Timeline

Sports and Activities Pregnant Women Should Avoid

Pregnancy isnt a time to remain inactive and sedentary. In fact, pregnant women benefit greatly and in many ways from engaging in physical activity. Even if the woman wasnt very active prior to becoming pregnant, its still a good idea for the woman to get physical activity during her pregnancy.

During my own pregnancies, I kept active by running and playing volleyball (with an altered playing style).

Healthy exercise and regular physical activity can help promote an easier labor and birth. (See my article, Pregnant Women and Their Unborn Babies Benefit from Physical Activity.) Although many sports and physical activities can be participated in during pregnancy, some sports and activities should be avoided by pregnant women.

Budgets vs. benefits of exercise

MARIETTA – As schools struggle to cut budgets and meet rising educational standards, physical education classes can end up on the chopping block.

But recent research suggests that while the moves may have a positive effect on bottom lines, there may be a negative impact on academic performance.

A review of multiple studies, published in the January issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, concluded there is a positive relationship between participation in physical activity and academic performance. Although it recommends further research to confirm the findings, local educators dont need convincing that keeping kids active is important.

Common sense shows that when we get more exercise, we feel better, said Barb Moberg, physical education teacher at Marietta City Schools Putnam and Washington elementaries.

One of the benefits for schools comes from more oxygen getting to a students brain, she said.

Kids who are in better aerobic shape perform better, Moberg said. The more you wake up the brain with more oxygen and (the) heart beating faster … the better you are able to take in information in the classroom.

The advantages of PE extend beyond academic benefits, as childhood obesity remains a serious public health issue.

What we want to do is create a culture of physical activity, rather than being couch potatoes, said Belpre City Schools Superintendent Tony Dunn.

Belpre students have PE every three or four days in elementary school, depending on grade level. Marietta offers PE in two-week cycles, rotating with art and music. While there are some advantages to that and recess also provides physical activity, Moberg said she would prefer kids not go four weeks between sessions.

Some of her students agree.

I love gym, and I want to have it, like, all the time, said Putnam Elementary fifth-grader Aaron Betzing. Its just really fun, especially Mrs. Moberg. I think shes the best gym teacher ever.

Marietta interim Superintendent Harry Fleming said he would like to see more PE time but said the current setup is a result of limited resources – not just money, but time and space.

I wish we could have physical education for every child every day, he said. We only have so many hours in the day.

In Wood County schools, students have a minimum of three PE classes a week in order to meet state requirements, said Tammy McKnight, curriculum coordinator. Teachers also try to include physical activity, such as games or moving to different stations, in other classes.

They understand that link (between physical activity and academic outcomes), McKnight said. Most schools do more than what is required.

Ohio requires two physical education credits before a student can graduate from high school but there are no such standards for elementary school, said Frontier Local Schools Superintendent Bruce Kidder.

Prior to Kidders arrival in 2009, the district had eliminated its PE teaching positions, although other teachers provided physical activities. While there has been a single PE teacher serving all three of the districts elementary schools the last two years, the position could once again be cut in an effort to save money.

Its something thats on the list, Kidder said.

PE would remain in the schedule even if the dedicated position is eliminated but Kidder said his preference would be to keep the specialized teacher.

Theyre trained for it. Theres a bigger variety (of activities), he said.

The Warren Local district eliminated a physical education teaching position last year as part of an estimated $1.3 million in cuts to free up money for facility repairs. While PE is still offered year-round at Barlow-Vincent Elementary due to the number of students, its limited to one semester each at the smaller Little Hocking and Warren elementaries.

Im not happy with that solution. I think we need more, said Superintendent Tom Gibbs, noting the district will continue to look at how to address the problem.

Dunn said PE can be an easy place to cut as districts lose state and federal funding, but there are no plans to do that in Belpre.

However, Dunn said he is open to alternative means of satisfying PE requirements, such as allowing participation in some varsity and junior varsity sports, as well as activities like marching band and cheerleading, to count toward a required credit.

That might be a way of, if a district is looking to save money, to think outside the box, he said.

