Source: www.washingtonpost.com --- Wednesday, July 17, 2013 The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s top lawmakers on Wednesday continued their war over the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. On the eve of another hearing on the matter, Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) released a transcript in which an IRS employee says the agency’s chief counsel’s office, headed by a President Obama political appointee, helped develop its problematic guidelines for reviewing “tea party” cases. Read full article >> ? ? ? ? ...
Olympic star Jason Kenny gets honorary degree from University of Bolton
12:35pm Wednesday 17th July 2013 in Your Town By Saiqa Chaudhari, Education reporter
OLYMPIC star Jason Kenny swapped his cycling gear for a cap and gown as he was honoured by the University of Bolton.
Bolton?s golden boy joined hundreds of successful students to graduate from the university this morning.
The cycling hero was recognised for his sporting achievements by being awarded an honorary doctorate of science for his contribution to sport, and in particular to the world of cycling.
The award is the latest honour to be bestowed on the triple gold medallist by his home town and the nation.
After his success at the Beijing Olympics he was granted an honorary master's degree from the University of Bolton in 2008.
Bolton Council named the leisure facility at Bolton One after him, and earlier this year he was awarded an OBE.
Jason won golds in the men's team sprint and the individual sprint at London 2012, adding to the gold and silver medals he won in Beijing.
Jason, who has also been awarded an OBE, said: ?It is a an honour.
?I was awarded an monorary master's before and it is really special.
?It is really nice to come back to Bolton. Bolton is very supportive and it's good to come to the university and see how it has grown.?
He added: ?It is good to be part of the student celebrations because they have done really well.?
Jason?s proud family watched him receive the honour, during which he spoke about Bolton One, saying ?it is a great facility ? even if I do say so myself?.
But training commitments meant his girlfriend, also a cycling gold medallist, Laura Trott couldn?t be there.
He said: ?She received a honorary doctorate yesterday and I couldn?t be there.
?It is the way our lives are at the moment.
?After this I am going to France.?
Bolton Council's regeneration boss Keith Davies was also honoured this morning.
As part the company?s 50th anniversary, Coastal Farm & Ranch donated $26,000 worth of livestock panels to the Washington County Fair Education Fund for local 4-H and FFA groups. ?
Coastal Farm & Ranch owner Buzz Wheeler said he was approached by Washington County Fair Complex Manager Leah Perkins-Hagele about an opportunity to support the sheep-showing efforts. As the number of sheep entries at the fair has increased in the past few years, they were in need of more panels. ?
?A lot of our current customers are 4-H and FFA kids,? Wheeler said. ?We feel pretty close to that group and feel really good about supporting these kids whenever we get the chance.?
The panels will be used for the upcoming Washington County Fair July 25-28 at the Washington County Fair Complex at 873 N.E. 34th Ave. in Hillsboro.?
Personal Health Device Specification Supports "Connected Health" Solutions
WAKEFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, has published three specifications, all of which are available now to the public for download at no charge. The three specifications are the Personal Health Device Communication (PHDC) Technical Specification, and the Connection Handover 1.3 and Signature Record Type Definition (RTD) 2.0 Candidate Technical Specifications.
?Together, the Personal Health Device Communication specification and updates to the Connection Handover and Signature RTD specifications enable solutions providers to both broaden and focus the power of NFC in a growing variety of use cases and industries, from Health Care to Consumer Electronics?
The PHDC Technical Specification enables devices such as wireless blood pressure monitors, weighing scales, and glucose meters to transmit health data easily via NFC technology to external computer systems for monitoring by physicians. Wireless health monitoring devices are being increasingly advocated by health care providers as a means of better managing chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, and reducing health care costs. NFC technology supports these use cases by making communication between health devices, computers, and NFC-enabled phones fast, easy, and intuitive.
Formerly a candidate specification, the PHDC Technical Specification provides an interoperable data transport for personal health devices conforming to the ISO/IEEE-11073-20601 Optimized Exchange Protocol and NFC Forum specifications.
Health Care and Consumer Electronics are two of five areas of growth targeted by the NFC Forum as part of its Special Interest Group (SIG) initiative. The NFC Forum also supports SIGs for Retail, Payment, and Transport.
