text:
Bryan Kimzey
VP, investor relations
Calpine Corp.
Kimzey signed on to head the $6.8 billion energy company's investor relations last year. He joined Calpine from Progress Energy, where he worked in investor relations, treasury and strategic planning. Earlier, he worked in investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston and began his career at Arthur Andersen. Kimzey has a B.S. in business administration and a master's in accounting from University of North Carolina.
See Part I of the 2012 30 Under 40 Slideshow here and Part III here.
For the complete 2012 30 Under 40 list, see Ascending the Corporate Ladder. For last year's list, see Ready to Take Charge.
Annona Loughnane
Senior director, worldwide credit services
Loughnane plays a key role in managing Microsoft's global accounts receivable portfolio. She was named director of credit for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in 2005 and moved to the U.S. in 2010 when she took over operational management of the global organization. Prior to joining Microsoft 10 years ago, she worked at Modus Media. Loughnane has a B.A. in European business from the University of Ulster.
Russell Lynch
Controller & VP
Lynch played a key role in the diversified energy company's bond issuances in 2011 and its inaugural $1 billion credit facility in 2010. He was named controller at Energen, which had $1.5 billion in 2011 revenue, in 2009 after joining the company in 2001 in internal audit. Earlier, he was a senior auditor at Ernst & Young. Lynch has a B.S. in business administration and an M.S. in accounting from Auburn University.
Noel Marsden
Treasurer & VP
BrightPoint, a unit of Ingram Micro
At BrightPoint, a $5.2 billion distributor of mobile phones acquired by Ingram Micro this year, Marsden established a strategic development function, directed the financial integration for nine acquisitions and expanded the roster of the company's credit providers. Earlier, he was treasurer at Aearo Technologies, a division of 3M. Marsden has a B.S. in computer engineering from Michigan State and an M.B.A. from Purdue University.
Fazal Merchant
Treasurer & SVP
Merchant signed on as treasurer of DirecTV, the $27.2 billion provider of digital TV service, earlier this year from Royal Bank of Scotland. Earlier, he worked in investment banking at Barclays Capital and spent nine years in treasury and finance positions at Ford Motor in the U.S. and Europe. Merchant has a B.B.A. in finance from the University of Texas and an M.B.A. from Indiana University.
Andy Milevoj
VP, investor relations
Barnes & Noble
Milevoj has worked on a number of transactions at Barnes & Noble, including the $486 million initial public offering of Barnes & Noble.com, the company's acquisition and subsequent spin-off of GameStop, and a $300 million convertible notes offering. Milevoj has worked in investor relations since joining the $7.1 billion bookseller in 1998 and was named to his current position earlier this year. He has a B.S. in finance from St. John's University.
Alexandra Neely
Senior director, risk & liquidity
Hilton Worldwide
Neely oversees the treasury team responsible for forecasting the hotel chain's global cash flow and managing its liquidity. She also manages Hilton Worldwide's foreign exchange and interest rate hedging and credit risk monitoring programs. Prior to joining Hilton in 2010, she worked in finance at Constellation Energy. Neely has a B.A. in economics from Wellesley and an M.B.A. from Wharton.
Mark Okerstrom
Okerstrom has led more than 20 acquisitions and divestitures for the $3.5 billion online travel company, including the spin-off of TripAdvisor. He has also spearheaded initiatives such as restructuring the search engine marketing operations. Earlier, he worked at Bain & Co., UBS and the law firm of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London. Okerstrom has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a J.D. from the University of British Columbia.
Colleen Ostrowski
Treasurer & VP, investor relations
When $12 billion ITT spun off its defense and water businesses in 2011, Ostrowski led the treasury team that worked to ensure each company was positioned for success as a standalone. Prior to joining ITT in 2010, Ostrowski spent 10 years in finance and treasury at Pfizer, where her final position was senior director of treasury pension investments and finance. She has a B.S. in international business from Juniata College and an M.B.A. from Penn State.
Jeffrey Plante
Staff VP, finance
Plante is responsible for financial and strategic planning for the $60.7 billion health benefits company's national accounts business, which covers more than 12 million people. Earlier, as finance lead for two of the company's state plans, he oversaw growth in operating gains. Prior to joining WellPoint in 2006, Plante was a senior financial analyst at Raytheon. He has a B.S. in business administration and an M.B.A. from the University of New Hampshire.


