Sunday, December 23, 2012

Forza Motorsport 2 Free Download

Forza Motorsport 2 is a racing game developed by Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The game is available for Xbox 360 exclusively. It is the sequel to the Forza Motorsport marking the expansion of the Forza Motorsport racing games franchise. It was released on 24 May, 2007 in Japan; 29 May, 2007 in North America; 8 June, 2007 in Europe and 14 June, 2007 in Australia. It is available in single player mode as well as multiplayer mode. You can play either online multiplayer or through system-link.

Forza Motorsport 2 features over 300 cars divided into six production classes and four race classes. Graphics and aerodynamics of the cars can be visually customizable. The game runs at the speed of 60 frames per second while replays at 30 frames per second. No point to point race is featured in this version of the series. The game focuses on circuit race only. The physique is refurbished from the Forza Motorsport. There are multiple settings possible in the game now. "Simulation" the severest, takes car out of commission, "limited" limits the relentless crashes and damages, and "cosmetic" means damages are not visible.

Refurbished

Forza Motorsport 2 features 14 playable tracks out of which 10 are real-world tracks and remaining four are fictional tracks. The scoring system of the game is similar to that of Halo 2. Cars can be auctioned online and purchased cars come with all the new and old stats. Players need to logon to the official website to check for the scores. Game allows players to take in-game photos and upload them to the forza website. Players can also schedule tournaments in the game. Microsoft has developed Xbox 360 Wireless racing wheel that works in conjunction with the game.

Forza Motorsport 2 Free Download

Lot of Forza Motorsport 2 free downloadable content is available. Players can download free cars and tracks along with the paid one. There is also one limited collector's edition released. The limited collector's edition contains 157 pages booklet giving the details about the cars and how to obtain the game achievements. Limited Collector's Edition wasn't available in United States while it was available in rest of the world. Many bugs had been detected and removed in online multiplayer mode. Below is a link to Forza Motorsport 2 free download. To download it free you need to click on the link. Just click on the link to free download it.

Forza Motorsport 2 Free Download

Forza Motorsport 2 Free Download
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Friday, December 21, 2012

Problem With New Battery in Sony Vaio Laptop

If you have a Sony Vaio laptop and tried to replace the battery with a non-genuine, you may pass to display a window with this warning:

Attention
The battery can not be properly connected to your computer or may not be compatible with it.
Click "OK" to enter Hibernate mode, remove and reinsert the battery.
See the User Guide VAIO (R) e for more information on using the battery.

This is very uncomfortable, and if you click "OK", the laptop goes to hibernate mode. Moreover, there is the option to close the message and it is on other programs, even if you click a program in the background the message will again dominate your screen in a few seconds.

Problem With New Battery in Sony Vaio Laptop

However, if this happened to you, do not worry. Although the Sony Vaio laptops have software that checks if the battery is original or not, you can disable it by the following procedure:

Closing the window warning
- Right-click on the Toolbar and select Start Task Manager (or shortcuts Ctrl Shift Esc or Ctrl Shift Del depends on the operating system);
- Click the Processes tab;
- Find the ISBMgr.exe process and click End Process.

There, the window with the message disappears and you can normally use your notebook. However, the warning comes every time you restart the laptop again. To disable it, you definitely need to follow the procedure below.

Disabling autorun ISBMgr.exe
- Access the Start Menu, Run;
- Type msconfig and press ok;
- Select the Startup tab;
- Find and uncheck the ISB Utility and press OK to exit (you can restart your computer now or later, no matter).

Done! The program is disabled and you can now use it with a new generic battery without having to pay the price of 1 / 2 notebook for her!

Taking the hint, you can use this setting to disable Startup programs which are programs that run in the background when windows starts. Some programs seem to be faster in this way, however, they are occupying the memory, the most common one is to disable the Acrobat.

Even though it is now possible to use non-original battery in your notebook, check before you buy! Always use battery which is compatible with the model of your laptop computer. I am not responsible for any physical, personal, psychological or emotional that could occur due to misuse of the battery or the laptop itself, just gave a tip that worked for me, using this procedure is at your own risk!

Problem With New Battery in Sony Vaio Laptop
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Monday, December 17, 2012

New Computer - Old Email, or How to Back up and Transfer Your Email

If you have a brand new computer, or are thinking about buying one in the near future, one of the things that you will need to consider is how to transfer your emails from the old system to the new system.

At least once a week in my job as a help desk analyst, I am helping a customer set up Outlook Express or Outlook (there are other email clients that are used, but these two are the most popular) on their new computer. Once we are finished with the setup and they open it up to the Inbox the question is asked "where are my old emails?" The simple answer; "on your old computer". Then of course the follow up question is; "how do I get them to the new computer?"

Easy or Hard

New Computer - Old Email, or How to Back up and Transfer Your Email

The easiest way to do this is to back them up to an external hard drive or a compact disc before you make the switch to the new computer and then copy them over to the new computer in the exact same directory. The harder way is in the case of a crashed computer or the inability to access the files normally. I cover a bit of that in another article called 'Got Backups?' which you can find at my website.

Outlook Express

With Outlook Express your emails/email folders are stored on your hard drive in a directory that is buried way down deep in the Operating System. Instead of me giving you the full path to get there, it's easiest if you have Outlook Express open, click on Tools then Options.

Copy/Paste

Once you are here, click on the Maintenance tab and then click on the Store Folder button. This will pop another window with the location of your emails. Using your mouse, highlight the path and then right click and copy it.

You will then click on the Start button, then click Run, and then right click in the Open box and Paste the path. Click Ok.

This will open another window with your email files. Unless you have added other folders to your Outlook Express, the default folders will be here with a .dbx extension (Folders, Inbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items, and Drafts).

Backup

If you are going to write these files to a CD, you can burn them at this time by using your favorite burning software (providing that you have a CD burner installed in your computer).

To copy them to an external hard drive, you must now connect that device to your computer, create a folder on that drive (I usually call it Email Backups), copy the files from the old computer then paste the files into the Email Backups folder.

Import

Once you have the files copied to the CD or external drive, then you will go to the new installation of Outlook Express and import the messages. It would be nice if you could just copy them to the new OE and be done, but Microsoft doesn't like you to do it that way.

Open up OE and then click on File, Import, Messages. This will open a new window called Outlook Express Import. Choose Microsoft Outlook Express 6 then click Next. Click in the circle that says 'Import mail from an OE6 store directory'. Click OK. Then click 'Browse' and navigate to and select the directory you have saved them to. Click OK. The next window will give you a list of all of the email folders you have previously saved. Keep 'All folders' selected and click Next.

This will begin the process of importing all of your 'old' emails into your 'new' Outlook Express. Once it has finished you will have all of your old emails back! Cool, huh?

Outlook

The procedure to save and then import your emails in Outlook is similar, but different.

To start with, Outlook uses a file extension called pst, or Personal Folder File. Don't ask me why it's called that. Call Bill Gates and ask him.

Export

You will start on the old computer and with Outlook open, click on File, then 'Import and Export'. This opens the Import and Export Wizard. Choose 'Export to a file' then click Next. Choose 'Personal Folder File' here and then click Next. In the Export Personal Folders dialogue box you have your choice of what you want to do. The easiest is to keep the default choice of just the inbox, but if you want your sent items and all the other folders, choose the top item (Personal Folders) and then choose the 'Include subfolders' option and then click Next.