Belpre High School senior Allison Flowers said she thinks thats a good idea.

Maybe that way kids wouldnt have to take a gym class and could take other classes, she said.

Flowers, who plays soccer and basketball, said even though she sees an opportunity there, she had no problem with taking a semester of gym class in her freshman and sophomore years.

I did like gym class, she said. I think most kids do.

Warren allows an exemption from the PE requirement after two seasons of participation in a sport, marching band or cheerleading. Marietta used to allow such exemptions but that policy was changed at the end of the last school year.

Job help, networking events: Business calendar

JOBS HELP

SATURDAY

Career Development, Job Seekers Seminar, New Year, New You: 9 am to noon at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, 8001 Brecksville Road, Brecksville. Free. Registration required. Go to tinyurl.com/35s9h2e to register.

New Job Search: 2:30 to 4:30 pm at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, North Royalton Branch, 14600 State Road. Go to tinyurl.com/7k5dy6k to register.

CALENDAR

TUESDAY

Passion, Purpose amp; Profits Workshops: Also held Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the LaunchHouse, 3558 Lee Road, Shaker Heights. $52.69. Go to 3psworkshop2012.eventbrite.com/ to register.

Institute of Mangement Accountants – Cleveland East Chapter, Annual Economic Forecast: 6 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn, 700 Beta Drive, Mayfield. $25, $10 for students. Go to www.cleveast.imanet.org/technicalmeetings.html or email jsendarak@metrohealth.org to register.

Avon Lake Small Business Resource Connection, Financial Planning for Business Owners – The Entrepreneurial Equation: 6:30 to 8:30 at Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake. Free.

Women Advancing Women, Parenting Cross Culturally -Navigating the East West Divide: 6 pm at the Pearl of the Orient, 20121 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Heights. $25. To register, call Andrea Shea at 216-736-2843.

Lake Geauga Area Association of Realtors, HUD Closings, Real Estate Law amp; Ethics: 9:30 am to 2 pm at 9930 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Concord Township. $20. To register, email pdimassa@obrienlpa.com or call 216-771-1272.

WEDNESDAY

Cuyahoga Valley Chamber of Commerce, SMART Technologies amp; Advantiem: 11:30 am to 1 pm at Indiana Wesleyan University, Cleveland Campus, 4100 Rockside Road, Independence. All proceeds go towards the scholarships that the chamber gives at the end of the year to high school graduates. $10 for members, $12 for nonmembers. To RSVP, email cvcc@cuyahogavalleychamber.org or call Eileen Hawkins at 216-573-2707.

ORourke amp; Associates Co. LPA webinar, Defending Against Frivolous Backcharges: 10:30 to 11:30 am $7.95 for Builders Exchange, American Subcontractors Association of Ohio, and ConstructionCreditNews.com Platinum members, $17.95 for nonmembers. Go to, tinyurl.com/65jcy5n to register.

University of Akrons Workforce Development amp; Continuing Education, Project Management Executive Overview Breakfast: 8 to 9:30 am Free. To register, go to tinyurl.com/4yq5klm or call 330-972-7577.

Womens Leadership Council, The Mentor/Mentee Relationship: Navigating for Success — Part II: 5:30 to 7:30 pm at VNA / Cuyahoga Community College Facility, 2500 East 22nd St., Cleveland. $20. Go to tinyurl.com/6swu8g8 to register.

Annual Economic Forecast meeting: 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence. $15 in advance or $20 at door. Send registration and check, payable to Northeast Ohio Chapter/NAIC, to PO Box 248126, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124. For information call 216-291-2207 or 440-449-1427.

Northeast Ohio Health Underwriters Association, What Does Leadership in This Current Insurance Environment Look Like? and Key Elements in Healthcare Reform: 8 am at the Holiday Inn, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence. Free for members with reservations, $35 for nonmembers. Registration is required by Jan. 16. Go to neohuajanuary2012.eventbrite

.com to register.

THURSDAY

Finding Grants for Business — Workshop I: 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, 2930 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. $20. Check or money order must be received by Jan. 14. Call Gwen Solomon at 216-622-0999, Ext. 232 to confirm.

