May 15, 2012, 2:45 p.m.

In front of a modest but engaged audience at a panel discussion about raising young men of color, Sheron Smith, mother of the actor and rapper Mos Def, delivered a message that received an enthusiastic response.

When you have a child, its not about you anymore, she said to applause.

A few minutes later, Brenda Greene, a professor of English at Medgar Evers College and the mother of the rapper Talib Kweli, agreed that parents play a crucial role in their childs upbringing.

We have to take that responsibility or no one else will, she said.

The importance of parental involvement in all aspects of a childs life was a sentiment repeated throughout the panel, which was held at the Fashion Industries High School in Chelsea on Saturday afternoon. The discussion was the closing event of Eagle Week, a weeklong series of activities organized by the Eagle Academy Foundation to inspire and educate young men of color.

Other activities for students from the Eagle Academies for Young Men in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens included a day of community service, a breakfast at Yankee Stadium with speeches from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, and a youth summit featuring book discussions with authors and mentors.

David Banks, president and chief executive officer of the Eagle Academy Foundation, said the goal of the week was for students to be inspired to know that they are special, that they can be all that they want to be.

And many students who showed up to the youth summit on Saturday the event immediately preceding the panel discussion said they had gained a lot from the activities.

I felt good about being out there with my Eagle brothers, said Xavier Thomas, a 17-year-old senior at Eagle Academy in the Bronx. It brought us Eagles closer together.

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Panel: Parent Involvement Is Key to Success of Young Men of Color

May 15, 2012, 1:17 AM PDT

Takeaway: Securing data simply by defending the network perimeter is no longer enough to satisfy the law. IT departments need to consider a different approach.

Attacks have shown that a perimeter-based strategy is not enough to meet the needs of most networks. Photo: Shutterstock

Protecting personal data is an emotive subject thats long been an issue for CIOs. It became an even bigger concern when UK data privacy watchdog the Information Commissioners Office gained the power in 2010 to impose fines of up to 500,000 ($800,000) for breaching the Data Protection Act.

But breaches that affect commercially sensitive and secret information get less attention. Thats surprising because such incidents can result in companies being sued for breach of contract and directors facing action for breaching their fiduciary duties.

UK data protection law is based on eight principles and requires companies to take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information.

Against that, the law of confidentiality, which applies to commercially sensitive or secret information, is a common law right based on precedent and has not been codified. Consequently, people tend not to understand it so well, although the principles are easily stated.

This approach to protecting confidential and personal information is logical. It allows the law to remain flexible and relevant despite rapid changes in the technology industry.

The result is that regulators and enforcers have to take a purposive approach, which may appear quite subjective, when they decide whether appropriate protection has been provided.

The trouble with this approach is that it is relatively easy to apply in retrospect but not so easy to use when drawing up requirements. Furthermore, rapid tech changes can make solutions that are satisfactory now seem totally inadequate in six months.

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Personal data: Time to rethink our whole security approach?

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Agencyport Software, a long-time contributor to the development of ACORD standards in the Property & Casualty insurance and reinsurance industry and a leader in the adoption of these ACORD standards through its various software products, announced today a significant contribution of data mappings to the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD), the leading non-profit standards development organization serving the insurance and financial services industries. Specifically, Agencyport has contributed its proven AL3 to ACORD XML mappings to ACORD to use in its efforts to provide mappings from ACORDs eForms to its other standards as well as additional mapping initiatives.

ACORD's AL3 (Automation Level 3) standards were first created in the 1980s so that carriers and independent agents could be updated more quickly by carrier data sent nightly via download from their carriers. This led to the significant implementation of AL3 batch download, and later to real-time processing using ACORDs XML V1.x standard. In 2003, shortly after it was founded, Agencyport brought AgencyConnect to market, an enterprise software solution that enables carriers to receive inbound AL3 and XML messages from independent agents and integrate a single, normalized XML feed to carriers rating and policy systems to handle upload, bridging and real-time rating.

ACORD standards have been incredibly important to the insurance industry since their inception and for us in North America and in Europe, these standards help our customers do business with tens of thousands of agents, brokers and other trading partners every day, said Steve Hauck, co-founder and co-CEO of Agencyport Software. The data mappings that have worked so well for us and our customers will help ACORD and its members by providing valuable data mappings used in the implementation of its standards. We are proud of the work we have done and the implementations of ACORD standards with our products AgencyPortal, AgencyConnect and most recently Turnstile. We feel that by ACORD having our interpretation of the standards, it can continue to work with other standards implementers to promote collaboration and achieve consistent implementations of its Property and Casualty standard. We are honored to partner with ACORD so that the market can more quickly and more easily utilize consistent standards in such products as eForms, real-time implementations, as well as other initiatives.

