October 2014 - Daily Inbox

Are Pet Costumes as Good of an Idea as You Think They Are?

30Oct

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Lifestyle

Are Pet Costumes as Good of an Idea as You Think They Are?

One of the best things about Halloween is the socially acceptable chance to dress your doggy or kitty up as a little devil, pumpkin, witch, princess or hot dog. Though you might find them to be utterly adorable and a bit comical, your four-legged friend may not think the joke is all that funny. In fact, the costume may make them anxious, or even hurt them."In general, tolerance of costumes is pet dependent," said Dr. Stacy Eckman from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "Some pets will tolerate them, and others will not."Though some pets are fine with getting dressed as a banana or lobster, others may be thoroughly bothered by their costumes. The only way to know, though, is to have your pet try the costume on. If he or she doesn't like it, you'll quic...

According to Recent 2014 Survey, Federal Employees Have Low Morale and Little Trust in Senior Officials

29Oct

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Business

According to Recent 2014 Survey, Federal Employees Have Low Morale and Little Trust in Senior Officials

The notion that many American citizens disapprove of and mistrust their government is, unfortunately, not uncommon. But the notion that employees of the federal government also lack faith in their leaders may come as a surprise. Nevertheless, as the Washington Post reports, the nationwide 2014 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, which was released at the end of October, found that morale among government workers is at a five-year low. While the majority of Americans employed at various government agencies still believe that their work is important, the survey found that these employees are increasingly frustrated with their senior leaders. And as Federal Times reporter Andy Medici notes, statistics comparing employee morale between 2011 and 2014 are indicative of how quickly this frustrati...

Office of the Investigator General Under Harsh Scrutiny After Negative Audit

28Oct

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Business

Office of the Investigator General Under Harsh Scrutiny After Negative Audit

A recent audit of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Office of Inspector General turned up some concerning things. According to the audit, the OIG did very little to prevent Medicaid fraud. OIG screening is designed to prevent the hiring of individuals who have committed fraud or other crimes that make them unfit to provide federal health care services. Unfortunately, the audit of the Texas OIG revealed that it took an average of over three years for the Texas office to close cases, and only a tiny percentage of fraudulent or erroneous payments were recovered. According to the audit, the Texaz OIG identified $1.1 billion in Medicaid overpayments between 2012 and 2013, but only $5.5 million was recouped in that time period. This implies poor screening policies and possib...

Eight Year Old “Jaws” Finally Loses First Baby Tooth After a Year of Waiting

28Oct

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World

Eight Year Old “Jaws” Finally Loses First Baby Tooth After a Year of Waiting

An eight year old British boy has finally lost his first baby tooth -- a year after his permanent teeth started growing in behind them. Zak Brown of Wakefield, West Yorkshire began noticing his permanent teeth coming in about a year ago, but there was a slight problem -- his baby teeth had yet to fall out, leaving him with two rows of teeth where there should only be one. The oddity has earned him the nickname "Jaws" among his fellow classmates, in reference to the multiple layers of teeth that sharks have. "It looked really odd, and they kept on coming. All the while he wasn't losing his baby teeth," noted his mother Claire, according to Mail Online. Although concerning at first, the extra teeth did not appear to be bothering her son or affecting his ability to chew or talk. It does, ho...

DOD Employee Vehicles Hang in Limbo as Transport Service Fails To Pay Fees and Deliver Cars on Time

28Oct

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Business

DOD Employee Vehicles Hang in Limbo as Transport Service Fails To Pay Fees and Deliver Cars on Time

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has been struggling to transport its troops' privately owned vehicles (POV) for some time now, dealing with major delays, late payments to car shipping companies, and hundreds of angry civilians who have been left without their family vehicles. And this situation isn't likely to improve, as yet another subcontractor is threatening to discontinue its car transport services for the U.S. military. Liberty Global Logistics, located in Lake Success, N.Y., is a shipping subcontractor to Georgia-based shipping service International Auto Logistics. This past May, International won a contract with the DOD wherein they provided shipping services for personal cars of DOD employees and of Americans serving in the military. The service is focused on transporting c...

