Craving a good education but can't afford the tuition? Maybe Khan Academy is the answer. On Sunday night's "60 Minutes," the show profiled Sal Khan and the Khan Academy, an online school that offers roughly 3,000 videos for free.

Ever since CBS aired its profile, Yahoo! searches on "khan academy" have roared to life. Online lookups for "khan academy" are up 3,382% in 24 hours. Related searches for "khan academy tutorials" jumped 9,575%, and "khan academy math" spiked 8,100%.

The clips, in which viewers can learn about everything from algebra to physics to finance to history, are, amazingly, all taught by Khan. And they are each delightfully free of gimmicks. It is just Khan's voice as he explains things with the help of a digital blackboard.

A blog from the Washington Post points out that Khan teaches with a "conversational tone" that helps with accessibility. Nothing intimidating here. It's more of an informative chat from a man who sounds remarkably similar to President Obama.

The Khan Academy recently launched an iPad app that allows students to download videos and watch them later, when they are offline.

Khan, who can boast degrees from MIT and Harvard, has been praised by Bill Gates, who calls him the teacher to the world. And yet Khan isn't a professional teacher by trade; he just happens to be a really smart guy with a passion for knowledge and helping out overwhelmed teachers on the frontlines. But he didn't start the enterprise with such big dreams ... he was actually just trying to tutor his young cousin Nadia.

Khan believes most teachers enjoy using his videos in class. In an interview with the Washington Post in 2011, he remarked, "They can switch gears and form bonds with their students. It allows them to be way more creative than they could in other classrooms, and also provides kind of leveraged or optimized way to monitor progress and get involved."

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Searches soar for education hub Khan Academy

Online education program delivers first year of certification accreditation for the HR community focusing on recruitment outsourcing.

(PRWEB) March 13, 2012

This certification only requires a minimum of 40 credit hours, making accreditation well within reach with the availability of 55 credits for HR professionals in this area. Webcasts may be viewed live or in archive mode at any time convenient to the participant. Check the Schedule for Upcoming Virtual Events or the Archive Listing for all programs with specialized focus in this or any division of HR. For HR professionals interested in sharing a recent project or topic, Submit an Idea here.

Registration for the next virtual conference April 11-12, 2012 in the Recruitment Process Outsourcing track is open now, followed by upcoming events in July and October. The most popular webcast during the recent Recruitment Process Outsourcing conference was "RPO Make Better Hiring Decisions" presented by Scott Erker, Vice President at DDI - Development Dimensions International. Knowledge and practices gained from the experienced faculty of HR thought leaders can be applied in daily work projects and situations.

"The RPO Institute program at HR.com is yet another indication of the increasing familiarity and interest in outsourcing by HR professionals over the last several years. HR.com's program provides members with opportunities to learn, best practice share and network with outsourcing professionals and buyers. This ensures they are better prepared to make decisions about how outsourcing and RPO specifically can impact their organization."

--Zachary Misko, Vice President,Workforce Strategy at Kelly OCG

The Advisory Board is responsible for guiding the design of the curriculum and ensuring that the material is impactful and relevant in today's business conditions. Ongoing searches continue to maintain a dynamic mix of highly qualified HR executives in the Recruitment Process Outsourcing space. Interested applicants may contact David Whitmarsh at dwhitmarsh(at)hr(dot)com. The Advisory Board is currently comprised of the following professionals:

Chair:

Gary Bragar, NelsonHall

Board Members:

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HR.com's Institute for Human Resources Online Certification Program in Recruitment Process Outsourcing Celebrates One ...