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Which new features do you want the most?
When I search, it would be nice to be able to sort. Today I wanted to find the "white peach" with the highest rating, but I'd have to click every single one! Or maybe I'm missing something?
If you use the teas tab, you can select different categories (white, flavoured, etc). Then you can sort them by name, company, etc. Not the same as using keyword search, but you can see multiple prpducts (and their ratings) at a time. That might help, I hope! : )
Too lazy to scroll through. Hand in hand with laziness, I want a mobile app for when I'm out and about and drinking. Drinking tea. AAAAAnnd I think it would be fun to be able to post a picture of how the tea the you're drinking looks. Cups and all. Tea wear itself is also very important.
This would be awesome – plus it'd be nice to just quickly check what particular places are tea-riffic while out and about. A good app that accurately captures the tea ratings, allows on the go postings and photo uploads along with a view of places would be worth a fee. :)
I would like some changes on the tea rating
or maybe some kind of guideline so there is some subjectivity to the ratings.
At least something like a guide for new people in tea, telling them about
smell/taste/aftertaste maybe informing about competition tasting(5-6 min gaiwan etc).
I must say that I my first rating I couldn't easily choose one. I mean, maybe something like X points for leaves quality/ Y points for smell/ Z for taste/ A for aftertaste etc
You make good points. The way I see it "out here," the beauty of the system is, do what you want! Come up with a system that works for you, and then implement it in your own reviews! Some have rating systems described in their bio's; I hope to do the same soon.
Personally, I think the individual comments about the teas say more about the tea than do the raw numbers (since, as you point out, how someone assigns a number can be so subjective). They may be a good starting point, but the 'beauty', what really counts, is in the details.
btw, Alex Zorach has a rating scale which takes into account some of what you have mentioned, so you could always check that out (http://ratetea.net/).
I totally agree about the individual comments, but then again when you filter the teas, the most basic filter is "by rating" :)
Thx for the link m8 ;)
Another aspect of the rating system I think deserves some reconsideration is the potential for dishonesty and "gaming" via anonymous ratings. I've been on Steepster for a few weeks now and have noticed more than one tea on the "Best Teas" front page take significant drops in score after someone has submitted an anonymous rating. For these teas, I've looked through the tasting notes and find no new entries, but I'm really curious what the new rater actually has to say about the tea, or at least I'd like to know who has submitted the rating and what rating was given.
Transparency is a real asset here, for as a reader and contributor it would benefit me nothing to read a "Best Teas" score board full of questionable noise, dishonest self-interest and score gaming. Given the structure of the current system, and the ability to submit anonymous ratings, I'm concerned that the score system could deteriorate into such a sad state, leaving the general membership at a loss as to what to believe, or at least make us work very hard to discern honest ratings from the mentioned noise.
I'm not against the option of anonymous ratings, but I think that it would be much better to distinguish them as "private ratings" that do not count toward a tea's public score. If someone wants to rate a tea without writing a tasting note, I'm fine with that as well, but these ratings should be on public display so that everyone can see the rating given and the name of the user.
Right now, there appears to be nothing stopping a self-interested party from anonymously rating their own tea a perfect score and submitting scores of zero for competing teas. Giving people the option to engage in that kind of behavior doesn't help the general membership on here gain a sense of what teas are really worth trying and investing our money in. Let's be honest about the fact that this site is as much a promotional aid for tea vendors as it is a social forum, and from there consider how best to implement safeguards against the site being ruined by swindlers playing "King of the Hill".
Yes…I agree. I have seen at least one tea among the best rated (front page)where there is one tasing note of 4 ratings. It is a one time tasting note account and the tea is rated at 100, of course. All the others are anonymous ratings. In looking into a few ratings for that company, there are lots where the tasting notes barely make up half of the ratings… In other words….I would never put any stock in those ratings, but they show up as some of our best rated teas. It kinda messes with the credibility of the whole system. I am not sure I like ratings that figure into a tea's score if I don't know where they came from. I feel there is too much opportunity to seriously skew numbers for those who have the time, whether it be by anonymous ratings or decoy accounts.
Due to many of the reasons both of you have mentioned (you both make many good points), and due to the fact that the manner in which the final rating of each tea is determined is a mystery, I personally do not put too much stock in the ratings. I totally agree that transparency is vital to the ratings and that anonymous ratings don't contribute to the rating of the tea in any meaningful way.
I am not sure how other blogs do this, but I wonder of there is some way to 'earn' the right to rate a tea by requiring that some simple conditions be met first. For example, one condition may be that the user must have had the account for at least a week or a month, and another may be to require the user to post a few 'written only' reviews first (this may be very difficult to implement on the software side, though, I admit). Thus, you could allow written reviews right away, but just not allow any new users to assign numerical ratings to a tea review until some criteria—-as I mentioned above—-has been met. I don't know, just thinking out loud. : )
Companies 'rating' their own teas also compromises the "creditability of the whole system," I believe. I don't see Teavana rating the teas on their website (they do enough already in marketing their tea with their substance-lacking, flowery descriptions to sometimes make me want to gag); if they did, it would be a conflict of interest, just as a tea company rating their teas out here is a conflict of interest. There's nothing wrong with a company writing a review about their own tea (and the more objective the review in this case, the better). It's the act of assigning it a numerical rating that, in my opinion, is not right.
So, when it comes down to it, I think the question here is, can the formula/methodology for how a tea gets its combined 'public rating' be disclosed to those of us in the masses out here on Steepster?
I'm seeing that decoy accounts appear to be a pretty present problem as well. Indeed, one of the current top row "best teas" displays four perfect scores from user accounts betraying an activity and rating history I can only call dubious. I won't name names, but it shouldn't be too hard to find. I read through some past threads in which this issue was discussed before.
I imagine it's exceedingly difficult to completely prevent gaming of this kind, but there were some previous suggestions, which I found interesting. In the above "Sabotage?" thread, Jason spoke of developing a kind of reputation scale for users, where users would be weighed as more or less trustworthy over time based on their overall activity (frequency of likes, comments, helpful notes, etc.). Ratings weighted by user reputation could then affect the overall score algorithm. While in some respects this is interesting, I think it also poses its own set of problems, and could make for a more stratified community where large shares of influence can be concentrated into the hands of only the most active members. Not necessarily a good situation, especially when something as subjective as taste is neither absolute nor universal, but perhaps the overall dynamic it creates would be relatively better than the current state of things. In that thread, Jason also said the following:
"Towards, the transparency of ratings. We would definitely consider making ratings more transparent in the future. Given the way the site had developed, ratings without tasting notes was something we wanted to offer, but we hadn't fully considered how that might leave the system open for potential gaming."
I would like to know if there has been any follow up consideration of this. It's certainly a reform that I would like to see. While I understand that showing the names and scores for what are presently anonymous ratings would not stop the problem of gaming with decoy accounts, I still think it would be a good step in the right direction and at least discourage some of the gaming that appears to be happening on here.
@SimpliciTEA: I don't know if you've already seen this, but Steepster has disclosed information about the basis and methodology of the rating system on their blog. See this post:
For my part, I think the use of a weighted algorithm is a good idea, though it does quite go into details about the specific formulations being used.
@Geoffrey: I did not see that post on their blog. Thanks!
We definitely want to increase transparency with the ratings, it was never intended to hide those (we just didn't anticipate as many). Although it's hard to understand on the surface, we're not convinced the rating system is wrong/flawed, but yea, it needs transparency. That would also help surface the instances of abuse/gaming so they can be dealt with.
@Jason – I just noticed your follow up on this. I appreciate that the transparency aspect is a concern of yours. Being a developer myself, I realize that you and your collaborators are probably quite busy much of the time, but I hope that someday we'll see measures for increased rating transparency implemented on Steepster. It's a nice social network you guys have built, and on the whole I'm pretty happy to participate in it. My only other occasional disappointment with Steepster is the enormous latency the site sometimes suffers. I don't know if that's a server or database issue, but it's kinda shocking at times to wait minutes for a page or entry query to load.
Just read Geoffrey's posts and I must say I agree almost 100%…
It's on of the most important parts of the site, have you considered changing the scale to like/no like or maybe the weight of every member(could be number of posts…) being calculated in the algorith as Geof suggested…
I too have issues with the ratings, at times I feel like there are people here who are friends or employees of the individual tea companies – I'd really like to see the front page changed so that there are not those highly rated teas at the very front that foster a sense of competition. I'd also like to not allow tea companies to comment and post on your ratings of their teas. In other words, get a life… and take your marketing elsewhere.
As far as marketing on Steepster goes, I don't mind minimal marketing asking for my business. For example, Tea Vivre sent me a PM basically asking for my business, and after checking them out, and reading CUSTOMER reviews, I'll probably order from them. I, like some, do not want companies skewing ratings and opinions, marketing their teas here in the ratings/comments section for a specific tea. I want real tea customers to honestly post ratings and reviews of teas. This will undoubtedly influence consumer buying decisions. That is free marketing in a sense. As an example, I never heard of Tea Vivre, or many other companies before. Thanks to (hopefully) honest customer reviews, I will purchase teas based on fellow tea lovers reviews, check out company websites, etc.
So I do not mind a kind, honest PM from a tea company asking for my business. Word of mouth (er….by keyboard) comments and tea reviews by fellow tea lovers, is great PR for hundreds, if not thousands, of tea companies across the net. This alone should be enough, without further "influence" from the tea companies themselves.
Note to Tea Companies:
Let your customers exchange info amongst themselves, regarding their like or dislike of your teas here. The Steepster community, and their HONEST customer reviews, will drive tea lovers to your websites. I do not want any other influence here on Steepster to affect my tea purchases.
I think this has already been suggested, but I'll add my voice to the group of those who want it – I'd love to be able to rate & read ratings of online retailers. Especially since I live in Canada, it would be good to see other people's experience with shipping costs, shipping times and quality before placing an order.
I agree this would be wonderful.
I third this—it would be very helpful.
I've been talking to a user about kinda hacking the places tab to account for online retailers…but you still need a physical address to add the place. If an online shop lists some sort of physical address, even if it's not a retail store, that can be added and rated.
I think this would be an awesome addition to the places tab! I would love to hear other peoples opinions about different retailers.
I am guessing that I'm the user Jason is referring to. I hope to create a new thread soon to invite all on Steepster to do all as I have been doing: review online retailers by either creating a new 'Place' with the + Add a Place button on the Places page, entering the online retailer's name and appending 'online' to it, and entering a physical address and all of the other pertinent information, and as was done with these: (http://steepster.com/places?near=&name=online), or by writing another review of an online place that already exists.
If you don't know how to do this, respond here and I would be happy to help you.
btw, you have to scroll down to see the list (12 online 'Places' listed on two pages).
I'm sure this has been mentioned before but I'm new here so I'll toss in my hat for a place where we could just list what tea we are drinking that day/time. I'd like to keep track of what I'm drinking (thought the tea log would be like that) but don't want to fill up the review area when I have no further notes on the tea besides "yup, drinking it again". I think it'd be neat to see how much of this stuff I'm actually consuming.
You can "write" a review without actually putting any words in, and it will show in your tealog and your cupboard counts, if that's what you mean? I eventually had to stop logging every cup because it looked like very dramatic numbers. : )
Ah, cool. Thanks. I'll give that a try. I'm sure I will get discouraged after awhile when I see those pots add up. :)
This would be nice – maybe a different area like instead of tea reviews have a tea drinking where you can maybe write a little comment if you want and also review how it brewed up just then as opposed to the overall review and rating. I know sometimes my mood and the season affects how I feel about a tea, I LOVE T2's white Xmas during Christmas but during the rest of the yeah I'm so so, just like I've noticed as it nears US Thanksgiving a lot of people seem to be reviewing Pumpkin Pie flavoured teas, of course they might love them just as much all year round but it got me thinking.
If you log a tea multiple times, they'll show up on the tea page but they should be grouped under one tasting note and you'll have to click the "See X more" button to see them all. Hopefully that allows people to log teas multiple times without feeling like they're "spamming" the tea page.
Just tried this and it worked – it doesn't show up unless you click on the more button. Awesome. Thanks Jason. :)
When I review a tea the review stands, unless I need to add further to the original review. For me I'd rather update the original review, even if a new lot of the same tea is dramatically different from year to year, and I believe the updates are posted at the top of the page-if you put them there. That way there is a flowing review from year to year, with the most recent updates at the top. That's just how I prefer doing it. :))
I've noticed that – it does read really smoothly and I like the way you update on any changes in the taste of the same tea by the same company – I've noticed some tea does seem to change dramatically with no notice by the company or even an understanding that it has changed so it's really good reading that from your reviews – I was beginning to think it was all in my head!
So many options of how to review!
Sorry if this has been said before – I would really, really love a "wishlist" and "shopping list" button to be added next to "like" when you're reading through reviews. I read some reviews and I'm so JEALOUS of the awesome tea they're describing and due to price/location etc I can't add it to a shopping list but would like a wishlist that I could access for special occasions and just go "these please" :) And by putting them next to the likes it means you could read through your "following" reviews and not have to go to the actual tea place. Quick and easy.
I'm going to join the "I don't know if this has been said before but…" group, here. I'm wondering if maybe I've missed this feature somewhere, and if not I'd like to suggest it!
You know the little rating bar that shows up when you are adding a new tea rating/note? Is there any way to access just that bar, with ALL the teas I've rated so far? (I've noticed it only shows a couple of the most recent ones you've rated.) So that I can see which ones I've rated, and what I've rated them altogether (and in comparison to others), instead of having to scroll back through all my tasting notes? I realize this might start to get complicated for people with a TON of ratings… but if there's some way to organize it like this, with just the tea name and in order of ranking… that would be aaaaaawesome!
@Ellysa: I'm not sure if this is what you want, but each account has a Tea Ratings page that may just do what you are asking here (you may have to be patient to wait for it to load, as for some reason, the page always takes awhile to load for me). You can also sort with the Sort by drop-down menu positioned just above the rating of the first tea (here is the link to your Tea Ratings page, sorted by Highest rated http://steepster.com/abhayamudra/teas?sort=rating which you can access through your account drop-down menu at the upper right hand corner when you are logged in).
Once you are at the page the beauty of the setup is all you have to do to change the rating is to left-click the rating number, make your change on the bar, and select Save.
Oh my gosh. Thanks for pointing that out… that is essentially what I wanted. I thought I had clicked that link before, but you're right about it taking forever to load. Maybe I just didn't wait long enough? Thanks so much!
Yea, that page is running a bunch of calculations that really slows things up – it's basically calculating every rating order for each possible filter on that page. So if you have a lot of ratings it will take a while. If/when we get a chance to go back and optimize things, we do have that on our list.
No problem, I understand completely! I have no problem exercising my patience when it's for something I appreciate. :)
I'd like to see some way to suggest the consolidation of different teas. It's not uncommon to see several listings for what is clearly the same tea from the same company, e.g. one person has listed it, and then another and another has listed it with slightly different names or spellings. Maybe I'm being too geeky, but it bothers me!
Another similar but kind of opposite problem is when a tea company lists a particular picking. All subsequent ratings of that tea over future years will often still be on that old picking, rather than new ones. I know that's a harder problem to solve though,
I would like to be able to connect with some locals. Maybe a search by "50 miles within zipcode" or something along those lines would be great. :]
I would love this also! This would be so helpful to follow locals, see what they are drinking, where they are shopping, etc.
Exactly Ellyn. It may be because I'm in the heart of east texas, but I slightly feel like some sort of a minority among coffee drinkers here lol. I suppose for some big city steepsters this may not be much of an issue because they have so many tea lounges around, but for people like me… fellow tea drinkers are a rarity.
Considering what just happened to poor Rob's post when he merely tried to politely introduce himself and it got flooded with 200+ of bot-spam… would it be possible to introduce a small amount of captcha? Not every time, but like triggered by every nth post or x amount of days or maybe just on the first post on the board?
(I cannot believe I just said that!)
:) That's actually on our list of little bugs to fix/improvements. It'd be great not to have to, but obviously it's necessary. I try to do my best to keep an eye on it, I just can't keep up with them all the time.
We know. I can't shake the feeling, though, that every time one spam message pops up, you get pelted by twenty notifications about it from the users :/

