The value of a benefits package for high performers goes beyond monetary incentives. What else should HR pay attention to in order to keep them motivated and engaged at work?

Industry pros will examine the most critical compensation & benefits components at Employee Benefits Asia, the regions biggest conference dedicated to compensation & benefits strategy happening in Hong Kong on 11 May, Malaysia on 16-17 May, and Singapore on 18-19 May.

Stellar business results only happen when people are happy with their jobs and free from health issues and personal stress, said Aditi Sharma Kalra, regional editor of Human Resources magazine.

Employee Benefits Asia 2017 will thoroughly discuss the elements that keep top talent eager to grow and stay, such as work-life balance, recognition, and career progression, she added.

Employee Benefits Asia 2017 will discuss the most pressing issues being faced by C&B professionals according to the latest HR research and explore the impact of talent rewards on business transformation.

Here is how one of the topics, the framework of an effective benefits package, will be presented at the event:

A panel session entitled How do you package the benefits into a cutting-edge compensation & benefits programme that is competitive? will identify the key considerations when aligning benefits to wellness.

It will also touch on how wellness programmes complement benefits programmes in Asia and how the shift from treatment to prevention affects corporate culture. Jeremy Broome, regional head of human resources for Asia Pacific at Deutsche Bank, will be one of the panellists.

Additionally, the rationale behind flexible benefits will be scrutinised during the case study presentation entitled Adopting cost-effective flexible benefits without cutting corners. The speaker will reveal the challenges in implementation as well as their solutions, including key measurement of ROI and success factors.

Other topics that will be dealt with during panel discussions are the top benefits that are considered critical when recruiting and retaining talent and the different ways to cultivate employee satisfaction, from perks to career development opportunities.

Past Employee Benefits Asia attendees are top HR executives from leading and international companies in the region, such as CapitaLand, DHL, General Electric, Heineken, Maersk, The Waltz Disney Company, Rolls-Royce and many more. All presenters & panellists, such as Anita Zuo, HR director for rewards, recognition and HRIS at Electrolux, are director or vice president level HR professionals with regional responsibility.

Held in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in May 2017, Employee Benefits Asia is the regions biggest conference on compensation & benefits strategy. The event will unveil best practices and rewards strategies through an agenda dominated by case studies and global thought leaders and attracts a large audience of senior HR generalists and compensation & benefits specialists as well as and CEOs, CFOs and COOs closely involved in their companies compensation & benefits strategies.

To get a global and Pan-Asian regional view of compensation & benefits and expand your knowledge and skills across the rewards spectrum, reserve your seat for Employee Benefits Asia in May 2017.

To review the topics & agenda, check out http://www.employeebenefits.asia before its sold out. For more information please contact:

For Hong Kong: Francis Lee, regional producer, francisl@humanresourcesonline.net, +852 2861 1882 For Malaysia: Sammi Zhang, regional head of production, sammiz@humanresourcesonline.net, +65 6423 0329 For Singapore: Priya Veeriah, regional producer, priayv@humanresourcesonline.net, +65 6423 0329

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The anatomy of a high-potential's benefits package - Human Resources Online

After being held scoreless through 40 minutes in Edmonton last Sunday evening, the Canadiens hadnt scored in 5 straight periods. They had been dominated by the Calgary Flames in a 5-0 loss on Thursday, and found themselves trailing 1-0 entering the third period at Rogers Place. The Habs desperately needed a goal to tie the game, and give themselves a chance to regain the Atlantic Division lead over the Ottawa Senators.

With under 6 minutes to go in regulation, Paul Byron gave them just what they needed. Byrons typical goals usually come off of odd-man rushes or breakaways. Often, he springs free on a counterattack or penalty kill, when his blinding speed gives him a decided advantage in a footrace to a loose puck.

This goal is different. Byron shows some quick thinking to go along with his fast feet, and he, Philip Danault and Brendan Gallagher show a nice combination of skill and trust as they turn a loose puck below the goal line into a momentum-shifting scoring chance.

Brendan Gallagher chips the puck in deep, then fights to retrieve it below the goal line with Edmontons Kris Russell (4), Benoit Pouliot (67), and Andrej Sekera (2). Byron moves into a support position above the goal line, and Danault moves in from behind the net.

Gallagher knocks the puck toward Byron.

Byron passes it back below the goal line to Philip Danault, then quickly changes direction and heads toward the net.

Danault protects the puck, and with his back to Byron, threads a brilliant backhand pass through the challenges of Pouliot and Russell.

Byron, having changed direction to now be on his forehand, receives the puck in position to shoot. Talbot is worth a look now as well. He faces toward Byron, shoulders square to the threat in a Reverse V-H position.

As Byron drives across the top of the crease, Talbot shifts his weight off of his post pad, dropping his anchor leg to seal the ice. However, hes underestimated Byrons speed, and hes already in trouble.

Talbots error is that he doesnt prepare to actively push across once Byron commits to a move across the crease. He could engage his left skate, allow his stick blade to cover his five hole, and extend across the goal line on a shallow angle (black arrow below). Instead, he allows his momentum to take him on a passive slide diagonally (red dashed arrow) toward the top right crease.

