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Ironman legend Cameron Brown heads up pro-field for MetaMan Bintan   When the second edition of the MetaMan splashes off on August 31, both defending champions will be among the starters on the beach in Bintan, Indonesia, but Brett Carter and Candice Hammond will have their work cut out to repeat as a strong field of pro athletes has been assembled to chase the glory and the US$40,000 prize that comes with winning the pro titles.   It’s not just the winners who stand to gain from the generous prize fund; a total of US$142,000 is up for grabs in the MetaMan as even the sixth place finishers will net US$1,000. A further US$12,000 is on offer for the first three across the line in the MetaMan Half.   They’ll have to work for their money, as the MetaMan course is challenging. The swim, in the calm, crystal clear waters of the South China Sea, will be a breeze, but the two-lap bike course will test their legs due to its constantly undulating nature. Then of course there’s the heat and humidity associated with a race that is located just north of the equator. This will be a huge factor on both the bike and the run leg, which takes place entirely within the grounds of the idyllic Nirwana Gardens Resort.   Men Cameron Brown The biggest of the male names chasing Australia’s Carter for the title of Southeast Asian iron-distance champion will be Ironman legend Cameron Brown. The Kiwi has won Ironman New Zealand an incredible 10 times, winning every year from 2001 to 2011 except for 2006, when inclement weather forced the organisers to shorten the race to a 90km bike-21km run in place of the full Ironman; Brown still finished second. He is also a two-time Ironman World Championship runner-up, and finished third in Kona on another two occasions. Still in great shape at the age of 41, Brown came third in Ironman NZ this year and was aiming for glory at Ironman Cairns in June, but illness put paid to those aspirations. He races the iconic Challenge Roth seven weeks before coming to Bintan, which with the right post-race recovery, could provide the perfect tune-up for the MetaMan.   Brett Carter Carter, the surprise but dominant winner of the inaugural MetaMan last year, will be hoping the return to Bintan will provide a sequel to that fairy tale ending. He raced in 2012 as a member of the mighty TBB squad, having turned pro just months earlier after putting his life on hold to chase his Ironman dream. The 32-year-old reaped a spectacular early dividend for that risky move by winning MetaMan and the US$15,000 first prize. He recently left TBB and will try to retain his title as an independent, but having triumphed in Bintan’s hot and humid conditions already, Carter will no doubt put up a strong defence.   Tim Berkel The biggest threat to Brown and Carter might come from Tim Berkel. The Australian, who likes to keep a busy race schedule, should come to Bintan in great race shape following his strong second place at this year’s Ironman Cairns, which included an impressive 2:44 run leg. A perennial podium placer on the long-course circuit, Berkel is no stranger to the top step over the iron distance, having claimed the Ironman Western Australia crown in 2008 and the Challenge Copenhagen double in 2010 and 2011; a formidable record for a 29-year-old.   Fredrik Croneborg One man who shouldn’t find the sweltering conditions of MetaMan a problem is last year’s runner-up, Freddie Croneborg of Sweden. Based at the Thanyapura Sports Academy in Phuket, Thailand, Croneborg might even have threatened Carter for the inaugural title if not for a puncture on the bike leg. He went on to record the fastest run split of the day by a considerable margin so he’ll fancy his chances come August 31. Freddie has some form coming into the MetaMan, having finished third in Challenge Taiwan in May.   Justin Granger Also no stranger to racing in the heat is Justin Granger. Part of long-course triathlon’s most famous couple with w

Hewlett-Packard and Samsung Electronics will now ensure that their PCs in China are installed with licensed Windows and Office software as part of new agreements signed with Microsoft meant to fight piracy.Microsoft announced the agreements Wednesday as the company brought its latest anti-piracy campaign to the Chinese city of Nanjing. Since December, Microsoft's "Keep it Real" campaign has been educating the Chinese public on security risks of using unlicensed Windows software. In addition, the U.S. software giant has been warning dozens of PC resellers in China to stop dealing in pirated copies of its software products.Wednesday's agreements call for the two companies to also require their direct channel partners to promote genuine Microsoft software.In March, Microsoft signed a similar agreement with Lenovo, China's largest PC maker. At the time, Microsoft said the deal would help limit and prevent PCs, moving "downstream" through China's channels, from being installed with pirated versions of Windows.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Stone Cold Fox is designing an exclusive line for Urban Outfitters? Have we died and gone to cool-kid heaven? Yes, it appears we have. (Urban Outfitters) The indie Fourth of July party is so indie and untraditional that you've probably never even heard of such a thing — until now. (Glo) Think what you want about Forever21, but they've got a keen eye for street style — and now that its blog is up and running, so do you. (21st Street) You're going to have to eBay those 3.1 Phillip Lim high-tops if you want them with the brand's newly redesigned logo. It seems the spherical insignia is only sold in China. (WWD) Hoarding has never (and probably won't ever) look as beautiful as it does in Interview magazine's newest editorial. (The Gloss)