The next window will have a default location listed
(usually C:Documents and Settings'your computer name'Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlookbackup.pst). I would suggest following the same procedure as for OE (see above). Then click 'Finish' and let it do it's thing.
Once you have your pst files backed up, move to the new computer and the import process will again be similar to OE.

Connect your external hard drive to your computer or insert the CD into the drive.

Import

Open Outlook, click on File, then Import and Export. In the Import and Export Wizard, this time choose 'Import from another program or file' then click Next. In the 'Import a File' window, scroll down and select Personal Folder File (.pst) and then click Next.

In the 'Import Personal Folders' window, click the Browse button and navigate out to the location of your backed up pst file, choose it and then click Next. Click 'Finish' and it will import all of your messages.

New Computer - Old Email, or How to Back up and Transfer Your Email
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Ron Barrett is the owner of Ron's Computer Service, your online helpdesk for computer related problems. You can subscribe to his weekly newsletter 'Bits and Bytes: Decoding the Digital World' by sending an email to him. He is Certified Help Desk Analyst, CompTIA A+ Certified and has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology. He has worked in several companies in the role of help desk analyst, desk top support and network/email administrator. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys, working around the house and trying to perfect his golf swing.

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Friday, December 14, 2012

The Second Industrial Revolution - The Technological Revolution

Our forefathers must have never fathomed that their children would live up to see a time of iPhones and iPads! What to say of them? Some two decades ago, even we didn't know that we would live up to see such a technological advancement as this! Virtually speaking, all of us are surrounded by gadgets and gizmos. Technology has in fact taken a BIG leap and for techno freaks it is very important to stay abreast with latest technology news. A new technological genius is showing up every single day from God knows where and for that mankind deserves kudos indeed!

The technological scenario seems to remain abuzz with activity all throughout no matter what. Technological advancements are developing at a breakthrough speed and as such technology news remains entangled in unbounded bustle always. Techno buffs sit glued to their PCs (or should we say iPads) for any new application or up-gradation or technical advancement. They love to hunt for online technology news so that they may work on it accordingly. The number of such heavy-duty techno loyalists extends to many a countless millions!

Beginning with mobile phone news, whether it is the new Android 3.0 (titled Gingerbread) or the latest Motorola DROID 2, the mobile platform also keeps buzzing with activity. Mobile developers are working their sweat off to develop breakthrough mobile applications to enhance the device's functionality. There are innumerable websites that help a person to track technology related news and there are over a million people across the globe who follow these sites religiously. With the range of iPhone accessories and iPod accessories available out there, it is somewhat irresistible to not upgrade one's phone. After all there are so many options that people may use to play around with their phones. It seems smartphones are getting smarter by the day! These multitasking gadgets are adding a new feather to their cap almost every day, the reader would agree to this one.

The Second Industrial Revolution - The Technological Revolution

Computers and cameras are also not unaffected by the giant technological leap. These two highly functional gadgets have evolved to a great extent down the line. The World Wide Web is chock-a-bloc with such intuitive websites that provide Latest Camera News and Computer Hardware News. With latest PC tablets, pocket PCs and mini net-books, one wonders where technology would ultimately take a halt! These ultra fast high performance laptops are a big office in themselves! The story is no different for cameras. Once assumed to be sheer 'Moment Capturing' device, cameras have developed themselves into super effective gizmos. From long zoom cameras to tough digital ones, cameras have indeed come a long way!

Talking about home theater, these high definition plasma screens have changed the entire movie watching experience. The idea of getting a home theater set up may sound to be a costly endeavor initially but subsequently it proves to be worth installing. Internet is replete with such sources wherefrom the people may grab some latest home theater news. So, there are unlimited sources to catch hold of some juicy technological news.

The Second Industrial Revolution - The Technological Revolution
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Kyle

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Saturday, December 8, 2012

Where To Buy A Cheap iPod Touch 4G

The iPod Touch 4 have finally came out! The normal prices for it is for the 8GB 9, the 32GB is 9 and the big 32GB is 9. That is really expensive but I have found ways to get it at a much lower price.

So where to buy a cheap iPod Touch 4G?

Refurbished

Craigslist - A great website on craigslist you can definitely find some great bargains on iPods, iPhones, iTouches and other thing, but be careful their are some scammers on craigslist so you have to watch out for them.

Where To Buy A Cheap iPod Touch 4G

Amazon - A fairly obvious choice on amazon different companies signup to make money. Make sure you check out their sellers rating before you buy from someone on there.

eBay - Although it can be scary sometimes using eBay since their are some scammers there are good people selling their stuff for a reasonable price. I most of the time only deal with power sellers.

Is there anyway to get a free iPod Touch 4?

Yes, some sites want people to try their sponsor product out and in return the sponsor pays the site and they buy your iPod Touch 4G with that money. Its a new thing called "affiliate marketing" that really is starting to be the main way of marketing.

Most of the time people think this is a scam, but they never done the proper research to really check it out. I have done all my research and I even tested these sites. I was able to get a free Xbox 360 Slim and about 0. Its so easy.

Where To Buy A Cheap iPod Touch 4G

Do you want a free iPod Touch 4G?

If you like you can check this website for more information regarding this. Learn how here.

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

How 3D TV Technology Works

3D television technology is becoming increasingly popular with each passing day. Due to the rise of popular 3D feature films (namely Pixar's Up and James Cameron's Avatar), major television manufacturers began developing three dimensional home television technology in 2009.

There are several methods that these manufacturers use to create 3D images on an LCD television; some are more expensive than others, and some are more feasible than others. This article will discuss the three primary methods of 3-D home theater technology that will be used in upcoming years.

Lenticular viewing: This technology has been pioneered by Philips, and is available as of today. TV sets that use this technology can be watched without those funny glasses that audiences used in theaters. These televisions use a lens that can send different images to each eye. That is, your left eye will see a completely different image from your right eye, which will emulate your two eyes' use of stereopsis (the process by which your eyes discern depth). The one weakness of lenticular viewing, however, is that a viewer must sit in a very specific spot in front of the TV. This means that only a couple people would be able to comfortably watch the TV at once due to its small viewing angle.

How 3D TV Technology Works

Passive glass systems: Hyundai is developing this type of LCD monitor which will allow both 2D and 3D images to be viewed. To watch the 3-D images, viewers will need to wear the traditional glasses in order to watch three dinemsional media. This technology is nothing new: the TV has two overlapping images and the glasses have polarized lenses. Each lens is polarized so that it can see only one of the two overlapping images. This technology is very feasible and 40 to 50 inch LCD TVs with this technology are currently available for purchase.

Active glass systems: This system is very similar to the passive glass system, except rather than the TV doing all work, the glasses do. The glasses synchronize with the refresh rate of the TV, then they alternate the polarization of each lens, making the wearers of the glasses see 3-D images. With this technology, people could be watching a 2-D movie comfortably, then at will switch the movie into 3-D. This type of monitor is being developed by Samsung and Mitsubishi, but the downside is that the glasses could be very expensive. Some predict the glasses to be upwards of 0.

How 3D TV Technology Works
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For more information on how 3D televisions work go to 3D TV Information.

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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Hospital Beds For Home Use

So the doctor says you or a loved one needs a hospital bed at home. "No problem," you say to yourself, "I'll just go online and buy one." And then it happens...you become overwhelmed with the choices. And the more features you need the bed to have, the more confusing it gets.

But before you begin looking for that perfect bed, here are a few basics you need to know before you get started:

Refurbished

Hospital Bed or Home Care Bed:

Hospital Beds For Home Use

A true hospital bed is just like the ones you see in the hospital. They have a lot of complex features and can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. However, you may need a bed just like this. And in that case, a great choice is a refurbished unit. Hill-Rom is the gold standard for hospital beds and you can get a refurbished one for under 00. But each model has unique features suited for different needs.

