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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? Brady Quinn tried to avoid looking at the empty locker when he arrived at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback couldn't bear the sight of Jovan Belcher's jersey hanging from a hook, just like it would have any other game day.
"That's when it kind of hit me," Quinn said. "It was kind of tough to step back and gain focus, what the task was in front of us. And more than anything, as a player, we just wanted to come together as a team and bring some good to this situation."
The Chiefs managed to do that in the wake of an unthinkable tragedy.
Quinn threw two touchdown passes and Jamaal Charles ran for 127 yards in an inspired 27-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers. It not only ended an eight-game losing streak, it also proved cathartic for a franchise still reeling from a murder-suicide involving one of its own.
"It was tough," Quinn said, his voice shaky at times. "It was an eerie feeling after a win, because you don't think you can really win in this situation."
According to authorities, Belcher shot his girlfriend multiple times early Saturday at a residence near Arrowhead Stadium, then sped to the team's practice facility and turned the gun on himself as coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli watched in the parking lot.
"It's tough when circumstances happen that you can't undo," Crennel said, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "You have to rely on each other, rely on your family, your friends and your faith. That's what, as a team, we tried to do today."
Crennel said he consulted with the Chiefs' captains before deciding to play the game as scheduled. He was on the sideline throughout the day, resolutely holding together a team in turmoil, while Pioli walked through the press box before the kickoff and said he was "OK."
"If for no other reason, it took our minds off our misery for a few hours," Crennel said.
Kansas City police have not released a motive for the shootings, which claimed the life of Belcher and 22-year-old Kasandra M. Perkins, and left their 3-month-old daughter, Zoey, an orphan.
Those details may emerge in the coming days and weeks.
"It's been an incredibly difficult 24 hours for our family and our entire organization," Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt told The Associated Press. "We have so many guys on our team and our coaching staff who are really, really hurting."
Chiefs players gathered in the tunnel leading to the field for a brief prayer before their pregame stretching. A few fans in the half-empty stadium held up signs referencing the shootings, and there was a moment of silence to remember all victims of domestic violence.
"I was really emotional going to the stadium this morning," Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "We wanted to play the game because we're football players. We love the game."
Once it began, it proved to be an emotional release.
Peyton Hillis had a touchdown run for Kansas City (2-10), while Tony Moeaki and Jon Baldwin had TD catches. Ryan Succop hit a pair of field goals, including a 52-yarder with 4:54 left.
The Panthers then went three-and-out, and the Chiefs were able to run the clock down to 31 seconds before giving back the ball. Cam Newton completed two quick passes to reach the Carolina 38, but his final heave as time expired was caught by Steve Smith short of the end zone.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera greeted Crennel at midfield and gave him a hug.
"They played an inspired football game," Rivera said. "They did some really good things, and we have to give them credit, because they suffered through a very difficult time."
Newton threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns for the Panthers (3-9), who were informed the game would be played as scheduled while they were heading to Kansas City on Saturday.
DeAngelo Williams added 67 yards rushing, carrying the load with Jonathan Stewart out with an injury. Smith, Greg Olsen and Louis Murphy caught Carolina's TD passes.
"You definitely feel for them. What they are going through is tragic," Olsen said. "But we have a job to do. Our job is to come here and prepare to win. They wouldn't expect any less."
Kansas City certainly looked like a team inspired on the game's first possession.
The Chiefs marched 74 yards in just six plays, and finished the drive off when Hillis powered in from the Carolina 2 for the touchdown. It was the first TD on an opening possession for the Chiefs since Dec. 26, 2010, a span of nearly two full seasons.
Hillis ran to the sideline after the score, giving Crennel the ball and a hug.
The Panthers answered with a long touchdown drive of their own, the big play a 47-yard touchdown pass to Olsen. The Chiefs tacked on a field goal before Carolina scored again, this time on a pass to Smith in the corner of the end zone.
But Kansas City finished off the half with one of its best drives of the year, an 80-yard march that took up the final 7:25. Hillis was stuffed at the line on third-and-goal, and Crennel allowed the clock to hit 2 seconds before calling timeout. On the final play of the half, Quinn saw Moeaki open in the back of the end zone and delivered a soft toss for a 17-14 lead.
Breathing room came late in the third quarter when the Chiefs used 17 plays to go 87 yards on a drive that lasted another 10 minutes. Quinn finished it with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Baldwin.
