Prevent Osteporosis Verse

It's Never Too Late to Prevent Osteporosis

Calcium - a key element in the fight

Osteoporosis, a chronic disease that results in the deterioration of bone mineral density, affects nearly 28 million Americans -- 2 million of which are men. Despite these staggering numbers, this disease is often preventable.

Though osteoporosis has been thought of as a disease that affects mostly women, 5-6 million men are at risk of developing this disease each year and the risks increase with age. This year alone 80,000 men will suffer from hip fractures and one-third of these men will die within a year. It has also been estimated that direct and indirect costs associated with osteoporosis are $12-14 billion annually.

The leading causes of osteoporosis in men are:
Heavy use of alcohol
Steroid usage
Hypogonadism (loss of male hormone)

Additional causes of osteoporosis (in both men and women) include:
Genetics/family history
Lack of weight-bearing exercises
Smoking
Inadequate calcium intake throughout life

Your Prescription Medication is Not Enough

With such alarming numbers, the National Institutes of Health and the National Osteoporosis Foundation have recommended that treatment of osteoporosis with any drug therapy also requires sufficient calcium and vitamin D to achieve optimal benefits. Studies have shown that you can triple your medication's bone-building benefits if you get the recommended 1,200 milligrams of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D daily. But, according to a recent survey, only 30 percent of women are taking calcium and vitamin D with their osteoporosis medication.

According to national studies, we are not getting enough calcium in our daily diet. While foods such as milk, broccoli, kale, beans and cheese are primary sources of calcium, large quantities of these foods would need to be eaten in order to get the right amount of calcium. A single serving of dairy provides only about 300 mg of calcium and up to 100 IU of vitamin D.

Because the average woman only gets about half the recommended daily requirement of calcium through her diet, patients who are on therapy for osteoporosis need a calcium and vitamin D supplement. "It's generally acknowledged that we don't get enough calcium through our diet, so it's a good idea for most adults, particularly those patients on osteoporosis therapy or at risk for osteoporosis, to take a calcium supplement such as Citracal + D," advises Dr. Miriam Nelson, associate professor of Nutrition and director of the Center for Physical Fitness at the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and author of "Strong Women, Strong Bones."

Choosing a Supplement That's Right for You

Research has determined that different types of calcium supplement formulations (carbonate, phosphate and citrate) are absorbed in different ways by the body. The most widely available over-the-counter calcium supplements are formulated primarily from calcium carbonate, which is relatively insoluble.

Though calcium carbonate usually contains the highest concentration of calcium by weight, a study published in The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology shows that calcium carbonate is not readily available to the body. A study conducted by Howard J. Heller, M.D., assistant professor, Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, indicates that the tablet formulation of calcium citrate in the form of Citracal was more bioavailable than calcium carbonate in the form of Os-Cal, even when given with a meal.

Dr. Nelson explains, "Calcium citrate does not require stomach acids for absorption as does calcium carbonate. This is an added benefit for older women who do not produce much stomach acid between meals. When combining the ease of absorption when taken with or without a meal and the vital Vitamin D component by which calcium turns into bone, calcium citrate supplements such as Citracal + D are a simple way to maintain the bone mass you've built."

Here are Some Tips to Prevent Osteoporosis:
Eat calcium-rich foods, such as dairy, broccoli, kale, and beans
Moderate your intake of alcohol
Don't use steroids
If you smoke, quit
Take a daily ten-minute walk as a form of weight-bearing exercise

For more information on osteoporosis, please visit Mission Pharmacal's Web site at www.citracal.com. Citracal is manufactured and marketed by Mission Pharmacal, a leader in innovative pharmaceutical products since 1946. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the company has been dedicated to identifying unmet health needs in the marketplace and then developing innovative prescription and over-the-counter products to meet those needs for more than 50 years. Currently, Mission Pharmacal provides physicians and consumers with pharmaceutical, nutritional, diagnostic and medical device products.

Courtesy ARA Content, http://www.aracontent.com/.


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Cable vs. Satellite TV Ode

Cable vs. Satellite TV -- Which is Best?

The move is on. Last year millions of Americans switched from cable TV to satellite TV.

Why? When you compare satellite TV to cable TV you'll discover the main reasons are cost, picture quality, program choices, and customer satisfaction.

Let's check out the differences ...

