WASHINGTON - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, a sign the labor market's slow recovery was gaining traction although a severe storm distorted the data.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 355,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. That was below the median forecast in a Reuters poll of 370,000.
An analyst from the department said Sandy, a mammoth storm that slammed into the East Coast on October 29, boosted claims in some states by leaving people out of work, but also reduced claims in at least one state because power outages kept the state from collecting claim reports.
The impact of the storm is likely to be temporary. It was unclear if the storm's net effect was to boost or reduce claims, the analyst said.
The storm could continue to affect the claims report for several more weeks, the analyst said.
The storm killed at least 121 people in the United States and Canada and left more than 8 million homes and businesses without electricity in the Northeast.
The four-week moving average for jobless claims, which smoothes out volatility, rose 3,250 to 370,500. Economists generally think a reading below 400,000 points to an increase in employment.
The U.S. economy has recently shown some signs of health, with consumers spending more freely and home construction picking up. But business investment sank in the third quarter, a sign companies lack confidence in the strength of the economic recovery.
Continuing claims for jobless benefits fell 135,000 in the week ended October 27 to a seasonally adjusted 3.127 million, the lowest level since July 2008, the Labor Department said.?
While "ultrawidescreen" 21:9 aspect ratio HDTVs haven't taken off despite several attempts, LG is bringing the formfactor to the desktop with its new EA93 UltraWide LCD monitor. Measuring at 29-inches with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,080, it uses the extra horizontal space to display not just cinema-style movies, but also side by side video from different sources or up to four different views at once thanks to its built-in software. For connections, it has DVI Dual Link, DisplayPort, or HDMI with MHL support. We got an eyeful of the monitor at IFA earlier this year and you can check out our hands-on video after the break, or take a quick Korean vacation to snag one before they go on sale everywhere else later in the year (you may need a translator as we couldn't quite decipher the pricetag, but the English press release is after the break.)
Contact: Jenny Ryan jenny.ryan@nrcresearchpress.com Canadian Science Publishing (NRC Research Press)
Xenoceratops provides new information on the early evolution of ceratopsids, the group of large-bodied horned dinosaurs that includes Triceratops
Ottawa, Canada (November 8, 2012) Scientists have named a new species of horned dinosaur (ceratopsian) from Alberta, Canada. Xenoceratops foremostensis (Zee-NO-Sare-ah-tops) was identified from fossils originally collected in 1958. Approximately 20 feet long and weighing more than 2 tons, the newly identified plant-eating dinosaur represents the oldest known large-bodied horned dinosaur from Canada. Research describing the new species is published in the October 2012 issue of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences.
"Starting 80 million years ago, the large-bodied horned dinosaurs in North America underwent an evolutionary explosion," said lead author Dr. Michael Ryan, curator of vertebrate paleontology at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. "Xenoceratops shows us that even the geologically oldest ceratopsids had massive spikes on their head shields and that their cranial ornamentation would only become more elaborate as new species evolved."
Xenoceratops (Xeno + ceratops) means "alien horned-face," referring to the strange pattern of horns on its head and the scarcity of horned dinosaur fossils from this part of the fossil record. It also honors the Village of Foremost, located close to where the dinosaur was discovered. Xenoceratops had a parrot-like beak with two long brow horns above its eyes. A large frill protruded from the back of its skull featuring two huge spikes.
"Xenoceratops provides new information on the early evolution of ceratopsids, the group of large-bodied horned dinosaurs that includes Triceratops," said co-author Dr. David Evans of the Royal Ontario Museum and University of Toronto. "The early fossil record of ceratopsids remains scant, and this discovery highlights just how much more there is to learn about the origin of this diverse group."
The new dinosaur is described from skull fragments from at least three individuals from the Foremost Formation originally collected by Dr. Wann Langston Jr. in the 1950s, and is currently housed in the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Canada. Ryan and Evans stumbled upon the undescribed material more than a decade ago and recognized the bones as a new type of horned dinosaur. Evans later discovered a 50-year-old plaster field jacket at the Canadian Museum of Nature containing more skull bones from the same fossil locality and had them prepared in his lab at the Royal Ontario Museum.
This dinosaur is just the latest in a series of new finds being made by Ryan and Evans as part of their Southern Alberta Dinosaur Project, which is designed to fill in gaps in our knowledge of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs and study their evolution. This project focuses on the paleontology of some of the oldest dinosaur-bearing rocks in Alberta, which is less intensely studied than that of the famous badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park and Drumheller.
"This discovery of a previously unknown species also drives home the importance of having access to scientific collections," says co-author Kieran Shepherd, curator of paleobiology for the Canadian Museum of Nature, which holds the specimen. "The collections are an untapped source of new material for study, and offer the potential for many new discoveries."
