Google Maps Engine Gets Free Tier And A Public Data Program To Help Governments, Other Orgs Surface Maps

Google is launching a free tier of Google Maps Engine today, in conjunction with its announcement of Maps Engine Pro, a small business tool. The free tier offers all of the same features but has smaller quotas for data access, in the ‘tens of megabytes’ vs. the terabytes available in the full version.

Google is also launching a new Public Data Program that allows organizations to sign up for a free GME account to create maps and publish them on the web. This could let an organization like, say, the government of Latvia, surface maps of data that it would normally have to have a team build custom tools to present.

The idea is to offer up a public map of new voting districts, transport routes, public works or any other kind of data in a way that can be easily searched via Google or other tools, and that can be distributed widely in a stable fashion. Google happens to be very good at that, and many organizations and government simply aren’t.

Any organization will be able to take advantage of the new program, which does not face the same quota limitations as the free-tier Google Maps Engine product. The only stipulation is that these maps be posted publicly. This serves their needs to have those maps easily searchable, and Google needs to have its mapping products be the most complete picture of the world. There are only so many layers of data that Google can collect itself, and this program taps another whole group of organizations with unique, valuable data to add to the overall product.

Today, Google is also announcing that it will have integration with some very popular GIS software like ESRI and QGIS. It’s also firing up a partnership with Safe Software, one of the biggest spatial visualization companies around. Their data transformation tool FME will get full Google Maps Engine integration.

Maps Engine is used by companies like FedEx, Amtrak and NOAA. Google recently launched a Maps Engine API that was designed to allow companies to import data and layer it on top of Google’s own mapping layers. The Google Maps Engine product has been around for about two years and available commercially for over a year.

The benefits of a free tier are obvious: It offers a taste of the full-on product to attract new enterprise customers. The benefits of a public data tool to help governments and others ship public maps are a bit more subtle. Yes, these organizations get a stable and powerful platform based off of Google’s mapping efforts, but they’re also potentially contributing hundreds of thousands of individual data sets back to Google’s overall mapping platform, making it even more dominant.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/sTozVz0uyT0/
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Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland Steps Down

He's leaving the field: Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland earlier this month.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

He's leaving the field: Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland earlier this month.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

One of Major League Baseball's most-respected and most-successful managers announced Monday that he's stepping down.

Detroit Tigers skipper Jim Leyland told reporters: "I'm going to be 69 years old [on Dec. 15]. I'm not ashamed of that. I'm proud of it. The fuel's getting a little low."

The news comes two days after the Tigers were eliminated by the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the American League championship series.

Leyland, who said he'll stay with the Tigers in a job yet to be determined, steps down after eight seasons leading Detroit. Over his career, as NPR's Mike Pesca tells our Newscast Desk, Leyland "won three manager of the year awards, three pennants, more than 1,700 games and a World Series [when he managed the Florida Marlins in 1997]."

According to BaseballReference.com, Leyland's record as a Major League manager was 1,769 wins, 1,728 losses. As a player — most of the time behind the plate as a catcher — he bounced around the minors for seven seasons.

The World Series, between the Red Sox and National League champion St. Louis Cardinals, starts Wednesday night in Boston. Over the weekend, Eyder posted on "5 Things To Know About The World Series."

NPR's Mike Pesca on Jim Leyland's decision to step down

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/10/21/239145599/detroit-tigers-manager-jim-leyland-steps-down?ft=1&f=1055
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Beaumont, Royal Oak repeats as Consumer Choice Award winner for 18th time

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

21-Oct-2013

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Contact: Angela Blazevski
248-551-0445
Beaumont Health System

NRC: Beaumont is 1 of 37 hospitals nationwide to win the award every year

Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak has been named the top choice of consumers by the National Research Corporation for the 18th consecutive year in a five-county area in Metro Detroit. Beaumont, Royal Oak is one of 37 hospitals in the U.S. that has been named a winner every year since the award was introduced.

The National Research 2013-14 Consumer Choice Award winners were determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in NRC's annual market survey. This study surveys more than 270,000 households. The award recognizes hospitals that consumers identify when asked to name the hospital with the highest quality and most personalized care, best image and reputation, best nurses and best doctors.

Of the more than 3,000 hospitals named by consumers in the study, top choice awards were given to hospitals in markets across the country in core-based statistical areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Beaumont, Royal Oak was named the top choice of consumers for Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties.