The two other specifications published are candidate technical specifications:
The Connection Handover 1.3Candidate Technical Specification defines the structure and sequence of interactions that allow two NFC-enabled devices to establish a connection using other wireless communication technologies, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This makes it possible for solutions providers to deploy applications that combine the simple, one-touch set-up of NFC with the high-speed communication of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Connection Handover also supports static handover, in which the connection handover information is stored on an NFC tag. Version 1.3 of Connection Handover includes updates to the Connection Handover 1.2 Technical Specification, as well as support for mediated handover, whereby an NFC-enabled device acts as a handover mediator to facilitate connection handover between two other NFC-enabled devices. This capability is useful if those two devices are difficult to place in proximity to each other due to weight, size, or having a fixed location.
The Signature RTD 2.0Candidate Technical Specification provides developers with a means of enabling users to verify the authenticity and integrity of data within NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) messages. It specifies the format used when signing NDEF records and provides a list of suitable signature algorithms and certificate types that can be used to create signatures. Signature RTD 2.0 adds to the features of Signature RTD Technical Specification 1.0 (published in 2010) by supporting compact certificate formats to accommodate most tag types, and increasing security strength by supporting National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Federal Office of Information Security (BSI) recommended algorithms. Signature RTD 2.0 is designed to be open to all Certificate Authorities (CA), such as those issuing certificates for Transport Layer Security (TLS).
"Together, the Personal Health Device Communication specification and updates to the Connection Handover and Signature RTD specifications enable solutions providers to both broaden and focus the power of NFC in a growing variety of use cases and industries, from Health Care to Consumer Electronics," said Koichi Tagawa, NFC Forum Chairman. "We are especially grateful to our members who helped to bring these specifications to fruition, and to our liaison partner Continua Health Alliance for its collaboration and adoption of PHDC into the latest Continua Guidelines."
Candidate specifications remain candidates for final release pending feedback from NFC Forum members and other standards organizations. By releasing candidate specifications, the NFC Forum enables organizations in the NFC ecosystem to begin integrating them into their own work. This gives both NFC Forum members and other standards organizations an opportunity to accelerate their development and provide valuable feedback that can be incorporated into the final specifications. Once the feedback has been evaluated and integrated, the specification will be officially adopted and released by the NFC Forum.
About Near Field Communication Technology
NFC technology makes life easier and more convenient for consumers around the world by making it simpler to make transactions, exchange digital content, and connect electronic devices with a touch. A standards-based connectivity technology, NFC harmonizes today's diverse contactless technologies, enabling current and future solutions in areas such as access control, consumer electronics, health care, information collection and exchange, loyalty and coupons, payments, and transport. NFC technology is supported by the world's leading communication device manufacturers, semiconductor producers, network operators, IT and services companies, and financial services organizations. NFC is compatible with hundreds of millions of contactless cards and readers already deployed worldwide.
About the NFC Forum
The NFC Forum (http://www.nfc-forum.org) was launched as a non-profit industry association in 2004 by leading mobile communications, semiconductor, and consumer electronics companies. The Forum's mission is to advance the use of Near Field Communication technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability among devices and services, and educating the market about NFC technology. The Forum's 190 global member companies currently are developing specifications for a modular NFC device architecture, and protocols for interoperable data exchange and device-independent service delivery, device discovery, and device capability. The NFC Forum's Sponsor members, which hold seats on the Board of Directors, include leading players in key industries around the world. The Sponsor members are: Broadcom Corporation, Google, Inc., Intel, MasterCard Worldwide, NEC, Nokia, NXP Semiconductors, Qualcomm, Renesas Electronics Corporation, Samsung, Sony Corporation, STMicroelectronics, and Visa Inc.
Full Article
SUBSCRIBE TO MFRTech.COM TODAY, CUSTOMIZE YOUR NEWS, RECEIVE BY EMAIL (CLICK HERE)
For a Complete Version of this BUSINESS WIRE Press Release
All comment postings require your name and email address for user verification only. Your email address will not be used or distributed for any other purpose. No advertising is permitted and will result in the post being deleted and/or banning. Please click "REPORT" to report any inappropriate posts. blog comments powered by
Permission to Reproduce: Unless otherwise stated, the copyright and similar rights to all material published on this website are owned by The Manufacturers Group Inc. DBA Manufacturing & Technology eJournal( mfrtech.com ). Reproduction of any article in print, electronic or any other form must acknowledge mfrtech.com as the Source and include a link to http://www.mfrtech.com
I'm back from my 6-week escape from Manila. I spent time with my family in good ol' Anchorage, Alaska. I was half-expecting myself to burn my money shopping for clothes and accessories, but instead found myself headed home with two checked-in baggage of craft supplies and three additional boxes being sent via cargo.