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11-03-2012 13:49 thedailylockerroom.com One key to staying passionate about life is to simply stay productive. You have to have a reason to get out of bed every morning. You have to keep your goals out in front of you. You may retire from the job, but don't ever retire from life. You have to choose to keep your mind active, keep growing, keep learning and keep helping others. You have to find a way to stay productive. When you stop producing, you stop growing and thriving. If you quit producing at fifty and you're satisfied, then the promise is fulfilled. I don't know about you, but I've got too much in me to stop right now. I'm not satisfied. I've got dreams that haven't come to pass. I've got messages I haven't given. I've got a family to enjoy. I've got grandchildren I haven't seen yet. Today, get a vision for your future. Get a vision for staying productive. Expect to be fulfilled, expect to live a satisfied life, and expect to embrace all the good things God has in store for you! http

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SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Specialty Health (ASH), a leading national health services company, today announced historic growth in annual revenue, eligible members and new products for the year ending December 31, 2011. Revenues grew by 17.8 percent, from $155.7 million in 2010 to $183.4 million in 2011. During the year, the company also expanded the number of total eligible members by 44.7 percent, increasing from 17.9 million members in 2010 to 25.9 million members in 2011.

"During 2011, all three of our key business units -- specialty network management, fitness and exercise, and total population health and wellness/prevention -- contributed significantly to our overall success," said George DeVries, co-founder, CEO and chairman of ASH. "Our historic growth is the result of 25 years of innovative product development and a rock-solid commitment to operational excellence and best-in-class customer service. Most of our new membership growth came from the expansion of long-established customer relationships, dating back in some cases over twenty years. We are pleased so many of our long-established customers, as well as many new customers, are turning to ASH for the expansion or implementation of cutting-edge health care programs."

American Specialty Health offers a wide range of solutions for specialty network management programs, fitness and exercise programs, and total population health and prevention/wellness programs for health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds through its various subsidiaries and products, including Healthyroads, American Specialty Health Group, Silver&Fit, ExerciseRewards, American Specialty Health Insurance Company and others.

Additional 2011 American Specialty Health Milestones

Membership Growth

Newly Launched Services/Programs

Awards and Recognition

In 2011, ASH was named among:

The company also received more than 90 national marketing and communications awards, including:

About American Specialty Health

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American Specialty Health Announces Historic Growth in Revenue, Membership and New Products for 2011

We're usually all for penny pinching, but when it comes to shrinking your waistline and improving your fitness, sometimes throwing down more dough can pay off big. Whether you aspire to shave seconds from your 5-K PR or lose those last 10 pounds, these eight products will make achieving your goals easier than ever.

Exercise-Monitoring Device

Tracking exercise progress can be a big motivator. For instance, using a pedometer specifically one with a daily step goal increased physical activity and decreased BMI and blood pressure in one Stanford University study. Pedometers priced as low as $20 and go up to $50 for wrist-strap versions.

A more intense runner, bicyclist or other athlete may want to invest a few hundred bucks in a GPS-enabled watch, which tracks your pace in addition to time and heart rate. "Paying attention to these numbers can help really build up your intensity and produce better results," says Jim White, RD, owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios.

Food Scale

Your eyes may deceive you when it comes to properly portioning your food, but a scale won't. "When I first bought a food scale, I realized what I thought was 4 ounces was actually 6," White says. "A couple ounces more than you should be eating can add up big time in the long run." Most food scales cost less than $80, with some models as low as $20.

Heart Rate Monitor

Burning fat or boosting aerobic endurance requires keeping your heart rate in specific zones, so this gadget ensures all your workouts are as effective as possible. "We have a lot of clients who work out on their own and then realize they aren't pushing themselves enough," White says. The gizmo also prevents you from overdoing it. Runners can use the device to make sure they're taking their easy workouts as slow as they should be. Chest strap models, which tend to be more accurate, start at around $40 and can cost $100 or more.

Blender

Sipping fresh fruit juice or a smoothie can be a quick and easy way to fill up on vital nutrients, but many store- and restaurant-bought beverages are loaded with sugar. By blending your own you'll not only save money in the long run, but you can also control exactly what goes into your body. White uses a Vitamix ($449 and up) to make fresh juices. Holly Rigsby, an ACE-certified personal trainer and instructor at StreamFIT, loves the convenience of her Magic Bullet (about $100).

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Nine splurge-worthy health and fitness products

SCHLADMING, Austria (AP)Austrian skier Mario Scheiber announced his retirement Monday after a career marred by knee and shoulder injuries.

I am not willing to take the risks involved in ski racing anymore, said Scheiber, who had an unsuccessful comeback season following last years downhill training crash in Chamonix, France, when he broke his nose and shoulder blade.

