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Hazel Sarah Musfelt Hazel Sarah (Perreten) Musfelt, 96, formerly of Rushville, passed away March 29, 2012 at the heritage Nursing Home in Bridgeport. She was a resident of Sheridan County most of her life and also resided in Cherry County for twenty years. The eldest of eight children, Hazel was born December 30, 1915 to the parents of William and Lulu Perreten at the home of her grandmother Sarah Spittler in Hay Springs. She was baptized February 14, 1927 at Clinton with the Rev A.E. Richardson. While at home, Hazel worked in the fields alongside her father and spoke very admirably of him. Growing up she rode her horse four miles to District 14 School and also back and forth to town to take music lessons from Mrs. Roland Fairhead, tying her horse to the hitching post, east of where the bank offices used to be, now the Chamberlain Garage. Later she drove the horse and buggy to pick up the neighbor children and the teacher. In high school her father got her a Model T Ford to go to school during the winter months and recalls she would have to drain the radiator so it wouldn't freeze then got into the boiler room in the school to heat up water before heading back home. After graduating from Rushville High School in 1935, Hazel cooked for the Sandoz Ranches. She married Edward Musfelt, a ranch hand from the Sand Hills. Their union was blessed with one child, daughter Bonnie Mae. They worked at different ranches before Edward went to work at the Dept of Defense at Sidney, Harvard, Alliance and Crawford. They leased the Hanchett Ranch for 16 years in Cherry County on share basis (half calf crop.) She worked side by side with her husband putting up hay; mowing, sweeping, raking and also fixing fences. She also raised 500 chickens, and her cellar was full of canned meat, vegetables, fruits, jellies and she made her own soap. They then ranched south of Eli for 9 years for Stan and Ada Mae Boltz. In 1965, Hazel and Edward purchased and operated the Hills Motel in Gordon for

Home for the aged is a general term for a facility that cares for elderly people. It is not a question of where but a question of how. How is home for the aged can do good for our elderly? In a fast phase world like ours, finding time for fun and leisure is hard and finding time for family is harder. Sometimes we are left with no choice. We are forced to leave our elderly family members in a nursing home or more popular as home for the aged. There is always two sides in a story, leaving elderly family member in a caring home has advantages and disadvantages. Number of senior citizens suddenly seemed to multiply since 1950's. In 1900 the average life expectancy was forty-five, by 1950 the average life span was almost seventy years; the population has doubled but the number of people65 and over had quadrupled to become 8% of the total. In 1950's more and more population of "retirees" are supposed to get their pensions. Due to this case, extended families are seemed to be an obligation, where elderly had to stay with their sons, daughters or grandchildren. People then began wondering how to accommodate this burden. They started taking about nursing homes, retirement houses, or apartments where they can leave their elderly. Golden years are supposed to have a positive connotation but now the phrase developed into a different meaning. Instead of the "golden years" being now, I a one's old age golden refers to the good old days. Studies showed that people in developed countries are not only living longer, but also remain healthy for much of their lives, unlike in less developed countries, where the elderly tend to be plagued with serious illnesses. Causing them to live longer which means government has to support them because they are already retirees. In order to support them, one must work and working means no one to take care of the elderly. Elderly has a special healthcare although facilities like home for the aged are design

GROUP OF SPRINGHILL SOUTH KOREA - In today's economic climate, who will help you protect your company and your clients from the devastating impact of fraud? Fraud can creep into your business in a number of ways. You may find you need an objective expert to deter potential problems, investigate allegations or provide resolution. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) offers anti-fraud knowledge and skills you need to: * Investigate allegations against one of your employees * Recommend strong anti-fraud internal controls * Conduct interviews related to sensitive issues * Provide assistance with financial dispute resolution * Resolve irregularities discovered during your company's audit * Provide expert testimony on financial and investigative matters A Unique Set of Skills Fraud Examiners have a unique set of skills that are not found in any other discipline; they combine knowledge of complex financial transactions with an understanding of law, criminology, investigation and how to resolve allegations of fraud. CFEs work in a variety of disciplines including accounting, auditing, fraud investigation and security, as well as in different industry segments including government, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and retail distribution. CFEs are knowledgeable in four areas critical to the fight against fraud: * Fraudulent Financial Transactions * Criminology & Ethics * Legal Elements of Fraud * Fraud Investigation Reduce Fraud Risks and Costs Heightened fraud awareness, combined with new laws and regulations, has increased the already growing demand in the workforce for professionals who are highly skilled at deterring, detecting and investigating fraud. CFEs have the ability to: * Identify and reduce opportunities for fraud * Implement effective anti-fraud controls * Continuously improve anti-fraud measures based on new risks and technologies * Educate employees to deter fraud and report wr

