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Shafer Knocks Kurtz Out in His Own Ring
Longtime media writer Jack Shafer, who was recently laid off from Slate, appeared on CNN Howard Kurtz's web extra for "Reliable Sources." On the surface, the conversation between the media writers seemed to be polite and smooth. But at various points in the program, the undercurrents proved to be treacherous as Shafer pointedly went after Kurtz, laying a huge blow on The Daily Beast's Washington Bureau Chief by pummeling him on his own show. Kurtz posed questions about the purpose of media writers when some believe that anyone can be a media expert these days. Shafer reminded Kurtz that he still does it better than the novices.
Shafer to Kurtz: "You're a slow-moving target that bleeds profusely
when hit, Howie. Who could resist shooting at you?"
Watch here.
UPDATE: WaPo Opinion blogger Erik Wemple also wrote about Shafer's appearance on Kurtz's web show. In his late Friday post he says Shafer was joking around. We're not so sure about that. Read here.


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Weekly Bulletin – October 31 – November 4, 2016
Weekly Bulletin
WORD OF THE WEEK: HALLOWEEN.Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of All Hallows' Evening),[5] also known as Allhalloween,[6] All Hallows' Eve,[7] or All Saints' Eve,[8] is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide,[9] the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.[
Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular,[20][21][22] although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration.[23][24][25] Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve,[26][27] a tradition reflected in the eating of certain foods on this vigil day, including apples, potato pancakes and soul cakes.
**EMAIL ADDRESS FOR BULLETIN NOTICES: Please email bulletin notices to: firstname.lastname@example.com. The deadline for submitting items for the bulletin is Friday morning by 8:30am. Mrs. Grinnell
SUBSTITUTE SYSTEM: The Substitute System's phone number: 345-0064. The on-line system remains the same. If you have any questions please let me know.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTION: Just a reminder–if you haven't already given your social committee contribution, it's not too late. See Bettie Grinnell in the Main Office with your $25–checks or cash welcome! Social Committee
PARKING COURTESY: Please do not block other cars in both the Bay Street and the Polk Street parking lots. If you have to block a car, do it only for a few minutes and leave your Galileo Parking Hanger in plain sight in your car. If you do not have a Galileo Parking Hanger, see Bettie Grinnell in the Main Office. Mrs. Grinnell
ASB CARD STICKERS: are sold at ASB office (room 150) @ $5.00. Discount for dances, sweatshirts, lanyards, & other school spirit items.
ASB STUDENT STORE: in room 150 is selling healthy drinks, snacks, hand towels, mugs, poms poms, and other school spirit items.
STUDENT ID CARDS: Our Student ID Card software has been updated with the latest student pictures and is now up and running. If you know any current students or new/transfer students in need of an ID card, please direct them to Ms. Rivera in the Counseling office (258E), where our ID printer is located.
For any new/transfer students, first ID card is free of charge. All replacement ID cards will cost $2.
For 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th:
11/2 UC LA @ 11:45am @ RM 104: UCLA is the 2nd ranked public institution in the country and values education, research, and service. With 125 majors, 1000+ student organizations, 113 NCAA Championships, and located just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, what more could you ask for? Go Bruins!
11/3 FIDM @ 11:45Am @ RM 104: This is a private college located in downtown SF and LA and San Diego. If you're interested in fashion design, merchandizing, interior design, business management, digital media, or jewelry design, come check out this college.
If you're interested in learning more about the Holocaust from volunteering, reading or even doing a history fellowship with scholarship and volunteer hours, please check our the Jewish Family and Children's Services website for details:email@example.com
CodeNow: This is a FREE hands-on coding experience in SF. Working closely with professional engineers, students have the opportunity to create interactive games and applications. By the end of the workshop, students will gain an understanding of essential programming concepts, 25 hours of practical experience, and insight into a career in the technology field. The program will even provide lunch, snacks, transportation stipend and giveaways. For more details or to apply:https://www.codenow.org/get-involved/apply/ Application deadline is 11/16.
TeenTechSF connects 1500 teens in the Bay Area and around the world with tech leaders from Apply to Zynga through presentations & workshops on coding, app. creation, game design, global tech trends, and entrepreneurship. Run by and for teens, all events are FREE. There will be a Hackathonn in Nov. and Global Youth Summit & World Pitch on Dec. 3rd. For more info. please check out: TeenTechSF.org or https://www.facebook.com/teentechsf/ or see the flyer posted in the Counseling Center.
If you're between the ages of 16-24 and need help finding a job, please check out Chalk. This is a non-profit organization that provides job searching skills such as writing resume, cover letters, job interviews etc. They will also be able to hire undocumented students for certain positions. For questions or details, please call415-977-6949. Office is located at 271 Austin St., SF, CA 94109
Thursdays @ 2:30pm-4pm @ RM 119: FREE workshops on how to save money & be an entrepreneur: Learn how to make a business plan, network with future entrepreneurs, learn about PsC and visit their offices and receive college prep support from professional. For more details, stop by Futurama in room 119.
For 11th & 12th:
11/1 College Ambassador Meeting @ 12:20pm @ RM 104: This is your weekly meeting.
Part-Time Job at an Accounting Company: If you're interested in learning what's it like to be an accountant or work in an accounting company, check out this part-time job at a small accounting company. This job includes basic office support and you will be trained for the job. You need to be able to pay attention to details and be able to work individually as well as in a group. For more details, please see posting in the Counseling Center.