"It's an honor our patients and community continue to name Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak as their preferred hospital," says Shane Cerone, president, Beaumont, Royal Oak. "Our mission is to provide patients with the highest quality of care in a compassionate, personal manner. This recognition is a testament to the care our physicians and staff provide every day."

Leslie Rocher, M.D., senior vice president, physician-in-chief Beaumont, Royal Oak adds, "Our physicians, nurses, employees and volunteers are focused on achieving excellence in the care they provide our patients, and this engagement drives our quality and safety outcomes. It's great to see our community appreciates and recognizes those efforts."

Results of the study are reported in the October 21 edition of Modern Healthcare magazine. They are also contained in the 2013-14 National Research Market Insights survey. More information is available on the National Research website at nationalresearch.com.

###

National Research Corporation of Lincoln, Neb., is an industry leader with more than two decades of experience in health care performance measurement and improvement. National Research funds and conducts the Market Insights study independently to determine award winners.

About Beaumont, Royal Oak

Beaumont's 1,070-bed hospital in Royal Oak is a major academic, research and referral center with Level I trauma designation. It was named Michigan's first Magnet-designated hospital for nursing excellence and is a member of the Children's Hospital Association. The hospital ranks among the top hospitals in the United States for inpatient admissions and for surgical volume. Beaumont, Royal Oak has been named the "most preferred hospital" in a five-county area for 18 consecutive years in a consumer survey by National Research Corporation. The hospital is also nationally ranked in 7 medical specialties on the U.S. News & World Report "America's Best Hospitals" 2013-14 lists and is recognized as a Top Ten Quality Leader by the University HealthSystem Consortium. Beaumont is the exclusive clinical teaching site for the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. Visit Beaumont's website at http://www.beaumont.edu.

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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.

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

21-Oct-2013

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Contact: Angela Blazevski
248-551-0445
Beaumont Health System

NRC: Beaumont is 1 of 37 hospitals nationwide to win the award every year

Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak has been named the top choice of consumers by the National Research Corporation for the 18th consecutive year in a five-county area in Metro Detroit. Beaumont, Royal Oak is one of 37 hospitals in the U.S. that has been named a winner every year since the award was introduced.

The National Research 2013-14 Consumer Choice Award winners were determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in NRC's annual market survey. This study surveys more than 270,000 households. The award recognizes hospitals that consumers identify when asked to name the hospital with the highest quality and most personalized care, best image and reputation, best nurses and best doctors.

Of the more than 3,000 hospitals named by consumers in the study, top choice awards were given to hospitals in markets across the country in core-based statistical areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Beaumont, Royal Oak was named the top choice of consumers for Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties.

"It's an honor our patients and community continue to name Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak as their preferred hospital," says Shane Cerone, president, Beaumont, Royal Oak. "Our mission is to provide patients with the highest quality of care in a compassionate, personal manner. This recognition is a testament to the care our physicians and staff provide every day."

Leslie Rocher, M.D., senior vice president, physician-in-chief Beaumont, Royal Oak adds, "Our physicians, nurses, employees and volunteers are focused on achieving excellence in the care they provide our patients, and this engagement drives our quality and safety outcomes. It's great to see our community appreciates and recognizes those efforts."

Results of the study are reported in the October 21 edition of Modern Healthcare magazine. They are also contained in the 2013-14 National Research Market Insights survey. More information is available on the National Research website at nationalresearch.com.

###

National Research Corporation of Lincoln, Neb., is an industry leader with more than two decades of experience in health care performance measurement and improvement. National Research funds and conducts the Market Insights study independently to determine award winners.

About Beaumont, Royal Oak

Beaumont's 1,070-bed hospital in Royal Oak is a major academic, research and referral center with Level I trauma designation. It was named Michigan's first Magnet-designated hospital for nursing excellence and is a member of the Children's Hospital Association. The hospital ranks among the top hospitals in the United States for inpatient admissions and for surgical volume. Beaumont, Royal Oak has been named the "most preferred hospital" in a five-county area for 18 consecutive years in a consumer survey by National Research Corporation. The hospital is also nationally ranked in 7 medical specialties on the U.S. News & World Report "America's Best Hospitals" 2013-14 lists and is recognized as a Top Ten Quality Leader by the University HealthSystem Consortium. Beaumont is the exclusive clinical teaching site for the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. Visit Beaumont's website at http://www.beaumont.edu.