Foxconn Technology, one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world and the center of the recent Apple labor scandal, has announced on Saturday that it will reduce overtime and increase wages in their factories. Foxconn's announcement that they will increase wages up to 25% (which is about USD 400 a month) came after they have been put in the spotlight for the bad working conditions on its factories. Factories depend on the workers being present for 6-7 days per week, sometimes for as long as fourteen hours each day. Their workers welcomed the announcement on overtime limits and raises but some are understandably skeptical if it would be realized. In order to satisfy their critics, Apple hired a labor group to inspect the factories they work with. Fair Labor Association, a watchdog for working conditions has reportedly found 'tons of issues' in the Foxconn plan in Shenzhen, China. The FLA monitoring team composed of 30 members is set to interview 35,000 randomly picked employees of Foxconn. A premature pronouncement from a member of the monitoring team sparked outrage - that he issued assessments already even before workers have been interviewed should have no room in the official conclusion. It is amazing how someone in the inspection group could conclude positivelywith only a hosted tour of the plant as his basis. He even said that the Foxconn plant is one of the best ones in the country. In reality, alleged violations could be very difficult to detect during an inspection because the owner will be forwarned and can promptly arrange a cover-up. Foxconn is one of China's biggest employers, with 1.2 million workers housed in room with boiler near their factories. They assemble around 40% of the total amount of electronic devices sold worldwide. Apart from Apple, their clients include Toshiba, IBM, HP, Sony, Dell and others. According to a recent government report, this year's shortage in labor is worse than t

Foxconn Technology, one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world and the center of the recent Apple labor scandal, has announced on Saturday that it will reduce overtime and increase wages in their factories. Foxconn's announcement that they will increase wages up to 25% (which is about USD 400 a month) came after they have been put in the spotlight for the bad working conditions on its factories. Factories depend on the workers being present for 6-7 days per week, sometimes for as long as fourteen hours each day. Their workers welcomed the announcement on overtime limits and raises but some are understandably skeptical if it would be realized. In order to satisfy their critics, Apple hired a labor group to inspect the factories they work with. Fair Labor Association, a watchdog for working conditions has reportedly found 'tons of issues' in the Foxconn plan in Shenzhen, China. The FLA monitoring team composed of 30 members is set to interview 35,000 randomly picked employees of Foxconn. A premature pronouncement from a member of the monitoring team sparked outrage - that he issued assessments already even before workers have been interviewed should have no room in the official conclusion. It is amazing how someone in the inspection group could conclude positively with only a hosted tour of the plant as his basis. He even said that the Foxconn plant is one of the best ones in the country. In reality, alleged violations could be very difficult to detect during an inspection because the owner will be forwarned and can promptly arrange a cover-up. Foxconn is one of China's biggest employers, with 1.2 million workers housed in room with boiler near their factories. They assemble around 40% of the total amount of electronic devices sold worldwide. Apart from Apple, their clients include Toshiba, IBM, HP, Sony, Dell and others. According to a recent government report, this year's shortage in labor is worse than those i