For 11th:
11/9 is the registration deadline if you want to take the low cost ACT prep class from1/4/17-4/5/17 on Wed. from 2:30-4:30pm at Galileo. Cost will range from $290-$490 per student depending on enrollment. For more details or to sign-up, please see Ms. S. Chan in room 258F.
For 12th:
11/2 & 11/3 College Application Workshop @ 2:15pm-4:15pm @ RM 104: Come work on your CSU Application, Common Application, UC Application or any other college applications of your choice. We can help answer questions along the way.
11/5 FREE College Essay Editing @ 10am-12pm @ Galileo Cafeteria: If you have signed-up for this event, please bring 5 copies of the 2nd or 3rd draft of your UC Personal Insights or Common App. Personal Statements, if you want help with a new writing prompt, then bring 1 resume or activities list (this is your source for brainstorming ideas), applicable application writing prompt(s) – 1 copy, and pen and highlighter. We will provide water and snack. See you there!
Young Adult Worklink is a non-profit program that provides job readiness training, job search assistance, and paid internships for young people between the ages of 17-24. To apply or for more info., contact Hai Chi Vu: firstname.lastname@example.com or call 415-752-9675. You can also read more details on the posting in the Counseling Center.
uAspire can help you with financial aid related questions, please see Michael in room 209 if you have any questions.
The Fly-In Program List is sent via SchoolLoop and posted outside of room 255: If you want to apply for a grant to visit some private colleges for FREE, check out this list and apply. Most of the colleges that offer a Fly-In Program will also provide large amount of scholarship. If you need help with the application, ask one of the advisors in room 209, or Ms. S. Chan in room 258 or ask your academic counselor. Good luck!
Scholarships: A current list is sent via SchoolLoop. A hard copy will be posted in the Counseling Center. If you're interested, please check out the details in the attached list ASAP.
Supporting you every step of the way for the college application process, just ask for help!
Ms. S. Chan
College & Career Counselor
Room 258F

subset: commoncrawl


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How to Cite Something Off iTunes
Citing something you've found on iTunes is really not that different than citing something from an online newspaper or journal. Many citation styles have specific formats for electronic media, so you can include a reference to a podcast or an app in the paper you are authoring.
Finding the URL
An online item's URL is required by some styles. Luckily, getting the URL for an item on iTunes is built right into its interface. Next to the price of any item is a small triangle. Click on it, select "Copy Link" and paste it into your document. You can also reference the iTunes homepage, as direct links may change over time.
Other Required Information
Nearly all styles require the author's name, title of the work, series title (if applicable) and date of publication. Find this on iTunes by selecting the "Details" option below the item's title. For a podcast, look at that episode's line item. For other product categories, like books, scroll down and look for the "Information" heading.
Citation Examples
According to the 6th edition of the APA guidelines, you'd cite an audio podcast in the following manner: Desai, Panache. (2014, April 4.) The Hidden Dimension Of Super Health. Healthier Living (italicized). Podcast retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/panache-desai-hidden-dimension/id844098447?i=293268079&mt=2.
To cite the same podcast using the 7th edition of the MLA guidelines, you'd use this format: Desai, Panache. "The Hidden Dimension Of Super Health." Healthier Living (italicized). Healthier Living LLC. 4 April 2014. Podcast. 15 May 2014.
Finally, you'd cite the podcast using the 16th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style in this way:
Desai, Panache. The Hidden Dimension Of Super Health (italicized). Podcast audio. Healthier Living. MP3, 1:24. Accessed May 15, 2014. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/panache-desai-hidden-dimension/id844098447?i=293268079&mt=2.
Photo Credits
- John Moore/Getty Images News/Getty Images


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Over the longer term, as the chart below indicates, a broadly diversified portfolio actually outperformed the S&P 500 index over the last 15 years by a small margin of .2%. In fact, in only five of the last 15 years a diversified portfolio outperformed the S&P 500. However, the diversified portfolio had an 11% standard deviation or variability risk measure vs. 15.9% for the S&P 500. That's 45% more volatility over 15 years! What's in your portfolio?
Properly diversified portfolios will never be the best performing category vs. any particular set of benchmarks that are comprised in that particular allocation. There look to be headwinds in many of the capital markets this year with equity valuations getting richer, interest rates creeping higher and uncertainty with the new administration, global macro-economic concerns and more. It's a good time to re-evaluate your asset allocation holdings and make sure you're positioned properly going forward. We feel strongly that determining the desired total return and actually quantifying the amount of volatility one can tolerate is paramount to setting realistic expectations with me, your Financial Advisor.
Any opinions are those of Thomas Fleishel and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Diversification and asset allocation do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), commonly known as "The Dow", is an index representing 30 stock of companies maintained and reviewed by the editors of the Wall Street Journal. Keep in mind that individuals cannot invest directly in any index, and index performance does not


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As the UNFCCC negotiations in Lima (COP20) officially start today, this infographic sets out to explain why the global climate talks are so important for tackling climate change.
Share this infographic using the social media buttons in the page.
If you like this, you should also see our general introduction Understanding COP20 in Lima, thoughts and expectations ahead of the meeting by our Head of International Policy Damian Ryan and our CEO Mark Kenber's op-ed "If we fail in Lima, we will fail in Paris".