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Panther Open House
Monday, August 4, 2014 (All day)
Panther Open House
Monday, August 4, 2014 (All day)
High school and transfer students are welcome on all open house dates. All majors and deciding students are welcome at every open house. Expanded opportunity to explore academic programs is available on selected dates for majors within each college.
Location: NA
Contact Information
Name: Jenny Connolly Email: email@example.com Phone: (319) 273-2281
Link to Event: http://www.uni.edu/admissions/visit-campus-campus-campus-campus


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Commercial insurance prices increased by 5% in aggregate in 2013's third quarter, says Towers Watson, but the risk consultant forecasts the hardening trend will taper.
Data from the Towers Watson Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS), obtained from 43 insurers representing about 20% of the U.S. property and casualty commercial-insurance market, shows the Q3 increase follows 11 consecutive quarterly price hikes.
However, aggregate pricing dropped by a point since the same period last year.
Prices increased by about 6% from the second quarter of 2011 to the second quarter of 2012. The rate of increase stayed flat at about +6.5% through this year's second quarter, but then dropped by about a point by the third quarter of 2013.
"This hard market is somewhat different from hard markets we have experienced before," says Tom Hettinger, Towers Watson's P&C sales and practice leader for the Americas.
"Carriers are taking rate, which is logical, as they focus on measuring the capital required to support the business rigorously and realistically, and adjust their return expectations accordingly."
Employment practices liability experienced the largest year-over-year price increase.
Price increases across all lines were smaller compared to the prior quarter, except for EPL. Mid-market accounts had higher price increases than large and small commercial accounts, and specialty lines prices increased at a lower rate than standard lines.
Loss ratios are "benign," says Hettinger, as the change in earned loss ratios between accident years 2012-2013 have fallen by about 6%, a 1.5% improvement since the Q3 2011-Q3 2012 reporting period.
Still, says Hettinger, "the explicit recognition of risk, whether in the form of investment yield, inflation risk or catastrophe exposure, seems to be leading to much more disciplined pricing decisions."


