text:
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Lenovo offers a full complement of ENERGY STAR® qualified notebooks, desktops, workstations, monitors, and servers. Click here for a complete list of Lenovo's ENERGY STAR qualified products.
ENERGY STAR availability within Lenovo's current offerings includes:
[1] Lenovo platforms include Think, Idea, and Essential product lines.[2] For pre-configured systems. [3] Note: Only one monitor of the 20 Lenovo sells is not ENERGY STAR qualified.
(*$71 is the cost saving based on using default settings of the Lenovo Energy Calculator comparing a ThinkCentre M58 Tower with Power Usage model of Business, Power Management Enabled against a ThinkCentre M52 Tower with the usage model of Business, Power Management disabled. Results are based on a hypothetical typical customer scenario and your results will vary.)
Lenovo's Power Manager, used in conjunction with Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop PCs, supports the centralized management of your company's PC energy use via integration with LANDesk or Active Directory. This advanced capability addresses one of the biggest challenges of IT operation professionals regarding the management of a distributed hardware environment.
To learn more about energy innovations in Lenovo products, please see Lenovo's Energy Whitepaper.


text:
Vestar, a prominent leader in commercial management, was selected as property manager at Christown Spectrum Mall in Phoenix.
"In today's challenging retail market, owners understand that an experienced property manager is necessary for the success of a center," says Pat McGinley, Vestar Vice President of Property Management.
Christown Spectrum Mall, formerly known as Phoenix Spectrum Mall, is a 1.14 MSF shopping center that caters to a diverse demographic. The change in management is not the only recent change; the exterior has been redesigned and developed to improve the overall environment of the property, according to Vestar officials.
Christown was Arizona's first air-conditioned, enclosed mall and today it houses popular stores such as Walmart Supercenter, Walgreens, Ross Dress for Less, Costco Wholesale, Claire's Boutique, and Dollar Tree. The mall also features other smaller specialty retail stores.
While Vestar continues to manage its various properties, it has begun examining and evaluating plans for Christown to specifically help increase mall traffic and tenant sales, Vestar says.
To increase the synergy from all of the tenants, the company plans to use its years of experience and the lessons it has learned to creatively think about every area of potential improvement.
The mall features seven anchor stores. Officials say in the current economic climate, having successful anchor stores is vital to the survival of a mall. In the past decade, several anchor stores began to close and put Christown in a difficult position. However, with the new redesign and change in management of the mall, the future will continue to look positive, officials predict.
A challenge that Vestar faces with Christown is the disparity of traffic throughout the different sections of the mall.
"We want to find new ways to drive traffic from one portion of the mall to another and create an environment where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts," McGinley says." One of Vestar's core values includes innovation, which to Vestar, means, "tak(ing) lessons of today to create the projects of tomorrow" and the "innovation comes from (their) constant search for better results."
Vestar is in the "process of evaluating each aspect of their operation to determine how best to improve the leasing, management and marketing functions," McGinley says. He adds that tenants have been very responsive to the change in management and with the changes that Vestar is planning on making.
Founded in 1977, Vestar operates properties in Arizona, southern California, and now Nevada. Vestar oversees more than 45 properties which include Tempe Market Place, Desert Ridge Market Place, and Ahwatukee Foothills Towne Center in Arizona.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Nobody will do your homework here.
Surely google is a nice tool for a lot of tasks...........do some research on your own. The solution is right in front of your eyes.........
Hey all ... Well I have a really strange questions to ask ... I'm a university student taking a Network Security course, and I have an upcoming lab in which our class would be split up into groups and would be issued ubuntu or Windows XP Service Pack 1 computers, and our task would be to exploit vulnerabilities in each others systems .. I know that the systems that would be given to us would have Ubuntu 7.10 or Windows XP Service Pack 1 installed on them .. although it would be just a bare OS install (i.e. no additional security patches are applied) .. any mods we need to apply to harden the system would be up to us .. So basically what I'm asking is for a list of ubuntu/Windows XP exploits which I can practice before the lab ...
I have come across one website which archives exploits, but all the exploits I've seen there assume something about the victim OS ... e.g. the user needs to open some webpage to start the exploit, or it needs to open a site which is set as Trusted, or it needs to have some specific programs installed, etc ... We can't do this as the victim computers won't be under our physical control ... The only thing we know for sure will be running on all systems are the following services (this is part of the rules for this lab, that the following services need to run on all systems .. teams cannot stop these services to avoid getting compromised):
Service Port
------- ----
Telnet 23
MulticastZoo 446
XMPP/Jabber 5222
MySql (**) 3306
So basically I am in need of exploits which exploit vulnerabilities in any one of the above services ..
Thanks in advance ...
(here's to hoping that none of my class mates are reading this ) .. :P
Nobody will do your homework here.
Surely google is a nice tool for a lot of tasks...........do some research on your own. The solution is right in front of your eyes.........
You can search for exploits here : Metasploit Penetration Testing Framework - Module Browser
Google is your friend...
Toujours votre, Matad0r.
Follow me on Twitter : http://twitter.com/Matad0rsExploit


text:
Connecting Families to Senior Living
Talk to a local advisor for FREE
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Caretypes Provided: Independent Living
Pricing is available for the following rooms:
*Prices quoted are monthly rental charges and are provided by the communities themselves. Actual prices may differ due to one-time fees, timing and care services required. Speak with your Senior Living Advisor to learn more.
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correct place for my parents. He asked the right questions
which helped us to find the right place."
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I have no complaints about the tour I had taken of this community. They have a beautiful property and the staff does a great job with keeping it clean as well as maintained. I liked the wide open f... more...
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text:
Provo • BYU lost six offensive linemen to career-ending injuries last season, including four who were starters or key backups.
It is no surprise, then, that the Cougars went after a lot of big bodies in their recruiting efforts the past few months in an effort to rebuild their decimated offensive line, coach Bronco Mendenhall said Wednesday.
Of the 26 players who signed with BYU, eight are offensive linemen and three are defensive linemen.
It is a signing class that lacks highly touted playmakers on offense just one quarterback, no running backs and two wide receivers but fills the program's greatest needs, Mendenhall said.
"As you look at the [list], you can clearly see the need was offensive line," Mendenhall said. "… So what our original plan was, or what it ended up being as the season went on, changed dramatically."
There were a few surprises on Wednesday, as the Cougars added two junior college offensive linemen Edward Fusi of Mount San Antonio and Tim Duran of Cabrillo College who were not previously known to have been offered scholarships.
The only player signed by BYU on Wednesday who received what could be considered heavy recruitment from other top schools was Brayden Kearsley, a four-star offensive lineman from Aloha High in Beaverton, Ore.
But as he annually does, Mendenhall said he never recruits players based on the number of stars the player receives from recruiting services.
"I will honestly tell you that I have never looked at any of the services that have stars," he said. "What I am interested in doing is recruiting stars for BYU. Not number of stars, but stars for this place."
The lone quarterback, Billy Green of Shoreline, Wash., enrolled in January and will compete for the starting job, which both Mendenhall and offensive coordinator Robert Anae said is considered open. Anae said the quarterback will run the ball more in his offense.
Green "is really tough, he knows how to win football games, and he is passionate to be here," Mendenhall said. "You will like him, when you watch him play."
At least five of the players who signed linebacker Nathan DeBeikes, tight end Moroni Pututau, receiver Talon Shumway, and defensive backs Garrett England and Johnny Tapusoa are expected to go on church missions first.
At least five players who committed to BYU and that "BYU is committed to," according to its news release, will go directly on missions and were not listed among the signees because new NCAA rules stipulate that schools can only "sign" 25 players per year.
It is believed that the list includes East High running back Patrick Palau, Cottonwood receiver Inoke Lotulelei, Herriman running back Francis Bernard, Timpview linebacker Pita Taumoepenu and Maataua Brown, a defensive lineman from Cerritos (Calif.) Community College.
Twitter: @drewjay


