X Sports makes exciting debut in Gananoque - Welcome ...

Extreme sports took over Gananoque on the weekend.

Riding, sliding, thrills and spills were on hand during the inaugural competition of the X Sports series, hosted in town Saturday and again today (Sunday).? Promoted Canada-wide, the X Sports features a weekend-long format complete with paintball tournaments, BMX races, skateboarding showcases, Flatlands demonstrations and competitions.

As two teams face off in a paintball competition, the crowd of spectators got close views on the action during the X Sports event in Gananoque Saturday. The fun continues Sunday at the recreation complex.

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Gananoque's Jonah Banks shows no hesitation while climbing the portable tower rock wall provided by Altitude Gym during X Sport competition in Gananoque on Saturday.

Marc Beaudin, owner of Ground Zero Paintball who spearheaded the X Sports in Gananoque, said the Town, local businesses and service groups have embraced the venue. ?While it is lots of work that is physically demanding, the reward comes when you see the kids? participation,? he said. ?There is nothing like competing in front of a crowd for them.?
In addition to the competitive side of the Gananoque event, rock climbing is also available, though not in contest format. Altitude Gym had a portable tower on hand at the event so the public could get a taste of what the sport is like.

Cody Guerin flies over the finishing moguls while competing in BMX races at the X Sports over the weekend.

More extreme sports continue today (Sunday) and will again grace Gananoque for two more weekends this summer, one each in July and August.

Gananoque's nine-year-old Alexis Watson finishes her competition with a smile on her face Saturday, during the inaugural X Sports event.

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2 new vitamin D blood tests are often highly inaccurate, researchers say

Public release date: 25-Jun-2012
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Contact: Aaron Lohr
alohr@endo-society.org
240-482-1380
The Endocrine Society

Two new blood tests for vitamin D are inaccurate in at least 40 percent of laboratory specimens analyzed, a new study finds. The results will be presented Monday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

"Inaccurate results obtained from vitamin D blood tests could lead to misdiagnoses of patients," said Earle Holmes, PhD, professor of pathology and pharmacology at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. "These inaccuracies also could confound efforts to identify the optimal levels of vitamin D for good health."

Doctors are increasingly ordering blood tests to measure vitamin D in patients, and these tests are now among the most frequently ordered medical tests, Holmes said.

The increase in orders likely stems from recent scientific reports that a growing percentage of the population has low vitamin D levels and that insufficient vitamin D may raise the risk of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers as well as osteoporosis. To meet the growing demand, some manufacturers have developed fully automated immunoassays for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a precursor of vitamin D. Although it is the recommended test for evaluating vitamin D insufficiency, there is no universally accepted gold standard technique for measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Holmes said.

Holmes and his research team compared results of two new 25-hydroxyvitamin D immunoassay tests in 163 randomly selected blood samples submitted for testing to Loyola University Health System between March 2 and March 7, 2011. Of the blood samples, 123 came from women (median age, 54) and 40 were from men (median age, 59). One test used the reagent kit and the Architect lab testing platform from Abbott Laboratories, based in Abbott Park, Ill., and the other used the reagent kit and Advia Centaur platform from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics in Tarrytown, N.Y. Holmes said the investigators performed these tests in the clinical laboratory at Loyola according to the manufacturers' instructions.

They then tested the same blood samples using a third method for measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D, called liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. That test, which Holmes considers "more definitive," was performed by Quest Diagnostics in Wood Dale, Ill.

The researchers performed statistical analysis (linear regression and bias analysis) of the results. In 40 percent of the Architect-tested specimens and in 48 percent of the Centaur2-tested specimens, the results were at least 25 percent too high or 25 percent too low, compared with the third technique, Holmes reported. The maximum recommended allowable error for 25-hydroxyvitamin D tests is plus or minus 25 percent, and he stated that the sizes of the observed errors ranged from ? to +80 percent.

With the Centaur2 test, 71 of the 163 test results indicated vitamin D deficiency, which is a level of less than 20 nanograms per milliliter. The Architect results indicated vitamin D deficiency in 45 of the samples, whereas liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry results indicated Vitamin D deficiency in only 33 of the samples, the authors reported in their abstract.

"Both of the immunoassays erred on the side of overestimating vitamin D deficiency, which could lead to overtreatment," Holmes said. He reports no financial conflicts of interest.

###

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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.

Public release date: 25-Jun-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Aaron Lohr
alohr@endo-society.org
240-482-1380
The Endocrine Society

Two new blood tests for vitamin D are inaccurate in at least 40 percent of laboratory specimens analyzed, a new study finds. The results will be presented Monday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

"Inaccurate results obtained from vitamin D blood tests could lead to misdiagnoses of patients," said Earle Holmes, PhD, professor of pathology and pharmacology at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. "These inaccuracies also could confound efforts to identify the optimal levels of vitamin D for good health."

Doctors are increasingly ordering blood tests to measure vitamin D in patients, and these tests are now among the most frequently ordered medical tests, Holmes said.

The increase in orders likely stems from recent scientific reports that a growing percentage of the population has low vitamin D levels and that insufficient vitamin D may raise the risk of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers as well as osteoporosis. To meet the growing demand, some manufacturers have developed fully automated immunoassays for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a precursor of vitamin D. Although it is the recommended test for evaluating vitamin D insufficiency, there is no universally accepted gold standard technique for measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Holmes said.

