An Israeli military spokeswoman said rockets landed near troops conducting "routine activity" near the fence. Forces returned fire, she added.
No injuries were reported.
Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=508670
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By: Jack Moore
Each week we?ll be providing you with insight into the best (and worst) baseball players to play in your fantasy baseball league.
1. Zack Greinke, SP, LAA: Typically, a move from the NL to the AL is a bad omen for pitchers. However, escaping homer-friendly Miller Park and the shoddy defense behind him in Milwaukee should be a boon for Greinke. Even though he took a loss in his first home start with Anaheim, he was excellent, striking out eight, allowing seven hits and just two earned runs in seven innings Sunday. Look for more of that in front of an Angels defense that is above average at nearly every position on the field and owns the league?s best defensive efficiency.
2. Carlos Santana, C, CLE: Santana entered the season considered by many fantasy experts ? including this one ? to be the top catcher on the board thanks to his rare power at the position. We were dead wrong in the first half, as Santana limped to a .221/.339/.336 line at the break. Those who persevered have been rewarded, as Santana has exploded out of the break, hitting .306/.469/.653 with four homers ? one under his first-half total ? in the 16 games since. Sometimes with good players all you need is a first sign that they?re breaking out of a slump, and for Santana, it?s past time to believe.
3. Lorenzo Cain, OF, KCR: Cain was a deep sleeper entering the season but missed much of the first half due to injury. He?s back, and in his first 21 games he?s hitting .279/.321/.485 with three homers, nine runs and 15 RBI. Don?t expect the power to quite keep up, but he has speed to steal bases in addition to a decent average, making him a sharp pickup for leagues deep in the outfield.
4. Alexi Ogando, SP, TEX: With Colby Lewis injured and the Rangers yet to make a major move on the trade market, it appears Ogando is destined for a return to the starting rotation. He suffered a leg injury during his last attempt at starting, but that was on a bunt attempt in a National League stadium, something he won?t deal with the rest of the season. Ogando has a 3.49 ERA and 1.118 WHIP career out of the rotation with an excellent 2.93 K/BB, making him a solid under-the-radar rotation option for the stretch run.
5. Paul Maholm, SP, CHC: Maholm became the first Cubs starter to record six straight starts of one run or fewer and at least six innings pitched with Sunday?s outing against the Cardinals. That might be a touch unrealistic, but Maholm has had a successful career and is more than capable of producing better-than-average ERAs and WHIPs. He won?t give you big strikeout numbers, but for a guy widely available on the waiver wire as August approaches, it?s tough to do better. His ERA of 3.74 is eight points higher than last year?s total of 3.66 ? and his value only goes up if the Cubs deal him before Tuesday?s trade deadline, a distinct possibility.
1. Matt Harrison, SP, TEX: Harrison has given up three home runs in his last two starts, leading to nine runs in 13 innings. Somehow, despite pitching in a great hitters? ballpark in Texas, Harrison was allowing just 0.59 home runs per nine innings leading into this two-start stretch. Especially with the hyper-warm Texas weather setting in, don?t be surprised if we see even more multi-homer starts from Harrison down the stretch, with his ERA approaching 4.00.
2. James McDonald, SP, PIT: McDonald has been awful in three starts since the break, allowing more walks than strikeouts to go with a 9.00 ERA. Much of his excellent first half was due to pristine control ? just 31 walks in 110 innings. Even if that 2.5 BB/9 rate rises up to just 3.0 or 3.5, we could see an average McDonald in the second half instead of the one putting up ace-level numbers. McDonald has a
3.8 career BB, making such a rising tide more likely than not.
3. Bryce Harper, OF, WAS: The talent is undeniable. What Harper has done this year ? 9 HR, 13 SB, a .261/.338/.430 line ? is all fantastic for a 19-year-old, and he should be near the top of most keeper lists come the end of the season. However, for those playing in redraft leagues, Harper may be the kind of guy whose name is more attractive than the production. Particularly in standard three outfielder leagues, there have been so many productive outfielders that Harper?s production is replaceable off the waiver wire ? see a guy like Michael Brantley, for example.
4. Alcides Escobar, SS, KCR: Here?s the question you have to ask about Escobar: is he a legitimate .300 hitter? If so, he?s well worth owning at shortstop. He gives you plus numbers in two categories ? 15 steals to go with the average ? which is more than most shortstops at this point. But if he isn?t ? if he is instead a .280 hitter or a .264 hitter (his career mark), what then? He doesn?t score runs (40 in 98 games), nor does he provide power or RBI. He?s already slipping over the last two weeks (.250/.263/.321) and his 16.5% strikeout rate is not one befitting a .300 hitter. Expect a second-half slide.
5. Francisco Cordero, RP, HOU: Just like in Toronto, don?t expect Cordero?s reign as the Houston closer to last too long. He already has an 18.00 ERA in his three innings with the club and is up to 6.75 on the year as both an Astro and a Jay. As such, it?s better to speculate on his replacement than get hit by the runs he?ll most certainly allow this season ? go grab Wilton Lopez instead.
Jack Moore is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Mathematics and Economics. His work can also be found at FanGraphs.com, DisciplesOfUecker.com, RotoWire.com, AdvancedNFLStats.com and ESPN. Follow him on twitter at @jh_moore.
Source: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/07/30/5-up-5-down-fantasy-baseball-advice-for-july-30th/
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Heavy snoring is a type of dilemma for many people. There are several reasons for heavy snoring. Heavy snoring may be a constant dilemma or it can be a short term issue brought on by a cold or another health issues. What ever the main cause of snoring, these tips will help end place and stop to loud snoring and provide you much more calm nights.
If you have experimented with the most prevalent at home remedies to finish your snoring loudly, it may be time to consult your medical professional to find out if an contra ?heavy snoring oral cavity guard can remedy your issue. The device retains your teeth with each other to prevent the jaw muscle tissue from soothing sufficient to bring about snoring loudly.
Consider raising your head as a way to get rid of some strain away from your airways. This helps you in your inhaling, which will lessen your snoring. You could also raise your bed?s brain by putting disables under the your bed content. Normally, you might just prop up your whole entire body with many bedroom pillows.
Pin a tennis games tennis ball to the rear of your sleepwear. The bulge lying on your back will stop you from switching to rest lying on your back. If you are experienced with sewing, you could potentially sew on a particular wallet for that soccer ball so it will be easily-removed for cleaning. An alternative is usually to pierce the ball with string and suspend it on your back.
