As part of the New York City Department of Buildings' ninth annual Construction Safety Week celebrated April 29 through May 3, 2013, the Department conducted a two-month-long safety check of the construction sites in the city. The city issued hundred of citations, revealing serious dangers for construction workers. Construction site safety campaign The Department of Buildings named the targeted safety inspection project Operation: Low Rise. Department officials inspected 920 low-rise construction sites located throughout New York City. Officials issued 879 Environmental ...

Allegations of a criminal sexual offense are disorienting. For a coach or teacher, sex offense charges alone can ruin a career. Responses by a school vary, but suspension of the accused coach or teacher is common pending investigation. In addition, the state licensing board can immediately suspend a teaching license. This could all occur before formal criminal charges are filed. Stigma from a California sexual assault allegation - even if charges are later dropped or a trial results in a not guilty verdict - may still end a career working with children or the vulnerable. The ...

Slip resistance testing is a scientific field that studies slippery floors. Why is this important? Many commercial buildings need to consider installing safe floor coverings that hold up after use and cleaning and reduce the number of slip-and-fall accidents injuries in heavily trafficked areas. Falls are a leading cause of emergency room visits and more than one million slip-and-fall injuries are reported across the country each year. It may seem counterintuitive, but a shiny floor is often less slip resistant (a good thing) than a dull finish. This ties in with maintenance ...

The Securities and Exchange Commission has accused the City of Victorville, California, of defrauding investors by inflating property values in a 2008 municipal bond sale. The SEC also filed civil charges against the bond underwriters and a city official allegedly involved in the scheme, as well as against the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority. Inflated property values In a suit filed on April 29, 2013, the SEC alleged that the parties dramatically overstated the value of properties in an area that they planned to redevelop, and that they used the inflated ...

When President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) in January of 2013, he ushered in a new era of federal estate and gift taxes for the country. New lifelong and yearly gift tax exclusions can help more people than ever before avoid the hassles and headaches associated with paying taxes on gifts or bequests from a loved one. The 2013 bipartisan tax agreement puts into place a lifelong estate tax exclusion of $5.25 million per individual. This allows the transfer of millions of dollars worth of money, real estate, jewelry, cars, collectibles, etc., to ...

While the number of car accidents in New York City is going down, pedestrian injuries and fatalities are on the rise. This is true even though New York has taken steps to increase pedestrian safety in recent years, including adding bike lanes and pedestrian plazas. What, then, has caused the increase in pedestrian accidents? What do we need to do to make our streets safer for pedestrians? New York Pedestrian Accident Statistics According to data from the New York Police Department (NYPD), nearly 15,500 bicyclists and pedestrians were injured in New York City in 2012. ...

When you think of dangerous driving habits, you may think of distracted driving, which has received a lot of attention in the media lately. Although activities such as texting while driving contribute significantly to the number of car accidents on the road, a new study suggests that driver fatigue is a danger that is often overlooked by safety experts. The driver fatigue study was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. For the study, data was collected from 100 commuters in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The study was unique because it was ...

The student debt crisis is approaching fever pitch in the United States as more borrowers than ever before falling behind on their student loan payments, Bloomberg reported recently. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 11 percent of student loans were at least 90 days past due at the end of 2012. At 90 days past due, a student loan is considered seriously delinquent. Today's delinquency rate is nearly twice that of a decade ago; in early 2003, according to the report, only 6 percent of student loans were past due by 90 days or more. Economy compounds debt ...

With the return to school each fall comes the increased need for Texas drivers to be aware of school zone traffic laws and be vigilant in observing them -- both to protect the safety of schoolchildren and to avoid the potential legal consequences of school zone violations in Texas. Texas drivers who violate school zone laws can face steep penalties, even if no accident results from the violation. And, as with any traffic violation or other offense, ignorance of the law is a poor defense. Therefore, it is wise for Texas drivers to be aware of school zones and familiarize ...

The cost of higher education in the United States has grown so high, and student loans have become so burdensome, that one-third of millennials say their time would have been better spent working than going to college, a recent Wells Fargo survey found. For many graduates, debts are overwhelming In the survey of 1,414 people between the ages of 22 and 32, over 40 percent of respondents characterized their debt as "overwhelming," Forbes reported. As of June 2010, student loans have outpaced credit cards as a leading source of debt for the first time on record ...

Within the recent tragedy of the bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, there are stories of selfless acts by volunteers that saved countless lives. The initial estimates of 170 injured have increased sharply to more than 280 as more people seek treatment for injuries they thought were minor - some of these people were likely volunteers who rushed to help others. Many have praised the response of volunteers, emergency responders and race participants for quick thinking in dealing with injuries and sending the injured to the right hospitals. Yet this raises ...

Cholesterol-reducing drugs such as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor are associated with a higher risk of developing Type II diabetes, especially in older women and those already at risk for developing the illness because of lifestyle factors or genetics. In addition, these drugs, known as statins, have also been shown to cause other serious side effects that include: Muscle problems: The Mayo Clinic reports that the most common side effect of statins is muscle pain. In addition to weakness and pain, statins have caused a much more serious muscle problem known as rhabdomyolysis. ...

As reflected in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's ("NHTSA's") June 3, 2013 letter to Chrysler Group, LLC ("Chrysler"), common sense ought to count for something in automotive vehicle design. And most of the time, it does. For instance, common sense and lessons learned from prior automobile designs dictate that an automaker should not place the fuel tank someplace where it's likely to get hit--because then the tank could be punctured, leak, and a fire could result. NHTSA's June 3, 2013 letter to Chrysler reflects how most automakers ...

