Milestone Appointment of Christopher Ian Bennett Comes as Part of Guitar Center's New Communications Strategy and Media Policy
LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 31, 2013) -
ANNOUNCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Christopher Ian Bennett named as first Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs in company history.?Brings more than 15 years experience in Corporate Communications to GC.
Guitar Center is breaking away from previous media strategy and introducing a more press-friendly policy this fall.
Additionally, Bennett's previous experience in Government Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility and Investor Relations will compliment the development of a new corporate affairs division.
Guitar Center, the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ and lighting equipment, has appointed Christopher Ian Bennett to the newly created position of Vice President, Communications and Corporate Affairs. This announcement comes as part of a new set of initiatives at GC, which includes a formalized and dedicated communications/corporate affairs department. In his previous role, Bennett led Best Buy Canada's Corporate Communications department under Mike Pratt, now Guitar Center's new Chief Executive Officer. A graduate of a Performing Arts School in Canada, Bennett's passion for music and new media make him the ideal candidate to lead the new communications strategy for Guitar Center.
In his new role, Bennett will be responsible for the overall internal and external communications strategy of the entire GC organization and affiliated brands, working to drive a clear and singular message. Working closely with GC's current PR agency partners, Clyne Media and Filter Creative, Bennett will be the new spokesperson for the organization and will play a more active role in communicating directly with the media than ever before.
"The Guitar Center story is an extraordinary one that fuses an iconic success history in retail with an exciting vision for its future leading the MI industry. We have a great opportunity in front of us to work more closely with the press through a more transparent and open level of communication with them," stated Christopher Bennett, Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs.
About Christopher Bennett To review Christopher's career bio and communications background, please visit his LinkedIn profile page online: www.linkedin.com/in/christopherianbennett?- media@guitarcenter.com
About Guitar Center Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ and lighting equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 250 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the company's Website at www.guitarcenter.com.
TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's largest labor union called on Tuesday for the dissolution of the Islamist-led government and the interior minister offered to resign as a political crisis deepened.
Softening its rejection of demands for the government's departure, the Islamist Ennahda party said it was ready for a new government, but opposed any move to disband an elected body that has almost completed work on a new draft constitution.
"We are open to all proposals to reach an agreement, including a salvation or unity government," Ennahda official Ameur Larayedh told Reuters. "But we will not accept dissolving the Constituent Assembly. This is a red line."
Protests against the moderate Islamist Ennahda party surged after last week's killing of a leftist politician, the second to be slain in six months, disrupting a tense political transition that began when Tunisians toppled an autocratic leader in 2011.
While politicians feud, the army is struggling to contain Islamist militants, who killed eight soldiers on Monday in a mountainous region near the Algerian border in one of the bloodiest attacks on Tunisian troops in decades.
The powerful Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), which has about 600,000 members in the public and private sectors, said a technocratic government should replace the one led by Ennahda.
"We consider this government incapable of continuing its work," Hussein Abbassi, head of the UGTT, said in a statement.
While endorsing demands for the government to fall, the UGTT has also opposed dissolving the assembly - a measure which would throw Tunisia's fragile transition process into limbo.
COALITION IN DISARRAY
"We propose maintaining the Constituent Assembly but ... with a time-frame to speed up completion of its work," said Abbassi, general secretary of the UGTT, which brought much of the country to a halt with a one-day strike on Friday.
The secular opposition, energized by the overthrow of Egypt's freely elected Islamist president this month, has stepped up pressure on the Ennahda-led government to quit.
Some opposition leaders were dissatisfied with Ennahda's offer to form a new government but keep the Assembly in place.
"The street wants to dissolve the Constituent Assembly, which is already dying politically and ethically. Its legitimacy is over," said Mongi Rahoui, a leader in the Popular Front.
Opposition leaders criticize the Assembly for far exceeding the one-year deadline it set in December 2011 to complete its tasks, which include drafting a constitution.
Rahoui also said Ennahda must relinquish the post of prime minister in any deal on a new government.
The ruling coalition headed by Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has begun to fray in the last few days as political turmoil and street unrest grip the North African nation of 11 million.
Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou, a judge and political independent from the al-Qasreen area near where the troops were ambushed by militants, said he was keen to stand down.
"I am ready to resign," he told the local Mosaique radio station. "A salvation government or national unity government must be formed to get Tunisia out of this bottleneck."
On Monday, the secular Ettakatol party threatened to withdraw from the ruling coalition unless a unity government was formed to defuse widespread and often violent protests.
Ennahda, which won elections after President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown in the first of a series of Arab uprisings, has resisted demands to give up power.
The opposition, angered by the assassination of leftist leaders Chokri Belaid in February and Mohamed Brahmi on Thursday, has rejected several concessions and power-sharing proposals from the Ennahda-led coalition in the last few days.
(Additional reporting by Erika Solomon; Editing by Alistair Lyon)
The end of public voting for the Architizer A+ Awards is fast approaching, but today we bring you five sports and recreation facilities that are keeping the competition pepped up. With the increasing popularity of major sporting events, like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, new sports and recreation complexes have become the focus for cities around the world to spur excitement, generate urban renewal, attract investment, and instill a sense of local and national pride. And our five finalists are no exception. From a consistently buzzed about project in Brooklyn, to a ski jump you have to see to believe, these five sports centers go for the gold.
Like what you see? Make sure to vote for your favorite project over at the?A+ Public Voting site!
