Family fun is taking on a new meaning this spring and summer at Galveston’s East Beach with friendly competitions between families.

The Galveston Park Board is hosting a series of seven Family Beach Challenges that will kick-off on March 19 and continue throughout the summer. Families are invited to go head to head in a series of competitions including giant Jenga, sack races and more – all to win some fantastic prizes. These events are free to the public and structured for groups of four people. The family with the most points at the end of the day will receive a $500 gift card, plus tickets to island attractions.

The events will consist of separate play stations around the beach where families can gain points and include the following:

Fut Golf:

- 3 Holes

- 2 Families at the same time

- 15 points to the winner

Tug of War:

- 2 Families at the same time

- 3 Rounds per game.

- The first family that win 2 times will get the points

- 30 points to the winner

Volleyball:

- One set of 15 points

- 2 Families at the same time

- 25 points to the winner

Sack Race:

- 4 Families at the same time

- 2 team members run from each side.

- 20 points to the winning team

Jenga:

- 2 Families at the same time

- First team to win get the points

- 5 pts station

Dominoes:

- 2 Families at the same time

- First team to win get the points

- 5 pts station

Memory Card:

- 2 Families at the same time

- First team to win get the points

- 5 pts station

Castle Contest:

- 4 Families at the same time

- 20 minutes to build a castle

- 50 pts to the winner.

The Family Beach Challenges will be held at Galveston’s East Beach. The beach park is home to a pavilion, boardwalk and entertainment stage as well as restrooms, showers, chair and umbrella rentals, children's playground, concessions and other amenities. Unlike most of Galveston’s beaches, alcohol is permitted at East Beach.

Family Beach Challenges are free and will take place on March 19, April 23, May 14, June 18, July 23, Aug. 20 and Sept. 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For complete rules and regulations and to register in advance, visit www.galvestonchallenge.com.

Mastercard expects to launch in 2017 its "selfie" function to verify online transactions in Singapore and parts of Asia, a top executive said.

This function, known as Mastercard's Identity Check, will allow consumers to use facial recognition technology to match selfies against facial identification, ensuring that the online transactions are the real deal.

The "selfie" function adds a layer of protection to fill in the gaps of various tools of authentication such as biometrics, tokenisation, and behavioural analytics, even as these are already heightened forms of security.

"There could be an issue with twins, but . . . I would need to have a bad twin. They would have to break into my house, steal my phone, and be at my location," Bob Reany, executive vice-president for identity solutions at Mastercard, told reporters at a recent media session held in the US.

"We're trying to fight 40 million fraud accounts being compromised on the dark Web. If you've got a bad brother or sister, you've probably got other problems."

Mastercard is prototyping facial recognition to be converted and stored as encrypted code on some mobile devices.

The "selfie" would not need to be a perfect match, and banks would set the threshold for the matching accuracy. "We'll advise the bank and say 'you don't want to be too open and have only 20 per cent of the things match'. Then, everybody and their dog could use it," said Mr Reany.

The function can either be on a standalone application or integrated into the existing bank apps. It can also work with any other payment brands, as long as the bank that wants to offer the selfie verification also sells Mastercard products.

No specific date has been set for the launch in Singapore, which has banks here not just providing tokenisation, but are also using two-factor authentication for transactions.

The technology has been rolled out in 12 markets in Europe that include the UK, Germany and Sweden.

Still, this comes amid the higher fraud cases for online transactions globally that also means lower transaction approval rates for digital transactions.

Data cited by Mastercard showed that the gross fraud rate for online payments is at about 23.9 basis points (bps), much higher than the 7.2 bps for physical transactions.

Against this, banks are approving just 83 per cent of online transactions, compared to the 96 per cent for physical transactions.

"Those two numbers go hand in hand. Whenever there's high fraud, there's low approval rate. The business is going from a very beautiful, efficient model to a model where there's chaos," Mr Reany said.

Cybercrime is also gaining in sophistication, with new forms of malware popping up on the dark Web.

"People that are doing fraud are not the 400-pound hackers sitting on their beds at night," he said.

"These people are not dumb. They are getting PhDs and they are finding ways to commit fraud. What we have to do is to ruin their business model."

And this runs along the enormous potential for growth in the online payment space, with the number of online and mobile transactions expected to double to 40 billion by 2020, added Mr Reany.

As it is, tokenisation already cuts the risk that credit card numbers would be stolen from single individuals, with those details then sold in larger batches on the dark Web.