Xenoceratops was identified by a team comprising palaeontologists Dr. Michael J. Ryan, curator of vertebrate paleontology at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History; and Dr. David Evans, curator, vertebrate palaeontology of the Department of Natural History at the Royal Ontario Museum; as well as Kieran Shepherd, curator of paleobiology for the Canadian Museum of Nature. Their findings are published today in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences (CJES).
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Contact: Jenny Ryan jenny.ryan@nrcresearchpress.com Canadian Science Publishing (NRC Research Press)
Xenoceratops provides new information on the early evolution of ceratopsids, the group of large-bodied horned dinosaurs that includes Triceratops
Ottawa, Canada (November 8, 2012) Scientists have named a new species of horned dinosaur (ceratopsian) from Alberta, Canada. Xenoceratops foremostensis (Zee-NO-Sare-ah-tops) was identified from fossils originally collected in 1958. Approximately 20 feet long and weighing more than 2 tons, the newly identified plant-eating dinosaur represents the oldest known large-bodied horned dinosaur from Canada. Research describing the new species is published in the October 2012 issue of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences.
"Starting 80 million years ago, the large-bodied horned dinosaurs in North America underwent an evolutionary explosion," said lead author Dr. Michael Ryan, curator of vertebrate paleontology at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. "Xenoceratops shows us that even the geologically oldest ceratopsids had massive spikes on their head shields and that their cranial ornamentation would only become more elaborate as new species evolved."
Xenoceratops (Xeno + ceratops) means "alien horned-face," referring to the strange pattern of horns on its head and the scarcity of horned dinosaur fossils from this part of the fossil record. It also honors the Village of Foremost, located close to where the dinosaur was discovered. Xenoceratops had a parrot-like beak with two long brow horns above its eyes. A large frill protruded from the back of its skull featuring two huge spikes.
"Xenoceratops provides new information on the early evolution of ceratopsids, the group of large-bodied horned dinosaurs that includes Triceratops," said co-author Dr. David Evans of the Royal Ontario Museum and University of Toronto. "The early fossil record of ceratopsids remains scant, and this discovery highlights just how much more there is to learn about the origin of this diverse group."
The new dinosaur is described from skull fragments from at least three individuals from the Foremost Formation originally collected by Dr. Wann Langston Jr. in the 1950s, and is currently housed in the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Canada. Ryan and Evans stumbled upon the undescribed material more than a decade ago and recognized the bones as a new type of horned dinosaur. Evans later discovered a 50-year-old plaster field jacket at the Canadian Museum of Nature containing more skull bones from the same fossil locality and had them prepared in his lab at the Royal Ontario Museum.
This dinosaur is just the latest in a series of new finds being made by Ryan and Evans as part of their Southern Alberta Dinosaur Project, which is designed to fill in gaps in our knowledge of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs and study their evolution. This project focuses on the paleontology of some of the oldest dinosaur-bearing rocks in Alberta, which is less intensely studied than that of the famous badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park and Drumheller.
"This discovery of a previously unknown species also drives home the importance of having access to scientific collections," says co-author Kieran Shepherd, curator of paleobiology for the Canadian Museum of Nature, which holds the specimen. "The collections are an untapped source of new material for study, and offer the potential for many new discoveries."
Xenoceratops was identified by a team comprising palaeontologists Dr. Michael J. Ryan, curator of vertebrate paleontology at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History; and Dr. David Evans, curator, vertebrate palaeontology of the Department of Natural History at the Royal Ontario Museum; as well as Kieran Shepherd, curator of paleobiology for the Canadian Museum of Nature. Their findings are published today in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences (CJES).
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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.
Growing old is never easy for the person aging, but it isn't easy for their loved ones who want to help but don't always know the best way to, either. Even though your parent may have expressed a strong desire to remain in their own home, there may come a time when - for both their safety and your emotional well-being - you may have to make some tough decisions.
?Before you make the choice of how to handle eldercare for a parent, you should remove any guilt you might feel from the picture. You wouldn't be making a decision if you didn't want what's best for your loved one, and sometimes what's best doesn't always fall into line with what they want to do.
?If you have an aging parent, there are signs that you need to be aware of that may signal it's time to intervene with his or her care. First, you might notice more frequent falls or other injuries - such as she burns herself more often while cooking.
?Secondly, you'll start to see that your parent is losing weight. Forgetfulness is a natural part of aging and sometimes elderly people forget whether or not they've eaten. Many suffer from extreme malnutrition.
?Third, you might notice your parent is exhibiting signs of hermit behavior. They don't like to leave the house at all or they leave as little as possible. They've pulled back from their usual social outings.
?Fourth, you'll notice that they become more disorganized. They don't pay the bills and sometimes might even experience their electricity or other utilities being turned off for non-payment.
?Fifth, you see that some of their actions are dangerous to themselves and others. They might leave the stove on or forget to shut off running water. Kitchen fires can become a common occurrence.
?Sixth, you'll notice the home is falling into disrepair both outside and inside. A formerly neat home becomes dirty and you may notice items beginning to accumulate. The cleanliness issues can also be with your loved one.
