American Ultra.
Released: August 2015. Runtime: 95 mins. Rated: R for strong, bloody violence,
language throughout, drug use and some sexual content.
Once upon a time, in the mountains of West Virginia, there
dwelt a young stoner couple, Mike (Jesse Eisenberg) and Phoebe (Kristen
Stewart). Far from the madding crowd, they lived and loved and got high
together. The only problem was that Mike could not really remember his younger
years and would have physical and psychological problems whenever he set out to
leave his small town, so he gave up attempting to remember or to leave.
One evening, however, the outside world comes to Mike at the
convenience store where he works—comes to him with the aim of killing him. You
see, Mike wasn't just your run of the bong stoner. In those younger years, he
had been programmed by the CIA to have latent fighting skills of a high level,
very lethal skills when activated.
Now Adrian Yates (Topher Grace), a CIA honcho, has decided
to “terminate” the subjects of the programming, and he has ordered his own
squad of killer subjects to carry out that task. Mike's long-distance handler
(Connie Britton), however, distrusts what Yates is up to and activates Mike's
skills.
The aisles of the convenience store soon run red with blood.
And that's just the start of a very lively—whoops, deadly—night for Mike and
Phoebe. Mike struggles to understand his situation: “Something very weird is
happening to me: I keep killing people! There is a chance I may be . . . a
robot!”
Mike is not a robot, and, in fact, he comes to gain a fuller
individual identity during the course of many, imaginatively rendered,
struggles through the dark and bloody night. Mike's love for Phoebe deepens,
and she reveals some fighting skills and secrets of her own.
Director Nima Nourizadeh, in the manner of Quentin
Tarantino, mixes sanguinary action with dark humor and some tender feeling.
Eisenberg and Stewart are convincing as the young couple caught up in the
over-the-top events. Connie Britton and Bill Pullman as CIA figures give strong
support as do John Leguizamo as Mike's drug connection and Walton Goggins as a
maniacal killer. Topher Grace, however, seems too slight both physically and in
acting chops for his role. American Ultra
isn't exactly “summer fun.” but it does make for a diverting hour-and-a-half in
the dark.
“Footnote” to the
film: MK Ultra was the name given to a real series of “mind control” and
similar projects carried out by the CIA in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Some say
that the projects, supposedly cancelled in the 1970s, actually have continued
to this day.
Provision could hike 2016 rates by 52% for some recipients
Unless the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services intervenes, some Medicare beneficiaries will face a steep increase in their 2016 premiums, even as the vast majority of Medicare recipients pay no increase at all.
Medicare’s trustees projected in a recent report that for about 30% of the program’s beneficiaries, 2016 premiums would rise by 52% for Part B, which covers doctor visits and other types of outpatient care.
The projected increases result from a little-noticed intersection between the rules governing Medicare and Social Security.
Under the Social Security Act’s “hold harmless” provision, Medicare can’t pass along to most Social Security recipients a premium increase that is higher than whatever they would receive through Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment, according to Casey Schwarz, policy and client-services counsel at the nonprofit Medicare Rights Center.
With inflation so low, Social Security isn’t expected to pay a cost-of-living increase in 2016. So Medicare would be unable to pass any premium increase along to the estimated 70% of beneficiaries who will qualify for this “hold harmless” treatment in 2016. As a result, Medicare must spread the projected increase in its costs across the remainder.
But while the final rates the government sets in the fall are typically close to the trustees’ predictions, HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell has said she would search for ways to reduce the increase for affected beneficiaries. The final decision about 2016 rates “will be based on our preliminary projections today, subject to additional data, and the administration’s consideration of policy options,” she said last week.
The secretary has the ability to set a lower premium “if she determines there are sufficient reserves,” says Tricia Neuman,director of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation’s program on Medicare policy. “This is not a done deal.”
The largest single group of people affected are the 3.1 million participants subject to higher Part B premiums because their incomes are above $85,000 (or $170,000 for couples). Within this group, the trustees projected that single individuals earning up to $107,000 (and couples earning up to $214,000) would have their 2016 monthly premiums rise from $146.90 a person this year to $223 in 2016. For those earning more than $214,000 (or $428,000 for couples), the projected increase is to $509.80 a month, from $335.70 in 2015.
Up to another 1.6 million people are potentially affected because they receive Medicare but have deferred claiming their Social Security benefits or aren’t eligible for those benefits. If they are paying the standard $104.90 a month for Medicare Part B this year, they will be charged $159.30 a month in 2016 if the trustees’ predictions come to pass.