With tokenisation, a card number is replaced by a unique set of numbers that are not tied to actual account details. Mastercard is now working to fill another gap by tokenising the card details that merchants already have on their file.

Such security functions may also be foiled by more practical issues. The biometric function may not work with a wet finger, Mr Reany said.

Banks and payments companies would have to combine various tools to create a more secure form of authentication, he noted. This should so significantly raise the costs for criminal to exact fraud that the returns are no longer worth it. "If it's not a scalable attack, we're winning."

Whatever challenges you face, rely on an advisor for strategy, planning, and execution.

4 ATTRIBUTES OF HIGH PERFORMERS

All organizations face impediments to achieving optimal performance.

In addition to typical challenges—such as finding ways to increase revenue, reduce costs, grow your customer base, and stay ahead of regulatory changes—the next decade will present many of its own unique scenarios. Shifting workforce demographics and declining employee engagement are megatrends that are already costing organizations billions of dollars a year in lost productivity. To succeed despite these challenges, it’s important to gain insight on the underlying issues and proven strategies for overcoming them. That’s where a trusted advisor can help.

For more than a century, Moss Adams LLP has helped organizations nationwide and across industries improve financial and operational performance. In that time we’ve identified four key attributes of high-performing organizations: planning, performance, people, and communication.

Most organizations struggle to effectively put these four attributes into practice, even though they might seem straightforward. We’ve determined the critical interdependencies of these attributes and developed a practical approach for incorporating them into your own organization.

A STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS

We’ll work collaboratively with you to develop strategies that are aligned with each stage in your organization’s life cycle—from start-up through growth, reinvention, and eventual transition. Our straightforward approach includes discovery, analysis, and the application of best practices to develop solutions tailored to your culture and organization. These strategies will not only enable you to drive change today but will also give you the tools to maintain your momentum well into the future.

By taking a holistic approach, we’ll help you achieve the mission, vision, and goals you’ve set for your organization. Learn more about our core services that encompass these attributes:

·         Strategic Business Planning

·         Human Capital Planning

·         Benchmarking Studies

WHO WE SERVE

We work with public and private middle-market companies across numerous industries as well as not-for profit organizations and governmental entities at the federal, state, and local level.

Industry Leader to Oversee the Firm’s Finance and Accounting Operations

NEW YORK, NY/ LONDON,  05 April  2016 - BGC Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGCP) (“BGC Partners,” “BGC,” or “the Company”), a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets, today announced that it has named Steve McMurray as Chief Financial Officer, effective April 4, 2016.  He replaces Graham Sadler, whose intention to retire from BGC was announced on February 11, 2015.  Mr. McMurray will be responsible for BGC’s global accounting, controlling and treasury functions, including all financial reporting and budgeting.

Howard W. Lutnick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BGC, said: ‘We are pleased to have an accomplished, high-calibre professional such as Steve joining BGC’s leadership team.  His breadth of experience in the global financial markets will be a great asset to the Company as we build on our efforts to increase shareholder value and deliver a growing portfolio of innovative services to our clients around the world’.

Shaun D. Lynn, President of BGC, commented: ‘Steve’s diverse background encompasses both large, multi-national financial institutions as well as supervisory authorities.  Steve adds in-depth expertise in financial management and broad based industry knowledge to our executive team.  We are excited to have him join us in this important position’.

Mr. McMurray brings to BGC more than 20 years of experience serving the financial services industry in various senior-level financial management capacities.  He was most recently Director of Finance at an independent insurance provider Amlin plc., which he joined in 2007.  Prior to that, he was Chief Financial Accountant at the Bank of England.  He is a qualified member of the Association of Chartered Accountants, having begun his career with PwC, where he served as part of the Banking & Capital Markets practice.

Mr. McMurray said: ‘BGC continues to demonstrate its leadership in the financial and commercial real estate industries through an effective corporate strategy that cultivates solid business growth globally and strong performance for its shareholders.  I am excited to become a member of BGC’s talented team of professionals and look forward to partnering with them to realise even greater accomplishments in the future’.

He is an MA graduate of Cambridge University.

About BGC Partners, Inc.

