Friday, March 29

Month: July 2015

Victim of Horrific Rock-Throwing Prank Demands Overpass Fencing
Local

Victim of Horrific Rock-Throwing Prank Demands Overpass Fencing

After being seriously injured over a year ago by rocks thrown over an interstate overpass, a Uniontown, Ohio woman named Sharon Budd is now making sure that no one else will go through what she has. She is urging Pennsylvania and Ohio lawmakers to install protective fences on all new highway overpasses, to prevent people from throwing objects over them. Seven surgeries later, Sharon has had an eye removed and part of her skull replaced. The four-and-a-half pound rock that 19-year-old Bret Lahr hurled over the overpass shattered the windshield and hit Budd in the face, causing her severe injuries and permanent brain damage. Though they are pursuing a civil suit, Budd's husband has stated publicly that a slap on the wrist is not enough. What was supposed to be a prank changed their lives fo...
Two Medical Software Companies Enter Into New Partnership With Focus on Electronic Billing Services
Business

Two Medical Software Companies Enter Into New Partnership With Focus on Electronic Billing Services

Two medical billing software companies are teaming up to offer a comprehensive medical billing service to their clients. PR Newswire reports that as of this month, Phoenix-based CompuGroup Medical U.S. (CGM) is partnering with Express Medical Billing, Inc. (EMB) in St. Louis to expand its services and clientele. Specifically, the agreement calls for EMB to use CGM's DAQbilling, a practice management solution software system that specializes in billing for medical laboratories. The software system can encompass an unlimited amount of users, providers, locations, and methods of access. The partnership will ensure that the software system will reach even more practices and save them on expenses as well. The partnership will also introduce a distinct business model by using two CGM so...
Online Shoppers Are Swayed by Membership Deals, And Amazon Prime Is Proof
Business

Online Shoppers Are Swayed by Membership Deals, And Amazon Prime Is Proof

As Amazon geared up for its first annual "Prime Day" on July 15 -- a day that was marketed as a rival to Black Friday and which has promised unbelievable sales and one-day shipping for Prime members only -- it's clear that the world of e-commerce has become bigger in the past few years than anyone expected. "Prime Day" is essentially just one big marketing scheme, exactly like Black Friday deals, but it's bringing attention to a growing online shopping trend: more businesses that want to cultivate customers' online shopping experiences are offering subscription passes which allow members to take part in the sales. Amazon's Prime membership is the most popular type of subscription shopping program, but Business Insider has recently reported that other businesses have created similar membe...
Could Your Home Be at Risk of Getting Solar Distortion?
Lifestyle

Could Your Home Be at Risk of Getting Solar Distortion?

This summer, your home is at risk of being damaged. During this time of year, a phenomenon called solar distortion happens -- and it could be ruining your home's vinyl siding as you read this article. According to a July 3 WDTV article, solar distortion is what happens when one home's windows reflect sunlight onto the home next door's siding, causing the siding to melt and costing the homeowner thousands of dollars in siding repairs. Vinyl siding is the most popular siding choice for American homeowners, and it's not hard to see why. This siding is durable, affordable and aesthetically pleasing -- just not when it's located within the "hot zone" of a neighbor's energy-efficient windows. Energy-efficient windows, or Low-E windows, essentially act like a magnifying glass, multiplying the...
Men’s Wearhouse Collects Suits and Other Professional Clothing to Benefit Ex-Prisoners
Fashion

Men’s Wearhouse Collects Suits and Other Professional Clothing to Benefit Ex-Prisoners

Men's Wearhouse wants to help inmates dress to impress on job interviews. To help get work-ready attire for men and women who will soon be released from prison, Men's Wearhouse locations across the country will accept men's and women's clothing appropriate for job interviews until the end of July. This is the eighth annual National Suit Drive that the company has held. They are working in conjunction with corrections departments around the country to help offenders find jobs, as well. The Men's Wearhouse stores will serve as clothing drop off points for items such as suits, dress shirts, jackets, and dress skirts, as well as accessories like ties, belts, and shoes. Men's Wearhouse is looking to meet or exceed its goal of 250,000 interview-ready items. Over the past seven years, th...
Will NASCAR Stand Up To Confederate Flag Waving Fans?
Sport

Will NASCAR Stand Up To Confederate Flag Waving Fans?

