Video: Skydiver?s edge-of-space dive breaks sound barrier

>>> and now for a jump that is right out of the ages. felix baumgartner stepped out of a balloon more than 24 miles up on sunday, and he stepped right into the record books. nbc's tom costello has more on fearless felix 's death-defying plunge. say that three times fast. tom, good morning.

>> reporter: good for you. felix baumgartner said he was most afraid of dying in front of his family and his girlfriend, considering that he jumped from an altitude three times higher than where jets fly. it was the highest jump ever. he broke the sound barrier as he fell 833 miles per hour, and he broke a youtube record for the most watched number of live views.

>> felix, disconnect the oxygen hose. that a boy.

>> reporter: there he was at 128,000 feet standing quite literally on the edge of space, preparing to do what no one had done before, with his mom watching from mission control , 43-year-old felix baumgartner offered a few words most hard to understand.

>> the whole world is watching us.

>> reporter: and then he was gone beginning a terrifying supersonic dive from 24 miles up. a white dot as he quickly passed 700 miles per hour.

>> speed 729.

>> reporter: day began well before sunrise in rosswell, new mexico as the red bull team laid out the balloon and fearless felix slipped into his spacesuit and capsule. he's made harrowing jumps before in brazil and croatia from 15 and 18 miles high, but sunday's mission was about breaking a free fall record that had stood since 1960 when joe kitinger jumped from 19.5 miles high and also breaking his sound barrier . if the suit tore the former australian paratrooper faced certain death. he was on the "today" show last week.

>> i like the challenge.

>> reporter: sunday after a brief burst of wind baumgartner's balloon got the green light .

>> there's the release, and there's the applause.

>> reporter: two and a half hours later he was standing where no man had stood before with joe kitinger on the radio.

>> and our guardian angel will take care of you.

>> reporter: out of the capsule felix was a bullet, 833 miles per hour, mach 1.24, exceeding the speed of sound , and then with his space mask fogging up what looks like a terrifying out-of-control flat spin before he stabilized. finally four and a half minutes later baumgartner pulled his chute and went to a gentle landing in a desert in new mexico.

>> when i'm standing up on the top of the world you become so humble you want to come back alive. you do want to die in front of your parents and girlfriend.

>> reporter: you want to come back alive. nasa believes there could be real scientific value. in the cutting edge spacesuit that he wore that allowed him to survive the jump and techniques that could be used in future commercial or nasa space missions what. will he do after this? he's ready to settle down and fly rescue helicopters for a living. matt?

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49414119/

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Portuguese PM defiant ahead of budget, protests

LISBON (Reuters) - Bracing for street protests around the Lisbon parliament that will greet a tax-grabbing 2013 budget, Portugal's prime minister vowed on Monday to stay the course of austerity despite political damage it is doing to his party.

After his Socialist opponents swept a regional election at the weekend, conservative Pedro Passos Coelho said he would not flinch from a strategy that is hailed as exemplary by EU leaders who bailed Portugal out last year but has strained the patience of voters who took to the streets in frustration last month.

"Despite the bad moments the party is going through in national terms, regional elections will certainly not compromise the national strategy," Passos Coelho said after his Social Democrats trailed badly in Sunday's voting in the Azores.

The budget, to be presented in parliament from around 6 p.m. (1700 GMT), will outline the harshest measures yet since the 78-billion-euro ($100-billion) EU/IMF bailout. Police expect a big protest outside as many Portuguese demonstrate that their stoic acceptance of austerity, once much admired, has turned to anger.

With the country suffering its worst recession since the 1970s, the 2013 budget is set to introduce sharp income tax hikes, which could amount to up to two or three months' wages for middle-income workers, to ensure the country meets its budget goals under the bailout. Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar has described the planned tax increases as "enormous".

Some economists say that the measures, which will also include pension cuts, a financial transaction tax and higher property taxes, could push Portugal into a recessive spiral like Greece, further undermining Europe's German-inspired austerity drive for the euro's highly indebted countries.

The government has argued that following EU fiscal discipline will better serve the long term interests of Portugal as it faces some of its most testing days since it emerged from decades of right-wing dictatorship 38 years ago.

The budget comes after the government announced last month a rise in social security contributions, which it subsequently dropped after mass protests erupted. Opposition to the alternative tax measures is set to be equally strong.

Even the conservative president, Anibal Cavaco Silva, criticized the budget measures. "In the current circumstances, it is not correct to demand of a country being subjected to a budget adjustment process that it meets the targets at any cost," Cavaco Silva wrote on his Facebook page.

Before September, Portugal had shown a relatively high level of political consensus and support for cutting costs and for the bailout it sought in 2011. But that support has been eroded, with the Socialists now pledging to vote against the budget when it is put to parliament at the end of the month.