Now if you do need a traditional hospital bed, you need to consider where it will be in your home. These units are quite large and often won't fit through doors or make it around tight corners. Some units are not recommended to be used in an upstairs room due to the above average weight.

But if you just need something with rails that has head and foot elevation capabilities, a home care bed is your perfect choice. These beds have the "look" of a traditional bed. Invacare is a popular choice for home care beds.

Electric or Manual:

Here's another decision you'll need to make. An electric version is much easier to use. The bed will raise and lower at a touch of a button. But of course the electric models are more expensive. So if you need to save money, a manual bed may be a good choice. But be careful...the caregiver will need to be able to manually crank the bed to raise and lower it. And if you still can't decide, there are semi-electric versions available as well.

Mattress and Rails:

Some beds come with a mattress and rails and some don't. This is something you need to be aware of with respect to your budget. Now if the bed does not come with a mattress, you'll have the opportunity to choose the type of mattress you want.

Air and foam types are most popular. In fact, some of the pricier mattresses can actually help in the prevention of bed sores.

There may be several more things to consider but so many of that depends on your particular situation. The best way to handle having to purchase a hospital bed for home use is to speak with an expert. That way, an expert can identify your particular needs and find the perfect bed for your needs.

It's too easy to buy the wrong type of bed without help. Don't do it on your own. Get help and get the right bed.

Hospital Beds For Home Use

Why waste your time looking for the perfect hospital bed for home use or home care bed? We can find the perfect one for your needs...saving you time, money and frustration!

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Battery Refurbishing - Easy Tips For Battery Regeneration

There are differences between the action of rebuilding a battery and refurbishing your old or dying batteries. The information contained in this article is not for regeneration of sealed or protected battery cases, we will also briefly discuss the differences between battery refurbishing and battery rebuilding.

Battery refurbishing is often performed by special machinery to which sends small electrical pulses through the contacts of the battery that helps with cleaning the plates of the battery. The accumulation that builds up is natural and happen normally after longer periods of use. Machines like these can also be used for multiple cycles which will help restore the battery to full capacity and help remove the presence of any possible memory in the battery.

Refurbished

Battery rebuilding techniques are normally accomplished for batteries that are made up of multiple battery cells. The most common types of these batteries are automotive, marine, ATV, and golf cart applications. Usually all of these types of batteries are great candidates for battery refurbishing. Most batteries are not in horrible condition beyond repair, and they can easily be repaired for optimum use with some simple methods that are available out there.

Battery Refurbishing - Easy Tips For Battery Regeneration

Battery rebuilds are replaced with all new parts which basically mean that they are just as good as new batteries, because all of their major components are replaced with new ones. You can buy refurbished batteries as well from companies that have completely replaced all the internals of batteries.

There are additional methods for recycling batteries as well that are available to teach the average person how to repair their own batteries. Energy Projects Information has a project page about using EDTA to refurbish your batteries at the following link.

Battery Refurbishing - Easy Tips For Battery Regeneration

http://www.energyprojects.info/Battery-Reconditioning.html

http://www.energyprojects.info

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Human Resource Information System - HRIS

Human Resource Information Systems

The purpose of this paper is to identify other companies who have faced similar human resources issues in regards to information technology. Through benchmarking different companies we can learn how other companies have handled certain human resources issues related to information technology, information systems, new technology, and data security. An overall analysis has been completed using research on IBM Europe, Ameriprise Financial, Terasen Pipelines, Shaw’s Supermarkets, CS Stars LLC, IBM, WORKSource Inc., and Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. This paper also includes eight synopses of companies facing similar issue to those in the reading.

New Technology

Human Resource Information System - HRIS

With the changing world and constant new technology that is available, managers need to be aware of the technology that will increase effectiveness in their company. Human resource information systems (HRIS) have increasingly transformed since it was first introduced at General Electric in the 1950s. HRIS has gone from a basic process to convert manual information keeping systems into computerized systems, to the HRIS systems that are used today. Human resource professionals began to see the possibility of new applications for the computer. The idea was to integrate many of the different human resource functions. The result was the third generation of the computerized HRIS, a feature-rich, broad-based, self-contained HRIS. The third generation took systems far beyond being mere data repositories and created tools with which human resource professionals could do much more (Byars, 2004).

Many companies have seen a need to transform the way Human Resource operations are performed in order to keep up with new technology and increasing numbers of employees. Terasen Pipelines moved its headquarters from Vancouver to Calgary to be closer to the oil and realized a major growth in employees. In the past recording keeping was done on paper and with spreadsheets. Mangers at Terasen realized that there was a need to change to a more computerized system and looked into different HRIS vendors. By making the move to a HRIS system, Terasen is able to keep more accurate records as well as better prepare for future growth. Another company that saw the benefits of keeping up with new technology is WORKSource Inc. To meet the challenge of handling 100 new employees, WORKSource Inc. acquired Web-based technology programs from GHG Corp. like electronic pay stub, electronic timesheet software, time-off system, and human resource information system (“Tips,” 2006). By adapting these new programs, WORKSource was able to reduce waste and cost.

The Internet is an increasingly popular way to recruit applicants, research technologies and perform other essential functions in business. Delivering human resource services online (eHR) supports more efficient collection, storage, distribution, and exchange of data (Friesen, 2003). An intranet is a type of network used by companies to share information to people within the organization. An intranet connects people to people and people to information and knowledge within the organization; it serves as an “information hub” for the entire organization. Most organizations set up intranets primarily for employees, but they can extend to business partners and even customers with appropriate security clearance (Byars & Rue, 2004).

Applications of HRIS

The efficiency of HRIS, the systems are able to produce more effective and faster outcomes than can be done on paper. Some of the many applications of HRIS are: Clerical applications, applicant search expenditures, risk management, training management, training experiences, financial planning, turnover analysis, succession planning, flexible-benefits administration, compliance with government regulations, attendance reporting and analysis, human resource planning, accident reporting and prevention and strategic planning. With the many different applications of HRIS, it is difficult to understand how the programs benefit companies without looking at companies that have already benefited from such programs.

One such company is IBM. IBM has a paperless online enrollment plan for all of its employees. Not only has the online enrollment saved the company 1.2 million per year on printing and mailing costs, the employees enjoy working with the online plan. "Since we began offering online enrollment, we've learned that employees want web access," Donnelly [Senior Communications Specialist] says, so they can log on at home rather than through the company intranet. So the company has been working to put in place a web-based enrollment system that employees and retirees can access from anywhere (Huering, 2003). By utilizing the flexible-benefits application HRIS has to offer, IBM was able to cut costs and give employees the freedom to discover their benefits on their own time and pace.

Another company that has taken advantage of HRIS applications is Shaw’s Supermarkets. In order for Shaw’s to better manage its workforce, the company decided it was time to centralize the HR operations. After looking at different options, Shaw’s decided to implement an Employee Self Service (ESS) system. The use of self-service applications creates a positive situation for HR. ESS gives HR more time to focus on strategic issues, such as workforce management, succession planning, and compensation management, while at the same time improving service to employees and managers, and ensuring that their data is accurate. With this solution, employees have online access to forms, training material, benefits information and other payroll related information (Koven, 2002). By giving employees access to their personal information and the ability to update or change their information as needed, HR was given more time to focus on other issues. Understanding the different applications HRIS has to offer will give companies the chance to increase employee efficiency and reduce costs.