Why More Web Developers Are Looking Back to the 90s

28Oct

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Business

Why More Web Developers Are Looking Back to the 90s

The internet is often seen as a realm of innovation, constantly moving from trend to trend -- and hopefully creating a better online experience in the process. For this reason, older layouts are typically derided as outdated and stale, more amusing than an effective method of drawing users. However, a number of web developers are drawing attention for their 90s-inspired designs, which they claim invoke a sense of community largely absent from the modern internet. In a world that seems to desire nostalgia and modernity in equal amounts, could the way of the future mean a return to the past? In early October, author and web developer Paul Ford launched Tilde.club, an experimental hosting provider he claims has quickly gained thousands of users, as well as financial donations and technical h...

Oregon’s GMO Ballot Measure Draws Nationwide Attention

28Oct

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Local

Oregon’s GMO Ballot Measure Draws Nationwide Attention

November 4, 2014 is slated to be a noteworthy day across the United States, with elections for state and federal legislative seats scheduled to be held around the country. However, in Oregon, voters are looking forward to yet another important event: the fate of Measure 92, which could make the state the first in the nation to pass a law requiring GMO products to be labeled at the ballot box. Oregon is technically not the first to pass a law requiring agricultural products to announce whether they contain GMOs, or genetically modified organisms; for example, the Vermont Legislature approved a labeling bill which is set to begin in 2016. However, it is currently being challenged in court, making Oregon a potentially pivotal site for this controversial issue, which could help determine whet...

New Men’s Hair Trend Could Contribute to Hair Loss, Experts Say

27Oct

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Lifestyle

New Men’s Hair Trend Could Contribute to Hair Loss, Experts Say

Human hair is weak and therefore vulnerable to damage and breakage if not well managed. You should ensure that your hair stylist uses hair products and tools meant for hair thinning to avoid injury. Some hair salon hair products could make your hair heavy and unmanageable. They also leave a sticky feeling on hair, making it appear unhealthy. You should adopt the use of advanced hair products to help with thinning hair. Hair loss treatment products are aimed at making the hair appear thick and full. These products are gentle on thinning hair and are ideal for color or chemical treated hair. Hair experts recommend using hair products that improve the resilience and strength of thinning hair by cleansing and conditioning. They include stimulating shampoo with vitamins that help in boosting t...

Study Finds Video Marketing to Be Most Trusted Content Format Among Consumers

24Oct

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Business

Study Finds Video Marketing to Be Most Trusted Content Format Among Consumers

Recent studies are reinforcing the efficacy that video marketing boasts by taking a look at how consumers respond to online video content. According to Net Imperative, a September Brightcove study of 2,000 people around the world found that an amazing 76% of consumers consider video to be their preferred form of online content when researching information on brands. Almost a quarter -- 24% -- of consumers reported that video is their "most trusted" form of marketing content. Another study, conducted by Levels Beyond, revealed that 59% of consumers are likely to watch video marketing content if they visit a website. Moreover, 61% will watch a marketing video if a friend shares it on his or her social media page. The Levels Beyond study also found that marketers aren't prioritizing video ...

Professor Looks to Concrete in Designing Taller Wind Turbines

24Oct

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Business

Professor Looks to Concrete in Designing Taller Wind Turbines

The next push in renewable energy may be supported by an unlikely material: concrete. Midwest Energy News reported Oct. 20 that Sri Sritharan, an engineering professor at Iowa State University, is working on a modular tower design for wind turbines that would allow them to reach above the 80-meter limit of current steel towers. Sritharan has developed two pieces that can be precast from concrete, a panel and a column, that can be assembled in as many combinations as are necessary to reach the desired height. “It’s flexible,” he told Midwest Energy News. “If you’re using a GE turbine, you use one set of dimensions. If you’re using a Siemens turbine, you have a different set of dimensions.” The Limitations of Steel Steel cannot be used to create taller towers because steel towers are tr...