Had Talbot pushed across the shallower angle, the shorter distance would have enabled him to cover the far post more quickly, and negated Byrons speed. Talbot then would only have had to worry about Byron being able to sharply elevate the puck from a difficult stick angle.

Even with his diagonal path, its possible that with a more active push, Talbot might might have been able to cut off Byrons move to the far post.

Instead, Talbots passive slide allows Byrons speed to carry the play. Byron beats him across the angle, and the far post is open.

Now back to Byron and his linemates. Gallagher begins the play by chipping the puck deep and then, as he usually does, out battles three Edmonton defenders to get the loose puck to Byron.

When Byron initially receives the puck as a release for Gallagher, he is on his backhand and moving toward the corner, where he would be able to be challenged by Sekera.

Byron sees Danault in position below the goal line, and even though the three Edmonton defenders are also low, they are facing away from Danault, so Byron chips it back to his center (black arrow). Former Hab David Desharnais (13), clearly anticipating a release back to the right point, moves to cover that option (orange arrow), and takes himself away from Byron. Zack Kassian (44) is also clearly not expecting the play to come across the middle, and remains unengaged.

When Byron passes back to Danault, reverses and drives the net, the two essentially run a simple give and go that allows Byron to free himself from 4 defenders at once, and change his role from puck protector to attacker. Danault, for his part, shows strong awareness and stick skills. He draws the defense while protecting the puck, and finds a lane to get the puck back to Byron where he has the option either to shoot, or outmaneuver Talbot with his speed.

At no point in the entire sequence do Gallagher, Danault, and Byron risk an Oiler counterattack with their short passes. The three Habs forwards occupy three defenders deep in the offensive zone, and position themselves in such a way that they have high and low puck pressure that can disrupt any easy defensive outlet should they lose possession.

This is aggressive, low-risk, offensive hockey in which three teammates optimize their own play and trust in their teammates. Philip Danault and Brendan Gallagher help put Paul Byron in a position to force an outstanding goaltender into a small mistake, and Byron is able to use his greatest asset, his speed, to score a late goal that changes the course of an important game.

See the rest here:
Anatomy of a Goal: Gallagher's effort pays off for Byron - Habs Eyes on the Prize (blog)

Nathan Riggs had us all swooning when he finally asked Meredith out on an official date on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. Of course in true Mer form, she told him she needed to think about it before she gave him an actual answer. She probably knows that once she goes down that route, that will take whatever it is they're doing to a completely new level. But I'm all for it! I figured she needed my help to figure out if Nathan is really right for her. So I wanted to give her a few reasons to consider why she should give him a real chance.

It's Beyond Time

I think we can all agree that it's time. It's been a couple of seasons since Shonda Rhimes made me and millions of others livid with Derek's tragic and shocking death. Meredith went through her dark phase, as any woman would. And Derek's passing is almost like a faint memory as the show has clearly moved on without him. Now, it's time for Meredith to be in a serious relationship. She definitely deserves to be happy after everything she has gone through.

Grey's Anatomy Prepares to Lose a Doctor>>> He Just Might Be the One Meredith has tried to date other guys after Derek and they obviously didn't work out in the long run. But things are clearly different with Nathan. I mean, look how far he's gotten already. Mer has tried to play hard to get on multiple occasions. Still, there is something about Nathan that puts her in a vulnerable spot. Avid viewers know that no one has the ability to do this, especially not a guy. While she even tries to be strong with Nathan, every girl needs someone they can let their guard down with, and Nathan has shown that he's strong enough to play that role. Besides, I'm just ready to see her let go and be in love already. He fits right in with her friends and most importantly, loves her children. The whole thing of being guarded is getting me to the point where I want to reach through the TV and yell, "Snap out of it!"

Their Chemistry Is Undeniable We wouldn't even be having this conversation if there wasn't an undisputable spark between Meredith and Nathan. After all, they hooked up in the parking lot of the hospital after suppressing their sexual tension with each other for way too long. And yes, there was the monkey wrench when Meredith's sister, Maggie, confessed her like for Nathan (without knowing about him and Mer.) But that seemed to come out of nowhere. Plus Maggie's connection with Nathan (or lack thereof) is nowhere near the one he has with Meredith.

He's Not Alex It looks like the writers are almost trying to add a little mystery of the future between Alex and Meredith and whether they'll ever be more than friends. But let's face it, they are perfect just the way they are. They are the only two left from the group of interns that started back in the first season so from death to birthdays, they have been through everything together. And I think it should stay that way. Alex should be the one that Meredith talks to about Nathan and Alex should be the one to give her guy advice about it. They shouldn't be going anywhere near the exit for the friend zone.

He's Basically Madly in Love with Her Nathan professed his feelings for Meredith on a recent episode of Grey's Anatomy. That took a lot for him to do because considering their back-and-forth, he had no idea how she would respond, not to mention her awkward new level of closeness with Alex. Still, he put himself out there. Plus, we have to agree with Maggie that Meredith is probably the only one who will understand Nathan in the way that he needs, considering they have both experienced tragic losses in their lives. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they just might be meant for one another!