text:
Arts & Culture
The Wedding PartyBy Sophie Pinkham
As Kim Kardashian recently reminded us, marriage is no longer the inevitable result of a wedding; the ritual is easily divorced from the institution. This is a source of some comfort to the single person approaching thirty, bombarded by engagement announcements and Facebooked wedding photo albums. Just a few more years of this, you tell yourself, and people will start getting divorced.
So this fall I was tickled to receive an invitation to a fake wedding in New Orleans. With all the phoniness announced up front, there was no need for jealousy (I'll die alone!), anxiety (She's making a terrible mistake!), or expensive gifts (But I can't even afford health insurance!). Read More


text:
Lawrence Cross, MA, MSW, LCSW
Licensed Psychotherapist/Clinical Social Worker
211 West Neshannock Ave., New Wilmington, Pennsylvania 16142
Grief and loss may take many forms, be it the loss of a loved one or beloved pet, a change in finances/employment/health, or even the breakup of a meaningful relationship. Resolving grief can seem insurmountable, and also become complicated if we avoid the difficult feelings that accompany the grieving process. At New Wilmington Psychotherapy & Counseling we utilize a comprehensive approach to grief and loss. We incorporate helping strategies designed to meet one's individualized needs determined by each unique situation. Approach objectives are to facillitate the expansion of healthy and meaningful ways of experiencing one's self and the world -- the ultimate goal, achieving acceptance.


text:
LONG BEACH - School spirit was alive at Long Beach State on Thursday as hundreds of students flocked to televisions on campus to watch the 49ers play against New Mexico in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in Portland, Ore.
The mass enthusiasm, however, gave way to disappointment when Long Beach lost 75-68 after a painfully close game. New Mexico will go on to play Louisville on Saturday.
"I can't believe they lost after such a close game," groaned sociology major April Skidmore, who skipped her 3:30 p.m. class to watch the end of the game. "I'm so mad."
Skidmore wasn't the only fan to skip class. Roommates Allison Solylo, Kristen Wilsey and Nicole Hanson said they skipped class to cheer on their favorite team. The juniors said they've been going to almost every 49er home basketball game since their freshman year.
"The highlight was when we beat Santa Barbara," said Wilsey, referring to Long Beach's 77-64 victory against UC Santa Barbara on Saturday for the championship of the Big West Conference Tournament.
Packed with a crowd of around 300, the Nugget Grill and Pub was hopping with action as fans cheered and booed while sipping on green beer - an early St. Patrick's Day treat. While the loss was sad for some, 49er fanatics said they'll undoubtedly support their team next year and are proud Long Beach made it this far.
"They played a great game and they'll play a great game again next year," said senior Jesus Rosha.
Though the game started at about 1 p.m., some fans came to the Nugget as early at 9:30 a.m. to score a prime seat in front of the big screen TV. Carlos Huerta, a 23-year-old civil engineering major, said he's been following the 49ers since his freshman year.
"It's about school spirit," he said. "You want to have a good team and be proud of your team, and Long Beach is a great team."
The crowd burst into a frenzy and chanted "Let's Go Beach!" as Long Beach, after trailing by a few points for most the game, went ahead 61-59 with five minutes left.
"We got this!" shouted Huerta.
New Mexico was able to recover, however, for the win as 49er fans booed.
"It was a tough loss," said Huerta. "But they'll back next year."
firstname.lastname@example.com, 562-714-2181


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The Workplace Violence Restraining Order After Hearing (CLETS-WHO) (Form WV-130) you obtained on behalf of your employee most likely has an expiration (end) date on the first page in item 5. That means that on that date, the order will end and your employee will no longer be protected by it.
If you are still concerned for your employee's safety or want the restraining order to stay in place, you have to "renew" it, which makes it last longer and gives it a new end date. A renewal can make the restraining order last another 3 years.
You must ask the court to renew the restraining order BEFORE your current one ends.
Before the current Workplace Violence Restraining Order After Hearing (Form WV-130) ends, you can ask the court to renew the order. The new order can last up to 3 more years.
To ask for a renewal of the order:
1. Fill out the court forms
Fill out:
2. Fill out the court's local forms (if any)
Ask your local court clerk if there are local forms you have to fill out. Some courts also have forms on their website. Find your local court's website.
3. Have the forms reviewed.
If your court's family law facilitator or self-help center helps people with restraining orders, ask them to review your paperwork. They can make sure you filled it out properly before you move ahead with your case. Remember, they cannot help you if you have a lawyer in the case.
4. Make at least 3 copies of all your forms.
One copy will be for you, one will be for your protected employee, and another copy will be for restrained person. The original is for the court.
5. Take your forms to the court clerk.
The clerk will give the forms to the judge for his or her signature. Ask the clerk when to return to pick up the paperwork. The clerk will file your papers.
6. The clerk or judge will set a hearing date.
You must go to the hearing. Form WV-710 will tell you when and where it will be. The restraining order will be extended until this court date.
7. Figure out WHEN you have to serve your papers by
You will have to serve the papers on the restrained person by the deadline the judge writes on your papers. This is so that the restrained person has a few days to respond to the request and prepare for court.
To find your deadline for service:
8. Serve the restrained person
Personally serve the restrained person with a copy of:
Remember, someone over 18 — NOT you, the protected employee or anyone else protected by the restraining order — can serve the order. For more help with service, read What Is "Proof of Personal Service"? (Form WV-200-INFO). And read the section on service of process.
9. File your proof of service
Have your server fill out a Proof of Personal Service (Form WV-200) and give it to you so you can file it with the court. This form tells the judge and police that the restrained person got a copy of the Request to Renew and the Notice of Hearing. It is very important your server fills out the Proof of Service correctly. If possible, have your court's family law facilitator or self-help center review it to make sure it was filled out properly.
10. Go to your court hearing
At the hearing, the judge will decide whether or not to renew the restraining order protecting your employee.
If your employee is still afraid of the restrained person, let the judge know. If the restrained person has abused or harassed your employee since the last order, or disobeyed any parts of the order you are trying to renew, make sure you tell the judge and provide any proof or details about the violations.
You do not need to show that the restrained person has abused your employee since the last order. It will be up to the judge to decide whether to renew the restraining order or not. And the judge will decide whether to give you and your protected employee a new order for 3 more years.
If the judge renews the restraining order at the hearing:
1. Fill out an Order Renewing Workplace Violence Restraining Order (Form WV-730), attach the restraining order (Form WV-130) that the judge renewed, and give it to the clerk. The judge will sign Form WV-730 renewing the restraining order.
2. Serve the restrained person.
3. File your proof of service.
4. Tell your protected employee to keep 1 copy of the Order Renewing Workplace Violence Restraining Order (Form WV-730), with the Workplace Violence Restraining Order After Hearing (CLETS-WHO) (Form WV-130) and the filed Proof of Service with himself or herself AT ALL times. Your protected employee should also:


