GDANSK, Poland (AP) -Now for the really important business between Greece and Germany: Football.
On Friday, thousands of fans from the two nations at opposite ends of the eurozone financial crisis converged on neutral Polish turf for a European Championship quarterfinal match.
For Greece fans, Friday's clash in Gdansk inevitably mixes sports and politics, Euro 2012 and the euro currency. They seek respect for their country after its humiliating economic collapse - and the German government's role in imposing strict austerity measures as a condition of Greece getting ?240 billion ($300 billion) in bailout pledges.
"It's not good that sports and politics are together, but today we have no other choice," Greece fan Michalis Kalotrapesis said, wearing a white national team shirt and tracksuit top. "We are playing for our country and for our image in Europe and all over the world."
Kalotrapesis, and three Greek friends who now live in Germany, drove through the night to support their native nation here. Their pride in performing what they see as a patriotic duty fits into Greece's favored national narrative: In football as in finance, Germany is the traditional power and Greece the spirited underdog.
"We are a little bit crazy, but it's the Greek mentality," said Nikos Barzas, pointing out the bloodshot eyes of the group's designated driver, Georgios Kotiniotis. They left Gifhorn, Germany, at midnight with 750 kilometers (about 465 miles) of roads ahead of them.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will attend the match after morning economic meetings in Italy that were brought forward to help fulfill her role as the supposed lucky charm of the national team.
Barzas is glad she is coming - to further spur the team and 5,000 Greece fans expected to attend the match.
"(The players will) fight a little bit more because (they want) to beat Angela Merkel. (It would be) a little bit of a small kick in Germany's (backside)," he said.
About 15,000 Germans were expected to go to the match, according to the Football Supporters Europe group. Many of the Germans arrived at Gdansk's main train station, where the scalpers' asking price was ?200 (about $250) for a ticket with a face value of ?75 ($95). There didn't appear to be any Greek fans in the market for them.
Cafes in the narrow cobbled street were occupied by either camp of genial beer-drinking fans. As the street filled up and drinks flowed, a large German flag had claimed the iron fence surrounding the ornate Neptune's fountain. Nearby, Greek fans waving an even larger flag occupied the steps leading up the main town hall. On the Motlawa river bank, fans stopped to get their faces painted in team colors, with accordions being played in the background.
Confident German fans could plan ahead of Euro 2012 for a likely quarterfinal in Gdansk. Fans from the Greek Diaspora knew only last Saturday where to head after an upset win over Russia.
"I was actually happy for them (the Greeks) that they finally had something to celebrate," said Stefan Leidig, a Germany fan from Koblenz. "Besides, I hope that they will manage to get out of the crisis at one point."
Two days after being sworn into office, the prime minister of Greece's new conservative-led coalition government is staying at home to work.
Antonis Samaras, a Harvard-educated former finance minister, is better employed stabilizing the country after a tense election last weekend than cheerleading at a football match, fan Thomas Nikolopulos said.
"I'm glad they are at home," said Nikolopulos, who arrived on a morning flight from London.
Before Samaras met with lawmakers in Athens on Friday afternoon, he could read headlines fueling national wishes to repel German policy on the field: "Bankrupt Them!" read Greek paper SportDay, as Derby News repeated the Spartan motto "Come and Get it."
In Germany, the best-selling daily Bild led with: "Bye bye Greece; we can't rescue you today."
Nikolopulos, who is originally from Athens, said the feeling back home is that "Germany has put them in the corner" over the euro currency crisis.
"This is Greece's opportunity to stand up and try to go back to being historical wonders," he said, with a blue-and-white striped national flag draped across his shoulders.
Greece fans takes faith in their team's surprise run to be Euro 2004 champion, founded on the same solid defense and dogged resistance shown by the current team in Poland. For three-time European champion Germany, the match seems more routine - aiming for its fourth straight semifinal at each World Cup and Euro since Greece's golden year.
"For me, it's a normal football match," said German fan Klaus Lehmkuhl, a technical consultant from Muenster. "I don't think the politics is important for the German team."
Still, some off-field tensions are expected when the German national anthem is played minutes before kickoff. And if images of Merkel sitting next to UEFA President Michel Platini in the VIP seats are shown on the stadium giant screens?
