ReferralBuzz Announces Partnership with TruliaTwin Cities’ Referral Service for Home Remodeling Experts and Their Customers Partners with Leading Online Real Estate Market

Twin Cities’ referral service for home remodeling experts and their customers partners with leading online real estate marketplace.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) December 21, 2012
Starting in January 2013, ReferralBuzz Inc., in Minneapolis, will be the exclusive partner in the 7 county Twin Cities metro and St Cloud, MN, Madison, WI, Cedar Rapids, IA for the new "Find a Pro - Home Improvement" feature on Trulia. Trulia is a leading online marketplace for home buyers, sellers, renters, and real estate professionals. ReferralBuzz will be the first home improvement recommendation resource on the Trulia website.
Founded in 2011, ReferralBuzz gives consumers a free, easy way to find great service providers - including providers who’ve earned recommendations from social media, neighbors, and friends. ReferralBuzz also gives home remodeling experts the tools they need to market their services and increase referrals using the power of social media.
With unique info on areas people want to live that can’t be found anywhere else, Trulia provides the inside scoop on properties, places, and real estate professionals. Prospective home buyers, sellers, and renters can learn about agents, neighborhoods, schools, crime, commute times, and even ask the local community questions. Meanwhile, real estate professionals use Trulia to connect with millions of transaction-ready buyers and sellers each month via Trulia’s hyper-local advertising services, social recommendations, and top-rated mobile real estate apps.
"The partnership with Trulia will provide a huge benefit to our customers through greater exposure,” says ReferralBuzz Founder Lisa Schneegans. “We will be able to feed information onto the "find a pro" section of Trulia's website from the ReferralBuzz website and provide the inside scoop to homeowners, buyers and sellers on local home improvement service providers."
For ReferralBuzz Service Providers, the partnership with Trulia means:

Service Provider’s ReferralBuzz profile will be seen by hundreds of thousands of consumers interested in home improvement in your service area.
Service Providers ReferralBuzz subscription will include a Trulia "Find A Pro" listing that will be automatically be uploaded from your ReferralBuzz profile.
Referral Buzz Service Providers will be able to participate in Trulia Voices "Ask an Expert"
ReferralBuzz will have the exclusive banner ad on the new Trulia mobile app for our metro area. Subsequently giving the service provider’s profile an opportunity to be seen by thousands of people.
How It Works for Homeowners

To get started, homeowners simply sign on at http://www.referralbuzz.com. Homeowners can view exclusive deals, request estimates and get ideas for their own projects from other customers’ pictures and feedback. Homeowners can sign in through Facebook and see which providers their “Friends” have used and recommend.
How It Works For Service Providers

ReferralBuzz provides a set of very easy to use tools for service providers to help them enhance their business. Automated tools include:
Social Referrals-Get customer referrals through their social networks, the “word of mouth” in the digital age.
Customer Feedback-After a job is completed ReferralBuzz makes the request for feedback automatically.
Stay In Touch Email-This in-touch e-mail system turns great customers into repeat customers and helps customers keep you in mind.
Facebook Posting-Automatically post your projects, photos and specials on your own Facebook page.
Digital Portfolio-Keep your visual assets at your fingertips. Photos sell your service better than any sales pitch. Email your presentation to the prospect, right from your IPad.
Project Communication-Communication during a project is often the key to keeping a job on track. ReferalBuzz makes that easy. And, once the project is done, an automated sequence of feedback requests, social referrals and emails begins. Clients feel well taken care of, long after you’ve left the job site.

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Politis & Matovina, P.A. Earns BBB Accreditation

Politis & Matovina, P.A. announced its recent accreditation by BBB Serving Central Florida. As a BBB Accredited Business, Politis & Matovina, P.A. is dedicated to promoting trust in the marketplace.

Daytona Beach, FL (PRWEB) December 21, 2012
Politis & Matovina, P.A. is committed to BBB's Standards of Trust. This week, Politis & Matovina, P.A. announced its recent accreditation by BBB Serving Central Florida. As a BBB Accredited Business, Politis & Matovina, P.A. is dedicated to promoting trust in the marketplace. According to BBB reports by Princeton Research, seven in ten consumers say they are more likely to buy from a company designated as a BBB Accredited Business. BBB is a resource for the public, providing objective, unbiased information about businesses.
"We are pleased to be a BBB Accredited Business because we value building trust with our clients," said Michael Politis, Senior Partner/Owner. "Our BBB Accreditation gives our clients confidence in our commitment to maintaining high ethical standards of conduct."
BBB Accredited Businesses must adhere to BBB's "Standards of Trust," a comprehensive set of policies, procedures and best practices representing trustworthiness in the marketplace. The standards call for building trust, embodying integrity, advertising honestly and telling the truth, being transparent, honoring promises, being responsive and safeguarding privacy.
About Politis & Matovina, P.A.

Politis & Matovina, P.A. is a personal injury law firm known for providing aggressive and high quality representation to injured victims, not insurance companies. With offices located in Port Orange, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast and Orange City, our firm focuses on ALL injury cases involving wrongful death, auto/motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, boating accidents, pedestrian accidents and bicycle/moped accidents. We also have departments dedicated to criminal defense and immigration law. We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your legal emergencies. Driven to achieve justice for our clients, we know that Results Matter. Let us put our experience to work for you. Visit http://www.TheJusticeAttorneys.com for more information.
About BBB

BBB's mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. BBB accomplishes this mission by creating a community of trustworthy businesses, setting standards for marketplace trust, encouraging and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role models and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior. Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB is the preeminent resource to turn to for objective, unbiased information on businesses and charities. Contact BBB serving Central Florida at (407) 789-9008.

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Car-Specials.com Set to Give Customers a Fresh Car-Shopping Experience

Car-Specials.com is a new car search service that is bringing fun and excitement back to the car shopping game. With an ultra-fast, intuitive interface and a superior selection of new and used cars from local dealerships, Car Specials offers consumer-friendly search options and low-cost, dealer-centric service.

Carmel, Indiana (PRWEB) December 21, 2012
Car-Specials.com is a new kind of online automotive marketplace, offering efficient, customizable search options that cater to every different kind of car shopper. Whether a customer is looking for a new or used vehicle, or wants to search by color, make or body style, Car-Specials.com provides incomparable search functionality and a large selection of vehicles.
Veering away from the kind of automotive website that focuses on the sale and not the customer relationship, Car Specials.com focuses on giving consumers the connection to a particular vehicle that they would expect from walking into a dealership, all from the comfort of their own home. Car-Specials.com is currently in its pilot phase, adding new and used car deals from new dealerships every week.
By enabling visitors the option of selecting make, model, year, price range, body style, geographic location, and more, Car-Specials.com allows customers to take total control over their search. Unlike some of the larger car search engines, visitors can even search new and used vehicles at the same time. From sedans and coupes to SUVs, wagons, and sports cars, a wide variety of vehicles and brands assures that each customer can find their ideal vehicle, matching their lifestyle and budget, all in one place.
“Online car shoppers don’t want just any vehicle, they want the perfect one,” said Roger Laurendeau, President of Car-Specials.com. “We strive to provide the best vehicle choices and a streamlined system that makes the process of finding and purchasing a new car fast, convenient, and fun.”
Online car shopping is packed with large companies that charge dealers huge sums of money to list their vehicles. By contrast, Car-Specials.com is a small company with lower costs for dealerships, affording dealers the option of passing those savings on to the customer.
Customers interested in taking Car Specials for a test drive may visit http://www.car-specials.com. Dealers interested in working with Car-Specials.com to market their vehicles should contact Roger Laurendeau at 317-805-4933.
About Car-Specials.com
Car-Specials.com is an online automotive marketplace, dedicated to providing dealers with a wide-reaching, low cost option for marketing their vehicles online. Car Specials offers its customers lightning-fast search with a variety of customizable search options for finding their next new or used vehicle.

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Brand id│Strategic Partners Launches Revolutionary Personal Branding Success Program for Women

The Breakfast Club is a 12-month strategic mastermind program for Baltimore women who are ready to expand their “circle of influence, strategically map out their personal and professional path to success, and uplevel their visibility in the marketplace through personal branding.