Want to read more about COP? Over the next two weeks we are releasing pre and post-COP briefings as well as producing COP20 coverage in our news and blogs and on Twitter. Our States & Regions events in Lima can be tracked on hashtag #statesandregions.
And in case you missed it, here's a brief background to the COP20 in Lima and our our CEO Mark Kenber's op-ed "If we fail in Lima, we will fail in Paris".


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January 5, 1987
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate:
The current economic expansion, now in its 50th month, is already one of the longest of the postwar era and shows promise of continuing to record length. This has not been due simply to chance -- it is the result of successful policies adopted during the past 6 years. Disposable personal income is at an all-time high and is still rising; total production and living standards are both increasing; employment gains have been excellent. Inflation, which raged at double-digit rates in 1980, has been reduced dramatically. Defense capabilities, which had been dangerously weakened during the 1970's, have been substantially rebuilt, restoring a more adequate level of national security. An insupportable growth in tax burdens and Federal regulations has been halted, an intolerably complex and inequitable income tax structure has been radically reformed, and the largest management improvement program ever attempted is in full swing in all major Federal agencies. It has been a good 6 years.
Now in its 5th year, the current expansion already has exceeded 5 of the 7 previous postwar expansions in duration, and leading economic indicators point to continued growth ahead. Our policies have worked. Let me mention a few highlights of the current economic expansion:
- In the past 4 years 12.4 million new jobs have been created, while the total unemployment rate has fallen by 3.7 percentage points. By comparison, jobs in other developed countries have not grown significantly, and unemployment rates have remained high.
- Inflation, which averaged 10.3 percent a year during the 4 years before I came to office, has averaged less than a third of that during the last 4 years -- 3.0 percent; inflation in 1986, at about 1 percent, was at its lowest rate in over two decades.
- The prime rate of interest, and other key interest rates, are less than half what they were in 1981.
- Between 1981 and 1986, numerous changes in the tax code, including a complete overhaul last year, have simplified reporting, made the tax law more equitable, and significantly lowered tax rates for individuals and corporations. Six million low-income taxpayers are being removed from the income tax rolls. The inhibitive effect of our tax code on individual initiative has been reduced dramatically. Real after-tax personal income has risen 15 percent during the last 4 years, increasing our overall standard of living.
- Our defense capabilities have been strengthened with modernized equipment and successful recruiting and retention of higher caliber personnel; the readiness, training, and morale of our troops has been improved.
- After years of unsustainably rapid growth, Federal spending for domestic programs other than entitlements has been held essentially flat over the last 4 years.
- Since 1981, the amount of time spent by the public filling out forms required by the Federal Government has been cut by over 600 million hours, and the number of pages published annually in the Federal Register has been reduced by over 45 percent.
- Our continuing fight against waste, fraud, and abuse in Government programs has paid off, as the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency has saved $84 billion in funds that have been put to more efficient use.
- Finally, Federal agencies have instituted the largest management improvement program ever attempted to bring a more business-like approach to Government.
- The dramatic improvement in the performance of our economy stemmed from steadfast adherence to the four fundamental principles of the economic program I presented in February 1981:
- limiting the growth of Federal spending;
- reducing tax burdens;
- relieving the economy of excessive regulation and paperwork; and
- supporting a sound and stable monetary policy.
Budget Summary
[In Billions of Dollars]
Surplus or Deficit (-)
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Targets
*Note. - Totals include social security, which is off-budget.
Need for Deficit Reduction
The foundation has been laid for a sustained era of national prosperity. But a major threat to our future prosperity remains: the Federal deficit. If this deficit is not brought under control by limiting Government spending, we put in jeopardy all we have achieved. Deficits brought on by continued high spending threaten the lower tax rates incorporated in tax reform and inhibit progress in our balance of trade.
We cannot permit this to happen. Therefore, one of the major objectives of this budget is to assure a steady reduction in the deficit until a balanced budget is reached.
This budget meets the $108 billion deficit target for 1988 set out in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, commonly known for its principal sponsors as Gramm-Rudman-Hollings. Gramm-Rudman-Hollings committed both the President and Congress to a fixed schedule of progress toward reducing the deficit. In submitting this budget, I am keeping my part of the bargain -- and on schedule. I ask Congress to do the same. If the deficit reduction goals were to be abandoned, we could see unparalleled spending growth that this Nation cannot afford.
This budget shows that eliminating the deficit over time is possible without raising taxes, without sacrificing our defense preparedness, and without cutting into legitimate programs for the poor and the elderly, while at the same time providing needed additional resources for other high priority programs.
Deficit Reduction in 1988
Although the deficit has equalled or exceeded 5 percent of the gross national product (GNP) in each of the past 4 years, each year I have proposed a path to lower deficits -- involving primarily the curtailment of unnecessary domestic spending. Congress, however, has rejected most of these proposals; hence, our progress toward reducing the deficit has been much more modest than it could have been.
This year there appears to be a major turn for the better. The 1987 deficit is estimated to be about $48 billion less than in 1986 and should decline to less than 4 percent of GNP. As the economy expands, Federal receipts will rise faster than the increase in outlays Congress enacted for the year.