text:
Your shopping cart is empty!
Chilea 2011-12 home shirt in red/white/copper colors.Features rubber applied PUMA cat logo and Chilean national team badge on the chest with an additional embroidered PUMA cat logo on the left sleeve.Open collar ,at the back of the neck is embroidered `La roja de todos`.Mesh panels for breathability.100% polyester.Comes with official licensed players N&N of Sanchez #7.
|Name and Number
Soccerplus first opened in 1994. We were one of the first soccer websites to hit the webView more
Address: 1640 E. Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, Ca 91104, USA
Phone: 1-800-945-7291
Get Direct


text:
Klipsch intros first Bluetooth speaker
The KMC 3, Klipsch's first Bluetooth speaker, doesn't look like anything radical, but to our eyes, it's a new paradigm for personal audio. Most of its competitors use Apple's AirPlay wireless audio technology, but the KMC 3 uses Bluetooth, making it compatible with any type of smartphone. Most of its competitors need an AC outlet to operate, but the KMC 3 runs off batteries or AC.
The $399 unit has two 2-inch midrange/tweeters, one 5.25-inch woofer, and 130 total watts of Class D amplification. You can connect via apt-X/AAC Bluetooth or the 3.5mm analog input. The KMC 3's USB port charges portable devices but doesn't work as an audio input. A remote control is included, and the KMC 3 is available in black or white.
Portable power comes from eight D-cells, which you can buy pretty much anywhere. The KMC 3 doesn't recharge the D-cells, but of course you can use rechargeables in it. We haven't seen D-cells much since the Do the Right Thing era when it took 20 of them to power a boombox, but if their return means we can take our music back onto the streets where it belongs, we're happy to see them back.
The KMC 3 is available now on the Klipsch website, and next month at dealers.


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Box Office: "The Hobbit" Makes Expected Journey to the Top Spot
With the long wait finally over, entertainment seekers flocked to their local cinemas in the droves while helping "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" claim the top spot at the box office for the weekend of December 14-16, 2012.
The Peter Jackson directed tale of Bilbo Baggins piled up first day sales of $37 million to break the December record for Friday earnings while taking in a U.S. December weekend best of $84.8 million.
Suffering at the hands of "The Hobbit" mania, "Skyfall" slipped to a distant second place standing after mustering a $2 million Friday - with the Daniel Craig fronted Bond thriller winding up with $7 million for it's sixth weekend in theaters.
Rounding out the box office in weekend earnings are Dreamworks Animations' "Rise of the Guardians" ($ 7 million) in third, followed by the historical drama "Lincoln" ($6.7 million) in fourth and Fox's "Life of Pi" ($5.4 million) in fifth.


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Hotel Extended StayAmerica
W Grand Ave, 550, 60126 Elmhurst, United States |Show on the map
- Terms and facilities
- Useful information
- Location
- Opinions
When you stay at Extended Stay America - Chicago - Elmhurst - O'Hare in Elmhurst, you'll be in the suburbs and convenient to Odeum Sports and Expo Center. This hotel is within the vicinity of Lilacia Park and Drury Lane Theater. Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available onsite. Make yourself at home in one of the 116 air-conditioned rooms featuring kitchens with refrigerators and stovetops. 32-inch flat-screen televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Conveniences include desks and separate sitting areas, and housekeeping is provided weekly.
Choose your room
Share it
Tripadvisor Score Score based on 100 reviews
Services and terms: Hotel Extended StayAmerica
Standard Room Services
- Air Conditioning
- Coffee & Tea Making Facilities
- Radio
- Hairdryer
- Telephone
- Television
Accommodation facilities
- Lift
- Internet Centre
- Laundry
- Non-smoker Rooms
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- 24 hr Room Service
Useful information: Hotel Extended StayAmerica
Other names for Hotel Extended StayAmerica:
Extended Stay America Chicago Elmhurst O Hare
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text:
Dear All.
Is there anay monowall version that deployable to a standard X86 board with
single hardisk .. no floppy ?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Manuel Kasper" <mk at neon1 dot net>
To: <m0n0wall at lists dot m0n0 dot ch>
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 3:07 AM
Subject: [m0n0wall] pb11 is out...
> Hi folks,
> I spent about 10 hours today working on m0n0wall... and you bet, I turned
> quite a few things upside down! :)
> Here's the one big change:
> - completely reworked DMZ/WLAN interface support. The concept of DMZ/WLAN
> is gone; every interface other than LAN and WAN (which retain their
> special meaning for the time being) is now just referred to as an
> "optional interface" (which may have a custom name assigned to it).
> Wireless interfaces are no longer restricted to specific functions (i.e.
> they may be used for LAN, WAN or optional interfaces). The number of
> optional interfaces is essentially unlimited (you can assign as many of
> them as you have via the console menu).
> And yes, again - as a side effect, this change also means that you can now
> use a wireless interface for WAN. That was by far the most popular
> request!
> You can upgrade any version of m0n0wall to pb11; the configuration will be
> automatically converted to reflect the new architecture (including
> firewall/shaper rules) on the first boot. Filter and traffic shaper rules
> that have interfaces or source/destination networks that don't exist
> anymore (e.g. if you have DMZ rules but the DMZ interface is not set) will
> be removed. Please don't forget to make a backup copy of your
> configuration before you upgrade - just in case...
> I think this change is very important to the future of m0n0wall; now that
> the architecture has been cleaned up quite a bit (I'd still prefer to have
> LAN and maybe even WAN lose their special status, but that would just
> require too many changes at this point), I can focus on the smaller issues
> (time, NAT on/off, etc.). Besides, show me one commercial firewall
> manufacturer (except for CheckPoint) that offers that kind of flexibility
> (and for free ;) ...
> As always, please test thoroughly and let me know of any inconsistent
> behavior.
> OK, that said, there's another thing that's been bugging me for some time.
> I already posted to soekris-tech about this, but nobody seemed to have a
> clue: a few buddies of mine have m0n0walls (on net4501s) that crash every
> few days (anything between 2 and 6 days) - they don't respond to pings
> anymore, and while the serial console still echoes characters, the menu is
> gone, too. They have to be power-cycled to make them work again. I see
> this on the newer of my net4501's (one with the serial double-character
> bug), too, while it has never ever happened on an older box (that doesn't
> have the serial bug, BTW). My buddies' m0n0walls are either from the same
> order as my newer box or ordered shortly after it.
> This happens in three different (physical) locations; the only common
> thing is that all use PPPoE on WAN.
> The interesting thing about this is that in exactly the same situation
> (connected to the same cables and power supply and running the same
> version and the same configuration), the newer net4501 crashes while the
> older one doesn't.
> I also noted that the newer one reports net45xx during POST while the
> older one says net4501 (both at BIOS 1.15). I strongly suspect some
> hardware change has occurred sometime after I ordered the first one.
> I would love to hear from anybody who is experiencing the same issue, and
> likewise, from people who use m0n0wall on a net45xx and have never
> experienced this problem at all (i.e. uptimes > 7 days and especially with
> PPPoE).
> Now go download that release and have fun! :)
> Manuel
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: m0n0wall dash unsubscribe at lists dot m0n0 dot ch
> For additional commands, e-mail: m0n0wall dash help at lists dot m0n0 dot ch


text:
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Sunday, February 20 2011 - 9/11 A/V Galleries
Dr. Niels Harrit offers four presentations in Canada, 2-22 thru 3-1
February 19, 2011
Dr. Niels Harrit, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, will be lecturing across Canada in six recognized locations. He will offer a critique of the official account of the destruction of the World Trade Center, focusing on Building 7. Widely published, he is the lead author of a 2009 article on the discovery of nano-thermite (an incendiary and explosive) in the WTC dust.
Tour Schedule:
Tuesday February 22 @ 7PM, Edmonton Alberta
Thursday February 24 @ 7PM, University of British Columbia
Saturday February 26 @ 7PM, University of Victoria
Tuesday March 1 St. @ 7:30 PM, McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author, who is solely responsible for its content, and do not necessarily reflect those of 911Truth.org. 911Truth.org will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained in this article.