WIRE-Nets Manufacturing Lunch, The 2011 Next Generation Manufacturing Study: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Holiday Inn, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence. $35 for members, $43 for nonmembers. To register, go to tinyurl.com/77r9t7e or call Mark Pinto at 216-588-1440, ext. 101.

Avon Lake Small Business Resource Connection, Marketing Workshop #11 – Websites and SEO: 9 to 11 am at the Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake. Free.

MBA Lite – Rethinking Intellectual Property Strategy: The Impact of the America Invents Act: 6:30 pm at the Hudson Library amp; Historical Society, 96 Library St., Hudson. Free. To register, go to tinyurl.com/88sygcr or call 330-653-6658 .

Purchasing Management Association of Cleveland, Forum and Dinner: 5:30 to 8 pm at Ridge Park Manor, Brooklyn. $30 for members, $40 for nonmembers. Register by 5 pm Monday. Call 216-255-6730.

Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Engaging Next Generation Donors and Board Members: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Crowne Plaza, 5300 Rockside Road, Independence. $25 for members, $40 for nonmembers. Register by Jan. 16. To register, go to www.afpcleveland.org or email admin@afpcleveland.org or call 216-696-1613.

Business Volunteers Unlimited, RevU@BVU: Identifying and Evaluating New Revenue Streams (3 courses): 9 am to noon at the Penton Media Building, First Floor Conference Center, 1300 East Ninth Street, Cleveland. Also held Feb. 9 and March 8. Optional two-hour organization-specific follow-up session is included in the course fee. $495 for members, $595 for nonmembers. Go to tinyurl.com/7u4kom5 to register.

Lake/Geauga Area Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, Annual Legal Update 2012: 11 am to 1:30 pm at Dinos Restaurant, 4145 Ohio 306, Willoughby. $20 for members, $30 for nonmembers. Add $5 if registered after Jan. 14. Go to tinyurl.com/4uyyfy8 to register.

Small Business Administration loan seminar: 10 am to noon at SBAs Cleveland District office, Suite 211, 1350 Euclid Ave. Free. Seating is limited. Call 216-522-4180.

Association of Corporate Counsel America, Northeast Ohio Chapter and Day Ketterer, Workers Compensation Update for Employers: 8 to 10 am at the Portage Country Club, 240 North Portage Path, Akron. $20 for ACC members, $40 nonmembers, free to law students and faculty. To register, call Nancy Schneider 440-988-3213.

SATURDAY

Computer Assisted Genealogy Group, Cleveland Area Meeting: 9:30 am to 2 pm at the Fairview Park Regional Library, 21255 Lorain Road, Fairview Park. Morning Program: Bringing Your Ancestor to Life; Afternoon Program: Local Library Databases. For more information, go to www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/3/8ohcagg/ or call Bill Frank, 440-734-2021.

MONDAY, JAN. 23

Monday Morning JumpStart with Jim Smith: 10 am to noon at the Shaker Heights Public Library, 16500 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Heights. Free.

St. Richard, North Olmsted, Employment Ministry, Getting on the Right Track Financially: 7 to 8:30 pm at St. Richard Parish, Korab Hall, 26855 Lorain Road, North Olmsted. Free. For more information, go to www.srnoem.org or call Mary at 440-777-5050.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

Minority Business Enterprise/EDGE Certification: 10 am to 12:30 pm at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, 2930 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. $15. Check or money order must be received by Jan. 19. Send to the Urban League, 2930 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. Call Gwen Solomon 216-622-0999, ext. 232.

QuickBooks Workshop (Part I): 6:30 pm at the Hudson Library amp; Historical Society, 96 Library Street, Hudson. Part II held Jan. 31. Free. To register, go to hudsonlibrary.org or call 330-653-6658, ext. 1010.