A 52% increase from 2015’s rates would also apply to up to 2.8 million people who will be new to Medicare in 2016, the trustees projected.
The jump from this year’s base charge of $104.90 is an “unprecedented increase,” Ms. Neuman said.
The 52% premium increase also affects about nine million lower-income Medicare beneficiaries whose premiums are paid by state Medicaid programs. But in that situation, the increase is “a problem for state governments,” says Dan Adcock, government relations and policy director at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare.
It still is possible that there will indeed be a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2016, if inflation picks up over the next few months.
And if that isn’t the case, the unusual disparity in 2016 Part B premiums between recipients with similar incomes could be smoothed out come 2017. Assuming Social Security recipients receive a cost-of-living adjustment in 2017, the “hold harmless” provision will affect a smaller portion of Medicare recipients—and so Medicare costs will be shared more equally. Indeed, the Medicare trustees are projecting that the base Medicare Part B premium will reset for everyone at $120.70 a month in 2017.
This isn’t the first time this has happened.
In 2010 and 2011, Social Security paid no cost-of-living increase. For those who fell outside the “hold harmless” protection, the base premium rose to $110.50 in 2010 and to $115.40 in 2011—even as those with the protection continued to pay at the 2009 level of $96.40. When Social Security resumed paying cost-of-living increases in 2012, everyone’s base premium reset at $99.90 a month, before rising to $104.90 in 2013 and remaining there ever since.
In 2009, Congress tried to eliminate the higher premiums for Part B enrollees not covered under the “hold harmless” provision, says Mr. Adcock. But while the bill passed in the House, it stalled in the Senate, he said.
If you fall into the 30%, experts say, there is not much you can do.
If your income is 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or below—a cap that this year is below $22,000 for a family of two in most of the U.S.—you can apply for a Part B premium subsidy from your state, says Joe Baker, president of the Medicare Rights Center. (For free help, visit your State Health Insurance Assistance Program at shiptacenter.org.)
But those with higher incomes “have very little maneuverability,” says Ms. Neuman. Individuals who have deferred claiming Social Security can escape higher Medicare premiums if they start receiving benefits—and have their Medicare premiums deducted—by November, Ms. Schwarz says. But because those who defer claiming increase their benefits by approximately 6% to 8% for each year in which they wait, “it may not be prudent” to make that trade-off, Ms. Schwarz says. “This is not something we would necessarily advise,” she says.
At the very least, she adds, “it’s best to wait and see” what the final rates will be before taking action.
The 7th NSL Wii Bowling Championships begin this week with the first round of play beginning Monday, Aug 24. The start was delayed one week as the many new coaches and teams got acclimated to the scoring and posting of scores last week. With the restart, conferences will be more balanced and most teams will have an exciting 7 weeks as they vie for conference titles. Following 7 weeks of conference play the field will be paired into championship brackets as teams compete in a ‘one and done’ format for National Championship titles in 7 divisions.
Fifteen hundred sixty three (1,563) senior Wii bowlers make up the 316 registered teams representing 99 communities from 30 states. The Championship features 7 divisions based on level of ability. Defending national champion, Dayton VA Medical Center, will be challenged in the Champions division by 7 of the strongest senior Wii bowling teams in the nation.
For information and registration - http://www.nslgames.com The NSL 2016 season begins the week of Feb 15, 2016 Registration will be available Dec 15, 2015.
WALLINGFORD — A Wallingford resident who is studying to be a doctor is starting a program that will pair senior citizens with aging shelter cats. The program will help seniors with limited mobility get supplies and go to the veterinarian.
Megan Smith, a 29-year-old University of Connecticut medical student, is the mastermind behind “Senior Cats in Senior Laps,” a program she hopes will find homes for unwanted, aging shelter cats, and provide senior citizens with the health benefits associated with owning a cat. Smith, the owner of four cats, said animals can be especially therapeutic for the elderly.
“Working in medicine so far I’ve seen how older individuals could benefit from a cat,” Smith said. “They are shown to lower blood pressure, lower anxiety and give people a sense of purpose.”
While pets can be beneficial to the elderly, Smith said, there are many obstacles seniors face when it comes to owning a cat. While some may have financial constraints due to a fixed income, others may be immobile or lack transportation to get supplies or take their pet to veterinary appointments.
“The idea of this program is to bridge those challenges and make it possible for them to enjoy a cat in their home and have the support of a program that can provide financial support or trips to the vet or pet store,” Smith said.
The program will also provide a contingency plan for the cat if the owner is unable to care for it or dies, so the animal will not have to return to the shelter. Click here to continue reading.