Carolina mounted a comeback on the opening drive of the fourth quarter, with Newton hitting Murphy on a quick slant route from the 8 to get the Panthers within a field goal. But the Chiefs added their own field goal, and then burned enough of the clock to ensure the victory.
One that allowed the Chiefs to celebrate in the midst of their mourning.
"There were pockets in the game where reality hits you again, and that's sobering," said Chiefs linebacker Andy Studebaker. "I've been telling people, Jovan was like a brother to us. His family was family to us. Our hearts go out to them, man, and the game maybe took our heads off it for a while ? it brought us closer as a team today, I think ? but it's never going to be easy."
NOTES: Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers (hamstring), S Abe Elam (left leg) and LB Derrick Johnson (left hamstring) left the game with injuries. Carolina lost LB James Anderson (eye), Murphy (foot) and S Sherrod Martin (right knee) during the game. ... Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe caught four passes to move into third place in franchise history with 413 catches.
Dr. Chez F. Cristiano has designed a Transformation Model of Human Resources: As a Full Strategic Business Partner to help organizations become more efficient and competitive by transforming their HR/HRM Department. Personnel Departments have changed their name over the years to the HR or HRM Department, but a majority of them have not transformed to become a full strategic business partner within their respective organizations. Many HR/HRM Departments have remained mainly in an administrative and legal role.
If HR/HRM Departments are to become a full strategic business partner, their overall focus needs to shift away from just an administrative role to an overall strategy, development, and financial role for their entire organization. The name of Human Resources can also evolve as well to reflect it?s new contribution to something like the Human Resource Strategy & Development (HRSD).
In order to have full support and focus for Human Resource Strategy & Development (HRSD), a Chief of HRSD should be created. The person who fills this position will need to be a leader who will be able to embrace the importance of HRSD as a full strategic business partner in their organization. The Chief of HRSD will be responsible for selecting a leadership team that will help with the transformation. Depending on the size of the organization, the leadership team can select project teams to help with the future innovation, strategy, and implementation of organizational projects.
Strategy and development (like creativity & innovation) should be an ongoing process, in order to optimize individuals, teams, and the organization as a whole. Larger organizations can have HRSD leadership teams looking at the overall picture and providing guidance and support to the project teams under them.
Engagement is about having a positive attitude that is characterized by high energy, dedication, and satisfaction. Engaged employees are highly invested in the overall success of their organization. They have a higher level of overall well-being, absent less from work, far less likely to leave an organization, and are able to avoid burnout by establishing balance and stability in their life. Organizations that raise their employee engagement also see much higher rates of client satisfaction. Employee surveys should be electronically administered on a yearly basis to help determine the projects needed to boost engagement. Higher engagement levels results in cost savings and higher productivity and profitability; thus it is a win-win situation for the organization and employees and customers.
As a full strategic business partner, the HRSD will fully utilize organizational development programs and become a senior partner in the overall strategy and finances of an organization. Change is not always easy, even positive change. It is important to strive to be creative, flexible, and open-minded when making any type of changes.
Every year dozens of new workout and diet programs hit the market.
Most of them are crap.
And people end up buying this crap because of?their?slick marketing and shiny packaging.
But this article isn?t about deceptive marketing and crap.?It?s about all the non-crap (that?s a word?I think).
This article is dedicated to recognizing the Best of 2012 ? the people who have created programs that go above and beyond to providing value to change the lives of people.
Below I have listed the top 10 best workout and diet programs of 2012.
Note: If you do decide to purchase through any of the links below, I do earn a small commission. This helps keep FitMole up and running. These are all products that I have?read/used and I recommend them because I know they will help you and I trust the people behind them. If you have any questions feel free to email me.
Reveal The Steel
What is it: A complete ?4 Stage? workout routine and diet plan to burn fat and build muscle.
Who?s it for: Skinny fat individuals, people looking to lose fat while maintaining all their hard earned muscle mass
Why?s it awesome: As you all probably know, the fitness industry is filled with misinformation ? shady supplements, photoshopped transformation pics, and a seemingly endless amount of studies ?proving? that carbs are good?and bad. Reveal the Steel, written by fitness blogger Clint Nielsen does away with all that. He cuts straight to the point with brutally honest, actionable advice that will help you strip fat, build muscle, and get in the best shape of your life.
How much does it cost: $47 for the 150 pg. book + 18 weeks of programming + printable workout logs + free access to the Members Portal
Check out Reveal The Steel here.