Holmes and his research team compared results of two new 25-hydroxyvitamin D immunoassay tests in 163 randomly selected blood samples submitted for testing to Loyola University Health System between March 2 and March 7, 2011. Of the blood samples, 123 came from women (median age, 54) and 40 were from men (median age, 59). One test used the reagent kit and the Architect lab testing platform from Abbott Laboratories, based in Abbott Park, Ill., and the other used the reagent kit and Advia Centaur platform from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics in Tarrytown, N.Y. Holmes said the investigators performed these tests in the clinical laboratory at Loyola according to the manufacturers' instructions.

They then tested the same blood samples using a third method for measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D, called liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. That test, which Holmes considers "more definitive," was performed by Quest Diagnostics in Wood Dale, Ill.

The researchers performed statistical analysis (linear regression and bias analysis) of the results. In 40 percent of the Architect-tested specimens and in 48 percent of the Centaur2-tested specimens, the results were at least 25 percent too high or 25 percent too low, compared with the third technique, Holmes reported. The maximum recommended allowable error for 25-hydroxyvitamin D tests is plus or minus 25 percent, and he stated that the sizes of the observed errors ranged from ? to +80 percent.

With the Centaur2 test, 71 of the 163 test results indicated vitamin D deficiency, which is a level of less than 20 nanograms per milliliter. The Architect results indicated vitamin D deficiency in 45 of the samples, whereas liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry results indicated Vitamin D deficiency in only 33 of the samples, the authors reported in their abstract.

"Both of the immunoassays erred on the side of overestimating vitamin D deficiency, which could lead to overtreatment," Holmes said. He reports no financial conflicts of interest.

###

---

[ | 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.

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Romney Donors Mingle With GOP Elite at Utah Retreat

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http://www.ecommerce-web-developers.com | Services | Post Free ...

23 June, 2012 at 11:49 am in Services

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Answers to Popular Questions Regarding Workers' Compensation

In the event youve endured private injuries or illnesses due to a function collision or unsafe circumstances in the state of New York, you are qualified to apply for workers compensation. Although youre performing a own private research, certain facets of NY state workers compensation regulations may be challenging to recognize. Listed below are explanations of a lot of of the most frequently asked queries regarding processing an insurance claim, compensation and just how to deal with it if you are decreased for getting the benefits you want.

What specifically does Workers Compensation recover?

Workers Compensation applies to afflictions or damage incurred throughout the ordinary workday, whilst performing work-related projects. This may vary from important traumas or disability due to the collision or unsafe functioning settings, to slowly visible circumstances, like with carpal tunnel syndrome. The authentic crisis room or physician visit, prescription medications, lost pay due to the sickness, travel, plus learning a different or associated job may all possibly be included in workers reparation however are dependant on the severity of the damage. Even in the event the staff member didnt request workers compensation, the insurance carrier should nevertheless cover any medical-related costs resulting from any treatment solution proper after the collision.

How is the amount of cost decided?

The rate plus amount of compensation you can easily get is dependent upon the intensity of the damage, if or how shortly you may return to a job, certain health treatments connected with the damage plus additional circumstances. In the event of total short-term incapability, which means a individual is not yet fine sufficient to return to function however is likely to be sooner or later, the damaged staff member usually end up with two-thirds inside conventional wages.

Must I begin to see the physician that the insurance provider recommends?

To place it briefly, yes. Although there could be stress which the specialist is biased for the interests of the insurance provider, declining the evaluation is likely to hurt a statement plenty. This physicians opinion usually element into the best decision regarding precisely how much you may collect in workers comp advantages. Tell the truth regarding any plus all symptoms of disease, plus youre permitted to consult with a own private doctor for their ideas on the matter.

What if the insurance provider rejects the claim?

The insurer may contest a claim by generating a formal Notice of Controversy, plus then usually have to demonstrate precisely why the case are not honored. The court then makes the best decision. If the individual is not satisfied with all the result, they might file an official request for an additional review of the initial claim.

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Tai Chi Boosts Brain Functioning, Study Suggests

An ancient Chinese exercise may give your memory a lift, according to new research.

University of South Florida and Fudan University scientists found that elderly Chinese people who practiced Tai Chi thrice weekly for eight months did better on memory tests than those who didn't do Tai Chi.

These people also experienced growth in brain volume, which is promising considering before dementia, the brain actually shrinks because of lost nerve connections, researchers said.

"The ability to reverse this trend with physical exercise and increased mental activity implies that it may be possible to delay the onset of dementia in older persons through interventions that have many physical and mental health benefits," study researcher Dr. James Mortimer, professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, said in a statement.

The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease study included 120 elderly people from Shanghai, China, who were assigned to do one of three things for eight weeks -- Tai Chi, walking or social interaction. Some were also assigned to do none of the interventions.

The researchers found that people who took part in "lively discussion" thrice weekly also had brain volume boosts, as well as improvements in brain functioning (although at a lesser extent as with the Tai Chi).

"Epidemiologic studies have shown repeatedly that individuals who engage in more physical exercise or are more socially active have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease," Mortimer added. "The current findings suggest that this may be a result of growth and preservation of critical regions of the brain affected by this illness."

Previously, a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that a kind of Chinese mindfulness meditation practice called integrative body-mind training was linked to positive brain changes that could be protective against mental illness.