The crash kept him out of the world championships and Scheiber considered quitting then, but decided to continue as preparations for the new season initially went well. However, he had to pull out of the North-American leg of the World Cup in November with back problems.

The whole season has been one to forget, Scheiber said. I did not manage to reach my old level again. The many injuries Ive had during my career, especially my right knee, forced me to this decision.

Scheiber, who made his World Cup debut at a GS in Lillehammer, Norway in 2003, sat out the entire 2005-06 season after tearing ligaments in his right knee and was sidelined for months with a left shoulder injury two years later.

Scheiber, who won the giant slalom title at the 2003 junior world championships, finished on a World Cup podium 13 times but failed to win a race. He finished fourth in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

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Austrian skier Scheiber announces retirement

retirement

Highlights

Retirement Fundamentals Of Retirement Plans

If you're among the lucky Americans whose employers offer a workplace retirement plan, it behooves you to take full advantage of it. True, some plans will automatically enroll you, so all you have to do is show up to work every day and do your job. If you don't want to join, you have to actively take steps to opt out of the plan.

It would be a mistake to opt out. In fact, it would be a mistake to allow yourself to be automatically enrolled without getting involved in the decisions pertaining to your plan. Otherwise, you may end up contributing just a paltry amount, and your money may go into a fund that's too conservative or too risky or too expensive for your taste.

In this package of stories, Bankrate covers the fundamentals of retirement plans -- everything you ever wanted to know about 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans and 457(b) plans -- plus a whole lot more.

For the uninitiated, 401(k) plans are found in the private sector, 403(b) plans in the nonprofit area and 457(b) plans are offered in state, county and municipal workplaces. All have their arcane sets of rules, and all provide a way for you to save money in a tax-deferred account. Some are stranger than others. Bankrate's story, "Shakeout in 403(b) plans affects teachers," uncovers the unusual situation in the education market and explains why teachers are dropping out of their 403(b) plans.

If you work for a small business that doesn't offer a plan -- and the majority do not -- then it's time to lobby the boss for change. Employers can pick from several different types of plans ranging from simple payroll deduction individual retirement accounts to complex defined benefit plans that require serious commitment. Bankrate's story, "Retirement plans for small biz," covers the nuts and bolts of 10 different retirement plans designed specifically for small businesses and self-employed individuals.

The government devised several different types of plans in order to entice people to save for retirement, even at the expense of federal tax revenue. Retirement savings in workplace plans keep money out of government coffers -- contributions made on a pretax basis are not counted as income, so you dodge the tax bullet on those funds until it's time to take the money out.

To find out if you have a first-class 401(k) plan or a mediocre one, check out "What makes a 401(k) plan great." Get ready for changes in your corporate retirement plan as well. This year, sponsors of 401(k) plans will be required to break out all costs to plan participants, as discussed in the story, "401(k) plan fees to be unveiled." This event will surely be an eye-opener for everyone.

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Fundamentals of retirement plans

Most people spend less money in retirement than they did while they were working. Retired households spend a median of $31,365 annually, which is about 80 percent of the $39,945 working households spend, according to a recent Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) analysis of Health and Retirement Study data. Annual expenses also decline steadily with age, falling by 19 percent between ages 65 and 75, and plunging 52 percent by age 95. The majority of study participants (66 percent) experienced a drop in retirement spending, while 16 percent of the households spent more money in retirement.

[See 21 Ways to Reduce Your Retirement Expenses.]

Retirees have lower expenses largely because they are able to eliminate work-related costs like commuting and office attire, and they no longer have to pay FICA taxes or save for retirement. But retirees often spend more on healthcare than people who are still in the workforce, especially if they develop a significant health problem that requires long-term care. Here's a look at the major ways costs change in retirement:

Housing. Housing is the single largest expense for both workers and retirees. Home-related expenses represent 47 percent of all costs for people ages 50 to 64, which declines to 44 percent between ages 65 and 74. "People probably finish paying off their mortgages, so they don't have to pay the mortgage anymore," says Sudipto Banerjee, a research associate at EBRI and author of the report. Downsizing to a less expensive house or condo or moving to a cheaper part of the country can also significantly decrease your housing expenses in retirement.