If you and your partner snores, it may damage your connection. People need sleep, and a disturbance in the middle of the evening can spoil another person?s sleep at night. Sooner or later, you could decide to rest individually. Even though this doesn?t seem to be particularly romantic, many individuals practice it, as well as their connection doesn?t go through by any means.
As with so many other health problems, being overweight absolutely improves the happenings of snoring loudly. A newly released increase in snoring could easily be the result of a recently available surge in excess weight. Even when losing that weight will not completely solve your loud snoring issue, you may only gain from becoming more suit.
Will not ingest dairy food before going to bed. Dairy products might cause a build-up of mucus inside your respiratory system method which build up triggers snoring loudly. Usually do not eat frozen treats, beverage milk products or eat almost every other dairy foods before bed furniture and this will help to you steer clear of snoring loudly.
Just like you?ve discovered right away of your write-up, there is lots that you can do to get rid of the heavy snoring that can be irritating when you sleep.
Together with the info you have just study, you need to be far more well-well informed in regards to what options are offered to quit heavy snoring. Although snoring loudly is not really generally suggestive of a life-harmful situation, it is definitely annoying. Make use of this info and do whichever it will require to acquire a whole night of relaxation and relaxing.
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Augment your home In Phoenix without having to cost a fortune by utilizing these cheap home improvement tips.
Paint Your Place
Having your place painted both inside and outside is just one of the most affordable home improvements you most likely can make. According to the latest Home Improvement Report, decorating or painting a home can add about $ 4,000 towards the value of your house. Painting can replenish or clean up walls straight away and a completely unique shade can produce the effect the complete room has been re-designed. Painting old pieces of furniture and also skirting boards is a simple, affordable and forceful home improvement.
To get an expert finish and to save your time, seek the assistance of a qualified painter. At the moment eco friendly paints are preferred and good for your overall health and the natural environment.
Revamp the Windows
New double-glazed-windows are not essentially the cheapest home improvement but they will help you to save money in the long run by lowering your electrical bills. Brand spanking new windows will improve the comfort, ease and safety of your place as well. If you can't manage new windows, why not re-paint your current window support frames or set up new curtains or blinds?
Install A New Driveway
Augmenting the exterior of the house will raise your property?s curb-appeal; making it appear great and also hiking up your home price. Laying a fresh drive way can accomplish this; select materials which matches your house e.g. Concrete,tarmac,clay tiles, brick or natural stone Make sure that your drive way is laid correctly by an expert to be completely certain that it lasts.
Install New Toilet and Kitchen Units
A fast, cheap method of recharging the areas you spend the majority of the times is to change or re-paint cupboard/wardrobe doors, wall units or work areas. Fitting new kitchen work tops for instance gives the perception of an entirely new kitchen. The exact same goes for toilet units and furniture ? you may have it painted, covered or glossed to transform it.
Convert Your Garage
Need an inexpensive, straightforward way to extend the size of the house? Then think about converting your garage. You can make use of the new space for a kitchen extension, office, or playroom. This easy yet inexpensive home improvement tip can go along way in improving the value of your property.
We concentrate on home improvement, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, remodeling, home remodeling, workman services, house repair, home repair services and handyman service in Phoenix since 2001. Other services include home additions, room additions, remodeling additions, home improvement, home remodeling, home improvements, home renovation and home renovations.
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Source: http://loftconversionslondon.info/top-five-cheap-home-improvement-ideas/
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Regardless of the size of your business, you may be able to cut expenses by utilizing offshore opportunities. Many businesses find that turning to Offshore Company Experts can dramatically cut the cost of doing business. Below you will find the basics about going offshore for outsourcing portions of your company?s projects.
What Countries Do Most US Businesses Outsource From?
Many US companies outsource their business to English speaking countries with very educated populations. These countries include but are not limited to:
? India
? Pakistan
? Philippines
? China
? Romania
? Thailand
? Canada
? The United Kingdom
? Bangladesh
? Ukraine
? Nigeria
? Turkey
What Types of Services Do Businesses Outsource For?
Some of the businesses mistakenly assume that production is the only service that US businesses use for outsourcing. Some of the services that businesses outsource for include:
? Business Processing? Customer Service? Programming ? Software Management? Database Creation and Management? Engineering? Graphic Design? Web Design? Architecture? CAD Design? Presentations and Multimedia Creation? Sales and Marketing? Writing and Editing? Translating? Business Consulting? Legal Document Processing and Research? Finance? Accounting? Production? Product Design and Updates
What Are The Cost Savings of Outsourcing?
Many companies find that they can cut their costs up to 2/3 by utilizing outsourcing. Depending on your specific needs, outsourcing can improve your profit margins dramatically. Many customer service and production facilities are already set-up for outsourcing operations . You literally only need to provide them with your project specifications to begin saving money.
How Do I Find Companies To Outsource With?
The fact is that you don?t have to find companies to outsource with. There are many great Offshore Company Experts that are located stateside. All you have to do is contact them with your project and specific needs. They already have established contacts and they will connect you with the companies and the countries that best meet your needs. Depending on the experts is a smart way to get to started and an even smarter way to reduce the risks of seeking outsourcing businesses through trial and error.
Regardless of what direction you decide to use to outsource your projects, you may be surprised by just how much money you can save while still providing your customers with excellent customer service and products. Outsourcing doesn?t mean sacrificing quality. You can maintain your businesses high standards and dramatically cut your costs at the same time.
Source: http://mitsa.org/outsourcing-and-offshore-business-solutions/
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A bitter GOP primary contest in Texas for a U.S. Senate seat has come to this: an ad featuring a grieving mother who links one of the candidates to her son?s suicide.
A Texas super PAC is airing a TV ad that features a distraught mother who says Ted Cruz, a lawyer, ?should be absolutely ashamed of himself? for representing a key figure in Pennsylvania?s infamous ?kids for cash? scandal. In that case, two judges were convicted of taking $2.1 million from Cruz?s client in exchange for sending kids to private juvenile detention centers ? which were built by Cruz?s client. The woman?s son was among the kids sentenced to prison by one of the disgraced judges. Her son later shot himself to death.