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Auditors: Spain bank bailout could cost up to $78B

MADRID (AP) ? Spain's troubled banks could need as much as ?62 billion ($78.6 billion) in new capital to protect themselves from economic shocks, according to independent auditors hired by the government to assess the country's struggling financial sector, officials said Thursday.

The Spanish government will use the auditors' report as the basis for their application for a bank bailout loan from the 17 countries that use the euro. With tensions rising over the future of the eurozone, Spain is expected to submit its specific request for outside assistance no later than Monday, said Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs meetings of zone's finance ministers.

"We invited Spain to pursue this clear and ambitious strategy, which needs to be implemented swiftly and communicated early," Juncker said after Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos presented the audit results to the ministers who are members of the so-called Eurogroup.

Deputy Bank of Spain Governor Fernando Restoy noted that this worst-case scenario cited by the auditors was far below the ?100 billion ($126.7 billion) loan offered by the eurozone's finance ministers two weeks ago.

Spain's banking sector is struggling under toxic loans and assets from the collapse of the country's property market in 2008. Concerns that Spain's economy is so weak that it could not afford the cost of propping up its banks has sent its borrowing costs soaring to levels not seen since it joined the European single currency in 1999.

The worry is that Spain could soon find itself unable to finance its debts by itself and join Greece, Ireland and Portugal in seeking a rescue loan for not just the banks but the whole country.

The stakes are huge: Spain is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy and would seriously hit the bloc's finances should it need bailing out. The country is struggling through a recession with a 24.4 percent jobless rate. On top of this, government's main customers at its debt auctions are Spanish banks ? the sector now being bailed out. In a sign of how reluctant the markets are to invest in Spain, the country had to pay sharply higher interest rates to raise ?2.2 billion ($2.8 billion) in a bond auction Thursday.

The audits of Spain's lenders, carried out by consultancies Roland Berger and Oliver Wyman, covered 14 banking groups that account for 90 percent of the country's financial sector. The country will use the reports' findings to decide how big a bailout loan to ask for.

Restoy and Deputy Economy Minister Fernando Jimenez Latorre declined to outline individual banks' needs.

In the auditors' stress test for the worst-case economic scenario ? a fall in gross domestic product of 6.5 percent over the period 2012-2014 ? most of the banks were deemed to be in a "comfortable" position, Restoy said.

"We're not talking about the imperative capital necessities of the banks. We're not talking about someone urgently needing such and such an amount of capital to deal with their obligations," said Restoy. "We're talking about the capital that would be needed if we were to see a situation of extreme tension which is very unlikely to come about."

"We should keep in mind we are not talking about how much capital an entity needs to survive. We're talking about how much capital an entity will need to confront a situation of extreme stress," he added.

Eurozone finance ministers offered Spain a bailout loan of up to ?100 billion on June 9. The terms of the loan ? for which Spain, rather than banks, will ultimately be responsible for ? still have to be negotiated.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hailed the audit results during a visit to Brazil as an important move toward restoring international confidence in Spain, currently seen as one of the eurozone's weakest links.

"It's a decisive step in the right direction because it makes an accurate and credible diagnosis that fences in the capital needs in manageable margins and ensures that the financial assistance made available to Spain by our European partners is more than enough to solidly clean up our financial institutions," Rajoy said in Sao Paulo after meeting with business leaders.

Oliver Wyman Inc. gave a worst-case range of ?51 billion to ?62 billion in new capital needs while Roland Berger Strategy Consultants GmbH gave a single figure of ?51 billion.

The release of the audits probably won't erase market nervousness about Spain, said Mark Miller, an analyst with Capital Economics in London.

"At face value it looks as if there is a reasonable safety margin given that up to ?100 billion is potentially available," he said. "Having said that, the extent of the economic situation in Spain could even deteriorate beyond what is being described as an adverse scenario."

Some investors will likely still be nervous over whether the auditors' reports discovered most if not all of the toxic assets on the balance sheets of Spain's banks, Miller said. And their fears are compounded by concerns that Greece might still end up having to leave the single currency, further destabilizing the eurozone and especially Spain.

The results of the audits are good news for Spain because both companies came up with similar numbers and the overall figures were lower than some estimates of the banking sector's recapitalization needs, said Gayle Allard, an economist with Madrid's IE Business School.

"I think it's a fantastic result because there was talk of needs of ?70 billion to ?80 billion and that the loan could have been for ?100 billion," she said.

Investors could still easily find something to scare them about the results, Allard said, "but I don't think there's any reason to do so."

She added: "The audits have come in better than anyone has expected, there's still some uncertainty, but if both of them are coming to the conclusion of those numbers we've got to be in the ballpark."

___

Ciaran Giles and Jorge Sainz contributed to this report.

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Noisy stores spur creative shopping

By Linda Carroll , msnbc.com contributor

Forget about Muzak. If you want put customers in the mood to purchase your innovative new product, a new study suggest you try pumping some road noise or the sounds from a busy mall into your store or showroom.

Noise, if its not too loud, can spark creative thinking ? and that can lead to sales of inventive products, researchers reported in the study published in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Moderate noise?? around 70 decibels ? is enough to distract us from our normal thought patterns, said the study?s lead author Ravi Mehta, an associate professor in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign.