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Ureteral retrograde brush biopsyBiopsy - brush - urinary tract; Retrograde ureteral brush biopsy cytology; Cytology - ureteral retrograde brush biopsy
Ureteral retrograde brush biopsy is a procedure in which tissue from the lining of the kidney or ureter (tube that connects a kidney to the bladder) is removed for examination.
How the Test is Performed
This procedure is performed using regional (spinal) or general anesthesia. The test takes about 30 - 60 minutes.
A tube with a camera on the end (cystoscope) is first placed through the urethra into the bladder. Then a guide wire is inserted through the cystoscope into the ureter (the tube between the bladder and kidney).
The cystoscope is removed, leaving the guide wire in place. A longer, thinner telescope (ureteroscope) with asmall camerais then inserted over or next to the guide wire to see the inside of the ureter or kidney.
A nylon or steel brush is placed through the ureteroscope. The suspicious area is rubbed with the brush. Biopsy forceps may be used instead to collect a tissue sample.
The brush or biopsy forceps is removed. The tissue is taken from the instrument and sent to a pathology laboratory for analysis. The instrument and guide wire are removed from the body. Sometimes a small tube or stent is temporarily left in the ureter to prevent a kidney blockage caused by swelling from the procedure.
How to Prepare for the Test
You will probably need to fast for about 6 hours. Your health care provider will tell you how you need to prepare.
How the Test Will Feel
After the test is over, you may have some mild cramping or discomfort. Some burning may occur the first few times you empty your bladder. You may also see some blood in your urine for a few days after the procedure.
Why the Test is Performed
This test is used to take a sample of tissue from the kidney (renal pelvis or calyx) or ureter. It is performed when an x-ray or other test has shown a suspicious area (lesion), or there are suspicious cells in the urine.
Normal Results
The tissue appears normal.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal results may show cancerous cells (carcinoma). This test is often used to tell the difference between cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) lesions.
- Allergy to anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Hole (perforation) in the ureter
- Infection (urinary tract infection, pyelonephritis, or sepsis)
Tell your health care provider if you have an allergy to seafood -- it may cause anallergic reaction if the contrast dye used during this test is given through a vein (intravenous line).
This test should not be performed in people with a urinary tract infection or a blockage at or below the biopsy site.
After the test, watch for abdominal pain or flank pain. Report excess pain, fever, or chills to your health care provider right away.
A small amount of blood in the urine is normal the first few times you urinate after the procedure. Your urine may look faintly pink. Report very bloody urine or bleeding that lasts longer than three emptyings of the bladder to your health care provider.
Sagalowsky AI, Jarrett TW, Flanigan RC. Urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract and ureter. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 49.
Kidney anatomy - illustration
Kidney anatomy
Kidney - blood and urine flow - illustration
Kidney - blood and urine...
Ureteral biopsy - illustration
Ureteral biopsy
Review Date: 6/18/2012
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.


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Do What Jesus Did Conference with Robby Dawkins - #DWJD
Mid Peninsula Vineyard Christian Church
Friday, October 10, 2014 at 7:00 PM - Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 7:00 PM (PDT)
Do What Jesus Did (#DWJD) is a three day event presented by world renowned speaker, Robby Dawkins, designed to equip you in empowered evangelism, healing the sick, prophetic ministry, and gospel identity. #DWJD is for every believer who has a passion to be better equipped and empowered to look, listen, and respond to Jesus' commissioning and his activity around you.
Whether you're at Whole Foods, the mall, school, work, church or home, may you "Do What Jesus Did;" not only by proclaiming the good news, but by demonstrating it.
Friday, Oct 10
7pm - General Session #1
Saturday, Oct 11
9am - General Session #2
2pm - Practical Outreach Training
7pm - General Session #3
Sunday, Oct 12
10am - General Session #4
About Robby Dawkins
Robby is the most sought after Vineyard speaker in the USA and Internationally as well. Many Leaders that were close to John Wimber(Vineyard's founder) have said that Robby operates in a very similar anointing to John.
He and his wife Angie have been married for almost 20 years and have 6 boys ranging from 2 -19. Robby is a fifth generation pastor who was born to missionary parents in Japan. He served as a youth pastor for 12 years for churches between 50 to 14,000 members before he and Angie planted a Vineyard church in the downtown area of Aurora, Illinois (Chicago area) 15 years ago. Their church has many gang members, drug addicts, and prostitutes and just simply down and outers as well as a few middle class. Yet God has shown up to powerfully change these people's lives through this pastor and church. To date 70% of their church came to Christ at their church and 60% of that through Power encounters (Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance or ministry of God's manifest presence). The mayor of Aurora along with it's chief of police recently bestowed upon Robby and the Vineyard an acknowledgment that he and his Vineyard church have made a significant difference in Aurora's crime rate reduction. For the 1st time in 66 years Aurora, IL was declared homicide free in 2012.
Robby has a deep passion to equip the Church and he ministers extensively to do so (in the U.S. and in 38 countries) in various Denominational and Nondenominational circles in Power Evangelism. He was most recently featured in the movie documentaries "Furious Love" in 2010 and "Father of Lights" in 2012.
A Spirit-filled church serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1984
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.


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Ask the Mouthy Housewives: Keep Your Menstrual News To Yourself, Please
Some things just don't need to be shared…
-The Mouthy Housewives
Joining us here at BettyConfidential … The Mouthy Housewives! These lovely models of decorum (Kelcey, Wendi, Marinka, Kristine and Tonya) want our lives to be as fabulous as theirs, thus they're happy to ignore their families to give us smart, cheeky advice. So pop open a box of rosé, put on your favorite Barry Manilow CD and let the Housewives Swiffer away your troubles … Every week they'll be answering burning questions from readers.
Dear Mouthy Housewives,
One of my friends says, "I'm on my period" and it drives me crazy. Should I just let it go? She's years away from menopause.
Read Ask the Mouthy Housewives: How Do I Shake the Hex of My Boyfriend's Ex?
Dear TMI,
Before I answer this question, I have to let you know something really personal. (Ahem.) I'm on my period!
Anyway, since you didn't really elaborate in your email, I'm not sure if your problem is simply the fact that your friend is telling you she has her period or if what you don't like is the way she's phrasing it. Let's discuss the former first.
Many, if not most, women think it's perfectly normal to let your female friends know when you have your period. In fact, I often do this myself. For example, last week my friend April asked me why I didn't go to yoga and I answered, "Because I had horrible cramps all day" and she immediately knew what that meant. (Full disclosure: I didn't really have cramps, but it was better than admitting I didn't go to yoga because there was a Hillbilly Handfishin' marathon on.) (Plus, I was whacked out on Midol.)
The week before that, my friend Dena asked me why I started crying after I watched a KFC commercial and I said, "Because I have PMS" and she immediately knew what that meant. So perhaps your friend is just letting you know she has her period to explain her mood or her health. She probably feels that you'll commiserate with her. But if you don't want her telling you anymore, maybe a simple, "I love you, but please stop telling me you're on your period because I really don't want to know" will suffice.
Now, if your actual problem is that you just don't like the saying, "I'm on my period," I have a few options you can give your friend. Such as:
• I'm surfing the crimson wave!
• I just got The Curse!
• My Aunt Flo is in town!
• Girlfriend's riding the cotton pony, y'all!
• J'ai mes règles!
• Guess who's wearing a tampon?!
• I'm shedding the lining of my uterus right now! Up high!
• Does this maxipad make me look fat?
Or any other suggestions by our readers, who I'm sure have some fabulous ones.
At any rate, just be honest with your friend. She probably has no idea that this bothers you, and since it's pretty minor, she shouldn't have any problem keeping her monthly news to herself.
Good luck,
Wendi, TMH
The Mouthy Housewives spend our days solving the world's problems and our nights playing classical piano and reading fine literature. Or maybe just yelling at reality TV shows. Need our help? Send your question to email@example.com. (All questions are confidential.) And you can find more smart, cheeky advice at The Mouthy Housewives.