Behavioral Interviewing: 9 am to 4 pm at the ERC Workplace Center, Third Floor, 6700 Beta Drive, Mayfield. $250 for ERC members, $300 for nonmembers. Must register, go to web.ercnet.org/events.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25

Doing Business with State and Federal Government: 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, 2930 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. $10. Check or money order must be received by Jan. 20. Urban League, 2930 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. Call Gwen Solomon at 216-622-0999, ext. 232, to confirm.

American Payroll Association and the Cuyahoga Valley Career Centers Adult Education Department, PayTrain Fundamentals (11-week course): 6 to 9 pm at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, 8001 Brecksville Road, Brecksville. Held Wednesdays through April 4. $899 for district residents, $909 for nondistrict residents, $625 for district senior citizens. To register, call 440-746-8230.

ORourke amp; Associates Co. LPA webinar, Flow-Down Clauses: Do you REALLY Know All of the Terms in Your Contract?: 10:30 to 11:30 am $7.95 for Builders Exchange, American Subcontractors Association of Ohio, and ConstructionCreditNews.com Platinum members, $17.95 for nonmembers. Go to, tinyurl.com/65jcy5n to register.

Open House for the Shaker Heights Librarys Community Entrepreneurial Office and the Career Transition Center: 5 to 7 pm at the Shaker Heights Library, 16500 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Heights. To RSVP, call 216-991-3011.

Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Countdown 2012: Top Six National Security Issues in the Run-Up to the 2012 Presidential Election: 11:45 am registration and lunch, 12:35 pm presentation at the Union Club of Cleveland, 1211 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. $45 for luncheon and presentation, $15 for presentation only. Valet parking available for $7 at The Union Clubs parking garage on East 12th Street. Go to tinyurl.com/82h2o2d to register.

Resource Development Network, Principles of Successful Fund-Raising (five sessions): 9 am to noon, at University of Phoenix, 5005 Rockside Road, Independence. $50 per course. To register, email karen@rdnonline.com or call 440-951-4284.

American Association of Individual Investors, Technical Analysis Group: 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Westlake Porter Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. Free. For questions, call 216-676-0574.

THURSDAY, JAN. 26

Finding Grants for Business — Workshop II: 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, 2930 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. $20. Check or money order must be received by Jan. 21. Call Gwen Solomon at 216-622-0999, Ext. 232 to confirm.

National Association Credit Management Greater Cleveland,2012 Economic Forecast: 6 to 8:30 pm at theGenesis Building, Amphitheater/Lower Level, 6000 Lombardo Center,Seven Hills. $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers. To register, go to tinyurl.com/6soybcz or call 440-871-7878.

Cuyahoga Valley Chamber of Commerce, Impact Awards: 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Holiday Inn, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence. $35 for members, $40 for nonmembers. RSVP is required. Email cvcc@cuyahogavalleychamber.org or call 216-573-2707.

FRIDAY, JAN. 27

Greater Akron Chambers Young Professionals Network, Positive Strategies for Climbing the Ladder: 11:30 am to 1 pm at the FedEx Custom Critical campus, Two East, 1475 Boettler Road, Green. Free. Registration is required. To RSVP, go towww.greaterakronchamber.org and click on the events calendar.

Business Volunteers Unlimited, Strategic Planning Implementation: Have Your Intentions Come to Life?: 9 am to noon at the Penton Media Building, First Floor Conference Center, 1300 East Ninth St., Cleveland. $65 for members, $95 for nonmembers. Go to tinyurl.com/bpk7who to register.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1

First Hand Experiences from Executives of Local Manufacturers on How to Grow Export Sales: 8 to 10:30 am, Valley View. $15 for International Business Network members, $20 for nonmembers. To register, email admin@neoibn.org or call 216-771-1200.

ORourke amp; Associates Co. LPA webinar, Prospective Lien amp; Bond Waivers: Limiting Their Reach and Knowing How to Ensure Payment: 10:30 to 11:30 am $7.95 for Builders Exchange, American Subcontractors Association of Ohio, and ConstructionCreditNews.com Platinum members, $17.95 for nonmembers. Go to, tinyurl.com/65jcy5n to register.