On Friday, July 10, South Carolina finally removed the Confederate flag from the state capitol building, lowering the controversial symbol "with dignity." Major retailers like Wal-Mart have declared they will no longer sell merchandise that contains images of the flag. Now, a major institution of southern white culture is grappling with the issue as well -- critics are demanding NASCAR do more to keep the flag out of its racetracks this summer. In the popular imagination, NASCAR is perhaps unfairly maligned as a "redneck" sport; however, in a nation with almost 800 cars per 1,000 residents, it's also a hugely popular All-American culture of its own. NASCAR issued a statement supporting South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's efforts to take down the flag once and for all this July. Plus, t...
More Than Half of Executives Want to Work With Companies That Have a Culture
Business

More Than Half of Executives Want to Work With Companies That Have a Culture

It's more important for a business to have a culture than you might think. According to a new study, a brand's culture can be the determining factor in whether or not an executive decides to do business with a company. A culture is the evolving set of collective beliefs, values, and attitudes of a group. In other words, a business culture is the "why" of the business. It's not what the business does, but why it does what it does. Business culture encompasses an organization's values, visions, working style, beliefs, and habits. Culture not only helps a business draw the best talent, but according to the new study from creative agency Gyro and Fortune Knowledge Group, it helps companies decide whether or not to do business. According to the study, 60% of the 500 executives surveyed said...
New Powerball Odds Make $1 Billion Jackpot About 7.5 Times More Likely to Occur
Lifestyle

New Powerball Odds Make $1 Billion Jackpot About 7.5 Times More Likely to Occur

Good news, and bad news, Powerball players. Soon, the odds of winning the lottery's jackpot are going to be tougher, but you may be able to win $1 billion if you do. In the beginning of July, the New York Gaming Commission announced that it'd be tweaking the odds of winning the lottery to increase revenue. Soon, the odds are going from one in 175,223,510, to one in 292,201,338. In other words, those odds that were worse than being struck by lightning (one in 3 million), or being attacked by sharks (one in 11.5 million), or even being crushed to death by a vending machine (only one in 112 million, actually) are now even worse. On the bright side, a mathematician at FiveThirtyEight has figured out that the new odds make it radically more likely for a player to win $1 billion. About 7.5 tim...
William & Mary Study Connects Mental Health to Diet
Lifestyle

William & Mary Study Connects Mental Health to Diet

Diet and exercise work together to keep us healthy, and without one, the other may as well be pointless. A recent study conducted jointly by professors at William and Mary and the University of Maryland highlighted yet another key benefit of this balance. The study looked into the possible connection between social anxiety and fermented foods. We’ve heard the cliche “you are what you eat” enough times to have it ingrained in our brains forever. But the results of this study prove that eating healthier can affect both your body and your mind in a positive way. We’ve seen the connection between mental health issues and exercise already. Other studies have proven exercise to be an effective antidepressant for mild depression due to the dopamine production that occurs. The William and Mary st...
New Study Shows Promise in Treating Melanoma
World

New Study Shows Promise in Treating Melanoma

A new treatment for melanoma shows extraordinary promise, according to a recent medical study. Latinos Health reports that a study conducted by Dr. Julian Kim, the Chief Medical Officer of the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center (UHSCC) in Cleveland, Ohio, found that T-cells from patients with melanoma can be used against the disease by providing a protective immunity response for the body. The study was published in the July/August issue of the Journal of Immunotherapy. T-cells are a kind of white blood cell that have the ability to "scan" the intracellular composition of a cell, detecting and destroying those cells that have been infected. T-cells can be used against cancerous cells under certain conditions. In the study, Dr. Kim and his team of researchers took active t-cells ...