Measuring the Effectiveness of HRIS

The evaluation should determine whether or not the HRIS has performed up to its expectations and if the HRIS is being used to its full advantage (Byars & Rue, 2004). One of the most significant challenges faced by public personnel executives today is measuring the performance of their human resources information system (HRIS) In order to justify the value-added contribution of the HRIS to accomplishing the organization's mission (Hagood & Friedman, 2002). Implementing an HRIS program may seem a necessary stem for a company, but unless it will be an effective tool for HR operations, it will not help increase efficiency and may hinder it instead.

One company that implemented a HRIS system is Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. (TAMS). TAMS put all employee benefits information online and created an open enrollment option when TAMS changed healthcare providers. Almost immediately upon rolling out the UltiPro portal [new HRIS technology] to employees, TAMS began seeing improvements, with an estimated 70% increase in open enrollment efficiency (Wojcik, 2004). By determining the efficiency of the new program, TAMS was able to realize the benefits of the new HRIS system.

Security of HRIS

The privacy of employee information has become a major issue in recent years. With identity theft becoming a common problem, employees are becoming more sensitive about who sees their personal information, and the security it is kept in. By making sure employee information that is kept in the HRIS is relevant to the company and making sure there is limited access (password protection) to such information, companies can make its employees more secure with the safety of their information. Whether electronic or paper, employee files deserve to be treated with great care. Establishing security and end-user privileges calls for a balance of incorporating, HR policy, system knowledge and day-to-day operations (O’Connell, 1994).

One company that faced a major security issue was CS Stars, LLC. CS Stars lost track of one of its computers that contained personal information that included names, addresses and social security numbers of workers compensation benefits. The bigger problem was that CS Stars failed to notify the affected consumers and employees about the missing computer. Though the computer was retrieved and no information seemed to have been harmed, many employees lost their sense of security with the company. New York's Information Security Breach and Notification Law, effective in December 2005, requires businesses that maintain computerized data which includes private information to notify the owner of the information of any breach of the security of the system immediately following discovery, if the private information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by a person without valid authorization (Cadrain, 2007).

Another company that experienced a breach in security is Ameriprise Financial. In late 2005, a computer that contained personal information on clients and employees was stolen. Because many of the employees at Ameriprise take their computers between work and home, the company determined there was a need to put more security into those computers. Ameriprise made sure all employees had the new security suite installed on their computers. By responding quickly to the need for more security, Ameriprise made sure all information is being kept secure. Making sure employees information is kept as secure as possible there will be more trust in the company and the HR employees working with that information.

Conclusion

IBM, Terasen Pipeline, CS Stars LCC, and Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. are good examples of companies facing issues similar to human resources information technology and human resources information systems. All of these companies know the importance of new technology, human resources information systems, and data security. The remainder of this paper provides synopses of more companies facing human resources issues, how the company responded to the issues, and the outcomes of the company’s responses.

Companies Benchmarked

IBM Europe

The Situation:

IBM is a global organization offering research, software, hardware, IT consulting, business and management consulting, ring and financing. It employs around 340,000 people, speaking 165 languages across 75 countries, and serving clients in 174 countries. In January 2007, IBM established a separate “new media” function within its corporate communication department. IBM main goal is to educate, support, and promote programs that utilize social media. IBM Europe decided to expand internal communication by blogging guidelines. The recognition was that blogging was already happening among IBMers, just in an unregulated way. In a similar way, institutionalizing a function to deal specifically with new media is not a corporate move, or establishing from scratch. It’s a response to the issues already emerging in the company. Now that those technologies are here, people are using them, they’re growing and there here to stay-we’re just going to put some structure around them so that we can try to optimize their use.” The users decide what technologies they want to use and how they want to use them. That main idea is that IBM understands that they must remember to respect the fact that social media are social. IBM had the need to connect its 340,000 global employees more effectively.

The Response:

IBM’s intent around social media has now been officially formalized. From January 22 2007, the company established a separate “new media” function within its corporate communication department. “Its remit: To act as expert consultants inside and outside IBM on issues relating to blogs, wikis, RSS and other social media applications. The main idea is to educate, support and promote programs that utilize these tools. IBM has a history of being a t the forefront of technology based corporate communication. From the multimedia brainstorming “WorldJam” that made news headlines back in 2001 in which 50,000 employees worldwide joined a real time, online idea-sharing session about the company’s direction. IMB has always prepared itself to use breakthrough technologies to establish a two-way dialogue with its employees. The need for social media was necessary and could no longer wait.

The Outcome:

In the last few years IBM has been recognized as being the vanguard of social-media use: IBM was on of the first Fortune 500 companies to get behind collaborative wikis, published internal blogging guidelines as far back as 2003, and is now moving fast beyond RSS and podcasts into videocasting and “virtual world” technologies like Second Life. The intranet search facility extends to all areas of the site, including new media aspects. When an employee logs onto their portal an executes a key word search, the results they get back not only come from the main intranet pages, but include results from IBM forums, wikis, blogs and podcast/videocasts tags. IMB has an understanding that employees are no longer staying in a company their entire lives. It’s just not like that any more. In Belgium for example over 50 percent of 2,300 employees have been there fewer than five years. The company has come to the conclusion that with an increasingly young and mobile workforce, the likelihood is that an employee population full of a younger generation, for whom these tools are part and parcel of life, is not that far away. In years to come IBM will have to deal with employee base for which blogging is just the natural way to interact over a web platform. IBM has created centralized platforms for most tools that fall under its remit, which includes wikis. For Philippe Borremans, new media lead Europe for IBM, has the potential business applications of a wiki cover two broad benefits: Collaborating and knowledge sharing. IBM has scored some notable successes on both fronts in the near 5000 wiki pages now up and running in the organization. The company has been a huge pick-up in interest in podcasting over the last 18 months writing can seem such a technical skill, whereas people feel they can talk more freely than they can write. One of the most consistently popular IBM podcasts, with over 20,000 downloads a week.

Ameriprise Financial

The Situation:

The Department of Justice survey estimates that 3.6 million U.S. households were victims of identity theft in 2004. Trafficking in personal date goes beyond U.S. borders: the New York Times reports that stolen financial information is often distributed among participants of online trading boards, and the buyers are frequently located in Russia, Ukraine, and the Middle East. One reason clients are concerned about data security is the widespread publicity generated by breaches at financial services firm. In late December 2205, an Ameriprise Financial employee’s laptop that contained unencrypted data on approximately 230,000 customers and advisors was stolen from a car. Other financial services firm, including Citigroup and Bank of America, also acknowledge large-scale customer data losses in 2005. President of NCS, Rita Dew, a compliance consulting firm in Delray Beach, Florida, says that the Securities and Exchange Commission requires investment advisors to have policies and procedures that address the administrative, technical, and physical safeguards related to client records and information.

The Response:

Ameriprise Financial had to fight back and had to implement “layers of protection.” It is important for employees who their primary business computer, and employees regularly transport the computer between home, office, and meeting sites. The vulnerability of this arrangement and the need for a safety software program is much needed.