"There will be massive boos. I can't see there not being some," said Yiannis Televantibes, a real estate agent from London. "But there's no problem between the fans."
In Berlin, thousands of football fans waving German flags flooded the area in front of the landmark Brandenburg Gate. Organizers of the public viewing event said they expected around 400,000 to turn out to watch the match on large screens.
Earlier, a German deputy government spokesman was peppered with questions about the match and asked whether Merkel would feel the need to tone down any goal celebrations, because of the eurozone crisis.
"I think it depends a bit on how the game goes, but I think you will see that she is glad if there's a goal on the right side," Georg Streiter said.
Streiter also shrugged off a question as to whether Merkel would consider herself partly responsible if German loses.
"I think you would be loading up the chancellor, who already has plenty of packages to carry, with an unjustified package," he said. "She's a spectator."
---
Associated Press writers David Rising and Juergen Baetz in Berlin, and Menelaos Hadjicostis in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Greece faces tough task vs. Germany
PST: Germany?s lore says they?re the least likely nation to be caught by surprise, but if Greece is looking for cracks in the dike, there are three reasons for hope.
Autism Speaks provides strategies to help a child with autism shows difficult behaviors Public release date: 21-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jane E. Rubinstein jrubinstein@rubenstein.com 212-843-8287 Autism Speaks
3 new tool kits from the Autism Treatment Network provide valuable guidance for parents on behavioral health treatments, applied behavioral analysis and toilet training
NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 21, 2012) Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today released An Introduction to Behavioral Health Treatments, Applied Behavior Analysis and Toilet Training parent's guides. These latest tool kits, all developed as part of the work of the Autism Treatment Network through its participation as the HRSA-funded Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), are available for free download on Autism Speaks Tool Kits webpage.
Behavioral challenges are a common problem for children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many children with ASD have challenges managing certain behaviors such as aggression or not following directions in addition to experiencing limitations in communication or social skills.
The experts of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (ATN) and the AIR-P have addressed how parents and families can help improve their child's behavior with The Introduction to Behavioral Health Treatment which provides an overview of in-home strategies as well as tips to teach and increase desirable behaviors and decrease behavior problems. This tool kit also provides an overview of professional behavioral treatments families can seek out from qualified professionals.
The accompanying Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) tool kit, also released today, is an informational guide designed to provide parents with a better understanding of ABA, how their child can benefit, and where and how they can find ABA services. The U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association both state that evidence-based ABA is a "best practice" in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
Behavioral treatments for children with ASD require a high degree of repetition and reinforcement in both home and therapeutic settings. Parents are provided concrete tips on reinforcing positive behaviors, opportunities to recognize and reward appropriate behavior and guidance on implementing strategies such as time outs. These tool kits give parents proven strategies to manage the ABCs of their child's behavior, including what (A) antecedes or comes before the adverse behavior, (B) what the behavior is that you'd like to change, and (C) consequences of that behavior.
With supports from ATN/AIR-P experts, parents can become effective partners in helping their children to learn skills to replace problem behaviors, increase their positive behaviors and maintain them over time, and generalize or transfer positive behaviors from one situation to another as they improve their cognitive, academic, social and self-help skills
Toilet training can be challenging for any parent, however for many children with ASD, toileting skills can be further complicated by physical or medical difficulties associated with toileting. Children with ASD may lack the language skills to understand or communicate, may lack gross or fine motor skills required to facilitate toileting from undressing to navigating a toilet, and may not be aware of typical body cues to recognize when they need to use the toilet, among other possible issues. Toilet Training: A Parent's Guide, provides tools on how to best integrate routines, rewards and the use of visual schedules.
"If your child with ASD presents with challenging behaviors, or has difficulty acquiring new skills know that you are not alone," said Autism Speaks Vice President of Clinical Programs Clara Lajonchere, Ph.D. "The goal of these latest behavioral tool kits is to empower families with effective strategies to create more positive behaviors and increase a child's ability to better participate in their therapeutic programs and family life. Consistent behaviors can significantly improve quality of life for both the child with autism and their families and improve quality of life for everyone."
All of the tool kits reiterate that learning new behaviors can take time and provide guidance on when it's time to confer with specialists, modify rewards, and revisit your strategies.