text:
Text of Obama's State of the Union address
Text of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, as provided by the White House:
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, my fellow Americans:
Today in America, a teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it, and did her part to lift America's graduation rate to its highest level in more than three decades.
An entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup, and did her part to add to the more than 8 million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years.
An autoworker fine-tuned some of the best, most fuel-efficient cars in the world, and did his part to help America wean itself off foreign oil.
A farmer prepared for the spring after the strongest five-year stretch of farm exports in our history.� A rural doctor gave a young child the first prescription to treat asthma that his mother could afford.� A man took the bus home from the graveyard shift, bone-tired but dreaming big dreams for his son.� And in tight-knit communities across America, fathers and mothers will tuck in their kids, put an arm around their spouse, remember fallen comrades, and give thanks for being home from a war that, after twelve long years, is finally coming to an end.
Tonight, this chamber speaks with one voice to the people we represent: It is you, our citizens, who make the state of our union strong.
Here are the results of your efforts:� The lowest unemployment rate in over five years.� A rebounding housing market.� A manufacturing sector that's adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s.� More oil produced at home than we buy from the rest of the world - the first time that's happened in nearly 20 years.� Our deficits - cut by more than half.� And for the first time in over a decade, business leaders around the world have declared that China is no longer the world's No. 1 place to invest; America is.
That's why I believe this can be a breakthrough year for America.� After five years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better-positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth.
The question for everyone in this chamber, running through every decision we make this year, is whether we are going to help or hinder this progress.� For several years now, this town has been consumed by a rancorous argument over the proper size of the federal government.� It's an important debate - one that dates back to our very founding.� But when that debate prevents us from carrying out even the most basic functions of our democracy - when our differences shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States - then we are not doing right by the American people.
As president, I'm committed to making Washington work better, and rebuilding the trust of the people who sent us here.� I believe most of you are, too.� Last month, thanks to the work of Democrats and Republicans, this Congress finally produced a budget that undoes some of last year's severe cuts to priorities like education.� Nobody got everything they wanted, and we can still do more to invest in this country's future while bringing down our deficit in a balanced way.� But the budget compromise should leave us freer to focus on creating new jobs, not creating new crises.
In the coming months, let's see where else we can make progress together.� Let's make this a year of action.� That's what most Americans want - for all of us in this chamber to focus on their lives, their hopes, their aspirations.� And what I believe unites the people of this nation, regardless of race or region or party, young or old, rich or poor, is the simple, profound belief in opportunity for all - the notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you can get ahead.
Let's face it: that belief has suffered some serious blows.� Over more than three decades, even before the Great Recession hit, massive shifts in technology and global competition had eliminated a lot of good, middle-class jobs, and weakened the economic foundations that families depend on.
Today, after four years of economic growth, corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher, and those at the top have never done better.� But average wages have barely budged.� Inequality has deepened.� Upward mobility has stalled.� The cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by - let alone get ahead.� And too many still aren't working at all.
Our job is to reverse these trends.� It won't happen right away, and we won't agree on everything.� But what I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class.� Some require congressional action, and I'm eager to work with all of you.� But America does not stand still - and neither will I.� So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that's what I'm going to do.
As usual, our first lady sets a good example.� Michelle's Let's Move partnership with schools, businesses, and local leaders has helped bring down childhood obesity rates for the first time in thirty years - an achievement that will improve lives and reduce health care costs for decades to come.� The Joining Forces alliance that Michelle and Jill Biden launched has already encouraged employers to hire or train nearly 400,000 veterans and military spouses.� Taking a page from that playbook, the White House just organized a College Opportunity Summit where already, 150 universities, businesses, and nonprofits have made concrete commitments to reduce inequality in access to higher education - and help every hardworking kid go to college and succeed when they get to campus.� Across the country, we're partnering with mayors, governors and state legislatures on issues from homelessness to marriage equality.
The point is, there are millions of Americans outside Washington who are tired of stale political arguments, and are moving this country forward.� They believe, and I believe, that here in America, our success should depend not on accident of birth, but the strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams.� That's what drew our forebears here.� It's how the daughter of a factory worker is CEO of America's largest automaker; how the son of a barkeeper is speaker of the House; how the son of a single mom can be president of the greatest nation on Earth.
Opportunity is who we are.� And the defining project of our generation is to restore that promise.
We know where to start: the best measure of opportunity is access to a good job.� With the economy picking up speed, companies say they intend to hire more people this year.� And over half of big manufacturers say they're thinking of insourcing jobs from abroad.
So let's make that decision easier for more companies.� Both Democrats and Republicans have argued that our tax code is riddled with wasteful, complicated loopholes that punish businesses investing here, and reward companies that keep profits abroad.� Let's flip that equation.� Let's work together to close those loopholes, end those incentives to ship jobs overseas, and lower tax rates for businesses that create jobs here at home.
Moreover, we can take the money we save with this transition to tax reform to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes - because in today's global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure.� We'll need Congress to protect more than three million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills this summer.� But I will act on my own to slash bureaucracy and streamline the permitting process for key projects, so we can get more construction workers on the job as fast as possible.
We also have the chance, right now, to beat other countries in the race for the next wave of high-tech manufacturing jobs.� My administration has launched two hubs for high-tech manufacturing in Raleigh and Youngstown, where we've connected businesses to research universities that can help America lead the world in advanced technologies.� Tonight, I'm announcing we'll launch six more this year.� Bipartisan bills in both houses could double the number of these hubs and the jobs they create.� So get those bills to my desk and put more Americans back to work.
Let's do more to help the entrepreneurs and small business owners who create most new jobs in America.� Over the past five years, my administration has made more loans to small business owners than any other.� And when ninety-eight percent of our exporters are small businesses, new trade partnerships with Europe and the Asia-Pacific will help them create more jobs.� We need to work together on tools like bipartisan trade promotion authority to protect our workers, protect our environment, and open new markets to new goods stamped "Made in the USA."� China and Europe aren't standing on the sidelines.� Neither should we.
We know that the nation that goes all-in on innovation today will own the global economy tomorrow.� This is an edge America cannot surrender.� Federally funded research helped lead to the ideas and inventions behind Google and smartphones.� That's why Congress should undo the damage done by last year's cuts to basic research so we can unleash the next great American discovery - whether it's vaccines that stay ahead of drug-resistant bacteria, or paper-thin material that's stronger than steel.� And let's pass a patent reform bill that allows our businesses to stay focused on innovation, not costly, needless litigation.
Now, one of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to American energy.� The all-of-the-above energy strategy I announced a few years ago is working, and today, America is closer to energy independence than we've been in decades.
One of the reasons why is natural gas - if extracted safely, it's the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes climate change.� Businesses plan to invest almost $100 billion in new factories that use natural gas.� I'll cut red tape to help states get those factories built, and this Congress can help by putting people to work building fueling stations that shift more cars and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas.� My administration will keep working with the industry to sustain production and job growth while strengthening protection of our air, our water, and our communities.� And while we're at it, I'll use my authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations.
It's not just oil and natural gas production that's booming; we're becoming a global leader in solar, too.� Every four minutes, another American home or business goes solar; every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can't be outsourced.� Let's continue that progress with a smarter tax policy that stops giving $4 billion a year to fossil fuel industries that don't need it, so that we can invest more in fuels of the future that do.
And even as we've increased energy production, we've partnered with businesses, builders and local communities to reduce the energy we consume.� When we rescued our automakers, for example, we worked with them to set higher fuel efficiency standards for our cars.� In the coming months, I'll build on that success by setting new standards for our trucks, so we can keep driving down oil imports and what we pay at the pump.
Taken together, our energy policy is creating jobs and leading to a cleaner, safer planet.� Over the past eight years, the United States has reduced our total carbon pollution more than any other nation on Earth.� But we have to act with more urgency - because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought, and coastal cities dealing with floods.� That's why I directed my administration to work with states, utilities, and others to set new standards on the amount of carbon pollution our power plants are allowed to dump into the air.� The shift to a cleaner energy economy won't happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way.� But the debate is settled.� Climate change is a fact.� And when our children's children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say yes, we did.
Finally, if we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders and law enforcement - and fix our broken immigration system.� Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have acted.� I know that members of both parties in the House want to do the same.� Independent economists say immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades.� And for good reason: when people come here to fulfill their dreams - to study, invent, and contribute to our culture - they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everyone.� So let's get immigration reform done this year.
The ideas I've outlined so far can speed up growth and create more jobs.� But in this rapidly changing economy, we have to make sure that every American has the skills to fill those jobs.
The good news is, we know how to do it.� Two years ago, as the auto industry came roaring back, Andra Rush opened up a manufacturing firm in Detroit.� She knew that Ford needed parts for the best-selling truck in America, and she knew how to make them.� She just needed the workforce.� So she dialed up what we call an American Job Center - places where folks can walk in to get the help or training they need to find a new job, or better job.� She was flooded with new workers.� And today, Detroit Manufacturing Systems has more than 700 employees.
What Andra and her employees experienced is how it should be for every employer - and every job seeker.� So tonight, I've asked Vice President Biden to lead an across-the-board reform of America's training programs to make sure they have one mission: train Americans with the skills employers need, and match them to good jobs that need to be filled right now.� That means more on-the-job training, and more apprenticeships that set a young worker on an upward trajectory for life.� It means connecting companies to community colleges that can help design training to fill their specific needs.� And if Congress wants to help, you can concentrate funding on proven programs that connect more ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs.
I'm also convinced we can help Americans return to the workforce faster by reforming unemployment insurance so that it's more effective in today's economy.� But first, this Congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance you just let expire for 1.6 million people.
Let me tell you why.
Misty DeMars is a mother of two young boys. She'd been steadily employed since she was a teenager.� She put herself through college.� She'd never collected unemployment benefits.� In May, she and her husband used their life savings to buy their first home.� A week later, budget cuts claimed the job she loved.� Last month, when their unemployment insurance was cut off, she sat down and wrote me a letter - the kind I get every day.� "We are the face of the unemployment crisis," she wrote.� "I am not dependent on the government.Our country depends on people like us who build careers, contribute to society . care about our neighbors . I am confident that in time I will find a job . I will pay my taxes, and we will raise our children in their own home in the community we love.� Please give us this chance."
Congress, give these hardworking, responsible Americans that chance.� They need our help, but more important, this country needs them in the game.� That's why I've been asking CEOs to give more long-term unemployed workers a fair shot at that new job and new chance to support their families; this week, many will come to the White House to make that commitment real.� Tonight, I ask every business leader in America to join us and to do the same - because we are stronger when America fields a full team.
Of course, it's not enough to train today's workforce.� We also have to prepare tomorrow's workforce, by guaranteeing every child access to a world-class education.
Estiven Rodriguez couldn't speak a word of English when he moved to New York City at age 9.� But last month, thanks to the support of great teachers and an innovative tutoring program, he led a march of his classmates - through a crowd of cheering parents and neighbors - from their high school to the post office, where they mailed off their college applications.� And this son of a factory worker just found out he's going to college this fall.
Five years ago, we set out to change the odds for all our kids.� We worked with lenders to reform student loans, and today, more young people are earning college degrees than ever before.� Race to the Top, with the help of governors from both parties, has helped states raise expectations and performance.� Teachers and principals in schools from Tennessee to Washington, D.C., are making big strides in preparing students with skills for the new economy - problem solving, critical thinking, science, technology, engineering, and math.� Some of this change is hard.� It requires everything from more challenging curriculums and more demanding parents to better support for teachers and new ways to measure how well our kids think, not how well they can fill in a bubble on a test.� But it's worth it - and it's working.
The problem is we're still not reaching enough kids, and we're not reaching them in time.� That has to change.
Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child's life is high-quality early education.� Last year, I asked this Congress to help states make high-quality pre-K available to every four year-old.� As a parent as well as a president, I repeat that request tonight. But in the meantime, thirty states have raised pre-k funding on their own.� They know we can't wait.� So just as we worked with states to reform our schools, this year, we'll invest in new partnerships with states and communities across the country in a race to the top for our youngest children.� And as Congress decides what it's going to do, I'm going to pull together a coalition of elected officials, business leaders, and philanthropists willing to help more kids access the high-quality pre-K they need.
Last year, I also pledged to connect 99 percent of our students to high-speed broadband over the next four years.� Tonight, I can announce that with the support of the FCC and companies like Apple, Microsoft, Sprint, and Verizon, we've got a down payment to start connecting more than 15,000 schools and 20 million students over the next two years, without adding a dime to the deficit.
We're working to redesign high schools and partner them with colleges and employers that offer the real-world education and hands-on training that can lead directly to a job and career.� We're shaking up our system of higher education to give parents more information, and colleges more incentives to offer better value, so that no middle-class kid is priced out of a college education.� We're offering millions the opportunity to cap their monthly student loan payments to ten percent of their income, and I want to work with Congress to see how we can help even more Americans who feel trapped by student loan debt.� And I'm reaching out to some of America's leading foundations and corporations on a new initiative to help more young men of color facing tough odds stay on track and reach their full potential.
The bottom line is, Michelle and I want every child to have the same chance this country gave us.� But we know our opportunity agenda won't be complete - and too many young people entering the workforce today will see the American Dream as an empty promise - unless we do more to make sure our economy honors the dignity of work, and hard work pays off for every single American.