Anchorage is one of those small quaint towns where crafting isn't left for lolas alone. Handmade wasn't a movement, it was an everyday life staple. Here's a list of my favorite places to crafts spots!
BLACK ELK - LEATHER, BEADS & STONES They had an abundance of leather, cord, thread, beads, books, game antlers and even porcupine spikes!
BLAINE'S ART - A PLACE FOR ARTISTS My brother is an Art major at the University, and this is where he gets all his art supplies. This was the mecca of everything art! They had brushes of all sizes, paint and ink in all colors, and markers and pens in every brand.
ALASKA BEAD COMPANY - THE BEADER'S BEAD STORE I used to get my stock of glass beads, wire and tools from this small shop. It was a definite must-visit for me this trip. I even got myself some copper sheets this time to try making some bangles.
STAMP ATTIC - INDEPENDENT STAMP AND SCRAPBOOK STORE I just happened upon their website as I was looking for other craft places to visit. Their shop was filled with stamps, stamp pads, and scrapbook paper. They even hold classes in their shop every so often. The ladies of the shop were some of the nicest people I've ever met.
And of course, there are these All-American crafts supply chains!
MICHAELS - WHERE CREATIVITY HAPPENS Why do I go to Michaels? 1. They have all the Martha Stewart stuff 2. They have weekly coupons, and give you an additional coupon with each visit. Need I say more?
JOANN - FABRIC AND CRAFT STORES Definitely my go-to source for fabric. The best things they had in-store? These adorable bags for crafty crafters!
I'll talk more about my craft loot as they start to come in! :)
Whether it?s a college student returning home to drive the family car over the summer, or a teenager eager to learn to drive before school starts again in September, these are busy- and anxious- months for parents of young drivers.
Before your teen gets behind the wheel, call your BrokerLink broker. Having the right insurance coverage can help put your mind at ease. ?We?ve got five things to consider when protecting your vehicle and your family:
Building a Relationship: Adding another driver to your insurance policy will increase your premiums, but it?s a sure fire way to save money down the road. ?Every year your son or daughter remains collision-free helps to build an important history with an insurance company, which leads to savings when they eventually get their own policy. Without that history, they?ll be treated as a new driver once they apply for insurance, which results in a more expensive policy.
Insurance Company: It may be more affordable to get your child?s car insurance from a different insurance provider. Ask your BrokerLink broker to provide three quotes: the lowest price for just you, the lowest price for your child, and the lowest price for insuring you and your child together. Any quotes should be based on your teenager driving your least expensive vehicle. Keep in mind if you are insured together with your child, any accidents or tickets affect your insurance- not your child?s.
Driver?s Education: It really pays off. Taking a government-approved driver?s education course gives young drivers substantial rate decreases. Graduates could save up to 15% off on car insurance, which is the same discount you?d get for having three years of safe-driving experience.
Claims Protection: This means the insurance company agrees not to increase your premium as a result of any accident. Depending on the company, this may apply separately to each vehicle or to each driver. Costs can range from somewhere between $35 and $65, making it a worthwhile purchase. Don?t confuse this protection with accident forgiveness programs offered by some insurance companies. Accident forgiveness usually means your insurance company will continue to provide coverage after a collision, but your rate will still increase.
Stay Sober: ?Car accidents are the leading cause of death for 15 to 25 year olds, and 50% of those crashes involve alcohol. Statistics show young drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes on weekends, at night and during summer months. Make sure young drivers understand the dangers of drinking and driving, and always plan a safe way home if alcohol is involved.
The best way to teach your young driver the rules of the road is to set a good example. Talk to your local BrokerLink broker to make sure your policy is up to date and your child has coverage before they take the wheel.
Tagged with Auto insurance, car accidents, car insurance, driver's education, driving, insurance discounts, road accidents, safe driving, teen driving, teenager, young drivers.
By Saiqa Chaudhari