However, there is no firm guarantee that progress toward a steadily smaller deficit and eventual budget balance will continue. On a current services basis the deficit will continue to decline over the next 5 years, but this decline is gradual and vulnerable to potential fiscally irresponsible congressional action on a multitude of spending programs. It is also threatened by the possibility of a less robust economic performance than is projected, for that projection is based on the assumption that the necessary spending cuts will be made.
This 1988 budget can deal the deficit a crucial blow. If the proposals in this budget are adopted and if the economy performs according to the budget assumptions for growth and inflation, then for the second consecutive year the deficit should shrink substantially, by $65 billion, and thus decline to less than 2.5 percent of GNP. Reducing the deficit this far would bring it within the range of our previous peacetime experience and bring our goal of a balanced budget much closer to realization.
Moreover, if Congress adopts the proposals contained in this budget, it will ensure additional deficit reductions in future years, because in many cases the savings from a given action, although small in 1988, would mount in later years. Given the good start made in 1987, Congress has an opportunity this year -- by enacting this budget -- to put the worst of the deficit problem behind us.
Adopting the spending reductions and other reforms proposed in this budget would reduce the Federal deficit an average $54 billion annually for the next 3 years. This represents $220 each year for every individual American and about $600 for every household. I believe this is the appropriate way to deal with the deficit: cutting excessive Federal spending rather than attacking the family budget by increasing taxes, weakening our national security, breaking faith with the poor and the elderly, or ignoring the requirements for additional resources for other high priority programs.
A More Competitive, Productive America
The task of deficit reduction is a formidable one -- but it can and should be achieved with serious attention to the effects on America's economy, businesses, State and local governments, social organizations, and individual citizens. Reducing the deficit will reduce the burden the Federal Government places on private credit markets. The specific deficit reduction measures proposed in this budget would also help make our economy more competitive -- and more productive. These objectives have been major considerations in the formulation of this budget.
High priority programs must be funded adequately. Despite the very tight overall fiscal environment, this budget provides adequate funds for maintaining and, in selected cases, expanding high priority programs in key areas of national interest. For example:
- essential services and income support for the aged and needy are expanded;
- the prevention, treatment, and research efforts begun in my 1987 drug abuse initiative are continued, while resources devoted to drug law enforcement have tripled since my administration began;
- the budget allocates $85 million to more intensive health care for those with the highest incidence of infant mortality;
- over half a billion dollars is provided for AIDS research and education in 1988 -- a 28 percent increase above the 1987 level and more than double our 1986 effort (an additional $100 million is provided for AIDS treatment and blood screening by the Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense);
- building upon the Nation's preeminence in basic biomedical research, the budget seeks funding for the full multiyear costs of biomedical research grants made by the National Institutes of Health;
- a $200 million increase over the 1987 level is proposed for compensatory education for educationally disadvantaged children;
- current ineffective programs intended to assist dislocated workers are replaced by an expanded billion-dollar program carefully designed to help those displaced from their jobs move quickly into new careers;
- a 68 percent increase in funding is provided to permit the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize the Nation's air traffic control system; this includes the procurement of doppler radars capable of detecting severe downdrafts that imperil landings and takeoffs at airports where this is a hazard;
- for 1988, $400 million is provided to carry out newly enacted immigration reform legislation;
- substantial increases in funding for clean coal technology demonstrations, as well as research on acid rain formation and environmental effects, are provided to address the acid rain problem; and
- a new civil space technology initiative, together with previously planned increases to construct a space station, develop a national aerospace plane, and foster the commercial development of space, are provided in this budget.
Restoring our national security also has been one of my highest priorities over the past 6 years due to the serious weakness arising from severe underfunding during the middle and late 1970's. Nonetheless, defense and international programs have not escaped the effects of fiscal stringency. The defense budget actually has declined in real terms in each of the past 2 years. This trend cannot be allowed to continue. I am proposing in this budget a 3 percent real increase over last year's appropriated level. This request -- some $8 billion less than last year's -- is the minimum level consistent with maintaining an adequate defense of our Nation.
Likewise, my request for our international affairs programs is also crucial to our effort to maintain our national security. I urge Congress not to repeat last year's damaging cuts, but rather to fund these programs fully.
The incentive structure for other Federal programs should be changed to promote efficiency and competitiveness. One of the problems with many Federal programs is that they provide payments without encouraging performance or efficiency. They are perceived to be ``free'' and, therefore, there is potentially unlimited demand. This has to be changed -- and this budget proposes creating needed incentives in critical areas.
Our farm price support programs, under the Food Security Act of 1985, are proving much too costly -- half again as costly as estimated when the bill was enacted just one year ago. The $25 billion being spent on farm subsidies in 1987 is 14 percent of our total Federal deficit and equivalent to taking $415 of each nonfarm family's taxes to support farmers' incomes -- over and above the amount that price supports add to their grocery bills. Some of the provisions of the Act encourage farmers to overproduce just to receive Federal benefits. Other provisions give the greatest benefits to our largest and most efficient agricultural producers instead of to those family farmers most in need of help. My administration will propose amendments to the Food Security Act to focus its benefits on the full-time family farmer by placing effective limitations on the amount paid to large producers and removing the incentive for farmers to overproduce solely to receive Federal payments.
Reform of the medicare physician payment system is also proposed. Under the proposals, medicare would pay for radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology (RAP) services based on average area costs instead of inflationary fee-for-service reimbursements. The current fee-for-service payment distorts incentives and induces inappropriate billing for unneeded services. This initiative would remove the distortions caused by medicare's current reimbursement rules, eliminating a key barrier preventing the restoration of traditional arrangements between RAP physicians and hospital staffs.