MOBILE, Alabama - Drury Lane in Country Club Estates has the look and feel of a country lane: secluded, narrow - less than two lanes wide - and heavily-wooded, with well-kept homes appearing as if by magic among the trees. Yet some of its 17 homes, including corner lots at Wimbledon Drive to the south and Hillwood Road to the north, are within a short iron shot of the Country Club of Mobile north nine golf course and about two blocks from the main club buildings themselves. Residents of Drury Lane, from near and far, had high praise for the Spring Hill area and their neighbors. "We love it here. Absolutely love it. Drury Lane is a wonderful street. The best street in Mobile, I believe," said resident Lee Robinson, a Mobile native, who grew up 300 yards away on Wimbledon Drive, where his parents, Lee and Helen Robinson, still live. The Robinsons' home is one of the through lots on the street, with a front entrance on Hillwood Road and a back entrance on Drury Lane. The family prefers the backyard for activities and neighboring, said Robinson. "The neighbors have been fabulous and a huge blessing," said his wife, Aimee, also a Mobile native. "The minute you have a storm, everyone here comes together." The Robinsons and their three daughters had just moved in shortly before Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, but were invited to stay the night with neighbors, who had 14 people in their home, to share their generator power, she said. Robinson discovered both Mobile and family tradition in the vintage 1937 home on the lane when he thoroughly renovated it in 2007-08. The home had original hardwood floors, a double coincidence, because Robinson is president of Overseas Hardwoods Co., and his grandfather was in the hardwood flooring business with the family-owned Mobile River Sawmill in Mount Vernon, Robinson said. Mobile River Sawmill first made hardwood flooring in the early 1930s - the mill was so

In today's economic climate, who will help you protect your company and your clients from the devastating impact of fraud? Fraud can creep into your business in a number of ways. You may find you need an objective expert to deter potential problems, investigate allegations or provide resolution. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) offers anti-fraud knowledge and skills you need to: * Investigate allegations against one of your employees * Recommend strong anti-fraud internal controls * Conduct interviews related to sensitive issues * Provide assistance with financial dispute resolution * Resolve irregularities discovered during your company's audit * Provide expert testimony on financial and investigative matters A Unique Set of Skills Fraud Examiners have a unique set of skills that are not found in any other discipline; they combine knowledge of complex financial transactions with an understanding of law, criminology, investigation and how to resolve allegations of fraud. CFEs work in a variety of disciplines including accounting, auditing, fraud investigation and security, as well as in different industry segments including government, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and retail distribution. CFEs are knowledgeable in four areas critical to the fight against fraud: * Fraudulent Financial Transactions * Criminology & Ethics * Legal Elements of Fraud * Fraud Investigation Reduce Fraud Risks and Costs Heightened fraud awareness, combined with new laws and regulations, has increased the already growing demand in the workforce for professionals who are highly skilled at deterring, detecting and investigating fraud. CFEs have the ability to: * Identify and reduce opportunities for fraud * Implement effective anti-fraud controls * Continuously improve anti-fraud measures based on new risks and technologies * Educate employees to deter fraud and report wrongdoing * Resolve allegations or suspicions of f

In today's economic climate, who will help you protect your company and your clients from the devastating impact of fraud? Fraud can creep into your business in a number of ways. You may find you need an objective expert to deter potential problems, investigate allegations or provide resolution. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) offers anti-fraud knowledge and skills you need to: * Investigate allegations against one of your employees * Recommend strong anti-fraud internal controls * Conduct interviews related to sensitive issues * Provide assistance with financial dispute resolution * Resolve irregularities discovered during your company's audit * Provide expert testimony on financial and investigative matters A Unique Set of Skills Fraud Examiners have a unique set of skills that are not found in any other discipline; they combine knowledge of complex financial transactions with an understanding of law, criminology, investigation and how to resolve allegations of fraud. CFEs work in a variety of disciplines including accounting, auditing, fraud investigation and security, as well as in different industry segments including government, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and retail distribution. CFEs are knowledgeable in four areas critical to the fight against fraud: * Fraudulent Financial Transactions * Criminology & Ethics * Legal Elements of Fraud * Fraud Investigation Reduce Fraud Risks and Costs Heightened fraud awareness, combined with new laws and regulations, has increased the already growing demand in the workforce for professionals who are highly skilled at deterring, detecting and investigating fraud. CFEs have the ability to: * Identify and reduce opportunities for fraud * Implement effective anti-fraud controls * Continuously improve anti-fraud measures based on new risks and technologies * Educate employees to deter fraud and report wrongdoing * Resolve allegations or suspicions of f