Healthcare. Health-related expenses are the only major cost that increases steadily and significantly with age. Health costs represent about 9 percent of most people's budget between ages 50 and 64. This number doubles to 18 percent after age 85. "As their health declines, it means more care and the cost of healthcare itself is increasing. The same amount of care costs more now," says Banerjee. "If you have to go into a nursing home or enter into some form of long-term care, that is going to significantly increase your expenses."

[See How to Save for Retirement on a Low Income.]

Transportation. You no longer need to commute to work in retirement. Transportation costs drop from 14 percent of the budget of 50- to 64-year-olds to 8 percent for those 85 and older. Couples who previously needed two cars can often get by with one.

Food and clothing. People tend to spend the same share of their income on food (12 percent) and clothing (3 percent) in retirement as they did while working. But there's certainly room to make cuts if you trade in your suits for jeans and eat more of your meals at home.

Gifts and donations. When grandchildren are born, many retirees spend more on gifts and trips to see them. Some retirees also plan bequests to relatives or charities. "The budget shares spent on donations and gifts go up a lot with age," says Susann Rohwedder, associate director of the RAND Center for the Study of Aging. "As people age, they may start to think they really don't need that money and might start to give it away."

[See 5 Surprise Retirement Costs.]

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6 Ways Spending Changes in Retirement

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09-03-2012 08:31 18.02.12 to 24.02.12 - Glorious week with loads of new snow. Oakhall Personal Performance Course with Harley was awesome. Some highlights of Tim's week.

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Powder Skiing in Zillertal with Oakhall PPC 2012.avi - Video

HOUSTON, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA - News), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers or "SBCs," announces plans to showcase and discuss its latest innovations at NPE 2012, the world's largest plastics exposition, conference and technology exchange.

"Kraton offers the most diverse and robust product profile in the SBC world," said Michael Oberkirch, Vice President, Advanced Materials. "Our products compete against a variety of material alternatives including, but not limited to, TPV, TPU, PVC, TPO, PET, PC, PA, natural rubber, and EPDM based offerings. Kraton polymers are highly-engineered and deliver recognized value by providing safe and viable alternatives to less efficient or less environmentally-friendly solutions," he continued. Demand for Kraton products continues to be driven by customer requirements and the unmet needs of the markets. "Our innovation-led growth strategy focuses on translating the inherent strengths of our product technologies such as flexibility, resilience, impact and moisture resistance, and aesthetics such as clarity and soft touch, to target opportunities where we can expand and create entirely new market spaces for our solutions," he concluded.

Products showcased at NPE include the following:

NPE 2012 will provide tremendous opportunities for knowledge sharing, which Kraton has found results in new, innovative, and specialized product solutions that meet the most rigorous industry demands for higher-performance. If you would like to meet one-on-one with our experts, please visit the Kraton booth #39000 at NPE 2012. For pre-scheduled media interviews, please contact Marcella Coronado at Marcie.coronado@kraton.com.

About Kraton Polymers

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., through its operating subsidiary Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries, is a leading global producer of engineered polymers and styrenic block copolymers ("SBCs"), a family of products whose chemistry was pioneered by us almost fifty years ago. SBCs are highly-engineered thermoplastic elastomers, which enhance the performance of numerous products by delivering a variety of attributes, including greater flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability. Our polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. We currently offer approximately 800 products to more than 700 customers in over 60 countries worldwide, and are the only SBC producer with manufacturing and service capabilities on four continents. We manufacture products at five plants globally, including our flagship plant in Belpre, Ohio, as well as plants in Germany, France and Brazil, and a joint venture plant operated in Japan.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements," which are statements other than statements of historical fact and are often characterized by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans" or "anticipates," or by discussions of strategy, anticipated performance, plans or intentions. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management's current expectations and estimates, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in "Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors" contained in our Annual Report on 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as subsequently updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We hereby make reference to all such filings for all purposes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update such information.

Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, Cariflex, Nexar and the "Giving Innovators their Edge" tagline are all trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC.

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. 2012. All rights reserved.

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Kraton Performance Polymers Delivers Innovative PVC Alternatives