Cable vs. Satellite TV Fees

Cable TV fees across the country average $39.99 per month. In our area the cost for cable TV is $37.30 a month for 64 channels, plus $10.95 a month to add digital channels. Installation in one room is $39.95, plus $9.95 for each additional room.

Satellite TV fees from Dish Network are $31.99 per month for 60 channels, while DirecTV charges $41.99 per month for 115 channels. Both satellite TV providers currently offer free satellite TV equipment and free installation in up to four rooms.

Cable vs. Satellite TV Programming

Cable TV in most areas offers almost as many channels as satellite TV, and is broadcast in analog (over-the-air) format. If you want to have digital picture and sound you'll have to pay an additional fee, usually $10 to $15 a month.

Satellite TV offers more channels than cable TV (more than 250 channels), and more HDTV (high definition TV) programming. All satellite TV channels are broadcast in digital format for the highest quality picture and sound.

Cable vs. Satellite TV Equipment

With cable you only need cable boxes that connect the incoming cable line to your televisions. There is usually no charge or rental fees for cable boxes, however, If you want a digital video recorder, you'll have to pay an extra fee.

With satellite TV you need a satellite TV dish and TV receivers. Both Dish Network and DirecTV offer that equipment, plus installation, for free. Dish Network will give you a DVR (digital video recording) receiver or an HDTV receiver at no charge, while DirecTV charges $49.99 for DVR receivers and $299 for HDTV receivers.

Cable and Satellite TV Reliability and Customer Satisfaction

Cable TV outages average 3% to 5% per year. J.D. Powers and Associates ranks cable companies as good to poor in customer satisfaction.

Satellite TV outages average about 1%. J.D. Power and Associates has ranked the two satellite TV providers -- Dish Network and DirecTV -- higher in customer satisfaction than any of the cable TV companies for the last five years

The Bottom Line

If you only watch a couple of shows a week, and you live in an area where you can't get over-the-air TV and cable TV costs less than $20 per month, then cable may be your best option.

If, on the other hand, you want the biggest variety of shows, movies, sports, and news for the least amount of money ... you want to watch your all your shows in digital video and sound ... and you want the option of watching them in HD format and recording them on a DVR receiver, then satellite TV is what you're looking for.

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on free satellite TV systems. For more information on free satellite TV systems go to: http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com.


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Education @ Net Poem

Higher Education @ Net Speed

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine life before the internet. Believe it or not, the internet has just celebrated its 35th birthday. I suspect no one would have imagined the impact such an invention would have on our daily lives. And its potential increases with every day.

The internet provides us with up-to-date news, entertainment, forums, and a multitude of other topics where anything you can think of is literally at our fingertips. Newly popular is the concept of acquiring your education online. While more and more colleges and universities are offering some classes online, online degrees are becoming increasingly accepted and habitual. Anyone who wants to improve their skills, make a change in career, or simply further their understanding of their profession can obtain an online degree. It is especially convenient for people who work full time.

People who work full time may not be able to take a year sabbatical from work or leave work all together to go back to school on a full time basis. At the same time, going back to school on a part time basis may not be convenient for their nine to five routine or it may interfere with their schedule. So why would someone who already has a job want to get an online degree?

We know the job market is very competitive and constantly changing, therefore, our skills continually need sharpening and updating. This is not because what we know no longer applies but rather because what we know needs to be applied to new situations and duties. By improving your abilities, it shows an eagerness on your part to improve your position. Not only will another degree help advance your career within the company but if a promotion should come about, your name may be mentioned as a possible candidate.

If you are unhappy with your current job situation and plan on making a switch, what better way to do so than by getting a degree online. Not only it is convenient because you earn it on your own time but it is a simple way to get the qualifications needed for the new job. Also, try not to get caught up in the excitement of applying for a new job and all the possibilities it may bring. It’s important to remember that applying for a job does not actually guarantee you the job! So before you decide to give your boss your two weeks’ notice, hang on to your job.

Still need another reason why getting an online degree is a great idea for a full time worker? Every June, a new batch of fresh-faced college graduates hit the market running. They are eager, enthusiastic about work, and willing to start at the bottom if necessary if that is what it takes. So in order to keep your place and not get bumped because someone younger is willing to work for less, you need to stay competitive.