Today, women make up about half our workforce.� But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.� That is wrong, and in 2014, it's an embarrassment. A woman deserves equal pay for equal work.� She deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job.� A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship - and you know what, a father does, too.� It's time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a "Mad Men" episode.� This year, let's all come together - Congress, the White House and businesses from Wall Street to Main Street - to give every woman the opportunity she deserves.� Because I firmly believe when women succeed, America succeeds.
Now, women hold a majority of lower-wage jobs - but they're not the only ones stifled by stagnant wages.� Americans understand that some people will earn more than others, and we don't resent those who, by virtue of their efforts, achieve incredible success.� But Americans overwhelmingly agree that no one who works full time should ever have to raise a family in poverty.
In the year since I asked this Congress to raise the minimum wage, five states have passed laws to raise theirs.� Many businesses have done it on their own.� Nick Chute is here tonight with his boss, John Soranno.� John's an owner of Punch Pizza in Minneapolis, and Nick helps make the dough.� Only now he makes more of it: John just gave his employees a raise, to ten bucks an hour - a decision that eased their financial stress and boosted their morale.
Tonight, I ask more of America's business leaders to follow John's lead and do what you can to raise your employees' wages.� To every mayor, governor and state legislator in America, I say, you don't have to wait for Congress to act; Americans will support you if you take this on.� And as a chief executive, I intend to lead by example. Profitable corporations like Costco see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduce turnover. We should too.� In the coming weeks, I will issue an executive order requiring federal contractors to pay their federally-funded employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour - because if you cook our troops' meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn't have to live in poverty.
Of course, to reach millions more, Congress needs to get on board. Today, the federal minimum wage is worth about 20 percent less than it was when Ronald Reagan first stood here.� Tom Harkin and George Miller have a bill to fix that by lifting the minimum wage to $10.10.� This will help families.� It will give businesses customers with more money to spend.� It doesn't involve any new bureaucratic program.� So join the rest of the country.� Say yes.� Give America a raise.
There are other steps we can take to help families make ends meet, and few are more effective at reducing inequality and helping families pull themselves up through hard work than the earned income tax credit.� Right now, it helps about half of all parents at some point.� But I agree with Republicans like Sen. Rubio that it doesn't do enough for single workers who don't have kids.� So let's work together to strengthen the credit, reward work, and help more Americans get ahead.
Let's do more to help Americans save for retirement. Today, most workers don't have a pension.� A Social Security check often isn't enough on its own.� And while the stock market has doubled over the last five years, that doesn't help folks who don't have 401ks.� That's why, tomorrow, I will direct the Treasury to create a new way for working Americans to start their own retirement savings: MyRA. It's a new savings bond that encourages folks to build a nest egg.� MyRA guarantees a decent return with no risk of losing what you put in.� And if this Congress wants to help, work with me to fix an upside-down tax code that gives big tax breaks to help the wealthy save, but does little to nothing for middle-class Americans.� Offer every American access to an automatic IRA on the job, so they can save at work just like everyone in this chamber can.� And since the most important investment many families make is their home, send me legislation that protects taxpayers from footing the bill for a housing crisis ever again, and keeps the dream of homeownership alive for future generations of Americans.
One last point on financial security.� For decades, few things exposed hard-working families to economic hardship more than a broken health care system.� And in case you haven't heard, we're in the process of fixing that.
A pre-existing condition used to mean that someone like Amanda Shelley, a physician assistant and single mom from Arizona, couldn't get health insurance.� But on January 1st, she got covered.� On January 3rd, she felt a sharp pain.� On January 6th, she had emergency surgery.� Just one week earlier, Amanda said, that surgery would've meant bankruptcy.
That's what health insurance reform is all about - the peace of mind that if misfortune strikes, you don't have to lose everything.
Already, because of the Affordable Care Act, more than 3 million Americans under age 26 have gained coverage under their parents' plans.
More than 9 million Americans have signed up for private health insurance or Medicaid coverage.
And here's another number: zero.� Because of this law, no American can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a pre-existing condition like asthma, back pain, or cancer. No woman can ever be charged more just because she's a woman.� And we did all this while adding years to Medicare's finances, keeping Medicare premiums flat, and lowering prescription costs for millions of seniors.
Now, I don't expect to convince my Republican friends on the merits of this law.� But I know that the American people aren't interested in refighting old battles.� So again, if you have specific plans to cut costs, cover more people, and increase choice - tell America what you'd do differently.� Let's see if the numbers add up.� But let's not have another forty-something votes to repeal a law that's already helping millions of Americans like Amanda.� The first 40 were plenty.� We got it.� We all owe it to the American people to say what we're for, not just what we're against.
And if you want to know the real impact this law is having, just talk to Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky, who's here tonight.� Kentucky's not the most liberal part of the country, but he's like a man possessed when it comes to covering his commonwealth's families.� "They are our friends and neighbors," he said.� "They are people we shop and go to church with.farmers out on the tractors . grocery clerks . they are people who go to work every morning praying they don't get sick.� No one deserves to live that way."
Steve's right.� That's why, tonight, I ask every American who knows someone without health insurance to help them get covered by March 31st.� Moms, get on your kids to sign up.� Kids, call your mom and walk her through the application.� It will give her some peace of mind - plus, she'll appreciate hearing from you.
After all, that's the spirit that has always moved this nation forward.� It's the spirit of citizenship - the recognition that through hard work and responsibility, we can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family to make sure the next generation can pursue its dreams as well.
Citizenship means standing up for everyone's right to vote.� Last year, part of the Voting Rights Act was weakened.� But conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are working together to strengthen it; and the bipartisan commission I appointed last year has offered reforms so that no one has to wait more than a half hour to vote. �Let's support these efforts.� It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank account, that drives our democracy.
Citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day.� I have seen the courage of parents, students, pastors and police officers all over this country who say "we are not afraid," and I intend to keep trying, with or without Congress, to help stop more tragedies from visiting innocent Americans in our movie theaters, shopping malls, or schools like Sandy Hook.
Citizenship demands a sense of common cause; participation in the hard work of self-government; an obligation to serve to our communities.� And I know this chamber agrees that few Americans give more to their country than our diplomats and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
Tonight, because of the extraordinary troops and civilians who risk and lay down their lives to keep us free, the United States is more secure.� When I took office, nearly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.� Today, all our troops are out of Iraq.� More than 60,000 of our troops have already come home from Afghanistan.� With Afghan forces now in the lead for their own security, our troops have moved to a support role. Together with our allies, we will complete our mission there by the end of this year, and America's longest war will finally be over.
After 2014, we will support a unified Afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future.� If the Afghan government signs a security agreement that we have negotiated, a small force of Americans could remain in Afghanistan with NATO allies to carry out two narrow missions: training and assisting Afghan forces, and counterterrorism operations to pursue any remnants of al-Qaida.� For while our relationship with Afghanistan will change, one thing will not: our resolve that terrorists do not launch attacks against our country.
The fact is, that danger remains.� While we have put al-Qaida's core leadership on a path to defeat, the threat has evolved, as al-Qaida affiliates and other extremists take root in different parts of the world. In Yemen, Somalia, Iraq and Mali, we have to keep working with partners to disrupt and disable these networks. In Syria, we'll support the opposition that rejects the agenda of terrorist networks. Here at home, we'll keep strengthening our defenses, and combat new threats like cyberattacks.� And as we reform our defense budget, we have to keep faith with our men and women in uniform, and invest in the capabilities they need to succeed in future missions.
We have to remain vigilant.� But I strongly believe our leadership and our security cannot depend on our military alone. As commander-in-chief, I have used force when needed to protect the American people, and I will never hesitate to do so as long as I hold this office.� But I will not send our troops into harm's way unless it's truly necessary; nor will I allow our sons and daughters to be mired in open-ended conflicts.� We must fight the battles that need to be fought, not those that terrorists prefer from us - large-scale deployments that drain our strength and may ultimately feed extremism.
So, even as we aggressively pursue terrorist networks - through more targeted efforts and by building the capacity of our foreign partners - America must move off a permanent war footing.� That's why I've imposed prudent limits on the use of drones - for we will not be safer if people abroad believe we strike within their countries without regard for the consequence.� That's why, working with this Congress, I will reform our surveillance programs - because the vital work of our intelligence community depends on public confidence, here and abroad, that the privacy of ordinary people is not being violated.� And with the Afghan war ending, this needs to be the year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at Guantanamo Bay - because we counter terrorism not just through intelligence and military action, but by remaining true to our constitutional ideals, and setting an example for the rest of the world.
You see, in a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power - including strong and principled diplomacy.� American diplomacy has rallied more than fifty countries to prevent nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands, and allowed us to reduce our own reliance on Cold War stockpiles.� American diplomacy, backed by the threat of force, is why Syria's chemical weapons are being eliminated, and we will continue to work with the international community to usher in the future the Syrian people deserve - a future free of dictatorship, terror and fear. As we speak, American diplomacy is supporting Israelis and Palestinians as they engage in difficult but necessary talks to end the conflict there; to achieve dignity and an independent state for Palestinians, and lasting peace and security for the State of Israel - a Jewish state that knows America will always be at their side.
And it is American diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the progress of Iran's nuclear program - and rolled parts of that program back - for the very first time in a decade.� As we gather here tonight, Iran has begun to eliminate its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium.� It is not installing advanced centrifuges.� Unprecedented inspections help the world verify, every day, that Iran is not building a bomb.� And with our allies and partners, we're engaged in negotiations to see if we can peacefully achieve a goal we all share: preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
These negotiations will be difficult.� They may not succeed.� We are clear-eyed about Iran's support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, which threaten our allies; and the mistrust between our nations cannot be wished away.� But these negotiations do not rely on trust; any long-term deal we agree to must be based on verifiable action that convinces us and the international community that Iran is not building a nuclear bomb.� If John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the Soviet Union, then surely a strong and confident America can negotiate with less powerful adversaries today.
The sanctions that we put in place helped make this opportunity possible.� But let me be clear: if this Congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, I will veto it.� For the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed.� If Iran's leaders do not seize this opportunity, then I will be the first to call for more sanctions, and stand ready to exercise all options to make sure Iran does not build a nuclear weapon.� But if Iran's leaders do seize the chance, then Iran could take an important step to rejoin the community of nations, and we will have resolved one of the leading security challenges of our time without the risks of war.
Finally, let's remember that our leadership is defined not just by our defense against threats, but by the enormous opportunities to do good and promote understanding around the globe - to forge greater cooperation, to expand new markets, to free people from fear and want.� And no one is better positioned to take advantage of those opportunities than America.
Our alliance with Europe remains the strongest the world has ever known.� From Tunisia to Burma, we're supporting those who are willing to do the hard work of building democracy.� In Ukraine, we stand for the principle that all people have the right to express themselves freely and peacefully, and have a say in their country's future.� Across Africa, we're bringing together businesses and governments to double access to electricity and help end extreme poverty.� In the Americas, we are building new ties of commerce, but we're also expanding cultural and educational exchanges among young people.� And we will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific, where we support our allies, shape a future of greater security and prosperity, and extend a hand to those devastated by disaster - as we did in the Philippines, when our Marines and civilians rushed to aid those battered by a typhoon, and were greeted with words like, "We will never forget your kindness" and "God bless America!"
We do these things because they help promote our long-term security.� And we do them because we believe in the inherent dignity and equality of every human being, regardless of race or religion, creed or sexual orientation.� And next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment - when Team USA marches the red, white, and blue into the Olympic Stadium - and brings home the gold.
My fellow Americans, no other country in the world does what we do.� On every issue, the world turns to us, not simply because of the size of our economy or our military might - but because of the ideals we stand for, and the burdens we bear to advance them.
No one knows this better than those who serve in uniform.� As this time of war draws to a close, a new generation of heroes returns to civilian life.� We'll keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits they've earned, and our wounded warriors receive the health care - including the mental health care - that they need.� We'll keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home.� And we all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families.
Let me tell you about one of those families I've come to know.
I first met Cory Remsburg, a proud Army Ranger, at Omaha Beach on the 65th anniversary of D-Day.� Along with some of his fellow Rangers, he walked me through the program - a strong, impressive young man, with an easy manner, sharp as a tack.� We joked around, and took pictures, and I told him to stay in touch.
A few months later, on his 10th deployment, Cory was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in Afghanistan. His comrades found him in a canal, face down, underwater, shrapnel in his brain.
For months, he lay in a coma.� The next time I met him, in the hospital, he couldn't speak; he could barely move.� Over the years, he's endured dozens of surgeries and procedures, and hours of grueling rehab every day.
Even now, Cory is still blind in one eye.� He still struggles on his left side.� But slowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad Craig, and the community around him, Cory has grown stronger. Day by day, he's learned to speak again and stand again and walk again - and he's working toward the day when he can serve his country again.
"My recovery has not been easy," he says. "Nothing in life that's worth anything is easy."
Cory is here tonight.� And like the Army he loves, like the America he serves, Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsburg never gives up, and he does not quit.
My fellow Americans, men and women like Cory remind us that America has never come easy.� Our freedom, our democracy, has never been easy.� Sometimes we stumble; we make mistakes; we get frustrated or discouraged.� But for more than two hundred years, we have put those things aside and placed our collective shoulder to the wheel of progress - to create and build and expand the possibilities of individual achievement; to free other nations from tyranny and fear; to promote justice, and fairness, and equality under the law, so that the words set to paper by our founders are made real for every citizen.� The America we want for our kids - a rising America where honest work is plentiful and communities are strong; where prosperity is widely shared and opportunity for all lets us go as far as our dreams and toil will take us - none of it is easy.� But if we work together; if we summon what is best in us, with our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast towards tomorrow - I know it's within our reach.
Believe it.
God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.