Bodyweight Burn
What is it:?A 21 minute fat burning bodyweight workout program. Learn how to achieve maximum leanness without ever stepping foot in the gym.
Who?s it for: People who hate the gym, people who need a break from the gym, people short on time and need to workout,?bodyweight enthusiasts looking for a fun new workout
Why?s it awesome:?Most of the bodyweight workout programs out there today are nothing more than an endless barrage of push ups?not the most fun or exciting thing to do. And that?s where Adam Steer ?The Bodyweight Coach? comes in the save the day. Adam has authored plenty of bodyweight programs before, but Bodyweight Burn might be his best yet. It goes above and beyond the monotonous push up and incorporates kicks, rolls, and even ?dance like? moves to help you burn fat and have fun.
How much does it cost:$47 for the Bodyweight Burn workout system + exercise manual + wall charts + instruction videos + much more
Check out Bodyweight Burn here.
Muscle Gaining Secrets 2.0
What is it: An update to one of the best muscle gaining programs around.
Who?s it for: Skinny guys, hardgainers, pretty much anyone looking to pack of slabs of rock hard muscle mass
Why?s it awesome:? Are you skinny and want to get jacked? Then look no further than MGS 2.0, an update to one of the most popular muscle gaining programs of all time. Okay not to sound like a cheesy?infomercial?but Jason Ferruggia?s MGS 2.0 is seriously one of the best solutions out there for skinny hardgainers. But don?t expect the typical 6 day workout splits that your favorite pro-bodybuilders do. Instead, expect an intelligently programmed routine that has helped hundreds of Ferruggia?s clients transform their physiques and will now help you.
How much does it cost: $39.95 for the MGS 2.0 manual + printable workout sheets + 30 days of free online coaching
Check out Muscle Gaining Secrets 2.0 here.
LGN 365
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What is it: A complete body-recomposition course that teaches you the most optimal way to burn fat, build muscle, and maintain those results for the rest of your life.
Who?s it for: Someone who wants the definite guide on body-recomposition, a complete beginner that doesn?t know where to start
Why?s it awesome: LGN stands for Look Great Naked, and one could argue that looking great naked is the main reason we even follow this whole fitness lifestyle thing. LGN365, written by JC Deen provides a highly effective no-BS approach to building your ideal physique. His program will help forge your mindset so you?ll have no choice but to succeed. You?ll also learn the most effective ways to eat and train for fat loss or muscle gain. So wherever you?re at ? whether you?re skinny, fat, or anything in between?LGN365 has something for you.
How much does it cost:?$85?for the 70+ pg. fitness manual + fat loss manual +?hypertrophy?manual + macronutrient calculators + recipe book+?detailed?exercise demonstration videos + exclusive?interviews?with industry experts (including Leo Babauta of Zenhabits)
Check out LGN365 here.
Superhero Fat Loss
What is it: A complete workout program to help you build the body of a superhero
Who?s it for:?Aspiring?vigilantes. People looking to burn fat, increase flexibility, endurance, and athletic performance
Why?s it awesome: Need I say more? This is a workout to help you become a freaking superhero. Just think about it ? in a few months time you?ll be conditioned enough to take on a dozen armed men, stop bank robbers, chase down purse snatchers, and dodge bullets (not?guaranteed, but your chances of doing so increase). How awesome does that sound? But if crime fighting isn?t your thing, that?s cool. You can always just use Superhero Fat Loss to torch body fat, increase athleticism and endurance, and get in the best fucking shape of your life.
How much does it cost: $39.99 for the Superhero Fat Loss Training Manual + Female Superhero Training + Superhero Exercise Database + Superhero Quick Start Checklist + much more
Check out Superhero Fat Loss here.
Raising the Bar
What is it: Everything you?ve ever wanted to know about pull-up bar exercises
Who?s it for: People who like pull-ups, people who want to become absolute badasses at pull-ups
Why?s it awesome: Pull-ups are awesome. You know what?s even more awesome? One arm pull-ups. You know what?s more awesome than one arm pull-ups? One arm muscle-ups. Raising The Bar, written by bodyweight fanatic Al Kavadlo has created the first ever book that?s solely dedicated to mastering the pull-up and it?s advanced variations. In his book, Al will teach you (no matter what your skill level) how to do your first pull up and work your way up to some of the most badass bodyweight exercises on the planet.
How much does it cost: $39.99 for the 224 pg. book
Check out Raising the Bar here.
