Caribou veterans' clinic, first of its kind in US, celebrates 25th ...

CARIBOU, Maine ? Twenty-five years ago military veterans living in remote or rural parts of the country faced long trips for health care at Veterans? Administration hospitals.

Today, thanks to a program that got its start in Aroostook County, veterans have access to more than 900 VA community-based outpatient clinics around the country.

Earlier this week some of those veterans joined health care providers, VA officials and politicians to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the country?s first VA outpatient clinic at the Cary Medical Center Campus in Caribou.

?This [clinic] is a real success story because of the handful of veterans, Cary Medical Center and the [Aroostook County Congressional] delegation who worked to make it possible,? Ryan Lilly, director of the Maine VA Healthcare System, said at Thursday?s celebration. ?There are 11 of these clinics in Maine now and more than 900 in the country and it all came about thanks to this.?

Access to quality medical care is crucial for the country?s veterans, Lilly said, noting the majority in Maine live long distances from the Togus VA hospital in Augusta.

Among them is U.S. Navy and Vietnam-era veteran Ken Powers of Caribou.

?If not for the VA health care system and this clinic I?m not sure what I would do,? Powers said. ?I use this clinic religiously for everything.?

Powers started coming to the Caribou clinic when it first opened in 1987.

?I?ve been here longer than the staffers,? he said jokingly. ?If not for this clinic I?d have to drive all the way down to Togus.?

It makes sense the first-of-its-kind VA community-based clinic would come from Maine, Lilly said, noting the first VA hospital in the country opened its doors in Maine in 1866.

?The VA has been a great story here in Maine,? he said. ?And look how things have changed.?

The Caribou clinic, for example, has grown from two employees and a doctor ?housed in two broom closets back-to-back? to a 5,000-square-foot facility with 20 employees offering a broad range of health-related services, Lilly said, with additional clinics operating in Fort Kent and Houlton.

?We offer primary care, mental health care and treat chronic diseases here,? Lilly said. ?Many of our veterans are aging and are in need of these kinds of services.?

At the same time, many veterans seeking medical care are embracing new telemedicine technology over the Internet through which they can talk with health care providers, Lilly said.

?One of the biggest challenges we face is access to care,? Dr. Michael Mayo-Smith, New England VA network director, said.

?This celebration is really an impressive deal because the basic outreach clinic that started right here in Caribou has become a phenomenon across the country,? Mayo-Smith said. ?It has really changed how the VA delivers care [and] is very popular among the veterans.?

It was a change that took close to eight years of lobbying and advocacy, according to Kris Doody, RN, Cary?s CEO.

?Even when representatives in the VA system itself said that the chances for a VA outpatient clinic in Caribou were zero, the Aroostook County Veterans Medical Facility Research and Development, Inc. would not give up,? she said. ?This remarkable group of veterans representing multiple veterans organizations took off their hats and came together as one and won the day.?

That same group went on to secure a veterans? home and residential care facility at Cary, Doody added.

?I know I speak for everyone associated with Cary Medical Center when I say that we have been truly honored to serve veterans here in northern Maine over the past 25 years,? said Doody, who was a staff nurse at the hospital when the VA clinic opened in 1987.

A big part of the clinic?s success, Smith-Mayo said, is its staff.

?The people are here are excellent and very dedicated,? he said. ?Cary Medical Center is also dedicated to the veterans and is an excellent partner.?

Looking ahead to future care, Smith-Mayo said the clinic will soon unveil another pilot project and again be among the first in the nation.

Project ARCH ? standing for Access Recieved Closer to Home ? will allow veterans to receive specialized health care services through contractual arrangements with non-VA providers.

For veterans like Powers, it mean access to more health care options here in Aroostook County.

?I am absolutely happy with this kind of care with the VA,? Powers said. ?I tell every vet I meet if they haven?t already done it, enroll in the VA health system.?