Baltimore, Maryland (PRWEB) December 21, 2012
Two Maryland business women have partnered to unveil a program specifically designed to help 25 local entrepreneurs and executives dramatically elevate their personal and professional lives in 2013 and redefine the "goold old boy network.". The program is called The Breakfast Club, a 12-month strategic mastermind that will expand their “circle of influence” and strategically map out the personal and professional path to success of each participant through networking, personal branding, life coaching and strategic planning.
Founded by Jennifer Ransaw Smith, CEO of Brand id Strategic Partners, a full-service personal branding agency and Susan Stern, CEO of Live Now a Personal Success Coaching firm, The Breakfast Club is revolutionizing “business as usual.” This program leaves no stone unturned when it comes to mapping out a plan for success.
Although named The Breakfast Club, the program is so much more. In fact, a monthly breakfast is just a small component of what is being offered (held at Miss Shirley’s Inner Harbor). Twice a year, participants will meet at the Mt. Washington Conference Center for an all day “working session” to design personal and professional blueprints. In addition, each participant will have access to both Brand id Strategic Partners and Live Now group coaching programs, meaning they will spend six months working on their “personal brand” and four months working on their “life’s vision.”
“As far as the level of comprehensiveness, Susan and I wanted to put something uniquely special together that truly supported local women. So many women are not use to investing in themselves, so we wanted to use an affordable price point. “You are your greatest asset to your company, spouse, children and/or community. Our personal and professional lives are more connected than most people imagine, and investing in both aspects will dramatically uplevel your life this year, “says Susan.
Our members are going to get opportunities to elevate at every level. From networking monthly to yearly strategic planning and online support, we wanted women to be able to walk away knowing they had taken their lives to an entirely new level and felt supported every step of the way,” said Jennifer Ransaw Smith. “We wanted something for all of those women who know they want more, but just don’t know how to get it.”
The program is ideal for mid-to-senior-level executives and entrepreneurs who want to:

    Be surrounded by a group of women who are committed to helping you succeed
    Receive support, encouragement and inspiration as you skyrocket toward your goals
    Become more focused on where you are going and what you need to do to get there
    Expand their person “circle of influence”
    Be able to test ideas, connect with amazing resources and feedback
    Maximize what they are able to accomplish in a 12-month period
The Breakfast Club (http://www.breakfastclubonline.com) runs from January 24rd until December 31, 2013 and is limited to only 25 participants. First come, first served. The investment is $3,000 and payment options are available. For more information about the program, please visit http:///http://www.breakfastclubonline.com
Brand id│Strategic Partners is a full-service integrated personal branding agency that helps entrepreneurs, senior level executives, and subject matter experts transform from unknown to known. We offer a multi-disciplinary approach to brand elevation both on and offline by providing both business-to-consumer (personal branding) and business-to-business (leadership branding) communication strategy.

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Fleetwood Mac Tickets Take Off Online at BuyAnySeat.com

Tickets to Fleetwood Mac’s upcoming 34-city North American Tour are creating traffic spikes in search traffic online for seats, said Felina Martinez at ticket marketplace BuyAnySeat.com. The tour kicks off April 4, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio and is the band’s first trek since 2009.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 22, 2012
It’s hard to believe that it has been 45 years since Fleetwood Mac’s first album, and 35 years since they band released their best-selling Rumours album, which has sold over 20 million copies in the U.S. to date.
But like other iconic 60’s bands lately, Fleetwood Mac is heading back out on the road again. The group’s 34-city North American tour kicks off April 4, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio. The tour stops in numerous cities including New York, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The trek’s final concert is slated for June 12, 2013 in Detroit.
“Internet traffic for Fleetwood Mac tickets has been spiking,” said Felina Martinez at online ticket marketplace BuyAnySeat.com. “Part of this surge of new traffic may be related to the Holiday season and gift giving, but we believe it’s also due to the band’s legions of loyal followers of all ages around the globe.”
“Since Fleetwood Mac fans span all nationalities and age groups from pre-teens to those in their 70’s and 80’s, we’re proud to be able to offer buyers a complete selection of Fleetwood Mac tickets, with a worry-free guarantee to protect their purchase,” said Martinez.
“To access the continuously updated selection of tickets we have available, fans can go to BuyAnySeat.com and search for Fleetwood Mac – then select their tickets,” said Martinez.
Fleetwood Mac is a British-American rock band formed in London in 1967 by Peter Green, who had been playing in the blues band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. He named the band in an attempt to entice Mick Fleetwood and John McVie to join him. While Fleetwood joined right away, McVie did not join for several weeks.
After years of member additions and departures, and tumultuous times within the band, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the group – and the band finally found mainstream success with the 1975 release of a second self-titled album. The album became the band's first number one album in any country and their first multiplatinum album. This newfound success was repeated two years later with Rumours, which has become their best selling album thus far.
The next two albums, Tusk and Mirage, were not as successful as Rumours, despite an 18-month worldwide promotional tour. The albums still reached number four and number one respectively, and both reached double-platinum status.
The album Tango in the Night was released in 1987 and became the band’s best-selling album since Rumours, and ranked 3x platinum in the U.S. and 8x platinum in the U.K. The 90’s decade was one of limited success for the band, with the two albums released failing to chart very high in the U.S. The band's fortunes improved again with the release of the 1997 live album The Dance, which reached number one in the U.S. and 5x platinum status. The band also saw a modest success with 2003's Say You Will. (Sources: Official Website, fleetwoodmac.com and Wikipedia.com)
Both Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham released solo albums and toured last year. The band itself hasn’t released an album since 2003, but did tour together in 2009. Insiders say Christine McVie unfortunately will not be joining the tour this time. But for fans, there’s always hope.

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Chelation doesn't help kids with autism: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Removing heavy metals from the body through a process traditionally used to treat mercury and lead poisoning doesn't help relieve autism symptoms, a new analysis suggests.
During chelation therapy, patients are given injections of a chemical that binds to heavy metals, lowering their concentration in the blood and ultimately allowing the metals to be excreted through urine.
Chelation gained traction as an alternative treatment for autism due to a theory that mercury poisoning might play a role in the developmental disorder. However, evidence hasn't supported that idea and it's been essentially discarded in the scientific community, researchers said.
The procedure also carries safety concerns, including risks of kidney damage and gastrointestinal problems.
Lead researcher Tonya Davis from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, said the study team's goal was not to tell parents which treatments they should or shouldn't seek for their children.
"I see that they want to try everything, and they are well intentioned," she told Reuters Health.
"But there are risks involved with any treatment choice, and some of those risks are very serious. So far science does not support (chelation) as being an effective treatment, and that's a big risk to take when you have limited resources and limited time."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 88 kids in the U.S. has an autism spectrum disorder.
Davis and her colleagues found five studies that tested the effects of chelation in kids with autism. Those studies each had between one and 41 children, from age three to 14.
Researchers had given the kids chelation therapy - sometimes along with vitamin supplements or other treatments - between one and 12 times a week for up to seven months. They used tests and questionnaires or anecdotal reports from parents to see how symptoms changed over time.
The study with only one child, a four-year-old boy, found chelation had positive effects on autism symptoms based on a parent report. The other four studies all showed mixed results, with some kids improving on some symptom measures.
However, none of the studies provided any certainty that those benefits were due to chelation itself, and not another treatment or just kids getting older, the researchers wrote in the journal Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Davis said she and her colleagues were surprised to find so few studies measuring the effects of chelation, given how many families they each knew that were using it. That lack of evidence was a concern, she said, along with the questionable study designs and conclusions.
"I just hope that parents get as much information as they can" before trying a new treatment, Davis said.
A typical package of chelation treatments runs for about $2,000 to $5,000. In addition to treating lead poisoning, chelation has also been used for cancer and heart disease.
But when it comes to autism, even calling chelation an alternative therapy is a stretch, said one autism researcher not involved in the new study.
"There's really no evidence that mercury causes autism or has a place in causing autism, and also we know that chelation can be dangerous as well. Even the underlying theories don't make sense," said Dr. Joyce Mauk, head of the Child Study Center, an organization that treats kids with developmental disabilities in Fort Worth, Texas.
"Most children with developmental disabilities, what gets them better is a really skilled therapist and lots of work," Mauk told Reuters Health.
"If you hear about something when all you do is inject something or take a pill, it's unlikely to work."
SOURCE: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, January 2013.