Visual Impact Cardio
What is it: A ?progressive cardio system? to help you master the ?skill? of losing body fat and blast through fat loss plateaus
Who?s it for:?Someone looking for a workout to burn massive amounts of calories, someone trying to lose those last 10-20 pounds
Why?s it awesome:?Rusty Moore is one of my favorite fitness bloggers on the interwebz. And the thing about Rusty is that he really likes going against mainstream fitness advice, so much so that his new course for 2012, Visual Impact Cardio actually recommends people to do traditional cardio. Gasp! But as Rusty explains in his book, cardio is actually one the most?efficient?ways to burn the maximum amount of calories. Through a combination of HIIT and steady state cardio, Visual Impact Cardio teaches you how to blast through any fat loss?plateau?and get as lean as you desire.
How much does it cost: $47 for the 99 pg. Visual Impact Cardio Manual + Printable Workout Journal
Check out Visual Impact Cardio here.
Eat Stop Eat Expanded 5th Edition
What is it: An update to arguably the most popular intermittent fasting book of all time.
Who?s it for: Anyone interested in intermittent fasting, anyone who wants to break free from restrictive eating habits
Why?s it awesome: Brad Pilon once again expands on his intermittent fasting classic with brand new info on hunger, dieting, growth hormone, testosterone, and autophagy. Basically, Brad has made a great book even more amazing. This is truly a must read for anyone interested in intermittent fasting.
How much does it cost:?$37 ($9.99 for 3 day trial and $27 after) for the 175 pg. book
Check out Eat Stop Eat Expanded 5th Edition here.
Reverse Taper Diet
What is it: A flexible step-by-step?dieting system to help you get as lean as your desire without any rebound weight gain
Who?s it for: Anyone looking to lose weight and struggles with traditional diet plans
Why?s it awesome: Most diets follow a forward taper structure, meaning the leaner a person gets, the more they lower calories to ensure continuous weight loss. But the problem with the forward taper structure is that by the end of the diet, you?re at 800 calories per day and ready to pass out. Most diets end with the person going on a binge eating spree and regaining all their weight within a matter of weeks. The reverse taper diet by John Barban and Brad Pilon is designed to avoid all the rebound weight gain and help you lose weight and actually keep it off permanently.
How much does it cost: $39.99 (2 payments) for the Reverse Taper Diet Manual + Reverse Taper Diet Sofware
Check out the Reverse Taper Diet here.
Fix My Shoulder Pain
What is it: A complete shoulder injury system to assess and fix shoulder pain so you suffer in the gym again
Who?s it for: Anyone who?doesn?t?want to fuck up their shoulders (aka everyone)
Why?s it awesome: Along with lower back injuries, shoulder injuries are one of the most common gym injuries. Shoulder injuries are?incredibly?common especially with?exercises?like the bench press, which is like the most popular gym exercise. Ever.?A bad shoulder can put you out of the gym for months so it?s incredibly important for you to take care of them. Fix My Shoulder was created by injury specialist Rick Kaselj and with his SR3 Method, Rick will help reshape your painful shoulder into a pain-free shoulder.
How much does it cost: $19.99 for Segment #1 (Quick Start Tour) + Segment #2 (Shoulder Assessment) + Segment #3 (Fixing Your Shoulder)
Check out Fix My Shoulder Pain here.
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And that?s a wrap!
What was your favorite workout or diet from 2012? Let me know in the comments below.
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WASHINGTON (AP) ? Open your notebooks and sharpen your pencils. School for thousands of public school students is about to get quite a bit longer.
Five states announced Monday that they will add at least 300 hours of learning time to the calendar in some schools starting in 2013. Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Tennessee will take part in the initiative, which is intended to boost student achievement and make U.S. schools more competitive on a global level.
The three-year pilot program will affect almost 20,000 students in 40 schools, with long-term hopes of expanding the program to include additional schools ? especially those that serve low-income communities. Schools, working in concert with districts, parents and teachers, will decide whether to make the school day longer, add more days to the school year or both.
All told, education officials expect to provide nearly 6 million more student learning hours next year.
"I'm convinced the kind of results we'll see over the next couple of years I think will compel the country to act in a very different way," said Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
A mix of federal, state and district funds will cover the costs of expanded learning time, with the Ford Foundation and the National Center on Time & Learning also chipping in resources. In Massachusetts, the program builds on the state's existing expanded-learning program. In Connecticut, Gov. Dannel Malloy is hailing it as a natural outgrowth of an education reform law the state passed in May that included about $100 million in new funding, much of it to help the neediest schools.