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Miffed Michael
Michael Jordan won over legions of fans with his prowess on the basketball court, but the judge in the athlete's lawsuit against Dominick's grocery stores apparently isn't one of his biggest supporters. Jordan sued the food store chain in 2009, after the store printed an ad congratulating His Airness for making it into the Hall of Fame. The ad featured Jordan's name and jersey number and the message "You are a cut above," below which was a $2-off coupon for a Rancher's Reserve steak.
Jordan sued the store and its parent company, Safeway Inc., for using his name without permission. His attorneys contend that the fair market value for the use of MJ's moniker is $5 million, but Judge Milton Shadur this week called that demand "greedy." However, Shadur has ruled that Dominick's is liable for the ad, which he called "ultimately stupid and really totally without common sense."
Paula's Problems
Celebrity chef Paula Deen is known for serving up traditional Southern cooking on her Food Network shows. But a recent deposition transcript shows that Deen may also be holding on to some less-savory antebellum traditions. Back in March, a former manager at Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House—a restaurant that Deen owns with her brother Bubba Hiers—sued the pair for sexual and racial harassment, claiming that she was regularly subjected to racial slurs and sexual advances from Hiers.
Deen denied all charges at the time, but at a later deposition related to the case, the chef admitted to using the "N word" at times, although she said she hasn't used the term recently. Deen also acknowledged telling potentially offensive jokes, saying: "Most jokes are about Jewish people, rednecks, black folks … I can't, myself, determine what offends another person."
Diet Dupe
Kirstie Alley's struggle with her weight has made headlines for years, and this week, the star lost one very public diet battle when a judge ordered her to change the labels on her line of weight-loss products. Marina Abramyan sued Alley's company, Organic Liaison, last year, claiming that its line of supplements—which supposedly help users lose weight, reduce fluid retention and curb their appetites—are ineffective.
Alley is pictured in before-and-after photos for the products, but Abramyan says that the actress shed pounds, not with the supplements, but with "an above average exercise regimen and extremely low calorie diet," including five to seven hours of daily exercise during her appearance on "Dancing with the Stars." A judge agreed this week, and ordered Alley to include a disclaimer stating that her supplements are not "proven products," but instead "a calorie-based weight loss product."
Peeved Paparazzo
Justin Bieber is at it again. The Canadian pop star will reportedly be hit with another lawsuit, this time from a paparazzo angry over a stolen memory card. Gustavo Garces says that Bieber's bodyguards snatched his camera after he took candid photos of the singer outside Miami's Hit Factory recording studio. The star's guards reportedly returned the camera, but not its SIM Card.
Garces' suit comes just weeks after another photographer sued the star and one of his bodyguards for a similar incident, in which he was allegedly choked, strangled and deprived of his memory card after he snapped photos of Bieber.
Fleeced Feliciano
Musician José Feliciano, best known for his ubiquitous Christmas hit "Feliz Navidad," is suing his former manager for allegedly taking advantage of Feliciano's blindness to defraud the guitarist. Roy Sciacca allegedly landed Feliciano as a client with the promise of an 18-month world tour, admission into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a booking on New Years' Eve and Christmas specials, and more.
Feliciano agreed to Sciacca's proposal, but with a few conditions: He wanted the ability to terminate the management agreement at will, and he wanted his manager to receive only commissions on income received during the court of their working relationship. Sciacca allegedly agreed to make the changes, after which Feliciano signed the agreement. Unfortunately, because Feliciano "did not have the ability to read the agreement," he never saw the final language of the deal, and only later discovered that Sciacca had never changed the language. He is suing to have the agreement rescinded.