Cluj Arena Dico Si Tiganas Cluj- Napoca, Romania
Pod?etrtek Sports Hall ENOTA Pod?etrtek, Slovenia
Football Training Centre/Soweto RUFproject Soweto, South Africa
New Holmenkollen Ski Jump JDS/JULIEN DE SMEDT ARCHITECTS Oslo
Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards SHoP Architects Brooklyn, United States
Robin Williams appears at a panel for the television series "The Crazy Ones" during the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills.
When Robin Williams was last on television, ?wired meant a gram and Jack Daniels.? Times have certainly changed, and now the 62-year-old comic says it's tough to be topical because ?I talk about Carlos Danger and everyone is like, ?That?s so two weeks ago.? Anything I say gets tweeted within seconds, and it?s consumed and gone."
The Emmy-winning actor, who rose to fame on "Mork & Mindy" in the late '70s and early '80s, is returning to the medium that helped launch his career. His new comedy, "The Crazy Ones," about the kooky owner of an ad agency, launches on Sept. 26 on the CBS, and co-stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and James Wolk ("Mad Men").
He and the cast of the new sitcom appeared before reporters at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour on Monday to dish on the new show.
Gellar, better known for battling bloodsuckers on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" than doing comedy, said working with Williams has been an interesting journey because the ensemble cast actually has to encourage Williams to "do his thing" because he holds back to let them shine.
?It can be intimidating working with comedy at that level,? Gellar said. ?But he cares more about making everyone else comfortable.?
Wolk, who has attracted plenty of attention this season for playing Bob Benson, a recurring character on ?Mad Men,? also praised Williams as a colleague.
?When he says, ?Don?t step on my line kid,' it?s just part of the love,? joked Wolk.
Sporting a blue suit, a fashionable navy T-shirt and a crew cut, Williams looked more like the ad man he plays in the sitcom than the wacky guy who springs to most people's minds at the mention of the frenetic comedian.
But that doesn't mean he left the "wacky" at home. When asked about incorporating his own life experiences into the show, Williams mentioned going through rehab in the wine country ?just to keep my options open.? Later, when another journalist mentioned ?sad clown? in the course of a ponderous question, Williams went off like an Independence Day sparkler.
?Sad clown? What are those big feet doing in the bed!? he joked. ?Wait, I?m getting a text from Carlos (Danger). Even the phone says no more!?
CHICAGO (AP) ? Many heart specialists are hardly Dr. Ruth ? sex is not something they relish bringing up with patients. But new guidance says they should, early and often, to let survivors know intimacy is often possible after a heart attack.
Discussions should involve everything from when and how to resume sex, to what position might be best for some conditions or not advised for others, according to a consensus statement released Monday by the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology.
It's billed as the first scientific statement with detailed guidance on resuming sex after a heart attack, stroke or other cardiac condition and is based on a review of medical literature.
"Sexual health is an important part of the overall health of the individual," even for the oldest patients, said Elaine Steinke, a researcher and professor of nursing at Wichita State University in Kansas. Steinke was the lead author of the statement published in the heart association's Circulation journal and the European Heart Journal.
Co-author Tiny Jaarsma, a professor and heart failure researcher at Sweden's Linkoping University, said in an email that doctors and nurses "rarely discuss sex 'spontaneously', but often wait until the patient brings up questions around sex. Health care providers often are afraid to upset patients or might feel embarrassed themselves."
Fears and anxieties about resuming sex are often numerous: Will it cause another heart attack? Can I use Viagra? What if my defibrillator goes off during sex? And many are too shy to ask, so heart doctors, nurses and other health care workers should take the lead and initiate the discussion with men and women patients of all ages and their partners, according to the statement.
Many heart patients can safely resume sexual intercourse after first checking with their doctors, and the answers to many questions depend on each patient's overall health, the guidance says. Patients with mild, stable chest pain face a low risk for a sex-triggered heart problem, whereas patients with advanced heart failure should postpone sex until their condition is stabilized.
General precautions listed in the statement include:
?Before resuming sex, make sure you can engage in moderate physical activity, such as walking briskly up two flights of stairs, without chest pain, breathlessness or other symptoms.
?If moderate activity is too strenuous, avoid intercourse but not intimacy: hugging and kissing may be OK.
?Have sex in a comfortable, familiar place and avoid things that could add stress to the experience, including extramarital affairs.
?Tell your doctor about any symptoms during sex, including chest pain, dizziness or insomnia afterward.
?Some positions may not be safe. Heart bypass surgery patients should avoid being on top in the missionary position, and Steinke said having sex in a more "upright position" may be easier for some heart failure patients, whose symptoms may include shortness of breath.
Ruth Westheimer, the famed 85-year-old sex therapist known as "Dr. Ruth," commented on the study Monday through her publicist from Switzerland, where she was hiking.
When hospitals have invited her to speak, she always gives the same message: "Doctors need to ask their patients about sexual functioning," even if both sides are embarrassed by the topic.
"When it comes to sex and heart issues, in my experience it's as likely to be the partner of the heart patient who is afraid of having sex because it might cause a heart attack as the patient him or herself," Westheimer said. "What I suggest is that people write down their questions and send it to the doctor in advance of their appointment. That way they'll be sure the question gets asked and the doctor will have had time to get prepared to answer it."