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Violence, fear & suspicion imperil Pakistan's war on polio

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani health worker Bushra Bibi spent eight years trekking to remote villages, carefully dripping polio vaccine into toddlers' pursed mouths to protect them from the crippling disease.
Now the 35-year-old mother is too scared to go to work after masked men on motorbikes gunned down nine of her fellow health workers in a string of attacks this week.
"I have seen so much pain in the eyes of mothers whose children have been infected. So I have never seen this as just a job. It is my passion," she said. "But I also have a family to look after ... Things have never been this bad."
After the deaths, the United Nations put its workers on lockdown. Immunizations by the Pakistani government continued in parts of the country. But the violence raised fresh questions over stability in the South Asian nation.
Pakistan's Taliban insurgency, convinced that the anti-polio drive is just another Western plot against Muslims, has long threatened action against anyone taking part in it.
The militant group's hostility deepened after it emerged that the CIA - with the help of a Pakistani doctor - had used a vaccination campaign to spy on Osama bin Laden's compound before he was killed by U.S. special forces in a Pakistan town last year.
Critics say the attacks on the health workers are a prime example of the government's failure to formulate a decisive policy on tackling militancy, despite pressure from key ally the United States, the source of billions of dollars in aid.
For years, authorities were aware that Taliban commanders had broadcast claims that the vaccination drive was actually a plot to sterilize Muslims.
That may seem absurd to the West, but in Pakistan such assertions are plausible to some. Years of secrecy during military dictatorships, frequent political upheaval during civilian rule and a poor public education system mean conspiracy theories run wild.
"Ever since they began to give these polio drops, children are reaching maturity a lot earlier, especially girls. Now 12 to 13-year-old girls are becoming women. This causes indecency in society," said 45-year-old Mir Alam Khan, a carpet seller in the northern town of Dera Ismail Khan.
The father of four didn't allow any of his children to receive vaccinations.
"Why doesn't the United States give free cures for other illnesses? Why only polio? There has to be an agenda," he said.
While health workers risk attacks by militants, growing suspicions from ordinary Pakistanis are lowering their morale. Fatima, a health worker in the northwestern city of Peshawar, said that reaction to news of the CIA polio campaign was so severe that many of her colleagues quit.
"People's attitudes have changed. You will not believe how even the most educated and well-to-do people will turn us away, calling us U.S. spies and un-Islamic," said the 25-year-old who did not give her last name for fear of reprisals.
"Boys call us names, they say we are 'indecent women'."
Pakistan's government has tried to shatter the myths that can undermine even the best-intentioned health projects by turning to moderate clerics and urging them to issue religious rulings supporting the anti-polio efforts.
Tahir Ashrafi, head of the All Pakistan Ulema Council, said the alliance of clerics had done its part, and it was up to the government to come to the rescue of aid workers.
"Clerics can only give fatwas and will continue to come together and condemn such acts," he said. "What good are fatwas if the government doesn't provide security?"
RISK OF POLIO RETURNING
That may be a tall order in Pakistan, where critics allege government officials are too busy lining their pockets or locked in power struggles to protect its citizens, even children vulnerable to diseases that can cripple or disfigure them.
Pakistani leaders deny such accusations.
Politicians also have a questionable track record when it comes to dealing with all the other troubles afflicting nuclear-armed Pakistan.
The villages where health workers once spent time tending to children often lack basic services, clinics, clean water and jobs. Industries that could strengthen the fragile economy are hobbled by chronic power cuts.
Deepening frustrations with those issues often encourage Pakistanis to give up on the state and join the Taliban.
So far it's unclear who is behind the shootings. The main Taliban spokesman said they were opposed to the vaccination scheme but the group distanced itself from the attacks.
But another Taliban spokesman in South Waziristan said their fighters were behind an attack on a polio team in the northwestern town of Lakki Marwat on Monday. "The vaccinations were part of "a secret Jewish-American agenda to poison Pakistanis", he said.
What is clear is the stakes are high.
Any gaps in the program endanger hard-won gains against a disease that can cause death or paralysis within hours.
A global effort costing billions of dollars eradicated polio from every country except Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Vaccinations cut Pakistan's polio cases from 20,000 in 1994 to 56 in 2012 and the disease seemed isolated in a pocket in the north. But polio is spread person-to-person, so any outbreak risks re-infecting communities cleared of the disease.
Last year, a strain from Pakistan spread northeast and caused the first outbreak in neighboring China since 1999.
Oliver Rosenbauer, a spokesman for the World Health Organization, said the group had been coming closer to eradicating the disease.
"For the first time, the virus had been geographically cornered," he said. "We don't want to lose the gains that had been made ... Any suspension of activities gives the virus a new foothold and the potential to come roaring back and paralyze more children."
MOURNING FAMILIES
Condemnation of the killings has been nearly universal. Clerics called for demonstrations to support health workers, the government has promised compensation for the deaths and police have vowed to provide more protection.
For women like Fehmida Shah, it's already too late. The 44-year-old health worker lived with her family in a two-room house before gunmen shot her on Tuesday.
Her husband, Syed Riaz Shah, said she spent her tiny salary - the equivalent of just $2 a day - on presents for their four daughters. Even though the family was struggling, she always found some spare money for any neighbor in need.
"She was very kind and big hearted. All the women in our lane knew her," he said.
"The entire neighborhood is in shock. Pray for my daughters. I will get through this. But I don't know how they will."

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Link between pot, psychosis goes both ways in kids

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Marijuana (cannabis) use may be linked to the development of psychotic symptoms in teens - but the reverse could also be true: psychosis in adolescents may be linked to later pot use, according to a new Dutch study.
"We have focused mainly on temporal order; is it the chicken or the egg? As the study shows, it is a bidirectional relationship," wrote the study's lead author Merel Griffith-Lendering, a doctoral candidate at Leiden University in The Netherlands, in an email to Reuters Health.
Previous research established links between marijuana and psychosis, but scientists questioned whether pot use increased the risk of mental illness, or whether people were using pot to ease their psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.
"What is interesting in this study is that both processes are going on at the same time," said Dr. Gregory Seeger, medical director for addiction services at Rochester General Hospital in upstate New York.
He told Reuters Health that researchers have been especially concerned about what tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active property in pot, could do to a teenager's growing brain.
"That's a very vulnerable period of time for brain development," and individuals with a family history of schizophrenia and psychosis seem to be more sensitive to the toxic effects of THC, he said.
A 2010 study of 3,800 Australian teenagers found that those who used marijuana were twice as likely to develop psychosis compared to teens who never smoked pot (see Reuters Health article of March 1, 2010 here:).
But that study also found that those who suffered from hallucinations and delusions when they were younger were also more likely to use pot early on.
CHICKEN v. EGG
For the new study, published in the journal Addiction, the researchers wanted to see which came first: pot or psychosis.
Griffith-Lendering and her colleagues used information on 2,120 Dutch teenagers, who were surveyed about their pot use when they were about 14, 16 and 19 years old.
The teens also took psychosis vulnerability tests that asked - among other things - about their ability to concentrate, their feelings of loneliness and whether they see things other people don't.
Overall, the researchers found 940 teens, or about 44 percent, reported smoking pot, and there was a bidirectional link between pot use and psychosis.
For example, using pot at 16 years old was linked to psychotic symptoms three years later, and psychotic symptoms at age 16 were linked to pot use at age 19.
This was true even when the researchers accounted for mental illness in the kids' families, alcohol use and tobacco use.
Griffith-Lendering said she could not say how much more likely young pot users were to exhibit psychotic symptoms later on.
Also, the new study cannot prove one causes the other. Genetics may also explain the link between pot use and psychosis, said Griffith-Lendering.
"We can say for some people that cannabis comes first and psychosis comes second, but for some people they have some (undiagnosed) psychosis (and) perhaps cannabis makes them feel better," said Dr. Marta Di Forti, of King's College, London, who was not involved with the new research.
Di Forti, who has studied the link between pot and psychosis, told Reuters Health she considers pot a risk factor for psychosis - not a cause.
Seeger, who was also not involved with the new study, said that there needs to be more public awareness of the connection.
"I think the marijuana is not a harmless substance. Especially for teenagers, there should be more of a public health message out there that marijuana has a public health risk," he said.
Griffith-Lendering agrees.
"Given the severity and impact of psychotic disorders, prevention programs should take this information into consideration," she said.