The Outcome:

Employees who are transporting lab tops should install the Steganos Security Suite on their computer. This software allows employees to create an encrypted virtual drive on the laptop that serves as data storage safe. Employees stores all client related data and tax preparation software database on the encrypted drive, which employees has set up with one gigabyte of storage space. The best thing is that when an employee turns off the computer the information is stored “safe”, the software automatically encrypts the virtual drive’s data. The software also generates encrypted backup files, which employees store on CDs in a fireproof safe. This should keep the data secure if any employee’s laptop is stolen or if the drive is removed from the laptop. Other financial advisors are relying on encryption both in and out of the office. Other programs that are being used to protect client’s information are RAID Level 1 system to store data on the drives that are encrypted with WinMagic’s SecureDocs software. Encryption ensures that anyone who steals the computer will be absolutely unable to read the data, even by connecting it to another computer as a “slave drive. This has given many financial advisors the greatest peace of mind.

Terasen Pipelines

The Situation:

Terasen Pipelines is a subsidiary of Terasen Inc. located in Vancouver, Canada and is located in several provinces and U.S. states. In 2001 the company changed its headquarters to Calgary to be closer to the oil. With the big move, the company went through a growth spurt. With the company in many different locations and the growing numbers of employees, the HR department saw a need to find a new system to keep more accurate records.

The Response:

In the past Terasen had kept records on paper and with spreadsheets and with the growth of the company, this system does not work as well as in the past. In order to compensate for future growth, Terasen began to look into HRIS companies to help with the HR operations. After researching different companies, Hewitt’s application service provider model with eCyborg was found to be the right fit.

The Outcome:

Although there was difficulty adapting to a new way of recordkeeping, Terasen was able to find a system that will help support the current and future growth of the company. Fortunately, some of the HR staff had experience working with an HRIS and were able to help their colleagues imagine new processes, as aided by a system. One theme often voiced throughout this process was: "You guys don't know how hard we're working when we can make it so much easier with a system that could do a lot of this for us. You don't always have to run to the cabinet for the employee file just to get basic information. It can all be at your fingertips." (Vu, 2005). In order to help Terasen ease the HR burden of implementing a new HR system, the management of Terasen was convinced to look for a vendor to help implement and maintain a HRIS system. This system has helped Terasen better prepare for current and future growth.

Shaw’s Supermarkets

The Situation:

Shaw’s Supermarkets is the second largest supermarket chain in New England. With a workforce of 30,000 located at 180 stores throughout six states, Shaw's HR staff is responsible for managing employees' personal data. Their employee mix includes approximately 70 percent part-time employees, consisting of students, senior citizens, second-job part-timers, and career part-timers. One third of the workforce is made up of union associates, and Shaw's staff oversees the company's involvement with three unions and six separate contracts (Koven, 2002). In order to help manage the workforce, the HR staff became interested in centralizing its HR operations.

The Response:

In order to centralize HR operations Shaw’s decided to implement an ESS (employee self-service) solution. The use of self-service applications creates a positive situation for HR. ESS gives HR more time to focus on strategic issues, such as workforce management, succession planning, and compensation management, while at the same time improving service to employees and managers, and ensuring that their data is accurate. With this solution, employees have online access to forms, training material, benefits information and other payroll related information.

The Outcome:

Shaw’s has had positive feedback since implementing the ESS solution. "The reaction from our employees has been extremely positive," Penney, VP of Compensation and Benefits, says. "We even had a significant increase in our medical coverage costs, and it was almost a non-issue because the online enrollment featured the plan choices, the employee cost, and the company subsidy. An employee self-service application makes it very easy for them to understand their contributions and coverage options. I received several e-mails from employees saying this was a great change and how easy ESS was, which the case is not often when employees are selecting their benefit options." (Koven, 2002). By giving the employees more access to their information they are able to see the benefit choices available to them. Employees are also able to update their information online, which helps reduce the paperwork of the past. Shaw’s has also seen improvement in productivity because employees are updating information at home, not during work hours.

CS Stars, LLC

The Situation:
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has announced that New York State has reached its first settlement with a company charged with failing to notify consumers and others that their personal data had gone missing. Cuomo’s office, which enforces the state’s 2005 Information Security Breach and Notification Law, charged CS STARS LLC, a Chicago-based claims management company, with failing to give notice that it had lost track of a computer containing data on 540,000 New Yorkers’ workers’ comp claims.

The Response:

The owner of the lost data, which had been in the custody of CS STARS, was the New York Special Funds Conservation Committee, an organization that assists in providing workers’ comp benefits under the state’s workers' comp law. On May 9, 2006, a CS STARS employee noticed that a computer was missing that held personal information, including the names, addresses, and Social Security numbers of recipients of workers’ compensation benefits. But CS Stars waited until June 29, 2006, to notify Special Funds and the FBI of the security breach. Because the FBI declared that notice to consumers might impede its investigation, CS STARS waited until July 8, 2006, to send notices to the 540,000 New Yorkers affected by the breach. On July 25, 2006, the FBI determined an employee, of a cleaning contractor, had stolen the computer, and the missing computer was located and recovered. In addition, the FBI found that the data on the missing computer had not been improperly accessed.

The Outcome:

New York's Information Security Breach and Notification Law, effective in December 2005, requires businesses that maintain computerized data which includes private information to notify the owner of the information of any breach of the security of the system immediately following discovery, if the private information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by a person without valid authorization. The law affects not only businesses in their dealings with their customers, but employers in their role as custodians of employees’ personal data. (Cadrain)

Without admitting to any violation of law, CS STARS agreed to comply with the law and ensure that proper notifications will be made in the event of any future breach. The company also agreed to implement more extensive practices relating to the security of private information. CS STARS will pay the Attorney General’s office ,000 for costs related to this investigation. (Cadrain)

IBM

The Situation:

IBM's paperless online enrollment system, introduced in 1999, has proved to be a winner for both the company's 135,000 active U.S. employees and the company, according to Cathleen Donnelly, senior communications specialist at company headquarters in Armonk, N.Y. The company saves .2 million per year on printing and mailing costs alone, Donnelly says, and the employees’ can take advantage of a variety of technologies to learn about issues, research program information and access decision support tools from their desktop computers. (Heuring, 2002)

The Response:

One of those tools, a personal medical cost estimator, enables employees to calculate potential out-of-pocket health care expenses under each of the plan options available to them, Donnelly says. Employees log in personally and are greeted by name and with important information regarding their benefits enrollment, such as the deadlines and when changes take effect. They automatically get access to health plans that are available to them, and the calculator lets them compare estimated benefit amounts for each plan.

"Employees can select the health care services they expect to use in a particular year, estimate expected frequency of use, and calculate potential costs under each plan option," Donnelly says. "The feedback that we've received from employees tells us that this tool has really helped them to make a comparison between plans based on how they consume medical services." The calculator shows both IBM's costs and the employee's. (Heuring, 2002)

The Outcome:

"Since we began offering online enrollment, we've learned that employees want web access," Donnelly says, so they can log on at home rather than through the company intranet. So the company has been working to put in place a web-based enrollment system that employees and retirees can access from anywhere.

Employees can get summary information on the plans, drill down into very specific details and follow links to the health care providers for research. Donnelly says the system has received high marks for convenience because employees can "get in and out quickly."

WORKSource Inc.

The Situation:

To meet the challenge of handling 100 new employees, WORKSource Inc. acquired Web-based technology programs from GHG Corp. like electronic paystub, electronic timesheet software, time-off system, and human resource information system (“Tips,” 2006). These tools enabled CEO Judith Hahn to handling payroll procedures efficiently and effectively.

The Response:

WORKSource has eight workforce centers, with approximately 108 employees, located throughout a six-county region. Previously, payroll, benefits, and human resources for those employees were processed and managed by a Professional Employer Organization. The company also has 52 administrative staff in its headquarters office. When the contract with the PEO terminated on June 30, 2006, those 108 employees were immediately moved to the payroll of WORKSource, which meant Hahn’s workload more than doubled effective July 2006 (“Tips,” 2006).