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It may not be the world's most expensive pizza, but Vancouver's C6 pie still comes at a $450 premium.
The pricey pie offered by the Steveston Pizza Co. is topped with black Alaskan cod, a thermidor of lobster and comes with a side dip of Russian Osetra caviar, founder Nader Natami told The (Vancouver) Province newspaper.
More from GlobalPost: Pure ecstasy should be legal according to Canadian health official
Customers must order the pizza 24 hours ahead of time. Perhaps not surprisingly, only one person has indulged in the delicacy, UPI reported.
A scaled-down version called the C5 is also available for $120 that features roasted garlic, Icelandic scampi, smoked steelhead and lobster ratatouille. Natami has sold seven of those creations so far.
More from GlobalPost: Bristol Palin sued for defamation (VIDEO)
"I never thought I'd sell so many," he told The Province. "The idea was to make a culinary statement."
While certainly pricey, Natami's offerings pale in comparison to the $12,000 pizza offered by Italian chef Renato Viola in 2008, according to TripAtlas.com. For that price, three chefs cook the pizza in your home using mozzarella di bufala, three types of caviar and lobster. The pizza is then dusted with Australian salt hand-picked from the Murray River, according to The Province.


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Note: This is cross-posted on my professional blog at the Marshall Independent.
Well I took my son to see "World War Z" the other day and will probably be reviewing it week after next unless something more compelling comes along.
(Sneak peak: as an action movie it's pretty good.)
I'm old enough to remember the second wave of monster films in the '60s when I was a kid. The first wave being the black-and-white classics of Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr. Or maybe they were the second and third waves, there were some classic silent monster films.
It seems to me this wave has some significant differences. For one, the old monster films either had only one monster, or one primary monster. A Dracula film was about Dracula. He may have turned some beautiful women into vampires along the way but only the Count really counted.
Nowadays they pile on the monsters. They've taken an idea from the late Richard Matheson (who died last week at the age of 83) of a plague of monsters and run with it.
In Matheson's "I am Legend" (1954, filmed as The Last Man on Earth in 1964, The Omega Man in 1971, and I Am Legend in 2007) the world is overrun by something like vampires or zombies created by a plague.
Matheson also introduced the first hint of the vampire as not-so-bad guy. This idea was fleshed out in Fred Saberhagen's "The Dracula Tapes" and sequels, where we learned that Count Dracula was some kind of uncle to Sherlock Holmes.
The 1979 "Dracula" with Frank Langella as Dracula and Lawrence Olivier as Abraham Van Helsing introduced the "sexy Dracula" that had young girls itching to roll down their turtlenecks for the smooth-talking count.
Now we have the "Twilight" series, "The Vampire Diaries" and "True Blood" with whole families, clans and civil rights movements of vampires who if not all good guys, at least have the choice of being good.
Then came the Zombie Apocalypse, hordes of zombie books and movies in which the zombie condition like vampirism is an infectious disease, but doesn't make you more attractive.
Zombies are like vampires in one sense, they're corpses who won't stay dead. They're different in a whole lot of other ways though.
For one, vampire legends are common in a lot of different countries, though we got Dracula from Romania via Irish author Bram Stoker.
Incidentally, though the persona of Count Dracula was based on the historical Voivode (Prince, or "Governor") of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes ("Vlad the Impaler") Dracula ("Son of the Dragon"), he is remembered as a national hero in Romania, and not at all associated with vampirism. Making him into a vampire in fact intensely irritates some Romanians I know.
Zombies as we know them come from one place – Haiti. And they're real.
There is a theory vampire legends may have come from observing people infected with rabies, though that seems a stretch to me.
The origin of zombies is known however, and has been for some time. Zombies are a legend from Haitian voodoo, but based on the practice of drugging hapless victims to make them fall into a death-like coma, then revive them after their own funeral and keep them compliant and stupefied with drugs.
Haiti's French masters knew about this in the 18th century, and knew it wasn't supernatural. The colonial penal code of Haiti had a law making it a crime to give anyone a drug to make them appear to die, revive them and make them into slaves.
In 1985 Harvard ethnobotanist Wade Davis published "The Serpent and the Rainbow," an account of his research in Haiti to find the zombie drug. Which actually turned out to be a sophisticated combination of drugs derived from datura, pufferfish venom, toad, and sea cucumber.
After being retrieved from their graves and revived, victims were dosed with lower concentrations of drugs, and possibly a bit brain damaged from lack of oxygen. And because of the superstitions about zombies, if they escaped they couldn't go home.
The appeal of vampires is easy to understand I think. Though way mutated from the original myth of a demon-animated corpse, the modern incarnation is basically an immortal superhero with some weaknesses. So you have to stay in after sunrise and your diet is a little restricted, big deal. And they even fudge that a bit these days with animal blood and sunscreen.
(If you want a modern treatment of the vampire closer to the original myth, check out "Let Me In" (2010) or better, get the Swedish original "Låt den rätte komma in" (2008). In one word – chilling.)
But what's the appeal of zombies?
Simple. You get to shoot a lot of people in the head.
There is a lot of concern, fully justified in my opinion, about first-person shooter games. I'm concerned as a parent about games which offer practice in killing people.
With zombies you can blast away all you like with a clear conscience. I have to admit that I've wasted a few quarters in "House of the Dead" video games myself from time to time.


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I recently placed a short notice order with Monster Displays and Patty and Lea went beyond expectations to meet my request. The banner they made turned out great and we couldn't be happier! Thank you Monster Displays!
Monster Displays were absolutely incredible! I had a last minute request of which they went out of their way to meet. The display was done quickly and professionally. They were constantly keeping me posted of the updates and guaranteed me quick delivery and they surely kept their promise. Our display was very much complimented on and was easy to carry and was absolutely beautiful! Thank you. I would not have made it without you. You guys are the BEST!
Monster Displays is awesome! I fully recommend using them for all of your trade show and expo needs. I have used them 3 times over the last year for fast-track, last-minute projects and everything worked like clockwork and came out better than expected. I am really very impressed with them. Plus their prices are great! They have handled all of my normal and my special requests perfectly and have made the whole process very smooth and easy A big thank you to John Godwin and Patty Jones for making my most current project a huge success - thanks for all of your help and special attention to ensure my deadline was met! Cant wait to use you guys again and again and again!
Our recently purchased booth has been extremely easy to assemble as well as storing. The booth is of high quality and well manufactured. I would like to thank the Monster Display team who went out of their way to ensure we would have our product for an important trade show. Thank you all for your wonderful customer service and equally wonderful display.
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At Monster you will find the most visionary exhibit designs at great prices. Our online store boasts a comprehensive collection of trade show displays for every taste and budget. Whether you need a small table top display, a standard 10x10 pop-up display, a banner stand, or the flexibility of a modular trade show system, Monster Displays offers the right solution. In fact, we work with a winning combination in-house production and brand-product distribution to guarantee your complete satisfaction.
We invite you to enjoy the convenience of working with our team of exhibit enthusiasts and graphic design experts. We are ready to become your right-hand in your exhibit marketing efforts, to help you find the best display for your brand and your budget.
Trends, tips, ideas, and everything you need to know about trade show displays
If you've never thought about how utilizing camera phones, tablets, event management software, or video monitors can benefit your follow up strategy, read on.
Compare these guidelines with your own exhibit booth to see if you've included as many opportunities to make a lasting impression as you can.
Utilizing on-site social media in your trade show for your sales strategy focuses on receiving the qualified traffic that your marketing team is hopefully generating.
Many of these items have become a status quo and show up time and time again at conventions – but do they do a good job at motivating a call back?


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Your Views: Books, speech shed light on income inequality
The income inequality issue supposedly has replaced the Affordable Care Act as the issue. I don't believe that for a minute. However, let's take a look at the problem. We now have a class of people who choose not to work.
First, simply look at the number of people who have simply dropped out of the current labor market—period. Then consider what has happened to the impact of the welfare systems that both the United Kingdom and United States have created over the last 30 or 40 years.
The story of the U.K. is best told by Theodore Dalrymple's book "Life at the Bottom" published here in the U.S. in 2001. Dalrymple is a doctor who worked for the U.K welfare system and wrote a series of powerful essays covering what he saw on a daily basis.
Here in the U.S., Charles Murray has written a well-documented book statistically illustrating the breakdown of the class structure. The title is "Coming Apart."
I have read both, and they clearly lead to questions of legislative intentions vs outcomes. Supplementing these two books is a speech given by Marvin Olasky at the Manning Centre's annual Networking Conference in Canada last year. The title: "Effective Compassion—Choosing a different path to stop the downward spiral of government dependence." Olasky is the editor in chief of WORLD News Group.
Tweaking the minimum wage is not the answer.


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Fall 2012 Class Descriptions
Veterans Clinic I & II (Robert F. Muth)
2-4 credit(s)
Requirement(s): Skills
Students represent veterans and military family members who have disputes with predatory lenders and for-profit educational institutions over the use of GI Bill funds and related loans. This clinic provides free legal services including advice, identification and filing of potential claims and representation in civil litigation, arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution. Weekly group meetings are combined with individual case conferences to provide intensive personal training in litigation techniques, problem solving and case management. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis.