Grey's Anatomy Recap: Will Nathan Win Meredith's Heart?>>> What do you think about Nathan asking Meredith out on an actual date? How do you feel about Meredith and Alex's friendship? Do you think Maggie is better for Nathan than Meredith?

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays on ABC at 9/8c. Want more news? Like our Grey's Anatomy Facebook page!

(Image courtesy of ABC)

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Grey's Anatomy - BuddyTV (blog)

Potentially Historic Blizzard Shuts Down Northeast

Meteorologists are prone to pangs of jealousy. You see, we all want the most interesting, peculiar weather to show up over our respective cities. It gives us something to babble about - it makes us feel important.

So you can only imagine how much I'd like to be in New York City or Boston today. A late-season blizzard will drop snow at a rate of 2-3 inches/hour with thunder and lightning; winds topping 50 mph creating hour after hour of white-out conditions. The northeast will effectively shut down for the next 48 hours.

According to FiveThirtyEight New York has seen only 5 snowstorms of a foot or more in March or April since 1870. California just had the wettest winter in 122 years; now a super-sized blizzard for New England? There's more water in the air - more fuel for blizzards and floods.

We've had our (3-inch) drama here at home. Take a mental snapshot of the snow in your yard - it'll be gone within 2 days. 40s return Thursday with 50s early next week. Models suggest a mild, Pacific breeze into late March.

Spring won't come as early as 2012, but 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule.

Image above: ECMWF (European) forecast of snow totals, courtesy of WeatherBell.

Winter Storm Severity Index. Here's another way of assessing total impacts from a given winter storm: snow, ice, wind, power outage potential, all wrapped up in one (prototype) scale, but you get the general idea. This may be an historic blizzard from Lancaster and Harrisburg to Allentown, Wilkes-Barre, New York City, Hartford and Worcester, MA. Details and obligatory disclaimer from NOAA: "Feedback from this prototype will be used to evaluate potential product development. The purpose of the Winter Storm Severity Index (WSSI) is to provide NWS partners and the general public with an indication of the level of winter precipitation (snow and ice) severity and its potential related societal impacts. The WSSI does not depict official warnings, and should always be used in context with official NWS forecasts and warnings. Because this is a prototype, it may not update in a timely fashion. Always check the creation and valid times..."

Blowing Snow Component. NOAA's WSSI prototype predicts the most severe blowing and drifting from eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey to Long Island, coastal New England and Cape Cod.

Bracing for a Blizzard, Officials Close Schools and Stop Trains. No, this won't be just another garden-variety snowstorm. Details via The New York Times.

20+" for New York City? More details on preparation and likely impacts here.

There is Nothing Normal About the Snowstorm About to Slam the East Coast. Mother Jones puts 20-inch snowfalls into cold, stark perspective: "...If you live on the East Coast, you might have become complacent about epic snowstorms like this one. Twenty inches or so doesn't seem like such a big deal when you've lived through similar storms. But looking at the data, you'll see that 20-inch snowstorms are a relatively new phenomenon in places like New York City. For the first 100 years that meteorologists kept weather records at Central Park, from 1869 through 1996, they recorded just two snowstorms that dumped 20 inches or more. But since 1996, counting this week's storm, there have been six. (You'll find similar stats for other major East Coast cities.)..."

"Blizzard Alley" Runs From Long Island to Cape Cod. Perhaps it's no surprise, but proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and less friction near the water increases wind speeds and the potential to exceed blizzard criteria (35 mph winds + 1/4 mile or less visibility in falling or blowing snow).

Praedictix Briefing: Issued Monday, March 13th, 2017

* The largest snowstorm of the season and potentially a historic March system will impact Washington D.C. to Boston Monday Night through Wednesday.

* The worst of the storm will come Tuesday from Philadelphia to New York City and Boston, with snowfall rates of 2-4 per hour, strong winds (30-60 mph gusts) and white-out conditions.

* Forecast snow totals: 5-10 Washington D.C., with a foot or more of snow from Philadelphia to New York, Boston and into Maine.

Heavy Snow Moves In Tonight. A strengthening low pressure center will move up the east coast as we head through Tuesday, bringing with it heavy snow (potentially 2-4 per hour at the height of the storm) as well as 30-60 mph winds. Wintry precipitation will start this evening in areas like Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, with snow spreading into New York City and Boston during the overnight hours. Snow will continue through the day before pushing out to the northeast through the afternoon and into Tuesday Night.

Winter Storm And Blizzard Warnings. Winter Storm and Blizzard Warnings have been issued from Virginia and West Virginia through most areas of the Northeast ahead of this noreaster, with a wide swath of at least 6 of snow expected across the region. Some of the heaviest totals will be near/along I-95, with over a foot possible. Strong, gusty winds up to 60 mph will be possible with this system as well, especially near the coast. Blizzard Warnings have been issued for parts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut due to these concerns.

Blizzard Watch Boston. While Boston is currently under the Winter Storm Warning, a Blizzard Watch is also in effect for the likelihood of wind gusts up to 55 mph tomorrow afternoon and evening.