Source: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/12/01/health/caribou-veterans-clinic-first-of-its-kind-in-us-celebrates-25th-anniversary/

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Andrew Luck-led Colts rally to beat Lions 35-33

DETROIT (AP) ? Andrew Luck was down to his last shot and his final option to lead the Indianapolis Colts to victory.

Luck dropped back, then moved up to avoid pressure and buy time for a teammate to get open, tossed a short pass to Donnie Avery, and the receiver did the rest ? racing untouched for a 14-yard touchdown and giving the Colts a 35-33 comeback win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

"You always hesitate throwing the ball not in the end zone, for fear of the clock running out with a guy in bounds," Luck said. "Took the calculated risk that Donnie could get there in the end zone, and he did."

Luck made all the right moves when it mattered most, making his transition from Stanford to the NFL look relatively smooth to help Indy win a game in a way it hasn't since just after his 1st birthday.

The last time the Colts scored a game-winning TD with no time remaining on the clock was Sept. 30, 1990, according to STATS LLC, to beat Philadelphia 24-23.

Luck has won more games (eight) than any rookie quarterback drafted No. 1 overall in the Super Bowl era. He broke the mark by Sam Bradford, who helped St. Louis win seven games two years ago, and also surpassed Jim Plunkett in New England during the 1971 season.

The Colts (8-4) stayed in control of the AFC wild-card race by winning for the sixth time in seven games. Luck helped them move a step closer toward being in the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons, only this time without Peyton Manning.

"Some teams find ways to win," Indy interim coach Bruce Arian said. "Others don't."

The Lions (4-8) lost for the fourth straight time, including three in a row at home after leading in the final quarter.

They're the first team to lose three straight games when leading with 2 minutes left in regulation since San Diego did it in 2000, according to STATS LLC, and the first since at least 1983 to blow leads that late in three home games in a row.

"This is a tough league for tough people, and we'll find out now who is tough," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said.

Luck is ? that's for sure.

Ndamukong Suh, who was fined $30,000 for kicking Houston quarterback Matt Schaub last week, sacked Luck on his first snap and he was hit and hurried many more times by a hard-rushing front

On the game-winning play, though, Detroit let Luck run through a slowly collapsing pocket as the final seconds ticked away and he took advantage.

"If the pass rush does their job, he doesn't get free the scramble and he never finds that receiver," Schwartz said. "All game, we focused on taking away his step-up lanes, and then on the last play, we don't do it."

Luck, who was 24 of 54 for 391 yards with four TD passes, made up for matching a season-high three interceptions by doubling his previous season high with his final TD on the winning, fourth-down play that started with 3 seconds left.

He had two interceptions in the first half and threw a third in the fourth quarter. He has thrown 13 of his 16 interceptions on the road.

Fellow rookie T.Y. Hilton had six receptions for 100 yards and Avery had five catches for 91 yards and two scores, the first of which gave the Colts their only lead ? until his second one won the game.

"I had no choice but to score," Avery said. "It was the slowest 11 yards that I ever felt like I ran."

Calvin Johnson had a career-high 13 receptions for 171 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown that gave Detroit a 30-21 lead late in the third quarter. Johnson made a one-handed grab that set up Mikel Leshoure's TD in the second quarter. Johnson had at least 125 yards receiving for the fifth straight game, matching an NFL record set in 1966 by Pat Studstill with the Lions.

"Calvin Johnson is always a bright spot," Schwartz said. "Maybe I should have had him on defense for the last play."

Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick overall in 2009, was 27 of 46 for 313 yards with two TDs and an interception late in the first half that hurt his team's chances of adding to its 24-13 lead.

Stafford also missed Johnson at times late in the game, including on the Lions' last scoring drive when he threw behind him in the end zone and that led to Jason Hanson's fourth field goal that gave them a 33-21 lead with 8:41 left.

Luck threw his third TD pass to LaVon Brazill to make it 33-28 with 2:39 left. Then, Nick Harris' poor punt from the 50 gave Luck the ball at his 25 with 1:07 left and no timeouts and the quarterback pulled off another dramatic finish.