springhill groups Springhill Group Counselling believes it is significant that each of us needs to understand what counselling and psychotherapy is about and what they should anticipate from the procedure of therapy. Nurturing knowledge among community is a significant purpose for every organization. This website has been aims to help people find out more about counselling Psychotherapists are starting to become more alert on the reality of how dangerous the double-edged nature of their profession is. Being effective in addressing client concerns is only but a part of the job - keeping your head is just as important. Just like how a clean broom can get all dirty and messed up through continuously doing its work of cleaning the floor, so can the therapist get vulnerable to difficult feelings by dealing with clients. Psychotherapists are indoctrinated early on that they need to be emotionally stable to cope with the challenges of the profession. And oftentimes, it's that very thing that can make a therapist struggle. It's as if they are not allowed to feel emotions like boredom and exhaustion. They were taught that having struggles with work as a psychotherapist are all because of your own personal issues or mere lack of experience. Unfortunately, issues that are not addressed properly can eventually lead to burnout.You can be effective in your job but still feel stressed, frustrated or self-doubt. Most therapists are aware that work issues tend to affect personal relationships. Exhausting someone's emotional capacity in such a line of work can result in him having none left for interacting with family members. They are not alert to the fact that, being also a human, they have personal feelings towards their career that can come to the surface. And in fear of being labeled unprofessional, they refuse to recognize those emotion and just continue going through their daily routine. To add to their burden, they cannot

Time is very essential to everybody. We will never know when were going to loose it. Today everyone seems to be very busy, everybody has to live and in order to live one must work for them. But we cannot work and take care of our parents or grandparents who's getting older and requires more care and attention. We became more concern about their safety at home. It's not an easy task caring for the elderly, especially if you are trying to do it alone. And aside from work, there comes a time when you will need a break, or just some time alone for yourself. With the constant worry that something may go wrong, the respites and personal time become nonexistent. Sometimes we are left with tough decision, whether or not an elderly family member should move into an assisted living facility is often one of the key questions. Home care for the elderly is an option for caregivers who need extra help while offering the elderly person a good quality of life for the rest of their years. To make your decision a lot easier, these advantages of letting elderly live in Home care might help you decide: 1. Seniors are getting more sensitive than usual. One advantage of leeting them stay in home care can give them the sense of freedom, and freedom for them could mean maintaining dignity, dignity which is something seniors feels like loosing as they age. This freedom would not be possible in an assisted living residence. This freedom could also mean that those who receive homecare can come and go as they please-for whatever reason. They can also choose their own meal times so they can eat whenever they are hungry unlike if meals are served to them, they might feel like prisoners. They are left with the feeling of they can decide for themselves. 2. It is proven that caring for pets can reduce stress levels and was also proven to have health benefits for seniors. Homes allow elderly to keep their pets and even beloved possessions with them for these possessions are tied

Nursing home is a home combined with skilled nursing care, rehabilitative care, medical services, personal care, and recreation in a supervised and environment. Letting your love ones stay in the nursing home may be hardest decision but choosing the right home will be next hardest. Entering the nursing home doesn't mean that the family involvement ends, instead it is their responsibility to make sure that the home care provides good care. Remember the following when choosing the best home care: * Have a discussion with the loved one who will be living there. This will aid in adjusting to the major life change about to occur. * Work together with other family members and inquire for help in finding the best nursing home. * Be in touch with doctors, nurses, or any other health professionals or social workers who care for your loved one. * Chat with some nursing home employees, especially assistants since they give most of the care. * Solicit a pastor or rabbi for guidance. * Contact the long-term care ombudsman. People often think that home care is expensive and yes nursing home care can be expensive. It can differ widely depending on where you live but often the average cost is more than $50,000 a year and rising. Sadly, employee health insurance does not pay for nursing home care. A great number of nursing home residents, about a third of its population, pay all of their nursing home expenses from their own funds. Long stay in a home care can consume all your or your loved one's savings fast. There are many who exhaust their finances after just six months. And about a five percent of them buys long-term care insurance, which covers the cost of a nursing home or other extended care. Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older persons and some younger ones with disabilities, pays for short-term nursing home stays but the rest, about two-thirds, are from the Medicaid. The greatest share of the residents to pay

