http://www.geonames.org/export/ws-overview.html
http://ws.geonames.org/countryInfo?lang=en&country=CR&style=full
The Geonames Webservices collection provides live XML information that can be integrated into a web application.
In my final installment from Bonnie regarding screening payment challenges, here is a sample Vision Screening Waiver used in a Real Live Pediatric Practiceâ„¢ with success. We have already reviewed an Audiogram Appeal Letter and a Typanometry Appeal Letter. Here is the document you can use to pre-empt all the trouble.
As before, the text is below, but you can also download it in OpenOffice, PDF, or Word format.
Your Practice Name
Address
City, State ZIP
Phone NumberVISION SCREENING
Patient Name: ________________________________________________Every child needs a periodic vision examination, which something we provide here in our office. Your insurance company might pay part of the fee for an ophthalmologist or optometrist to check your child’s eyesight, but you will likely have a co-payment. Insurance Companies often will not pay us for the vision screen but you have already paid your co-payment.
We care for you and your children, but just like the ophthalmologist and optometrist, we have expenses and cannot provide this service for free. We will provide this service for our standard fee or you may take your child to an optometrist or ophthalmologist instead. Our fee of $X0.00 compares to an average Optometrist fee of $X+0.00 or even an Ophthalmologist fee of $X+++ to $X++++ per visit. Even if you are covered, you will probably have a co-payment.
We are more convenient as you are already here and we do a good job but, we respect and support your choice. Please understand that if we provide this service and your insurance carrier elects not to pay us then you will be held responsible for the standard fee listed above.
Please select from the following choices:
_____ Please check my child’s vision at today’s visit. I understand I am responsible for the $30.00 fee if by chance my insurance carrier does not cover this service.
_____ I do not wish for my child’s vision to be checked at today’s visit. I will take my child to an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist soon.
Parent Signature: ___________________________ Date: __________
Enjoy - and thanks again to our friends in San Antonio! Obviously, if anyone else has appeal letters or waivers they’d like to share (with or without attribution/credit), send them along.
ShareThis
After an immensely successful Jenny Graf Bibulah / Zaimph / Stone Baby show, I’m taking a week long vacay in my home state, California. I’ll be back Thursday with all kinds of exciting news: NY State Fair (Heart! The Jonas Brothers!), Candypants/The Settlers joint release show, Johnny Dowd at Felicias and more. In the meantime, DON’T miss these two shows: JENNIE STEARNS and co. at the Lost Dog Lounge this Thursday night and HANK ROBERTS with WINGNUT on Saturday night, 10pm, at the Chapter House.
See you in a week!
On the one card I’m having trouble with (Chase), my monthly balance is $299 but I can afford to pay $180 a month to them. I’ve heard horror stories where people get the WORST treatment when they try to set up payment plans with credit card companies. Do most companies decline an offer of a payment arrangement? I can get back to more payments in January or February but now is hard.Caffeinated Content for WordPress
If you are public safety and use cellular phones, READ THIS! Keep in mind it may cost your organization some money to get it activated. Sometimes it does not! Also you could get a DHS grant to pay for the fees, if you work it.
What is WPS? WPS is an Federal program that authorizes cellular communications service providers to prioritize calls over wireless networks. Participation in the WPS program is voluntary. Participating service providers typically deploy WPS in stages until service is available in most coverage areas and functionality has reached full operating capability.
Authorized users dial *272 on a WPS enabled device to receive calling queue priority. WPS calls do not preempt calls in progress, but provide priority status over cellular communications networks.
http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/emergency/wps.html
http://www.op911.net/html/telco_priority_911.rtf
http://www.op911.net/html/WPS_Overview.ppt
http://www.op911.net/html/GETS_Overview.ppt
(more…)
For the past 2 years one of the biggest selling features for the Playstation 3 has been the fact that there is no Blu-Ray player cheaper and more capable than it. This feature alone has sold millions of units to avid movie-watchers and rich dudes looking to test their big screens. This advantage has and will stay as long as the competition can’t provide an alternative for Blu-Ray playback, but Sony needs to remember that Microsoft is not their only competition.
I always new it would happen eventually, looking in the paper this morning I saw a few flyers advertising Blu-Ray players on sale as cheap as $299.99. While these were sale prices reduced up to $200 it provides a very different opportunity for those not interested in games, an opportunity that doesn’t cost $399.99 (plus accessories).
Sure, the PS3 is still far more functional and capable than the stand alone players, but then again Sony’s strongest selling point turns right against them; not everyone wants to play games, and not everyone will pay extra for the privilege if they don’t have to. With the rapidly decreasing cost of technology a day will come when the HD-Ready consumer will stand in his tech-store of choice and need to decide whether to buy the Blu-Ray player or the Playstation for double the price. If he’s just in the game for movies, it’s no question which will win.
Now, considering all this, it shouldn’t really be a problem. I mean, gaming consoles have always done well despite their video playback capability (see: Wii). However, looking at the past 2 years worth of sales with the PS3 dragging behind the 360 and only starting to get momentum, removing that supplementary customer base could be catastrophic.