The budget proposes continued increases in federally supported basic research that will lead to longer term improvements in the Nation's productivity and global competitiveness. For example, the budget projects a doubling within 5 years of the National Science Foundation's support for academic research. I also propose to increase support for training future scientists and engineers, and to foster greater technology transfer from Government to industry.
Another way of attaching a ``value'' to Government-provided services -- and an incentive to use them only as needed -- is to charge user fees where appropriate. Those who receive special Federal services -- not the general taxpayer -- should bear a greater share of the costs of those services. Accordingly, this budget imposes fees for Federal lending activities, for meat and poultry inspection, for National park and forest facilities, for Coast Guard services, for Customs inspections, and for many other services.
The Government should stop competing with the private sector. The Federal Government interferes with the productivity of the private sector in many ways. One is through borrowing from the credit markets to finance programs that are no longer needed -- as in the case of the rural housing insurance fund, direct student financial assistance, urban mass transit discretionary grants, vocational education grants, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation fund, sewage plant construction grants, justice assistance grants, the Legal Services Corporation, and rural electrification loans. I am proposing in this budget that we terminate these programs and rely instead on private or State and local government provision of these services.
The budget also proposes that a number of programs that have real utility be transferred back to the private sector, through public offerings or outright sales. Following our successful effort to authorize sale of Conrail, I am now proposing the sale of the Naval Petroleum Reserves, AMTRAK, the Alaska Power Administration, the helium program, and excess real property. In addition, I am proposing legislation to authorize study of a possible divestiture of the Southeastern Power Administration. These ``privatization'' efforts continue to be a high priority of my administration and, I believe, will result in increased productivity and lower total costs of providing these services. The Federal Government needs to provide essential services that are truly public in nature and national in scope. It has no business providing services to individuals that private markets or their State or local governments can provide just as well or better.
The Federal Government should depend more on the private sector to provide ancillary and support services for activities that remain in Federal hands. The budget proposes that the work associated with over 40,000 Federal positions be contracted out to the private sector as yet another way to increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve services.
Federal credit programs should operate through the private markets and reveal their true costs. The Federal Government provides credit for housing, agriculture, small business, education, and many other purposes. Currently, over a trillion dollars of Federal or federally assisted loans are outstanding. Including lending of Government-sponsored enterprises, federally assisted lending amounted to 14 percent of all lending in U.S. credit markets in 1985.
Under current treatment, loan guarantees appear to be ``free''; they do not affect the budget until and unless borrowers default. Direct loans are counted as outlays when they are made, but as ``negative outlays'' when they are repaid; thus, direct loans seem ``free'' too, inasmuch as it is presumed they will be repaid. But neither direct loans nor loan guarantees are free. Besides the better terms and conditions a borrower gets from the Government, there is the matter of default. When a borrower does not repay a direct loan, the negative outlay does not occur, and this is a subsidy implicit in the original loan transaction. When a borrower defaults on a guaranteed loan, the Government has to make good on repayment -- also a program subsidy.
Since these effects are poorly understood and lead to grave inefficiencies in our credit programs, we will ask Congress to enact legislation whereby the true cost to the economy of Federal credit programs would be counted in the budget. By selling a substantial portion of newly made loans to the private sector and reinsuring some newly made guarantees, the implicit subsidy in the current practice will become explicit. This reform will revolutionize the way Federal credit activities are conducted.
The private sector will also be increasingly involved in the management of our huge portfolio of outstanding loans and loan guarantees. Delinquent Federal borrowers will be reported to private credit bureaus, and private loan collection agencies will be used to help in our collection efforts. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will expand its ``offsetting'' of refunds to pay off delinquent Federal debts, and Federal employees who have not paid back Federal loans will have their wages garnished.
Increased role for State and local governments. Over the past 6 years I have sought to return various Federal services to State and local governments -- which are in a much better position to respond effectively to the needs of the recipients of these services. To me, this is a question of reorganizing responsibilities within our Federal system in a manner that will result in more productive delivery of the services that we all agree should be provided. Thus, this budget phases out inappropriate Federal Government involvement in local law enforcement, sewage treatment, public schools, and community and regional development. Transportation programs will be consolidated or States will be given greater flexibility in the use of Federal funds for highways, mass transit, and airports.
Federal regulations must be reduced even further to improve productivity. My administration will continue the deregulation and regulatory relief efforts that were begun in 1981. The Task Force on Regulatory Relief, headed by the Vice President, has been reinstated. In the past, excessive Federal regulations and related paperwork have stifled American productivity and individual freedom. We must continue our efforts to streamline the regulatory process and to strike the proper balance between necessary regulation and associated paperwork on the one hand, and the costs of these requirements on the other.
Federal activities should be better managed. The American people deserve the best managed Federal Government possible. Last year, I initiated the Federal Government Productivity Program, with the goal of improving productivity in selected areas by 20 percent by 1992. A substantial portion of total direct Federal employment falls within the program, including such activities as the Department of Agriculture meat and poultry inspection, Navy aircraft maintenance and repair, social security claims processing, National Park maintenance, operation of Federal prisons, and IRS processing of tax returns.