BGC Partners, Inc. is a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets. Products include fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commercial real estate, commodities, futures, and structured products. BGC Partners also provides a wide range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back-office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. Through its BGC Trader and BGC Market Data brands, BGC Partners offers financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to numerous financial instruments and markets. BGC Partners is the majority-owner of GFI Group Inc. (OTC: GFIG), a leading intermediary and provider of trading technologies and support services to the global OTC and listed markets. Through the Newmark Grubb Knight Frank brand, BGC Partners offers a wide range of commercial real estate services, including leasing and corporate advisory, investment sales and financial services, consulting, project and development management, and property and facilities management. BGC Partners customers include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, property owners, real estate developers, and investment firms. BGC Partner’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: BGCP). BGC Partners also has an outstanding bond issuance of Senior Notes due June 15, 2042, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: BGCA). BGC Partners is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard W. Lutnick.

BGC, the BGC logo, BGC Partners, BGC Trader, Capitalab, Swaptioniser, Newmark, Grubb & Ellis, Grubb and GFI  are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks/service marks of BGC Partners, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Knight Frank is a service mark of Knight Frank (Nominees) Limited.

Media Contacts:

Karen Laureano-Rikardsen

+44 (0) 20 7894 7056

Investor Relations Contacts:

Jason McGruder

+44 (0) 20 7894 7057

Since its inception in 2009, Alfa One International Services & Contracting corporation continues to prove its good reputation in the construction industry and officially expanded its operations in 2012. It is an independent ownership company established in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Our company provides an array of services to various individual and corporate clients, opening soon in Tokyo, Japan. We strive to deliver the most efficient services with the highest quality. We consider our clients as a long term partner, as they grow, we grow with them. We provide our services at hours suitable to our clients seven days a week. Our company is currently located in the industrial area of Sitra.

Our professionals are highly-dedicated individuals that deliver exceptional services with comparable rates. We perform the job with proper supervision and we always maintain quality measures with great importance on our services.

Behind the company’s success are reliable and committed professionals, so we make sure to create an environment that ensures growth for them and in which they are motivated to be innovative.

Contracting

Based on recent reviews conducted by different groups in Bahrain, Alfa One International Services & Contracting has been at the top of the construction industry for over two years in the country.

Our company has the capability to accomplish the designing, execution, and maintenance of both conventional and turnkey construction projects. We have a workforce of more than 120 employees that continues to give an exemplary performance since the company started.

Our in-house capability to design and execute each activity associated with the construction industry, from pre-tendering conceptual stage through designing and construction to handover to the clients, played an important role in the company’s growing success.

We provide a wide variety of professional talent and proper resources to our clients in order to successfully achieve every project. We can always find better ways to meet each our client and avoid fraud and project needs through our extensive network of labor, material and equipment.

Our company prides itself on having extensive expertise in general building, turnkey projects, structural, air conditioning, electrical, finishing, plumbing, external, and all other related construction works.

Clearance

No worries because Alfa One International Services & Contracting have a complete understanding on each of its client needs and a firm high-quality support to validate and update all government and legal documents, support and advice all training programs, legal advices and all HR-related on time updates, and remainders to individual customers.

We adhere to proven approaches to development, maintenance, and management principles.

Cleaning

Alfa One International Services & Contracting corporation offers professional commercial and residential cleaning services for the town, particularly a comprehensive range of commercial cleaning services and soft services that provides reliability and quality.

We promise to deliver a high-quality and cost-effective service to our clients through our skilled management aimed at clear objectives, and hardworking personnel.

If you find yourself in urgent need of the services of a rioting attorney it is imperative that you take time to source for the best legal representation regardless of whether you are guilty or not. Doing so is very important because you may be facing serious consequences such as: serious jail time, hefty fines, probation, a tainted record etc. there are several things which you need to take into consideration as far as choosing the right rioting attorney is concerned.

Below is an overview of 7 top tips on choosing the Right Rioting Lawyer. Taking into consideration these tips serves as a guarantee will help you make the most informed decision when looking for the most qualified attorney to handle your case. In fact, they will significantly increase the chances of having your case result either in a dismissal, satisfactory plea deal or better yet a “not guilty” verdict.

#1: Familiarize yourself with the different ways to find professional and experienced attorneys

Your search for the right rioting attorney is definitely not the time to contemplate hiring your 3rd cousin who you may have previously witnessed win a spending ticket case for a distant relative. This is because, depending on the charges leveled against you, chances are you could end up with a criminal record (tainted image) if you fail to get proper legal representation. This being the case, it is strongly advised that you focus on hiring the best preferably someone with a record of winning cases similar to yours. The best way to do this is to take time and familiarize yourself with the different ways to spot the most reliable lawyers.