Snowfall Forecast. Some of the heaviest totals are expected along the I-95 corridor through the middle of the week, with totals of a foot or more likely from Philadelphia northward into Maine. Washington D.C. is expected to get 5-10 of snow, with the potential of some mixed precipitation helping to cut totals down a little bit. A mix/change over to rain will also be possible along parts of eastern Long Island and Cape Cod, reducing overall snow totals.

New York City Snowfall Forecast. Our internal models are showing the potential of over a foot and a half of snow within the New York City metro through Tuesday. During the height of the storm Tuesday, snowfall rates could be as high as 4 per hour. This, along with wind gusts up to 55 mph, will cause white-out conditions and paralyze travel across the region.

NWS Most Likely Snowfall Totals. Based on NOAA guidance, here are the most likely snowfall totals for more select cities:

Washington, D.C.:

Philadelphia, PA:

New York, NY:

Boston, MA:

Portland, ME:

Caribou, ME:

Wind Gusts Of 30-60 MPH. As the system deepens off the coast, winds will be on the increase along and near the coast, with wind gusts up to 55 mph possible across some areas. These winds, along with the heavily falling snow, will be enough to cause blizzard/white-out conditions. Wind damage (especially to tree branches where some budding has begun) and power outages can't be ruled out with this storm. The highest winds gusts with this system are expected in:

High Potential Of Blizzard Conditions. The Blizzard Potential Index shows a high likelihood of blizzard conditions occurring tonight into Tuesday across the Northeast. Some of the worst conditions in New York City will be during the morning into the midday hours Tuesday, spreading across the Boston metro by the afternoon.

Summary: Winter is quickly coming back to the Northeast over the next 24-48 hours, with a foot or more of snow likely through Tuesday Night for areas from Philadelphia to New York City and Boston. Snow will begin tonight across the region, so preparations should be completed today for this upcoming system that will not only bring heavy snow with it (potentially falling at 2-4 per hour during the height of the storm) but wind gusts of 30-60 mph with it as well. Operations will likely be heavily impacted Monday Night into Wednesday from this storm. Travel will be nearly impossible across parts of the Northeast Tuesday, and some power outages are likely.

D.J. Kayser, Meteorologist, AerisWeather

One of the Biggest Late-Season Snowstorms on Record? Certainly for New York City; 1-2 feet of snow in mid-March is exceedingly rare. Even our blizzards are super-sized now. Here's an excerpt at FiveThirtyEight that made me do a double-take: "...There have been just five snowstorms of 12 inches or greater in March or April since record keeping started in 1870. More amazingly, none of them have happened in the past 57 years and just one of those happened at this point in March or later. That storm, back in 1896, dropped 12 inches. So as long as this storm has just slightly more snow than is predicted at the lower end of the forecast range, it will be the greatest snowstorm this late in the season in recorded New York City history. If the snowfall hits the upper end of the forecast range, this storm will challenge the infamous Blizzard of 1888 for the largest March or April storm ever..."

On This Day: The 1993 "Storm of the Century". I remember it well. Here's an excerpt from NOAA NCEI, the National Centers for Environmental Information: "On March 1114, 1993, a massive storm system bore down on nearly half of the U.S. population. Causing approximately $5.5 billion in damages ($9.2 billion in 2016 dollars), Americas Storm of the Century, as it would become known, swept from the Deep South all the way up the East Coast. With a central pressure usually found only in Category 3 hurricanes, the storm spawned tornadoes and left coastal flooding, crippling snow, and bone-chilling cold in its wake. Of the more than 200 weather and climate events with damages exceeding $1 billion since 1980, this storm remains the countrys most costly winter storm to date..."

From Plowable Snow to 60F in a Week? We may come close to 60 degrees Sunday, according to ECMWF ensemble guidance. No more bitter smacks are on the horizon into early April. Graphic: WeatherBell.

Z-Z-Zonal. No high-amplitude pattern capable of buckling jet stream winds, resulting in flooding or blizzards looking out 2 weeks, according to NOAA's GFS model. The flow is westerly, drier and milder than average east of the Rockies with more storms pushing into California.

California Storms: Wettest Water Year, So Far, in 122 Years. The Mercury News has details of a stunning meteorological turnaround: "Fueled by a parade of Pineapple Express storms, California is in the midst of its wettest water year in 122 years of record-keeping, according to federal scientists. Between October 2016 and February 2017, California averaged 27.81 inches of precipitation, the highest averagesince such records began being kept in 1895, according to data released Wednesday by the National Centers for Environmental Information, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration..."

A "Reckless Plan" to Starve NOAA? Here's an excerpt of an Op-Ed from Bloomberg View: "...In any case, NOAA also works on weather models and forecasts, which protect all Americans and many businesses from storms and flooding -- a service worth an estimated $100 annually to every household in the country. TV weather reports and forecast apps depend on data collected and processed by NOAA, as do the insurance and aviation industries. The satellite program needs consistent funding to maintain a well-operating and up-to-date fleet. Jeopardizing the next generation of satellites puts at risk the ability to manage accurate forecasts two decades from now. Some parts of NOAA are marked for elimination altogether, such as a program that helps localities protect against rising seas and one that supports coastal research at 33 universities. Direct cuts to the National Weather Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service would amount to just 5 percent, but that's enough to strain their operations and make improvements difficult..." (GOES-16 animation: U. of Wisconsin CIMSS).