And once we?re distracted, we tend to think in broader and more creative ways, which apparently allows us to better appreciate the value of innovative products.

Mehta and his colleagues conducted a series of experiments to investigate how various levels of noise impacted thinking and consumer behavior.

In one experiment, the researchers asked 65 college students to take a creativity test while seated in front of a set of speakers playing a mix of sounds that had been recorded in a busy restaurant and near a highway. The sound the volunteers heard was very much like what you would experience if you were seated near the street at an outdoor restaurant, Mehta said.

The study volunteers were divided into four groups. One heard the noise recordings turned up high, another heard the recordings at medium volume, another heard low volume and the fourth got silence.

The researchers found that the volunteers who heard a moderate level of noise did best on the test. Low noise and silence produced results that were similar to each other. Loud noise produced the poorest performance. That?s because it?s too distracting, Mehta said.

In another experiment, the researchers had 68 college students fill out a survey to determine their likelihood of buying one item out of each of eight pairs of products. In each pairing, one traditional product was matched with an innovative one. One pairing, for example, included a traditional mountain bike and a mountain bike that could be folded up so the rider could hike with it for a while and then ride it when he or she chose, Mehta said.

Once again, volunteers were exposed to different levels of noise as they filled out the surveys. Sure enough, people from the group who heard moderate noise in the background while they were filling out the surveys were more likely than those in the other groups to choose innovative products.

So, is the noise effect limited to innovative items?

?Maybe not, Mehta said.

In another experiment, the researchers asked 95 college students to come up with creative uses for a brick. Again, the students were divided into groups, some exposed to moderate noise and others exposed to low noise in the background as they wrote down their ideas.

When the researchers looked at the lists of ideas, they found no difference between the two groups when it came to the number of ideas originated by each group. But the group that heard moderate noise came up with much more creative ideas, Mehta said.

?Perhaps if you have a convertible in an auto showroom, potential customers will be able to think of more ways they might enjoy the car if they?ve got a moderate level of noise in the background ? as compared to the pin-drop silence usually heard in such establishments, Mehta said.?

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Why Did Justin Bieber Almost Quit Music?

'He just broke down, and he said, 'I can't do it anymore,' ' Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, recalls to MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo:

It's not always easy being Justin Bieber. In fact, there has been a moment or two when the Believe singer had his doubts about embarking on a life of celebrity.

He recently opened up to Fabulous magazine about questioning his life of fame after he found himself smack dab in the middle of a paternity scandal with a fan, Mariah Yeater, who claimed he fathered her child. He remained steadfast that he never even met the woman, and she eventually dropped her claim.

But, as it turns out — according to Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun — when Bieber needed a pick-me-up and some convincing to stick to the music game another time, he looked to a pro athlete for some wisdom.

"There was a show in Orlando, [Florida] ... It was a day where he had to make a decision if he was going to continue on or not, 'cause he was fighting," Braun recalled to MTV News. "We were in Orlando. We had a sold-out arena show, and it had gotten to a point where kids were surrounding hotels, and you're talking about a kid who is 15, 16 years old, and he went and did a show 20,000 people, sold out, but right before he went into the show, he was having a little bit of an attitude." (Bieber played Orlando on his My World Tour in August 2010.)

"And he goes in the show, and he was fine, and he comes off, and I go, 'What was that before the show?' and he just broke down, and he said, 'I can't do it anymore. I can't go outside. I can't go anywhere ... I feel like a spectacle all the time.' And he was really struggling with it. You got to remember he didn't want to be a star: I found him, and it happened."

Bieber and Braun had a major heart-to-heart as he struggled with his superstardom, but the teen did offer one suggestion on how he might be able to come to terms with how he was feeling. "So, we had a long talk about 'Is this what you want?' He sat there, got real quiet, he looked at me and goes, 'I want to meet Kobe Bryant.'

"And I was like, 'Kobe Bryant? We just had this emotional conversation.' And he goes, 'No, I just feel like no matter what Kobe does, he'll always be chasing Michael Jordan's ghost, and someone the other day told me I could grow up in front of the entire world like Michael [Jackson] did, and I just want to know how you handle always chasing someone's ghost that you'll just never going to be able to catch.' It was actually a pretty profound moment."

Three weeks later, the encounter happened. Braun recalled, "They had a pretty intense conversation and something that I think Justin will never forget."

Related Videos

• 'Bieber Live'

Related Photos

• The Evolution Of: Justin Bieber

Related Artists

• Justin Bieber

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LeRoy Neiman Dies at 91

LeRoy Neiman, a prolific artist whose dynamically colored paintings and sketches honored heroic figures of sports and entertainment, died Wednesday.

He was 91. His New York-based publicist confirmed Neiman's death.

Throughout his life, Neiman was a larger-than-life yet approachable figure who came to epitomize the magazine with which he had a long association, Playboy.

After studying and then teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Neiman's distinctive style originated by using quick brush strokes with the enamel paint that was being tossed out by a building janitor.

The Playboy association that became synonymous with his personal style and that of his art, began in the mid-'50s, when Hugh Hefner's magazine was new.

Once the publisher saw LeRoy Neiman's canvases with their energetic depictions of boxers and nightlife denizens, a professional marriage was born.

"I've had a lucky life," Neiman said in 2008. "I zeroed in on what you would call action and excellence. ... Everybody who does anything to try to succeed has to give the best of themselves, and art has made me pull the best out of myself."