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/as-senior-citizens-savour-care-homes/137658/ With increasing neglect by family and friends, coupled with the pressure of making ends meet, a growing number of elderly people are resorting to care homes to spend their final days on earth. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes The woman in the picture now lives at the Regina Mundi Home for the Elderly in Mushin, a Lagos community. She was abandoned by her family. "Isolation, discrimination, neglect and poverty are forcing elderly people to live a dismal life in care homes across the country," says Olubunmi Owosho, a social psychologist. At Regina Mundi Home for the Elderly, some of the people at the home were abandoned by their families in their old ages while some actually arrived there with the help of their family members who could no longer cope with caring for their needs. "It is important to make the elderly feel that they are still very relevant to the society. Some of them have worked for years and have contributed their quota to the society but were abandoned in their old age," says Anthonia Adebowale, a reverend sister. "Some have children whom we have to practically force to come and see them while others have irreconcilable differences with their relatives. "The elderly are often seen as the reservoirs of knowledge and the voice of wisdom whose fountain of experience are often needed to steer the ship of life. With the blessing of old age often comes the maturity to handle issues and therefore deserve to be supported and made happy and comfortable in the twilight of their ages," she explained. Reports suggest that there is evidence that the traditional practice of caring for parents began to erode under harsh economic conditions in urban areas across the country. For instance, there is absence of a social security system and only a minute percentage of the population older than 60 receives pensions before death. Analysts say, rapid urbanisation has displaced the

GROUP OF SPRINGHILL SOUTH KOREA - In today's economic climate, who will help you protect your company and your clients from the devastating impact of fraud? Fraud can creep into your business in a number of ways. You may find you need an objective expert to deter potential problems, investigate allegations or provide resolution. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) offers anti-fraud knowledge and skills you need to: * Investigate allegations against one of your employees * Recommend strong anti-fraud internal controls * Conduct interviews related to sensitive issues * Provide assistance with financial dispute resolution * Resolve irregularities discovered during your company's audit * Provide expert testimony on financial and investigative matters A Unique Set of Skills Fraud Examiners have a unique set of skills that are not found in any other discipline; they combine knowledge of complex financial transactions with an understanding of law, criminology, investigation and how to resolve allegations of fraud. CFEs work in a variety of disciplines including accounting, auditing, fraud investigation and security, as well as in different industry segments including government, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and retail distribution. CFEs are knowledgeable in four areas critical to the fight against fraud: * Fraudulent Financial Transactions * Criminology & Ethics * Legal Elements of Fraud * Fraud Investigation Reduce Fraud Risks and Costs Heightened fraud awareness, combined with new laws and regulations, has increased the already growing demand in the workforce for professionals who are highly skilled at deterring, detecting and investigating fraud. CFEs have the ability to: * Identify and reduce opportunities for fraud * Implement effective anti-fraud controls * Continuously improve anti-fraud measures based on new risks and technologies * Educate employees to deter fraud and report wrongdoing * Resolve allegations or suspic

A new study published this week in the Sleep journal has discovered that sleep problem decreases with age; basically contradicting the common belief that sleep problem comes with age. A group of researchers from Center for Sleep of Pennsylvania University along with other organizations conducted a survey of 155,877 people from all ages who has previously reported sleep disturbances. Their study aims to find the answer on how sleep complaints alter as a person age. The study was conducted by asking participants how often within the past 2 weeks they had problems staying or falling asleep as well as the number of days they have felt tired. Their telephone survey has resulted in the conclusion that sleep quality, in fact, gets better as you get older. They found a general decline in sleep tiredness across higher age groups. Actually, women and men older than 80 are the least likely among the age groups to complain of sleep problems. According to the study, poor overall health conditions and depression are both connected with sleep problems as those who have mild depression appear more twice as likely to report sleep disorders. Basically, it shows that once you have control of mood and health, people dont necessarily have more sleep problems. Experts seem to be disputing the results of the study as the method of data collection done is generally subjective (participants were only asked about their physical symptoms) as opposed to previous researches done through objective data gathering (e.g. monitoring patients' sleep patterns in laboratory room) which could be the reason for the result difference. A single study cannot hope to change the health care implementation. But considering that the sample size of the study is large, it will be hard to discount the results. Besides, the question given was so general that it captures the entirety of sleep disorders. The results of this study is essentially contrad