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If I'm not mistaken, she calls them stars (hoshi), not moons. Like Hoshigakure, the Hidden Star Village. 184.108.40.206 (talk) 14:24, October 20, 2009 (UTC)
"This suggests that Temari's fan paper may be made out of some sort of steel." - Or perhaps iron? Kazama Arashi (talk) 06:09, November 5, 2009 (UTC)
When does she call the circles on her fan moons or anything for that matter? I don't believe this was in the manga... --ShounenSuki (talk | contribs) 22:30, January 1, 2010 (UTC)
- Seems we're all pondering about this. Apparently she calls them stars (hoshi) (~Points up to the previous conversation~) ~Hakinu (talk | contribs) 22:51, January 1, 2010 (UTC)
- I think it was during her match with tenten, that she called them moons, at least in the anime. Simant (talk) 23:17, January 1, 2010 (UTC)
- So that would make it anime-only. If someone could find out what episode it was, exactly, I could probably find out what word she used. --ShounenSuki (talk | contribs) 00:42, January 2, 2010 (UTC)
- I think it was during her match with tenten, that she called them moons, at least in the anime. Simant (talk) 23:17, January 1, 2010 (UTC)
- Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru. Simant (talk) 01:26, January 2, 2010 (UTC)
- She uses star (星, hoshi). --ShounenSuki (talk | contribs) 02:07, January 2, 2010 (UTC)
Is this weapon called "Sunatesse" too? 126.96.36.199 (talk) 10:26, May 25, 2012 (UTC)
- Sunatesse? I've never heard it called that. Is there a reason, maybe a website you saw it on or something, that called it that? Joshbl56 10:30, May 25, 2012 (UTC)
- It has never been called that, whoever called it that failed to translate properly or used the wrong translation. --Speysider (Talk Page) 10:33, May 25, 2012 (UTC)
- It's an alternate name on a couple of the German language wiki's. TricksterKing (talk) 11:24, May 25, 2012 (UTC)
btw where did we get the current name for it that we have? considering theres romanji for it i geuss its from a databook right?220.127.116.11 (talk) 11:27, May 25, 2012 (UTC)yomiko-chan
- I believe it was. I think she also called it that in the manga/anime. I'm looking for the translation right now from ShounenSuki but it could take a minute @.@ Joshbl56 11:36, May 25, 2012 (UTC)
- The name shows up on page 79 of the first databook. TricksterKing (talk) 11:46, May 25, 2012 (UTC)
- Yeah, TricksterKing is right. ShounenSuki has it on his translations. It's a little note after her stats. Joshbl56 11:51, May 25, 2012 (UTC)
I can't find the term in Suki-senpai's translations. But 砂鉄扇 Suna Tessen means "Sand Metal Fan" or "Sand Iron-Ribbed Fan". Seelentau 愛議 14:46, June 5, 2012 (UTC)
Utilised techniques
why aren't there any? other tools have it too.188.8.131.52 (talk) 18:14, February 25, 2013 (UTC)
- If i'm not mistaken, the techniques have to originate from the weapon like it does with the Bashōsen and the Kiba (swords) not facilitate them.--Cerez365™(talk) 06:24, February 26, 2013 (UTC)


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In Touch is having a pretty good week when it comes to gossip. In their latest issue they have a report that they busted Kate Gosselin and her bodyguard/turned road manager/assistant sharing the same hotel room while she is filming Celebrity Apprentice. The magazine called his hotel room late at night one night and Kate was the one who answered the phone. You would think at some point she would give up the pretense that he is just her employee. I guess she doesn't want the homewrecker label attached to her name but a few weeks ago they were holding hands at a concert. That revelation led to Steve Neild's wife releasing a photo showing Steve looking all happy with his family.
Here is what I don't get. What is the wife getting out of this? Is she getting paid to keep her mouth shut?Does she have her head buried so deep in the sand that she doesn't see what the rest of the world sees? Has Kate dated anyone since splitting with Jon Gosselin? Nope. Why? Because she already has a guy. You and I both know that if she was dating someone that she would sell that crap as a realty show faster than Lindsay Lohan could steal coke from your pocket. She has never been photographed with any other guy ever. That should tell you something. Apparently she is also the only person on the show who is traveling with someone. Everyone else showed up solo for the filming. She has always said she hired Steve to protect her children. Well, considering he is on the road with Kate all the time, that story had to change which is why she has now classified him as her road manager/assistant.