Hahn, in an interview with PMR, said she relied on LEAN to help get a handle on what needed to change for her to manage the increased workload. Two years earlier, Hahn’s CEO had introduced her to LEAN, a Japanese management concept of eliminating wasteful steps and motion when completing processes. “I began to read as much as possible about LEAN and joined an HR LEAN focus group” (“Tips,” 2006).

The Outcome:

Mastering the concepts of LEAN led Hahn to develop and apply her own acronym of “REASON” to her department’s payroll and HR processes. Review the process: map payroll tasks from start to finish. Eliminate waste: determine how to complete a payroll task most efficiently without unnecessary steps. Analyze alternatives: research and evaluate the applicability of new technology. Sell innovations to management: document the return on investment of each innovation. Open the lines of communication: communicate openly—and often—with all stakeholders, including employees and top management. Never allow negativity: make change simple and fun. Give employees plenty of encouragement and time to learn (“Tips,” 2006). Judith Hahn was able to implement the right human resource functions using information systems.

Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc.

The Situation:

Lynda Morvik, director of benefits and human resources information systems at Tustin, California-based Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. (TAMS), thought it would make sense to add a benefits communication component to it. By having all the benefit information online, the TAMS employee handbook would also be a living document, enabling Morvik to make changes when necessary. Such was the case halfway through the project, when TAMS changed health care plans from Aetna Inc. to United Health Group Inc (Wojcik, 2004).

The Response:

TAMS, an independent group company of Toshiba Corporation and a global leading provider of diagnostic medical imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, MRI, and information systems, had been using a payroll service bureau and an in-house solution for HR that didn't include easy-to-use consolidated reporting or an employee portal. After evaluating UltiPro alongside several enterprise resource vendors, TAMS selected Ultimate Software's offering and went live in September 2002 after an on-time and on-budget implementation. Almost immediately upon rolling out the UltiPro portal to employees, TAMS began seeing improvements, with an estimated 70% increase in open enrollment efficiency (Wojcik, 2004).

The Outcome:

In an effort to expand the usage of the Web beyond the benefits enrollment process, TAMS has posted a library of documents and forms on its HR portal, including the benefits handbook, which garnered a 2004 Apex Award for publication excellence. That same year, Business Insurance magazine also gave TAMS the Electronic Benefit Communication (EBC) award for outstanding achievement in communicating employee benefits programs over the Web. To continue elevating its use of Ultimate Software's HRMS/payroll solution, TAMS modified the UltiPro portal to meet the imaging company's unique needs (Wojcik, 2004). It was completely integrated with several proprietary applications created to address compensation and performance management issues so that TAMS employees have a central location for comprehensive workforce and payroll information from a Web browser that they can access with a single sign-on (Wojcik, 2004).

References

Byars, Lloyd L. & Rue, Leslie W. (2004). Human Resource Management, 7e. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Cadrain, Diane (2007). New York: Company Settles Data Breach Charges. Retrieved June 3, 2007 from [http://www.shrm.org/law/states/CMS_021505.asp#P-8_0]
Clarifying IBM’s Strategic mission for social media (2007). Strategic Communication
Management. Retrieved June 1, 2007 from
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=17&did=1263791161&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=4&clientld=2606&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
Friesen, G. Bruce (2003). Is your client ready for eHR? Consulting to Management, 14(3), 27. Retrieved June 3, 2007 from ProQuest Database.
Hagood, Wesley O. & Friedman, Lee ( 2002). Using the balanced scorecard to measure the performance of your HR information system. Public Personnel Management, 31(4), 543-58. Retrieved June 3, 2007 from ProQuest Database.
Heuring, Linda (2003). IBM: Laying Outing Enrollment Options. Retrieved June 2, 2007 from [http://www.shrm.org/hrmagazine/articles/0803/0803heuring_paperless.asp]
Koven, Jeff (2002). Streamlining benefit process with employee self-service applications: A case study. Compensation & Benefits Management, 18(3), 18-23. Retrieved June 2, 2007 from ProQuest Database.
O’Connell, Sandra (1994). Security for HR records – human resources. HR Magazine. Retrieved June 3, 2007 from [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m349] 5/is_n9_v39/ai_16309018
Protecting Client Data (2006). Financial Planning. Retrieved June 1, 2007 from

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1066464321&Fmt=4&clientld=2606&RQT=309

&VName=PQD.
Tips on Using Technology to Streamline Payroll Processes – and Cut Costs (2006). Payroll Managers Report, 6(10), 1-9. Retrieved June 2, 2007 from EBSCOhost Database.
Vu, Uyen (2005). Contracting out HRIS easy call at Terasen Pipelines. Canadian HR Reporter, 18(4), 5-9. Retrieved June 2, 2007 from ProQuest Database.
Wojcik, J. (2004). Toshiba Employee Handbook Goes Online. Business Insurance, 38(49), 18.
Retrieved June 2, 2007 from EBSCOhost Database.

Human Resource Information System - HRIS
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Steven Brown, MBA is a loving husband and father of two boys. He enjoys his time with his family by providing a strong family foundation of Christian Faith. After completing his Bachelors degree, Steven wanted to further his ability to teach and share to others his mindset that they can do anything if they would believe in themselves.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

Infectious Diabetes and Obesity - A New Genetically Engineered Plague?

The following vital information is, frankly, frightening, as it means that we have entered into a new world of disease never before imagined. This is not a conspiracy theory. When you read what follows, you will understand why this issue may already be known by a select few, but kept from the public domain.

The issue has to deal with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Over the last several decades, obesity and diabetes have become epidemic. Children, adults, poor people, wealthy people, Americans, Africans - all over the world people are becoming obese and developing diabetes. We are concerned that the current epidemic of obesity and diabetes may be caused by a new problem, never before considered because it never before existed.

Of course, when you think of the cultural/lifestyle causes of obesity and diabetes, the answer quickly comes that these people need to eat less and exercise more. Our lifestyles have become sedentary, and people have become more spectators, and less doers. And catering to this "market" is a large supply of dietary products, weight loss methods, and pharmaceuticals, like insulin.

Infectious Diabetes and Obesity - A New Genetically Engineered Plague?

It is this insulin that plays a key role in the new crisis.

Insulin, of course, is a hormone. It is active in very minute concentrations. All hormones are chemical messengers and facilitators that allow our body's organs to keep integrated and modulated as they perform their vital functions. Insulin is a very important hormone, responsible for getting sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream absorbed by the cells, which need the sugar for energy. The cells have receptors for insulin on their cell membranes, which act as "locks" for which the insulin is the "key", turning on the cell to take up the life-supporting sugar.

Without the effect of insulin, the cells would not be able to drink up the sugar from the bloodstream, and would starve. The blood "spills" the sugar out in the kidneys, and into the urine. This condition of reduced insulin activity and sugar in the urine is called diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is a rarer form of the disease, in which the pancreas, the organ that manufacturers and releases insulin into the bloodstream, reduces or stops its insulin production. These people can die without insulin being provided in drug form. Type 2 diabetes constitutes 90% of diabetes cases, and is typically associated with overeating and obesity. It is often cured by dietary and other lifestyle changes.