?You see that they don't bathe or forget to bathe. They may neglect to brush their hair or to do their laundry. If they have a pet, they may neglect taking care of the pet or allow it to go to the bathroom inside the home and not clean it up.
?Seventh, you'll have conversations with your parent in which they're saying the same thing they've said repeatedly. They can't remember their doctor's appointments or other engagements, either.
?When it reaches this point, you have to make a decision on whether or not your parent can come live with you or if he or she needs the care of a nursing home. You need to take into consideration how much your parent can still do for himself.
?Can he feed or bathe himself? What about bowel movement regularity (some forget and wind up with major health woes about this issue)? If you move him into your home, will there be someone there that can handle those tasks (emotionally as well as physically)?
?You should also think about the space you have and how it would impact your life and your family. If your loved one will be left alone because you work and no one will be home, they need the care of a nursing home - where if they fall, there will be someone to help.
?If you can bring your loved one into your home and can afford in home care for them, that might be an option you'd want to check out. If you can't do it, then you need to look at the next best option and make a plan for their future.
The Labor Department said that it hopes to come out with October?s unemployment report on Friday despite the closure of the federal government on Monday and possibly more days this week due to Hurricane Sandy. According to Department of Labor spokesman Carl Fillichio, the workers at the Bureau of Labor Statistics are working hard to make sure that the employment data would be released on time on Friday. He maintained that it was the Labor Department?s intention to be business as usual with regards to the October Employment Situation report.
The report scheduled to be released on Friday will contain the unemployment rate as well as the number of new jobs added in October. It would be the last major economic report to be released before the presidential election.
If the release of the jobs report is delayed, it would spark conspiracy theories that the Obama administration was trying to withhold negative information that might affect the outcome of the presidential election. Senator Charles Grassley, Republican from Iowa, said that a delay would be possible if the numbers are not favorable to President Obama.
The average estimate of economists polled by Bloomberg is 125,000 new jobs generated in October. This is up from 114,000 in September. The unemployment rate is estimated to go up to 7.9 percent. The September jobs report that was released October 5 showed the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent from 8.1 percent the previous month. It was the lowest level since President Obama took office.
Because of the surprising drop in the September unemployment rate, Former General Electric Chief Executive Jack Welch accused White house of messing with the numbers. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said that the numbers were not manipulation by the Obama administration. Keith Hall, former commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2008 to 2012, said that it was impossible to manipulate the data without being detected.
FEIN is an acronym for Federal Employer Identification Number, also known as an EIN. This unique nine-digit number is used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify a business operating in the United States.
The FEIN is issued in the following format: 01-2345678. ?In contrast, Social Security numbers are issued as 012-34-567. This identification number normally remains permanently connected to the business and is not reused or assigned to another business.
Federal Employer Identification Numbers are issued to partnerships, corporations, non-profit organizations, and to other business entities. Sole proprietors can operate using the Social Security number of the business owner unless there are employees or certain retirement benefits involved. ?Anytime employees become a factor, FEINs are required.
The FEIN can be used to identify a business when reporting information to the IRS and the Social Security Administration, as well as for tax filing. It can also be used to open business bank accounts and for legal purposes.
The FEIN application?is available on the IRS web site along with useful information.?Other ways to obtain the FEIN including requesting IRS Form SS-4 by mail or completing the online SS-4. ?Instructions for filing Form SS-4 are available on the IRS web site.??
Once issued, the FEIN should remain attached to the business until a qualifying change is made or the business requests the FEIN be retired. A qualifying change would include a sole proprietorship changing entities and becoming a corporation, a corporation changing to a partnership, and a partnership adding a new partner to the business. In general, the FEIN does not need to be changed if the business decides to change the name, address, phone number, or location, provided the business remains in the United States.
Although the IRS cannot simply cancel the assigned FEIN, the account can be closed at ?the request of the business. Closing the account may be the best option if the FEIN was requested, but the business was never opened. Regardless, the FEIN still belongs to the business entity and can be reactivated at a later date if necessary. The FEIN does not expire.?
Business owners who need to close their FEIN account and are operating for profit should mail a letter to the IRS in Cincinnati, OH 45999, including the business name, legal name if different, the business address, and FEIN. Owners of non-profit businesses who decide to close their FEIN can mail a similar request to IRS, Attn: EO Entity, Mail Stop 6273,Ogden, UT 84201.
This article is provided by Patriot Software, Inc., developer of online small business software for U.S. employers, including online payroll software, applicant tracking software, human resources software, time and attendance software, and an employee portal. Patriot Software also offers a payroll tax filing service for payroll customers. For more information, visit www.PatriotSoftware.com.
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Public release date: 8-Nov-2012
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FEIN is an acronym for Federal Employer Identification Number, also known as an EIN. This unique nine-digit number is used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify a business operating in the United States.