When a franchise relationship is a good fit, it can bear fruit for both the franchisor and the franchisee. Ensuring that everyone is on the same page is an involved process, however, and both franchisees and franchisors must do their due diligence before a profitable agreement can be struck. A primary way franchisees and franchisors can get to know each other is through a franchise "Discovery Day." On Discovery Day, potential franchisees travel to corporate headquarters to meet the franchise team. Individuals can get the most out of Discovery Day by doing their ...

Hip replacement patients who thought they were safe from metal toxicity may still be at risk if they received one of the two Stryker hip components included in a nationwide recall on July 4, 2012. Some will need revision surgery to remove the implants due to associated problems, which include the potential for tissue damage and/or metallosis (metal poisoning). Though the recall was more than a month ago, many patients could still be unaware of the recall status of their hip. The recalled devices include: - Stryker Rejuvenate modular stems - Stryker ABG II Modular stems These ...

People who have noticed more accounts of accidents between motorists and pedestrians or bicycles in Charlotte in recent years are not imagining things. A recent report in the Charlotte Observer based on North Carolina Department of Transportation data revealed that accidents have increased locally despite decreases in national accident rates involving bicyclists, pedestrians or joggers who are hit by cars or trucks. The report cited distracted driving as a primary reason behind the trend, as well as recently developed areas of Charlotte that lack crosswalks or sidewalks. ...

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, you may have questions about your debts. You will likely worry about how the bankruptcy court is going to decide which debts will be forgiven and which you may need to pay. The answer is that it depends on the type of debt that you owe. Is it secured or unsecured? Being able to tell the difference between the two types of debt can help you understand which type of bankruptcy filing is best for you. Secured Debt vs. Unsecured Debt Secured debt is money that is owed on a bill where an asset was pledged as collateral. Common ...

After an on-the-job injury, nearly all Colorado workers are entitled to receive workers' compensation benefits. Workers' compensation provides coverage for medical treatment related to the work injury and wage-loss benefits if the worker needs time off to recover. In addition, workers with permanent impairments may be entitled to ongoing total- or partial-disability benefits. However, while these benefits are certainly helpful, there are some limitations to the Colorado workers' compensation system. For example, wage-loss benefits are capped at a weekly maximum and employers ...

Clients who are concerned about passing their wealth on to family members and other heirs have had plenty of reason for uncertainty in recent years. The federal estate tax scheme originally enacted a decade ago is set to expire at the end of 2012, with significant implications for existing estate plans. Barring any action by members of Congress, the so-called "death" tax will rise from 35 percent to 55 percent at the end of this year. In addition, the current $5 million exclusion level will decrease to $1 million, meaning that an additional $4 million of the ...

More than three quarters of UK motorists drive over the speed limit, while a quarter believe that driving over the speed limit is acceptable. These worrying findings have been uncovered by car insurance expert Admiral and illustrate that many motorists see speed limits as simply a guide rather than law. Car insurance experts Admiral commissioned YouGov to survey more than 3,000 drivers as part of its annual Admiral Survey of Motorists. The statistics showed that, although the numbers who say they speed were concerning for both men and women, there was a definite gender ...

The AAP policy, revealed on Monday, claims "...the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks, and the procedure's benefits justify access to this procedure for families who choose it." The AAP cited urinary tract infections, penile cancer, and the prevalence of HIV as major reasons. Says Dr. George Denniston, President of the international group, Doctors Opposing Circumcision, based in Seattle, Washington, "This is yet another blatant attempt at 'medical marketing and upcoding. The AAP is the same organization that tried to introduce ...

August is in full swing and it feels great to be a South African living in the USA. With the Olympics just ended, we can truly be proud of the men and women of South Africa who returned home with 6 medals in all. What a highlight of the Olympics to watch our very own Oscar Pistorius achieve something spectacular. He warmed the hearts and brought tears to the eyes of people worldwide. Absolutely amazing to say the least! A job well done for team USA, not only did they lead the medal count; they also brought 104 medals home. No small feat. With the 2012 Olympics over, ...

Gatwick welcomes YO! Sushi to the airport's North Terminal today, delivering even more choice and quality food for passengers. YO! Sushi closely follows the addition of the new Jamie Oliver restaurants at Gatwick. YO! Sushi offers fast, fun and fresh Japanese food for passengers to dine in or takeaway for their flight. There are over 90 Japanese-inspired items freshly prepared in the restaurant each day. These include delicious soups, rice or noodle-based dishes, salads, tempura and classics like Chicken Katsu Curry, Salmon Teriyaki or Yakisoba noodles. For early morning ...

KitSound Mini Buddy Speakers - GBP9.95 Available in four designs; penguin, owl, football and union jack, these great value speakers will make a brilliant stocking filler. Compact and portable, they connect to most sources via a 3.5mm headphone jack and can be recharged easily using the included USB cable. Philips FM/AM Shower Radio - GBP19.95 This splash proof shower radio has a digital timer so you can set how many minutes you would like it to play for. It will then automatically count down and turn off. The radio has a matt texture on both sides so you can move ...

University of East Anglia research shows children at risk from rural water supplies Children drinking from around half the UK's private water supplies are almost five times more likely to pick up stomach infections – according to research from the University of East Anglia (UEA). Research published today in the journal PLOS ONE shows children under 10 who drink from contaminated supplies are suffering around five bouts of sickness or diarrhoea a year. This figure is similar to the rates of infection among children in the developing world. Around 1 per cent of the ...