Dr. Vijay Divakaran, a cardiologist with Scott & White Hospital in Round Rock, Texas, said the consensus statement is important and will change practice. Cardiologists don't get formal training in discussing sexual issues with their patients but the conversations get easier, he said
"Sometimes patients don't talk about it, they just Google it, and there's a lot of misconceptions" online, Divakaran said. "Once you start asking them, you would be surprised that it almost always is an issue."
___
Online:
American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org
___
AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner
Full Description
Progressive Global Energy has been tasked with sourcing experienced Software Engineers for a new project with a large international service company. The role will be based in Houston, TX. It will be a contract-to-hire role; with a 6-12 month initial contract.
Profile
Accomplished software engineer with a constructive and effective approach to problem solving. Works well under pressure both as an individual and as part of a team. Extensive experience and knowledge of software design, information systems architecture, object oriented design, agile software development processes and methodologies.
Interviews for this role will begin in the second week of August. Candidates must be eligible to work in the US as this role will initially be a contract role. Please apply immediately to be considered for this position.
Technical Skills
- Senior Microsoft .NET C# desktop developer;
- MS .NET 2.0 - 4.5;
- Expert in WPF;
- OOD, design patterns and architecture;
- TDD and mocking frameworks;
- Knowledge of ChartFX would be beneficial; and
- Knowledge of Ocean API and Eclipse would be a bonus.
Desired Skills (Plus)
- Completions and Sand management domain knowledge; and
- Reservoir engineering background.
Oil & Gas experience not required.
Visit the Progressive Global Energy & Natural Resources website to find out more.
Job ref: PR-12375161_1375107376
Salary Not specified
Experience
No experience needed
Education
Degree / Postgraduate / 3 year
Expertise
Microsoft .NET C#, MS .NET 2.0-4.5, WPF, OOD, TDD, Software Engineer, Software Developer
ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis has said gay people should not be marginalized but integrated into society, in some of the most conciliatory remarks by a pontiff on the issue of homosexuality.
In a broad-ranging 80-minute conversation with journalists on the plane bringing him back from a week-long visit to Brazil on Sunday night, he also said he could not judge gay priests, an emotive topic that divides Catholic opinion.
But the 76-year-old Argentine did reaffirm Church teaching that homosexual acts are a sin.
Francis stressed the Roman Catholic Church's ban on women priests was definitive, although he would like them to have more leadership roles in administration and pastoral activities.
And he expressed pain over scandals at the Vatican bank during a remarkably forthright press conference, his first since being elected in March to replace Benedict XVI.
His forthright tone and readiness to field so many questions underlined Francis' desire to do things differently. He has eschewed many trappings of the papacy, championed the poor and tackled some of the biggest scandals facing the Church head-on.
Francis said there were saints in the Holy See but also "those who are not very saintly".
The airborne encounter with journalists covered issues as varied as the pope's insistence on low-key security to his desire to unlock the shackles of the Vatican to go for walks.
The pope arrived back in Rome on Monday after a triumphant tour of Brazil, which climaxed with a huge gathering on Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach for a Catholic youth festival that organizers said attracted more than 3 million people.
"WHO AM I TO JUDGE?"
In response to a question about reports of a "gay lobby" in the Vatican, after it suffered a string of scandals over pedophile priests and corruption in the administration of the Holy See, Francis said:
"If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?
"The problem is not having this orientation. We must be brothers. The problem is lobbying by this orientation, or lobbies of greedy people, political lobbies, Masonic lobbies, so many lobbies. This is the worst problem," he said.
"You see a lot written about the gay lobby. I still have not seen anyone in the Vatican with an identity card saying they are gay," he joked.
Francis defended all gays from discrimination but also referred to the Catholic Church's universal Catechism, which says that while homosexual orientation is not sinful, homosexual acts are.
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this very well. It says they should not be marginalized because of this (orientation) but that they must be integrated into society," he said, speaking in Italian and using the word "gay", instead of "homosexual" which previous pontiffs mainly used.
Francis also responded to part of a question about Monsignor Battista Ricca, who Francis named to a position overseeing the Vatican bank and who Italian media reports say was involved in gay affairs when he was a diplomat in Latin America.
The pope said a "quick investigation" concluded that the accusations were unfounded.
'NO' TO WOMEN PRIESTS IS DEFINITIVE
Addressing the issue of women priests, the pope said, "The Church has spoken and says 'no' ... that door is closed." It was the first time he had spoken in public on the subject.
"We cannot limit the role of women in the Church to altar girls or the president of a charity, there must be more ...," he said in answer to a question.
"But with regards to the ordination of women, the Church has spoken and says 'no'. Pope John Paul said so with a formula that was definitive. That door is closed," he said, referring to a document by the late pontiff which said the ban was part of the infallible teaching of the Church.
The Church teaches that it cannot ordain women because Jesus willingly chose only men as his apostles. Advocates of a female priesthood say he was acting according to customs of his times.
Many in the Church, even those who oppose a female priesthood, say women should be given leadership roles in the Church and the Vatican administration.
The long session on the plane was highly unusual in the history of the modern papacy for both its candor and breadth.
Unlike his predecessor Benedict, who knew in advance the few questions journalists would be allowed to ask, Francis, the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, imposed no restrictions as he fielded 21 questions.
He said his week-long trip to Brazil left him very fatigued but "did me a lot of spiritual good".
He spoke of reforms he had begun in the Vatican, which has been tarnished by a series of corruption scandals, including at the Vatican bank, which is the target of several Italian money laundering investigations.
Francis said the bank must become "honest and transparent" and that he will listen to the advice of a commission he has set up on whether it can be reformed or should be closed altogether.