"Parents are encouraged to bring these tool kits to the attention of their behavioral specialists who can help families customize their prompts, visual tools and strategies to complement the child's therapeutic program," says ATN/AIR-P Medical Director Dan Coury, M.D.
The ATN tool kits were inspired by the success of the popular Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families. In 2011, ATN and AIR-P published the first of its tool kits to provide guidance to families and providers. Taking the Work Out of Blood Work: Helping Your Child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder A Parent's Guide and the companion provider's guide offer clear guidance for families and medical providers to help make necessary medical procedures less stressful. The ATN and AIR-P also produced the Medication Decision Aid Tool Kit to help families understand more of the choices and considerations involved in considering medications in collaboration with their child's doctor. Earlier this year, the ATN released Sleep Strategies for Children with Autism: A Parent's Guide and Treating Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Tool Kit for Dental Professionals. These tool kits are free of charge and available to download on the Autism Speaks Tool Kits web page. Additional tool kits in development are also listed there.
Development of these tools is the product of on-going activities of the Autism Treatment Network, a funded program of Autism Speaks, and its participation as the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P). AIR-P is supported by cooperative agreement UA3 MC 11054 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program to the Massachusetts General Hospital.
###
About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders autism spectrum disorders caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum a 1000 percent increase in the past 40 years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.
About the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network and the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health
The Autism Speaks' Autism Treatment Network (ATN) is the nation's first network of hospitals and physicians dedicated to developing a model of comprehensive medical care for children and adolescents with autism. The ATN, currently a network of 17 sites in North America, offers families care from doctors and other health professionals highly experienced in helping individuals with autism and providing treatment for associated conditions such as gastrointestinal and sleep disorders. ATN doctors and other health professionals are dedicated to finding better ways to manage the health of children with autism and sharing their increasing knowledge across the wider medical community. The ATN provides direct patient care through a comprehensive, coordinated care model at its network of collaborative clinical teams providing ongoing care to children and families. The ATN works to develop and share best practices to improve care, developing standards and guidelines for evaluating and treating physical conditions associated with autism, and to sharing these standards with a wide variety of other clinical programs, utilizing its common protocol for a multidisciplinary and comprehensive evaluation of children with autism. Some of these best practices are integrated into tool kits modeled after the highly successful Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit. These free resources include practical guidance to parents and practitioners on making blood draws and medical procedures less stressful and a Medication Decision Aid, and can be found at Tool Kits. In addition, the ATN maintains a patient registry, a database of anonymous clinical data about participating families and patients that can be used to evaluate and track patient care in network facilities. ATN clinicians also conduct clinical research projects directly aimed at improving children's health and healthcare, serving as the Autism Intervention Network for Physical Health (AIR-P) for the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Combating Autism Act Initiatives.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed over $180 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Autism Speaks provides strategies to help a child with autism shows difficult behaviors Public release date: 21-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jane E. Rubinstein jrubinstein@rubenstein.com 212-843-8287 Autism Speaks
3 new tool kits from the Autism Treatment Network provide valuable guidance for parents on behavioral health treatments, applied behavioral analysis and toilet training
NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 21, 2012) Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today released An Introduction to Behavioral Health Treatments, Applied Behavior Analysis and Toilet Training parent's guides. These latest tool kits, all developed as part of the work of the Autism Treatment Network through its participation as the HRSA-funded Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), are available for free download on Autism Speaks Tool Kits webpage.
Behavioral challenges are a common problem for children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many children with ASD have challenges managing certain behaviors such as aggression or not following directions in addition to experiencing limitations in communication or social skills.
The experts of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (ATN) and the AIR-P have addressed how parents and families can help improve their child's behavior with The Introduction to Behavioral Health Treatment which provides an overview of in-home strategies as well as tips to teach and increase desirable behaviors and decrease behavior problems. This tool kit also provides an overview of professional behavioral treatments families can seek out from qualified professionals.
The accompanying Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) tool kit, also released today, is an informational guide designed to provide parents with a better understanding of ABA, how their child can benefit, and where and how they can find ABA services. The U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association both state that evidence-based ABA is a "best practice" in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
Behavioral treatments for children with ASD require a high degree of repetition and reinforcement in both home and therapeutic settings. Parents are provided concrete tips on reinforcing positive behaviors, opportunities to recognize and reward appropriate behavior and guidance on implementing strategies such as time outs. These tool kits give parents proven strategies to manage the ABCs of their child's behavior, including what (A) antecedes or comes before the adverse behavior, (B) what the behavior is that you'd like to change, and (C) consequences of that behavior.