Protests have now become frequent, though still peaceful. A general strike is planned for November 14.

LAST MINUTE DEBATE

Passos Coelho's Social Democrats hold a comfortable majority in parliament together with their rightist ally the CDS. But the CDS has a long history of opposing higher taxes and analysts say the party's complete support of the government can no longer be taken for granted, especially if the economy weakens further.

In recent national opinion polls, the ruling party has dropped to record lows since the last election in June 2011.

The government spent the weekend locked in an internal debate on the possibility of finding more areas for spending cuts in order to ease the tax hikes, according to local media. The cabinet was still holding meetings on Monday.

Diario Economico business newspaper said on Monday the budget would include measures to help the economy like a recapitalization fund for small and medium-sized companies. These would also be allowed to defer value-added tax payments until after they had booked receipts from customers - measure that should boost cash flow and ease their debts.

The economy is expected to contract by at least 3 percent this year and the government expects a contraction of 1 percent in 2013. Many economists say the 2013 shrinkage will be greater. Unemployment is already at record highs above 15 percent and the government expects it to rise to 16.4 percent next year.

The 2013 draft budget may include new economic forecasts for next year. This year's budget performance was undermined by tax revenues falling short of expectations as the recession deepened and unemployment rose beyond government forecasts.

(Additional reporting by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Alastair Macdonald)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/portuguese-pm-defiant-ahead-budget-protests-095145867--finance.html

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September Update on Real Estate | Sam's Real Estate Club

Not only are the hedge funds buying CA real estate, but also the foreign investors, particularly, the Chinese, are gobbling up all the SRFs they can get their hands on. Money is no object and neither is the negative cash flow. It appears they know something we don't or is it possible they are making a mistake? Or, could this be another scheme to make billions of dollars at the expense of the middle class by manipulating the market, much like what happened in 2008?

Source: http://samsrealestateclub.com/september-update-on-real-estate

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How "Sleepwalk With Me" used social media, public radio to become an Indie hit

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In one YouTube video, Joss Whedon begs moviegoers not to see \\\"Sleepwalk With Me.\\\" In another, \\\"Fresh Air\\\"s\\' Terry Gross and \\\"Sleepwalk\\'\\\"s director, co-writer and star Mike Birbiglia are caught cracking a safe. ...","sUltBucketId":"test1","sUltSection":"sentirating","sUltBeaconUrl":"","sUltRecordPageviews":"1","sUltBeaconEnable":"1","serviceUrl":"\/_xhr","publisherContextId":"","propertyId":"2fcd79b5-b3a3-333e-b98e-722536a6698f","configurationId":"435db9ee-c55e-3766-b20d-c8ad3ff889d1","graphId":"","labelLeft":"Not at all confident","labelRight":"Completely confident","labelMiddle":"","itemimg":"http:\/\/l.yimg.com\/a\/i\/ww\/met\/yahoo_logo_us_061509.png","selfURI":"","aggregateRatingCount":"2496","aggregateReviewCount":"0","leftBlocksNum":"2353","rightBlocksNum":"143","leftBlocksPerCent":"94","rightBlocksPerCent":"6","ugcrate_apihost":"api01-us.ugcl.yahoo.com:4080","publisher_id":"news-en-US","yca_cert":"yahoo.ugccloud.app.trusted_proxies","timeout_write":"5000","through_proxy":"false","optionStats":"{\"s1\":1883,\"s2\":201,\"s3\":92,\"s4\":93,\"s5\":84,\"s6\":143,\"s7\":0,\"s8\":0,\"s9\":0,\"s10\":0}","l10N":"{\"FIRST_TO_READ\":\"You are first to read this. 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Mini Couture: Blue Ivy?s Custom Ruthie Davis Sneakers

Beyonce and Jay-Z's daughter just added a sparkly pair of Ruthie Davis sneakers to her shoe collection.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/d6tTCa07SB4/

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How to Deal with Anxiety as a Senior - Assisted Living Today

Although some cases of anxiety are classified as abnormal regardless of age, much of the anxiety that seniors commonly feel is a natural response to life transitions and stems from legitimate concerns. In a personal interview, retired psychologist Dr. Ron Masa, now a senior himself, offered his views on common causes of anxiety in seniors and ways to deal with them based on his own experience and his decades of working with clients. Some anxieties, says Dr. Masa, can serve an adaptive function by promoting constructive action. This article examines three common sources of anxiety among seniors and offers suggestions for addressing these concerns.

Changes in Physical Functioning

Seniors often experience anxiety due to physical changes such as reduced strength and mobility. They may worry about losing their independence and becoming a burden to others. Fortunately, modern technology provides numerous mobility aids that allow seniors to empower themselves physically regardless of budget. These tools include implements for reaching and grabbing as well as graspable handles that attach to car doors, bathtubs and showers. Seniors can also find raised toilet seats and a variety of canes, crutches, walkers and mobility scooters.