Examples of ways to identify professional and experienced rioting attorneys include:

i. Reaching out to professional legal organizations closest to you or within your area. Some organizations may already be having online directories plus major cities and states have legal organizations set up so reaching out to them should be very easy.

ii. Asking for referrals. Ask from those you trust such as close friends or family members particularly those who have in the past hired competent legal professionals.

iii. Court room observations. This applies to a situation in which you have identified an attorney but you are still interested in finding out more about his potential to handling your case.

iv. Checking directories. Feel free to carry out a web search for criminal defense attorney directory.

Once you are familiar with the ways to identify rioting attorneys with the potential of handling your case to your satisfaction, it is advisable to pick at least two or three and then run a background check. Doing so is very important since it will point your towards the candidate who is best placed to represent you and urge your case on your behalf.

#2: Do your research (Run a background check)

With two or three candidates in mind, take time to run a background check as mentioned above. Carrying out an independent research of the candidates is important because it will also help you ascertain the quality of service which you are paying for. During the background check, it is strongly advised that you focus on finding out as much as you can about the legal organization which each candidate belong to. At the very least, they should be from different county or state bar associations. Watch out for Attorneys who belong to the national Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers are better placed since they tend to have slightly more than a passing interest in criminal defense.

# 3: Find out who will be assigned to work on your case after you hire the attorney

Most attorneys have assistants with legal experience who simply serve to help them fill in the blanks on client’s cases. Taking this into consideration, question the candidates about whom else will be assigned to the case with emphasis on the percentage of work they will be given. More importantly, find out how much time the attorney will put in on your case. Also take time to find out what will happen to the handling of your case in the event the attorney is incapacitated, falls ill or become unexpectedly available half way through the hearing for your case.

# 4: Meet the attorney(s)

Do not let your judgment be crowded by advertising slogans. Make sure you arrange and meet the candidates in person. Doing so is very important because it is the only way through which you will able to gauge their legal skills as far as the handling of your case is concerned.

When meeting with the, it is important to trust your instincts (gut). This simply means that: after meeting the candidates, in case you have a weird feeling about hiring any particular attorney, or you suspect that you may be scammed, do not proceed to hire that attorney. Take note, there absolutely is nothing wrong with consulting an attorney and then making the decision not to hire him to represent you.

# 5: Discuss the facts of your case with the attorney.

Besides finding out how familiar each candidate is to cases similar to yours, it is advised that you step up and discuss details of your case with the attorney before making a final decision on who you would like to have work on your case. Doing so is very important because it will give each candidate a chance to enlighten you on how they would handle the case once hired.

Take note, the more information you provide the candidates; the easier it will be to identify the one who is most qualified to handle your case. In fact, it will also help the candidates gauge how much they will rate their legal services to you.

# 6: Review the Criminal Defense Attorney Fees

It is in your best interest to hire the best legal representation which you can comfortably afford. It is however very important to take time and find out what services are you being charged for and how much each cost before finally hiring any attorney. When reviewing the attorney fees with each potential candidate it is advised that you take into consideration the fact that: the cost of hiring attorneys depend on the complexity of your case and the evidence available. Keep in mind, hourly rates are the most consumer friendly.

# 7: Make a decision (hire the attorney whose legal attributes relate well to your case)

After thoroughly taking time to familiarize yourself with the potential of each of the candidates you are interested in hiring to represent you as mentioned above, take time to carefully go through their feedback and then make a decision on who you will hire to represent you.

Keep in mind, after hiring a defense attorney, make sure that you exercise a lot of patience with him/her and most importantly cooperate. Anxiety is usually common through the trial period so find out a way to cope with that in a manner that does not interfere with the attorney or make you look guilty. In addition to the above, in order to expedite the whole trial process, provide the lawyer your hire with all useful and important information in time.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right rioting lawyer can be a very challenging. This being the case, in addition to simply taking into consideration the above mentioned tips, it is strongly advised that you exercise extreme caution and avoiding attorneys who seem to guarantee you any specific results in your case prior to thorough reviewing all the necessary documents, evidence or even making any court appearance. Simply put, the best attorney will be that on who is honest with you about the possible outcomes of your case and does not make any promises or guarantee any outcomes of your case.