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Summer Getaways at Award Winning Hotels & Inns | GrapeVine Trail

Enjoy an award-winning getaway this summer at a highly rated hotel, country inn, resort, or bed and breakfast. All properties have received at least one of the following awards: AAA Four Diamond Award, 2012; Travel & Leisure World's 500 Best Hotels, 2012; Conde Nast Gold List - World's Best, 2012; Forbes Travel Guide Four Stars, 2012; Fodor's Gold Award 2012.

Amherst, MA (PRWEB) June 20, 2012

West Palm Beach

CASA GRANDVIEW HISTORIC LUXURY INN, COTTAGES & SUITES FEATURES SUMMER UNCORKED PACKAGE

Casa Grandview, an award-winning AAA Four-Diamond property, features 1-2 BR accommodations combining the latest technology to create an ambiance of relaxation and sophisticated Old Florida style, surrounded by a Caribbean-like island atmosphere with a Mediterranean flair. Save 10% off summer rates with the prestigious Golf Getaway Package -includes complimentary green fees for two at Golf on the Ocean Palm Beach, or up to 40% off when choosing the Summer Uncorked Getaway. Rates from $175-$400 night.

WEB: http://www.casagrandview.com Phone: 1.877.435.2786.

New Jersey, Skylands, Lambertville

LAMBERTVILLE HOUSE HOTEL

In its midst of the town of Lambertville stands a grand hotel, Lambertville House. Built in 1812, the Hotel is celebrating its 200th Anniversary with style and grace offering lodging and dining packages sure to please the most discriminating traveler. The proud recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award for 14 consecutive years, the Lambertville House offers full service dining in Left Bank Bistro for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

WEB: http://www.lambertvillehouse.com, Phone: 609-397-0200

Caribbean, Anguilla, West End

SHERIVA VILLAS AND SUITES ON ANGUILLA DAZZLE WITH DIAMOND JUBILEE SUMMER SPECIALS

This Caribbean island is Anguilla?s only luxury hotel awarded the AAA Four Diamond Award for 2012. The revamped 22-room waterfront enclave now boasts a new rooftop Game Lounge with air hockey, foosball, retro Pac Man game, 2 iMac computers, a tiny tots corner, Wii games station and more. Sheriva is now offering Diamond Jubilee specials through December 15, 2012. With instant air credit of up to $3500, and offering 4-bedroom villas up to 7- and 8-bedroom villas, Sheriva offers a unique summer getaway.

WEB: http://www.sheriva.com

Georgia, Braselton

CH?TEAU ?LAN WINERY & RESORT

Just 40 minutes away from Atlanta, Ch?teau ?lan Winery & Resort is a 3,500 acre conference and leisure destination where French provincial and Southern hospitality combine to produce exceptional wines and warm memories. The AAA Four Diamond Ch?teau is offering a Summer Loving Romance Package: Spend two nights in luxurious accommodations at Ch?teau ?lan with a $50 Resort credit towards any resort activity during your stay. You can also choose from two of the following amenities: bottle of Ch?teau ?lan Wine or a bottle of bubbly; chocolate covered strawberries; rose petal turndown; winery tour & tasting for two. $299 - $349 plus tax.

WEB: http://www.chataeuelan.com, Phone: 678-425-0900

South Carolina, Charleston

SUMMER BEACH PACKAGE AT THE RESTORATION ON KING HOTEL

The Hotel?s ?Beach Day - City Nights Summer Package? at The Restoration on King Hotel promises family fun at one of Charleston?s pristine beaches, with dining, shopping and nightlife. The package for two includes: a two-night stay in a suite, beach chairs and large towels, picnic lunch from caviar and bananas, complimentary valet parking, beach toys for kids of all ages. Rates start at $539. In the heart of Charleston?s Historic District, the Hotel, an AAA Four Diamond property, boasts 16 one- and two-bedroom suites with restored and dramatic living spaces.

WEB: http://www.restorationonking.com, Phone: 843-518-5100

Tennessee, Memphis

RIVER INN OF HARBOR TOWN

There's no better summertime getaway haven in the Mid-South than the popular River Inn of Harbor Town, located on the Mississippi River adjacent to downtown Memphis. The attractive AAA Four Diamond "rooms with a view" start at $179 and include a full gourmet breakfast. The 28 guest rooms and suites are draped in rich Southern and European d?cor. At check-in, the staff will offer a glass of wine or champagne, and at turn-down, there's Port wine and chocolates. You'll enjoy award-winning cuisine at Paulette's, comfort food at Tug's, drinks on the Roof Terrace or the pianist in the romantic lobby.

WEB: http://www.riverinnmemphis.com

Arkansas, Fayetteville

ENJOY AMERICAN ART AND AMERICAN HISTORY AT PRATT PLACE INN AND BARN

This boutique hotel, with AAA 4-diamond accommodations in the heart of Fayetteville, is the ideal base for visiting the treasures of Northwest Arkansas. The Inn has been in the Pratt family for over 100 years, currently operated by the third and fourth generation owners. Pratt Place Inn offers one-of-a-kind lodging that is a offers a relaxed setting Southern charm and European elegance. It is furnished throughout with Asian and European antiques and art.

