside it?and the air around it. In bananas, unlike other fruits, the process accelerates after they're picked, resulting in the frustratingly?short period (for consumers and sellers)?between unripe and overripe.

A team from Tianjin University of Science and Technology in China hopes that a substance called chitosan could help slow the process. It's made from the shells of crustaceans like shrimp, crabs and lobsters (composed of chitin, hence the name), and has powerful anti-bacterial qualities. They presented their findings Wednesday?at the American Chemical Society's?National Meeting and Exposition.

Chitosan is already used for agricultural and medicinal purposes, but this would be the first time it might be deployable by consumers. By spraying it onto the banana in the form of a super-absorbent "hydrogel," the researchers managed to slow the respiration and bacterial growth, extending the life of a banana up to 12 days.

Spraying it early on could ease the logistics of getting fresh bananas to faraway locations, and spraying it at the store or at home could potentially keep the fruit in peak yellow condition for much longer and reduce waste.

Unfortunately for consumers, the team is still investigating how to make a commercially viable product, which means finding a replacement?for an ingredient that happens to be unsuitable for general use. So for the moment,?mushy bananas will continue to be a familiar sight in the world's kitchens.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/keep-bananas-fresh-weeks-crustacean-derived-spray-961799

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Wing Chun: Insights from a Community Acupuncturist | Heart ...

?What?s Wing Chun? Oh, you mean its a type of Kung Fu? Oh really? I thought acupuncturists were all mellow and Zen and stuff. So you mean you don?t do yoga??

As a community acupuncturist, my work is intentional, carefully calculated, supportive and oh so vewy, vewy quiet. I spend my week using my inside voice, tip-toeing around, being accommodating, doing my best to be compassionate. The trials and tribulations of running a grassroots business and the interpersonal dynamics of being a practitioner can be frustrating. All my co-workers are women. My client-base is 80 percent women (geez, why is that?). So much nurturing, so much care giving, so many lady hormones flying around, so so yin. Too much yin work can stagnate and drain our qi, life energy.

So how does one get their ya-yas out and balance this oh-so-yin work? To do something completely different ? I picked Wing Chun.

In Chinese Medicine, the objective is to strike a balance. To counter activities that are overly yin in nature, simply compliment them with activities that are yang in nature. Actions that increase the heart rate, break a sweat, flex the muscles and involve explosive movements are an expression of yang.

Historically, martial arts (including disciplines of tai chi and qi gong) was the gateway into Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many practitioners of martial arts, including many instructors I have studied with are also practitioner of herbology, tui na (a style of Chinese massage) and acupuncture. The study of martial arts is an ideal compliment to the body of knowledge and theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and it would further enrich one?s understanding and application of their practice as well as a means for physical, mental and spiritual fitness. For instance, consider this traditional Chinese idiom:

Stagnation is the enemy of health. Activity, the great remedy.

Movement Quickens the Blood and Scours the Vessels; permitting the free flow of blood and qi. Exercise extends the blood to the smallest vessels, deeply nourishing the body. This same circulation clears waste. When you are lethargic, your cells wallow in their own excrement.

Wing Chun (alternatively, Ving Tsun), is a style of Chinese Martial Arts known of its economy of movement and physical efficiency. Named after a female martial artist (as translated, Spring Chant), it is a style originating from Foshan, Guangdong Province in China and made popular internationally by Grand Master Yip Man and later by the revered Bruce Lee. Practical in application, it is an effective form of self-defense as it based in physics (the shortest distance between two objects is a straight line) and its foundation is disciplined practice of basic techniques.

I?ve trained with West Coast Sunny Tang Victoria since February 2012.
I love it and here are reasons why:

Change of pace. The daily grind of running my own business and providing customer service has it rewards and of course its challenges and frustrations. I?ve worked on softening over the years, but as patient and compassionate as I can be, I am still a type-A perfectionist at heart. Its important for my well-being to take the opportunity to regularly blow steam. Being in a class consisting mostly of men, sweating together and focusing physical intensity is a welcome change of pace from my weekly schedule and that little injection of yang energy.

I know many practitioners that practice yoga and I can truthfully say, yoga isn?t a fit for me. One of my clients once said, ?Yoga is like medicine. I know its good for me, but it doesn?t mean I like it?. If I need to blow steam, nothing is better than hitting something with my fists.