MBA Lite – Financial Decision Making: 6:30 pm at the Hudson Library amp; Historical Society, 96 Library St., Hudson. Free. To register, go to tinyurl.com/7y7d3y4 or call 330-653-6658 .

Lake Kidz Biz, Setting and Accomplishing Business Goals: 8:15 to 9:30 am at Project Hope, 25 Freedom Road, Painesville. $5 for Lake County Chamber members, $10 for nonmembers. Register by Jan. 30. Go to lakekidzbiz.com under the Register for Meeting tab.

THURSDAY, FEB. 2

Kent State Universitys Center for Corporate and Professional Development, Breakfast Briefing for Human Resource Professionals: 8 to 10:30 am at the Hilton Garden Inn, 8971 Wilcox Drive, Twinsburg. Free. To register, go to www.kent.edu/YourTrainingPartner or email ckocarek@kent.edu or call 330-672-8698.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7

Supervisory Series I (five-part series): AM session – 9 am to noon; PM session – 1 to 4 pm at the ERC Workplace Center, Third Floor, 6700 Beta Drive, Mayfield. Also held Feb. 14, Feb. 21, Feb. 28, and March 6. $450 for ERC members, $600 for nonmembers. Must register. Go to web.ercnet.org/events to register.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8

ORourke amp; Associates Co. LPA webinar, Punitive Damages: Losing the Lottery: 10:30 to 11:30 am $7.95 for Builders Exchange, American Subcontractors Association of Ohio, and ConstructionCreditNews.com Platinum members, $17.95 for nonmembers. Go to, tinyurl.com/65jcy5n to register.

MBA Lite – Mindsets of the Entrepreneur: 6:30 pm at the Hudson Library amp; Historical Society, 96 Library St., Hudson. Free. To register, go to tinyurl.com/78n6erf or call 330-653-6658 .

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15

ORourke amp; Associates Co. LPA webinar, Liquidated Damages: The Good, Bad, and Ugly: 10:30 to 11:30 am $7.95 for Builders Exchange, American Subcontractors Association of Ohio, and ConstructionCreditNews.com Platinum members, $17.95 for nonmembers. Go to, tinyurl.com/65jcy5n to register.

Go to cleveland.com/business for more calendar listings. Send new items at least two weeks in advance to Eileen Zakareckis, Business Calendar, The Plain Dealer, 1801 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, or email her at bizlists@plaind.com. Include Notebook, Appointments, or BizCal in the subject line.

Fitzgerald Academy part of physical activities pilot project

The staff and grades four to nine students at Fitzgerald Academy in English Harbour West are already looking forward to returning to classes following this school year’s Christmas break.

Fitzgerald was one of 25 provincial schools selected to be involved in a two-year government after-school physical activities pilot project aimed at providing young students with more opportunities to become more active and to learn about a variety of recreational and physical activities.

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services made the announcement early in December.

Minister Dalley said, “Research has shown that the after school hours are a sedentary time for many youth. Physical activity is an important component of health and wellness during this critical time period. Through this pilot project, schools and community organizations will work together to get students moving and having fun.”

The staff at Fitzgerald Academy partnered with the St, Jacques-Coombs Cove Town Council and Public Health Nurse Cavell Pierce in submitting an application that saw the school receiving $22,000 for its particular program.

Krista Baker is the principal at Fitzgerald. She said that the program is especially important for the students at the school.

Baker said, “Our school has students attending from seven communities outside English Harbour West. We couldn’t have an active after school activity program before because a lot of those students had no rides home after regular school hours.

“This program will allow us to place buses on to all those communities for two days a week which means they now will be able to get home safely after school is out for the day. As a result, a lot more students in those grades will be able to avail of the program.”

Baker said that Fitzgerald’s involvement in the pilot project would begin immediately following this school year’s Christmas break. The students will be taking part in non-competitive physical activities such as skipping, kickball, stacking activities, girls’ zoomba programs, cross country skiing, sliding and ultimate Frisbee.

Baker said. “We’re really excited to start this program early in January. This will really help a lot of our students as it will given them something positive to do after regular school hours.