No matter what your situation is, whether you want to hone your skills and add new ones, or you’re looking to start a new career path, getting your degree online has never been more convenient. The internet has provided us with a wonderful opportunity; it is up to us to take advantage of it.

Alexandria Haber writes both fiction and non-fiction for a variety of people and places. As a result, she has had the benefit of gaining a little bit of knowledge about a lot of different subjects. While researching this article on the hottest careers, she gained a new respect for the education industry. For more information on distance education you can visit: Online College Degrees Information - http://www.comparedegrees.com.


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Amazon Serenade

Invasion of the Amazons

The last few months have witnessed a bloodbath in tech stocks coupled with a frantic re-definition of the web and of every player in it (as far as content is concerned).

This effort is three pronged:

Some companies are gambling on content distribution and the possession of the attendant digital infrastructure. MightyWords, for example, stealthily transformed itself from a "free-for-all-everyone-welcome" e-publisher to a distribution channel of choice works (mainly by midlist authors). It now aims to feed its content to content-starved web sites. In the process, it shed thousands of unfortunate authors who did not meet its (never stated) sales criteria.

Others bet the farm on content creation and packaging. Bn.com invaded the digital publishing and POD (Print on Demand) businesses in a series of lightning purchases. It is now the largest e-book store by a wide margin.

But Amazon seemed to have got it right once more. The web's own virtual mall and the former darling of Wall Street has diversified into micropayments.

The Internet started as a free medium for free spirits. E-commerce was once considered a dirty word. Web surfers became used to free content. Hence the (very low) glass ceiling on the price of content made available through the web - and the need to charge customers less than 1 US dollars to a few dollars per transaction ("micro-payments"). Various service providers (such as Pay-Pal) emerged, none became sufficiently dominant and all-pervasive to constitute a standard. Web merchants' ability to accept micropayments is crucial. E-commerce (let alone m-commerce) will never take off without it.

Enter Amazon. Its "Honour System" is licensed to third party web sites (such as Bartleby.com and SatireWire). It allows people to donate money or effect micro-payments, apparently through its patented one-click system. As far as the web sites are concerned, there are two major drawbacks: all donations and payments are refundable within 30 days and Amazon charges them 15 cents per transaction plus 15(!) percent. By far the worst deal in town.

So, why the fuss?

Because of Amazon's customer list. This development emphasizes the growing realization that one's list of customers - properly data mined - is the greatest asset, greater even than original content and more important than distribution channels and digital right management or asset management applications. Merchants are willing to pay for access to this ever expanding virtual neighbourhood (even if they are not made privy to the customer information collected by Amazon).

The Honour System looks suspiciously similar to the payment system designed by Amazon for Stephen King's serialized e-novel, "The Plant". Interesting to note how the needs of authors and publishers are now in the driver's seat, helping to spur along innovations in business methods.

Sam Vaknin is the author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited" and "After the Rain - How the West Lost the East". He is a columnist in "Central Europe Review", United Press International (UPI) and ebookweb.org and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and searcheurope.com. Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia.
His web site: http://samvak.tripod.com.


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Malpractice Claims Opus

Managerial Malpractice Claims on the Rise

Protect Your Assets and Executives with D&O Insurance

When disgruntled shareholders, employees, customers or competitors allege financial mismanagement, discrimination or other wrongful acts, blame often lands at the feet of corporate directors and officers. Claims of managerial malpractice are on the rise, along with the costs -- legal fees, settlements and judgments - associated with them.

Just how expensive can a claim against your company and its officers be? The average shareholder claim rose $1.51 million to $8.67 million in 1999, the highest ever recorded. During the same period, the average employee claim climbed to $306,000, up from $287,000 in 1998.

"That fact is, the threat of lawsuits and litigation costs is a basic risk of corporate directorship," says international risk management expert Thomas W. Harvey. "Because directors' and officers' services are considered fiduciary, requiring decision-makers to exercise their powers in good faith and with prudent judgment, directors and officers risk what essentially are managerial malpractice claims."

According to Harvey, president and CEO of Assurex International, the world's largest privately held commercial insurance brokerage group, directors and officers (D&O) claims typically result from disputes over financial or accounting irregularities or company decisions alleged to adversely affect shareholders' return on investment.