Singaporeans moan that besides shopping, dining and the movies, there's not a lot you can do here. Ignore them. The must-see list for the one-day visitor to Singapore, especially the first-timer, is absorbingly long. There is very little chance you'll get bored. Most tourists tend to gravitate first towards the famed retail stretch of Orchard Road. Fine, get your fix of bold-faced names like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and every other couture label under the sun. When you've gotten that out of your system, dump your purchases back at the hotel and head out into the 'burbs where the real charm of Singapore lies. We're here to guide you in the top 10 places to travel where tourists don't normally go; in short, the places where Singaporeans in the know live and play.

* Singapore Botanic Gardens

So, you've arrived. It's early and nothing really opens for business until around 11 a.m., so how are you going to kill time? Slip on the trainers and head out to the Botanic Gardens (open 5 a.m. to midnight). At this time of the day, downtown Singapore's last remaining green lung is a cool, bucolic retreat filled with joggers, dogs and tai-chi practitioners. Wander through the swaths of virgin rainforest (the main boardwalk through it is entered from Upper Palm Valley Road) and then take in the National Orchid Garden's many-colored collection of 1,000 orchid species and 2,000 hybrids. When you're done, drop into the food court near Tanglin Gate for a traditional local breakfast of soft-boiled eggs, coffee and toast slathered with coconut jam.

* Artwork at the Ritz-Carlton

It may seem a little strange to head to a hotel to look at artwork, but the Ritz-Carlton is no ordinary hotel. The massive three-ton Frank Stella installation at the entrance and the pair of Dale Chihuly crystal glass sculptures that anchor both wings of the building kick off one of Southeast Asia's finest (and under the radar) collections of modern and contemporary art. The majority of the pieces were specially commissioned for the public spaces and guest suites. The treasures on view include Andy Warhol and David Hockney's exuberant colors, Rainer Gross's geometric compositions, Henry Moore's restrained monochromatics and the lush botanicals of Robert Zakanitch. It's all free to view, and you even get an iPod-guided tour.

* Chinatown Heritage Centre

Let the other tourist hordes charge over to the newly minted Peranakan Museum or the gloomy Asian Civilisations Museum. If you do only one cultural thing during your 24-hour Singapore layover, it must be a tour of the unheralded Chinatown Heritage Centre, where entire sets of bedrooms, kitchens and street scenes from the late-19th century and early-20th century have been faithfully recreated. It's an authentic slice of Singapore's history that's made all the more fascinating by the gleaming skyscrapers just a few blocks away. And if you must, pick up a kitschy souvenir from the gift shop on your way out.

* Plastic Surgery

In case you missed the memo, the place for plastic surgery is Asia. While many people head to Bangkok and Seoul for assorted nips and tucks, the locals make a beeline for the ultra-swish, Richard Meier–designed Camden Medical Centre. You may not have time for a full makeover, but squeeze in a spot of Botox or a non-surgical facelift with local celebrity surgeon Woffles Wu. And then adjourn downstairs for snapper pie and Pavlova at Whitebait & Kale.

Kaiser Permanente’s South Sacramento Medical Center has been verified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level II trauma center.

The center got provisional verification by the group last year so it could begin operations, but the process requires reviewers to evaluate the program after it is up and running.

Reviewers conducted another on-site review in March to evaluate trauma center staff, equipment and other resources to make sure they meet national standards. Full verification will be in effect until 2013.

Since opening Aug. 1, the new South Sacramento trauma center has treated an average of 150 patients per month.

“We are extremely proud that the American College of Surgeons has verified that our program meets their stringent standards,” Dr. Richard Isaacs, physician-in-chief at Kaiser Permanente South

Sacramento, said in a press release. “We have an excellent staff here and we are committed to caring for some of the area’s most critically injured patients.”

The South Sacramento hospital serves an area from Interstate 5 east to Rancho Cordova, and from Florin Road south to the San Joaquin County line.

The trauma center is a first for Kaiser Permanente nationwide.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The 2012 Harley-Davidson Dyna Fat Bob FXDF is a Dark Custom with a big motorcycle feel. New for 2012, the Harley Fat Bob features a powerful, new, larger air-cooled Twin Cam 103 Harley engine with 6-speed cruise drive tranmission, providing more performance power for passing, hill-climbing, and riding with passenger and cargo. For the custom style you want, the Fat Bob motorcycle’s beefy handlebar is truly reminiscent of an aggressive quarter mile monster. And with the wires routed through the steel, you get a clean, minimal look with nothing standing in your way of the open road. Add to that the wide stance and 16 inch front wheel, and you have a cool fat custom look with a powerful big twin engine. And if you like a little Harley chrome on an otherwise stripped down bike, take a look at the Fat Bob rear chrome shocks. These high performance coil over rear chrome shocks give a smooth ride and custom look. For a little more chrome, the Dyna Fat Bob model also features a distinctive cast chrome double headlamp bucket. This Harley Davidson Dyna Fat Bob comes with a H-D quick release windshield and a H-D quick release back rest !! Vance & Hines black 2 in to 1 exhaust !!! It’s a beast !!