Francis referred directly to Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, a Vatican prelate arrested last month on suspicion of attempting to smuggle 20 million euros into Italy from Switzerland.
"There are many people (in the Vatican) who are saints but there are those who are not very saintly ... and it pains me when this happens. There is this monsignor in jail. He didn't go to jail because he resembled the blessed Imelda," he said, using a Latin American expression meaning a person is no saint.
Francis, who in Brazil chose to ride in an open-sided popemobile or a simple Fiat, said he was not concerned about the reduced security he has chosen compared to his predecessors.
"Security lies in trusting people. It is true that there is always a danger that a crazy person might try to do something, but there is also the Lord," he said, adding that he believed it would be even more crazy to be kept away from people.
Vatican security was greatly boosted after Pope John Paul was shot and nearly killed by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca on May 13, 1981 while he was riding in an open jeep in St. Peter's Square.
(Reporting By Philip Pullella; editing by Mike Collett-White)
Tulsa won the 2012 Conference USA title and looks to claim another in 2013. (Beth Hall, US-Presswire.)
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel has ranked all 125 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 125 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 29: Tulsa
Coach: Bill Blankenship (19-8 third season; 19-8 overall)
Look back: The Golden Hurricane won its first Conference USA championship since 2005, building on its success in the league. Tulsa has won 10 games or more in four of the past six years and earned bowl invitations in seven of the past eight seasons. Tulsa did so behind a backfield that totaled 3,440 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns, and a defense that was among the best in the country. Tulsa lost its season opener to Iowa State and dropped a game to Arkansas by four points, but the team downed UCF twice en route to the conference title. The Golden Hurricane exacted revenge on Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl with a 31-17 win.
Offensive starters returning: 7
Offensive starters lost: 4
Defensive starters returning: 3
Defensive starters lost: 8
Key losses: OL Brian DeShane, OL Jared Grigg, OL Trent Dupy, DL Cory Dorris, LB DeAundre Brown, DB Dexter McCoil, DL Jared St. John, RB Alex Singleton
Top returnees: WR Keyarris Garrett, QB Cody Green, WR Jordan James, RB Trey Watts, DB Marco Nelson, LB Shawn Jackson, RB Ja'Terian Douglas
Strengths: The offense will have to carry the team this season. Tulsa returns its top two leading rushers (Trey Watts, 1,108 yards, 3 TDs and Ja'Terian Douglas, 936 yards, 7 TDs), starting QB Cody Green and three starting receivers, highlighted by all-conference performers Keyarris Garrett and Jordan James. Green passed for 2,592 yards last season with 17 touchdowns, but also had 11 interceptions and will have to improve his decision-making. Garrett (845 yards, 9 TDs) was a true deep threat and can open things up. Watts also was a strong return specialist.
Weaknesses: The defense loses the bulk of its lineup, including the entire defensive line and most of the secondary. The production up front is most difficult to replace. Tulsa ranked 16th in the country in rushing defense, but lost its top two leading tacklers in LB DeAundre Brown (125 tackles) and DB Dexter McCoil (91 tackles). The Golden Hurricane also lost its pass-rushing presence in Jared St. John (11.5 sacks), Brown (9 sacks) and Cory Dorris (6 sacks). Tulsa also will have to replace three all-conference offensive linemen, including first-team C-USA selections Brian DeShane and Jared Grigg.
Outlook: Though the defense will likely take a step back in 2013, the offense should be as tough as ever with plenty of experienced playmakers back in the lineup. The revamped C-USA lineup also poses fewer challenges for Tulsa. If the offensive line comes together and the Golden Hurricane defense can remain steady, Tulsa should be in line for a second consecutive conference championship and a return trip to the Liberty Bowl.
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter takes batting practice before the Yankees' baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 26, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter takes batting practice before the Yankees' baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 26, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter throws after fielding a grounder during batting practice before the Yankees' baseball against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 26, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter signs autographs during batting practice before the Yankees' baseball against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 26, 2013 in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
NEW YORK (AP) ? Where in the Yankees universe is Derek Jeter?
The New York Yankees aren't saying. The 39-year-old captain was eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday. But he was sent to play in a simulated game at a location manager Joe Girardi won't disclose.
Girardi says the Yankees want Jeter to test his strained right quadriceps without interruption.
Guesses on Twitter regarding Jeter's whereabouts ranged from the Staten Island Yankees field to the Mets' Citi Field in Queens to PlayStation.
For sure, he wasn't at the Yankees' minor league facility in Tampa, Fla., where Alex Rodriguez was rehabbing his strained left quadriceps on his 38th birthday.
Also, Yankees designated hitter Travis Hafner was scheduled for an MRI on his shoulder. He was not in the lineup Saturday against Tampa Bay.
Going into his fight with Jorge Masvidal at UFC on Fox 8, "The Ultimate Fighter" winner Michael Chiesa was undefeated. Now, he has a loss on his record that he probably will think about for the rest of his career. Masvidal won with a D'arce choke at 4:59 in the second round.
Fighting in his home state of Washington, Chiesa started the fight well. In the first round, Chiesa knocked Masvidal to the ground, and looked close to finishing the fight first with strikes, and then with a choke. Masvidal recovered, returned to his feet, and managed a few shots of his own.