For public companies, shareholder complaints are the most frequent sources of D&O claims. Common shareholder complaints involve financial disclosure, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, mergers and acquisitions, stock offerings and spin-off-related issues.

Discrimination is the primary employee complaint, followed by wrongful termination, harassment and breach of contract. Clients cite discrimination more often than any other type of complaint. Business interference tops the list of competitors' claims. For both clients and competitors, contract disputes come in second on the list of typical grievances.

"Directors and officers insurance can help mitigate losses when an organization and its directors or officers are slapped with a legal claim," said Harvey. "For responsible organizations operating in the age of workplace lawsuits, D&O insurance is a must."

The Purpose of D&O Insurance

Available for public and private companies, non-profit and for-profit organizations, D&O insurance:

1. Protects directors and officers with insurance covering matters for which they might not be indemnified under corporate by-laws.
2. Reimburses the organization after it has indemnified directors and officers in accordance with corporate by-laws.
3. Motivates the organization to attract quality outside persons to serve as directors or executive managers.
4. Reassures inside directors and officers.

What Type of D&O Insurance is Right for You?

Your organization's structure will determine the type of D&O coverage application form used by the underwriter. Insurance companies that underwrite D&O policies distinguish between for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as publicly held and private companies when preparing D&O quotes and policies.

The good news for non-profits: D&O coverage is both broad and reasonably priced for non-profit organizations. Minimum premiums begin well under $1,000. Directors and officers of non-profit organizations can obtain coverage aspects and extensions not available to the directors and officers of for-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations' coverage provisions might include full coverage for the organization, employment practices liability, an affirmative coverage grant for punitive damages (unless prohibited by law), defense expenses payable beyond policy limits and in some cases no per-claim deductible.

When it comes to private versus public company D&O insurance, a major distinction is the scope of coverage available for the organization as an entity. Most publicly held organizations are able to purchase coverage for the organization's liability only for shareholder claims in connection with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) liability. Since this exposure is not faced by private organizations (even those with shareholders), underwriters generally exclude the SEC exposure from private companies' D&O policies. But, it is still important that a private organization's D&O coverage not exclude claims brought by shareholders, as many private organizations do indeed have shareholders.

Underwriters of private company D&O insurance offer several coverage forms to cover the organization's liability to the same extent as the liability coverage provided to directors and officers. However, since for-profit D&O policy limits are provided on an aggregate limit basis, payment of covered claims made against the organization erodes the coverage limit available for directors and officers.

Don't Forget Employment Practices Liability Coverage

A benefit of covering private organizations as an entity on a D&O policy, in addition to protecting the directors and officers, is the ready availability of Employment Practices Liability (EPL) coverage. EPL insurance protects employers from workers' claims of discrimination or wrongful termination based on race, sex, age or disability. EPL insurance also protects organizations from third-party liability claims filed by customers and outsiders.

How to Maximize Your D&O Coverage: 15 Buying Tips

D&O insurance coverages are highly negotiable. Your insurance agent should make every effort to customize D&O coverage to meet the unique needs of your organization and its management structure. Market conditions should be taken into account as well.

Assurex International offers 15 tips to maximize your organization's D&O insurance coverage.

1. Make sure the policy is non-cancelable, except for non-payment of the premium. Require the insurer to give a minimum of 90 days written notice of non-renewal.
2. Strive for an affirmative coverage statement regarding punitive damages.
3. Be clear on the extent of entity coverage afforded, for settlements, judgments and defense expenses. As an alternative, pre-set an allocation percentage (ideally 100 percent) for the entity. Generally, for publicly held entities, the only entity coverage available is for SEC-related claims. While broader entity coverage is available, D&O entity coverage is still evolving.
4. Is the policy endorsed to extend to EPL claims? This extension is valuable only if the entity is specifically covered for EPL claims.
5. If your organization is publicly held, have your agent investigate a coverage carve out in the exclusionary language for pollution-related claims, covering shareholder suits against directors and officers.
6. Generally, exclusionary language for Professional Services or for Errors or Omissions is too broad. Request coverage carve out for failure to supervise, if the exclusion cannot be removed entirely.
7. Secure a written commitment from the insurer for multiple-year pricing, or language that restricts possible premium increases to significant financial changes, a major acquisition or significant claims activity.
8. Seek automatic coverage for newly acquired or created organizations, with no additional premium payable with policy renewal or anniversary.
9. Make sure there is a specific provision for the insurer to advance defense costs to the insured.
10. Arrange for pre-approval of the insurer's choice of defense counsel.
11. Secure coverage for non-officer employees named in a covered suit with officers and/or directors.
12. Be sure a minimum of 12 months is allowed for the Extended Reporting period (discovery clause).
13. Have legal counsel review the D&O policy application forms before submitting them.
14. Extend coverage to include outside directorships.
15. Have your insurance broker obtain a carve out from the usual insured versus insured exclusion to cover claims brought by bankruptcy trustees, federal or statutory receivers, and debtors-in-possession. This is valuable in situations involving bankruptcy of the insured organization.