WEB: http://www.prattplaceinn.com

California, Gold Country, Murphys

ROMANTIC GETAWAY IN CALIFORNIA?S SIERRA FOOTHILLS

Located in the scenic Gold Country of California?s Sierra foothills, Dunbar House 1880 is a romantic and private haven for adults. This historic bed and breakfast inn offers fine accommodations, hospitality, and an unforgettable breakfast. The B&B sits in a garden setting and is ideal for romantic getawasy. Nearby, wine tastings, golf, skiing, restaurants, and shopping offer abundant activities. Dunbar House has been the recipient of the prestigious AAA 4-Diamond rating every year since first being awarded in 2004. The Inn has 1-4 night specials from $205-$275 per person, per night.

WEB: http://www.dunbarhouse.com

California, Wine Country, Forestville

EXPERIENCE ROMANTIC SONOMA WINE COUNTRY AT THE FARMHOUSE INN AND RESTAURANT

Located amidst the vineyards of the famed Russian River Valley, a visit to the Farmhouse Inn offers all the warmth and hospitality of a family owned bed and breakfast coupled with all of the services and amenities of an AAA 4-Diamond luxury boutique hotel. The Inn offers 18 individually appointed rooms and suites, featuring signature Farmhouse d?cor, fireplaces, soaking tubs, views and saunas, a Michelin Starred restaurant on site and renowned Farm-to-Table Spa. Add the Romance Package ($375/couple) to any stay, and let our concierge team attend to every detail.

WEB: http://www.farmhouseinn.com

Washington, Port Angeles

ROMANTIC GETAWAY ON WASHINGTON?S OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Colette's Bed & Breakfast Inn is a 10 acre oceanfront estate nestled between the Olympic Range and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Every suite at this AAA Four Diamond establishment offers oceanfront views, romantic fireplaces and Jacuzzi spas for two. Experience the natural beauty by strolling through the 10 acre outdoor sanctuary. Enjoy the warmth and romance of Colette's, featuring daily evening Wine and Hors d'oeuvres and a gourmet multi course breakfast.

WEB: http://www.colettes.com

South Carolina, Charleston

WILD DUNES RESORT OFFERS 2012 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF PACKAGE

Wild Dunes Resort is one of the South?s premiere golf destinations and its ?Behind the Ropes? package features daily breakfast, accommodations for two at the Boardwalk Inn, plus two one day any day passes per person (each valid for any one day tournament entry Monday thru Sunday) all from $549/night. Fans of the green can upgrade the package and play a round of golf on either of the Resort?s two top-ranked Tom Fazio-designed courses. Earning an Four-Diamond rating every year since opening its doors, the Boardwalk Inn offers guests rooms and suites, private condos and beach house rentals.

WEB: http://www.wilddunes.com

Florida, Southwest, Islamorada

EXPERIENCE THE SPORT FISHING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AT CHEECA LODGE & SPA

As the benchmark for Florida Keys resorts for over 60 years, Cheeca Lodge & Spa has been named one of the Top U.S. Resorts in the 2011 Conde Nast Readers? Choice Awards. With the Islamorada Fishing Package, discover the thrill of catching a tarpon in the calm waters of the Florida Keys Backcountry and the challenge of catching the "big one" in the waters of the ?Sport fishing Capital of the World.? This AAA 4-Diamond property features 214 well-appointed rooms, suites and bungalows with four restaurants and a spa.

WEB: http://www.cheeca.com

South Carolina, Charleston

DISCOVER CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, AT THE HARBOUR VIEW INN

Discover Charleston and enjoy attentive service and signature amenities from the AAA Four-Diamond and Cond? Nast "Gold List Award" winning Harbour View Inn. Panoramic views, vast atriums and well appointed guest rooms - some with private balconies, working fireplaces, and whirlpool tubs - await your arrival. The Discover Charleston package for two includes a two-night-stay, a welcome basket filled with Charleston goodies, afternoon wine and cheese reception and much more. This 52-bedroom inn is located in the heart of Charleston?s historic district and offers spectacular views of Charleston Harbor.

WEB: http://www.HarbourViewCharleston.com

South Carolina, Charleston

CHARLESTON'S TOP-RATED FRENCH QUARTER INN CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

From its atmosphere of old world luxury and elegance, to an AAA Four Diamond restaurant, there are many things to love about the French Quarter Inn. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the Inn is offering guests an extravagant experience with its ?10 Years, 10 Things to Love? package. The package for two includes three nights in well-appointed accommodations, along with 10 things to ?love? about the French Quarter Inn and Charleston. The Inn, a AAA Four Diamond property, features 50 guest rooms and overlooks the City Market in the heart of Charleston?s Historic District.

WEB: http://www.FQICharleston.com

# # #

VIEW THIS PRESS RELEASE WITH PHOTOS:

http://www.awardwinninghotels.com/newsletter/Award-Winning-Hotels-Inns.pdf

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/6/prweb9614376.htm

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Microsoft offers a sneak peek at Windows Phone, we'll be liveblogging at 12pm ET!

Microsoft is definitely having a field day week, sandwiched right in between WWDC and Google I/O. Tomorrow morning the giant's offered us a sneak peek at Windows Phone, and that's leaving us plenty of food for thought to chew on. Will it be this Apollo we've heard all about? We're going to be at tomorrow morning's keynote, bringing you all of the updates as the news flows out of Joe Belfiore & Co. Join us then -- the fun begins at noon!