Later in the second round, Masvidal rolled Chiesa into a D'Arce position just before the clapper that announces 10 seconds left in the round sounded. Masvidal squeezed, and Chiesa tapped right before the horn sounded to end the second round. The fight was stopped, and Masvidal earned the win at 4:59 in the second round.
Chiesa stormed out of the cage as Masvidal celebrated his win. There was bad blood between the two before the fight as Masvidal complained about Chiesa's beard and Chiesa said he wasn't happy with Masvidal's smack talk. Between the bad blood, and Chiesa tapping with barely any time on the clock, he will want that fight back.
Paul DeWolf died on Wednesday and his death is being investigated as a homicide. Photo credit: Facebook.
ANN ARBOR (AP) ? The death of a University of Michigan medical student is being investigated as a homicide, Ann Arbor police said Thursday.
Paul DeWolf, 25, was found dead in his apartment a day earlier. A police investigation began around noon, and university police released a crime alert just before 11 p.m. Wednesday
DeWolf failed to arrive for a scheduled assignment at the Veteran?s Affairs Hospital, so it sent a colleague to the home to check on him, police said. That person discovered DeWolf had died.
An autopsy was performed Thursday, but Ann Arbor police have not released a cause of death. Lt. Detective Robert Pfannes said more information would be released on Friday.
DeWolf, a 2010 graduate of Grand Valley State University, was to graduate from the medical school next spring. He is from Schoolcraft.
?The Ann Arbor police department has met with Mr. DeWolf?s family members, the university community and is coordinating efforts with them,? Pfannes said in a statement. ?
DeWolf also was an active duty second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Pfannes said.
On Thursday, friends remembered DeWolf as a driven student who was expected to accomplish great things in the future.
Jen Hemberg, who had known DeWolf since the fall of 2010 when they both began medical school, said he got along with everyone and loved making others laugh.
?Paul was one of those people that knew everybody and knew everything about everybody, because he liked being around people,? she told AnnArbor.com. Continued...
DeWolf was a cross country and track standout at Schoolcraft High School.
Coach Dave Sanders said DeWolf had a bright future ahead of him.
?I feel a real sense of loss, but not just for me personally,? Sanders told MLive.com. ?Even more so for the people in his life that would have benefited from him achieving his dream and the contribution he was going to make to society and those around him.?
Here is the press release from Ann Arbor Police:?
On July 24, 2013, third year University of Michigan medical student, and active duty Second Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force, Paul DeWolf, failed to arrive as scheduled for his assignment at the Veteran's Hospital. An associate was sent to check on his whereabouts and found the 25 year old student deceased in his apartment in the 200 block of N. Ingalls. That associate called 911.
As a result of the ongoing investigation and the preliminary results of the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner's Office, the incident is being investigated as a homicide at this time.
The Ann Arbor Police Department has met with Mr. DeWolf's family members, the University community and is coordinating efforts with them. The Ann Arbor Police Department offers its deepest condolences to the DeWolf family.
Anybody with information is asked to call the Ann Arbor Police tip line 734-794-6939, or e-mail TIPS@a2gov.org or Crimestoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP
Best Buy and Walmart among stores selling the new tablet early
The new Nexus 7 won't be officially available until July 30, but that hasn't stopped some of the big-name brick-and-mortar retailers from selling a few tablets to customers ahead of the official date. Tony Hoffman tweets that both he and a friend were able to snag new Nexus 7s from two different Walmart stores. And The Verge is reporting that Best Buy is now selling to customers in-store, including at its Union Square location.
There are only a few more days left before the official Nexus 7 street date, but if you're hoping to get one in time for the weekend, you might want to check your local retailers. If you've been lucky enough to pick up a new Nexus 7 already, hit the comments and let us know how you're liking it.
Cowboys' fans will get just one more season of Marcus Smart. (USATSI)
Marcus Smart announced on Tuesday night that he plans on entering the NBA Draft -- after the coming season.
Smart's declaration comes about three months later than expected, as nearly everyone thought the Oklahoma State star would leave college after his freshman season in Stillwater.
"It's safe to say that if, by the grace of God I'm healthy and everything, this will be my last year at Oklahoma State," Smart said, according to Yahoo! Sports. "Nothing will change my mind on that. [Oklahoma State] understands. They didn't figure I was coming back this year. They were just as surprised as everyone else."
Smart, a 6-foot-4 guard, would have been projected as a top-five pick in this past June's draft had he decided to go pro. He was an All-American as a freshman, averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
As a result, everyone anticipated Smart forgoing his final three years of college basketball to be a lottery pick. Instead, the Texas native wanted to stick around for one more season of college.
"You can only go to college and be a college athlete once," Smart said. "College is a great experience. This is where you have fun. This is where you find yourself as a young man and grow up into an adult before you enter the real world."
Oklahoma State could be top-10 team heading into the preseason.