Meet the Teen Planting 150 Trees For Every Person on the Planet. One person can change the world - even an ambitious 9-year old. Inhabitat has the inspiring story: "Felix Finkbeiner is on a mission. Ten years ago, when he was just nine years old, he decided to fight climate change by planting one million trees. At the time he felt like adults just talk about the issues facing our planet without taking much action. With his initiative Plant for the Planet, the ambitious teenager surpassed his original goal together with the United Nations (UN) Billion Tree Campaign, planting over 14 billion trees in over 130 countries. And he is just getting started..."

Behind the Quiet, State-by-State Fight Over Electric Vehicles. The New York Times reports: "...Today, the economic incentives that have helped electric vehicles gain a toehold in America are under attack, state by state. In some states, there is a move to repeal tax credits for battery-powered vehicles or to let them expire. And in at least nine states, including liberal-leaning ones like Illinois and conservative-leaning ones like Indiana, lawmakers have introduce bills that would levy new fees on those who own electric cars. The state actions would put the business of electric vehicles, already rocky, on even more precarious footing..."

Illustration credit: Minh Uong, New York Times.

Big Tobacco Has Caught Start-Up Fever. Bloomberg reports that it's no longer "smoking". No, now it's "platform-agnostic nicotene delivery solutions." Here's a clip: "...Mature industries typically have a hard time disrupting themselves, but, flush with cigarette profits, the big competitors have decided to try. Since the rise of e-cigarettes, its no longer such a stretch to imagine a messianic engineer in a garage somewhere inventing a nicotine-delivery gadget capable of doing to cigarettes what Uber did to taxicabs or Napster did to the compact disc. If your profits hinge on nicotine addicts, you might want that visionary in your employ. Everywhere you look in the industry, companies are pouring money into product development while borrowing liberally from the style of Silicon Valley. Theyre funding tech incubators, running venture funds, hosting TED-style talks, and developing apps. The new dogma has spread. Cigarettes are the industrys past. Reduced-risk tobacco platforms are the user interface of the future..."

Photo credit: "Finlay MacKay for Bloomberg Businessweek; Prop stylist: Peter Samuels; Groomer: Angela Di Carlo."

Why Politics if Failing America. Wait, you're telling me the system is rigged? We had no idea. Fortune takes a look at how we got here: "...The Harvard Business Schools project on U.S. competitiveness found that Washington has made virtually no progress on any of the essential policy steps needed to restore prosperity and growth. A broken political system has suddenly become the greatest threat to our nations future.So how did we get here? In part, by stealth. Over the last several decades, the American political system has been slowly reconfigured to serve not the public interest, but rather the interest of private, gain-seeking organizations: our major political parties and their industry allies. These players have put in place a set of rules and practices that, while largely unnoticed by the average citizen, have enhanced their power and diminished our democracy..."

Illustration credit: Oliver Munday for Fortune.

The Pursuit of Happiness Is Not The Pursuit of Comfort. The author argues that only when we get out of our comfort zone does real growth and progress take place. Here's a clip from Thrive Global: "...What would happen if we not only embraced discomfort, but also chased it and thrived off of it? Lewis Howes makes it a goal to do something new in his business every year that takes him out of his comfort zone. This keeps him from being complacent, and it keeps him in a state of constant growth. The saying that growth begins at the end of your comfort zone is not just some clich. There is actually a lot of truth in that statement. Serious athletes know this all too well. The real workout doesnt begin until the exercise becomes difficult to complete. Its when we have to dig deep and push through that we become a better version of ourselves..."

Embrace the discomfort. Doing so may just set you up for something amazing. A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. Franklin D. Roosevelt

27 F. maximum temperature at Twin Cities International Airport yesterday.

40 F. average high on March 13.

54 F. high on March 13, 2016.

March 14, 1943: Snow, sleet and ice cripple parts of Minnesota south of a line from Duluth through St. Cloud and Ortonville. The heaviest ice was in the vicinities of Lake Benton, Springfield and Windom. Ice thickness was 1/2 to 3/4 inch around St. Cloud to 3/4 to 2 inches in the Pipestone, Ruthton, Lake Wilson, Slayton and Tracy. A good description of the ice was submitted in one report: 'ice was 2 inches across and 1 3/4 inch deep on wire. A little frost ice near the wire with the outside solid ice. The ice was irregular in shape.' Duluth had 6 inches of snowfall at the city office with 13 inches at the airport. The ice was confined to Moose Lake and south.

March 14, 1870: A severe snow and wind storm moves across Minnesota and Iowa. The 'Northern Vindicator' of Estherville, Iowa becomes the first newspaper to use the term 'blizzard' on this date.