Credit reform, privatization, productivity improvement, and other proposals will be described in more detail in the Management Report to be issued this month. It will also identify further measures to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse; to improve management of the Government's $1.7 trillion cashflow; to institute compatible financial management systems across all Federal agencies; and other initiatives to improve the management of Government operations. These ambitious management reform undertakings, called ``Reform '88,'' constitute the largest management reform effort ever attempted.
The budget also proposes a new approach to paying Federal employees who increase their productivity. I ask that Congress approve a new plan to transform the current system of virtually automatic ``within-grade'' salary increases for the roughly 40 percent of employees eligible each year for these 3 percent hidden pay raises to one that is ``performance-oriented''. This will give Federal employees stronger incentives to improve service delivery.
I include with this budget my recommendations for increases in executive level pay for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government. The Quadrennial Commission report submitted to me on December 15, 1986 documented both the substantial erosion in the real level of Federal executive pay that has occurred since 1969 and the recruitment and retention problems that have resulted, especially for the Federal judiciary. The Commission is to be commended for its diligent and conscientious effort to address the complicated and complex problems associated with Federal pay levels.
Every one of the Quadrennial Commissions that have met over the past 18 years has recognized that a pay increase for key Federal officials was necessary. Each Commission concluded that pay for senior Government officials fell far behind that of their counterparts in the private sector. They also understood that we cannot afford a Government composed primarily of those who are wealthy enough to serve. Unfortunately, the last major Quadrennial Commission pay adjustment was in 1977 -- a decade ago.
However, I recognize that we are under mandated efforts to reduce the Federal deficit and hold down the costs of Government to the absolute minimum level. In this environment, I do not believe it would be appropriate to implement fully the Quadrennial Commission recommendations.
Accordingly, I have decided to propose a pay increase, but have cut substantially the recommendations made by the Quadrennial Commissioners in their report to me last month. Moreover, I have decided to establish a Career Manager Pay Commission to review and report to me by next August on appropriate pay scales for our elite corps of career Government managers. The pay increases I am proposing to Congress, plus the results of this new Commission, should place Government compensation on a fairer and more comparable footing.
Peace Through Strength
I have become convinced that the only way we can bring our adversaries to the bargaining table for arms reduction is to give them a reason to negotiate -- while, at the same time, fulfilling our responsibility to our citizens and allies to provide an environment safe and secure from aggression.
We have built our defense capabilities back toward levels more in accord with today's requirements for security. Modest and sustained growth in defense funding will be required to consolidate the real gains we have made. Because of severe fiscal constraints, we are proceeding at a slower pace than I originally planned, and the budget I propose provides the minimum necessary to ensure an adequate defense.
I am also submitting, for the first time, a two-year budget for National Defense. This will permit greater stability in providing resources for our defense efforts and should lead to greater economy in using these resources.
Budget Process Reform
The current budget process has failed to provide a disciplined and responsible mechanism for consideration of the Federal budget. Budget procedures are cumbersome, complex, and convoluted. They permit and encourage a process that results in evasion of our duty to the American people to budget their public resources responsibly. Last year Congress did not complete action on a budget for 8 months and 2 weeks -- 2 weeks past the statutory deadline. Except for the initial report of the Senate Budget Committee, Congress missed every deadline it had set for itself just 9 months earlier. In the end, Congress passed a yearlong, 389-page omnibus appropriations bill full of excessive and wasteful spending. Because Congress had not completed action on the annual appropriations bills, at one point I was compelled by law to initiate a shutdown of Federal Government activities. Such abrogation of a responsible budget process not only discourages careful, prudent legislation -- it encourages excessive spending and waste.
Furthermore, since I, as President, do not have a line-item veto, I had to ignore the many objectionable features of the omnibus appropriations legislation and sign it to avoid a Federal funding crisis. I am sure that many Members of Congress do not approve of this method of budgeting the Federal Government.
Last Fall's funding crisis and its slap-dash resolution are only one of the most obvious manifestations of the flaws in the system. Congress passes budget resolutions (without the concurrence of the President) based on functions; it considers 13 separate, but related, appropriations bills based on agencies, not functions; it develops a reconciliation bill; it passes authorizing legislation, sometimes annually; and it enacts limits on the public debt. The words alone are obscure and confusing; the process behind it is chaotic. The process must be streamlined and made more accountable.
Shortly, I will outline specific reforms designed to make the process more efficient and increase accountability, so that we can give the American people what they deserve from us: a budget that is fiscally responsible and on time.
Looking back over the past 6 years, we can feel a sense of pride and satisfaction in our accomplishments. Inflation has been brought under control. Growth and investment are up, while interest rates, tax rates, and unemployment rates have all come down substantially. A foundation for sustained economic expansion is now in place. Our national security has been restored to more adequate levels. The proliferation of unnecessary and burdensome Federal regulations has been halted. A significant beginning has been made toward curbing the excessive growth of domestic spending. Management of the Government is being improved, with special emphasis on productivity.
Important tasks, however, still remain to be accomplished. The large and stubbornly persistent budget deficit has been a major source of frustration. It threatens our prosperity and our hopes for continued economic growth.
Last year, the legislative and executive branches of Government responded to this threat by mandating gradual, orderly progress toward a balanced budget over the next 4 years. The proposals outlined here achieve the 1988 target while preserving legitimate programs for the aged and needy, providing for adequate national security, devoting more resources to other high-priority activities, and doing this without raising taxes.