NOTES: Lions WR Ryan Broyles (right knee) left the game, leaving the team thin at the position because it left Titus Young inactive because of his behavior and previously lost Nate Burleson to a season-ending knee injury. ... Colts OL Joe Reitz left in the first quarter and didn't return after undergoing a concussion evaluation. ... Indy rookie TE Coby Fleener, who missed the previous four games with a shoulder injury, made a twisting, 26-yard TD catch in the second quarter. ... Tigers star Miguel Cabrera was wearing a Suh jersey, as one of his guests at the game.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: http://twitter.com/larrylage

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/andrew-luck-led-colts-rally-beat-lions-35-214958328--spt.html

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'Disappointed' Spurs shrug off fine, beat Memphis

SAN ANTONIO (AP) ? Tony Parker scored 30 points, Tim Duncan had 27 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs shook off a "disappointing" $250,000 fine by the NBA to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 99-95 in overtime Saturday night.

Coach Gregg Popovich said before the win he doesn't know if the Spurs will appeal the NBA's stiff penalty for sending Duncan, Parker and two others home to rest Thursday instead of them suiting up against the Miami Heat in a nationally televised game.

Popovich said he was disappointed by Commissioner David Stern's decision. He also didn't rule out sitting out players again in the future.

Marc Gasol led Memphis with 20 points. Zach Randolph had 17 points and 15 rebounds and was one of three Memphis players with double-doubles.

Mike Conley had 18 points and 12 assists, and Rudy Gay had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The unprecedented fine announced Friday overshadowed the first meeting this season between two of the West's winningest teams. Even Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban ? who knows a thing or two about running afoul of Stern and getting hit in the checkbook ? sounded off on the fine before his team's own game Saturday night.

Cuban believes the NBA was right to sanction his top rivals for messing with the league's "money train" ? meaning lucrative national television contracts. Yet he also called scheduling that marquee TNT game at the end of the Spurs' six-game road swing a "dumb" move on the NBA's part.

Popovich wasn't as outspoken. Succinctly addressing the fine before the game, he said the decision shows the NBA thinking about its bottom line and didn't elaborate on conversations with the league before the penalty came down Friday.

"What I do from my perspective is from a coaching perspective," Popovich said. "And I think the league operates from a business perspective. And I think that's reflective in the action that they took."

That extra day of rest for Parker, Duncan and Manu Ginobili that cost the Spurs a quarter-million dollars appeared to do them some good.

Ginobili forced overtime with a corner 3-pointer with 57.9 seconds left, tying the game just nine minutes after Memphis led by 14 in the fourth quarter. Duncan had 21 points in the first half for the first time since 2004, and Parker eclipsed 30 points for the third time in five games.

San Antonio fans welcomed Popovich back with a thunderous ovation before the game. One fan behind the Grizzlies' bench held up a sign reading "Pop knows best." Others wore shirts with more colorful language directed toward Stern.

The Grizzlies played without Tony Allen for a second straight game because of an injured groin. It's unclear when their starting shooting guard may return.

Rather than play Duncan, Parker and Ginobili ? three of the NBA's biggest names ? against LeBron James and Miami on Thursday night, Popovich put them and starter Danny Green on a plane and sent them home. It came at the end of a six-game road trip and after the Spurs had played five times in seven days.

Popovich justified his decision in Miami by saying he didn't want to subject Green and his aging Big Three to so much wear-and-tear this early in the season.

Stern apologized to NBA fans before the Miami game and vowed his office would hand down "substantial sanctions," which he delivered on the next day. He said he "concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans."

Teams are required to report as soon as they know a player will not travel because of injury. The league's statement said the Spurs were in violation of league policy reviewed with the board of governors in April 2010 against resting players in a manner "contrary to the best interests of the NBA."

The rest didn't benefit everyone. Green was scoreless in 19 minutes before leaving with tightness in his left hamstring.