A grave robber attempting to access an ancient tomb in Shaanxi has died after the tunnel he dug with two accomplices collapsed on him, according to Xinhua. [ more › ]

NextGen Healthcare Selected as Healthcare Information Technology Provider for Chinese Hospital Solution to Help Prospective Pay Hospital System Integrate with Independent Practice Association (IPA), Increase Care Coordination and Achieve Meaningful Use HORSHAM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. (NAS: QSII) and a leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, announced today an agreement with Chinese Hospital to deploy NextGen® Inpatient Clinicals across its enterprise. Chinese Hospital will use NextGen Inpatient Clinicals to automate its medical processes, improve organizational efficiencies and provide better quality care for its patients while meeting Meaningful Use (MU) criteria. San Francisco-based Chinese Hospital is a 54-bed, acute care, community-owned, non-profit hospital offering a wide range of medical, surgical and specialty programs. Chinese Hospital aims to achieve a single, shared patient record using NextGen® technology across its integrated inpatient and ambulatory organization. NextGen® solutions offer both advanced functionality tailored for Chinese Hospital's organizational needs and seamless integration to its Independent Practice Association (IPA), Chinese Community Health Care Association (CCHCA). CCHCA is currently utilizing both NextGen® Ambulatory EHR and NextGen® Practice Management in physician offices. NextGen Inpatient Clinicals is a highly scalable, secure and mobile-enabled platform, designed to initiate widespread workflow efficiency and communication; reduce errors and time-to-chart; and, improve patient care. The software facilitates complete electronic charting at the point-of-care, promotes interdisciplinary documentation and includes a discrete clinical data repository for customizable and comprehensive reporting, thereby providing Chinese Hospital the capabilities to meet MU requirements. Implementing NextGen Inpatient Clinicals will enhance care coordination, data capture and data sharing across Chinese Hospital's enterprise and completes its integration strategy. "We believe that this partnership with NextGen Healthcare affords us the tools necessary to provide continuous, holistic care across both our in-patient and out-patient care settings," said Brenda Yee, chief executive officer for Chinese Hospital. "NextGen Healthcare brings to us a truly integrated solution that supports our mission to deliver the highest levels of quality care to the community we serve and to advance our efforts to attest for MU." "Chinese Hospital is precisely the type of facility to which NextGen Hospital Solutions caters, and we are pleased to work together to bring the benefits and customization capabilities of our technologies to their hospital. Together, we will strive to enhance care, improve efficiencies and achieve better outcomes," said Daniel J. Morefield, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Quality Systems, Inc. About Chinese Hospital Chinese Hospital provides a full range of primary and secondary acute care and ambulatory services to a multi-cultural clientele within the San Francisco Bay area. The hospital is licensed for 54 acute care beds and features an Intensive Care, Medical Surgical and Telemetry Units, Endoscopy Unit, Surgical Services, Treatment Center (a Level 4 Standby Emergency Medical Service), East West Medicine, Specialty Clinic for Disease Management and Women Health, three Community Clinics and an array of clinical diagnostic and therapeutic services. For more information, visit www.chinesehospital-sf.org. About NextGen Healthcare NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc., provides integrated clinical, connectivity and financial solutions, including revenue cycle