You May Also Like
Biggest Stories
" } //console.log(customStrings.signIn); callFBApi = function() { var accessToken; var uid; //CBSi.injectJS('//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1', 'facebook-jssdk'); /* FB.init({ appId : '297742330311988', oauth : true }); */ FB.getLoginStatus(function(response) { if (response.status === 'connected') { handle_fb_response(response.authResponse); } else{ FB.login(function(response) { if (response.authResponse) { handle_fb_response(response.authResponse); /* uid = response.authResponse.userID; accessToken = response.authResponse.accessToken; //CBSi.log("== FB APP DATA ==", response); FB.api('/me', function(social) { //CBSi.log("== FB USER DATA ==", social); log_in_socially(social.name, social.username, 'fb'); document.cookie = "lf_social_info=|FB|; expires=0; path=/"; }); */ } }); } }); }; handle_fb_response = function(authResponse){ uid = authResponse.userID; accessToken = authResponse.accessToken; FB.api('/me', function(social) { //CBSi.log("== FB USER DATA ==", social); log_in_socially(social.name, social.username, 'fb'); document.cookie = "lf_social_info=|FB|; expires=0; path=/"; }); } log_in_socially = function(dn, userid, site) { $.ajax({ url: "/data/common/livefyre/lf_social_login", dataType: 'json', data: { lfdn: dn, lfuser: userid, ssite: site } }).done(function(profile) { //CBSi.log("== Social Login ==",profile,site); if (profile.error) { //CBSi.log("Social login failed with error: ", profile); return null; } else { document.cookie = "lf_social_login="+ profile.socialsess +"; expires=0; path=/"; profile.socialsess = '1'; userObj = profile; lf_user_profile = profile; doLivefyreAuth(profile); } }); }; callTwitterApi = function() { window.open('/common/livefyre/V3/via_twitter?debug=32','twitterOauth','width=600,height=500,menu=0,status=0'); }; callTwitterApiHidden = function() { var arr1 = readCookie('lf_social_info').split(/\|/); log_in_socially(arr1[2], arr1[3], 'twitter'); hasProfile = 1; } function doLivefyreAuth(cval) { //console.log("== Attempting LF Login ==",cval); var isLoggedIn = 1; if (cval) { try { fyre.conv.login(cval.token); } catch (e) { isLoggedIn = 0; } } } changeDOM = function() { // DOM hacks. Change the UI for the dropdown box //console.log("== Running Dom Hacks =="); if (isLoggedIn == 1){ //console.log("== Checking Match =="); if (hasProfile == 0) { //CBSi.log("== adding get comment link =="); // They need a screen name //$('.lf_auth_section a.lf_user_loggedout').html('Get a Screen Name to Comment').addClass('loginLink'); $('.fyre .fyre-user-loggedout').hide(); $('#getScreenName').show(); var screenNameContent = 'Get a Screen Name to Comment'; $('#getScreenName').html(screenNameContent); } /* else { if (typeof userObj.profile.profile_url != 'undefined'){ if (userObj.profile.profile_url) { //CBSi.log("== adding login profile links =="); $('.fyre .fyre-box-wrapper a.fyre-user-profile-link').attr('href',userObj.profile.profile_url); $('li.fyre-edit-profile-link').html('Edit Profile'); } } } */ } changedDom = 1; //console.log("== finished dom hacks =="); }; function updateCommentCounts(element,count){ //CBSi.log("== updating comment counts =="); if (count == 1){ $(element).html('' + count + ' ??| ?Comment'); $(element).show(); $('.commentsCountLabel').html('comment'); } else{ $(element).html('' + count + ' ??| ?Comments'); $(element).show(); $('.commentsCountLabel').html('comments'); } $('.commentsCount').html(count); } function removeLfError(){ $('#cbsLfError').remove(); } var authDelegate = new fyre.conv.RemoteAuthDelegate(); authDelegate.login = function (handlers){ if (isLoggedIn Please log in above to post a comment.
'); handlers.failure(); } else{ removeLfError(); handlers.success(); } }; function updateAuthorLinks(){ $('.fyre-comment-username').each(function() { $(this).click(function() { window.location.href = $(this).attr('href'); }); }); $('.fyre-comment-author').each(function() { $(this).click(function() { window.location.href = $(this).attr('href'); }); }); } function updateOneLineComments(){ //console.log("Checking Comments"); $(".fyre-comment-wrapper").each(function() { if ($(this).find(".fyre-comment").css('display') != 'none'){ var commentText = $(this).find(".fyre-comment").html(); if (commentText != null){ var loopCtr = 0; // for IE8 while ( (commentText.indexOf("
HONG KONG (Reuters) - The daughter of kung fu legend Bruce Lee spoke fondly on Friday of her father's powerful presence and energy at a preview of an exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of his death.
Fans are gathering in the former British colony of Hong Kong for a series of commemorative events, including art gallery shows, exhibitions and even street graffiti. Many fans are urging the Hong Kong government to do more to honor the star of movies such as Enter The Dragon and Game Of Death.
Shannon Lee was just four years old when her father died in Hong Kong from acute swelling of the brain at the age of 32, at the height of his career.
She is chairwoman of the Bruce Lee Foundation, one of the organizers of the exhibition, which will run for five years.
"I remember his energy, just sort of amazing presence when you were sort of caught in his attention and I really hold that true to my heart," Shannon Lee told a media briefing ahead of the opening on the anniversary of Lee's death on Saturday.
Les was American-born but raised in Hong Kong. His most popular film, Enter the Dragon, was released just six days after his death in 1973.
The Hong Kong government has come under fire from Lee's fans for failing to open a permanent museum in his former mansion in the upscale suburb of Kowloon Tong.
Talks failed in 2011 to get Lee's old home and it became a short-time hotel. Fans have criticized the government over what they say is the lack of a more significant memorial for one of the city's most famous sons.
Some city legislators have suggested the government is wary of fully embracing Lee's legacy for fear of unsettling Beijing by paying tribute to the star's enduring sprit of youthful rebellion.