Notes: Popovich said it's unlikely that starting F Kawhi Leonard (knee) will return on this weeklong homestand. Leonard has missed nine games. The Spurs hit the road again Dec. 8. ... San Antonio beat the Grizzlies for the fifth straight time after sweeping them last season. Memphis hasn't won against the Spurs since knocking them out of the playoffs in stunning fashion as the No. 8 seed in 2011.

___

Follow Paul J. Weber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pauljweber

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/disappointed-spurs-shrug-off-fine-beat-memphis-041913715--spt.html

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Find Out How An Internet Marketing Vancouver Firm Can Help You ...

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Miscellaneous

Written by Anonymous ??

Friday, 30 November 2012 23:05

The Internet and worldwide web has changed a lot about our daily lives. From the way we shop and communicate to the way we market our wares and engage in commerce have all been changed by the web. This great tool gives persons the ability to do things that were undreamt of just a short while ago. Te power to reach out to millions of potential customers with just a few clicks of a keyboard or digital pad enables individuals to enhance their marketing prowess in extraordinary ways. Internet Marketing Vancouver can help individuals and firms further their business through the use of web-based tools. Using a Vancouver Internet marketing firm can put you in touch with trends and consumer groups you may not even be aware of. Among the many web-based tools used by Vancouver Internet marketing firms is SEO. Search engine optimization is the ultimate front in trying to gain notoriety and publicity in the virtual medium of the worldwide web. Search engine optimization can help put your company or product in the top listings for individual searches. However, this can only be accomplished through a careful analysis of the algorithms used by the SEO forums. Google and other search engines are making constant upgrades to their systems which can make it difficult to keep maintain or advance the ranking of your site. Indeed, Google updates require change to SEO methods regularly. In order to keep up with the latest updates you will need to work with a Vancouver Internet marketing firm with in-depth knowledge and expertise. If you have SEO experts on your side, you can stay ahead of the game. Such professionals can keep you very much in the vanguard of being found. Nowadays, few companies can afford not to incorporate the web in their overall marketing strategy. Knowing the best ways of achieving search engine optimization is vital in executing such plans and attracting online users to your site. The most important thing for a company, in regard to its web presence, is to be found before its competitors are. This is essential if a company is to outpace its rivals in attracting new customers and new business. Now, there are many who believe that they can apply a few tricks and techniques to their online postings and all will be fine. But keeping or advancing your search engine rankings can be very complicated, and it is best to have the work properly done by professionals with the knowledge and insight to provide sound solutions. Fortunately, it is not that difficult to get the help you need. The place to begin your search is, of course, the worldwide web. The web will allow you to bring all of the experts who work with SEO and other web-based marketing tools to your computer screen. It will also allow you to review the quality, service, and value of such vendors. Using the web will also enable you to find out the reputation of those offering such service. And this can be essential in helping you make the final decision on who to go with. An Internet Marketing Vancouver can help your company keep up with the latest trends and advancements in web-based marketing. Article Tags :

Last Updated on Friday, 30 November 2012 23:05

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Source: http://www.workoninternet.com/business/reviews/miscellaneous/220462-article.html

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10 Businesses We Admire for Brilliant Global Marketing

10 Businesses We Admire for Brilliant Global Marketing

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Just a few weeks ago,?we looked at the ins-and-outs of Facebook's new Global Pages -- a platform for?brands to easily share region-specific content with international markets. Dankesch?n, Facebook. No longer is global reach reserved for deep-pocketed brands, nor is it an incredible hassle for already over-burdened social media and community managers.

In fact, a global presence is possible for any business with a creative strategy and an understanding of world markets. To give you an idea of what a great global marketing strategy looks like, we've compiled some brands that totally "get it." Take a look at ten companies which have traveled successfully across the globe with their marketing!