Kind to the body. I have trained in a variety of martial arts since the age of 10 ? karate, jiu jitsu, capoeira. Each were enjoyable in their own way, but each of them took their toll on my body from sprains, strains, blisters and whiplash. Being in a profession where your hands are the money, I had to consider that the next martial art I would pick would need to be safe and I could train with intensity, but avoid the risk of injury. Wing Chun was designed based on structure and form and very little on brute strength, physical size or flexibility.

I also appreciate its similarities to my style of acupuncture. Simple, utilitarian and economical. It ain?t flashy to look at, but it is damn effective.

Good for the body. I?ve suffered from anxiety for all of my adult life. Over the years, I have learned strategies for managing the spinning of hamster wheels and the feeling of my heart beating up in my throat. Listening to music, swimming laps, late night movies, Rescue Remedy, acupuncture and tai chi. Shortly after starting martial arts again, I was pleasantly surprised to notice that the uneasy feeling that you should be somewhere or doing something was far more distant and no longer waking me at 5:30 in the morning. I felt more confident, grounded and solid in my spirit.

I also suffered from benign positional vertigo, which was aggravated by stress. It would best be described as an out of body experience while walking. I tried herbs, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, I even broke down and took medication, but nothing would touch it. I eventually learned how to manage my stress and the episodes tended to occur less and less. And then I started Wing Chun?and it hasn?t been back since. Apart from some of the unusual fringe benefits, Wing Chun has been a excellent reminder of my posture. Even when I arrive to class feeling like crap, I always leave feeling re-energized.

Family & community. The Sunny Tang club is a family consisting of sisters and brothers from different walks of life. And although we have members who are more experience and different coloured sashes, there is no hierarchy; there is our commitment to our Kung Fu and to each other. Older brothers and sisters teach and supervise the younger ones, the younger ones train to the best of their ability and respect the advice and instruction of the elder. I have always felt welcome and listened to. Our input and contributions to club events and organization are encouraged and valued. I am treated equally as a woman. We are a big, happy Kung Fu family. Sometimes I even take the liberty to make people laugh in class?because families also need laughter.

Empowering. I am a strong and outspoken woman of colour and I stand up for what I believe in. I realize that sometimes actions speak louder than words and I strongly feel that it is important for women to learn martial arts for self-defense. It is reassuring to know that not only am I capable of speaking up for myself, but also defending myself physically. Wing Chun is intelligent, effective and elegantly kick-ass.

When I was younger, I used to struggle with my cultural identity. I wasn?t comfortable being Chinese, wasn?t quite sure what it meant to be Canadian. I always knew I was a ?banana?, an Asian out of touch with her identity in a dominant white culture, all every confusing and conflicting. It wasn?t till I began my career in community acupuncture that I finally claimed ownership of my cultural pride. Taking the martial art whose roots were in Hong Kong, the native land of my parents, somehow made me feel whole. Presently, I better understand my culture and the intersections of being Chinese-Canadian and that little piece of my heritage I keep inside me.

Now if only Victoria had some decent dim sum?

Enriching. Those who know me well know that I am always on the move and I am at peace when in motion. I like the idea of meditation, but I have never felt suited for meditation while stationary. My community acupuncture is meditative, the dynamic balance of stillness and flow. I find swimming countless laps as a leisurely, repetitive meditation. African hand drumming, fast, furious, hypnotic meditation. My first time taking tai chi I was in love. It was an active meditation, intentional, rooting down. Wing Chun forms, coordinating breath while expanding and contracting in space, perfect.

The intentional focus on breath, stance and structure are all principles I follow while practicing acupuncture and its enlightening to have them reinforced through my Kung Fu. I am aware of my meridians lighting up like Christmas lights whenever my body is positioned just right. I appreciate the subtleties of my connection from hand-elbow-shoulder-hip-heel and rooted into the ground. On the walk home, I am aware of that little cloud of swirling qi floating about an inch below my navel. Hello there Dan Tian.

It has gradually enriched my practice of acupuncture, improved my quality of life and provides me with balance as I am a rampant workaholic.

Wing Chun is my outlet. It is a meditation in physical and mental health, a reason to sweat, my odd-ball family, my call to empowerment and that little spark of yang. As I am sure that acupuncture is my life long passion, I know that my Kung Fu will remain a faithful companion on my journey.

~Christina Chan, R.Ac.

Source: http://heartandhandscommunity.ca/wing-chun-insights-from-a-community-acupuncturist/

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