This budget presents hard choices which must be faced squarely. Congress must not abandon the statutory deficit targets of Gramm-Rudman-Hollings. Honoring the provisions and promises of this legislation offers the best opportunity for us to escape the chronic pattern of deficit spending that has plagued us for the past half century. We must realize that the deficit problem is also an opportunity of a different kind -- an opportunity to construct a new, leaner, better focused, and better managed Federal structure supporting a more productive and more competitive America.
Ronald Reagan
January 5, 1987
Note: Identical messages were sent to Jim Wright, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and George Bush, President of the Senate. Included in the budget submission was a request for a $4,514,949,000 supplemental appropriation for fiscal year 1987.


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New York Jets Houston Tickets
The New York Jets have enjoyed a lot of success in the NFL over the years and are ready to get back to their best after going through a disappointing last season. They have made several changes to their roster and the coaching staff to challenge for all the top honors once again. Very soon, they are going to have to face the Houston Texans in an exciting fixture that is too close to call. The Texans have shown signs of improvement over the last few years and will have to prove their credibility against the Jets. If you want to be a part of this experience too, then grab your New York Jets Houston tickets and head down to the NRG Stadium for an unforgettable game.
The New York Jets did not finish the last season on a high note but there is plenty to look forward to. They have made some changes in order to reach the top of the league to become a consistent footballing force.
Gang green
The Jets were created in 1959 as the Titans and were originally part of the AFL. They moved to the NFL in 1970, though not before becoming the first AFL team to win the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. All in all they have won a total of four division titles, one AFL Championship and one Super Bowl.
With new additions to their squad and coaching staff, the Jets look like they might be ready to get back to their best and challenge all the top teams in the NFL once again.
Bulls on parade
The Jets have used the off season to reinvigorate their squad roster and it will be interesting to see how they fare when they face the Houston Texans very soon. The Texans showcased signs of improvement last season so this will not be an easy encounter for the Jets to win.
The Jets will have to be at their best if they are to get a positive result from this fixture and you can be there to enjoy the experience too. Just grab your New York Jets Houston tickets and watch this thrilling contest live at the NRG Stadium.
Q:Do you sell 2020 New York Jets Houston tickets for groups?
A:Yes, you can buy New York Jets Houston TX tickets for a group through our registered broker. There is no restriction set on the number of tickets bought. However, if you're planning to buy the tickets for a group, make sure to get the tickets early while the same quantity of tickets is available.


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Last year, Alan Masarek made news as he left Google to become Vonage's new CEO.
Samsung U800 Soul b Silver corpus is made of metal, its width is 9,9 mm. The following color solutions are available Soul Grey, Platinum Silver, Metallic Black, Soul Pink and Amethyst Violet. Finally the 3.15 Megapixel camera provides the kicker to this phone's appeal. With video support, and LED flash, and a secondary videocall camera, this phone has you covered in all circumstances.
According to its characteristics Samsung U800 Soul b Silver is a little simpler than U900 Soul that is already on sale: it has a 3 mega pixel camera with the lightning, FM radio with RDS support, 1 GB installed memory, music player and Bluetooth module of the 2.0+EDR version. Besides the model Samsung U800 Soul b Silver is equipped with 2 inches QVGA display reflecting up to 16,7 millions colors and shades, and also a 3,5 mm slot for the ear plugs on the phone corpus. Samsung U800 Soul b Silver works in the GSM nets and also UMTS/HSDPA 3,6 Mb/sec Although the Samsung U800 Soul b Silver loses the touch screen in favor of a down to earth navigation ring, the beauty and charm that made the Soul such a hit is back in spades. The exclusively silver design only hints at the charm that lies in the features of this phone. The keys are easy to press and are flanked above by menu navigation buttons. The only extra decoration comes from the brushed steel body that gives the phone an air of sophistication. The MicroSD slot can house extra files such as music and pictures. Though there is a Gigabyte of shared memory, the card slot helps you get all the files you want onto the phone without adding extra bulk.3G connectivity is a highlight of the phone's connections here. With 3G data transfers are faster than ever and since this is the wireless signal that will soon be the standard. USB and Bluetooth enable you to connect the phone to the computer to transfer files from your collection into the memory card.


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I can't believe it has reached the end of the year already; and with that, the end of another academic term at the UON.
I'd like to take the time to congratulate all those students who have completed another semester or an extremely dedicated trimester. You are one step closer to reaching your goal.
For those PhD students who have completed the confirmation process: well done – amazing job. This is the first step in your journey as an expert thinker in your field. It is a long and hard journey, but getting past this first step will help guide you and you will find the skills you picked up here will come in handy come the endpoint.
Lastly, for those postgraduate students who have completed their final term of studies – be that a graduate certificate, a masters degree or the illustrious Doctor of Philosophy, my warmest congratulations to you all. A postgraduate degree reaffirms that lifelong commitment to learning and you will find the skills you have gained during this time invaluable throughout your professional working life.
It's at this point that I should state that this is my last term in NUPSA, having been one of the lucky students to have (almost) completed my PhD. I originally became involved in NUPSA in 2015, partly to help out a former president, but also because I was interested in learning more about the postgraduate student body at UON. During this time, I have had the opportunity to meet with our amazingly diverse cohort of students, and to learn about your student experience, the areas for improvement that you would like to see, and all the things that could help future students at UON.