(BPT) - You think this is the happiest day of your life. Before you is a letter, email or text message informing you that you've just won the lottery. You might even receive a check with the letter stating it is part of your winnings. The communication states all you have to do is pay the processing fees or taxes and provide proof of your identity - and then the money will be yours. It seems too good to be true.
That's because it is.
What you are looking at is the first correspondence of a lottery scam, intent not on giving you the money it promises, but instead on taking as much of your money or personal information as possible. Thousands of people each year fall victim to scams such as these, and scammers are constantly altering the ploy to keep it new in the hopes of tricking people just like you.
The good news is there are some things you can do to help protect yourself from falling victim to a scam. Keep these tips from Western Union in mind:
* Never hand over your personal information. If the correspondence starts asking for personal information, this should be your first clue that it might be a scam. Never provide your personal and banking information to people or businesses you don't know.
*Never send money to someone you have not met in person. Western Union Money Transfer is a great way to send money to friends and family near and far, but you can be at risk of becoming a victim of fraud if you do not know the person you are sending the money to.
* Look for unprofessionalism. Many scammers give themselves away with the nature of the letter, email or text they send. If the message is poorly written, contains typos or sentences that lack professionalism, it has the red flags of a scam.
* Always avoid foreign lotteries. Many lottery scams offer high dollar winnings to the recipient from a foreign lottery. This is most likely a scam. Furthermore, playing legitimate foreign lotteries via the mail or over the telephone is illegal under Federal law.
* Look for that personal touch. If the letter, email or text claims you're a winner, then they should know who you are. Look for the personal touch in the correspondence. How does the communication start? Is your name included? Is it spelled correctly? Or does the message begin with a more general 'Hello' or 'Dear Valued Customer.' If the header is general like this, it is because it has been sent to millions of other people, too, promising each that they have won as well.
* Remember the rules of the lottery. Many scams can be spotted immediately because they do not clearly disclose the terms and conditions, including the rules and how to claim your winnings. You will never have to pay money in advance if you've won a legitimate lottery. If you received a check with the lottery letter and deposited it into your bank account, never send funds from the deposited check until it officially clears, this can take weeks. Under Federal Law, financial institutions have to make the funds available to account holders within days. Just because the money is available in your account, doesn't mean the check is good. Lastly, always remember that in order to win a lottery, you must enter in the first place.
* Call for help. If you fear you have been scammed, don't wait to find out - take action immediately. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud using Western Union, call Western Union's fraud hotline at 800-448-1492. Additionally, contact authorities and other applicable financial institutions and notify them you think you've been the victim of a scam. If you sent a money transfer through Western Union and it has not been paid, you can generally receive a refund. Once the scammer picks up the funds, the money is gone and you generally may not receive a refund.
Good, smart people across the country fall victim to scams every single day because they get swept up in the excitement of the message in front of them. If you receive a claim of lottery winnings, take a step back and look at the situation rationally; if it's too good to be true, it probably is. To learn more about how to protect yourself from lottery scams, visit www.WesternUnion.com/stopfraud.
(BPT) - By 2030, the number of people turning to knee replacement surgery to end pain and regain mobility will likely increase to 3.5 million annually, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. For many patients, recovery from knee replacement surgery is painful and slow, and the results are often not what people expect. Multiple clinical studies have found that on average one in five patients who have a knee replacement are dissatisfied with the result because of pain after surgery or because their new knee feels unnatural.
Seventy-two-year-old Ohio resident Tedd Boomershine went from running daily to having trouble walking and completing day to day tasks. When the pain became so severe it was debilitating, he decided to look into replacement surgery for both of his knees. His doctor told him about his options, including a customized implant from ConforMIS, Inc. called iTotal(R) that is now available for total knee replacements. He liked the idea that the implant would be specifically designed to fit his anatomy based on a CT scan of his knees.
"I had no second thoughts about surgery at all. I wanted to get back to my active lifestyle and enjoy my evening walks with my dog, Stella, again," says Boomershine. "Two weeks after my bilateral surgery with the ConforMIS customized knees, I was walking without the assistance of a cane or a walker and I was able to drive. Now after eight months, my knees are pain free and have total flexibility, my legs are straighter, my stride is better and I no longer have lower back pain. The best part is that I have been able to resume my evening walks with Stella."
Seven weeks after surgery Boomershine was able to walk to his fitness center, ride the bike and do weight machines and then walk back home, a total of three miles daily. Dr. Dan Dunaway, of Far Oaks Orthopedists in Dayton, Ohio reports that Boomershine's recovery is similar to other iTotal recoveries he has seen.