Remre here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article137317553.html#storylink=cpy

Minnesota Winters: Almost Reasonable. OK. I'm living in a parallel universe, at least for the next few days. Normally New Yorkers squint and ask "how do you LIVE out there 6 months out of the year?" - as if we're living on the surface of the moon. And with one 18 hour stormy fire hose of snow much of the northeast will see nearly as much snow as we have all "winter". We did just have winter, right? If you have friends or family living from D.C. and Philly to New York, Hartford, Providence and Boston call to check up on them. Tell them it's perfectly fine, once the airports open up again, they can fly out to M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A to warm up and calm down. 60 by Sunday? I'm trying not to gloat, but it's hard. This may wind up being the biggest late-season blizzard on record for many cities, potentially historic, and impacts may last at least a week in some counties. Meanwhile I think I have a slushy inch or two on my deck. Be careful out there...

TODAY: Cool sunshine. Winds: E 5-10. High: near 30

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear and chilly. Low: 8

WEDNESDAY: Sunny, snow melts rapidly. Winds: S 7-12. High: 34

THURSDAY: Milder with patchy clouds, few showers. Winds: S 8-13. Wake-up: 24. High: 46

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy, stiff breeze. Winds: NW 10-20. Wake-up: 33. High: 47

SATURDAY: Sunny and pleasant. Light wind. Winds: SE 5-10. Wake-up: 28. High: 46

SUNDAY: Intervals of sun, feeling a bit feverish. Winds: SE 10-15. Wake-up: 33. High: 54

MONDAY: More clouds, passing shower? Winds: N 7-12. Wake-up: 38. High: 53

Climate Stories....

This Climate Lawsuit Could Change Everything. Do all of us have a constitutional right to clean air, clean water and a healthy climate system? Here's an excerpt from The Washington Post: "...The 21 plaintiffs, now between the ages of 9 and 20, claimthe federal government has consistently engaged in activity that promotes fossil fuel production and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby worsening climate change. They argue thisviolates their constitutional right to life, liberty and property, as well the public trust doctrine, while holds that the government is responsible for the preservation of certain vital resources in this case, a healthy climate system for public use. While legal experts are uncertain as to the lawsuits likelihood of success, few have disputed its pioneering nature. Similar cases have been brought on the state level, but this is the first against the federal government in the United States. And in November, the case cleared a major early hurdle when U.S. District JudgeAnn Aiken denied motions filed by the Obama administration, as well as the fossil fuel industry, to have the lawsuit dismissed, ordering that it should proceed to trial..." (Image credit: NASA).

Proposed NOAA Cuts Would Disarm Our Coasts in the Face of Rising Seas, Scientists Say. Here's a clip from a Washington Post article: "...A proposed White House budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could put coastal communities throughout the nation at a majordisadvantage as they struggle to adapt to threats from sea-level rise, severe storms and other climate-related events, scientists and other experts said. Thats because the budget, revealed by The Washington Post last week, targets a handful of programs that provide important resources to help coastal states prepare for the coming effectsof climate change..." (File photo: Andrew Demp, Yale).

Editorial: Old-School Conservatives Float a Solid Climate Change Plan. Here's an excerpt of an editorial at The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "...Currently, societal costs of burning fossil fuels mostly a warming planet go largely unpaid. Some climate experts have estimated that an $80-a-ton carbon tax might be enough to forestall the worst effects of climate change. But it would wreak havoc on the coal industry, and Trump said recently, Were going to put our miners back to work to produce beautiful clean-coal energy. If only such a thing as clean coal existed. Coals emissions can be sequestered underground, but large-scale sequestration is technically difficult and prohibitively costly. The old-school Republicans at the Climate Leadership Council are hoping for better. They wrote in a New York Times op-ed, Republicans are in charge of both Congress and the White House. If they do nothing other than reverse regulations from the Obama administration, they will squander the opportunity to show the full power of the conservative canon, and its core principles of free markets, limited government and stewardship.

U.S. Increasingly Isolated on Climate. Here's a snippet of an Op-Ed at USA TODAY: "...Virtually all other countries even longtime climate deniers and horrific polluters like China and India have come to recognize the existential danger to their people, if not the planet, by man-made production of greenhouse gases. And they are putting in place programs to curb them, often at considerable cost to development. Chinas leadership has only to look outside its windows in Beijing to see citizens staggering through blinding pollution, their faces covered with masks. Those 175-plus countries gathered near Paris two years ago signed a sweeping and unprecedented agreement to put a brake on practices that are destroying the atmosphere of our planet. Trump, buffeted by competing viewpoints within his administration, could well blow apart the agreement and at the same time deal a body blow to U.S. leadership in the world..."

File photo: Shutterstock.

Longer Heat Waves, Heavier Smog Go Hand in Hand with Climate Change. Ars Technica reports: "Exposure to high levels of airborne pollutants is an ongoing problem, as is exposure to extreme temperatures. If these two overlap, then it's possible that the health impacts will be greater. A recent paper published in PNAS uses 15years of climate observations in the US and Canada to show that the two problemsdo indeedcluster together and occur in overlapping, large-scale episodes. The largest of these episodes has the hottest temperatures and the highest level of pollution..."