PASADENA, Calif., (Aug. 24, 2012) – Children who are overweight or obese face an increased risk for gallstones, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition. Researchers found that children and adolescents who were overweight were twice as likely to have gallstone disease, compared to children and adolescents who had a normal body mass index. Those who were moderately obese were four times as likely to have gallstones and those who were extremely obese were six times as likely to have gallstones. The study ...

Researchers at the University of Leicester have developed a new form of digital microscope which can create an image 100 times faster than regular equipment – without losing image quality. The team of scientists have developed a new type of confocal microscope that produces high-resolution images at very fast speeds. The findings are due to be published on the online journal PLOS ONE on August 24. The device, which takes a cue from consumer electronics such as televisions, can be bolted on to a regular microscopes and projects light through a system of mirrors on ...

Sunbathing may be healthy – at least for one group of North American insects that apparently uses the activity to fight off germs, Simon Fraser University scientists have found. Western Boxelder bugs (WBB), found largely in B.C. interior regions, are known to group together in sunlit patches and while there, release monoterpenes, strong-smelling chemical compounds that help protect the bugs by killing germs on their bodies. Researchers previously thought the compounds had a role in reproduction or defending the bugs against predators. But their latest study found that ...

HOUSTON - (Aug. 23, 2012) – Mexican-Americans with an ancestral link to Amerindian tribes were found to have higher insulin resistance levels, which is an indication of several chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, according to research by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). "Now that we have identified the ancestral link, we have an opportunity to develop some new approaches to personalized medicine using genetic markers," said HuiQi Qu, Ph.D., the study's lead author and assistant professor at The University of Texas School of ...

The inaugural Rockin' the Pier to Support Military Families event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 6-11 pm on the pier at the Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore, MD. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit the Fisher House —an organization devoted to supporting military families in need. This special evening of entertainment is open to the public and donations are accepted online in advance of the event or at the door. Entertainment for the evening will include live musical performances from Michael Jackson tribute artist Matt Macis, rockers Meridian One, and ...

Eleven of Washington, D.C.'s finest are readying for the CD Release and DVD Live Recording of DC Gospel Artists United: Together In Unity. The new release contains some of the region's brightest stars and gifted artists performing a set of powerful, faith-based songs. Compilation visionary and Stellar Award Winner Phillip Carter decided to tap the sacred market of Chocolate City, one of the best-selling cities for gospel music. Featuring some of the most talented artists in the genre, DC Gospel Artists United showcases amazingly gifted gospel singers in the DMV. The double ...

Travelers to Chicago have a new addition to tour options. Geogad has just released a new tour for Lincoln Park Chicago that guides visitors to the gems of North Side Chicago using their favorite mobile devices. Geogad's Mobile Tour of Lincoln Park and the North Side of Chicago is available to travelers in many formats across multiple delivery channels including the Internet, the mobile web and Google Android powered smartphones with built-in GPS capabilities. For example, travelers can stream and view the tour on Geogad's main web site at http://www.geogad.com. If the traveler ...

Electro Adhesion Products, LLC in Charlotte is now distributing JuStick display boards to major retailers in the United States. The innovative bulletin boards feature electro adhesion technology that holds flat objects including paper, cardboard, photos, plastic and CD's evenly and firmly across its surface without the use of pins, tape, glue or magnets. From small desktop boards to blackboards to large display boards, JuStick's electro adhesion products come in a variety of sizes and are suitable for the home and office, as well as educational and retail spaces. JuStick ...

There's a new tool available for Private Practice Owners. An eBook was recently written and released by Survival Strategies, Inc., a training and consulting company in Burbank, CA. It addresses a problem that most practice owners face to one degree or another; "Where are all my profits?" Survival Strategies' own consultants and trainers were interviewed and surveyed as to the most common and troublesome ways a practice loses money. Their answers were based on their collective experience gained from working with some 4,000 practice owners over the course of ...

Expanding its California presence, Pathfinder Partners, LLC, a San Diego-based company specializing in making opportunistic investments in real estate properties and defaulted loans, has acquired Tuscan Townhomes, a luxury, 63-unit, townhome project located at 11511 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside, California. Pathfinder and its operating partner, Stratford Partners, acquired the property for $10.55 million and plan to implement a $240,000 program to upgrade townhome interiors, as well as improve common area amenities. Tuscan Townhomes, a gated community, was completed ...

Fisher & Phillips LLP announces that San Francisco partners John Beers and Tim Murphy have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 (Copyright 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Overall, the firm has 81 attorneys honored across 23 regional offices - an increase of nearly 23 percent over last year for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. Representing employers exclusively, Beers has successfully litigated hundreds of employment cases for numerous clients. He has defended employers in jury trials against claims ...

Lori Torline, President of Lori Leigh Designs, Inc. announced today that her fashion and jewelry accessory product atelier has appointed Cliff Price & Co. to handle retail sales activity in the key states of Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. "Cliff Price & Co. is one of the most experienced and most respected sales agencies in the retail gift industry", said Ms. Torline. "The lines they represent are among the strongest in the gift and fashion accessory categories and they are most adept at pioneering exciting new lines such ...

News Facts - Fishbowl Solutions, an Oracle WebCenter Content and Portal Specialized Partner, has announced Version 2.0 of their Microsoft SharePoint Connector for Oracle WebCenter Content. This version improves upon the configuration and user interface features of previous versions by strengthening content and data integrity, usability, and access between the two systems. - The Fishbowl SharePoint Connector for WebCenter offers the only out-of-the-box, Oracle "Validated Integration" solution between Microsoft SharePoint and Oracle WebCenter Content. The ...