SPECS

ENGINE

Engine - Twin Cam 103™

Bore And Stroke - 3.87 x 4.38 in. (98.4 x 111.3 mm)

Compression Ratio - 9.6:1

Induction        Electronic - Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

DRIVE TRAIN

Transmission - 6-speed

Final Drive - Carbon fiber belt

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES

Front Brake - 4-piston fixed front

Rear Brake - 2-piston torque-free floating rear

Front Tire - 130/90B16 67H

Rear Tire - 180/70B16 77H

DIMENSIONS

Rake - 29°

Trail - 4.9 in. (125 mm)

Wheelbase - 63.7 in. (1,618 mm)

Seat Height - Laden: 26.1 in. (662.9 mm) Unladen: 27 in. (685.8 mm)

Curb Weight - Dry: 673 lbs. (305 kg) Running Order: 706 lbs. (320 kg)

OTHER

Available Colors - Black

Howard Marans MD – Millions of adults suffer from the effects of arthritis. The painful swelling and stiffness of joints make the simplest of daily activities difficult to perform. Both prescription and over the counter medications are available to help ease the pain of arthritis. Other non-surgical arthritis treatments may help in easing some of these painful symptoms.

Exercise Regularly

An arthritis sufferer should exercise in order to stay fit and keep joints’ flexible. The exercise regimen does not have to be high impact to make a positive difference. Lower impact exercises can have beneficial effects on the body by increasing overall range of motion. A weekly exercise routine can aid in other areas of the body, including heart, lungs, and increased energy levels.

- Swimming and water exercises can be done by those who are suffering most forms of arthritis. The body responds well in the water with less strain on joints.

- Light impact aerobics can help a person maintain flexibility in stiff and painful joints. Increasing range of motion can help in easing pain while carrying out the simplest of daily routines.

- Yoga and stretching exercises are a perfect way to maintain a healthy exercise routine. If walking or standing is difficult, certain exercises can be done while sitting.

- Walking is a great way to exercise. The smallest amount of walking on a regular basis can assist in keeping range of motion as joints become inflamed with arthritis.

Before beginning a new physical regimen, consulting a doctor should be the first step. Dr. Howard Marans will be more than happy to go over recommended exercises with you.

Physical Therapy

When painful arthritis hampers daily activities, physical therapy may be recommended as part of the health care regimen. Physical therapy is one of the most utilized non-surgical arthritis treatments. Physical therapy can restore physical function and increase range of motion. The doctor or health care professional will base the exercises on areas which currently have limited mobility.

Healthy Weight Management

When an arthritis sufferer is overweight, the extra pounds can add pressure and strain to the inflamed joints. By following a weight management routine, a person can reduce the stress to the inflamed joints particularly in the knees and hip areas. Changing to healthy eating habits has contributed to a better mental outlook, which can promote higher energy levels.

Helpful Aids

When a person suffers from arthritis, walking can cause pain in joints. Purchasing helpful aids to reduce the stress on joints is a way to combat the pain.

- Canes can be utilized for walking. The extra support provided by using a cane can help a person feel confident in mobility.

- Proper foot wear or padded inserts can help cushion the pressure on joints.

- Knee, ankle, or wrist braces can assist in keeping the joints stable while in motion.

Top Doctor for Non-surgical Arthritis Treatment in Huntington Beach, CA

Dr. Howard Marans is well known in Huntington Beach and the surrounding areas for giving optimal care for arthritis sufferers. Dr. Marans can explain the non-surgical arthritis treatments available for each new client. When the time arrives, he will go over the various surgical options for the patient’s particular condition. Howard Marans MD welcomes PPO and will work with other insurance companies to give the best treatment available. Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 714.979.8981.

Dr. Howard J. Marans graduated from the Univ of Toronto, Fac of Med, Toronto, Ont, Canada in 1982. He works in Fountain Valley, CA and specializes in Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Dr. Howard Marans is affiliated with Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center and Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center.