The Problem Wrong site surgery (WSS) includes surgery performed on the wrong side or site of the body, wrong surgical procedure performed, and surgery performed on the wrong patient. According to Dr. Mark R. Chassin, M.D., FACP, M.P.P., M.P.H, President, The Joint Commission, "Wrong site surgery is a rare event for individual surgeons or health care organizations. But when it does happen it is a devastating event that is often life altering for the patient who experiences it." Unfortunately, as noted by The Joint Commission, some estimates put the national ...

Access to the Internet as well as the numerous portals of information and opportunity it contains are quickly reshaping the way private and business affairs are conducted all over the world. When someone from India can download an electronic book from a North American website and receive it almost instantly on his or her reading device, you know you are witnessing a radical level of commercial entrepreneurship. The wealth of information available on the Internet can be mind-boggling. FindaFacilitator.com is a website managed by Leadership Strategies, a successful professional ...

When you are designing how you want your window coverings to look, it often seems that you only have two options: completely covered or not covered at all. Even when you open blinds or curtains, you always face some kind of covering left over. It can be difficult to find a window covering that offers you the perfect look. Eclipse Shutters, Atlanta's premier plantation shutter manufacturers, believe that you should be able to perfectly customize your window coverings to match your ideal vision for your home. To help its customers to bring their home decor ideas to life, ...

If you're looking for a unique idea for a get-together, why not invite your girlfriends over for an afternoon tea party? Since the 1800s, afternoon tea has been a British staple. A tea party can blend history, elegance and whimsy to create an enjoyable experience for everyone, including gourmet coffee drinkers. With specialty teas and the best coffee around from J. Martinez, your party will be a memorable one. The Tea Set If you do not already have a tea set, you can visit your local antique stores to acquire one. If you can't find a full matching set, pick up interesting ...

AgilQuest Corporation has released the core concepts of Smart Occupancy, the philosophy and approach behind the solutions savings millions annually in office space at large companies and federal agencies without compromising employee satisfaction or productivity. Smart Occupancy applies the latest mobile technology, access control integration, and modern workplace expertise to balance the need to save on real estate and energy with the practical support needs of the workforce. This combination of "secret ingredients" has set AgilQuest apart from their technology-only ...

The Los Angeles Superior Court recently announced the closure of several courthouses. Criminal courts that are closing will be transferring cases to alternate locations, including the Van Nuys Criminal Court. Effective June 3, 2013, many felony and misdemeanor cases resulting from incidents in or around Hollywood and Universal City will be transferred to the Van Nuys Courthouse. Additionally, the Van Nuys Courthouse will receive misdemeanor and felony cases previously filed in the Malibu Courthouse. With a large influx of criminal cases being sent to the Los Angeles ...

In 2005, Carlos Villasenor and his wife Sylvia arrived at the hospital to give birth to their first child, Mariana. After 2 heartbreaking miscarriages, the couple was thrilled to finally bring their beautiful baby girl into the world, and the proud dad wanted to capture every priceless memory on film. While the birth went without problem, Carlos' mission of filming the most special moments was rockier than expected. Everything seemed to go wrong for the anxious new dad. "I was a nervous wreck, worrying about charging the camera, changing memory cards, and trying ...

The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion opens to the public this Saturday, 8th June 2013, revealing the temporary structure created by Tokyo-based architect Sou Fujimoto, who at 41 is the youngest to carry out the high profile commission. A highlight of the summer arts calendar in London, the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion is a must-see for art lovers who can book from a wide choice of London hotels and see all of the interesting exhibitions in the city's galleries this June. The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, another highlight of summer art in London, opens just two ...

Based on the inspiration of the female image, BY-MG.com introduces a variety of everyday items beautified by the colorful images of the original pastels series "A Colorful Slap In The Face" (www.by-mg.com) by artist Maria Grazia Facciola, turning art into function: wallpaper, cell phone cases, greeting cards, gift wrapping, canvases and decorative pillows to appeal to women, admires of women, and interior designers looking to incorporate art into their everyday accessories and decor. "Original art not just on your walls" is the concept that the artist, ...

WHAT: Biggest Loser Season 14 winner, Dannielle "Danni" Allen, and runner-up, Jeff Nichols, will visit 16 Planet Fitness locations throughout Connecticut on June 17th and 18th. These free events are open to the public and attendees will have the opportunity to hear their inspirational stories first hand, take photographs, and receive autographs and exercise tips. Dannielle "Danni" Allen, a 26-year-old advertising account coordinator from Wheeling, IL, was named the Biggest Loser beating second-place competitor, 24-year-old Jeff Nichols from Monroe, ...

Corcentric, a leading provider of Accounts Payable automation and straight through processing, lists the top ten reasons why AP departments should automate their processes and workflow. Most AP Managers and Finance Directors understand the need for automating AP, from eliminating paper to streamlining processes to capturing early pay discounts; however, convincing the CFO is often a stumbling block. This blog gives ten compelling reasons that should help convince senior management that e-invoicing and automating AP is actually a smart business move that will pay off ...

RSG Aviation, Inc. recently received notification of contract award from the City of Houston to support their fleet of Bell 412 aircraft. RSG Aviation responsibilities will include all twin-engine helicopter component overhaul/exchange and repair services/support for the thirty-six month period. Houston PD air support division, with a fleet of 16 helicopters, has quickly become the second largest municipal police air support unit, just slightly behind Los Angeles PD. Brian Nerney, CEO of RSG Aviation said: "We are excited for this opportunity to serve the Houston ...