With supports from ATN/AIR-P experts, parents can become effective partners in helping their children to learn skills to replace problem behaviors, increase their positive behaviors and maintain them over time, and generalize or transfer positive behaviors from one situation to another as they improve their cognitive, academic, social and self-help skills
Toilet training can be challenging for any parent, however for many children with ASD, toileting skills can be further complicated by physical or medical difficulties associated with toileting. Children with ASD may lack the language skills to understand or communicate, may lack gross or fine motor skills required to facilitate toileting from undressing to navigating a toilet, and may not be aware of typical body cues to recognize when they need to use the toilet, among other possible issues. Toilet Training: A Parent's Guide, provides tools on how to best integrate routines, rewards and the use of visual schedules.
"If your child with ASD presents with challenging behaviors, or has difficulty acquiring new skills know that you are not alone," said Autism Speaks Vice President of Clinical Programs Clara Lajonchere, Ph.D. "The goal of these latest behavioral tool kits is to empower families with effective strategies to create more positive behaviors and increase a child's ability to better participate in their therapeutic programs and family life. Consistent behaviors can significantly improve quality of life for both the child with autism and their families and improve quality of life for everyone."
All of the tool kits reiterate that learning new behaviors can take time and provide guidance on when it's time to confer with specialists, modify rewards, and revisit your strategies.
"Parents are encouraged to bring these tool kits to the attention of their behavioral specialists who can help families customize their prompts, visual tools and strategies to complement the child's therapeutic program," says ATN/AIR-P Medical Director Dan Coury, M.D.
The ATN tool kits were inspired by the success of the popular Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families. In 2011, ATN and AIR-P published the first of its tool kits to provide guidance to families and providers. Taking the Work Out of Blood Work: Helping Your Child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder A Parent's Guide and the companion provider's guide offer clear guidance for families and medical providers to help make necessary medical procedures less stressful. The ATN and AIR-P also produced the Medication Decision Aid Tool Kit to help families understand more of the choices and considerations involved in considering medications in collaboration with their child's doctor. Earlier this year, the ATN released Sleep Strategies for Children with Autism: A Parent's Guide and Treating Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Tool Kit for Dental Professionals. These tool kits are free of charge and available to download on the Autism Speaks Tool Kits web page. Additional tool kits in development are also listed there.
Development of these tools is the product of on-going activities of the Autism Treatment Network, a funded program of Autism Speaks, and its participation as the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P). AIR-P is supported by cooperative agreement UA3 MC 11054 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program to the Massachusetts General Hospital.
###
About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders autism spectrum disorders caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum a 1000 percent increase in the past 40 years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.
About the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network and the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health
The Autism Speaks' Autism Treatment Network (ATN) is the nation's first network of hospitals and physicians dedicated to developing a model of comprehensive medical care for children and adolescents with autism. The ATN, currently a network of 17 sites in North America, offers families care from doctors and other health professionals highly experienced in helping individuals with autism and providing treatment for associated conditions such as gastrointestinal and sleep disorders. ATN doctors and other health professionals are dedicated to finding better ways to manage the health of children with autism and sharing their increasing knowledge across the wider medical community. The ATN provides direct patient care through a comprehensive, coordinated care model at its network of collaborative clinical teams providing ongoing care to children and families. The ATN works to develop and share best practices to improve care, developing standards and guidelines for evaluating and treating physical conditions associated with autism, and to sharing these standards with a wide variety of other clinical programs, utilizing its common protocol for a multidisciplinary and comprehensive evaluation of children with autism. Some of these best practices are integrated into tool kits modeled after the highly successful Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit. These free resources include practical guidance to parents and practitioners on making blood draws and medical procedures less stressful and a Medication Decision Aid, and can be found at Tool Kits. In addition, the ATN maintains a patient registry, a database of anonymous clinical data about participating families and patients that can be used to evaluate and track patient care in network facilities. ATN clinicians also conduct clinical research projects directly aimed at improving children's health and healthcare, serving as the Autism Intervention Network for Physical Health (AIR-P) for the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Combating Autism Act Initiatives.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed over $180 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
ScienceDaily (June 20, 2012) ? Researchers at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) in Japan have uncovered two brain signals in the human prefrontal cortex involved in how humans predict the decisions of other people. Their results suggest that the two signals, each located in distinct prefrontal circuits, strike a balance between expected and observed rewards and choices, enabling humans to predict the actions of people with different values than their own.