In addition, physical exercise boosts physical and mental health at any age. Nowadays many physical-exercise options exist for all fitness and mobility levels. Several fitness companies produce chair-exercise and even bed-exercise videos that seniors can use at home. Many communities also provide gentle senior yoga classes. Some physical-therapy establishments even offer sessions on anti-gravity treadmills that allow people whose legs cannot usually support them to walk normally and regain muscular strength.

Questions Regarding Life Purpose

After they retire or their children leave home, seniors often find it stressful to readapt after many years of focusing primarily on caring and providing for others. Sometimes they experience loneliness and struggle to find a renewed sense of meaning and purpose. Later life, says Dr. Masa, is an ideal phase for contemplating life?s big spiritual and philosophical questions. This phase can also be a joyous period of liberation and fulfillment in which people finally have the time to explore their own interests, dreams or hobbies. The Internet abounds with social hubs and online forums where people can gather to discuss shared interests and experience a sense of community.

Seniors who wish to continue working can volunteer for causes they care about or start their own online businesses to earn extra money. Even for non-entrepreneurial seniors, many legitimate online work-from-home job opportunities exist. For example, author Connie Brentford, who has been making a living working online from home for a decade, has written a series of books that provide details on a large, diverse list of work-from-home possibilities.

Facing Death

Death constitutes one of humankind?s biggest fears. While younger people may find it easier to ignore death, seniors must eventually face their own mortality and that of peers and loved ones. Seniors often experience anxiety as they first witness their parents and those they look up to passing on, followed eventually by friends and family in their own age group. Fear of death stems largely from fear of the unknown, says Dr. Masa. Rather than treating death as a taboo subject, seniors can reduce their anxiety by exploring the question of what happens after death.

Regardless of one?s spiritual beliefs, numerous traditional and contemporary resources, from the Bible and other ancient spiritual texts to new-age media, address the subject of death. Dr. Masa recommends ?Journey of Souls? by Dr. Michael Newton and the ?Conscious Aging? audio program by Ram Dass, a former Harvard professor turned spiritual teacher. Seniors who borrowed this recording from his office over the years found it very helpful and comforting, says Dr. Masa.

Conclusion

In conclusion, much of the anxiety seniors experience is natural when facing many later-life transitions. Rather than letting anxiety negatively impact their lives, seniors can benefit from channeling these feelings into constructive exploration. Seniors can also empower themselves by taking advantage of modern technology to address their changing physical needs. In addition, seniors can embrace the opportunity to focus on their own interests and make peace with life?s biggest questions.

Related Posts:

Source: http://assistedlivingtoday.com/2012/09/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-as-a-senior/

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Affordable Care Act May Help Consumers Fight Their Medical Debt ...

The Affordable Care Act contains little-known provisions that may help working families tackle overwhelming medical debts, according to a recent report from the Chicago Tribune.

The relief is certainly needed, as sources indicate that unpaid medical bills account for roughly half of all debts reported to credit agencies.

But most people, and even many medical provides, are unaware of the provision of the new health care law that expressly prohibits certain kinds of collection actions.

Health Care Law Takes Aim at Aggressive Debt Collectors

According to sources, the health care law directed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to punish hospitals that fail to meet certain care requirements. If hospitals break these new rules, they may lose their federal tax exemptions.

Under the new rules, hospitals must provide written forms that explain their financial assistance policies, including who is eligible for free or reduced cost medical care.

In the past, such information was not widely publicized, and patients who were eligible for discounted care were often completely unaware of their potential cost savings.

In addition, hospitals must refrain from ?extraordinary collections actions? against patients before determining whether those patients are eligible for financial aid.

This phrase, ?extraordinary collections actions? has not yet been defined, but sources suggest that the language was used in order to protect low-income patients from endless harassment by collection agencies.

Unfortunately, many hospitals have not started to honor these new rules, with some hospitals going so far as to demand payments in their waiting rooms, so patients must learn their rights so they can defend themselves when it comes time to pay their medical bills.

Tips for Consumers Looking to Reduce Their Medical Bills

If you have recently received medical care, and are concerned about having a medical bill reported to a collection agency, contact your hospital?s billing department and request information about receiving financial assistance.

In addition, you are also entitled to ask whether the hospital provides counseling for patients with large medical costs. If the hospital?s employees refuse to answer these questions over the phone, send a letter to the hospital?s senior management.

And if these methods fail to solve your debt woes, remember that filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy may be a promising alternative source of medical debt relief.

In Chapter 7, consumers may be able to discharge some or all of their unsecured debts, including their medical bills, provided that they meet certain filing requirements.

Source: http://www.clearbankruptcy.com/blog/affordable-care-act-may-help-consumers-fight-their-medical-debt/

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