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Focus on Economic Data: U.S. Real GDP Growth, Final Estimate Q4 2012, March 28, 2013
This lesson focuses on the BEA's third and final estimate of real GDP released on March 28, 2013, for the fourth quarter of 2012 (October-December.) Understanding the level and rate of growth of the economy's output (GDP) helps to better understand growth, employment trends, the health of the business sector, and consumer well-being.
Each real GDP lesson during a semester will provide the most up-to-date data and focus on some specific topics or issues related to GDP.
- Determine the current and historical growth of U.S. real gross domestic product.
- Identify the components of the measurement of the nation's gross domestic product.
- Assess the relationship of real GDP data, the indexes of economic indicators, and business cycles.
- Speculate about the nature and impact of current economic conditions and implications for the future.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis makes three estimates of gross domestic product for each fiscal quarter. The estimates may vary, based on new or revised data. For Q4 of 2012, the first estimate (January) was a fall in real GDP of 0.1 percent and a rise in current dollar GDP of just 0.5 percent.
The second estimates for Q4, made in February, were more positive, 0.1 percent growth in real GDP and 1.0 percent growth in current dollar GDP. The third estimate, made March 28, 2013, were much better than the second, 0.4 percent growth in real GDP and 1.3 percent growth in current dollar, but still not a very positive sign for the economy.
The BEA commented on the revision, "The GDP estimate released today is based on more complete source data than were available for the "second" estimate issued last month. In the second estimate, real GDP increased 0.1 percent. While nonresidential fixed investment is higher than previously estimated, the revision to GDP has not changed the general picture of the economy."
Although the real GDP growth rate estimate was much better in March than in January or February, it was still lagging the growth rate necessary for many to call a "real" recovery. Recovery from the 2008-2008 recession has been historically slow, especially in terms of job growth.
Take a look at U.S. GDP real growth for the fourth quarter of 2012 and decide for yourself if this real GDP estimate is "good news."
Note: Unless otherwise cited, quoted materials in this lesson are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis March 28, 2013, announcement of the final estimate of U.S. gross domestic product for the fourth quarter of 2012.
News Release:
Gross Domestic Product, 4th quarter 2012 and annual 2012 (third estimate)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Released March 28, 2013
"Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 (that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to the "third" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.1 percent."
Students: you should be able to determine an annual percentage rate of increase.
- Subtract the previous real GDP level (Q3 2012) from the current level (Q4 2012).
- Divide the difference by the previous level.
- Multiply that percentage by 4 (quarters.)
Students Does it make sense to revise and report GDP growth three times over three months following each quarter? What kind of new information might result in a revision?
As usual, the BEA commented on the increase or decrease in real GDP citing two measurements of change. When they use the term "acceleration," they refer to the rate of change. The real GDP announcement also cites the "increase" or the dollar value increase in the various sectors. The two following paragraphs from the news release identify the sectors that contributed to the total increase or subtracted from the increase in two ways. Imports, for example, increased as part of the total, but at a slower rate of change.
"The increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), nonresidential fixed investment, and residential fixed investment that were partly offset by negative contributions from private inventory investment, federal government spending, exports, and state and local government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased."
"The deceleration in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected downturns in private inventory investment, in federal government spending, in exports, and in state and local government spending that were partly offset by an upturn in nonresidential fixed investment, a larger decrease in imports, and an acceleration in PCE."
Each month recently, the BEA has commented specifically on two important product groups – motor vehicles and computers. "Motor vehicle output added 0.18 percentage point to the fourth-quarter change in real GDP after subtracting 0.25 percentage point from the third-quarter change. Final sales of computers added 0.10 percentage point to the fourth-quarter change in real GDP after adding 0.11 percentage point to the third-quarter change."
From quarter to quarter, real GDP growth rates can vary significantly. Figure 1, below, shows the growth rates of U.S. real GDP from 2000 through 2012. Note the business cycles – periods of growth and decline. Business cycles are defined later in this lesson.
Students: Can you identify the recent periods of recession? To confirm the "official" recessions identified by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), go to: www.nber.org/cycles/cyclesmain.html ]
A Note About "Real" GDP Growth
To adjust for the effect of inflation and to determine "real" GDP, the BEA uses a price index. The price index for gross domestic purchases is the "percent change in the price index for gross domestic purchases. This index measures the prices of goods and services purchased by U.S. residents, regardless of where the goods and services are produced. The gross domestic purchases price index is derived from the prices of personal consumption expenditures, gross private domestic investment, and government consumption expenditures and gross investment. Thus, for example, an increase in the price of imported cars would raise the prices paid by U.S. residents and thereby directly raise the price index for gross domestic purchases."
For Q4 2012, the BEA stated in the news release, "The price index for gross domestic purchases, which measures prices paid by U.S. residents, increased 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter, 0.1 percentage point more than the second estimate; this index increased 1.4 percent in the third quarter. Excluding food and energy prices, the price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.2 percent in the fourth quarter, the same increase as in the third."
What sectors grew or declined in Q4 2012?
Real personal consumption expenditures "increased 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of 1.6 percent in the third. Durable goods increased 13.6 percent, compared with an increase of 8.9 percent. Nondurable goods increased 0.1 percent, compared with an increase of 1.2 percent. Services increased 0.6 percent, the same increase as in the third.
Real nonresidential fixed investment "increased 13.2 percent in the fourth quarter, in contrast to a decrease of 1.8 percent in the third. Nonresidential structures increased 16.7 percent; it was unchanged in the third quarter. Equipment and software increased 11.8 percent, in contrast to a decrease of 2.6 percent. Real residential fixed investment increased 17.6 percent, compared with an increase of 13.5 percent."
- Real exports of goods and services "decreased 2.8 percent in the fourth quarter, in contrast to an increase of 1.9 percent in the third." Real imports of goods and services "decreased 4.2 percent, compared with a decrease of 0.6 percent.
- Real federal government consumption expenditures and gross investment "decreased 14.8 percent in the fourth quarter, in contrast to an increase of 9.5 percent in the third. National defense decreased 22.1 percent, in contrast to an increase of 12.9 percent. Nondefense increased 1.7 percent, compared with an increase of 3.0 percent." Real state and local government consumption expenditures and gross investment "decreased 1.5 percent, in contrast to an increase of 0.3 percent."
- Change in real private inventories "subtracted 1.52 percentage points from the fourth-quarter change in real GDP, after adding 0.73 percentage point to the third-quarter change. Private businesses increased inventories $13.3 billion in the fourth quarter, following increases of $60.3 billion in the third quarter and $41.4 billion in the second."
Students: Inventories subtracted from U.S. GDP in Q4 2011 (minus 1.52 percent.) Students: What might this mean? Is this a good sign?
A Reminder:
The formula for determining GDP is:
Other Measures of U.S. Output
Gross domestic purchases "purchases by U.S. residents of goods and services wherever produced -- was unchanged in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of 2.6 percent in the third."
- Real gross national product "the goods and services produced by the labor and property supplied by U.S. residents -- increased 0.9 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of 2.9 percent in the third. GNP includes, and GDP excludes, net receipts of income from the rest of the world, which increased $19.2 billion in the fourth quarter after decreasing $4.7 billion in the third; in the fourth quarter, receipts increased $25.3 billion, and payments increased $6.2 billion.
- Current-dollar GDP "the market value of the nation's output of goods and services increased 1.3 percent, or $53.1 billion, in the fourth quarter to a level of $15,864.1 billion. In the third quarter, current-dollar GDP increased 5.9 percent, or $225.4 billion."
US current dollar GDP at the end of Q4 2012: $15,864,100,000,000
U.S. Gross Domestic Product for the Full Year of 2012
In addition to the regular quarterly real GDP estimate, the BEA adds to this report the annual averages for 2012. Note that this is an average of the four quarters and may be considerably less or more than the any one of the quarterly real GDP figures. In this case, the difference is small.
"Real GDP increased 2.2 percent in 2012 (that is, from the 2011 annual level to the 2012 annual level), compared with an increase of 1.8 percent in 2011."
"The increase in real GDP in 2012 primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), nonresidential fixed investment, exports, residential fixed investment, and private inventory investment that were partly offset by negative contributions from federal government spending and state and local government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased."
"The acceleration in real GDP in 2012 primarily reflected a deceleration in imports, upturns in residential fixed investment and in private inventory investment, and smaller decreases in state and local government spending and in federal government spending that were partly offset by decelerations in PCE and in exports."
Real Gross Domestic Income
"Real gross domestic income (GDI), which measures the output of the economy as the costs incurred and the incomes earned in the production of GDP, increased 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of 1.6 percent in the third. For a given quarter, the estimates of GDP and GDI may differ for a variety of reasons, including the incorporation of largely independent source data. However, over longer time spans, the estimates of GDP and GDI tend to follow similar patterns of change."