Every day, humans are faced with situations in which they must predict what decisions other people will make. These predictions are essential to the social interactions that make up our personal and professional lives. The neural mechanism underlying these predictions, however, by which humans learn to understand the values of others and use this information to predict their decision-making behavior, has long remained a mystery.
Researchers at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) in Japan have now shed light on this mystery with a paper to appear in the June 21st issue of Neuron. The researchers describe for the first time the process governing how humans learn to predict the decisions of another person using mental simulation of their mind.
Learning another person's values and mental processes is often assumed to require simulation of the other's mind: using one's own familiar mental processes to simulate unfamiliar processes in the mind of the other. While simple and intuitive, this explanation is hard to prove due to the difficulty in disentangling one's own brain signals from those of the simulated other.
Research scientists Shinsuke Suzuki and Hiroyuki Nakahara, a Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Integrated Theoretical Neuroscience at RIKEN BSI, together with their collaborators, set out to disentangle these signals using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) on humans. First, they studied the behavior of subjects as they played a game by making predictions about the other's behavior based on the knowledge of others and their decisions. Then they generated a computer model of the simulation process to examine the brain signals underlying the prediction of the other's behavior.
The authors found that humans simulate the decisions of other people using two brain signals encoded in the prefrontal cortex, an area responsible for higher cognition. One signal involves the estimated value of the reward to the other person, and is called the reward signal, referring to the difference between the other's values, simulated in one's mind, and the reward benefit that the other actually received. The other signal is called the action signal, relating to the other's expected action predicted by the simulation process in one's mind, and what the other person actually did, which may or may not be different. They found that the reward signal is processed in a part of the brain called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The action signal, on the other hand, was found in a separate brain area called the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex.
"Every day, we interact with a variety of other individuals," Suzuki said. "Some may share similar values with us and for those interactions simulation using the reward signal alone may suffice. However, other people with different values may be quite different and then the action signal may become quite important."
Nakahara believes that their approach, using mathematical models based on human behavior with brain imaging, will be useful to answer a wide range of questions about the social functions employed by the brain. "Perhaps we may one day better understand how and why humans have the ability to predict others' behavior, even those with different characteristics. Ultimately, this knowledge could help improving political, educational, and social systems in human societies."
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If you're an iPad musician, the Griffin StudioConnect ($149.99 direct) could be your salvation. The StudioConnect ?lets you connect your electric guitar, bass guitar, or MIDI keyboard to your iPad. It looks sharp, and puts your iPad front and center as the centerpiece of a music studio. But considering its price, and the lack of an easy way to record vocals, it's tough to see a large market for the StudioConnect.
Design, Headphone Jack, and MIDI Ports Griffin designed the StudioConnect well. It has some weight to it, and the bottom panel features a pair of oversized, non-skid rubber feet. The dock insert is also covered in rubber. Put the StudioConnect on your desk, dock the iPad, and it's not going anywhere. The built-in dock connector is black, and runs on a short, one-foot gray wire that you can tuck neatly behind the iPad while it's docked. Plug the included AC adapter into the wall, and a blue ring lights up around the oversized chrome volume knob.
The front-mounted, standard-size 3.5mm headphone jack is convenient, but seems redundant at first glance?why not just use the one on the iPad? Use the one on the StudioConnect, though, and you can leave the headphones attached to the dock, which means one less thing to connect and disconnect whenever you move the iPad. You also get to control volume with the massive chrome knob, which is much easier than using the iPad's fiddly volume controls (which reverse orientation in landscape mode). Finally, you can switch between audio coming out of the main speakers and through the headphones at will.