“As the sports we’re proposing will be non-competitive, it will give out students a great opportunity to build their self-esteem. The after school activities will also lead to a number of health benefits such as the promotion of healthy weights, the benefits of regular physical activity and the importance of social interaction with their peers

“Fitzgerald is going to be a lot busier come the New Year, and we’re all looking forward to that.”

Anderson Lock Receives National Certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise

Anderson Lock Receives National Certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise
Anderson Lock, a door and hardware sales and service company, received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Development Center, Chicago, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: January 2012

If you don’t have the time to research benchmarks, or if you don’t feel confident enough in your ability to pick the right processor for your next gaming machine, fear not. We at Tom’s Hardware have come to your aid with a simple list of the best gaming CPUs offered for the money.

January Updates
There werent any groundbreaking new processors launched in the last month of 2011, though AMD did refresh its Llano-based APU family with two new models boasting unlocked multiplier ratios (including the graphics clock). The A8-3870K and A6-3670K are also interesting in that they embrace Intels K-series suffix, rather than AMDs traditional Black Edition label. And, we cant help but notice more than a passing similarity to the naming Intel chose for its Sandy Bridge-E-based Core i7s. Trust us, this APU isnt anywhere near as fast as the $600 -3930K.

Despite the shameless naming mimicry, these APUs might be an interesting low-budget option for tweakers who arent interested in discrete graphics. The A8-3870K is the 100 W quad-core model with 400 ALUs and a 3 GHz processor clock and 600 MHz graphics frequency. The A6-3670K has 320 shaders running at 444 MHz, complemented by a 2.7 GHz processor clock. We spotted the A8-3870K for sale on Newegg at $145, but the A6-3670K hasnt turned up yet. Company reps tell us to expect a $115 MSRP for the lesser model. Neither of these APUs are recommended as serious gaming processors given the solid values currently available on more capable CPUs, so they dont make it to our list this month.

We dont have anything new from Intel either, though the company did recently announce its Cedar Trail family of next-generation Atom processors manufactured at 32 nm, which should start emerging in early 2012. Two models are mentioned in the press release: N2600 will arrive with a core frequency of 1.6 to 1.86 GHz and a TDP of less than 3.5 watts, and N2800 is expected to feature clock speeds of 1.86 to 2.13 GHz and a TDP of less than 6.5 watts. The 1.7 GHz N2650 and the 2.0 GHz N2850 were not announced, but are already listed in the companys technical documents. In any case, gamers should skip any processor bearing the Atom brand anyway.

The price of the 3.3 GHz Core i3-2120 dropped to $120 at retail, undercutting the 3.1 GHz Core i3-2100 by a few dollars and earning it a place in our recommended buy list. This price adjustment comes as a surprise, since the Core i3-2100 was already our favorite choice for $125, beating out the Phenom II X4 955 for that honor. AMDs option remains viable, especially given its unlocked multiplier. However, the faster Core i3 demonstrates that Intel is serious about competing in the budget arena.

Aside from those changes, the most notable news is not an introduction, but a handful of goodbyes. The Phenom II X4 840 was recently EoLed, leaving the 200 MHz-slower Athlon II X4 640 to represent AMD at the $100 price point. In addition, Intels Core i5-760 is no longer in production, and its becoming difficult to find on store shelves, eliminating what was previously the only LGA 1156-based upgrade on our recommendation list.
Some Notes About Our Recommendations

This list is for gamers who want to get the most for their money. If you don’t play games, then the CPUs on this list may not be suitable for your particular needs.

The criteria to get on this list are strictly price/performance. We acknowledge that there are other factors that come into play, such as platform price or CPU overclockability, but were not going to complicate things by factoring in motherboard costs. We may add honorable mentions for outstanding products in the future, though. For now, our recommendations are based on stock clock speeds and performance at that price.

Cost and availability change on a daily basis. We can’t offer up-to-the-minute accurate pricing information in the text, but we can list some good chips that you probably won’t regret buying at the price ranges we suggest (and our PriceGrabber-based engine will help track down some of the best prices for you).