Shannon Lee said it was the first time that her foundation had lent so many things for an exhibition, referring to the more than 600 items on show at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
"I am really thrilled," she said. "It is the first time a major museum anywhere in the world has mounted an exhibition of this scale and for this length of time."
The exhibition includes some of the clothes Lee wore in his movies and in ordinary life, a 3D animation of him performing some of his trade-mark moves and photographs and video footage chronicling his life.
Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang, speaking at the exhibition preview, said that as a martial arts exponent, Lee was a visionary who created his own philosophy that was still admired and followed today.
Bruce Lee was recognized last year by the U.S. House of Representatives for his significant contribution to popular culture and Chinese-American history.
(Additional reporting by Stefanie McIntyre; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Robert Birsel)
NASA's Hubble shows link between stars' ages and their orbitsPublic release date: 18-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Ray Villard villard@stsci.edu 410-338-4514 NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have determined the orbital motion of two distinct populations of stars in an ancient globular star cluster, offering proof they formed at different times and providing a rare look back into the Milky Way galaxy's early days.
Researchers led by Harvey Richer of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver combined recent Hubble observations with eight years' worth of data from the telescope's archive to determine the motions of the stars in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae, which is located about 16,700 light-years away in the southern constellation Tucana.
The analysis enabled researchers, for the first time, to link the movement of stars in the clusters with the stars' ages. The two populations in 47 Tucanae differ in age by less than 100 million years.
"When analyzing the motions of stars, the longer the time baseline for observations, the more accurately we can measure their motion," said Richer. "These data are so good, we can actually see the individual motions of the stars in the cluster. The data offer detailed evidence to help us understand how various stellar populations formed in such clusters."
The Milky Way's globular clusters are the surviving relics from our galaxy's formation. They offer insights into the early history of our galaxy. 47 Tucanae is 10.5 billion years old and one of the brightest of our galaxy's more than 150 globular clusters. The cluster measures about 120 light-years wide.
Previous spectroscopic studies revealed many globular clusters contain stars of varying chemical compositions, suggesting multiple episodes of star birth. This Hubble analysis supports those studies, but adds the stars' orbital motion to the analysis.
Richer and his team used Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys to observe the cluster in 2010. They combined those observations with 754 archival images to measure the change in position of more than 30,000 stars. Using these data, they could discern how fast the stars move. The team also measured the stars' brightness and temperatures.
This stellar archaeology identified the two distinct populations of stars. The first population consists of redder stars, which are older, less chemically enriched, and orbiting in random circles. The second population consists of bluer stars, which are younger, more chemically enhanced, and moving in more elliptical orbits.
The lack of heavier elements in the redder stars reflects the initial composition of the gas that formed the cluster. After the most massive of these stars completed their stellar evolution, they expelled gas enriched with heavier elements back into the cluster. This gas collided with other gas and formed a second, more chemically enriched generation of stars that was concentrated toward the cluster center. Over time these stars moved slowly outward into more elliptical orbits.
This is not the first time Hubble has revealed multiple generations of stars in globular clusters. In 2007, Hubble researchers found three generations of stars in the massive globular cluster NGC 2808. But Richer's team is the first to link stellar dynamics to separate populations.
The team's results are published in the July 1 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
###
The Hubble Space Telescope is a cooperative project between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Md., conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Inc. in Washington.
For images and more information about 47 Tucanae, visit: http://hubblesite.org/news/2013/25
For more information about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/hubble
[ | 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.
NASA's Hubble shows link between stars' ages and their orbitsPublic release date: 18-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Ray Villard villard@stsci.edu 410-338-4514 NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have determined the orbital motion of two distinct populations of stars in an ancient globular star cluster, offering proof they formed at different times and providing a rare look back into the Milky Way galaxy's early days.
Researchers led by Harvey Richer of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver combined recent Hubble observations with eight years' worth of data from the telescope's archive to determine the motions of the stars in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae, which is located about 16,700 light-years away in the southern constellation Tucana.
The analysis enabled researchers, for the first time, to link the movement of stars in the clusters with the stars' ages. The two populations in 47 Tucanae differ in age by less than 100 million years.
"When analyzing the motions of stars, the longer the time baseline for observations, the more accurately we can measure their motion," said Richer. "These data are so good, we can actually see the individual motions of the stars in the cluster. The data offer detailed evidence to help us understand how various stellar populations formed in such clusters."
The Milky Way's globular clusters are the surviving relics from our galaxy's formation. They offer insights into the early history of our galaxy. 47 Tucanae is 10.5 billion years old and one of the brightest of our galaxy's more than 150 globular clusters. The cluster measures about 120 light-years wide.
Previous spectroscopic studies revealed many globular clusters contain stars of varying chemical compositions, suggesting multiple episodes of star birth. This Hubble analysis supports those studies, but adds the stars' orbital motion to the analysis.
Richer and his team used Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys to observe the cluster in 2010. They combined those observations with 754 archival images to measure the change in position of more than 30,000 stars. Using these data, they could discern how fast the stars move. The team also measured the stars' brightness and temperatures.
This stellar archaeology identified the two distinct populations of stars. The first population consists of redder stars, which are older, less chemically enriched, and orbiting in random circles. The second population consists of bluer stars, which are younger, more chemically enhanced, and moving in more elliptical orbits.
The lack of heavier elements in the redder stars reflects the initial composition of the gas that formed the cluster. After the most massive of these stars completed their stellar evolution, they expelled gas enriched with heavier elements back into the cluster. This gas collided with other gas and formed a second, more chemically enriched generation of stars that was concentrated toward the cluster center. Over time these stars moved slowly outward into more elliptical orbits.