Patients with sickle cell disease move from pediatric to adult health care because they now depend more on the emergency room, says researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Reported at the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting in Atlanta, more than 3,200 patients with sickle cell disease demonstrates that emergency room visits tripled from age 15 to age 24 this is according to the study of Medicaid data. According to hematologist Morey A. Blinder, MD, associate professor of medicine, "There seems to be a breakdown in medical care during the transition from childhood to adulthood. Not only emergency department usage, but hospitalizations go up during this time as well." Blinder further added that one possible explanation for the increased reliance on emergency care is the relative lack of adult health care providers with experience caring for sickle cell patients. Alarming similar issues are arising for other pediatric diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and hemophilia. The said illnesses were previously fatal. What is more sad about the problem is over the past few decades the number of children and teenagers are living into adulthood with these conditions increased. What makes the matters worse is there often aren't enough primary care physicians who can provide care for these adult patients. Many are not familiar to the understanding of the sickle cell disease. It refers to a number of inherited genetic conditions the "sickle" shape red blood cells aren't normal, they are suppose to be normally round, disk-like red blood cells. The problems with these malformed red blood cells are prone to clogging smaller blood vessels and they do not carry oxygen to the body as well as healthy cells. The condition often causes pain in places the cells block blood flow that sometimes causes more severe complications include blindness, strokes and pneumonia. Medical patients from five states including Florida, New Jersey

Springhill Home Care Group Korea Reviews Seoul Employs Elderly to Tackle Phone Waste http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/07/25/seoul-employs-elderly-to-tackle-phone-waste/ South Koreans are among the world's most frequent phone upgraders, buying about 15 million new mobile phones each year, according to a recent report by market research firm DigiEco. One of the problems that creates is the handling of all the discarded older phones. To tackle the issue of electronics waste, or e-waste, the Seoul city government started a program called Eco City in 2009 to collect used electronics. It runs a waste handling facility called Seoul Resource Center in the northeast of the capital and employs elderly or low-income people to break them down and process the parts. Eco City is unique in that it is an entirely government-funded and directed operation. In Tokyo, the municipal government invited private companies to set up recycling facilities, while China has struggled to deal with large amounts of e-waste both produced domestically and imported. Seoul's Eco City says each discarded mobile phone has between 2,500 won and 4,000 won (about US$2.23-$3.50) worth of metals in it, including rare earth metals such as neodymium. At intervals of six months or a year, companies can bid to purchase the waste that has been gathered and sorted by Eco City. Whatever can't be sold or reused is incinerated. http://springhillcaregroup.net/ http://news.springhillcaregroup.net/

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Kicking off a two-day Sunshine State barnstorm Saturday, President Barack Obama tapped into key parts of what he hopes will be a winning Florida coalition similar to but larger than the one he assembled in 2008. At stops in Seminole and Kissimmee, Fla., the president, who won the Sunshine State by just 50.9 percent in 2008, targeted the votes of senior citizens, warning that their Medicare benefits would be harmed by a plan put forward by his Republican opponents Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. "I want you to know, AARP, I would never turn Medicare into a voucher," Obama said at a civic center here, making an explicit play for members of the 50-and-up club. "I believe no American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies."

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Kicking off a two-day Sunshine State barnstorm Saturday, President Barack Obama tapped into key parts of what he hopes will be a winning Florida coalition similar to but larger than the one he assembled in 2008. At stops in Seminole and Kissimmee, Fla., the president, who won the Sunshine State by just 50.9 percent in 2008, targeted the votes of senior citizens, warning that their Medicare benefits would be harmed by a plan put forward by his Republican opponents Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. "I want you to know, AARP, I would never turn Medicare into a voucher," Obama said at a civic center here, making an explicit play for members of the 50-and-up club. "I believe no American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies."