The woman?s story is heart wrenching and the scandal is beyond awful. But Cruz had nothing to do with the criminal case. Cruz represented the prison builder in a related civil suit brought against his client by an insurance company. The ad falsely claims that Cruz argued that his client ?should not have to pay? for his role in a bribery scandal, when in fact his client had already agreed to pay $17.75 million in restitution to the victims, and would in fact have paid more if Cruz succeeded in his only role: getting the insurance company to kick in additional sums.
Big Race in Texas
The boast that ?everything is bigger in Texas? certainly applies to the state?s race for the Republican Senate nomination ? the most expensive race in the country. Nine candidates competed in the May primary and the two survivors ? Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (45 percent) and Cruz (34 percent) ? are facing off in a runoff election on July 31.
The winner likely will be the state?s next U.S. senator, replacing the retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, so the GOP primary has been hotly contested ? to say the least.
Dewhurst alone has spent nearly $20 million ? more than twice as much as Cruz. Dewhurst also has benefited from a super PAC, the Texas Conservatives Fund, that is headed by one of his longtime aides, Rob Johnson. The fund has spent $2.5 million as of July 11 ? not including its latest TV ad, ?Ted Cruz Should Be Ashamed,? which was released July 23.
In the ad, Sandy Fonzo speaks about the ?kids for cash? scandal in Pennsylvania. In that case, two state judges,?Michael Conahan and?Mark Ciavarella?Jr., were convicting of taking more than $2.6 million in exchange for sending juveniles to for-profit detention centers.
Fonzo?s 17-year-old son, Edward Kenzakoski, was sentenced to prison by Ciavarella for what the Associated Press described as a ?minor drug paraphernalia charge.? Fonzo said her son later killed himself, and she blames Ciavarella.
The case is complicated, and the TV ad is confusing and disjointed ? in part because of the choppy editing of Fonzo?s interview, which deals with two separated but related cases.
A Criminal Scandal and An Insurance Dispute
The ad opens with Fonzo saying, ?Corrupt judges put my son in a for-profit juvenile detention center ? to make millions of dollars.? That?s clear enough, and accurate.
But then she says, ?Ted Cruz says his client should not have to pay, that the IRS is the victim, and not the kids here.? The accompanying text on the screen says, ?Ted Cruz?s client paid judges to put kids in jails he built.? Here, the ad is not talking about the criminal case against the judges ? and those who paid them ? but rather a related civil suit.
Cruz?s client was Robert Mericle, owner of Mericle Construction, who built two new for-profit prisons in Pennsylvania. Mericle testified that he gave the two judges payments totaling about $2.1 million. The owner of the facilities, Robert Powell, testified that he gave the judges an additional $600,000. The former judges argued in court that the payments were ?finder?s fees? for helping put Powell, owner of the facilities, in touch with Mericle, who built them.
Mericle accepted a plea agreement and testified on behalf of the prosecution. He pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony and is awaiting sentencing.
Cruz had nothing to do with the criminal charges against Mericle.
The young victims of the kids-for-cash scandal sued Mericle for civil damages. Mericle settled the case by agreeing in December 2011 to create a $17.75 million fund for the victims. The agreement (page 11) also says that Mericle will pay an additional $1.75 million into the fund ? if he wins his appeal of a lower court finding that his insurance company, Travelers Property and Casualty, did not have to pay for the victims? claims against Mericle.
Here?s where Cruz comes in. Cruz represented Mericle in the appeals case of the insurance dispute. On June 20, 2012, the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Mericle.
Now, let?s go back to Fonzo?s statement: ?Ted Cruz says his client should not have to pay, that the IRS is the victim, and not the kids here.?
It?s true that Cruz, while arguing the insurance case, said (at the 4:30 minute mark): ?The victim of that crime was the IRS, it was the federal treasury. It wasn?t the kids.? But Cruz was talking about the crime to which Mericle pleaded guilty. As the U.S. Attorney?s office explains, Mericle was charged with (and ultimately pleaded guilty to) failing to report the ?commission of a felony, a conspiracy between Michael T. Conahan and Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr. to defraud the United States of income tax due and owing for tax years 2003 and 2005 through 2007.?
Also, confused viewers may be left with the impression that Cruz was trying to help Mericle shortchange victims when Fonzo says, ?Ted Cruz says his client should not have to pay.? That?s misleading. As we explained earlier, the victims and their families ? presumably including Fonzo ? would have benefited if Cruz won the insurance dispute for his client. The $17.75 million victims? fund could have gained an additional $1.75 million, as stated in a press release issued by a law firm involved in the settlement when it was announced.
One last thing: The editing of Fonzo?s interview makes it impossible to know what she means when she says, ?That?s what my son?s life was worth, $500,? or whether she is blaming Cruz for such meager compensation. Rob Johnson, the executive director of the Texas Conservatives Fund, did not return a phone call. We also tried to reach Fonzo without any luck.
It is possible that Fonzo is talking about how much her family is entitled to under the agreement reached between Cruz?s client (Mericle) and the victims. The Scranton Times-Tribune reported on Feb. 29 that a state judge approved the agreement and that it would pay juveniles sentenced by the two judges between $500 and $8,200. But Fonzo said her son served time in prison, and those children would receive at least $5,000 if they were imprisoned in one of the new prisons built by Mericle and at least $1,000 if imprisoned in another facility.
In either case, Cruz had nothing to do with the creation of the fund or how much it pays victims. He was not one of the attorneys listed on the agreement. If anything, Cruz?s only involvement in the case would have resulted in more ? not less ? money for victims.
? Eugene Kiely
Source: http://wpress.bootnetworks.com/2012/07/texas-size-mudballs-in-gop-senate-runoff/
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SUBSCRIBE to Next Media Animation: www.youtube.com The Opening Ceremony of London?s 2012 Olympic Games have been highly anticipated. Already, some secret details have been leaked to the public! Here is what we?ve pieced together. Facebook: www.facebook.com Webpage: www.nma.tv Twitter @nmatv: twitter.com Tumblr: nmatv.tumblr.com No matter how hard director Danny Boyle tried to keep things a secret (aka starting a #SavetheSurprise campaign on Twitter) details still leaked out. With around 62000 people involved in the ceremonies it?s nearly impossible to keep it a secret. SPOILER ALERT: So here is what we know: There are going to be 30 Mary Poppins? fighting a 40-foot-tall Lord Voldemort. Makes sense, right? As if that wasn?t bizarre enough, they will also have 100 children on hospital beds doing a synchronized dance to go along with the ?Isles of Wonder? theme. It is very obvious ceremony organizers are stuffing as many British references into the opening ceremonies as possible. We decided to take a crack at rounding out what will be included in the rest of the grand production. Check it out!