Spending more time in the classroom, officials said, will give students access to a more well-rounded curriculum that includes arts and music, individualized help for students who fall behind and opportunities to reinforce critical math and science skills.
"That extra time with their teachers or within a structured setting means all the world," said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. "It means it allows them to continue the momentum they had the day before. It means they don't slip back over the summer. It allows them to really deliver."
At Stober Elementary in the Denver suburb of Lakewood, Colo., teachers and principals nervously embraced the idea.
"It's hard to get through all the curriculum in the time we have," said fourth grade teacher Jeanette Martinez, although she wondered how it would affect planning time and other teacher duties. "The extra hour is cool, but where are we going to get everything else done?"
Not all students were opposed, either, with some welcoming the chance to spend more time with their friends. But they drew the line at summer school.
"That's a 'no way' for me," fourth grader Olivia Nevadomski said in a school playground interview. "It's for sleepovers, staying up late and sleeping in."
The project comes as educators across the U.S. struggle to identify the best ways to strengthen a public education system that many fear has fallen behind other nations. Student testing, teacher evaluations, charter schools and voucher programs join longer school days on the list of reforms that have been put forward with varying degrees of success.
The report from the center, which advocates for extending instruction time, cites research suggesting students who spend more hours learning perform better. One such study, from Harvard economist Roland Fryer, argues that of all the factors affecting educational outcomes, two are the best predictors of success: intensive tutoring and adding at least 300 hours to the standard school calendar.
More classroom time has long been a priority for Duncan, who warned a congressional committee in May 2009 ? just months after becoming education secretary ? that American students were at a disadvantage compared to their peers in India and China. That same year, he suggested schools should be open six or seven days per week and should run 11 or 12 months out of the year.
"I think this is the kernels of a national movement," he said Monday as he announced the initiative.
But not everyone agrees that shorter school days are to blame. A report last year from the National School Boards Association's Center for Public Education disputed the notion that American schools have fallen behind in classroom time, pointing out that students in high-performing countries like South Korea, Finland and Japan actually spend less time in school than most U.S. students.
The broader push to extend classroom time could also run up against concerns from teachers unions. Longer school days became a major sticking point in a seven-day teachers strike in September in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel eventually won an extension of the school day but paid the price in other concessions granted to teachers.
Just over 1,000 U.S. schools already operate on expanded schedules, an increase of 53 percent over 2009, according to a report being released Monday in connection with the announcement by the National Center on Time & Learning. The nonprofit group said more schools should follow suit but stressed that expanded learning time isn't the right strategy for every school.
Some of the funds required to add 300 or more hours to the school calendar will come from shifting resources from existing federal programs, making use of the flexibility granted by waivers to No Child Left Behind. All five states taking part in the initiative have received waivers from the Education Department.
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Associated Press writer Kristen Wyatt in Lakewood, Colo., contributed to this report.
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Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Norman Rockwell's World War Two painting "Willie Gillis Food Package from Home" fetched $2.8 million from a private buyer at an auction in Chicago on Saturday, the auction house said.
The winning bid for the iconic artwork was less than the up to $5 million estimated ahead of the auction, said Emily Betts Susanin, director of marketing and communications for Susanin's Auctions in Chicago.
But it was "great news" nonetheless, she said, adding that no other painting had ever fetched more at a Chicago auction.
Renowned American artist Rockwell did a series of Willie Gillis paintings for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post magazine, starting with the "Package from Home" on October 4, 1941, and continuing through "Willie Gillis in College" on October 5, 1946.
"Package from Home" had been privately held in Chicago for decades. Susanin did not disclose the identity of its new owner.
As America entered World War Two, Rockwell introduced Willie Gillis, a fictional character, as an enlisted man surrounded by fellow servicemen, receiving a food package from home. Rockwell was most known for his cover illustrations of everyday life he created for the Post over 47 years.
The Willie Gillis series is among Rockwell's best-known work but other famous paintings include "Rosie the Riveter," "Saying Grace" and the "Four Freedom" series.
Rockwell's "Rosie the Riveter" sold at auction in 2002 for nearly $5 million. In 2006, Rockwell's "Breaking Home Ties" fetched a record $15.4 million from an anonymous buyer.
The previous record high for a painting sold at a Chicago auction was set in 1991 when Vincent van Gogh's "Still Life with Flowers" brought $1.43 million.
(Reporting by Christine Stebbins; Editing by Tom Brown and Eric Beech)