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Obesity declining in young, poorer kids: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The number of low-income preschoolers who qualify as obese or "extremely obese" has dropped over the last decade, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.
Although the decline was only "modest" and may not apply to all children, researchers said it was still encouraging.
"It's extremely important to make sure we're monitoring obesity in this low-income group," said the CDC's Heidi Blanck, who worked on the study.
Those kids are known to be at higher risk of obesity than their well-off peers, in part because access to healthy food is often limited in poorer neighborhoods.
The new results can't prove what's behind the progress, Blanck told Reuters Health - but two possible contributors are higher rates of breastfeeding and rising awareness of the importance of physical activity even for very young kids.
Blanck and her colleagues used data on routine clinic visits for about half of all U.S. kids eligible for federal nutrition programs - including 27.5 million children between age two and four.
They found 13 percent of those preschoolers were obese in 1998. That grew to just above 15 percent in 2003, but dropped slightly below 15 percent in 2010, the most recent study year included.
Similarly, the prevalence of extreme obesity increased from nearly 1.8 percent in 1998 to 2.2 percent in 2003, then dropped back to just below 2.1 percent in 2010, the research team reported Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Whether kids are obese is determined by their body mass index (BMI) - a measure of weight in relation to height - and by their age and sex.
For example, a four-year-old girl who is 40 inches tall would be obese if she was 42 pounds or heavier. A two-year-old boy who is 35 inches tall qualifies as obese at 34 pounds or above, according to the CDC's child BMI calculator. (The CDC's BMI calculator for children and teens is available here:.)
The new findings are the first national data to show obesity and extreme obesity may be declining in young children, Blanck said.
"This is very encouraging considering the recent effort made in the field including by several U.S. federal agencies to combat the childhood obesity epidemic," said Dr. Youfa Wang, head of the Johns Hopkins Global Center on Childhood Obesity in Baltimore.
Blanck said between 2003 and 2010 researchers also saw an increase in breastfeeding of low-income infants. Breastfeeding has been tied to a healthier weight in early childhood.
Additionally, states and communities have started working with child care centers to make sure kids have time to run around and that healthy foods are on the lunch menu, she added.
Parents can encourage better eating by having fruits and vegetables available at snack time and allowing their young kids to help with meal preparation, Blanck said.
Her other recommendations include making sure preschoolers get at least one hour of activity every day and keeping television sets out of the bedroom.
"The prevalence of overweight and obesity in many countries including in the U.S. is still very high," Wang, who wasn't involved in the new study, told Reuters Health in an email.
"The recent level off should not be taken as a reason to reduce the effort to fight the obesity epidemic."

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Kids Lead Crowd-Funded Scientific Mission to Nicaragua: Science Education Is the Tide That Lifts All Boats

Enzo, Haley and Emma are ordinary kids working on an extraordinary mission. They are joining up with a team of Special Forces medics and elite, global surgeons to deliver medical aid to the Rama Indians of Nicaragua in the spring of 2013.
In partnership with HumaniTV, the journey will be beamed to tens of thousands of kids around the globe by satellite as the three middle school students trek through the jungles of Central America performing research on sustainable agriculture and seeing first hand how science and innovation improves peoples' lives.
"We want to send a message to kids that science isn't just about getting a better job and making more money," says team captain and the creator of Exploration nation, twelve year old Enzo. "If it wasn't for science, we'd still be sitting in a cave somewhere chomping on a mammoth bone in the dark."
The high profile expedition was created by Enzoology Education, a social enterprise that produces Exploration Nation and HumaniTV, an online network featuring humanitarian aid programming to send the message that "science education is the tide that lifts all boats".
Enzo, Haley and Emma are part of the cast of Exploration Nation, an education program that features real kids doing real science research around the globe. These adventures are captured on video and coupled with lesson plans designed to inspire and motivate elementary and middle school students to take up careers in science.
America's Future as a Global Innovator Lies at the Feet of our Youngest Citizens
According to a 2009 study by Raytheon, about 60% of students lose their interest in science before the age of 13. The study is just one that shows how students start elementary school genuinely excited about science. By the time they hit seventh grade, the majority feel that science is "boring" and irrelevant to their lives.
Dave Wilson, director of academic programs at National Instruments, stated "In order for students to remain engaged in math and science, they need to actually experience the theory that educators put before them. Bringing the theory to life through hands-on experiences really helps students understand and learn better and makes the concepts more relevant to them." National Instruments is well known for its technical innovation and dedication to science and math education.
"Many science principles have been the same for hundreds of years." says Robert Bourdelais of Ward's Natural Science. "We are using 19th century methods to teach 21st century kids. Students today need to touch and feel science and learn by doing. A lecture environment doesn't inspire today's young students. The way we teach them needs to evolve and align with ever changing technology which is becoming the center of our modern world."
It should be no surprise that presenting science in a dry, isolated context to today's super stimulated kids results in students becoming more and more disconnected from how innovation is at the core of human existence. The irony of this belief is lost on the most wired generation in history.
It is a terrible irony that young people don't believe science to be relevant to their lives when they are totally immersed in some of the most advanced technological innovation in the history of mankind. Even worse is the idea that any one of these kids has the potential to cure cancer, solve the energy problem or invent the next insanely great thing. Let's just hope those kids are not in the 60% who fall through the cracks.
How Does Helping the Indigenous People of Nicaragua Help America's Students?
According to world renowned paleontologist Dr. Jack Horner, "I think it's time to do away with traditional classrooms where information is simply disseminated to students who are then expected to regurgitate that same information. We must now create environments where students have to think or create and solve problems or write using their imaginations in order to pass classes..." Horner says. "We need to show kids that active participation in science is exciting and important while motivating them to have their own adventures instead of hearing it second-hand."
Team XN: Expedition Central America is designed to inspire students to get actively involved in hands-on scientific study and show them how innovations in agriculture, renewable fuels, ethnobotany and medicine improve the living conditions of all people - especially the impoverished.
The Rama Indians of the Mosquito Coast in Nicaragua are on the receiving end for the Expedition. "We chose the Rama to illustrate what life would be like minus innovation." says Dr. Alfredo Lopez Salazar, owner of the Rio Indio Lodge in Nicaragua and a long time supporter of the indigenous populations in Central America. Dr. Lopez continues, "The Rama have a sophisticated tradition of thriving in the rain forest and an intimate knowledge of the plants and animals that surround them. But they currently struggle to fulfill their basic needs, such as medical care."
Team XN: Expedition Central America
The team of kids and doctors will bring access to a wide range of medical procedures, basic drugs like antibiotics and analgesics as well as water purification and curriculum materials for the only school in the village.
The fourteen day trek through the jungle will include several stops to create a series of lesson programs for Exploration Nation on subjects ranging from sustainable tropical agriculture and renewable energy to ethnobotany and austere medicine. These lessons will include instructional materials and video for elementary and middle school students.
The Expedition is also broadcasting live to classrooms across the United States each day of the journey, free for any educators who want to follow the adventure as a learning experience for their students. The team is raising money for the expedition using a crowd funding strategy a growing trend in the scientific community.

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Explore Talent Presents LA Casting Calls for Crew Jobs

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 25, 2012
Explore Talent presents LA casting calls for crew jobs on the site http://www.exploretalent.com. For those living in Los Angeles, job announcements are available on the site. Job listings include producer, sound technician, photographer, sound mixer, director, sound engineer, etc.
"We are excited to include crew jobs in our roster of entertainment jobs," said Daniel Jackson, Senior Marketing Director for Explore Talent.
Explore Talent is a professional site that connects actors, models, musicians and dancers with jobs in the United States. The online community has been responsible for new collaborations and business ventures in entertainment. Explore Talent is responsible for connecting girls with teen modeling, and finding gigs for movie extras. Explore Talent also helps aspiring entertainment professionals further their careers with contests that showcase their profiles to members of the social media community. Furthermore, the Explore Talent site features celebrity videos, exclusive interviews with actors, actresses and musicians, such as Joan Rivers, Akon and T-Pain.
Explore Talent's proprietary software and vast infrastructure is the most advanced entertainment-based technology of its kind. The site's popularity is based on the fact that there are many ways for talent to network, make friends and connect with other industry players, participate in a wide variety of contests and earn prizes for being active on the site. The easy access to a pool of over seven members attracts industry players who are posting every month about 50,000 new auditions and job openings, which is 30 times more than any other site.