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ESBLs are enzymes that are produced by bacteria. The enzymes make the bacteria resistant to many kinds of antibiotics.
It is possible to carry these bacteria without being sick. This is called being colonized. A person who is colonized can still spread the infection to others. The bacteria that carry the enzymes can cause serious infections, such as those in the:
- Intestines
- Urinary tract
- Respiratory tract
If not treated, the condition can be fatal.
This condition occurs when the body is infected with bacteria. These bacteria produce enzymes that make the infection resistant to many kinds of antibiotics. That is why it is so hard to treat.
These bacteria can be easily spread in close living areas, like hospitals. They are most often spread by:
- Medical equipment
- The hands of healthcare workers
Risk Factors
Factors that increase your risk of being colonized by or infected with ESBL include:
- Admission to an intensive care unit (ICU)
- Recent surgery
- A long hospital stay
- Use of invasive medical devices, such as a urinary catheter
- Antibiotic use
- Nursing home residence
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Use of a feeding tube
- Hemodialysis
- Diabetes
- Poor nutrition
Symptoms depend on the location of the infection and may include:
- Fever
- Pain in abdomen
- Pain and burning with urination
- Signs of infection around a wound, such as redness or oozing discharge
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Trouble breathing
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Tests may include:
- Urine, stool, or blood tests
- Swab of the rectum or throat
The bacteria in the samples are then tested to see if it they are resistant to certain antibiotics.
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. There are only a few antibiotics that can be used to treat this infection.
It is also important to take steps to control the spread of ESBL infections, such as:
- Preventing the spread of ESBL-producing bacteria to others by isolation, hand washing , and other steps
- Avoiding unnecessary procedures or unnecessary use of antibiotics
To help reduce your chance of an ESBL infection:
- Wash your hands thoroughly, and ask others to wash their hands.
- Avoid coming into contact with people who have this infection.
- Make sure healthcare staff and visitors wash their hands before and after touching you or touching contaminated surfaces.
- Make sure healthcare staff and visitors use gloves.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: David L. Horn, MD
- Review Date: 05/2016 -
- Update Date: 06/19/2014 -


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After its $1.6 billion dollar settlement with Toyota, Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro has now filled a class-action lawsuit against General Motors in the federal court of the Central District of California. The firm is claiming all GM car owners deserve compensation for the economic loss and damages caused by GM's tainted brand.
GM's rocky history includes over 40 recalls covering more than 20 million vehicles worldwide during the first six months of 2014. This involves the recall for defective ignition switch system. The case accuses GM of misrepresentation, concealment and non-disclosure of "piecemeal" safety defects, all which has caused the devaluation of GM cars.
GM shakes up corporate culture in wake of ignition switch issues
GM class action cases consolidated, to be heard before Judge Jesse Furman
GM's legal department reportedly being investigated in internal inquiry, company pays record fine
Using the experience gained from the Toyota case where Hagens Berman calculated the financial impact of Toyota's recall, the firm is replicating their actions with GM. Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman, says, "We used that experience to forensically examine the impact of GM's recent actions on GM-branded vehicles, and the decreased value we have measured ranges from $500 to more than $2600 per vehicle and may go higher on some vehicles."
According to the attorneys, if certified, the class would represent as many as 15 million GM car owners and exposure could be more than $10 billion. The class includes anyone who has owned or owns a new or used GM vehicle or who has sold a vehicle at its diminished price between July 10, 2009 and April 1, 2014.
The suit states, "GM's egregious and widely publicized conduct, including the seemingly never-ending and piecemeal nature of GM's recalls, has so tarnished the affected vehicles that no reasonable consumer would purchase them for what would otherwise be fair market value for the vehicles."
Already facing dozens of other lawsuits for the ignition switch recall, GM is under even more heat in this pending litigation.


text: Next› ITEM NO. 5799FHD DESCRIPTION 60" Floor Lamp shown in Brushed Nickel/Dakota Mahogany with on/off push thru socket switch, 15' 45° SPT-2 power cord. Includes 14"x17"x11" White Linen Hardback Shade. Recommend 32 or 27 watt CFL bulb. SHIPPING CODE: N - Normal This item is manufactured in Arkansas. We normally have parts available and can build the lamp within 4-6 weeks. MINIMUM ORDER: 1 Request Information for 5799FHD * = Required. *Name: Don't fill this out: *Email: Phone: (Used for contacting you instead of email, if entered.) How Can We Help You? How would you like to Modify this Lamp? DO NOT FILL OUT: Related Items 5799FPC 5651THD 5617EHD 5651EHD 5618FHD 5617THD 5616SHD 5616DHD Complementary Items 5617EHD 5617THD 5616SHD 5616DHD 5494FPC 5494FHD


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Death notices for Jan. 22, 2014
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Harlan J. Mahlkuch, 64, Brodhead, died Monday at Beloit Memorial Hospital, Beloit. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at D.L. Newcomer Funeral Home, Brodhead. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Donald L. Pedersen, 70, Elkhorn, formerly of Eagle, died Monday at Angels Grace Hospice, Oconomowoc. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Haase-Lockwood and Associates Funeral Home and Crematory, Elkhorn. Visitation will be from noon until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home.
Richard E. Pichler, 74, Albany, died Monday at Valley Park, Albany. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at D.L. Newcomer Funeral Home, Brodhead, with services afterward at Hillcrest Cemetery, Albany.


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Funeral services, memorial fund announced for Milton police Lt. Conger
MILTON—Milton officials and the Bank of Milton have announced funeral services and a memorial fund for Milton Police Lt. John D. Conger, who died Sunday in Janesville.
The Bank of Milton announced Tuesday that memorial fund has been established for the family of Conger, 43, who was a 21-year veteran of the Milton Police Department. Donations can be mailed or dropped off to the Bank of Milton, 323 Parkview Drive, PO Box 217, Milton, WI� 53563.
The Milton Police Department announced funeral services for Conger are at 7 p.m. on Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Milton. A visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until the time of services Friday at the Church. Burial services will be private.
Conger's colleagues at the police department say they will remember Conger for his diligence and dedication to community outreach programs, particularly in the area of youth safety and youth bullying education and prevention.
Last updated: 5:32 pm Tuesday, October 22, 2013


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Web Views for Friday, April 25, 2014
On global warming/Earth Day editorial: This whole situation is stupid. We have adapted for centuries to our climate.
-- hdonlybob
-- There may really be such a thing as global warming, but then again, maybe not. The people who push the agenda do so by repressing any evidence that conflicts with their belief, intimidating anyone who dares to express doubt, and demanding that global warming be accepted as fact with no further research.
-- Northman
-- There haven't been the emissions from factories and engine exhaust for centuries that we have now in great abundance. Combine that with deforestation, and the math speaks for itself. … To deny that humans are having an effect on the Earth is sticking your head in the sand.
-- Solo_Voce
-- "We have adapted for centuries to our climate." True...until we go extinct, like other animals have.
-- buyusa
On builders group eyes courthouse park project: A nice addition to the Courthouse Park and downtown area.
-- RetArmy
-- It would be nice if something could be done about loud vehicles during performances, but short of shutting down Court and Main streets, I'm not sure it could be done.
-- Frank J. Schultz
On Janesville appears ready to embrace river: Long overdue. Beautifying and creating recreational use for the riverfront downtown would do wonders for Janesville.
-- NewerTestament
-- Additionally, close off Main Street between Court and Milwaukee and Milwaukee and Wall Street. Turn it into an open-space plaza. Turn Milwaukee Street into a two-way street again. This allows traffic entering the city from either end to pass through the downtown area instead being detoured around it.
-- RetArmy
On Walker says new revenue needed for I-90/39: I hate to state the obvious, but when I look around the state I see a bunch of lower-priority projects which have been completed. Perhaps we'd have the money if some weren't so eager to blow it.
-- beamer
-- I'm so glad Walker gave everyone a tax break instead of paying back the $2 billion owed the transportation trust fund that politicians used the past 20 years to plug budget shortfalls.
-- gpawcat
-- Why is Wisconsin adverse to a toll system? I recently drove the Ohio Turnpike, and tolls amounted to around $50 to pass through that state.
-- Joe From Wisconsin
On city might move historic home: The city should move it and absorb all costs to make it like it was in a new location for the current owner. If it had some stupid rare bug or turtle living under it, it would have been saved (sarcasm). Taking this house is just not right, especially after all the city does to preserve historic buildings and homes in Janesville.
-- hdonlybob
-- It seems to have some interesting features. Looks like it could have potential. Even if a private entity could buy it for 68 grand and move it for 20 grand, now might be a good time to do that.
-- Neil Johnson
To Greg Peck: My longtime pet peeve is slow drivers in the left lane. This is so pervasive in Janesville that the right lane is the fast lane most of the time.
-- Nick Danger
-- People who don't listen. People who sit in a waiting room and ignore the person that brought them because they are talking on the cellphone in their "outside" voice. … I don't want to hear about your life! I hate when people who live in apartments have their own "stall" but park in front of my house!
-- ms pacman
-- I am contemptuous of people who project their personality problems onto screeds they call their politics. Also, people who sneeze and cough in public without covering up. Oh, yeah, and people who explain gluttony on the mythical land known as the "food desert." Not to mention that public service announcement with a kid singing a song ordering me to give my car away for free.
-- NewerTestament


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T.G.I. Friday's
1411 Kenneth Rd. Send to Phone
717-767-6878 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
OpenLunch & Dinner daily
- Dress code: Casual
- Full bar
- Kid-friendly
- Take-out available
* Click here for rating key
T.G.I. Friday's Restaurant Review: At this popular, all-American chain, the staff always seems to be having as much fun as the customers, and boasts the slogan "In here, it's always Friday." Appetizers range from pot stickers, chipotle Yucatan salad and green bean fries to American classic like potato skins and Buffalo wings. Move on to the entr
Discover the best female chefs, top pizzerias and stellar seafood restaurants with GAYOT's Top 10 lists of the best restaurants in America.


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