1) Airbnb

Airbnb is the Craigslist of apartment rentals. The company, launched in 2008 out of San Francisco, has taken its national service to 192 countries for users to rent short-term apartments from other users. How did this start-up grow up so quickly? Unlike Craigslist, Airbnb has a fun, more user-friendly website that showcases the brand's transparent, trusting personality. The website is now available in 21 languages with consistent information, style, and personality to appeal to like-minded users across cultures. Notice the carryover between this page, for example:

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And this page:

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You're looking at Airbnb's mobile app page in both German and English. The brand tailored the headline to fit the language: in English, it reads '...at your fingertips' but in German it reads '...on your cellphone' using the less formal term for cellphone, 'Handy'. The brand tweaks its content to best suit the culture, but it's still obvious which brand you're interacting with regardless of language. And I think this global focus is working -- in 2011, Airbnb rentals in Italy saw a 946% increase and the UK at 748%. The company also opened 9 overseas offices in the past 4 years to accomodate its growing global presence. Having a strong, consistent voice across languages is a key factor when going global. ?

2) Rezdy

Some companies may not be trying to attract global markets directly, but if their clients are, they better know how. Rezdy is an Australian-based reservation software designed to make online booking smoother for tourists and agents alike, a valuable tool when over 60% of travellers make reservations online.?Though Rezdy's clients are Australian-based, they need to cater to their clients' international visitors. Click on the screen shot to check out this fun video on Rezdy's homepage:

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The first feature the video spotlights is 'Internationalisation.' The video walks us through how easy the service is for users, but is sure to emphasize the language and currency customization tool upfront. Even if your company is marketing to other regional companies, consider their global customers as if they were your own.?

3) World Wildlife Foundation

WWF took its Earth Hour initiative, a voluntary worldwide event where participants turn off their lights for an hour to show how easy it can be to battle climate change, and brought it to Norway's mobile audience (1 in 4 Norwegians have 3G mobile access).

Scandanavian countries like Norway experience extreme daylight hours throughout seasons, making the country ready for WWF's Blackout campaign.?Using digital agency Mobiento, the nonprofit placed the Blackout Banner across Norway's top media sites to promote Earth Hour. With one tap of the banner, the screen went black. Finger swiping the black screen slowly revealed the Earth Hour countdown. The banner attracted roughly 1,000,000 impressions and the campaign received three 2012 MMA Global Mobile Marketing Awards.?

Case: Black out rich media banner for WWF Earth Hour from Mobiento.

Have a cool idea? Don't be afraid to try it out on one international market -- just make sure it's the appropriate audience. Also, don't be afraid of the dark.?

4) Durex

The UK-based condom manufacturer is number one in the industry with 34% market share across 130 countries. Sure, sex sells, but how does Durex sell such a taboo product in foreign countries??All jokes aside, Durex is sure to play it safe. The company developed an internal platform for its marketers from different countries to connect and discuss the brand's presence overseas.

Anna Valle, head of global marketing for Durex, said of the online community, "It will help us to share the global vision, to engage, and be more consistent." Discussion among marketers fuels localized campaigns with an overarching brand personality -- risque. For example, check out this recent image Durex shared on Sina Weibo after President Obama had been re-elected. (Fair warning: if you don't like raunchy and/or political humor, don't click.) 12 hours after being posted, the image was forwarded 43,000 times with over 12,000 comments.

5) Pearse Trust

With offices in Dublin, London, Vancouver, and Atlanta, Pearse Trust has grown to be a global authority on corporate and trust structures. But it takes more than offices all over the map to reach an international audience. That's why Pearse Trust keeps content flowing on its Facebook page that engages its various markets. In this screenshot below, you can see Pearse Trust posts daily content featuring international affairs relating to the company's practice.

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Within 3 days, Pearse Trust made daily Facebook posts, leveling out external articles with Pearse Trust content, featuring news from Germany, Ireland (where they have a Dublin office), and the UK (where they have a London office). This is a great example of focusing on common interests shared among your company's various markets while making the content relateable to customers by region.?

6) McDonald's

We all know it's a successul global brand, so unlike their menu, I'll keep it light. While keeping its overarching branding consistent, Mcdonald's practices 'glocal' marketing efforts. No, that's not a typo. McDonald's brings a local flavor, literally, to different countries with region-specific menu items. In 2003, McDonald's introduced the McArabia, a flatbread sandwich, to its restaurants in the Middle East.