Real vs. Current Dollar GDP
Figure 3, below, shows the U.S. current dollar and constant dollar (real) GDP data from 2000 through 2012. The difference between the current dollar figure and the constant dollar figure is the effect of inflation. These figures are in billions of U.S. dollars.
*Note: The 2007-2011 GDP data has been revised from previous estimates. According to these revised BEA figures, U.S. real GDP decreases very slightly from 2007 to 2008 and dramatically decreased in 2009. By the end for 2010, real GDP had surpassed the previous high level achieved in 2007. Also note the difference between the 2012 current dollar and 2012 constant dollar GDP. The difference is the result of inflation.
Students: Can you use the above data to determine meaning of the "current dollar" and "constant dollar" measurements of GDP? Can you explain this in terms of the real purchasing power of income over time?
U.S. Per Capita GDP
At the end of the year 2012, the Census Bureau estimated the U.S. population to be 315,427,320 (resident and military abroad). Dividing the current dollar GDP by the population determines the per capita (per person) GDP.
Population 315,427,320
U.S. per capita GDP $49,725.56
Business Cycles and Recessions
The BEA tracks changes in real GDP, the traditional measurement used to identify business cycles. Though it is a critical measure, real GDP is not the sole determinant in the identification of recessions. A recession, a "significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months," is identified by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) "Business Cycle Dating Committee." In addition to real GDP, the key measurements in the determination of a recession are real income, payroll employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales. Recently, the NBER has identified payroll employment as the key criteria used to identify business cycles.
In its announcement of the beginning of the recession in December 2008, the NBER committee cited these trends in economic activity. Payroll employment "reached a peak in December 2007 and has declined every month since then."
"Real personal income less transfer payments, real manufacturing and wholesale-retail trade sales, industrial production, and employment "all reached peaks between November 2007 and June 2008."
In September, 2009, the NBER identified the end of the recession. "The committee determined that a trough in business activity occurred in the U.S. economy in June 2009. The trough marks the end of the recession that began in December 2007 and the beginning of an expansion. The recession lasted 18 months, which makes it the longest of any recession since World War II. Previously the longest postwar recessions were those of 1973-75 and 1981-82, both of which lasted 16 months."
Business cycles are fluctuations in aggregate economic activity in cycles of expansion, peak, contraction, and trough. In a business cycle, several macroeconomics variables will move together (not lock-step in short periods) in a general trend. The cycles recur, but there is no consistent pattern of depth or length of time. The NBER will not identify a business cycle downturn as a recession unless it meets these general qualities and the declines are sufficient enough to meet the description as a "significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months."
Figure 4, below, illustrates a "typical" business cycle, with periods of expansion, peak, decline and trough.
Measuring Economic Activities – Economic Indicators
Much attention is paid in the media to the "Index of Leading Indicators," a composite index used to estimate future economic activity. The Index is determined by The Conference Board, "a global independent membership organization working in the public interest. It publishes information and analysis, makes economics-based forecasts and assesses trends, and facilitates learning by creating dynamic communities of interest that bring together senior executives from around the world."
The Index consists of a variety of measures of economic activity that have historically turned downward before contractions and upward before expansions. The Conference Board created a single index value, a "composite index," composed of ten variables. Many economists believe that the Index of Leading Indicators can "provide an early warning system so that policymakers can shift toward macroeconomic stimulus when the index fails."
The Conference Board's most recent report on Global Business Cycle Indicators " was released on March 21, 2013.
The various cyclical indicators used by the Conference Board are classified into three categories—leading, coincident, and lagging, based on their timing in relation to the business cycle.
"The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. rose 0.5 percent in February to 94.8 (2004 = 100), following a 0.5 percent increase in January, and a 0.4 percent increase in December."
Ataman Ozyildirim, economist at The Conference Board:, commented, "This month's increase in the U.S. LEI – the third consecutive – was widespread and driven by a majority of its components. Even though consumer expectations and manufacturing new orders remain weak, the economy continues to expand slowly, and may be developing some resilience against headwinds from, for example, federal spending cuts due to improving residential construction and labor market conditions. Meanwhile, the U.S. CEI posted a small gain following January's sharp drop due to a decline in personal income."
Ken Goldstein, economist at The Conference Board, commented, "The U.S. economy is growing slowly now, and with this reading increases hope that it may pick up some momentum in the second half of the year. However, this latest report does not yet capture the recent effects of sequestration, which could dampen the pickup in GDP."
"The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.2 percent in February to 105.1 (2004 = 100), following a 1.0 percent decline in January, and a 0.9 percent increase in December."
"The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index® (LAG) increased 0.1 percent in February to 118.0 (2004 = 100), following a 1.6 percent increase in January, and no change in December."
Coincident indicators, such as employment, production, personal income, and manufacturing and trade sales, measure current aggregate economic activity.
- Employees on nonagricultural payrolls
- Personal income less transfer payments
- Index of industrial production
- Manufacturing and trade sales
Leading indicators, such as average weekly hours, new orders, consumer expectations, housing permits, stock prices, and the interest rate spread, tend to change direction ahead of the business cycle
- Average weekly hours, manufacturing
- Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance
- Manufacturers' new orders, consumer goods and materials
- Vendor performance, slower deliveries diffusion index
- Manufacturers' new orders, nondefense capital goods
- Building permits, new private housing units
- Stock prices, 500 common stocks
- Money supply, M2
- Interest rate spread, 10-year Treasury bonds less Federal funds (%)
- Index of consumer expectations
Lagging indicators tend to change direction after the coincident indicators. Lagging indicators represent costs of doing business, such as inventory-sales ratios, change in unit labor costs, average prime rate charged by banks, and commercial and industrial loans outstanding. Lagging indicators, such as the ratio of installment credit outstanding to personal income, the change in consumer prices for services, and average duration of unemployment reflect consumer behavior. The lagging indicators may confirm the trends identified with the leading and coincident indicators.
- Average duration of unemployment
- Inventories to sales ratio, manufacturing and trade
- Change in labor cost per unit of output, manufacturing (%)
- Average prime rate charged by banks (%)
- Commercial and industrial loans outstanding
- Consumer installment credit outstanding to personal income ratio
- Change in consumer price index for services (%)
Students: If you want more details about the meanings of the leading, concurrent and lagging economic indicators, go to the Conference Board web page: Economic Indicators .
Which of the leading indicators gives you the best information about the future measure of real GDP?
Figure 5, below, shows the changes in the major components of U.S. gross domestic product from 2010 to 2012, and the levels of those components in 2012. Note that personal consumption expenditures are, by far, the largest component of GDP - typically about 70 percent of the total. Many analysts say that the true recovery from the recession will happen only when consumers increase their spending to previous levels. Others add that it will take increased business investment that results in greater job creation.
Recent government policy decisions to promote growth in the economy are aimed at stimulating one or more of the components - consumer spending, investment, government spending, or exports. The overall goal is to stimulate aggregate demand.
Aggregate demand can also be illustrated by the formula AD = C + I + G + (X-M):
- C = Consumers' expenditures on goods and services
- I = Investment spending by companies on capital goods
- G = Government expenditures on publicly provided goods and services
- X = Exports of goods and services
- M = Imports of goods and services
By direct government spending, creating jobs, promoting investment, and increasing output, employment is increased and income is created. As those with new jobs earn income, they increase their spending - increasing aggregate demand. The $787 billion federal stimulus (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) was intended to do just that. The U.S. government's www.Recovery.Gov web site reports the impact of the stimulus programs.
Take another look at The Conference Board's "Leading Economic Index" for the United States.
Which of these data points do you think are good indicators of the future health of the U.S. economy?
- Average weekly hours, manufacturing
- Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance
- Manufacturers' new orders, consumer goods and materials
- Vendor performance, slower deliveries diffusion index
- Manufacturers' new orders, non-defense capital goods
- Building permits, new private housing units
- Stock prices, 500 common stocks
- Money supply, M2
- Interest rate spread, 10-year Treasury bonds less Federal funds (%)
- Index of consumer expectations
Research one of these leading indicators. Summarize what it tells us about the future. For descriptions of the components of the Leading Economic Index, go to: www.conference-board.org/data/bci/index.cfm?id=2160 .
U.S. Indicators
Link to The Conference Board's most recent press release "The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Decreases," March 23, 2013. www.conference-board.org/data/bcicountry.cfm?cid=1
Global Indicators
For a look at global indicators, go to The Conference Board, "Global Economic Outlook, 2013," URL: http://www.conference-board.org/data/globaloutlook.cfm