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Source: http://realestatetoolbox.com/opening-ceremony-olympics-2012-london-packs-in-british-stuff/
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. pipeline safety agency said on Saturday it is investigating an oil spill in Wisconsin on Enbridge Inc's network that forced the Canadian company to shut down part of the main pipeline system delivering Canadian crude to U.S. refiners.
The U.S. Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration "is investigating the cause of the Enbridge crude oil pipeline failure in Wisconsin," spokesman Damon Hill said in an email, adding that an inspector "has been dispatched to the failure location."
The spill reported on Friday comes almost two years to the day after a major spill in Michigan on a different part of Enbridge's network.
On Friday, Enbridge shut down Line 14 after a leak that it estimated at around 1,200 barrels of oil. The 318,000 barrel per day (bpd) line, part of the Lakehead system, carries light crude oil to Chicago-area refineries.
The cause of Friday's spill was undetermined and Enbridge Energy Partners said it had no estimate on when flows would resume. Line 14 is one of four lines that ship mainly Canadian crude via Lakehead, a 2.5 million bpd network that is the principle route for Canadian exports.
The news will not help Enbridge build public trust in its network, which has come under scrutiny following several high-profile incidents, including a spill in Alberta last month and the massive leak in Michigan two years ago.
Just weeks ago, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board delivered a scathing report of Enbridge's handling of the July 2010 rupture of its Line 6B near Marshall, Michigan, which led to more than 20,000 barrels of crude leaking into the Kalamazoo River.
U.S. pipeline regulators fined it $3.7 million for the spill, their largest ever penalty.
The incidents have caused furor just as the company seeks approval for its C$6 billion Northern Gateway pipeline to Canada's West Coast from Alberta amid staunch opposition from environmental groups and native communities that warn against oil spills on land and in coastal waters.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner in Washington and Jeffrey Jones in Calgary; Editing by Vicki Allen)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-pipeline-agency-investigating-enbridge-inc-oil-spill-114925406--finance.html
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Brendan Mcdermid / REUTERS
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
By NBC News wire services
Updated at 4:05 p.m. ET: Stocks rallied Friday on growing hopes of further stimulus from the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, as economic growth slowed in the second quarter.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed the day up 188 points, having moved above 13,000 for the first time in over two months. It was the Dow?s fifth triple-digit move in the past six days.
In economic news, gross domestic product growth slowed to a 1.5 percent annual rate in the second quarter as consumers spent at their most sluggish pace in a year. While economists expected worse, it was weak enough to keep hope alive for an additional round of Fed stimulus.
The Federal Reserve meets next week, and the market is looking for signs of additional monetary stimulus. The ECB also meets, with expectations for action overseas also rising after comments Thursday from ECB President Mario Draghi.
"There continues to be excitement over potential change in policy, both from the ECB and the FOMC. That's the only reason the market's up," said Ken Polcari, managing director at ICAP Equities in New York.
Merck gave the biggest boost to the Dow after the drugmaker reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings, with strong sales growth of its vaccines and treatments for diabetes and HIV.
On Thursday, stocks leapt nearly 2 percent and erasing much of the losses for the week as ECB chief Mario Draghi said he would do whatever it takes to save the euro. Adding fuel to the fire, the French daily Le Monde reported on Friday morning that euro- zone governments and the ECB are preparing to take action to bring down borrowing costs for Spain and Italy.
Uri Landesman, president of Platinum Partners in New York, described the market as "getting frothy," adding that "the bulls are trying their last gasp because Draghi says he is going to buy some bonds.
"The problem is way too deep for central banks to dig us out of, and that is going to become evident both in the news and the market over the next couple of months," Landesman said. "I expect a really rough rest of the summer."
Facebook Inc shares tumbled to an all-time low a day after the social media company reported a drastic slowdown in revenue growth on Thursday and failed to offer financial forecasts that quelled fears about its ability to boost advertising growth.
In contrast, Amazon shares rose after it reported improved profit margins on Thursday after the bell.
Optimism over further stimulus measures has helped offset a mixed U.S. corporate earnings season, with many companies beating profit forecasts, but often missing revenue projections and warning about sluggish global growth.
Through Friday morning, of the 290 in the S&P 500 that have reported second-quarter earnings, about two-thirds have beaten analysts' expectations, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Starbucks Corp cut its outlook for the current quarter, citing global economic weakness and a recent slowdown in visits to its coffee shops in the United States, its biggest market for sales and profits.
Reuters contributed to this report.
New GDP numbers were not stellar today -- Does that mean the Fed will step in to boost the economy? Steven Ricchiuto, Mizuho Securities, weighs in.
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AP49ers receiver Randy Moss did a lot of talking on UStream after he decided to return to the NFL and before he found a team.? Since finding a team, he hasn?t done much talking.
On Friday at training camp, he did.
?These guys here love to work, they love to compete and they know just by me signing here it?s just something that me being around a great group of guys [who are] young and enthusiastic makes me feel young, too,? Moss said in comments broadcast on ESPN?s NFL Live.? ?The love that I have for the game of football is gonna always be in me and I just wanna play football and that?s just really being here and Coach Harbaugh and this organization accepting me and bringing me here was just something hopefully I can give something back in return and that?s with my play and my presence out on and off the field.?
Also on Friday, coach Jim Harbaugh continued with the gushing that has emanated from multiple members of the organization throughout the offseason.? ?The funnest part is out on the practice field,? Harbaugh said.? ?I get some joy being around Randy Moss out there.? He?s got a knack for saying the right thing at the right time.? The right joke at the right time.?
The joke ultimately may be on those who are ready to write off Randy?s chances of playing well in 2012.? After his comments were played during NFL Live and Herm Edwards said Moss could catch 10 touchdown passes this year, Adam Schefter and Bill Polian were skeptical, to say the least.
?Ten touchdowns is awfully high for a player who was out of football last year, who had a minimal impact the year before, who basically hasn?t made a contribution ? a meaningful contribution ? since 2009,? Schefter said.? ?There?s a spot for him in the San Francisco 49ers offense.? But we?re not getting the 25-year-old Randy Moss, we?re getting the 35-year-old Randy Moss.?