June 20, 2012 12:00 PM EDT

Microsoft offers a sneak peek at Windows Phone, we'll be liveblogging at 12pm ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wall Street gets a lift from hopes for more Fed moves

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Solar nanowire array may increase percentage of sun's frequencies available for energy conversion

ScienceDaily (June 20, 2012) ? Researchers creating electricity through photovoltaics want to convert as many of the sun's wavelengths as possible to achieve maximum efficiency. Otherwise, they're eating only a small part of a shot duck: wasting time and money by using only a tiny bit of the sun's incoming energies.

For this reason, they see indium gallium nitride as a valuable future material for photovoltaic systems. Changing the concentration of indium allows researchers to tune the material's response so it collects solar energy from a variety of wavelengths. The more variations designed into the system, the more of the solar spectrum can be absorbed, leading to increased solar cell efficiencies. Silicon, today's photovoltaic industry standard, is limited in the wavelength range it can 'see' and absorb.

But there is a problem: Indium gallium nitride, part of a family of materials called III-nitrides, is typically grown on thin films of gallium nitride. Because gallium nitride atomic layers have different crystal lattice spacings from indium gallium nitride atomic layers, the mismatch leads to structural strain that limits both the layer thickness and percentage of indium that can be added. Thus, increasing the percentage of indium added broadens the solar spectrum that can be collected, but reduces the material's ability to tolerate the strain.

Sandia National Laboratories scientists Jonathan Wierer Jr. and George Wang reported in the journal Nanotechnology that if the indium mixture is grown on a phalanx of nanowires rather than on a flat surface, the small surface areas of the nanowires allow the indium shell layer to partially "relax" along each wire, easing strain. This relaxation allowed the team to create a nanowire solar cell with indium percentages of roughly 33 percent, higher than any other reported attempt at creating III-nitride solar cells.

This initial attempt also lowered the absorption base energy from 2.4eV to 2.1 eV, the lowest of any III-nitride solar cell to date, and made a wider range of wavelengths available for power conversion. Power conversion efficiencies were low -- only 0.3 percent compared to a standard commercial cell that hums along at about 15 percent -- but the demonstration took place on imperfect nanowire-array templates. Refinements should lead to higher efficiencies and even lower energies.

Several unique techniques were used to create the III-nitride nanowire array solar cell. A top-down fabrication process was used to create the nanowire array by masking a gallium nitride (GaN) layer with a colloidal silica mask, followed by dry and wet etching. The resulting array consisted of nanowires with vertical sidewalls and of uniform height.

Next, shell layers containing the higher indium percentage of indium gallium nitride (InGaN) were formed on the GaN nanowire template via metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Lastly, In_0.02Ga_0.98N was grown, in such a way that caused the nanowires to coalescence. This process produced a canopy layer at the top, facilitating simple planar processing and making the technology manufacturable.

The results, says Wierer, although modest, represent a promising path forward for III-nitride solar cell research. The nano-architecture not only enables higher indium proportion in the InGaN layers but also increased absorption via light scattering in the faceted InGaN canopy layer, as well as air voids that guide light within the nanowire array.

The research was funded by DOE's Office of Science through the Solid State Lighting Science Energy Frontier Research Center, and Sandia's Laboratory Directed Research and Development program.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/Sandia National Laboratories.

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

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NFL 2012: Top 5 AFC Running Back?s With Something To Prove

Home ? AFC ? NFL 2012: Top 5 AFC Running Back?s With Something To Prove

Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE

?

Last month at Spin Zone, we took a look at the Top 5 Coaches With Something To Prove (which you can view here if you missed). This is a similar list, but this time we will be looking at the running back?s in the AFC. As with last time, this isn?t necessarily a list of running back?s that are in danger of losing their jobs (although you could argue that every single game a running back is fighting for his job), but rather which running back?s have to make a statement for one reason or another in the upcoming 2012 season.

5. Chris Johnson, TEN

CJ2K set the bar extremely high for himself when he ran for 2,000 yards during the 2009 season. It was just last year during the uncertain off-season when, upon the owners and players coming to terms with one another, Johnson held out for more money. The Titans, not known historically for spending big on players, gave him his cash to the tune of $35 million guaranteed, and all he did was disappoint.

Johnson barely cracked 1,000 yards last season, and finished with a 4.0 yard rushing average, the worst of his career. What?s worse, is that during the last four games of the season, he rushed for 23, 55, 56, and 61 yards respectively. He?ll have to do a lot better than that this season to prove to people and the franchise that he was worth the investment. His career production keeps him from ranking higher on this list.

4. Darren McFadden, OAK

Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE

D-Mac has shown all of the potential in the world to become a star in the league. The only thing keeping him from doing so is his penchant for injury.

While he struggled mightily in his first two seasons, he had the ever-touted third-year breakout campaign, racking up 1,157 yards on the ground with a 5.2 average per carry, to go along with 507 yards receiving and 10 TD?s total.

Those are the type of numbers that win you crazy public support by way of fantasy football. However, he has missed at least 4 games in each of his four seasons in the league, and last year saw him miss 9 games. Unfortunately, staying healthy is a large part of a players success in the NFL. If you can?t stay healthy, you can?t help your team. A full 16-game season would really help him out with a lucrative contract extension.