In what seems like a sick joke, it’s been revealed recently that live animals trapped in plastic bags are being sold as souvenirs in China. Known for their propensity to eat all kinds of animals, and not pay much attention to their treatment, it’s still shocking to see such a twisted tourist attraction coming out of China. The animals are usually amphibians such as turtles, fish and lizards. Alongside the animals there is a small amount of water inside each plastic bag. Vendors normally claim the bag contains crystallised oxygen and other nutrients, but most of the trapped animals die within a day or two. If it isn’t enough that the animals die from oxygen deprivation, the vendors also advise customers to microwave the deceased amphibian afterwards. That way it can make for a tasty snack as well as a keychain for as long as the animal is alive. You can normally find the live animals trapped in plastic bags being sold as souvenirs from coolers outside subway stations in China. An excellent place to catch passing tourists and encourage them to buy one of the horrifying keepsakes. Many of the keychains contain young Chinese soft-shell turtles, a species which is quite popular in Chinese cooking once fully grown. Despite the practice seeming decidedly illegal, there are no local laws that say anything to the contrary. Apart from the morale issues associated with these keepsakes, the animals can pose a threat to human health if consumed. Turtles are know for carrying certain strains of the salmonella virus, which can be deadly. A petition to stop the sale of these live-animal keychains is already gathering support on Avaaz.org, with 143,000 people having signed their name already. So if you think live animals trapped in plastic bags isn’t a suitable souvenir to be sold in China, or anywhere else around the world, you could also sign the petition, or tell us what else could be done to prevent this atrocity. Image via Ryot.org Live Animals Trapped In Plastic Bags Sold As Souvenirs In China is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hot fire commander-in-chief gram in the Ai-Si Boer the Si pulled a match to say a lot behind especially.The first problem that he is inquired about is how to prepare Game7.The Si is handsome to say:”If last year before the quarter match we went to Chinese front you told me, we would belong in the total champion that the total finals pass Game7 to decide this year, that our each person of Cheap Vans Classic Shoes whole brigadeses would take pleasure in accepting.Inside in the world of incumbency industry athletics, the best two words be:Game 7.” “Our player doesn’t expect the game of those nothing important meanings, they all expect those more meaningful games.”The Si is handsome to add a way. Make reference to thunder- Helping of Lun’s last moment three cent, the Si is Converse Mvp Boy handsome to say that round of Zhan Mu Si gets of the opportunity to make moves is quite good, but didn’t throw in three cents medium empress wave the Shi lets again thunder the Lun got another opportunity in the bottom line.”Then thunder- the Lun did him the whole occupation career all at do of matter.”The Si is handsome to say, ” just all of us were to see him enter ball like this for another ball team hurl before, this time he finally is BE we!” Lei Brown-Zhan Mu Si takes down big 3 dollars today, however in the game he much time still keep making people knead pair of sweat, even last Vans Chukka Low moment of section 4 he the twice puzzling aggression mistake also suffer hostile opinion.However won ball, everythings canned be all cancelled.Zhan Mu Si is inquired about first after the match, when thunder- the Lun’s last moment make moves, he is just thinking what.”Necessarily enter!”Zhan Mu Si wants to don’t think and then say, ” thunder( Lun) is this kind of player, even if is previous he 99 throw 0 medium, as long as last moment he had an empty three opportunities for dividing, he can definitely throw in.” Zhan Mu Si says to still remember last year now he is in the parlance thunder- effort for becoming number of Lun.”I make a phone call for him and give him the hair message, I did to can make of everything!” Again recall next that three centses ball, Zhan Mu Si the Hu crest make moves now don’t fruit, the wave Shi robs a basket plank, pass in the right side bottom Cape of Lun, the latter to three cents, the line outside acrossed an one step and opened hand and then threw, the ball is hollow into the net.”I Cheap Vans SK8 Lows in fact think wave, the Shi robs a basket, and the plank will return to pass me.”Zhan Mu Si says, ” however he has never given I, I thought at that time and gave the Lun was also good to choose.I threw in the silly kind of key ball empress while still remembering that he is in the Kai Er in those early years now that the person is especially, I was absolutely annoyed at that time he, but he am one brigade with me now, the whole all different, ha ha!” Release the hair that will ascend a reporter to still concern Zhan Mu Si to take, ask him to know not to know is when make something to drop.”That is the affair that I don’t worry most .”Zhan Mu Si says.

The growing pile of bearishness on China continues. Last night, Chinese stocks hit a new 6-month, as concerns rise about growth, debt, acute financial market stress, a property bubble, and everything else. Today, HSBC has significantly slashed Chinese growth. The bank's chief economist Stephen King tweeted the news: HSBC cuts China growth forecasts to 7.4% in '13 & '14 (from 8.2% and 8.4%) as Beijing focuses on supply reforms instead of demand stimulus. — Stephen King (@KingEconomist) June 19, 2013 Join the conversation about this story »

Tea plantation images from around the world, including Japan, India, Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and more.

Fab, a two-year-old online store for design goods, is laying the groundwork for further global expansion. The startup announced Tuesday that it has raised $150 million in a partial series D round from investors including Tencent, Atomico, Andreessen Horowitz, Itochu, Menlo Ventures, RTP Capital, Pinnacle Ventures, Lars Hinrichs and Docomo Capital. The e-tailer, which is headquartered in the U.S., has already made significant headway into Europe. The region now accounts for approximately 40% of sales, founder and CEO Jason Goldberg told Mashable in a phone interview Tuesday. With the help of new investors Tencent, which operates some of the largest web portals and online messaging systems in China, and Itochu, one of Japan's largest holding companies, Fab has set the stage for its move into East Asia and India. Read more...More about Fab.Com, Business, Startups, and Fab