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Kicking off a two-day Sunshine State barnstorm Saturday, President Barack Obama tapped into key parts of what he hopes will be a winning Florida coalition similar to but larger than the one he assembled in 2008. At stops in Seminole and Kissimmee, Fla., the president, who won the Sunshine State by just 50.9 percent in 2008, targeted the votes of senior citizens, warning that their Medicare benefits would be harmed by a plan put forward by his Republican opponents Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. "I want you to know, AARP, I would never turn Medicare into a voucher," Obama said at a civic center here, making an explicit play for members of the 50-and-up club. "I believe no American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies."

MOBILE, Alabama - Drury Lane in Country Club Estates has the look and feel of a country lane: secluded, narrow - less than two lanes wide - and heavily-wooded, with well-kept homes appearing as if by magic among the trees. Yet some of its 17 homes, including corner lots at Wimbledon Drive to the south and Hillwood Road to the north, are within a short iron shot of the Country Club of Mobile north nine golf course and about two blocks from the main club buildings themselves. Residents of Drury Lane, from near and far, had high praise for the Spring Hill area and their neighbors. "We love it here. Absolutely love it. Drury Lane is a wonderful street. The best street in Mobile, I believe," said resident Lee Robinson, a Mobile native, who grew up 300 yards away on Wimbledon Drive, where his parents, Lee and Helen Robinson, still live. The Robinsons' home is one of the through lots on the street, with a front entrance on Hillwood Road and a back entrance on Drury Lane. The family prefers the backyard for activities and neighboring, said Robinson. "The neighbors have been fabulous and a huge blessing," said his wife, Aimee, also a Mobile native. "The minute you have a storm, everyone here comes together." The Robinsons and their three daughters had just moved in shortly before Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, but were invited to stay the night with neighbors, who had 14 people in their home, to share their generator power, she said. Robinson discovered both Mobile and family tradition in the vintage 1937 home on the lane when he thoroughly renovated it in 2007-08. The home had original hardwood floors, a double coincidence, because Robinson is president of Overseas Hardwoods Co., and his grandfather was in the hardwood flooring business with the family-owned Mobile River Sawmill in Mount Vernon, Robinson said. Mobile River Sawmill first made hardwood flooring in the early 1930s - the mill was sold to Scott Paper Co. in 1963.

Egypt's new president Mohamed Morsi is reconsidering the peace agreement with Israel and ties with Iran in an attempt to build a strategic balance in the region. Morsi was quick to announce that all issues will be addressed by governmental bodies as he will not make decisions on his own, according to Springhill Group Home. "Part of my agenda is the development of ties between Iran and Egypt that will create a strategic balance in the region." Morsi has convened with his advisors to form a new Cabinet prior to his swearing-in on Saturday as the first freely-elected leader. On the other hand, the defeated candidate Ahmed Shafik was found to have left the Egypt in the midst of mounting fraud charges against him since his time as the nation's civil aviation minister. The Muslim Brotherhood's candidate has pledged to become a leader for all Egyptians. "I will be a president for all Egyptians. I call on you, great people of Egypt… to strengthen our national unity - the only way out of these difficult times," Morsi said hours following his being declared the new president. Egypt has breathed a collected sigh of relief when the election and proclamation have finished without the feared bloodshed. Morsi's triumph, also marking Egypt's first fair and free election in the modern times, followed almost 2 years of political upheavel and civil unrest from Hosni Mubarak's military-rule. Britain, France, US and the European Union have deemed the democratic election and the winning civilian president as significant parts of Egypt's history. The US in particular has encouraged Morsi to continue Egypt's transition to democracy that began last year. However, even if Morsi has already resigned from the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt when he was elected, Israel is still worried of him for his Islam affiliations that could possibly endanger the peace of the two neighboring nations. And although the foreign ministry of Iran has acknowledged