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In Boston, a city filled with historical attractions, competition for tourists' attention is fierce. One of the city's newest museums, Dreams of Freedom, successfully pulls in visitors by telling the story of Boston's rich immigrant history with lifelike mannequins, virtual environments and traditional artifacts. You enter hearing the words of one immigrant — "I've made up my mind. I have to go. Life must be better over there…;" — and leave with a view of immigrants' assimilated lives.
Upon arrival at the museum, you're issued a "passport" that's stamped five times as you move through the immigration process. Mannequins with video-generated faces tell their stories of immigrating to Boston at different points in history. In the section on modes of transportation, you walk across a ship deck rolling with the ocean's waves; "years later," you experience an immigrant's airplane trip to America. Interactive exhibits invite you to try to assemble a puzzle once given to non-English speaking immigrants to test their intelligence, test your knowledge by matching definitions to immigration terminology, or explore changing immigration laws. A 22-minute film tells the stories of famous Boston immigrants such as early settler John Winthrop and Camelot's patriarch and matriarch, Patrick and Bridget Kennedy. At the end of your visit, you can preserve your own immigration story by recording it in the museum's oral history center.


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I had someone ask me recently if I was a pantheist. I assume it was because of something that I wrote which had not been read carefully. The model of the divine that I find most resonates with me is panentheism. Obviously there are a number of different ways that panentheism can be understood and [Read More…]
Panentheism and Pantheism
September 10, 2013 by 10 Comments


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Important note: This Wiki page is edited by participants of the EOWG. It does not necessarily represent consensus and it may have incorrect information or information that is not supported by other Working Group participants, WAI, or W3C. It may also have some very useful information.
Accessibility Intros Notes
From Education & Outreach
Nav: EOWG wiki main page
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- ...comment {name}
We now have three resources that provide introductions:
- Introduction to Web Accessibility on WAI website, from 2005
- Accessibility - W3C on W3C main website for general W3C audience
- Web Accessibility Basics on Web Platform docs - geared more for developers
- EOWG 27 July 2012 - Summary: The audience is a little different for each, and it is appropriate to have information targeted to different audiences. The WAI one is old and not as good as the others. Let's look at what to do with that one. Concern with having the main pointer for our Web Accessibility Intro material be the W3C site rather than the WAI site.
Should we merge? Replace? Duplicate? other?
- ...comment {name}
Proposal for discussion
- Replace the old Introduction to Web Accessibility with the content from Accessibility-W3C content
- Question: Is there anything else we would want to add given this audience is particularly interested in accessibility? Anything from the old Introduction to Web Accessibility?
- Maybe a combination of Accessibility - W3C and Web Accessibility Basics? Then I think we have covered what is in the old WAI introduction{Helle}
- ...comment {name}
- add evaluation -- probably to all 3 pages -- now that we have Easy Checks & WCAG-EM
- Web accessibility basics on Web Platform Docs
need to get rid of the google workshop ad section and the aria tangent
Comments on specific documents
- Introduction to Web Accessibility on WAI website, from 2005
- ancient analysis & changelog
- The message is good, but the language is a bit stiff. "More specifically..." at the very start is a bit off putting and there are too many lists of words. Also, the introduction of benefits to people without disabilities may be beside the point as we move toward a greater understanding of the civil rights aspects of equal access.{Sharron}
- I agree with Sharron about the message and the languagewould be good if we could make it shorter and not try to include everything and everybody in order not to have forgotten a specific group or a disability Think this was also discussed ehrn we first made the text. Not sure we should skip the part about people without disability due to better understanding of civil rights, but have to look at the arguments, are they stllvalid?{Helle}
- Accessibility - W3C on W3C main website
- analysis
- I like this one from W3C main site best, it feels upbeat and somehow has a sense that Accessibility is inclusive and relevant to mainstream rather than old style 'special'(a term that has got overused in the UK to the point of being negative) {-Suzette}
- I agree with Suzette about the upbeat positive message. However, if we are trying to condense to only one place where we introduce accessibility, may want a bit more about the WAI resources. {Sharron}
- Think this is better like Sharron and Suzette. Suggest that we look at combining "Web Accessibility Initiative" and "Learn More" into one section, and skip the rest{Helle}
- Web accessibility basics (from Web Accessibility Basics)
- analysis notes
- This is good, seems to be a combination of sections of the previous two. It leads from the broad general notion that everyone relates to - the web as a universal means of communication - to the civil rights aspect of inclusion. {Sharron}
- This is very good, but not sure if it is right for this purpose(what is it?). we would have to cut in the text. e.g. the exsamples from "How people with disabilties use the web" is to much in an introduction I think.{Helle}


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Photo Gallery: Home Depot Foundation, Habitat for Humanity help local veteran
MUSCOY - Disabled Vietnam veteran Daniel Equihua usually spends time helping others, offering his services to friends in need of home repairs.
However, after two massive strokes left him in a coma and in the Intensive Care Unit for three months, Equihua watched Tuesday morning as others helped him at his Muscoy home.
His eyes welled with tears of gratitude as more than 20 Home Depot volunteer employees and Habitat for Humanity volunteers worked together to make his 1955 home more accessible and comfortable.
Just in time for the holidays, the team was making repairs and modifications in the kitchen, living room, bathroom and the home exterior.
"I used to do these kinds of things for other people and now I can't and they are doing it for me," the 68-year-old Equihua said. "These are very good people."
Rose Equihua, Daniel's wife of 39 years, said her husband was not expected to make it after the stroke.
"While he was in a coma, doctors did not believe he would survive," said Rose Equihua, 63, a retired translator for the San Bernardino City Unified School District and a bilingual teacher at Monterey Elementary School.
Equihua has been frustrated by not being able to work around the house, according to his wife.
Steve Klein, assistant manager of the Redlands Home Depot, said the fact that Equihua fought his way to recovery was a tribute to him.
"Basically, we're here because he's got enough to worry about. When we first met Mr. Equihua, he could hardly talk but he has improved so much. We want him to go ahead and keep getting better," Klein said.
The store can usually get a project done in one day, but the Equihua home was too big a project.
"So it will take three different days, six different stores. Today will be all the painting, Thursday will be the kitchen cabinets and appliances and Friday will be flooring throughout the house," Klein said.
The Home Depot not only contributed countless volunteer hours to the project, but sponsored the makeover through a gift of $21,000.
The project is expected to be completed on Friday, according to Klein.
Dennis Baxter, executive director of Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area, said Habitat is not a hand out but a hand up.
"We found the Equihua family through the Knights of Columbus, who called and told us their floors were badly in need of repair," Baxter said.
"We sent some of our people out to look at it and one thing led to another. Dan Brizendine, our director of construction, even found their stove was leaking gas," Baxter said.
When Habitat for Humanity partnered with the Home Depot Foundation, help was on the way.
Home Depot's Klein said the team was honored to help Dan Equihua repair his home in ways he needs to fully recover from the stroke.
The couple is sharing their home with their two daughters and three grandchildren.
Now Equihua is looking forward to Christmas with his family in the remodeled home.
Contact Michel via email, by phone at 909-386-3859, or follow her on Twitter @MichelNolan.


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