Polian was more blunt.
?The guy I saw two years ago, played against was not the Randy Moss who set records in New England,? Polian said.? ?I didn?t see any explosion, didn?t see any speed.? [Editor's note:? Darrelle Revis may disagree.]? So, he?ll have to make a believer out of me.? If he?s doing well by Week Eight then he?s back.? Otherwise, I have my doubts.?
It would be easy to agree, given the manner in which Moss disappeared in Tennessee after being essentially fired by two teams in less than a month.? But two factors could prove them wrong.
First, the praise of Moss from his teammates, both for his performance and his attitude, has been universal and unequivocal.? Everyone in San Fran loves the guy, and everyone who has seen him work since joining the 49ers believes he can still get it done.
Second, we?ve seen this movie before from Moss.? After his second year with the Raiders in 2006, the popular view was that Moss was washed up, that he was done, that he couldn?t run.
Rejuvenated by a trade to the Patriots, Moss ran down Jerry Rice?s record for single-season touchdown receptions, propelling the Pats to the first undefeated 16-game season.
When Randy?s head isn?t in it, it doesn?t matter what his body can do.? When Randy is ready to go, his team will get the best of whatever he has.
The point is that we shouldn?t assume anything about Randy?s physical abilities based on what we saw in 2010 because his performance was hampered by the fact that he didn?t care.
He cares now.
?I play when I wanna play.?? It arguably belongs on his tombstone.? For now, it should prompt anyone who thinks based on 2010 that he won?t have it in 2012 to think again.
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BOSTON (Reuters) - Hospitals in several U.S. states are scrambling to check if patients were exposed to the hepatitis C virus by an itinerant medical technician charged last week in connection with an outbreak in New Hampshire.
The worker, David Matthew Kwiatkowski, was charged with federal drug crimes. Authorities say the Michigan native stole drugs and contaminated needles while working at New Hampshire's Exeter Hospital Cardiac Catheterization Unit in 2011 and 2012.
Kwiatkowski allegedly injected himself with the painkiller Fentanyl intended for patients, and left the syringes for the hospital to re-use.
Hepatitis C is caused by a virus that attacks the liver, and is considered among the most serious hepatitis viruses. It is passed through contact with contaminated blood, often through shared needles.
Most people do not know they have the infection until liver damage shows up years or decades later. It can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Kwiatkowski is believed to have had hepatitis C since at least June 2010. Thirty cases of the same strain have been confirmed among patients from the New Hampshire hospital's cardiac catheterization lab.
New Hampshire health authorities are asking as many as 6,000 patients treated in the hospital's operating rooms and intensive care units between April 2011 and May 2012 to be urgently tested for possible exposure.
Before New Hampshire Kwiatkowski, 32, worked as a radiology technician and in cardiac labs in at least ten hospitals in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kansas, Georgia, and possibly Arizona from 2007 to 2011.
A class-action lawsuit and separate negligence complaint were filed this week in U.S. District Court in Nebraska against Triage Staffing, a medical staffing agency that hired and placed Kwiatkoswki at Exeter Hospital.
(Reporting By Ros Krasny; Editing by Vicki Allen)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hampshire-hepatitis-c-outbreak-triggers-fears-185433410.html
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Public release date: 27-Jul-2012
Share ] Contact: Katie Baker
katie.baker@sagepub.co.uk
020-732-48719
SAGE Publications
London (July 27 2012). The terms of welfare reform and Labor market activation in the UK need to be re-set, according to a senior university policy expert Andrew Jones, director of the Local Economy Policy Unit at London South Bank University, and editor of Local Economy, published by SAGE. He warns that the UK Government's predominant philosophy towards the UK Welfare state accepts and supports social hierarchy and defends privilege. This, he argues, is re-creating and strengthening the conditions that provoked the 2007 economic crisis.
"The rapid movement along this current trajectory is being propelled by a dominant political party with a long-standing project of reducing taxes and rolling back the stateIts policies will create more poverty and economic instability," Jones says. Contextualizing UK welfare reform in both its historical and international context, a special issue of Local Economy seeks to challenge and readdress how welfare reform is approached and debated in the UK.
Prompted by the current round of reform in the 2012 Welfare Reform Act, the special double issue includes a series of articles which look at social protection and labor market intervention, outline alternative models for the UK's welfare arrangements and reform trajectory in comparison to other countries, and debate whether or not the Reform Act will deliver on its claim for greater simplicity and better work incentives, an objective Jones is doubtful about.
###
A selection of articles from the issue will be free to access for a limited time here: http://lec.sagepub.com/
"Welfare reform and labor market activation" by Andrew Jones published July 27 2012 in Local Economy
Andrew Jones, editor contact details localeconomy@lbsu.ac.uk
Local Economy is a peer-reviewed journal operating as an interdisciplinary forum for the critical review of policy developments in the broad area of local economic development and urban regeneration. It seeks not only to publish analysis and critique but also to disseminate innovative practice. From its origins at the Local Economy Policy Unit (LEPU) at London South Bank University, the journal has grown into a key UK-based journal for those who want to critically engage with problems of local economic development and regeneration. It maintains a commitment to grassroots activism, social justice and economic empowerment considered within the context of wider social, political and economic change. http://lec.sagepub.com/
SAGE is a leading international publisher of journals, books, and electronic media for academic, educational, and professional markets. Since 1965, SAGE has helped inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students spanning a wide range of subject areas including business, humanities, social sciences, and science, technology, and medicine. An independent company, SAGE has principal offices in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC. www.sagepublications.com
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Public release date: 27-Jul-2012 Share ] Contact: Katie Baker
katie.baker@sagepub.co.uk
020-732-48719
SAGE Publications
London (July 27 2012). The terms of welfare reform and Labor market activation in the UK need to be re-set, according to a senior university policy expert Andrew Jones, director of the Local Economy Policy Unit at London South Bank University, and editor of Local Economy, published by SAGE. He warns that the UK Government's predominant philosophy towards the UK Welfare state accepts and supports social hierarchy and defends privilege. This, he argues, is re-creating and strengthening the conditions that provoked the 2007 economic crisis.