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Warning Claim on Alleged Defective Wright Hip Implant Lawsuit Dismissed: AttorneyOne Informs

According to court documents, on October 3rd, 2012, parts of the lawsuit filed in Arizona District Court (case no. 2:2011cv02113), alleging defective Wright Profemur Hip implant, were dismissed by a US District Judge. Now, AttorneyOne.com, a recognized authority on law, can provide helpful, proven advice and simple solutions including how to get in contact with legal counsel so anyone can easily and inexpensively deal with cases of alleged Wright Profemur Hip Replacement severe adverse events.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) December 25, 2012
AttorneyOne.com, a recognized authority on law, informs on the latest news concerning Wright Profemur Hip Replacement: According to court documents, on October 3rd, 2012, parts of the lawsuit filed by Virginia M. Welch, in Arizona District Court (case no. 2:2011cv02113), alleging defective Wright Profemur Hip implant, were dismissed by US District Judge David Campbell.
In the lawsuit, plaintiff claims she was implanted with Profemur Z hip in 2006 and in 2009 she had to undergo painful removal surgery as the radiographs revealed that the acetabular cup had rotated approximately 90 degrees clockwise. US District Judge dismissed the failure to warn claim, but upheld the design defect claim. AttorneyOne.com will provide all latest information on possible Wright Recall lawsuits.
As published by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, in its quarterly earnings report for the quarterly period ended June 30th, 2012, Wright Medical mentioned that it received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee requesting records and documentation relating to the Profemur hip replacement devices. The subpoena covers the period from January 1, 2000 to August 2, 2012.
AttorneyOne.com can provide simple solutions including how to get in contact with legal counsel easily and inexpensively in case of severe adverse events from Wright Profemur Hip Replacement. Sean Burke, director of Media Relations for AttorneyOne.com, adds that the relevant information illustrates the existence of alleged threat from Wright Profemur Hip Replacement. "For that reason", he continues, "our focus should squarely fall on getting the word out and assisting people in finding the right legal assistance.”
On June 21st, 2012 Bloomberg published that FDA reported approximately 16,800 adverse events related to metal-on-metal hip implants (including Wright Profemur Hip Replacement) in the US from 2000-2011.
AttorneyOne.com has further information on Wright Profemur Hip Replacement lawsuits including how to get in contact with legal counsel.

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LeaseQ Reports Equipment Lending Up 3.2% In November

A recent industry survey reveals a marked increase in equipment leasing and financing activity for the month of November. An equipment leasing provider breaks down the numbers.

Boston MA (PRWEB) December 25, 2012
LeaseQ, one of the leading providers of commercial and business equipment leasing and financing in the United States, is reporting an increase in equipment based lending for the month of November, on the order of 3.2%. The increased business was first reported in a survey taken by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), noting that more than $6.4 billion in new equipment was financed during the month, up from $6.2 billion during the same period the previous year.
The growth of sales and orders for several capital equipment companies dropped off some in November, a clear reflection of buyers increasing doubts and worries over the long term strength of the US economy, unclear visibility on economic conditions for the end-market, and growing anxiety over the so-called fiscal cliff crisis. The conventional wisdom is that any additional growth may have been stunted over the possibility of higher taxes and cuts in government spending.
Spending for equipment needs has grown faster in than most other areas of the broader US economy, with more and more companies replacing worn out or outdated material after having had to defer such projects for much of the recession that began in 2008. Since the beginning of this year, however, financing volume has been back up over 15% to $72.2 billion. December is also likely to show a demonstrable surge in spending as companies rush to complete 2012 capital spending programs before the end of the year. December is almost always the busiest month of the year for financing activities.
In other related activity, credit portfolio quality was mixed in November, with loans and leases past due by more than 30 days accounting for about 2% of net receivables. This was after six months of consecutive drops. Charge offs amounted to 0.5% of net receivables, and the approval rate for loans and leases was 77% in November.
Respondents in the survey included Welss Fargo, Bank Of America, Fifth Third Bank, Caterpillar, Deere & Co., Volvo, and Dell.
Based in Boston MA, LeaseQ is one of the leading providers of commercial equipment lease finance options in the United States, offering a wide range of lending options for everything from small business startups to Fortune 500 companies.

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University of Pennsylvania Purchases Nanonex Advanced Nanoimprint Tool NX-2600 BA

Nanonex Corporation, the inventor and world’s leading provider in nanoimprint lithography solutions with the longest history, announces the delivery of Nanonex’s NX-2600BA system to University of Pennsylvania.

Princeton, NJ (PRWEB) December 25, 2012
Nanonex Corporation, the inventor and world’s leading provider in nanoimprint lithography solutions with the longest history, announces the delivery of Nanonex’s NX-2600BA system to University of Pennsylvania.
The Nanonex NX-2600BA purchased by Wolf Nanofabrication Facility at University of Pennsylvania is a full wafer nanoimprinter and photolithography aligner. It has up to 8 inches wafer patterning capability in all imprint forms: thermal, photo-curable and embossing with sub-5 nm imprinting resolution, as well as high resolution photolithography. It features sub-1 micron front side alignment accuracy and optical backside alignment ability. Based on the Nanonex unique patented Air Cushion Press TM technology, the NX-2600BA offers unsurpassed uniformity regardless of backside topology, wafer or mask flatness, or backside contamination. This ACP technology also eliminates lateral shifting between the mask and substrate, which significantly increases mask lifetime.
The Wolf Nanofabrication Facility is multiuser cleanroom facility at University of Pennsylvania. Nanonex is proud to support the cutting edge research at University of Pennsylvania, and NX-2600BA will serve as multi task lithography equipment for various research purposes in the Wolf Nanofabrication Facility at University of Pennsylvania, such as optics, displays, biotechnologies, data storage, materials and so on.
About Nanonex Corporation:
Nanonex is the inventor of NIL, the world’s first nanoimprint lithography company, and the world’s leading provider of nanoimprint solutions that include equipment, masks, resists and processes. Nanonex’s patented and proprietary NIL solutions and Air-Cushion Press ™ can manufacture 3D nanostructures with sub-5 nm resolution, large-area uniformity, accurate overlay alignment, high throughput, and low cost. Nanonex NIL solutions have been adopted by a broad spectrum of applications, such as optical devices, data storage, displays, light emitting diodes, semiconductor ICs, biotech, chemical synthesis, and advanced materials. Nanonex has over 100 customers and an installed base of over 50 tools world-wide. Visit http://www.nanonex.com for additional information.

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Premier Roofing, Ltd. is Now Premier Roofing Unlimited, Ltd. and Features New Materials and Services for the New Year

Premier Roofing, Ltd. is now Premier Roofing Unlimited, Ltd. With a new name comes new and improved roofing services and state-of-the-art materials all designed to provide a maximum lifetime of protection and quality.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) December 25, 2012
Premier Roofing, Inc. in Orlando, Florida has rebranded. Now under the name Premier Roofing Unlimited, Ltd., Craig and his crew have rolled out with new roofing products all professionally installed by the best roofing contractors in Florida. Much more than just an additional word in the name, Premier Roofing Unlimited, Ltd. now offers more options in roofing materials to choose from and new highly skilled crew members who are drug free and friendly.
One of the newest additions at Premier Roofing Unlimited, Ltd is the option to choose metal roofing with a standing metal seam. Back in the day, metal roofing was prone to environmental corrosion risks and replacement/repair of metal roofing became very expensive. With new advancements in material and construction, the idea of raising the seams of the metal panels used to construct roofs became very popular. The concept is simple: get the known trouble spots in the roofing above where water accumulates. And thus, standing metal seam roofing became an over-night success. Standing seam metal roofing requires much less maintenance and worry than traditional roofing constructed from inferior materials and this is one of the biggest reasons this type of roofing is so popular. Premier Roofing Unlimited, Ltd. has made standing seam metal roofing a cornerstone of business and nobody installs metal roofing better than they do.
As the holiday season slowly creeps towards Christmas and the New Year, one of the smartest things a home or business owner can do for their assets in the coming year is to ensure that the roof overhead is sturdy, sound, and leak free. Now that Premier Roofing Unlimited, Ltd. has rebranded to reflect a new and deserved sense of professionalism and service, clients needing roofing work done in Orlando can be confident in their choice by hiring a roofing contractor that has the proven work ethic and practices needed to be successful.
Craig Anderson, the owner of Premier Roofing Unlimited, Ltd., has been in the roofing industry for over 26 years and he has all of the information anybody will need when hunting for a skilled roofing contractor in Orlando. All work is guaranteed and quality checked constantly during construction to ensure safety, workmanship, and adherence to regulations is closely followed and observed.