---

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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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-10/bhs-bro102113.php
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Carol Burnett receives top US humor prize in DC

Carol Burnett is honored with the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)

Carol Burnett is honored with the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)

Carol Burnett arrives at 16th Annual Mark Twain Prize presented to Carol Burnett at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)

Tina Fey arrives at 16th Annual Mark Twain Prize presented to Carol Burnett at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)

Martin Short arrives at 16th Annual Mark Twain Prize presented to Carol Burnett at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)

Tony Bennett with wife Susan Crow arrive at 16th Annual Mark Twain Prize presented to Carol Burnett at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Carol Burnett launched her namesake variety show in the 1960s, one TV executive told her the genre was "a man's game." She proved him wrong with an 11-year run that averaged 30 million viewers each week.

On Sunday, the trailblazing comedienne received the nation's top humor prize at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Top entertainers including Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and others performed in Burnett's honor as she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

The show was taped Sunday and will be broadcast Nov. 24 on PBS stations.

"This is very encouraging," Burnett, 80, deadpanned in accepting the prize. "I mean it was a long time in coming, but I understand because there are so many people funnier than I am, especially here in Washington.

"With any luck, they'll soon get voted out, and I'll still have the Mark Twain prize."

Fey opened the show with some jokes about the recent government shutdown and about fears over "Obamacare."

"Enough politics. We are here tonight to celebrate the first lady of American comedy, Ted Cruz," Fey said, referring to the Texas senator who took a prominent role during the shutdown.

Fey quickly turned to showering Burnett with accolades for opening doors for other women comedians.

"You mean so much to me," Fey said. "I love you in a way that is just shy of creepy."

In an interview, Burnett said she was drawn to comedy after realizing how it felt to make people laugh. She went to UCLA with plans to become a journalist, but she took an acting course that put her on stage.

"I played a hillbilly woman, and coming from Texas ... it was real easy for me," she said. "I just made my entrance, and I said, 'I'm Baaack.' Then they exploded."

"I thought whoa! This feels good," Burnett said. "I wanted those laughs to keep on coming forever."

Few women were doing comedy when Burnett set her sights on New York. She caught a break when she was spotted by talent bookers from TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show" and was invited to perform her rendition of "I Made a Fool of Myself over John Foster Dulles."

Almost immediately, Burnett transformed Dulles, the former secretary of state, "from a Presbyterian bureaucrat into a smoking hot sex symbol," said Cappy McGarr, the co-creator of the Mark Twain Prize. "She sang that she was 'simply on fire with desire' and that was really her big break."

Soon after, Burnett landed a role in Broadway's "Once Upon a Mattress," and began appearing on morning TV's "The Garry Moore Show." She never thought she could host her own show, though.

"I was more of a second banana," she said. But she loved playing a variety of characters.

CBS signed her to a 10-year contract doing guest shots on sitcoms and performing in one TV special a year, but the deal also allowed her the option of creating her own variety show and guaranteed her airtime. But five years in, CBS executives had forgotten about the idea.

She recalled one executive telling her: "You know, variety is a man's game."

"At that time, I understood what he was saying, and I was never one to get angry," Burnett said. "I said 'well this is what I know, and this is what I want to do.'"

The show ran from 1967 to 1978 and included guest stars such as Lucille Ball, Jimmy Stewart, Ronald Reagan and Betty White.

Tim Conway, one of Burnett's co-stars on her show, joked that he now spends his time traveling around the country for Burnett to receive awards.

"Thank you for being such a friend," he said, "such a generous person, not with salary, but generous."

Comedian Martin Short also joined the tribute to Burnett.

"What is it about redheads on television that make us laugh so much? Carol, Lucille Ball, Donald Trump," he said.

Burnett said it's a thrill to receive the award named for humorist and satirist Mark Twain and that she's in good company with past honorees, who include Fey, Bill Cosby, Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin and Ellen DeGeneres.

Coming on the heels of the government shutdown, McGarr said it's nice to bring an "intentionally funny moment" to Washington after weeks of political drama.

"You know, serious times call for seriously funny people," McGarr said.

Burnett made a special request that rising comedienne Rosemary Watson, who does impressions of Hillary Clinton and others, be part of the show. Burnett found Watson on YouTube after receiving a fan letter and thought she was funny.

"The thing is, you pay it forward," Burnett said, "because when I got started, somebody gave me a break when I was 21 years old, and I wanted to go to New York."

Before the show, Watson said that watching Burnett shaped her life as a child. She said Burnett was not a joke teller but created funny characters.