"The rapid movement along this current trajectory is being propelled by a dominant political party with a long-standing project of reducing taxes and rolling back the stateIts policies will create more poverty and economic instability," Jones says. Contextualizing UK welfare reform in both its historical and international context, a special issue of Local Economy seeks to challenge and readdress how welfare reform is approached and debated in the UK.
Prompted by the current round of reform in the 2012 Welfare Reform Act, the special double issue includes a series of articles which look at social protection and labor market intervention, outline alternative models for the UK's welfare arrangements and reform trajectory in comparison to other countries, and debate whether or not the Reform Act will deliver on its claim for greater simplicity and better work incentives, an objective Jones is doubtful about.
###
A selection of articles from the issue will be free to access for a limited time here: http://lec.sagepub.com/
"Welfare reform and labor market activation" by Andrew Jones published July 27 2012 in Local Economy
Andrew Jones, editor contact details localeconomy@lbsu.ac.uk
Local Economy is a peer-reviewed journal operating as an interdisciplinary forum for the critical review of policy developments in the broad area of local economic development and urban regeneration. It seeks not only to publish analysis and critique but also to disseminate innovative practice. From its origins at the Local Economy Policy Unit (LEPU) at London South Bank University, the journal has grown into a key UK-based journal for those who want to critically engage with problems of local economic development and regeneration. It maintains a commitment to grassroots activism, social justice and economic empowerment considered within the context of wider social, political and economic change. http://lec.sagepub.com/
SAGE is a leading international publisher of journals, books, and electronic media for academic, educational, and professional markets. Since 1965, SAGE has helped inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students spanning a wide range of subject areas including business, humanities, social sciences, and science, technology, and medicine. An independent company, SAGE has principal offices in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC. www.sagepublications.com
[ | 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.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/sp-uwr072712.php
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The Pirates threw top prospect Starling Marte right into the fire for his major league debut tonight against the Astros by placing him in the leadoff spot. However, the 23-year-old outfielder rose to the occasion by depositing the first pitch he saw from left-hander Dallas Keuchel over the left field fence. MLB.com won?t let me embed the video, but you can watch it right here.
Marte is the 28th player in major league history to homer on the first pitch of his career and the first Pirate to do it since Don Leppert on June 18, 1961. He?s the first player to lead off his first major league game with a homer since Kaz Matsui did it with the Mets on April 6, 2004.
By the way, Marte just flew out in his second at-bat, so he clearly should have gone out on a high note.
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By ALEX DOMINGUEZ
updated 6:20 p.m. ET July 25, 2012
ABERDEEN, Md. - Cal Ripken Jr.'s 74-year-old mother was found with her hands bound in the back seat of her car Wednesday after she said she was kidnapped at gunpoint a day earlier at her home outside Baltimore and driven around blindfolded by her abductor, police and neighbors said.
Investigators do not know the kidnapper's motive and there was no ransom demand for Vi Ripken's release, Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Trabert said at a news conference.
The gunman forced Ripken into her silver Lincoln Continental between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Tuesday, police said. She was found bound and unharmed but shaken about 6:15 a.m. Wednesday near her home in Aberdeen, about 30 miles northeast of Baltimore.
When asked if police believe the kidnapper knew who he was abducting, Trabert did not answer, saying investigators don't know the motive or if the suspect has any ties to the Ripken family.
A next-door neighbor said Vi Ripken told him her kidnapper didn't seem to know that her son was the Hall of Fame infielder nicknamed "Iron Man" for playing in 2,632 consecutive games during his 21-year career with the Baltimore.
Gus Kowalewski said he spoke with Vi Ripken later Wednesday morning and she told him the gunman tied her hands and put a blindfold on her, but said he wouldn't hurt her.
"He lit cigarettes for her, they stopped for food," Kowalewski said. "He said, 'I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to take you back,' and that's what he did."
Kowalewski said Ripken told him the gunman originally planned to put tape over her eyes.
"But he didn't do that because she said 'please don't do that 'cause I'm claustrophobic,'" said Kowalewski, a 72-year-old retired autoworker.
Instead, the gunman put some type of mask or blinders on her, and she could see somewhat out the sides, he said.
Ripken told her neighbor the gunman also didn't seem to know she was part of the Ripken family, who is well-known throughout the Baltimore area and to baseball fans all over.
"He said he just wanted money and her car," Kowalewski said.
Three years after voluntarily ending his Iron Man streak, Ripken Jr. retired in 2001. He is the chairman and founder of Ripken Baseball Inc., which he runs along with his brother, Bill.
He owns three minor-league baseball teams, including the Single A IronBirds based at the Ripken Baseball complex in Aberdeen, a middle-class area of about 15,000 people. Kowalewski said Ripken told him the gunman asked her about items in the car related to the Ironbirds and did not seem to know about the team.
Mike Hudson, 43, whose mother lives across the street from Ripken, said he was surprised the kidnapper came back to the neighborhood because police were swarming over the area about midnight.
"It's just hard to believe the guy came all the way back on the street and dropped her off. That makes me believe he was local, very local," said Hudson, who is staying at his mother's house while visiting with his daughter.
"I came out again at like five something, and all that scene was gone, I remember that. When I came out at eight, it was all crazy again with helicopters going over and I saw the car right away," Hudson said.
Ripken's car didn't appear to be damaged, he said.
"This has been a very trying time for our family, but we are grateful and relieved that mom is back with us, safe and healthy," the Ripken family said in a statement. "We want to thank everyone for their tremendous support, especially all of the law enforcement agencies that worked so hard and quickly."
Investigators determined that Ripken was missing Tuesday night after talking to Baltimore County Police, who notified the media about her disappearance shortly before she was found. The county borders the one where Aberdeen is located.
Aberdeen authorities have asked Baltimore County Police not to release its 911 tapes because the investigation is continuing. Police also would not say whether Ripken's credit or ATM cards had been used.
Vi Ripken described her abductor as a tall, thin white man with glasses wearing camouflage clothing, but police had no other details. The FBI and Maryland State Police were also involved in the investigation.
Ripken's brother, Bill, played second base in the major leagues. The two were managed for a time on the Orioles by their father and Vi's husband, Cal Ripken Sr., who died in 1999.
The family said that it could not comment further due to the ongoing investigation.
After the gunman left, Ripken honked her car's horn until a neighbor found her, Kowalewski said. He said he was surprised the honking didn't wake him up. Someone reported a suspicious car to authorities and she was found, police said.