Agencyport provided its AL3 to XML mappings for more than 10 lines of business, including Homeowners, Personal Auto, Dwelling Fire, Personal Umbrella, Personal Package, Business Owners, Commercial Auto, Commercial Property, General Liability, Commercial Umbrella, and Commercial Package.

We are very excited to receive this contribution from Agencyport Software. They have been a long-time supporter and implementer of ACORD Standards and this action shows their dedication to advancing standardization across the industry. They also reinforce the importance to all stakeholders that standards are not standards unless they are implemented consistently, said Marcia Berner, Director of Implementation Services at ACORD. We hope that Agencyport's example spurs others to share in the movement. After all, its all about enabling automated transactions in real-time and making it more conducive to all implementers to do the same. We thank them for feeling so passionate about the use of Standards in the insurance marketplace and in realizing the benefits that true Standards implementations will have on the industry as a whole.

About Agencyport Software:

Agencyport Software (formerly Sword Insurance), makes the business of insurance more efficient through technology innovation. We offer the world's leading web-based distribution technologies, global policy administration solutions and robust business intelligence toolsa powerful mix that makes the complex business of insurance easier and smarter, and helps our customers seize opportunities and gain a competitive edge quickly. http://www.agencyport.com

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Agencyport Software Accelerates Open Standards Development for P&C Industry

BEAVER FALLS, Pa., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Nourish by Sensible Organics, Inc., a breakthrough organic beauty and personal care brand that is the first to offer an entire collection of 100% USDA certified organic bath and body products, announces today that actress Christine Taylor has signed on to be their national Brand Ambassador.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120514/NY03167-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120514/NY03167-b)

Christine Taylor, who may be best known for her starring roles in films such as "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," "The Wedding Singer," "The Brady Bunch Movie," and "Zoolander," is an avid environmental advocate and passionate enthusiast for living a greener lifestyle. In her new role as Brand Ambassador for Nourish, she will be the face of the beauty brand and its products, and will help raise awareness about the numerous health and beauty benefits of using 100% USDA certified organic personal care products.

"It's a pleasure to represent Nourish because I strongly believe in their commitment to creating 100% USDA certified organic personal care and beauty products that are affordable, effective, andfeel great on your skin," said Taylor. "I look forward to working with Nourish to promote the benefits of natural and organic living and the philosophy that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it."

"Christine Taylor is an ideal choice to represent the Nourish brand as our Ambassador. She is authentic in her beliefs of living a greener, healthier lifestyle, and as a busy mother of two young children, Christine can speak to her own personal journey of integrating better beauty, health, and wellness solutions into her family's lifestyle," said Rick Ruffolo, CEO and President of Sensible Organics, Inc.

Nourish-Organic Food for Healthy Skin is the first beauty brand to create attractive, enjoyable, and affordable personal care products that are based solely on effective, nutrient-rich 100% USDA certified organic fruits, vegetables, and plant extracts. Unlike other brands which claim to be "natural" or "organic," yet still have artificial chemicals in their products, Nourish uses only USDA-certified ingredients nothing more to feed and treat the skin the way nature intended.

Nourish introduces the first complete line of clean, healthy, and eco-friendly products, including an Organic Body Wash, Organic Hand Wash, Organic Body Lotion, Organic Body Butter, Organic Deodorant, and Organic Exfoliating Body Polish, that all proudly display the USDA certified seal. This USDA seal promises consumers that all Nourish organic claims are 100% reliable, as its products are inspected and required to contain at least 95% organic ingredients and be certified to the USDA National Organic Standards. The USDA National Organic Standards are the highest in the industry, and personal care products within this category are held to the same rigorous standards as USDA certified organic food.

Nourish launches this month exclusively at Whole Foods Market nationwide. For more information, please visit http://www.NourishUSDA.com.

ABOUT SENSIBLE ORGANICS, INC.

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NOURISH - ORGANIC FOOD FOR HEALTHY SKIN™ Signs Actress Christine Taylor as Celebrity Brand Ambassador For its New USDA ...

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled the new UNI-CUB personal mobility device, designed for harmony with people. Featuring a compact design and comfortable saddle, UNI-CUB offers the same freedom of movement in all directions that a person enjoys while walking.

Representing the evolution of the U3-X personal mobility device that Honda announced in 2009, UNI-CUB features Hondas proprietary balance control technology and the worlds first omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System). These technologies allow the rider to control speed, move in any direction, turn and stop, all simply by shifting his or her weight. Since the rider can freely move forward, backward, side-to-side and diagonally, he or she can quickly and easily maneuver among other people.