"I do what I do because of her," Watson said. "For me, she was it. She was the female comedian I wanted to be most like."

Vicki Lawrence, a co-star with Burnett on "The Carol Burnett Show," who is perhaps best known for playing "Mama" in sketches with Burnett, said she was planning to be a dental hygienist before she knew Burnett.

"I was going to be cleaning teeth somewhere," she said, "and I guess she changed that."

___

Follow Brett Zongker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat .

Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-10-21-Humor%20Prize-Carol%20Burnett/id-9624d72b2f7e4fb297a1fe34f2cad35d
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Headlines From Around The World

A woman walks past a newsstand in Beijing.

Alexander F. Yuan/AP

A woman walks past a newsstand in Beijing.

Alexander F. Yuan/AP

We begin with more revelations about the National Security Agency's spying program – this time from France.

Le Monde reported that the NSA monitored 70.3 million French phone records during a 30-day period. The article was co-authored by Glenn Greenwald. He's the American journalist who's broken many of the stories on the agency's spying programs around the world – stories made possible by the leak of documents by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

The French Foreign Ministry has summoned the U.S. ambassador to protest the reported spying.

It's the latest revelations about the NSA's spying program that has strained relations with allies such as Brazil. But Monday's story comes at a particularly embarrassing time for the U.S. as it coincides with Secretary of State John Kerry's arrival in Paris.

Meanwhile in Egypt, political and religious figures are condemning the attack outside a Coptic Christian church that killed four people, including two girls, ages 8 and 12.

Al-Ahram reports that a man randomly fired 15 rounds at a wedding ceremony outside the church in Cairo's Warraq neighborhood on Sunday.

Interim Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi called the attack a "cowardly criminal act." The attack was also condemned by the grand imam of the influential Al-Azhar mosque and the Salafist Nour Party.

But Al-Ahram reported that a Christian rights group blamed the government for the attack, saying it hadn't done enough to protect the community, which makes up about 10 percent of Egypt's population. Attacks against Christians have risen following the July coup that ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

Now to Zimbabwe, where the government-owned Herald reports that Western sanctions, which it calls illegal, are hurting the country's industry.

The Industrial Development Corp. has had more than $20 million frozen in the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the newspaper reported. Here's more:

"The Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company, one of the IDC subsidiaries, still has US$5 million frozen to date as the US applies its Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, its sanctions law.

"The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe also lost over US$30 million in revenue to OFAC."

The newspaper estimated that Zimbabwe's economy has shrunk by some 40 percent over the past 13 years, and blamed "the West's illegal sanctions regime."

U.S. imposed sanctions against President Robert Mugabe's government in 2003 following his crackdown on opposition groups in the country.

And, finally, to Mexico, where 7 out of 10 people say the national soccer team doesn't deserve to play in next year's World Cup in Brazil, according to a poll by El Universal newspaper.

The national team has suffered embarrassing losses and failed to qualify directly for Brazil. The team takes on New Zealand in a playoff next month.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/10/21/238977122/headlines-from-around-the-world?ft=1&f=1009
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BoSox a win from pennant after beating Tigers 4-3

Boston Red Sox's Koji Uehara throws in the eighth inning during Game 5 of the American League baseball championship series against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox's Koji Uehara throws in the eighth inning during Game 5 of the American League baseball championship series against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox's Koji Uehara celebrates with David Ross after the Red Sox defeating the Detroit Tigers 4-3 in Game 5 of the American League baseball championship series Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez is greeted as he walks into the dugout after scoring in the sixth inning during Game 5 of the American League baseball championship series against the Boston Red Sox, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Boston Red Sox's Craig Breslow throws in the seventh inning during Game 5 of the American League baseball championship series against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox's Koji Uehara throws in the eighth inning during Game 5 of the American League baseball championship series against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

DETROIT (AP) — Mike Napoli's majestic homer began the early breakthrough Boston needed.

Now, the Red Sox are a win away from the World Series — with a bullpen that Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers still can't seem to solve.

Napoli opened the scoring with another big long ball, Junichi Tazawa again bested Cabrera in a crucial spot and the Red Sox edged Detroit 4-3 on Thursday night.

Boston returns to Fenway Park with a 3-2 lead in the AL championship series. Game 6 is Saturday with the Tigers' Max Scherzer facing the Red Sox's Clay Buchholz.