Vi Ripken is founding chairwoman of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, which, according to its website, helps to build character for disadvantaged young people. Besides Cal and Bill, she has another son and a daughter.
The Ripken Baseball complex also is home to the annual Cal Ripken World Series for 11- and 12-year-olds. Cal Ripken Baseball is the name for the 5-to-12-year-old division of the Babe Ruth League.
Ripken's business empire also includes youth baseball camps and clinics, a minor-league stadium design firm, a merchandising arm and a charitable foundation. Ripken has no formal role with the Orioles but has spoken about his desire to return to the team.
Ripken works as a studio analyst for TBS during its postseason baseball coverage. He is a pitchman for brands including Energizer, Under Armour and Chevrolet.
__
Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Ben Nuckols contributed to this story from Washington.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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More newsGetty ImagesHBT: Jeff Loria gets a sweetheart stadium, gets fans' hopes up, then in 3 months sells off much of the team, including Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers. Why even root for this team?
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48321341/ns/sports-baseball/
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger denied he was close to signing Spain's Santi Cazorla as the English football giants kicked off an Asian tour Tuesday with a narrow 2-1 victory over hosts Malaysia.
Wenger dismissed speculation the Gunners had agreed terms with the Malaga winger and instead joked his sights were now on the Malaysian team, following their strong performance.
"We are not close to signing Cazorla. We are still working that out," Wenger told reporters immediately after the match in the capital Kuala Lumpur.
"Maybe I sign some Malaysian players based on their performance today. Their defence was good, and their keeper was fantastic," he added.
Arsenal, along with other English clubs, are hugely popular in Malaysia and elsewhere in Asia. In a bid to build up their fanbase in the region, the Gunners and other squads have gone on summer tours, enjoying rapturous welcome.
In Malaysia, the Arsenal players were treated like rock stars, mobbed by droves of fans as they arrived by bus at their hotel on Sunday, and some 10,000 people attended their open training session on Monday, organisers said.
About 50,000 tickets were sold for the game against Malaysia XI, a select squad of Malaysian League players, in the 100,000-capacity Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
But despite their 2-1 victory, the match exposed Arsenal's reliance on captain Robin van Persie, their star striker and top scorer in the English League last season with 37 goals but who was absent in Malaysia.
Although the Gunners have signed German striker Lukas Podolski and Frenchman Olivier Giroud, van Persie is still the team's key player, but the Dutchman rejected a new contract offer earlier this month.
During much of the game against Malaysia XI, the hosts held firm and Arsenal could not find a way past goalkeeper Norazlan Razali.
Instead, just before half time, Mohamad Azmi Muslim hit a sweetly struck left footer from the edge of the box, which curled past Wojciech Szczesny and into in the Arsenal goal.
The Gunners completely changed their outfield line-up after the break with England internationals Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain adding much needed pace.
But they still failed to carve out many clear cut chances as the Malaysians dictated the pace of the match and looked on course to score a historic victory before two late strikes denied them.
Thomas Eisfeld drew level for Arsenal from inside the penalty area and Chuks Aneke followed-up with a deflected shot, giving victory to the London club.
"We played two teams in this match. Some of the players have not had much training, which was why we had to field as many players as possible," Wenger said.
Arsenal now head to China where they will meet English champions Manchester City -- one of the clubs pursuing van Persie -- in another friendly in Beijing on Friday.
The Gunners then meet local side Kitchee in Hong Kong on Sunday.
The three-stop July tour follows a successful trip to Malaysia and China last summer, when Arsenal more convincingly beat Malaysia 4-0.
On Tuesday, Fauzi Azhar, 31, a hospital worker, watched the game on a big screen with some two dozen people at an outdoor cafe serving curries and other Malaysian fare in Kuala Lumpur.
"We love the English teams like Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U and so we usually have to stay up late watching them play," he told AFP, referring to the time difference.
"But they're here now, and it's exciting. Everyone I know made time to watch the game."
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/arsenal-kicks-off-asian-tour-wenger-denies-cazorla-182655012.html
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday awarded CenturyLink with a $35 million donation that will provide 45,000 rural homeowners with access to high-speed internet access. The money was awarded as part of the federal governments?Connect America Fund?which is meant to provide broadband internet in areas previously thought to be to cost prohibitive for standardized broadband connectivity.
CenturyLink could have received upwards of $90 million from the Connect America Fund but were forced to take only a portion of that funding because expansion required for the $90 million would have been far to financially prohibitive for the organization.
CenturyLink has filed a waiver application which if approved will allow for 60,000 more rural homes to receive high-speed internet. CenturyLink has already received waiver support from some big state agencies including the?Washington Public Service Commission and the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
The FCC compiled a $300 million funding pool which will be available to carriers during a reverse auction from September 27th.
In a statement regarding its received funds CenturyLink wrote:
?CenturyLink was eligible for nearly $90 million in CAF Phase I funding. However, restrictions on the use of the CAF 1 funds made further deployment uneconomic.
?CenturyLink is excited to be able to work with the FCC to bring broadband services to thousands of homes for the first time. In addition to the incremental CAF funding, we are investing millions of dollars of our own money to bring robust broadband services to more customers because we believe these services will bring essential educational and economic opportunities to high-cost, rural areas of the country,? said Steve Davis, CenturyLink executive vice president for public policy and government relations.?
Do you think the rapid expansion of rural internet services is an important stepping stone for connectivity in America?
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SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) ? Bulgaria's prime minister says a sophisticated group of conspirators were involved in the suicide bombing that killed five Israelis and a Bulgarian bus driver, and that they spent a month in the country before the attack.
Boiko Borisov spoke alongside visiting U.S. Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan on Tuesday.
He says those involved used "leased vehicles, they moved in different cities so as not to be seen together, and no two of them can be seen in one place on any security camera."
But Borisov did not say how many people were believed involved in the Wednesday attack. He also declined to back up Israel's claims that Iran and militant group Hezbollah played roles.
Brennan also stopped short of blaming Iran or Hezbollah, both of which are U.S. nemeses.
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Problems, Problems, Problems ? Wouldn?t life be grand if we never had any problems. Everything would work perfectly, everyone would always get along and be happy, everything would be wonderful for everyone everywhere, and things would only get better as we live happily ever after.