Moreover, UNI-CUBs compact saddle-style packaging makes it easy for the riders legs to reach the ground and maintains eye-level height with other pedestrians. This configuration promotes harmony between the rider and others, letting the rider travel freely and comfortably inside facilities and among moving people.

Starting in June 2012, Honda will jointly conduct demonstration testing of UNI-CUB with Japans National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. In addition to testing the feasibility of using UNI-CUB indoors, this project will explore the practical applications of the device in a wide range of environments in Japan and other countries.

The balance control technology of UNI-CUB is part of the Honda Robotics family of technologies, which originates with Hondas research into humanoid robots, including the world-famous ASIMO.

Going forward, Honda will continue its proactive research and development of next-generation mobility technologies, aiming always to offer more and more people the joy and fun that comes from freedom of movement.

Key specifications of UNI-CUB

Key features of UNI-CUB:

Maneuverability promotes compatibility with people in many environments:

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Honda Announces New UNI-CUB Personal Mobility Device Designed for Harmony with People

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire -05/14/12)- Is it time for a change? Is your love of health and fitness something you'd like to turn into a career rather than just a hobby? If for you, the time has come, to swap the suit for your trainers you could become a personal trainer in less than two months.

With the fast-track personal training course form the Training Room you could have all the necessary qualifications under your belt in just six weeks.

Fast-track from the Training Room

The Training Room's fast-track personal trainer courses provide entrants with the most comprehensive route to becoming a fully accredited personal trainer in the UK.

The intensive six week course is able to be completed at any of their personal training academies throughout the UK and requires Monday to Friday commitment. If you put in the time and effort this may well represent the best chance to get on the road to your new career as quickly as you can.

Fast-track course benefits

The fast-track personal training course from the Training Room has the following benefits:

- A full and comprehensive support structure

- Professional development and mentoring throughout the programme

- Student welfare contacts providing all the necessary support

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Achieve Your Personal Training Goals in Just Six Weeks

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Adirondack Insurance Exchange (AIE), Financial Stability Rating of A, Exceptional, and Mountain Valley Indemnity Company (MVIC), Financial Stability Rating of A (A Prime), Unsurpassed, have created a separate, stand-alone multi-state personal lines platform that joins the writing capacity of AIE with the geographic footprint of MVIC. As a result of the transaction, AIE and MVIC will be positioned for further organic growth and expansion as a dedicated personal lines platform with a geographic footprint that covers 22 states.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120123/MM39893LOGO)

While AIE has writing capacity, it is licensed only in New York. MVIC is licensed in 22 states in addition to New York. By acquiring and reinsuring MVIC, AIE will have exposure, through reinsurance, to business in jurisdictions other than New York, thereby diversifying AIE's geographic risk profile. Separate and apart from any benefits of this transaction for AIE or other members of the Tower holding company system, this transaction will be a positive development for MVIC.

By joining MVIC's licenses with AIE writing capacity, the sale to AIE will give MVIC a market niche that is unique in the Tower holding company system, and should cause it to feature prominently in future growth strategies. The combined personal lines platform of AIE and MVIC will play central role in personal lines strategic development, initially in the northeast, with potential for expansion into other areas.

About Tower Group Companies

Tower Group Companies is one of the 50 largest providers of property and casualty insurance products and services in the U.S. Through its insurance company subsidiaries, Towerprovides personal and commercial insurance for small to medium-sized businesses through its network of retail and wholesale agents across the country. Tower also offers specialty insurance products through a national network of program underwriting agents. Visit http://www.twrgrp.com for more information.

ABOUT DEMOTECH, INC.

Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm specializing in evaluating the financial stability of regional and specialty insurers. Since 1985, Demotech has served the insurance industry by assigning accurate, reliable and proven Financial Stability Ratings (FSRs) for Property & Casualty insurers and Title underwriters. FSRs are a leading indicator of financial stability, providing an objective baseline of the future solvency of an insurer. Demotech's philosophy is to review and evaluate insurers based on their area of focus and execution of their business model rather than solely on financial size. This philosophy was the catalyst for the Demotech Company Classification System, which was developed and published in Insurance Journal, in order to stratify and categorize insurers into operational categories. Visit http://www.demotech.com for more information.

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Personal Lines Strategic Development for Tower Group Companies

Hamdan student programme supervisors attend workshop

(Staff Reporter) / 16 May 2012

DUBAI - The Hamdan bin Mohammed Students Personal Development Programme launched last year by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, held a five-day workshop for public and private school supervisors assigned to ensure that the students acquire the skills aimed to be developed by the programme.

The workshop was held to familiarise the supervisors with their role under the third phase of the programme.

The workshop was opened by Abdulla Al Shaibani, Secretary-General of the Dubai Executive Council.