D&O insurance will not necessarily protect your organization against intentional wrongdoing such as fraud, theft or blatant disregard for employees' rights. However, whether your organization is private, public or non-profit, D&O insurance should be a component of your overall insurance and risk management program.

Assurex International is the world's largest privately held commercial insurance brokerage group. Assurex is owned by more than 67 of the largest independent insurance brokers in the United States and Canada. In addition, Assurex maintains affiliate relationships with Assurex Synergy Group Partners in more than 45 foreign countries. With local brokers in every major city of the world, Assurex is positioned to deliver seamless global insurance and risk management services wherever clients have assets at risk. Independent Assurex brokers employ more than 12,000 professionals on six continents and generate annual premiums in excess of $14 billion. Visit Assurex online at www.assurex.com.

Courtesy ARA Content, http://www.aracontent.com.


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Car Maintenance Wealth Verse

Internet Provides Wealth of Information on Car Maintenance

A thorough check of your vehicle's major systems is a good idea before the snow flies, and checking your tires, brakes and battery is a good start. But if you're like many drivers, you may not know enough to recognize a problem when you see one.

For instance, do you know the telltale signs of a weakening battery? Do you know the difference between all-season tires and performance tires, or which one is right for your vehicle?

The Internet can provide a wealth of information for the car maintenance novice who is looking for tips on how to winterize a vehicle or make a specific purchase. Online resources, such as motorist.org and some manufacturer Web sites, can provide basic information on how systems such as brakes, shock absorbers and batteries work, why they're important, and what car owners should be aware of when preparing their vehicles for winter conditions.

For example, if your car cranks slowly when you try to start it, has trouble starting in cold weather, or if your headlights dim when the car is idling, have that battery checked. And if you're buying tires, all season radials are designed to handle dry and wet surfaces as well as some snow, while performance tires provide more grip and a sportier feel.

A new Web site, sears.com/auto, lets drivers compare features and prices of batteries and tires, gather information about automotive maintenance, and find answers to commonly asked questions and definitions for useful terms related to vehicle maintenance.

On the site, car owners can enter the year, make and model of their car to receive a list of tires and batteries designed to fit their vehicle. Items can be sorted by price, brand or product name, and car owners can compare as many as four similar items side by side. By entering their ZIP code, car owners can then find the nearest Sears Auto Center, where they can discuss questions and options with the experts on staff.

"With the information they gather online, car owners gain a better understanding of what they need and why, before they even begin comparison shopping," says Bill White, president of Sears Automotive. "Savvy consumers frequently come into their local Sears store with their printout of side-by-side comparisons when they are looking to purchase major appliances, lawn tractors, home theatre and other big-dollar items," he says. "Now, automotive tires and batteries are two more areas where sears.com can help consumers make fact-based decisions for major purchases."

The "Automotive Advisor" section of the site offers information on buying, maintenance, safety and more -- ideal as owners prepare their vehicles for winter driving. Common questions, ranging from how and when to check tire pressure to why "cold cranking amps" in your car battery are important, are answered in this section of the site.

The site also provides information on services Sears Auto Centers offer, such as alignments, brake service and wheel balancing, as well as a list of what is included with each service. All information from the site can be printed for quick reference. Because the products offered on the site must be installed on a vehicle, they are not available for online purchase, but can be obtained at Sears Auto Centers nationwide.

"On the Internet, auto owners can research the advantages of various products, compare prices and make decisions in the comfort of their own home," says White.

Sears also offers a wide variety of merchandise and services through its Web site, www.sears.com.

Courtesy ARA Content, http://www.aracontent.com.


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