Unfortunately, in the real world there is no avoiding the grim realities of the dark side. Viewed from a business perspective ? take the number of problems of each person, multiply by the number of employees, multiply the result by every single aspect of doing business, and the final result is what keeps every business owner chewing their fingernails down to the bone.
The most commonly accepted method of solving problems is simply to remove the cause. But this method is not always as simple as it would seem. Determining the true cause of a problem can be a very complicated affair, and even if you get this right ? removing the cause can just as easily create a whole new set of problems.
Wouldn?t it be nice if a business could institute policies and procedures where problems would solve themselves and the business would reap tremendous benefits in the process?
How Problems Can Solve Themselves
It?s all about turning disadvantages into advantages, which is accomplished by finding innovative ways of viewing problems from a new point of view. A simple shift in perception is all it takes to reveal a whole new range of possibilities as seen from a new frame of reference.
The Value of Business Innovation
Innovation is a buzz word bandied about the business community for quite a while now. In fact, the concept of innovation has blossomed over the years to become an entire industry unto itself.
What is business innovation? The more traditional view would characterize business innovation in terms of creating new marketable inventions. Business innovation is also commonly associated with the research and development activities involved in designing new products and services, and finding innovative ways of bringing them to market.
As the marketplace becomes ever more saturated, innovation takes on a vital role in distinguishing your products from the competition and leveraging every resource available to glean the crucial competitive advantage. The modern view recognizes the strategic value in applying business innovation in EVERY phase of a company?s infrastructure encompassing the entire scope of company business.
Establishing a Culture of Business Innovation in the Workplace
Business innovation cannot thrive within a pyramid structure where it starts at the top and spreads through an organization with diminishing intensity, reaching to near zero at the base. A more effective strategy would be to invert the flow so that business innovation starts at the base and continuously accelerates as it picks up momentum on the way to the top.
Establishing a corporate culture of innovation throughout the workplace begins with fostering proper attitude of management. Innovation is all about recognizing value in the attribute of flexibility, and welcoming the challenge of adapting to circumstances in a constant state of change.
Abolishing the Status Quo
This type of freewheeling thinking can be difficult for those accustomed to the emotional comfort and security of simply maintaining the status quo. Innovation is generally applied incrementally in small ?safe? baby steps, and only to streamline established procedures rather than risking potential fallout from instituting major change. Major change usually happens only out of necessity as the old proven procedures become ineffective and obsolete.
The Hallmark of Creative Genius
Given proper training, everyone has the potential of developing the type of refined mental flexibility that is the hallmark of creative genius. Unfortunately, this kind of specialized training is not included in the standard curriculum of formal education. Education cultivates a very rigid style of thinking. As a result, the natural childlike flexibility we are all born with deteriorates out of neglect. Adults endowed with creative genius are those that have nurtured their mental flexibility by their own volition in spite of the destructive aspects of education.
Companies would be well advised to seek out these rare individuals for key management positions, not only for their own creative input but more importantly for their ability to recognize the value of innovative ideas contributed by others. These are the people best equipped to lead the effort of developing effective strategies to deploy new ideas successfully.
Even though our creativity has been suppressed, it is not completely lost. A corporate culture endorsing perpetual innovation thrives on the realization that everyone has their eureka moments of inspiration from time to time.
Removing the Impediments to Innovation
Frontline workers see a company from their own unique perspective, and rightly so since they are intimately involved every working hour of every day. They often see problems management do not, and see how certain changes could benefit the company. Many are reluctant to come forward for fear of inciting negative repercussions. Frontline staff are sensitive to the risks provoking the ire of those with power over their position in the company, not to mention their entire career.
People in management positions often harbor the notion that they are the ones that do the ?thinking,? and that frontline workers are paid to work ? not to think, have ideas, or god forbid ? to question the validity of existing policies or procedures. Managers often view this kind of input as a challenge to their competence and authority which could threaten their own position. Corporate cultures with a rigid hierarchy create a working environment were everyone develops their own private self-serving agenda which are often out of sync with the company?s best interests. A rigid hierarchy tends to stifle innovation leaving substantial opportunities lost by the wayside.
A critical factor in cultivating a culture of business innovation is removing intimidating fear factors endemic to the more common authoritarian culture so that staff can genuinely feel free to contribute ideas. Indeed contributing new ideas should be encouraged and staff should be rewarded for ideas that are adopted and prove beneficial to the company.
A company can realize tremendous benefits by deliberately allowing everyone in the organization the freedom to devote a small percentage of their work week exclusively to generating innovation. Furthermore they should be provided with quality tools and training to maximize their potential for success.
It Starts at the Top
Of course even the most revolutionary business innovations are completely worthless without principal management?s willingness to institute change. It is the vision and fortitude of high caliber management that determines a company?s overriding philosophy. There comes a time when this philosophy itself must be challenged for a company to evolve with a changing marketplace.
Success in deploying a culture of innovation depends entirely on cultivating the proper attitude of EVERYONE in the organization, there can be no exceptions. It is our rigid preconceived notions about how we think things should be that prevents innovation from working its magic.
Plant the Seeds and Reap a Bountiful Harvest
One of the precious few immutable facts of life is that everything changes. We prosper by realizing that every adversity contains the seed of new opportunity. The current economic crisis is just another example of change that challenges our ability to innovate, adapt, and exploit the fresh opportunities presented by change. As previously stated ? it?s all about turning disadvantage to advantage, and all that?s required is a shift in perception to a new point of view.
In order to determine how to shift our perception we must be willing to continuously re-examine and re-evaluate the truth of our existing perceptions. Innovation is the means to move beyond our existing perceptions to explore new territories ripe with opportunity. A corporate culture of innovation is the means to utilize in full measure the most valuable resource of any organization ? its people. There is nothing more powerful than open hearts and open minds working together in synergistic unity for a common purpose.
Every business that plants the seeds of innovation throughout the entire organization, provides all the nutrients needed to sustain new growth, and removes any obstacles that impede new growth, will surely thrive and reap a bountiful harvest.
About the Author: Milo Bono is the founder and lead developer of Promptoria ? Software for Innovation and Creativity. www.Promptoria.com. Promptoria is dedicated to helping people amplify their natural creativity and critical thinking skills.
Recommended Training Resource: 5 Questions Every Leader Must Ask. Yes?we recommend this program a lot. It?s just THAT good. It is a proven resource for helping teams innovate!
Tags: creativity, innovation, problem solving, solutions
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