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You can also find the McVeggie in India or the EBI-Fillet-O shrimp burger in Japan. This glocal approach has helped put McDonald's at #7 on Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2012. ?

7) Innocent Drinks

Innocent Drinks is the leading smoothie company in the UK with 75% of the market share in 2011 -- additionally, Innocent products are now available in 13 countries across Europe. The company is known to have "chatty branding"; for instance, the website is very bubbly with contact information that reads "call the bananaphone" or "visit the Fruit Towers."

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The brand won the #1 spot on Headstream's Social Brands 100 for its entertaining and playful online presence. Headstream attributes Innocent's online success to keeping the brand's personality in tact across 13 countries. "Key to Innocent's success," they said, "has been a consistent tone of voice -- one that's natural, honest, and engaging -- making social activity feel like a natural extension of the company's personality."

Global expansion and rapid growth can sometimes distract a company from consistent branding. As marketers, we need to be sure our brand's voice is interpreted the same way around the world.? ? ?

8) Unger and Kowitt

The phrase 'glocal' can be defined as "Think Globally, Act Locally." But what happens when you switch the two around? Woah, fasten your seatbelts -- literally. Unger and Kowitt is a traffic ticket law firm based in Fort Lauderdale defending drivers in the state of Florida. Not very global, right? Well, Unger and Kowitt understands that America is a melting pot and that Florida is bursting at the seams with different cultures and languages.

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Though a domestic service, the firm's website is available in English, Spanish, Portugese, and Creole. With these options, Unger and Kowitt can cater to Florida's nearly 3.5 million Floridians who speak Spanish, Portugese, or Creole. Don't miss out on expanding your client base -- sometimes you don't have to look far to attract international business.?

9) Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is a great example of a brand using glocal marketing efforts. Though a large corporation, Coca-Cola focuses on small community programs and invests a lot of time and money in small-scale charity efforts. For example, in Egypt, Coca-Cola has built 650 clean water installations in the rural village of Beni Suef and sponsors Ramadan meals for children across the Middle East. In India, the brand sponsors the Support My School initiative to improve facilities at local schools. Not to mention, the brand sticks with selling an emotion that can't get lost in translation: happiness. Now, tell me this doesn't look like fun:

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10) Results.com?

Ten points at #10 for Results.com, a business execution firm with offices in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. This global company knows the importance of delivering on your promise, no matter how far that delivery may take you. On the website, Results.com says "We have global influence" and can provide "face to face consulting to companies from around the world."

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Results.com does, in fact, bring face to face consulting to its customers. The company is bringing John Spence, marketing consultant and guru, from Florida to New Zealand in March 2013 to share his ideas with CEOs and business managers in the region. Since November 2010, the company's website traffic has increased by 180%.?I wouldn't be surprised if events like this are generating buzz down under!

What other brands out there do a great job with their global marketing?

Image Credit: caruba

Source: http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33857/10-Businesses-We-Admire-for-Brilliant-Global-Marketing.aspx

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DRIVEN: Lexus Hybrid Boosts Drivability Along with MPGs

The trouble with hybrids is that they can be a bit like health food. You know it's good for you, but it can be so boring.

Thankfully, the Lexus CT 200h manages to avoid this trap, offering a driving experience that is nearly as impressive as the gas-mileage numbers. This sophisticated compact hatchback manages to have all the advantages of a hybrid, while remaining first and foremost a fun car to drive. Plus, with a starting price of only $29,120, the CT also represents the least expensive way to get into a Lexus.

The Lexus hybrid provides a premium experience while helping to clear the air. (Photo: Lexus) Sharing the same powertrain as its Toyota Prius cousin, the CT boasts an impressive 42 combined mpg, stacking up well against the Prius? 50 mpg. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors crank out 134 horsepower, so while the CT certainly isn't going to be the fastest off the line, its nimble handling, low stance and finely tuned suspension makes the CT a very satisfying drive.