"Our guys are well aware of where we are," manager John Farrell said. "But at the same time the beauty of them is to not get ahead of themselves, and that will be the case once that first pitch is thrown on Saturday."

Cabrera was thrown out at the plate in the first inning, halting an early Detroit rally, and he hit into a double play against Tazawa with runners at the corners in the seventh. The Tigers scored a run on the grounder, but it was a trade-off the Red Sox were willing to make.

Napoli led off a three-run second with a drive off Anibal Sanchez into the ivy beyond the wall in center field.

Detroit's starters had allowed only three runs in 27 innings through the first four games of the series. After pitching six no-hit innings in Game 1, Sanchez allowed four — three earned — in six innings Thursday.

Jon Lester allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. He walked three and struck out three, and the Boston bullpen held on to finish off the fourth game of the series to be decided by one run.

"There's probably a reason I don't have any hair," Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "It's stressful."

Down 4-2 in the seventh, the Tigers put runners on first and third with nobody out when Jose Iglesias and Torii Hunter singled. Cabrera, who struck out with runners at the corners against Tazawa in the eighth inning of a 1-0 loss in Game 3, hit a soft grounder to second for a double play this time.

That was Detroit's last stand in this one. Craig Breslow retired slumping Prince Fielder to end the seventh and got the first out of the eighth. Then Koji Uehara retired five straight for the save.

Now Detroit turns to Scherzer, a 21-game winner, to try to extend the season. The Tigers will have Justin Verlander ready to pitch Game 7 if there is one.

Detroit may be without catcher Alex Avila in Boston. He left after the top of the fourth with a strained left knee.

Boston led in only four of 36 innings in the first four games, but the Red Sox won two of them. They struck early in Game 5 when Napoli's drive easily cleared the 420-foot marker in center and landed in the ivy above two rows of bushes. That was the start of a three-run second inning, and it was Napoli's second homer of the series. His solo shot accounted for the only run of Game 3.

Detroit revamped its lineup before its Game 4 win — dropping Austin Jackson from the leadoff spot to eighth and moving almost everyone else up a place. The Tigers went with that same general framework Thursday, but it was Boston manager John Farrell's adjustments that paid off.

After Napoli's homer, Jonny Gomes — starting in left field instead of Daniel Nava — reached on an error by Cabrera at third base. One out later, 21-year-old Xander Bogaerts — he started at third instead of Will Middlebrooks — hit a double.

David Ross, catching in place of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, doubled with men on second and third. Only one run scored on the play because Bogaerts didn't get a good jump from second, but he came home anyway when Sanchez couldn't handle Jacoby Ellsbury's line drive back to the mound. It went off Sanchez's glove for an infield single and a 3-0 lead.

Boston missed out on another run that inning when Ross was thrown out at home on Shane Victorino's grounder. Ross plowed through Avila at the plate — then gave Avila a pat on the backside after he held onto the ball.

Ross and Avila have both dealt with concussion problems this year, and Avila was later hit in the mask by a foul ball.

In the third, shortstop Jose Iglesias gave the Detroit fans something to cheer about with a terrific catch on a shallow flyball by David Ortiz. Iglesias, who was shifted over to the right of second base, ran all the way out to short left field, finally catching the ball with a quick snatch of his glove hand.

But Napoli followed with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on a two-out, two-strike wild pitch by Sanchez to make it 4-0.

Sanchez allowed nine hits and struck out five.

Lester worked in and out of trouble. He was helped in the first inning when Cabrera was thrown out at home for the third out. Cabrera has been slowed by a number of injuries over the last couple months, and when Jhonny Peralta singled to left, it appeared the Tigers would have the bases loaded with two outs and Omar Infante batting.

But coach Tom Brookens started waiving Cabrera around third, and when Brookens changed course and put up the stop sign, the Detroit slugger ran through it and was out at home on a play that wasn't close.

The Tigers had two on and one out in the fourth when Brayan Pena pinch-hit for the injured Avila. Pena hit a grounder to the pitcher, and the Red Sox turned a double play with a nifty catch-and-relay at second by shortstop Stephen Drew.

Cabrera managed an RBI single in the fifth. With two on and one out in the sixth, the Red Sox pulled Lester, bringing in Tazawa. Pena immediately singled home a run, but Jackson hit into an inning-ending double play.