However, not all people recover. There are also other conditions that can lead to obesity and diabetes. One is having too much insulin. If you have too much insulin in your bloodstream, it will cause your cells to take up so much sugar that it lowers your blood sugar level, a condition called hypoglycemia. This makes you hungry, so you would eat more to raise you sugar level back up. But the high insulin quickly sends that new sugar into the cells for storage as well, along with water to help keep the sugar in solution. This makes the cells swell, as well as make fat cells convert the sugar into more fat, ultimately leading to obesity. Since the cells also become less sensitive to insulin because of the high levels, it also causes diabetes.

Hyperinsulinemia, then, causes obesity and diabetes. This condition is also epidemic, and parallels the current diabetes and obesity trends. More and more people are developing these problems every day, at an alarming rate. It is as though diabetes and obesity were contagious, spreading from person to person, like some germ plague.

Actually, this is what we are afraid may be happening!

It has to do with genetic engineering, and the production of human insulin in certain species of bacteria and yeast. There was a time when diabetics needing insulin would receive insulin from a pig's pancreas. As you can imagine, taking injections of pig insulin could lead to allergic reactions. Far better, some thought, to have human insulin to give to humans. But there was simply no source of human insulin. Until genetic engineers found a way!

Insulin is a protein, even though it is a hormone. Some hormones are steroids, like estrogen and testosterone. These are produced in the cells by a metabolic process that starts with cholesterol and, through a series of enzymatic reactions, produces the final steroid hormone. Other hormones are proteins, directly coded for in the DNA of the cell's genes. Other protein hormones are growth hormone, and glucagon.

We all have genes that code for these protein hormones. Genetic engineers have been able to find these genes, and cleanly cut them out of the section of DNA in which they are normally located. They took the human gene for insulin and placed it into the DNA chain of a bacterium. This makes the bacterium "part human", so to speak, in that the bacterium now makes human insulin. All you have to do is extract the insulin from the bacterium, and you have a relatively inexpensive source of human insulin.

The idea is simple to state, but it took science decades to develop this technology of splicing genetic information from one organism and putting it into another organism - of another species! The possibilities are endless. But like all technology, there is also a cost. Every new invention that changes the world has its advantages and disadvantages, its rewards and its risks, its successes and its failures.

The bacterium chosen to be the recipient of this human gene is the commonly found, and well studied, E. coli. Our intestines team with trillions of E. coli bacteria. Some E. coli strains cause disease, and are the leading cause of food poisoning. Most are benign, and are our constant intestinal companions. Why use this particular bacterium for genetic engineering? It has to do with its genetic make-up, and the ease with which E. coli DNA can be manipulated, even with foreign DNA.

The company that developed genetically engineered E. coli that makes human insulin was Genentech. They did this in 1978. Eli Lilly, another drug company, purchased the license for this process, and is now the producer of human insulin from E. coli.

Besides E. coli, scientists have also done a great deal of genetic research and manipulation with another micro-organism - Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as Baker's yeast. That's right, the same yeast used to make bread, wine, beer, and other foods. It wasn't long after Genentech's E. coli success that another company, Novonordisk, developed a Baker's yeast engineered to produce human insulin. Both these GMO's - the E. coli and Baker's yeast that both produce human insulin - are now virtually the only sources of insulin for diabetics. Animal insulin manufacturers can not compete with this cheap, genetically engineered human insulin supply.

It may sound like a good idea to have all this genetically engineered insulin cheaply available, given the epidemic of obesity and diabetes. But what is the price of having these GMO's making human insulin?

The price, we believe, is that these GMO's are causing the obesity and diabetes epidemics!
Just as with all new technology, there are accidents. Novonordisk reports several accidental spills of genetically modified, human-insulin producing Baker's yeast! For example, in one case in 2004, according to Novonordisk, "During the cleaning process, 10 litres of media containing GMO were discharged directly into the sewage system. Normally the media would be discharged into a tank. When the operator saw the accidental release, the discharge of the media was stopped and the sewage system was disinfected."

There have been other such incidents over the years. Eli Lilly admits to many dozens of "serious environmental events", in fact, 29 such events between 2003 and 2005. These events include,
The effect of these organisms on the environment is an experiment in the making. While these companies say their E. coli and Baker's yeast are too weak from laboratory conditions to survive and compete in the wild, the fact is that they don't really know what will happen until it actually does happen. It's all so new, that the impacts of a spill are still considered a mystery.

Obviously, the "Precautionary Principle" is not in effect here.

But if these GMO's did get out, the manufacturers assert, they are harmless to humans. Of course, since there are no published scientific studies of what happens when a human is infected with these GMO's, this is another optimistic assumption by these manufacturers. What would happen? One can make some educated guesses based on known medical knowledge. What would happen if you had bacteria and/or yeast in your intestines that were producing insulin?

Your intestinal fluid would be high in insulin, produced by the genetically modified microbes. Some of that insulin would be absorbed into the bloodstream. This would make your blood high in insulin, causing hyperinsulinemia. Over time, this would make you obese and diabetic, a known outcome of hyperinsulemia!

Since GMO's would be producing insulin in your intestines, your pancreas would reduce its insulin production, since more is not needed. This would eventually create dependence on the GMO insulin absorbed from your intestines. The level of GMO's in your intestines will rise and fall depending on your diet and intestinal health. Some times, if the level is high, the insulinemia would be higher. Other times, the GMO's can virtually disappear, causing a shortage of insulin, catching the pancreas by surprise, before it has time to reactivate its insulin production. It would be as though you were taking varying doses of insulin medication at erratic times. Your blood sugar and metabolism would be a mess. You would be obese, diagnosed as a diabetic, and ironically prescribed more insulin!

Are these GMO's as harmless as their manufacturers claim? We may just be starting to see just how harmful they can be.

It is not only insulin that is produced in E. coli and Baker's yeast. Human Growth Hormone is also manufactured this way. What would happen if GMO's making growth hormone colonized your intestines? Excessive growth hormone would be absorbed into your bloodstream, and over time this can lead to in excessive body growth, arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, excessive snoring from enlarged throat, impaired vision, headaches, fatigue, menstrual disorders, high blood pressure, and - diabetes!

Then there is the hormone glucagon, which has the opposite action as insulin. That is, this hormone raises blood sugar by making the cells give up their sugar stores. This hormone is also manufactured in genetically engineered E. coli and Baker's yeast. Having these GMO's in your intestines would also cause havoc to your blood sugar level and metabolism.

So here is the crisis. There are drug companies making human hormones in the most common bacterium that humans live with - E. coli - and in the yeast commonly used for our food supply - Baker's yeast. Both of these genetically modified microbes have entered the environment. These GMO's constitute a new threat to human health, as our intimate contact with them may lead to their colonization of the human intestinal flora.

Besides accidental releases of these GMO's there is the deliberate selling of old GE yeast to pig farmers. Once the yeast is used to make insulin, the yeast is heated to inactivate it, and the resulting slurry is sold for animal feed. However, yeast (and E. coli) are known to make very heat stable spores, which can theoretically survive the heating process. A few surviving spores out of trillions of yeast cells is statistically insignificant. But those spores can enter the environment and reproduce, and possibly enter the food chain and human (or animal) intestines.

Of course, before everyone gets alarmed that a new plague has come, there needs to be more research. If these GMOs have contaminated our environment and are causing diabetes and obesity, then it should be possible to take intestinal samples from some obese, diabetic people and find the offending, rogue microbes. Ideally, this is something that the manufacturers of these GMOs should be paying for. However, these manufacturers should not be doing the research themselves. It is not wise to trust research into a GMO leak with the company that makes the GMO. If insulin, growth hormone, glucagon, and other hormones are being produced in human intestines, causing a pandemic of obesity and diabetes and who knows what else, then the results would be too important and damaging to the manufacturer to trust it to anyone but a third party.