The MIDI In and Out ports mean you can position the iPad to the left or right of a much larger controller keyboard, and then use the iPad as your recording device. The same problem that plagued the IK Multimedia iRig MIDI ($69.99, 3.5 stars) also affects the StudioConnect: By using MIDI ports, your MIDI controller needs an AC power adapter. Most of today's budget-priced MIDI keyboards don't come with one, as they run off of USB power, and many don't even have a DC port at all, so you can't even buy one at, say, RadioShack. Just keep that in mind when planning your setup; you're probably going to need multiple pieces (including the StudioConnect, if you go this route) no matter what.
Audio Recording and Conclusions The StudioConnect does its job well, with clean audio quality and transparent operation throughout. I tested it with Apple GarageBand 1.2 ($4.99, 4 stars), BeepStreet Sunrizer ($4.99, 4.5 stars) and Moog Music Animoog ($29.99, 4 stars). The MIDI ports worked fine with an M-Audio KeyStation 49i MIDI keyboard, which I powered with the appropriate AC adapter. Unfortunately, the lack of an XLR jack with phantom power gets in the way. While you can technically buy a quarter-inch-to-XLR adapter for a microphone, that won't sound quite as good, and only works for unpowered dynamic mics like the Shure SM57 anyway. (This is what you had to do with inexpensive four-track tape recorders 20 years ago.)
A better option would be to use an inexpensive, external stereo mixer from Behringer, Samson, or a low-end Mackie, plug all of your mics into that, turn on phantom power, and then run the outputs of the mixer into the stereo 3.5mm input on the back of the StudioConnect. That will at least get you better quality recordings of vocals and other instruments through GarageBand, Blip Interactive NanoStudio ($19.99, 3.5 stars), or any other app that supports digital audio tracks or sampling.
So the Griffin StudioConnect is expensive, and doesn't do everything I'd like to see it do. It's not a bad product, but I can't help but be disappointed by the lack of a mic preamp, XLR input, and phantom power. Virtually every PC and Mac audio interface these days, no matter how inexpensive, has at least one mic preamp. Other options: The Alesis iO Dock ($399, 4 stars) costs considerably more, but adds these features and many others; it's still the best iPad recording interface out there, although it's far from perfect. The IK Multimedia iRig MIDI is a good way to save money if you just want to hook up a MIDI controller to your iPad, and don't need the StudioConnect's charging features, stereo outputs, or extra headphone jack, but the StudioConnect is a much neater solution as a result of those features. Finally, the Samson Carbon 49 ($89, 3.5 stars) is a good choice if you don't have a MIDI controller at all; just be sure to buy the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit ($29) along with it, as the Carbon 49 ?has no dock connector of its own.
More Audio Accessory Reviews: ??? Alesis iO Dock for iPad ??? Samson Carbon 49 USB MIDI Controller ??? Griffin StudioConnect for iPad ??? Avid Mbox Mini ??? IK Multimedia iRig MIDI ?? more
What you?re about to determine is an Android-based NVIDIA Tegra 3-toting custom user interface-having powerhouse of a kids tablet going by the name nabi 2. This device is made particularly for youths and children only, it being shaped like a blob with rounded edges and indented sides all covered with an in-box rubbery case made for safety in addition to unique style ? and it has got customized Android software to check. Could this be the smart device your kid have been looking forward to all his or her life?
You?ve got a smartphone and you have got an iPad or an Android tablet and your kid desires to use it ? on a regular basis. You do not want your child messing around together with your digital business, and also you most certainly just like to play your personal game of Angry Birds. So what do you do? You look to the nabi 2. This strange little beast is prepared and raring to head starting with a beautiful kid-oriented user interface that makes it near-impossible for them to wander off or have trouble working with their favorite app. Take a look first at a hands-on video showing the hardware with a short lived check out the software here:
The tablet itself is comparatively light, the bumper round the edges makes it quite safe to exploit (unless your child is the type that likes to pull things apart), and it comes jam-packed with one whole heck of a number of software right out of the box. This is often all punctuated by a grid of plastic bits on the back made for future hook-ups to accessories once the tablet takes to the air. What you?re buying this is not a tool which someday can become what you are looking for in a complete experience, it is a total experience immediately. Clone of a kid?s toy could be, you do not have to do any setup to ensure that them to begin twiddling with it.