That is, as long as you don?t set it to ?Eco? mode.

As the name would suggest, ?Eco? offers the best gas mileage, but it leads to maddeningly slow acceleration and very light steering. Everything feels better in ?Normal? or ?Sport,? stiffening up the suspension and boosting the power, while still scrimping on gas. Lexus also offers the CT with an F Sport package, which adds body modifications and a tuned up suspension, but doesn't do much for the power, so it's probably not worth the higher price tag.

With its low, aggressive stance, standard 17-inch wheels and softly angular curves, the CT has a lot of curb appeal. The look is distinctly Lexus, but at the same time evokes the designs of European hatchbacks by Volvo and the erstwhile Saab.

The premium interior boasts a full change of upscale features. (Photo: Lexus) While the hybrid aspects of the CT lean toward the practical, the interior pushes things back into the luxury department. A standard model comes loaded with heated side mirrors, keyless ignition, Bluetooth with audio streaming, plus a six-speaker sound system. My test model came with the Premium trim, which added a sunroof, an upgraded 10-speaker sound system, rain-sensing wipers, leather upholstery, a back-up camera and plenty of other goodies.

Just as the body style leans towards European sophistication, the interior follows suit, offering soft-touch surfaces and minimalist style in place of Lexus? typical wood-laden opulence. The radio and navigation cluster is a bit busy though, and the shifter, which sits high and angled on the dashboard, is awkward to use.

Lexus? excellent Remote Touch controller makes up for the any dashboard drawbacks. Essentially a mouse that sits within easy reach of the driver, the Remote Touch makes the navigation and computer controls remarkably quick and easy to access.

With its sporty styling, upscale refinement and hybrid technology, the Lexus CT carves out a nice niche for itself. While it can?t keep up with something like the BMW 1 Series in speed or handling, it certainly competes in luxury, style and affordability, making the CT an intriguing choice. Plus there?s the whole great gas mileage thing.
Details

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door hatchback, front-wheel drive.
Engine: Hybrid drive with 1.8-liter inline-4 and two electric motors, 134 horsepower at 5,200 rpm, 142 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm;
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic.
Wheelbase: 102.4 inches.
Overall length: 170.1 inches.
Curb weight: 3,146 pounds.
EPA mileage rating: 43 city, 40 highway.

Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/driven-lexus-hybrid-boosts-drivability-along-with-mpgs/

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DNA directly photographed for first time

Fifty-nine years after James Watson and Francis Crick deduced the double-helix structure of DNA, a scientist has captured the first direct photograph of the twisted ladder that props up life.

Enzo Di Fabrizio, a physics professor at the Magna Graecia University in Catanzaro, Italy, snapped the picture using an electron microscope.

Previously, scientists had only seen DNA's structure indirectly. The double-corkscrew form was first discovered using a technique called X-ray crystallography, in which a material's shape is reconstructed based on how X-rays bounce after they collide with it.

But Di Fabrizio and his colleagues developed a plan to bring DNA out of hiding. They built a nanoscopic landscape of extremely water-repellant silicon pillars. When they added a solution that contained strands of DNA into this scene, the water quickly evaporated and left behind cords of bare DNA that stretched like tightropes between the tiny mesas.

They then shone beams of electrons through holes in the silicon bed, and captured high-resolution images of the illuminated molecules.

Di Fabrizio's images actually show a thread of several interwoven DNA molecules, as opposed to just two coupled strands. This is because the energy of the electrons used would be enough to destroy an isolated double helix, or a single strand from a double helix.

But with the use of more sensitive equipment and lower energy electrons, Di Fabrizio thinks that snapshots of individual double helices will soon be possible, reports New Scientist.

Molecules of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, store the genetic instructions that govern all living organisms' growth and function.

Di Fabrizio's innovation will allow scientists to vividly observe interactions between DNA and some of life's other essential ingredients, such as RNA (ribonucleic acid). The results of Di Fabrizio's work were published in the journal NanoLetters.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dna-directly-photographed-first-time-193138553.html

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