But who would that third party be? Government regulation of the genetic engineering industry is minimal. Lobbying by GE companies is extensive, and effective. The attitude of the government has been that, since the GE industry could be harmed by safety regulations based on the precautionary principle, we must all accept the technology now to let the nascent industry get established, and wait for an obvious disaster before making any impositions. As a result, the industry is policing itself, which is as big a mistake as letting these corporations tinker with these microbes in the first place.

The big question is, if the results showed that this nightmare of infectious obesity and diabetes, spread by GE bacteria and yeast, is, indeed, a reality, then will the public be told? You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to see that the truth may be untold. Of course, perhaps not surprisingly, the result of an insulin-producing GMO spill would be increased cases of diabetes, and this would translate into higher sales of insulin. Those responsible for the problem would be the first to benefit from it.

Perhaps these organisms could be called GERMs, or Genetically Engineered Rogue Microbes. We believe there needs to be a broad discussion of this threat posed by GERMs to human health. Endocrinologists will have to work with gastroenterologists, nutritionists, and epidemiologists as they explore this new form of disease - contagious hormonal disease. Public health experts will have to advise the public and institutions on ways to minimize the spread of these GERMs. There should be a department at the Centers for Disease Control that is dedicated to GERM Surveillance and epidemic control.

How do you personally take precautions against a coming GERM plague, especially when it will probably be emphatically denied by these companies and their government accomplices? How will medicine meet the challenge of diagnosing and treating diseases caused by GERMs? Is there any way to put this genie back into its bottle?

Whether or not it is too late remains to be seen. Research is desperately needed, along with continuous monitoring of commercial Baker's yeast supplies for food production, and peoples' intestinal contents for signs of GERMs. Our food and our homes may be contaminated with GERMs. Some E. coli and Baker's yeast have been modified to produce, not hormones, but drugs and enzymes. Obesity and diabetes may only be the beginning of a series of health problems that confuse doctors, disable and kill patients, and are spread from person to person in a handshake or in a piece of bread or a glass of beer.

We have been sold the advantages of Genetic Engineering. The creation of new GERMs, and the havoc they cause, may be the high price we are forced to all pay for this awesome, terrifying technology.

Infectious Diabetes and Obesity - A New Genetically Engineered Plague?
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Sydney Ross Singer is a medical anthropologist and director of the Institute for the Study of Culturogenic Disease, located in Hawaii. His unique form of applied medical anthropology searches for the cultural/lifestyle causes of disease. His working assumption is that our bodies were made to be healthy, but our culture and the attitudes and behaviors it instills in us can get in the way of health. By eliminating these causes, the body is allowed to heal. Since most diseases of our time are caused by our culture/lifestyle, this approach has resulted in many original discoveries into the cause, and cure, of many common diseases. It also makes prevention possible by eliminating adverse lifestyle practices. Sydney works with his co-researcher and wife, Soma Grismaijer, and is the author of several groundbreaking health books.

Sydney's background includes a B.S. in biology from the University of Utah; an M.A. degree from Duke University in biochemistry and anthropology; 2 years of medical school training at UTMB at Galveston, along with Ph.D. training in medical humanities.

Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer can be reached at the Institute for the Study of Culturogenic Disease, P.O. Box 1880, Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 (808) 935-5563. sydsinger@gmail.com

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Sunday, November 18, 2012

PS3 Won't Read Disc Fix - Tips to Fix Your PS3 Disc Problems

If your PS3 won't read your disc, then try the tips below. They may help you fix your PS3.

Firstly check the actual disc that you are trying to play for scratches, smudges and dirt. If it is smudged or dirty clean it (instructions are in the PS3 user manual). In any case, try another disc in the PS3 and see if that works. If it does then most likely the cause of your problem is the disc. It may be too scratched up, from the wrong region - [many discs are locked to a certain region and will not play on a system in another region], etc.

Refurbished

If your PS3 will not read any disc, try turning it off and on again - Place it in standby mode (when it shows the red light) and flip the switch on the back, or if it is a slim place it in standby mode and unplug it. Wait a couple minutes and turn it back on again.

PS3 Won't Read Disc Fix - Tips to Fix Your PS3 Disc Problems

Unfortunately if that doesn't work try resetting it may fix the PS3. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds until you hear 2 beeps. This will reset the PS3's settings.

If your PS3 will not read disc still then the lens may be dirty. You can fix this by getting a lens cleaner. Most electronic stores sell them. Follow the instructions on the lens cleaner.

However if your PS3 will not read disc, then you have a more major problem. In order to fix your PS3 you will either have to send your PS3 to Sony for repairs, or get a good PS3 repair guide and fix it yourself.

If your PS3 is still under warranty, then I would recommend that you send it to Sony for repairs since you will void your warranty if you open your PS3.

However if your warranty has expired, the fastest and cheapest option to get your PS3 working again is to get a good, step-by-step PS3 repair guide and repair it yourself. You see, if you were to send it to Sony, they will charge you around 0 and there will be a 4-6 week wait to get your PS3 back, or you will get a refurbished unit. Good repair guides costs downwards of and offer 1 hour fixes so that you can get back to using your PS3 as quickly as possible.

PS3 Won't Read Disc Fix - Tips to Fix Your PS3 Disc Problems

To get your PS3 reading discs again, you need a good PS3 repair guide, otherwise you risk damaging your PS3 further. I've found 4 good PS3 repair guides on the internet and placed them in a list, rank for the best to the worst. Want to see? Click here!

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Era of Information Technology

Around one hundred and fifty years ago, businesses ran their day to day operations completely different from what businesses of the modern era do to run their day to day operations. People back then worked under candle light doing math calculations on paper, the old fashion way, before electricity came about in the early 20th century. Now, most of the civilized world wouldn't know what to do with themselves without technology. Imagine not even having a calculator for math or the internet to do research. Yes, I know, it is hard to believe people were able to survive without these advanced tools that we take for granted each day. The advances in communication combined with the evolution of the IT industry has made it possible for people to do business throughout the world in real time. Improvements in IT improve our lifestyles and business by allowing computers to reduce complications and enrich possibilities.

These days, the name "Information Technology" has managed to encompass many aspects of computer technologies invented in the past couple decades. These IT spectrums can be covered in many types of professional fields such as Management Information Systems, Computer Networking, and Software Design. Our ancestors couldn't even fathom what our society has accomplished.

In medicine, Information Technology also plays a substantial roll. Doctors take pictures with machines like a computerized axial tomography (CAT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and can print out three dimensional images of bones, muscles, and organs. These images can help map out patient's problems and help save lives. This day and age, it is difficult to find a field or industry that IT has not been greatly affected.

The Era of Information Technology

IT is completely responsible for how organized our civilization has become. The corporate world was only made possible by the communication information technology has put in place between both computer software and hardware. From a personal stand point, it would be difficult for most people to name a single person doesn't use the internet on a regular basis.

With the increasing new technologies coming out everyday, employees in the Information Technology work force must constantly re-educate themselves with all the new technologies. This makes IT a very demanding field as it is always developing and perfecting. The process of improvement is what makes this such a desirable aspect to almost any business. It is very important for anyone in the IT field to always stay up to date with all newly developing technologies that relate to their industry. IT is now the complete backbone to almost any business and its ability to be competitive and efficient.

The Era of Information Technology
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This article was written for our friends at Blue Portal to keep the IT world educated. Article written and distributed by Secure Link.

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