The list is based on some of the best US prices from online retailers. In other countries or at retail stores, your mileage will most certainly vary. Of course, these are retail CPU prices. We do not list used or OEM CPUs available at retail.

Batt to inspire Hastings business owners

MEDAL-winning Paralympian Ryley Batt will be a special guest at the Hastings Business Enterprise Network’s Happy New Year Breakfast this week.

The function is scheduled to take place at Rydges Port Macquarie, in Hay Street, on Thursday from 6.45am until 8.30am.

The cost, for the breakfast and seminar, is $25 for Hastings Business Enterprise Network members and $40 for non-members.

Ryley Batt is one of Port Macquarie’s favourite sporting identities.

Having played for Australia since 2003, he became Australia’s youngest wheelchair rugby Paralympian at the age of 15 – his rise to the top in this sport is a truly amazing and inspirational story.

Not content with a silver medal in Beijing, Ryley and the Steelers will be going for gold at the London Paralympic Games in 2012.

During breakfast, the audience will find out what it takes to dream big and make those dreams become a reality.

To register for the function, or to gain more information,

contact Liesa Davies or Katherine Harris on 6583 4412 or email manager@hastingsben.com.au

Premiere: The all-new “Aztec Gaming” section

When I arrived at SDSU last semester, I was a bit surprised to see not a drop of video game coverage in The Daily Aztec. After all, were college students! Gaming is probably one of the most popular pass-times for us! So, I set out to change that.

Xbox.com Demo Download Can Result In Purchasing

File this one under be careful what you click. A Giant Bomb user noticed that the Xbox.com has a potentially expensive glitch with how it handles downloading demos that could result in the inadvertent purchase of content.

According to the report, if you try to select the Try Demo option for a demo via the Xbox.com site while logged out of your account, youll be prompted to log in before you can queue the content to your Xbox 360. But after you log in, Xbox.com will automatically change that Try Demo option to purchase, meaning if you hit the Confirm Purchase button that appears when you attempt to download both free demos and paid content, youll end up purchasing the full version of the download you selected, assuming you have the MS Points in your account.

Thankfully, Microsoft has confirmed to Giant Bomb that theyre aware of the issue and actively working on a fix. In the meantime, if youre looking to grab a trial game for your Xbox 360, make sure youre logged into Xbox.com or, better yet, just grab it directly from your Xbox 360.

Tri-City to Expand its Parking by Purchasing Former Bank Building

Editors Note: The following is a release from Tri-City Medical Center.

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The Tri-City Healthcare District continues to develop the hospital campus with its purchase of .83 acre of land at 4000 Vista Way in Oceanside. The sale was completed Dec. 29, 2011. 

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The property initially will be used to increase parking areas to better serve patients and visitors. The former bank building on the southwest corner of the Tri-City Medical Center campus has been vacant for over a decade. The district initially considered acquiring the property through eminent domain, but was able to reach agreement with the owners — the 4000 Vista Way LLC — on a price of $2.25 million.

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The newly-acquired property ultimately will be used for the proposed future expansion of the 31-acre hospital campus. The hospital district also recently purchased a single-story, 6,123-square-foot building formerly owned by Rady Childrens Hospital at 4120 Waring Road  in Vista for the same purpose.

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“Tri City Medical Center is very pleased to have completed this critical acquisition of property integral to our long-term development plans for the entire campus,” said Tri-City Chief Executive Officer Larry Anderson. “The owners of the property fully cooperated in the transaction and, because of that, we will be able to reconfigure the traffic flow to and from the medical campus in a manner that will facilitate the safety of our employees, our patients and their families for years to come.”

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Andrew C. Laubach, the managing member of the five-member LLC, said he was very pleased to complete this transaction with Tri-City.  Through the full cooperation of all parties, we were able to come to an equitable agreement. My partners and I are happy to know this acquisition will help the hospital in its continuing work to meet the communitys needs.

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The other members of the 4000 Vista Way LLC are Laubachs two brothers and  two members of the Tri-City medical staff, Dr. Donald Ponec and Dr. John M. Kroener, who are minority members.

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