It seems almost ironic that the defeated HD-DVD may have dealt a death-blow in it’s final hours of life; the format war lasted too long and the format took too long to standardize. With DVD there was no competition and so the PS2 adoption was a sure thing, pushing the install base high enough to ensure all the exclusives and third-party support. This generation the Blu-Ray player was intended to do that, but it looks like now at best it will provide a temporary stop-gap until Sony can win over the hearts and minds of gamers with their titles.
When looking at competition with any product it’s important to look beyond just the obvious. While I’m surely not the only person to notice it I’ve got to start wondering how Sony is going to pull themselves out of the bidding war against their own technology. It can’t stay price competitive forever and when that day comes, the console landscape is in for a serious shakeup.
More than 24 million people watched the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention — a 7.5% decrease from 26 million viewers on day two of the convention.
Wednesday night’s speeches, which featured Former President Bill Clinton’s endorsement of Senator Obama and Senator Joseph Biden’s acceptance of his party’s nomination for vice president, drew 12.2% of all African American viewers — down slightly from the prevous night when Hillary Clinton addressed the convention (12.7%), but up from day one (12%), when Michelle Obama spoke.
Viewers age 55 and older continue to dominate the DNC’s TV audience, with 18.1% of all Americans in that age group — 12.5 million people — tuning in to Wednesday night’s convention coverage on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News Channel, MSNBC, BET, and TV One.
| RATING | NUMBER | |
|---|---|---|
| All Households | 16.4 | 18,481,000 |
| Persons 2+ | 8.4 | 24,029,000 |
| Persons 12-17 | 1.9 | 440,000 |
| Persons 18-34 | 4.7 | 3,131,000 |
| Persons 18-49 | 6.2 | 8,153,000 |
| Persons 55+ | 18.1 | 12,509,000 |
| African American Persons 2+ * | 12.2 | 4,413,000 |
| Hispanic Persons 2+ * | 2.7 | 1,159,000 |
| White Persons 2+ * | 8.4 | 18,125,000 |
| Source: The Nielsen Company (August 27, 2008) | ||
| Figures are the sum of the networks during the common hour of coverage. Included networks are ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, BET, and TV One. | ||
| *Ratings for African American, Hispanic, and White viewers show the percent of African American, Hispanic, and White persons age two and older in TV homes watching the convention coverage. | ||
In comparison to day three of the 2004 convention, which drew almost 18 million viewers, the audience for day three of the 2008 convention was still significantly larger (up by a third to 24 million viewers).
On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, convention coverage varied by network, with all eight networks noted above airing live coverage from approximately 10pm to 11pm EST.
View the full media alert.
This is a basic list of key things that are critical to having a successful online business. This article is more for the person who is new to online business rather than the seasoned professional.
1. Design
I really can’t stress enough how important a professional-looking design is for attracting sales. Quite frankly, many people will just not trust a site that is poorly designed. You want your customers to feel that every aspect of your business is taken seriously so they can feel secure and confident that you will not rip them off. Presenting your business in a sloppy or ugly manner is just not the way to build that confidence.
2. Usability
This ties right in with design. Make sure the design of your site allows for easy navigation for your customers and makes the process of checking out as hassle-free as possible. Make sure that they can find anything that they would be looking for easily. Remember that your competition is just a few clicks away, and they can just as easily go elsewhere.
3. Marketing
Obviously marketing is of tremendous importance, perhaps even more so on the Internet, than in the physical world. Unlike a brick and mortar store, where it is easy for people to drive/walk by and see you, you cannot stand out on the Internet without a great deal of effort.
Thankfully, there are many ways to help you get found like search engine marketing, social media marketing, email advertising, PPC, banner ad campaigns, etc. The more Internet marketing methods you utilize, the greater chance you have of being discovered by potential customers. Just make sure your site is presentable when they get there.
4. Reputation
As many others and I have discussed repeatedly, it is important to manage your online reputation to the best of your ability. Search for yourself on search engines, and be careful of what information you put out there about yourself. This includes social media sites, blog comments, forum posts, and anything else your name may be attached to. It is also good to find out what others are saying about you, and to do your best to counter any negativity by any means necessary.
5. Price
Just as your lack of usability can drive customers to your competition (which is again, only a few clicks away), so can your lack of competitive pricing.
It’s one thing if you are offering your goods/services at the same price as everyone else, but if they are higher, most customers will just as soon go elsewhere than pay more to go with you unless you truly offer something extra that they’re interested in.
You will do well to remember the above five points when starting an online business. Just because you finally have a website, does not mean that you will automatically get those online sales.
The best quote yet about the iPhone pricing:
“I don’t think anyone will buy the iPhone at this price. But there is hope for Airtel and Vodafone if they have a store near a mental hospital–provided the patient has enough money with him.”
Indiatimes via ContentSutra
Also: Suckers!
Technorati Tags: Apple, iphone, airtel, vodafone, iphone 3g, iphone india pricing, iphone price
With a FREE $500 gift card, you can now think of Staples as your own personal office supply closet. Forget the sticky notes to get more office supplies with a $500 gift card to Staples, you’ll be stocked up for the rest of the year. Get one now by following the instructions below. Running low on office supplies? If so, here’s your chance to get a FREE $500 Staples Gift Card.
$500 Staples Gift Card see what’s new!!