NOTES: At 21 years and 16 days old, Bogaerts became the youngest Red Sox player to start a postseason game. The previous record holder was Babe Ruth, who was the starting pitcher at 21 years and 246 days old in Game 2 of the 1916 World Series. ... Thursday's game was played under a misty rain at times, but was never delayed. ... There was an odd play in the Boston ninth when Middlebrooks, in the game as a pinch-runner, went from first to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ross. Cabrera came charging in to field the bunt, and Pena was slow to get to third and cover the base. Pena caught Fielder's throw on the foul side of third base and, when he spun to attempt a tag, he first made contact with umpire Rob Drake, who was very close to the bag.

Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-10-18-BBA-ALCS-Red-Sox-Tigers/id-6c699f49d7b142539d50cb12adb9c001
Tags: glee   pittsburgh steelers   nfl scores   gold cup   National Tequila Day  

Enrollments For The Health Care Exchanges Trickle In, Slowly

People wait to visit with volunteer counselors at Insure Central Texas on October 1 in Austin, Texas.

Eric Gay/Associated Press

People wait to visit with volunteer counselors at Insure Central Texas on October 1 in Austin, Texas.

Eric Gay/Associated Press

The Obama administration's hopes ran high that millions would flock to enroll for health insurance on state and federal exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act.

Those exchanges went online Oct 1. The administration projected that half a million individuals or families would enroll within 30 days, according to the Associated Press.

But three weeks in, the data suggest the actual number of enrollments is lagging far behind that number.

The promise of signing up for health insurance with point-and-click ease at healthcare.gov and state exchange sites has not come to pass — at least not yet.

"This is a fiasco," says health policy analyst Bob Laszewski. He says the sites are plagued by glitches and problems with data transfer.

"Literally a handful of enrollments [are] coming through to the largest insurance companies every day," Laszewski says. "Just a handful, like maybe 10 or 20 or 30. So anecdotally, the enrollments are very, very, very low."

Laszewski says the inability to get through to a website is not the only issue. Insurance companies are getting bad information, too.

"It's not uncommon for, say, John Doe's enrollment to come through at 10 in the morning. And then at 10:30 something comes through that says John Doe's unenrolled ... and then enrolled and unenrolled again," he says.

The federal government, which is running exchanges for 36 states through healthcare.gov, has been plagued by technical problems. Health and Human Services hasn't disclosed enrollment figures. But the digital marketing company Millward Brown estimates that 83,000 people enrolled through the federal site in the first two weeks.

The 14 states that opted to run their own online marketplaces appear to be faring better, though not by much. Among those states, the estimate of total enrollees so far is about 46,000. Those numbers are complicated by the fact that there is no common definition of what "enrolled" means. In some states, you're not considered "enrolled" until you've paid.

Laszewski says these small numbers could threaten the economics for insurers.

"They're very worried about only sick people showing up for coverage, because only sick people are willing to go through the gauntlet," he says.

There are two ways of looking at this: One is that the new law is failing to meet expectations. But proponents of the law argue it's still early and that many of these problems can be overcome.

Things will improve, says Timothy Jost, a law professor at Washington and Lee University. He points to the prescription drug benefit known as Medicare Part D. The federal program launched in 2005 during the Bush administration, and had its own technical difficulties.

"Once people were finally signed up, there were problems that they would go to the pharmacy and there was no record of them," Jost says. He expects similar problems here.

"So it will take a while to get the kinks ironed out," he says. "But the important thing right now is to allow people to get signed up, and I think there's an awful lot of people who want to do that."

In fact, there are two states that are declaring their sign-up efforts a success. Carrie Banahan, executive director of Kentucky's Health Benefit Exchange, says more than 15,000 individuals have enrolled.

"We're thrilled with these numbers. We had no idea that there would be such a demand and an overwhelming response," says Banahan.

Kentucky's site was so overwhelmed that administrators had to add servers to its system.

Washington state reports about 30,000 enrollees. Richard Onizuka, CEO of Washington's health exchange, says his state was prepared.

"We started early. We've been working on this for nearly 2 1/2 years," says Onizuka.

Still, even Washington's system crashed. It went down for 4 1/2 hours on the first day.

"It was nerve wracking. We did a lot of analysis and diagnosis," he says. "We were hoping it would get better the second day. It got a little bit better .... We took it down the second night and it got better the third day."

Onizuka says with time, anxiety has gone down.

"I'm breathing a little easier," he says.

The federal government plans to release its first enrollment figures in mid-November.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/10/21/236999257/enrollments-for-the-health-care-exchanges-trickle-in-slowly?ft=1&f=1001
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