3. Reggie Bush, MIA

Last season, Reggie Bush did two things few people ever anticipated happening: 1) He suited up for the Miami Dolphins and 2) He rushed for over a thousand yards in a season. After his rookie contract expires with the New Orleans Saints, most people both within the football world and outside had accepted that Bush would never be more than a change-of-pace back.

Even the Dolphins organization themselves had Daniel Thomas primed to take over as the workhorse, with Bush playing the spell & third-down role. But unexpectedly, perhaps realizing that this may have been his last shot to prove to the league that he was a capable starter, he delivered an outstanding season, rushing for 1086 yards and 5.0 YPC average. He also added 296 yards receiving, a conservative number for Bush, but one that shows he is ready to transition to becoming a full-time, between the tackles running back. Daniel Thomas will be pressing him for playing time all season, however, and Bush will have to be at the top of his game to retain his starting position.

2. C.J. Spiller, BUF

Spiller came into the league with high praise and higher hopes. Coach Chan Gailey called the player ?a steal? at number nine, and at that moment the weight of expectations was born. Spiller failed to produce any distinguishable results, however, as he amassed only 283 rushing yards and only one touchdown (receiving).

Last year, he did start to show promise, rushing for 561 yards behind what is at best an average line. He also rushed for 5.2 yards per carry. The opportunities won?t come easy for Spiller, though. A man by the name of Fred Jackson has been quietly turning into one of the league?s better running backs over the years, and was absolutely leading this team through the first half of the season until he went out with injury in week 10. Spiller needs to take the reigns and prove he?s more than just a compliment to Jackson.

1. Donald Brown, IND

Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Donald Brown is entering his 4?th season in the NFL and has been given every opportunity for success that one can receive. The franchise has not brought in any serious competition to push Brown for the starting job throughout his tenure there, and still the most carries Brown has earned in a given season is 134 last year, up only 5 from the previous season at 129.

In his three years as a first round pick for the Colts, Donald Brown has rushed the ball 341 times.

By comparison, Maurice Jones-Drew ran the ball 343 times last season alone. That amount of carries is simply unacceptable for a runner who missed just three games over the past two years. Donald Brown will surely only have one more year to show the Colts Front Office that he deserves to be in the NFL, and in a starting role to boot.

Make sure to check back with NFL Spin Zone for the NFC edition in the coming days?

If you missed the Top 5 Coaches With Something To Prove article from before, click here!

Follow me on Twitter?@TitanSizedJason

To stay up to date on the latest from NFL Spin Zone,?become a?fan on Facebook?or?follow us on Twitter.

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Tags: AFC South, Chris Johnson, cj spiller, darren mcfadden, donald brown, featured, popular, Reggie Bush

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Facebook Scoops Up Face.com For ~$100M To Bolster Its Facial Recognition Tech

After about a month of speculation, Facebook has finally announced its acquisition of Israeli facial recognition technology Face.com. We've heard from multiple sources that the acquisition price was around $100m, with others reporting that the price was between $80m-$100m. This is absolutely not an acqui-hire, as Facebook will be taking full advantage of the company's technology and the advancements it's made on mobile -- perhaps to finally include mobile tagging options for photos.

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Google: Government Censor Requests Are Alarming

? Google?

On Monday Google said that it has released data showing government requests to remove blog posts and videos, and requests to hand over user information made from July to December 2011. The info, according to Google, is alarming.

Unlike the traffic and copyright sections of its Transparency Report which are refreshed in near-real time, the government's section is only updated in six-month increments because "it's a people-driven manual process." However this latest release raises some concerns by Google.

"This is the fifth data set that we've released," the company said. "And just like every other time before, we've been asked to take down political speech. It's alarming not only because free expression is at risk, but because some of these requests come from countries you might not suspect -- Western democracies not typically associated with censorship."

Google started releasing government-related data in 2010, adding annotations with some of the more interesting stories behind the numbers. Since the beginning, Google has noticed that government agencies from different countries would sometimes ask Google to remove political content that users had posted on its services. There was hope that the request trend was merely a temporary deviation from the norm, but five data sets later, Google realizes it's not.

"In the second half of last year, Spanish regulators asked us to remove 270 search results that linked to blogs and articles in newspapers referencing individuals and public figures, including mayors and public prosecutors," Google said. "In Poland, we received a request from a public institution to remove links to a site that criticized it. We didn't comply with either of these requests."

According to Google's chart, the company has received 128 court orders from Brazil in the six month period between July and December 2011. The government requested that 397 items be removed, but Google only complied with 69-percent. Other informal requests from executives, police and so on totaled 66 in the same time period, asking for 157 items to be taken down -- Google only complied with 26-percent.

Second on Google's government request list is the United States. Google received 117 court orders requesting that 3,851 items be removed. Additional informal requests from police and other parties totaled a mere 70, asking for the removal of 2,341 items. Google complied with 40-percent and 44-percent of the requested items respectively.

Rounding out Google's top 10 government request list is Germany, Argentine, Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

"Governments ask companies to remove content for many different reasons," Google said. "For example, some content removals are requested due to allegations of defamation, while others are due to allegations that the content violates local laws prohibiting hate speech or pornography. Laws surrounding these issues vary by country, and the requests reflect the legal context of a given jurisdiction."

For the six months of data Google released on Monday, the search engine giant complied with an average of 65-percent of court orders, as opposed to 47-percent of more informal requests, the company said.

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