Al Shaibani referred to the great attention paid by Shaikh Hamdan to the youth and his directives to support the young people as they are the real wealth to build this nation and bolster its march.

The programme is working in line with the objectives of the social development scopes of the Dubai strategic plan 2015 on backing education in a strategic manner and to achieve the goals set by the programme, Al Shaibani noted. He expressed happiness at the vital role played by school supervisors in following up the implementation of the programme with students.

The programme is making big strides thanks to the good cooperation among the General Secretariat of the DEC, the Human Resources Department of the Dubai government, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the Dubai Education Zone and the schools participating in the programme.

A total of 18 supervisors of schools signed in the programme attended the workshop.

news@khaleejtimes.com

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Hamdan student programme supervisors attend workshop

Education Online Services Corporation Announces Upcoming Launch of an Online RN to BSN Degree for Southern University, School of Nursing in Baton Rouge

Education Online Services and Southern Universitys School of Nursing announce the launch of online RN to BSN degree

The Baccalaureate program at Southern University School of Nursing is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). National licensure exam pass rates for SUSON graduates have been above the national average for ten of the last twelve years. The School of Nursing was recently named Nursing School of the Year for the second time in three years by the Louisiana Nurses Association and Louisiana Nursing Foundation.

Offering our RN to BSN degree online is the perfect resolution for the growing number of people who have inquired about our program but, because of their schedules, found it difficult to get to the campus, said SUBR Chancellor James L. Llorens. We are excited about the easy accessibility we can now provide and what it will mean to the careers of so many nurses.

With the Institute of Medicine calling for at least 80% of the nursing population to hold a BSN degree by 2020, the announcement of this degree comes at a very good time stated Ezell Brown, Chairman of Education Online Services Corporation. Last year, one of the top reasons why nursing schools did not accept qualified students into BSN programs was due to limited classroom space. Launching the BSN degree program online will not only enable Southern University of Baton Rouge to increase their student enrollments, but it will help them extend their student reach beyond their geographical boundaries, Brown continued.

The BSN program encompasses the fundamentals taught in associate degree and diploma programs plus a more in-depth study of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, nurse management and the humanities. In addition, it prepares nurses to actively participate in assessing and developing patient care plans, educating patients on caring for their own health, prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice and provides a better understanding of issues that affect patients and influence health care delivery.

The American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) released data revealing that BSN credentialed graduates were much more likely to receive job offers upon graduation or soon after than graduates from other fields. Specifically speaking, according to a national survey of deans and directors from nursing schools across the United States, revealed that 65% of new BSN graduates had job offers at the time of graduation, which is substantially higher (24.4%) than the national average across all professions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is the largest occupation in the field of health care with approximately 2.6 million people holding nursing jobs. Salaries for nurses can be dependent upon job location, but are mostly based on level of education according to PayScale.com. Nurses who hold BSN credential tend to earn approximately $6,000 more annually than RNs.

Applications are currently being accepted for the June 4, 2012, class start; however, students may enter any semester (fall, spring, or summer). Criteria for admission to the school of nursing includes a cumulative GPA of 2.6 or higher with a minimum grade of C for all prerequisites, must pass the university writing proficiency exam, and provide evidence of a current active unencumbered state board of nursing license. Federal financial aid is also available to those who qualify. For a complete list of admission requirements and further information on financial aid, please visit Southern University Online at http://www.GoToSouthernUniversityOnline.com/RNBSN or call Southern University School of Nursing at 866-895-8019.

About Education Online Services Corporation (EOServe Corp) Education Online Services Corporation was founded by a select team of academic and marketing professional who recognized the opportunity to assist colleges and universities in underserved communities with the development of full-service online degree programs. With the primary focus on graduating students, Education Online Services Corporation works closely with the admissions, financial aid, and academic departments of each institution to help them market and increase enrollment by expanding their on-campus degree programs to online degree programs. For more information please got to http://www.EducationOnlineServices.com

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Education Online Services Corporation Announces Upcoming Launch of an Online RN to BSN Degree for Southern University ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Teenagers in Ohio would be able to take driver's education courses online instead of in classrooms under a proposed change being considered by lawmakers.

Teens younger than 18 currently are required to have 24 hours in the classroom and eight hours behind the wheel with instructors. Republican Sen. Tom Patton of Strongsville tells The Dayton Daily News allowing online courses in place of classroom work would offer families a cheaper, more flexible alternative to traditional driver's education.

Driving schools opposed to the change say it would hurt their business and allow teens to do the online work with little oversight, creating more opportunity for cheating.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association says 15 of the 26 states that require teen driver education allow online training.

___

Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com

2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Ohio lawmakers consider online driver's education