"Tedd has had an outstanding recovery, which is something we are now regularly seeing for patients who have both total and partial knee replacements with ConforMIS customized implants. Patients are able to get back to their normal routines much faster and with less pain. With an implant that is designed to fit that patient, the surgery often involves less blood loss and we can retain more of the patient's natural knee. This is a major advance in knee replacement surgery," says Dunaway.
Dunaway suggests that all patients ask their surgeon some important questions before making a decision about knee surgery:
* Is a customized knee implant that is designed based on my own anatomy an option for me?
* Could a customized knee mean less pain and a faster recovery?
* Will I be able to enjoy an active lifestyle again?
For more information about ConforMIS customized implants please visit: www.conformis.com.
According to the recent “Milo’s Kitchen Dog Happy Survey” — a national survey of 3,000 U.S. dog parents by the popular Milo’s Kitchen dog treat brand — our four-legged friends enrich our lives in surprising ways that we often don’t fully appreciate:
A BETTER LIFE
* 86% of dog parents say their dog “comforts me immeasurably”
* 71% say their dog “reminds me to seek out more joy in life”
* 64% say their dog “makes me look forward to going home more than anything else”
* 63% say their dog “makes me much more patient and responsible”
As a result, it’s no surprise that 73% of dog parents buy their dog a special gift (especially dog treats) at least once per month.
A couple of Christmases ago I received a gift from my daughter and son-law called a Tile. While I expressed great happiness with the gift I honestly had no clue what it was.
Looking at it It's a small, plastic, white rectangular piece about 1.5 inch square, maybe a quarter inch thick that you attach to things your concerned you might lose. It's not so much for use with your grandchildren though I don't see why it wouldn't work with them. It's really intended for attaching to things like your keys, camera, phone anything that your worried about losing.
If something you have attached a Tile to goes missing you can find it using an App on your Smart Phone or your kids phone. It's extremely easy to use and fairly inexpensive to buy. They cost $25 or less and there is no on going cost. The technology is very cool but it's better left to someone else to explain it.
Mission Impossible:
Rogue Nation. Released: July 2015. Runtime: 131 mins. Rated: PG-13 for
sequences of action and violence, and brief partial nudity.
Is it possible for films in the “Mission Impossible”
franchise not to be huge hits? Maybe, but that hasn't been the case for the
past 20 years, and it isn't the case now with the fifth entry in the franchise,
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.
This entry, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, finds the
Impossible Missions Force imperiled by two other forces. One is the CIA, whose
head, Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin in the type of bureaucratic role he does so
well), succeeds in having the IMF disbanded and absorbed into the CIA, which
exposes IMF agents to great danger. The other, and very deadly, enemy is the
Syndicate, an international criminal and terrorist organization.
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), the key IMF agent, is captured by
the Syndicate but escapes from a torture chamber with the help of Ilsa Faust
(Rebecca Ferguson), a quondam British intelligence agent and putative Syndicate
operative. Searching for Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), whom he believes to be the
head of the Syndicate, Hunt, in a lengthy sequence at an opera house
reminiscent of Hitchcock's The Man Who
Knew Too Much, seeks to foil an assassination attempt. Events go awry,
however, and Hunt ends up pursued by both the CIA and the Syndicate. But other
IMF agents (Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames) seek to find and aid him.
A suspenseful underwater sequence and spectacular car
chases, shootouts and hand-to-hand combat follow as plot complications
(including ones involving the relationship of Hunt and Ilsa Faust) unfold.
Identities and allegiances are in flux until the dramatic climax. Are bad guys
foiled? Does Hunt survive? Is the independence of the IMF restored? Does Tom
Cruise actually do some of his own stunts, such as the spectacular sequence of
hanging off a plane in flight that begins the movie?
The answer to the last question, at least, is yes. Cruise,
now more than old enough to be in AARP, still is in great shape and does, in
fact, do many of his own stunts in the film. The standout performance in the
movie, however, is by Rebecca Ferguson. Ferguson, with British parents but
raised in Sweden, emanates an aura of intelligent beauty, rather than
“glamour,” which has led to her being compared to the great Swedish star Ingrid
Bergman. Yet Ferguson also handles herself quite convincingly in fight and
stunt sequences. Interestingly, her character's first name is the same as that
of the character Ingrid Bergman played in the classic Casablanca—and part of Mission
Impossible: Rogue Nation is set in . . . Casablanca.