This is not the first time Hubble has revealed multiple generations of stars in globular clusters. In 2007, Hubble researchers found three generations of stars in the massive globular cluster NGC 2808. But Richer's team is the first to link stellar dynamics to separate populations.
The team's results are published in the July 1 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
###
The Hubble Space Telescope is a cooperative project between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Md., conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Inc. in Washington.
For images and more information about 47 Tucanae, visit: http://hubblesite.org/news/2013/25
For more information about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/hubble
[ | 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.
As Recent Graduates Begin Careers and Path to Financial Independence, TransUnion Provides Tips to Manage College Debt and Understand Credit Health
CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Jul 18, 2013) - ?As graduation season comes to a close, many recent graduates have or are securing their first job out of college, settling into a new apartment or home, and beginning a new chapter filled with independence and excitement.?TransUnion reminds them to take a moment after the celebrations are over to evaluate their current financial situation, recognize what debts they now need to start paying back, and understand what factors can help or hurt their chances at upcoming credit applications.
A new Google Consumer Survey commissioned by TransUnion of consumers that graduated from college in the last five years revealed that a quarter (25.1 percent) of recent graduates currently have $30,001 to $45,000 in college debt and an additional 17.2 percent of respondents said they have more than $45,000 in student debt.
"College debt can be one of the most challenging types of debt, simply because you are allowed to put off repayment -- and thinking about the money you owe -- until after graduation," said Julie Springer, vice president at TransUnion responsible for consumer education. "Graduates should take time to review their credit report on an ongoing basis to understand not only the amount of college debt they owe, but also to identify areas to work on and spot any inaccuracies that could possibly indicate identity theft."
TransUnion provides the following tips to help recent graduates get on the path to financial health and living with less college debt:
Know your repayment options:?You have several options for repaying your loan. In general, if your loan balance is less than your annual starting salary, you can expect to pay off your college debt within about 10 years. If it's more, you may have to spread your payments out longer. There are several types of repayment plans outside of the traditional 10-year option, including extended, income-based and graduated. Explore all your options to see which one works best for your budget and debt amount, keeping in mind that the longer you stretch out repayment, the more interest you'll pay.
Make a plan:?Once you've settled on a type of repayment plan that works best for your budget, get it down on paper. A repayment plan that factors in your living expenses, salary increases and other variables can help you feel more comfortable with your college debt -- you control your loans, not the other way around. Of course, your plan can always change from time to time, but being able to see your repayment path clearly can help you stay on track.
Pay extra:?Think about all the unnecessary expenditures you have in your budget each month. While those expenses might be helping your social life, they do nothing for your student loans. Whenever you can, pay extra into your student loan. It may only be an extra $20 per month, but it can add up quickly and help you pay your education off and be debt-free sooner.
Don't Delay:?It's never okay to skip a student loan payment. While most programs offer a deferment option -- where you can legally skip a payment -- it only prolongs your repayment process. Skipping payments without a deferment means defaulting and then dealing with dings on your credit report and a potentially lower credit score. Make your student debt a priority each month so you can take care of it quickly and without hurting your future ability to borrow.
Understand finances - Graduates need to understand exactly where their finances stand.?Regularly reviewing financial statements along with their credit reports from all three credit reporting companies is a good way to understand where they stand at any given time.
Watch for danger signs - Negative records such as late payments and collection accounts can remain on credit reports for 7 years. Graduates can keep their future finances healthy by avoiding these problems from the beginning. Library, cell phone and video store late fees can sometimes be turned over to collection agencies who may then report them to the credit reporting companies. So graduates should keep an eye out for these as well.
Prepare for emergencies - A few preparations for the worst-case scenario can help recent graduates avoid financial problems in an emergency. To start, they should build up enough savings to cover their expenses for two to three months, with the goal of six months. If they find themselves out of a job or unable to pay back their debts, graduates should immediately call their creditors and lenders to explain the situation. Many federal loan programs have deferment and forbearance programs that allow borrowers to put their debts on hold temporarily.
For more information on how to deal with college debt, and all other debts, as well as receive your free credit score by signing up for a 7 day trial as part of your paid TransUnion membership, visit TransUnion.com.
About TransUnion TransUnion Interactive, Inc. is a consumer subsidiary of TransUnion. As a global leader in credit and information management, TransUnion creates advantages for millions of people around the world by gathering, analyzing and delivering information. For businesses, TransUnion helps improve efficiency, manage risk, reduce costs and increase revenue by delivering comprehensive data and advanced analytics and decisioning. For consumers, TransUnion provides the tools, resources and education to help manage their credit health and achieve their financial goals. Through these and other efforts, TransUnion is working to build stronger economies worldwide. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Chicago, TransUnion employs associates in more than 33 countries on five continents. www.transunion.com. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TransUnion.
Going into his fight with Jorge Masvidal at UFC on Fox 8, "The Ultimate Fighter" winner Michael Chiesa was undefeated. Now, he has a loss on his record that he probably will think about for the rest of his career. Masvidal won with a D'arce choke at 4:59 in the second round.
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ugrkzvU2HCnmg0ppspjAcQkYjE8VzD-35d_hMtDitC31kBuYf-kBS7bGgnzGTV8JjKvfe8OLATnFD_iMNjrYCznKmEkyRphIY40yRaur0=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 18-Jul-2013
Share ]