Take a peek next at our hands-on video with the Kidz Mode portion of this equation (below) and spot what your child will see when the device is turned on for the 1st time ? and every time after that to boot. This interface can only be changed upon entering a secret password only an adult may possess.
The way you get out of Kidz Mode is thru the questionably titled ?Daddy Mode? which, as you will have guessed, leads you to a basic version of Android. Lucky for you though, Android lovers, it really is Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, and is fully able to work as you may expect right out of the box. The disadvantage this is that you just should not have access to the Google Play app store as this device isn?t Google certified. Instead you will have to rely upon the Nabi app store for your whole download needs.
This device isn?t technically made to be a grownup-oriented tablet, so that you probably won?t be satisfied with it if that is what you?re aiming at. The viewing angles in this display are faraway from perfect, it is not made to be easy to switch, and you will seem like a goon carrying this around with you on the office. Your child, nevertheless, could be totally pumped up about owning their own super awesome tablet, especially with the red bumper action it comes equipped with!
The software this device comes with is, for the foremost part, pretty awesome. The parents at Fuhu ? the folk that make this device ? have clearly taken the time to partner up with a limiteless array of developers to make this a rich and numerous experience for a kid. NVIDIA even lends a hand with a TegraZone home screen packed with kid-friendly (but still fabulous) games equivalent to Riptide GP.
The only questionable apps in this device are two ?Moron Test? apps which we will go ahead and guess some parents won?t want active simply in view that they do not want their kid calling anyone a moron. After that you will discover a rather clean set of games, learning apps, and art pallets. There?s also an app inside Daddy Mode which easily permits you to reveal or hide and and all the applications you have at the device ? simple stuff!
There is a Veggie Tales application on among the screens right out of the box in addition. This can be a strange choice because the Veggie Tales brand is apparent that they are pushing ?moral themes in line with Christianity? ? so watch out for that in case you are not a Christian (or simply do not like Veggie Tales. This and the remainder of the video applications is usually output via the mini-HDMI port along side the device for your HDTV ? go big!
This tablet has a 7-inch 1024 x 600 pixel resolution display, 1GB of RAM, 8GB flash storage, 2 megapixel front-facing camera with 720p video capability, and a bunch of ports on its side. There is a single microUSB port, mini HDMI, microSD card port, 3.5mm standard audio jack, and a DC power connector. You will be connecting to the net with Wi-fi 802.11 b/g/n and feature the power to work with Bluetooth 3.0 in addition.
This device would be available in July (soon!) for just $199.99 from a number of online and offline retailers. Sound like much to you? Head on over to NabiTablet.com to determine a collection of online outlets for the device immediately if not soon!
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There are different types of insurance plans to meet a wide variety of different needs. As such, choosing the right, most well suited insurance plan is necessary in order to get the most out of your health insurance. Health insurance providers like the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida provide a wide range of different health insurance plans because there is a "right plan" for every person and every situation. For example, student plans are specifically designed for college students that want health insurance to meet their unique needs. These plans are well suited for college students for a number of different reasons.
There are a number of specific items for consideration when it comes to choosing a student health insurance plans to meet your needs. For example, you should consider what duration of time you need the health care policy for. Some companies offer short term coverage as well as long term coverage. You should also consider what types of coverage you are going to need. Do you need ER visit coverage, prescription coverage or lab testing coveragec Do you care most about hospitalization coverage or office visit coverage when obtaining Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida student plansc
When appraising Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida student plans and student insurance plans from similar insurance providers, you should also consider the costs of the policy, deductibles, stop-loss amounts and co-insurance costs as well. Costs are as important as coverage option when it comes to student health insurance plans. You should consider the costs not only on a monthly basis but also on a yearly basis or a lifetime basis as well, because cost considerations are important. You also need to consider co-insurance or co-pay amounts, deductibles and other costs that are involved in paying for health insurance.
There are other considerations to make when appraising student plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and similar insurance providers. For example, the AM best rating assigned to an insurance plan is a good indicator of company soundness as well as the company's financial ability to pay off health insurance claims when you need the money. There are other considerations to make as well in choosing such an insurance plan for college students including claim payments, exclusions and limitations, which all play a role in whether or not your health insurance plan will meet your needs.
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Public release date: 21-Jun-2012
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