In Race to Curb Climate Change, Cities Outpace Governments. Reuters has the story; here's an excerpt: "...Cities from Oslo to Sydney are setting goals to curb climate change that exceed national targets, causing tensions with central governments about who controls policy over green energy and transport and construction. More than 2,500 cities have issued plans to cut carbon emissions to the United Nations since late 2014, setting an example to almost 200 nations that reached a Paris Agreement in December 2015 to fight global warming. Although there are no officially collated statistics available, many city targets are more ambitious than those set by governments under the Paris accord, which imposes no obligations on cities, regions or companies to define goals. Just over half the world's population lives in urban areas, meaning municipalities will help to determine whether the historic shift from fossil fuels to cleaner energy agreed in Paris succeeds or fails..."

Photo credit: "A general view of the site for a new kindergarten on a fossil fuel free construction project in Oslo, Norway February 3, 2017." Picture taken February 3, 2017. REUTERS/Alister Doyle.

Global Climate Change Battles Increasingly Being Won in Court. Here are a couple of excerpts from a Newsweek article: "The South African government haslost the countrys first climate change lawsuitafter the hight court ruled against its plans for a coal-fired power station, the latest in a rising tide of international climate litigation. Environmental NGOEarthLife Africachallenged the governments approval of the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station on the grounds that it should have been preceded by an evaluation of its climate change impacts....The case comes shortly after agroundbreaking climate casedecided last month in Austria. A federal court blocked the expansion of Viennas international airport because the increase in carbon emissions that a new runway would generate is inconsistent with Austrias commitments to tackle climate change..." (File photo: NASA).

See the article here:
Anatomy of an Historic Northeast Blizzard - Warming Trend Here - 60F by Sunday? - Minneapolis Star Tribune

OnGrey's Anatomy Season 13 Episode 15civil war was brewing and the fighting and bickering intensified.

The latest batch of people to be at odds, were Jackson and Catherine, and Nathan and Alex. Riggs and Alex were fighting over the best way to handle a young patient, but the Averys' spat went far deeper than Eliza Minnick.

Elsewhere, while Owen and Amelia's face-to-face was far from confrontational or productive, Riggs confronted Meredith about his feelings for her.

Below, TV Fanatics Stacy Glanzman, Ashley BissetteSumerel, Amanda Steimetz, and Tiffany Stanton discuss "Civil War."

Nathan laid his feelings out there for Meredith and is waiting for her response. Are you happy that they're moving forward; do you think they're moving forward?

Stacy: I actually don't really care one way or another about this relationship. They haven't spent enough time on it for me to get invested, and I really did not like the "love triangle" they tried to throw at us.

I certainly don't have a problem with Meredith moving on or being in a relationship with Nathan, but I'm perfectly fine with them dropping this, too.

Ashley: I like the idea of Meredith and Nathan together. I agree with Stacy that I didn't care for the whole love triangle thing, but I think Nathan could be a good match for Meredith.

Amanda: I'm not invested either way. If the writers want to put them together, then fine. But they need to just do it already then. Frankly, Meredith has acted childish regarding the whole Nathan situation from the beginning so whatever is going to make her act like an adult is good in my book.

Tiffany: Not happy and still don't think they're truly moving forward. I think they're just setting up something that can be blown apart when Owen's sister shows up. I'm glad they seem to be going away from the Maggie/Riggs/Meredith triangle but I still don't care about Meredith & Riggs.

Watch Grey's Anatomy Season 13 Episode 15 Online

Amelia finally came face to face with Owen after avoiding him. Unfortunately, they have still put off talking because she's afraid of a fight. Discuss.

Stacy: Amelia is just annoying. Avoiding her husband is immature. It's time for them to talk, fight, break up, make up, whatever, I don't care, just do something! At least she finally came face to face with him, so I guess that's progress? I just feel bad for Owen. He doesn't deserve this.

Ashley: Well, I adore Amelia, but I'm also annoyed with her. I really wish they would find a way to show more of her story from Private Practice. Surely they could do flashbacks? But mostly I'm frustrated for Owen. It's definitely time for them to resolve this and move forward or split.

Amanda: My sentiments exactly, Ashley! Amelia was such an amazing character to watch on Private Practice. She's really not flourishing on Grey's the way she should. And I feel so bad for Owen. He deserves to get some answers. Either have them make up or break up. The time has come and gone for our sympathies.

Tiffany: I was happy she chose to stay rather than walk away again. They'll obviously talk eventually but I don't get how Amelia went from dying to have babies to not wanting any, ever, period.

It's not fair to Owen because when they got married they were on the same page about kids and it especially sucks because the guy's already been through this with Christina.

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Was Alex being immature during his dispute with Nathan, or was Nathan really being a jerk?

Stacy: Being that I'm not a doctor, I have no idea who was right in this scenario, but neither of them handled it particularly well.

Initially, I didn't understand why Alex wouldn't want to put him on the transplant list, at least while the parents were deciding. I didn't see the harm in that until he said a heart was on its way that could have been directed to another baby. Then I at least understood his position, but the baby lived so that's the important thing.

Maybe he would have with Alex's way too, and then another baby would have gotten the heart, but it's impossible to say. I could see both sides and I could understand why each fought for their way, even though they could have both behaved better.