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Police: Idaho US Sen. Crapo arrested in northern Virginia, charged with DUI

U.S. Sen. Michael Crapo was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with driving under the influence in a Washington, D.C., suburb, authorities said.
Police in Alexandria, Va., said Sunday that the Idaho Republican was pulled over after his vehicle ran a red light. Police spokesman Jody Donaldson said Crapo failed field sobriety tests and was arrested at about 12:45 a.m. He was transported to the Alexandria jail and released on an unsecured $1,000 bond at about 5 a.m..
"There was no refusal (to take blood alcohol tests), no accident, no injuries," Donaldson said. "Just a traffic stop that resulted in a DUI."
Police said Crapo, who was alone in his vehicle, registered a blood alcohol content of .110. The legal limit in Virginia, which has strict drunken driving laws, is .08.
The 61-year-old Crapo (KRAY'-poh) has a Jan. 4 court date.
"I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance," Crapo said in a statement Sunday night. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter. I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated."
A Crapo spokesman declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Currently in his third term, Crapo has been in the Senate since 1998, and served for six years in the U.S. House of Representatives before that. He was easily re-elected in 2010, and won't have to run again until 2016.
In Congress, Crapo has built a reputation as a staunch social and fiscal conservative. It was expected he would take over the top Republican spot next year on the Senate Banking Committee. He also serves on the Senate's budget and finance panels. Crapo was a member of the so-called "Gang of Six" senators that worked in 2011 toward a deficit-reduction deal that was never adopted by Congress.
A Mormon who grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Crapo was named a bishop in the church at age 31. He is an attorney who graduated from Brigham Young University and Harvard Law School. He has five children with his wife, Susan, and three grandchildren.
The Mormon Church prohibits the use of alcohol, as well as caffeine and other mind-altering substances. The state has a significant Mormon population.
Crapo has told the Associated Press in past interviews that he abstains from drinking alcohol.

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Indian police shut down roads in heart of New Delhi to prevent more protests against gang rape

 Authorities have shut down roads in the heart of India's capital to put an end to weeklong demonstrations against the brutal gang rape of a woman in a moving bus.
Thousands of armed police and paramilitary troops blocked roads in central New Delhi on Monday to prevent protesters from marching to the presidential palace.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed for calm and promised that the government would take action to prevent crimes against women.
Singh said, "Anger at this crime is justified, but violence will serve no purpose."
There has been outrage across India over the Dec. 16 gang rape that left the young woman in critical condition in a hospital.
Police used tear gas and water cannons and hit protesters with batons during weekend protests.

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Russian leader Putin in India for talks focusing on trade, reinvigorating political ties

 Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India for talks intended to help cement Russia's position in the growing Indian market and reinvigorate political ties.
Following meetings Monday between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Moscow and New Delhi are expected to sign agreements on trade, science, education and law enforcement.
While the volume of Russian-Indian trade has risen sixfold since 2000 and is expected to reach $10 billion this year, the growth has slowed in recent years. And even though India remains the No. 1 customer for Russia's arms industries, Moscow has recently lost several multibillion-dollar contracts to Western weapons makers.
Russia and India have shared close ties since the Cold War, when Moscow was a key ally and the principal arms supplier to New Delhi.

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Afghan policewoman kills American adviser at Kabul police HQ

An Afghan police official says an Afghan policewoman has killed an American adviser at the Kabul police headquarters.
Kabul's Deputy Police Chief Mohammad Daoud Amin says an investigation is underway to determine whether the killing today was intentional or accidental.
It was not known whether the victim was a military or civilian adviser.
The NATO military command says it's looking into reports of the shooting but had no independent information.
At least 53 international troops have been killed by Afghan soldiers or police this year, and a number of other assaults are still under investigations.
NATO forces, due to mostly withdraw from the country by 2014, have speeded up efforts to train and advise Afghan military and police units before the pullout.

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Lawmakers worry 'fiscal cliff' deal elusive; some predict small-scale patch may be only option

With anxiety rising as the country lurches towards a "fiscal cliff," lawmakers are increasingly skeptical about a possible deal and some predict the best possibility would be a small-scale patch because time is running out before the yearend deadline.
Sen. Joe Lieberman predicted Sunday: "We're going to spend New Year's Eve here, I believe."
Even those who see the possibility of a deal don't expect a lot.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said she expects "it is going to be a patch because in four days we can't solve everything."
With the collapse Thursday of House Speaker John Boehner's plan to allow tax rates to rise on million-dollar-plus incomes, Lieberman said: "It's the first time that I feel it's more likely we'll go over the cliff than not," meaning that higher taxes for most Americans and painful federal agency budget cuts would be in line to go ahead.
"If we allow that to happen it will be the most colossal consequential act of congressional irresponsibility in a long time, maybe ever in American history because of the impact it'll have on almost every American," said Lieberman, a Connecticut independent.
Wyoming Sen. Jon Barrasso, a member of the GOP leadership, predicted the new year would come without an agreement, and he faulted the White House.
"I believe the president is eager to go over the cliff for political purposes. He senses a victory at the bottom of the cliff," he said.
Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was incredulous at Barrasso's assertion that 'there is only one person that can provide the leadership" on such a matter vital to the nation's interests.
"There are 535 of us that can provide leadership. There are 435 in the House, 100 in the Senate and there is the president, all of us have a responsibility here," he said. "And, you know what is happening? What is happening is the same old tired blame game. He said/she said. I think the American people are tired of it. What they want to hear is 'What is the solution?'"
President Barack Obama and Congress are on a short holiday break. Congress is expected to be back at work Thursday and Obama will be back in the White House after a few days in Hawaii.
"It is time to get back to the table," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., "And I hope if anyone sees these representatives from the House in line shopping or getting their Christmas turkey, they wish them a merry Christmas, they're civil, and then say 'go back to the table, not your own table, the table in Washington.'"
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he expects something will be passed, but nothing that will solve the nation's growing financial problems.
"I think there's unfortunately only going to be a small deal," he said, but added "it's critical we get to the big deal."
Obama already has scaled back his ambitions for a sweeping budget bargain. Before leaving the capital on Friday, he called for a limited measure that extends George W. Bush-era tax cuts for most people and stave off federal spending cuts. The president also urged Congress to extend jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed that would otherwise be cut off for 2 million people at the end of the year.
The failure of Boehner's option in the House has shifted the focus.
"The ball is now clearly with the Senate," said Lieberman.
He said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky "have the ability to put this together again and pass something. It won't be a big, grand bargain to take care of the total debt, but they can do some things that will avoid the worst consequences going over the fiscal cliff."
It was only a week ago when news emerged that Obama and Boehner had significantly narrowed their differences. Both were offering a cut in taxes for most Americans, an increase for a relative few and cuts of roughly $1 trillion in spending over a year. Also included was a scaling back of future cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients — a concession on the president's part as much as agreeing to higher tax rates was for the speaker.

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NFL-Dysfunctional Jets spluttering toward disappointing finish

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The New York Jets looked like a team without a flight plan on Friday with rumors swirling about trading quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow and coaches leaving town.
Head coach Rex Ryan, whose 6-8 team had their playoff hopes dashed in Monday's ugly loss to Tennessee, maintained a cone of silence over the future, declining to even confirm his back-up quarterback for Sunday's game against San Diego.
"I'm not going to make that announcement now," Ryan, who named third-stringer Greg McElroy as the starter earlier this week, told reporters after Friday's practice.
"It's going to be a coaching decision and I'll go ahead and make that decision later. It's possible all three of those guys will be up. It's possible two will be up. I'm not going to make a decision on that yet."
A season that began with a highly-publicized trade for Tebow to back up Sanchez and inject variety into the New York attack, ended in shambles with the duo sent to the sidelines to watch 2011 seventh-round draft pick McElroy play.
Tebow, who led the Broncos to the playoffs last season before giving way to newly-signed free agent Peyton Manning in Denver, barely had a chance in New York.
He played only one full drive the entire season and was only sporadically used in the team's version of the Wildcat offense.
"We thought the Wildcat would probably be a little more efficient than it has been," Ryan said when asked if he thought Tebow had been given a fair chance.
"We had our starting quarterback, we're bringing him in to do other things, like the Wildcat, like the personal protector on the punt team, different things. He's done well at times (but) it hasn't been where I thought it would be."
Sanchez, who the Jets traded up to grab with the fifth pick of the 2009 NFL Draft as a potential franchise quarterback, was later dubbed "The Sanchize" after reaching the AFC title game in his first two seasons.
But he has regressed the last two seasons. Burdened with an injury-depleted receiving corps, Sanchez has an NFL-high 24 turnovers (17 interceptions, 7 fumbles) this season on a team ranked 28th in scoring.
'IT'S DISAPPOINTING'
All this has made it a longshot that offensive coordinator Tony Sparano will be retained, and some reports are suggesting defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has declined a contract extension offered by the club.
"We never discuss the contracts or any of that type of stuff until after the season," Ryan said.
The quarterbacks showed a bond of unity.
"I'm ready to play if they need me, preparing the way I always do and supporting Greg," Sanchez said. That's really the job this week, to get Greg ready to play and be ready myself just in case."
Sanchez admitted it was not exactly business as usual.
"As disappointing as it is, I'm excited for him if that makes sense," said Sanchez. "You never want to relinquish your job and just concede, but at the same time you root for your team, you root for somebody like Greg."
Ryan said it had been a trying season for everybody.
"It's been disappointing, without question," said Ryan, a shadow of the boisterous coach who boldly predicted Super Bowl titles for his team during their early successes. "I did have huge expectations.
"At the end of the season we will focus on the what-ifs. Right now, it's straight ahead, no fair dodging.