Dr. Marans’s Specialties

Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine

Dr. Marans’s Education & Training

Medical School: Univ of Toronto, Fac of Med, Toronto, Ont, Canada; Graduated 1982

Dr. Marans’s Accepted Insurance

- Aetna Basic HMO

- Aetna Choice POS II

- Aetna HMO

- Aetna HMO Deductible Plan CA members only

- Aetna Managed Choice POS Open Access

- Aetna Savings Plus of CA

- Aetna Signature Administrators PPO

- Aetna Vitalidad Plus CA con Aetna

- BCBS Blue Card PPO

- Blue Cross CA Advantage PPO Preferred DirectAccess Plus

Dr. Marans’s Office Information & Appointments

Office Locations

Howard J Marans Md

11190 Warner Ave Ste 306

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

(714) 979-8981

You can feel happier in just one minute by first understanding a few important facts.

"Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward desirable goals. There is an instant of contemplation* of the last goal in which one is content. But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do not come to view. There is no more unhappy thing than a man who has accomplished all his ends in life." -- L. Ron Hubbard(*contemplation = thoughtful observation; meditation)

Let's examine three parts of this definition.

1. "There is an instant of contemplation of the last goal in which one is content."

What was the last goal you reached? Do you remember that feeling of contentment?

For example, how did you feel right after your wedding? When you got your first job? When you graduated from school?

2. "But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do not come to view."

For example, planning a vacation is exciting. But toward the end of a vacation many people are bored as they no longer have a goal.

Arguments during honeymoons are common, if the newlyweds do not set goals for their marriage.

Meir Ezra Planning your retirement and the  first day of retirement is a thrill. But the joy of freedom quickly turns to boredom and early death if you do not work on new goals.

3. "Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward desirable goals."

Making yourself happy is easy! Simply chose desirable goals and make progress toward them.

Three Steps to Feeling Happier, Right Now

1. Select a desirable goal. If you don't have a desirable goal, make one up. What do you want?

2. Write down ONE SINGLE THING you can do right now toward this goal. It has to be an action step. Not thinking about it or talking about it. Actual physical motion.

3. Do it! Take that one step right now. Make some small, but real progress. You might be surprised at how easy it is.

As soon as you take this one step, you'll feel instant happiness.

Try it!

Business Accomplishments

Meir Ezra first venture in technology after self-educating in computer programming, was the development and distribution of the highly successful data dictionary editor called “Addicted”.

Following selling the rights to his data dictionary, Meir Ezra established the most successful distributor of the gasoline management, a company that within three years sold over $35,000,000 and has a valuation of US $100,000,000.

Meir Ezra established Securant, Inc., where he developed the FuelSafe fuel and fleet management system, the most technologically fleet management resource available anywhere in the world. Securant’s FuelSafe system is the subject of three patent applications and is receiving world-wide support from industry leaders as the only comprehensive solution to outdated fueling technology. The FuelSafe system is being distributed internationally.

Meir Ezra is also the founder, majority owner and managing partner of TimeMaker LLC, a software development company developing state-of-the art business management solutions. TimeMaker’s flagship product, the patent-pending TimeMaker software, is a revolutionary business communication and task management software which includes the very unique ORP (Organizational Resource Planning). TimeMaker is successfully distributed around the globe to companies like Motorola, municipalities and the Israeli Army. Meir Ezra is involved with many other companies developing and distributing technology products: a very innovative and successful cell phone blocker, a payment-by-cell phone technology, software and hardware solutions and more. He has also assisted in the development of a film production company, in the management of a hotel/restaurant laundry service and in many other commercial enterprises.

Charitable Activities

Meir Ezra is very active in community affairs, having received thousands of commendations for his dedication and support to many causes. He is frequently engaged in public speaking and consulting activities for business organizations and has appeared before the Isralie parliament on a number of occasions as well as nation TV.

One of his favorite projects was the introduction of a revolutionary study technology to the schools in Israel which helped thousands of school children increase their ability to learn and converted the lowest rated schools into one of the highest rated in the country. Meir Ezra also overcame significant barriers to lead the implementation of the most successful drug and prison rehabilitation programs in Israel. In addition to his many community projects and the donation of his invaluable time and personal efforts, Meir Ezra has contributed several millions of dollars to charitable organizations.

Personal Activities

Meir Ezra is active in many personal activities such as karate, motorcycling and kite surfing. He is very much in love with his wife and is the father of three beautiful children.