Ashley: I think Alex was being immature and I couldn't understand why the two of them couldn't compromise. It felt strange to me.

Amanda: This whole storyline felt forced. I was sided more with Nathan, and I felt like Alex was acting really immature.

Tiffany: I think they both had the kid's best interests at heart, but they're surgeons, so their egos got in the way. I wanna side with Alex because I like him more than Riggs, but I truly didn't feel like either side was more right. Just glad the kid survived, I guess.

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The tension between Jackson and Catherine was at an all time high. Was Jackson overstepping, or did you agree with him? What do you think is going on with him?

Stacy: I'm on Team Jackson. He's fighting for what he believes is best for the hospital, and if anything, Catherine is the one overstepping. She doesn't even work there full time and should probably stay out of it. I loved Jackson's speech about learning from Sloan.

Ashley: I am also Team Jackson. I don't understand why Catherine is doing this, and I'm tired of the entire storyline.

Amanda: I think Jackson's issues go a lot deeper than this storyline. Catherine doesn't handle things with the most gentle hand, but she was right about everything regarding the Avery name.

Also, I'm getting really sick and tired of how Jackson speaks to April. He shows her such little respect that I am unsure how I feel now about a Japril reconciliation.

Tiffany: I 100% agreed with Jackson. Catherine is the queen of overstepping. She'll manipulate anyone, or any situation, to get her way because she thinks she knows what's best for everyone. I can't imagine it was easy growing up with a mother like that. It's no wonder Jackson is tired of it.

As for what's wrong with him, I have no idea. That kinda came out of left field for me. Although, I'm glad the show is giving him his own storyline aside from simply just dealing with the annoying women in his life.

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Do you like April's new relationship with Catherine? Do you think she'll consider relocating for a higher position? Is she coming across like an opportunist?

Stacy: Remember when Catherine tried to steal April's baby? Apparently, April doesn't.

No, I do not like this new relationship at all, but if it means April takes a new position elsewhere and she leaves the show, I would be totally fine with it. She's a good doctor and if that's the job she wants, she should go look for it.

People leave for promotions all the time when it's clear they're not going to move up in their current job. Meredith's not going anywhere anytime soon.

Ashley: I don't care for it, but I also think it could do some interesting things for her character if handled well. I doubt we'll see April relocate, but I could see her making a change within the hospital somehow.

Amanda: I'd rather have April getting along with Catherine than have them be warring. I don't know if the show would have April relocate. I don't think she's an opportunist, but I think she knows when she should go for something that could benefit her future and validate all the hard work she's done.

Tiffany: I don't like it. I think Catherine is trying to mold April into the person she wants her to be because she never really liked her before. It may also be a power thing since she isn't able to control Jackson.

While he's a great son, he's clearly his own person and she may be transferring her frustrations with that over to April, her ex-daughter in law. I don't think April is an opportunist, but I also don't think she's a very strong person. I think she's very susceptible to other people's impact on her and her life.

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Are there any storylines you're tired of and would like to see burn in an inferno?

Stacy: Definitely the whole Owen/Amelia mess. I'm over that. I'm ready for a resolution to the whole Minnick situation too, but I don't see that happening before the season finale. I'm ready to see peace in the hospital again.

Ashley: Everything that's happening right now? I'm especially tired of the hospital drama.

Amanda: The hospital drama, especially everything with Richard, Eliza, Catherine, and Jackson.

Tiffany: The forcing together of Meredith/Riggs who's actually buying this? We all know Owen's sister will show up eventually. The struggles of Owen/Amelia either get them together or break them up, I'm tired of the limbo.

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Who was the MVP of "Civil War?"

Stacy: I'm giving it to Jackson for his Sloan speech. I respect that he's not backing down, even as his allies are dwindling and the fight is getting harder. Jackson is one of my favorite characters, so it's not hard for me to root for him.

Ashley: I really loved Ben in this episode. He's been this voice of reason and rockstar doctor in the middle of all the irritating drama, and it's been nice to watch.

Amanda: Can I say no one?

Tiffany: Maggie. She got Amelia to return to what she loves, respected her decision to not talk to Owen but encouraged her to do so at the same time, then comforter her when things didn't go so well.

She also told Alex and Riggs to put their egos aside and figure out how to save the kid. She is the best sister and a damn good doctor. More Maggie, please!

Do you agree with our roundtable? Let us know in the comments below! Don't forget you can watch Grey's Anatomy online right here via TV Fanatic.

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Jasmine Blu is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.

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Grey's Anatomy Round Table: Will Meredith and Nathan Make It Official? - TV Fanatic

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

Human anatomy scientific study of the morphology of the adult human. It is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy (also called topographical anatomy, regional anatomy, or anthropotomy) is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by unaided vision. Microscopic anatomy is the study of minute anatomical structures assisted with microscopes, and includes histology (the study of the organization of tissues), and cytology (the study of cells).

The following list of human anatomical structures is based on the Terminologia Anatomica, the international standard for anatomical nomenclature. While the order is standardized, the hierarchical relationships in the TA are somewhat vague, and thus are open to interpretation.

Human nervous system

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Outline of human anatomy - Wikipedia