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Dysfunctional Jets spluttering toward disappointing finish

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - The New York Jets looked like a team without a flight plan on Friday with rumors swirling about trading quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow and coaches leaving town.
Head coach Rex Ryan, whose 6-8 team had their playoff hopes dashed in Monday's ugly loss to Tennessee, maintained a cone of silence over the future, declining to even confirm his back-up quarterback for Sunday's game against San Diego.
"I'm not going to make that announcement now," Ryan, who named third-stringer Greg McElroy as the starter earlier this week, told reporters after Friday's practice.
"It's going to be a coaching decision and I'll go ahead and make that decision later. It's possible all three of those guys will be up. It's possible two will be up. I'm not going to make a decision on that yet."
A season that began with a highly-publicized trade for Tebow to back up Sanchez and inject variety into the New York attack, ended in shambles with the duo sent to the sidelines to watch 2011 seventh-round draft pick McElroy play.
Tebow, who led the Broncos to the playoffs last season before giving way to newly-signed free agent Peyton Manning in Denver, barely had a chance in New York.
He played only one full drive the entire season and was only sporadically used in the team's version of the Wildcat offense.
"We thought the Wildcat would probably be a little more efficient than it has been," Ryan said when asked if he thought Tebow had been given a fair chance.
"We had our starting quarterback, we're bringing him in to do other things, like the Wildcat, like the personal protector on the punt team, different things. He's done well at times (but) it hasn't been where I thought it would be."
Sanchez, who the Jets traded up to grab with the fifth pick of the 2009 NFL Draft as a potential franchise quarterback, was later dubbed "The Sanchize" after reaching the AFC title game in his first two seasons.
But he has regressed the last two seasons. Burdened with an injury-depleted receiving corps, Sanchez has an NFL-high 24 turnovers (17 interceptions, 7 fumbles) this season on a team ranked 28th in scoring.
'IT'S DISAPPOINTING'
All this has made it a longshot that offensive coordinator Tony Sparano will be retained, and some reports are suggesting defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has declined a contract extension offered by the club.
"We never discuss the contracts or any of that type of stuff until after the season," Ryan said.
The quarterbacks showed a bond of unity.
"I'm ready to play if they need me, preparing the way I always do and supporting Greg," Sanchez said. That's really the job this week, to get Greg ready to play and be ready myself just in case."
Sanchez admitted it was not exactly business as usual.
"As disappointing as it is, I'm excited for him if that makes sense," said Sanchez. "You never want to relinquish your job and just concede, but at the same time you root for your team, you root for somebody like Greg."
Ryan said it had been a trying season for everybody.
"It's been disappointing, without question," said Ryan, a shadow of the boisterous coach who boldly predicted Super Bowl titles for his team during their early successes. "I did have huge expectations.
"At the end of the season we will focus on the what-ifs. Right now, it's straight ahead, no fair dodging.

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Witten eyes record after spleen injury, slow start

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Jason Witten had nearly as many drops as catches through three games this season, back when his side still hurt just about every time he moved because of a lacerated spleen.
The Dallas Cowboys tight end dismissed any suggestion that the injury had anything to do with an uncharacteristic case of stone hands. The seven-time Pro Bowler didn't really even want to say how long it took to feel normal again once he decided to play in the season opener just 23 days after getting hurt in a preseason game.
Coach Jason Garrett puts it somewhere around a month into the season, which is about the time Witten started a career-best stretch so prolific that he has two games to get the six catches needed to break Tony Gonzalez's tight end record of 102 in a season. Witten could get it Sunday at home against New Orleans (6-8).
"You know, we talked about him saying, 'I'm playing in that Giant game,' after he had the lacerated spleen, and I'm thinking to myself, 'This guy's crazy,'" Garrett said. "He wasn't quite himself for probably three or four weeks after that. I think we all saw that. And then for him to kind of, 'OK, I'm feeling better now' and get back to what he's been doing, I think he's had a remarkable year."
Witten turned 30 in May, and once he made it through that opener against New York, it was easy to forget about the injury as he stumbled through two more games and reached Week 4 with five drops, four penalties and eight catches. Too old already? Hall of Fame career nearing an end?
Hardly. In the past 11 games, he has 89 catches for 847 yards and two touchdowns, including his first scoring hookup with Tony Romo in last weekend's 27-24 overtime win against Pittsburgh that put the Cowboys (8-6) in control of their playoff fate with two games left.
Witten reset his franchise record with 18 catches in a loss to the Giants in October, and a week later broke Michael Irvin's career Cowboys record of 750 receptions. With 793 catches, Witten is likely this year to join Gonzalez and Shannon Sharpe as the only tight ends with 800, and he's third behind those two with 8,832 yards. Gonzalez set the single-season mark for catches in 2004.
"I have so much respect for the game and this position," Witten said. "To be able to be even thinking about passing that kind of record that's stood the course for almost 10 years by the greatest tight end that ever played, to break that, no question it's special. I think you're more proud of the body of work over the course of 10 years than you are just one season."
Witten was part of Bill Parcells' first Cowboys draft class in 2003. He played in 15 games, with seven starts, as a rookie, and missed the only game of his career with a broken jaw. Barring injury, he's about to complete his sixth straight season of starting every game.
That streak was in serious jeopardy after he took a hard blind-side hit on a broken play in a preseason game at Oakland. It was easy to rule him out for the opener after the diagnosis because the Cowboys started the season three days earlier than everyone else and had 10 days to get ready for Week 2.
Witten thought otherwise, even with his old-school former coach whispering in his ear about taking it easy during a phone call.
"He was like my dad: 'Take care of yourself now. Be smart,'" said Witten, a bit bemused. "Remember, this guy, 10 years ago when I had the broken jaw, it didn't seem like that was the same response."
The Cowboys were just happy to have him on the field against the Giants, so some balky play and two catches for 10 yards didn't faze anyone. He four catches against the Seahawks, but had the same number of drops, then two catches again, this time for just 8 yards, against Tampa Bay.
Witten finally broke loose with 13 catches for 112 yards and a garbage-time touchdown from Kyle Orton in a blowout loss to the Bears.
"I've never thought, 'Well, I'm about to taper off here, let's see if I can hang on,'" Witten said. "It's always been it gets higher every year. And going into this year, that's what it was."
With or without a lacerated spleen.

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J-E-T-S went from Super Bowl contenders to M-E-S-S

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — From nearly Super to just plain stupefying.
That is what the New York Jets have become in a span of two NFL seasons.
From a botched trade for Tim Tebow before the season to a botched snap by Mark Sanchez that ended the season, Rex Ryan's bunch became a dysfunctional mess with no clear solution in sight.
The Jets are considered by many a laughingstock, one big circus which ranks up there with the Bronx Zoo Yankees, the Isiah Thomas Knicks and the late Al Davis' Raiders. At least those Yankees won a few World Series titles, and the Raiders took home three Super Bowl trophies despite all the madness.
Woody Johnson's flawed franchise could be headed for a total teardown before things get any better.
"Being in this market for six years, I've seen the ups and downs," defensive lineman Mike DeVito said. "You get used to it after a while. You see the good stuff and the bad stuff."
Lately, it's been all bad.
The Jets are a team whose owner craves attention, and gets it — always for the wrong reasons, it seems. Two years ago, the Jets were a win away from the Super Bowl, just as they were the previous year.
Both times, they fell just short of ending the drought that began after Joe Namath delivered on his guarantee in 1969 for the franchise's first and only title.
But there was hope for the future.
Ryan was a brash and bold coach who didn't back down from anyone and said what was on his mind, predicting Super Bowl wins before the season even started, a refreshing departure from the tight-lipped three-year tenure of Eric Mangini. He had a dominant defense, led by All-Pro Darrelle Revis, and a young, promising quarterback in Sanchez.
And most of all, the Jets were winning games.
Those positive feelings all seem like a distant memory as the Jets (6-8) play out the last two games of the season and head into a winter of uncertainty with a second straight year out of the playoffs.
"If you look at it, right now, I'm not looking further than this game against San Diego and (then) we have one more game," Ryan said. "We'll see what happens. My focus has to be with those two games and that's it."
That's because Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum don't know for sure if they'll even be back beyond the final game of the season.
Tebow will be out the door less than a year after coming to New York and saying he's "excited to be a Jet." Sanchez could be a goner, too, although his hefty contract could keep him put — but as the former face of the franchise instead of the next Namath.
Tired of getting into arguments with fans for wearing Sanchez's No. 6 jersey this season and fearing the incidents could escalate, the Jets' most famous supporter, Ed Anzalone, hung up his helmet last month and "retired" from being Fireman Ed.
So, there are no more J-E-T-S chants led by him. Still, the Jets insist they are far from the muddled M-E-S-S they are perceived by many to be.
"I certainly don't feel that," Johnson said earlier this season. "We are deadly serious about what we do here, trying to win games and trying to represent our fans in a way that they expect us to represent them."
But perception often is reality, and the Jets have provided plenty of fodder to feed into that during the past few years.
There was Ryan at his opening news conference nearly four years ago, talking about how his team would soon meet President Barack Obama as champions.
He came with plenty of other guarantees, too, that made him one of the most confident — and as a result — disliked sports figures New York has seen.
Most Jets fans loved his approach, though, and bought in.
They're some of the same fans who now hope for a change in leadership, tired of Ryan's empty promises and the distractions that have marked his tenure as coach.
And, there is a lengthy list: the Ines Sainz locker room incident, the foot fetish videos reportedly involving Ryan and his wife, the assistant coach who tripped an opposing player from the sideline during a play, the prime-time exposure on HBO's "Hard Knocks," to name a few.
Tannenbaum has also produced some big-time winners on draft day in his seven years as GM, including Revis, Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson and David Harris.
But there have also been some major duds along the way, such as Vernon Gholston and Vladimir Ducasse. All three of his picks from 2009 — Sanchez, Shonn Greene and Matt Slauson — could all be playing their last games as Jets.
Key locker room presences have also gradually been cut, traded or allowed to become free agents, well-respected players such as Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Kris Jenkins, Alan Faneca, Damien Woody and LaDainian Tomlinson.
While Sanchez's ability to read defenses and adjust is one major problem, the team did little to provide him with continuity on offense with constant change in the skill players around him.
"There's been a little bit of turnover, but at the same time, you have to work with what you have," Sanchez said of the various receivers he had to work with the season.
This past offseason began with a brief flirtation with Peyton Manning, and then came the most stunning move of them all: the trade for Tebow in March. It had most people scratching their heads then and now has even the popular but little-used backup quarterback wondering why he even came here in the first place.
"I tried to make the most of every opportunity that I had," Tebow said. "I would've loved to have more."
Everyone expected more, even Ryan, who acknowledged that the Tebow-powered wildcat-style offense that was kept so under wraps in training camp up in Cortland, N.Y., never developed into what the team had hoped.
Now, the Jets will either try to trade Tebow or release him by the time the NFL's free agency period begins in March.
The lasting image of Tebow's tenure will be his shirtless jog off the practice field in the rain during training camp — when ESPN was broadcasting live shots of Jets practice for a week.
Fans and media kept waiting all season for the quarterback controversy they were sure was to come: Sanchez vs. Tebow. Turns out, it was third-stringer Greg McElroy, a seventh-round draft pick last year, who took Sanchez's job in Week 16.
The Jets have three quarterbacks who came to the NFL with impeccable credentials: Sanchez a top-5 draft pick from Southern California, Tebow a two-time national champion at Florida and a Heisman Trophy winner, and McElroy a former Texas high school state champion who led the University of Alabama to a national title. But New York will go into this offseason not knowing if it even has its quarterback of the future on its roster.
Given everything that has gone on with the franchise, it was only fitting that a week after Braylon Edwards — then with the Seattle Seahawks — called out the Jets on Twitter by saying that fans should blame "the idiots calling shots" for Sanchez's struggles, he was brought back to New York by the same people he criticized.
Johnson could opt to clean house completely by firing Ryan and his coaching staff. He could do the same to Tannenbaum, or possibly re-assign him within the organization.
Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, brought in to boost the running game and get Tebow involved, could also be gone. Or, they could all be back for one more twirl.
Either way, Johnson's team is sure to consistently make splashy headlines this winter. Just the way he likes it.

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Benched QB Sanchez mum on future with Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Mark Sanchez knows he won't be the New York Jets' starting quarterback this week.
Beyond that, the one-time face of the franchise won't say whether he thinks he'll be back with the team next season.
"I really haven't even thought about it," Sanchez said Friday. "Honestly, I'm a Jet. That's all I've known."
Sanchez struggled mightily Monday night in a 14-10 loss at Tennessee, throwing four interceptions and losing the football on New York's final offensive play as the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention. Coach Rex Ryan decided Tuesday to give Greg McElroy the start Sunday against San Diego at MetLife Stadium.
Whether Sanchez has played his final snap for the Jets remains to be seen. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday that the Jets will consider all of their options regarding Sanchez and backup Tim Tebow. Trades in the offseason cannot be ruled out, but the person, who requested anonymity because the team's personnel plans are private, told the AP that the Jets have not made any determinations involving Sanchez or Tebow.
"I'm focused on this game and the game next week," Sanchez said, declining to address any trade rumors. "We'll assess all that stuff at a later date."
Ryan also would not comment on the futures of the quarterbacks, and wouldn't announce who McElroy's backup will be against the Chargers.
"Quite honestly, it's going to be a coach's decision and I'll go ahead and make that decision later," Ryan said. "I've said there's a possibility all three guys will be up and there's a possibility two will be up. I'm not going to make that decision just yet."
Ryan added that it's possible that "maybe" he has decided already and just won't say.
Either way, Sanchez will not be under center at the start of the game for only the second time in his career, and first for something other than an injury. McElroy took the majority of the snaps with the first-team offense throughout the week, making for a somewhat strange scene as both Sanchez and Tebow watched.
"I wouldn't say it's been normal," Sanchez said. "In that way, it's different, but at the same time, you have to be a pro, do the right thing, help Greg and prepare him like I always do."
The Jets will likely be hard-pressed to trade or cut Sanchez, who is due $8.25 million in guarantees next season after having his contract extended last offseason. He would cost the Jets a $17.1 million salary cap hit next season if he is cut, but New York could spread that amount over the next two seasons if he is released after June 1.
The salary cap hit would still be a costly $8.9 million if the Jets do find a willing trading partner. That could be further complicated by the fact Sanchez has turned the ball over an NFL-leading 50 times since the start of last season.
Tebow, who will be traded or cut before the NFL's free agency period begins in March, has two years remaining on his contract. But it would cost the Jets only a little more than $1 million against the salary cap if they cut him.
Meanwhile, McElroy will be making his first NFL start on Sunday after he made his first appearance three weeks ago against Arizona and helped New York to a 7-6 win after coming in for a benched Sanchez. The former Alabama star said friends asked him if he was excited the world didn't end, as the Mayan calendar predicted for Friday, before he got out there against the Chargers.
"Yeah, I'm glad that we're still around," a smiling McElroy said. "I'm glad that everything's OK. I wasn't really worried about it."
McElroy, who was 5 of 7 for 29 yards and the game's only touchdown against Arizona, hasn't felt any awkwardness among his fellow quarterbacks, considering he's starting for the former fifth overall draft pick in 2009 and leapfrogged Tebow on the depth chart.
"They've been extremely helpful and I'm very grateful for that," McElroy said. "I'm just thankful to have such great guys in the (quarterbacks) room with me."
The biggest change during the week, McElroy said, was the number of interviews he had to do once Ryan named him the starter.
"I'm probably getting sunburnt from the lights," the fair-skinned and freckle-faced McElroy said, laughing. "That's about it."
NOTES: TE Dustin Keller (sprained ankle) and DB Aaron Berry (hamstring) are doubtful and unlikely to play Sunday. ... Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, a close friend of Ryan, turned down a contract extension during the season, according to the Daily News. That means he could opt to leave for a similar position or head coaching job elsewhere. Ryan wouldn't comment, but said he thinks there isn't "any doubt" Pettine could be an NFL head coach. ... Antonio Cromartie, who has filled in admirably for the injured Darrelle Revis as the team's top cornerback, was selected by teammates as the Jets' MVP.

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