Advocacy, which is what this improvement of student experience is all about, is what we at NUPSA spend a lot of our time and energy on. A lot of it happens 'behind the scenes', so I'd like to mention some of the ways we have worked with UON to help improve the student experience overall.
This year we have taken a significant focus on student consultation as a body overall. We can't represent students well unless we engage with you, and NUPSA has done a fantastic job consolidating the postgraduate student voice. NUPSA will continue working hard on this. It is important for UON to ensure better student consultation with the student entities, student representatives and body occurs, so that the student experience is factored into every decision.
In terms of general student issues at UON, we have advocated strongly for clearer policy in respect to postgraduate space requirements, as NUPSA believes that all HDR students should have access to a desk for their work. NUPSA has also applied for a new space which would look to incorporate a new social space, study space, safe space and environment for our clubs and societies to utilise. We are pleased to say that the wheels are in motion and I would encourage you all to strongly emphasise the need of this kind of resource for postgraduate students.
We have strongly advocated for greater online student engagement, and have taken some small steps toward that end – we are working to ensure NUPSA workshops are available to our online peers. We are pleased to see that UON is also looking to improve the online student learning experience. However, we would like to continue to work on improvements in this sphere.
We have identified that student's location of study can effect equity of access to resources. NUPSA believes that regardless of your location of study, you should have equal access to resources (such as library spaces), to ensure you receive the same student experience as peers at all major UON campuses.
I'm really proud of all the hard work NUPSA's President elect has done in the mental health space and NUPSA would like to see training of all HDR supervisors in Mental Health First Aid training. It is recognised that postgraduate study can contribute to an increased burden on mental health, and this training would go a long way to help students in their study, and to ensure appropriate support structures are in place.
At a national level, I'm proud to say that NUPSA did not support the government's higher education bill in 2017. The bill would have had a detrimental impact on a number of students, particularly those from low SES backgrounds. In this regard, I'm pleased to announce the rejection of this bill and I would personally like to thank the Senators who voted it down.
I'm also very pleased to say that NUPSA supported the marriage equality campaign in 2017 and we are ecstatic that our peers within the LGBTIQ+ student community will soon have the opportunity to marry their loved ones.
We continue to work hard to obtain concession pass for international students – we continue to lobby the relevant bodies to ensure that our international peers are treated equally.
There's lots of work to do in 2018 for NUPSA and I believe that Ash and the team are excellently suited to ensure that the postgraduate student voice is heard, and that the postgraduate student experience at UON is one of the best. I would like to take the time to thank my mentor Andrew Deane, NUPSA's 2015/2016 President, who has been invaluable in helping prepare me for this experience. I would also like to thank the Dean of Students, Prof. Jenny Allen for all her guidance and support as well.
I look forward to seeing an amazing NUPSA experience in 2018.
As always, hope you are well.


text: I am so proud to be the only begotten son of my Mother, Moma E. She has withstood, by God's help, the most ultimate of adversities with a spirit of love and compassion, especially for others. How can someone with so much suffering still love people who left her hanging? It's simple, she always told me that she wanted to be like Jesus. I'm reminded that through the real suffering of Jesus Christ, he was left by people he should have been able to depend on for support. God will sometimes allow things in our lives to increase our Faith in Him. There is one incident I will never forget as long as I live. Everybody I knew was YMCA members and I wanted to join. Mom said, you can't right now because I can't afford to let you and your Sister join. I immediately went and told my Sister these words, "I hate you." Mom was so mad she said, you will never join the YMCA long as you live. Go tell your Sister that you are sorry and you love her. I was able to join the Boys Club and other organizations, but up until this present moment I never joined the YMCA. I am not sure if she cursed my membership there or not, but her purpose was clear, do not hate, love everybody especially your Lil Sister. I am convinced while going through this life that Love never fails and it covers a multitude of Sin. I've learned real love from watching my Moma E. He that does not love knoweth not God for God is Love. Thank you Mama for your unconditional Love. We love you so much. Meet Minister R.L. Taylor


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I went on a Princess Cruise in the Western Caribbean that stopped in Roatan Honduras. At the cruise port there was a huge area where people could shop, go zip lining and sit at the beach with out actually leaving the port. Basically they could go to Roatan without actually going into Roatan. I decided to hire a private driver to take me around the island so that I could do some photography. That was all of the instruction that I gave the driver and he gave us an amazing tour. However, I had some mixed feelings about this island that I thought I would share. There is quite a bit of controversy towards cruising and this is the first place on all of my cruising that I really felt it.
1. Roatan is a popular place for Americans to retire or move to.
Roatan is a beautiful place to live. It is green and has beautiful beaches. It is easy to get residency in Roatan, and if you show that you have an income of $1,500, you can get a retirement visa and buy property. Taxes are quite a bit lower than in the United States as is property. However, with more Americans moving in as either a vacation home or as retirement the disparage between housing is pretty obvious. You see massive houses right above slums and the most beautiful pieces of property right on the cliffs or on the beach are being bought up by Americans. This left me feeling very uncomfortable with what we are doing as Americans to this beautiful island.
2. Routan is ethnically and culturally diverse
The main ethnicity in Roatan is the Caracol people. They are mainly of European and British-Afro-Caribbean decent. They are for the most part the leaders of the area, are the ones you will encounter in tourism and speak English. While the rest of Honduras is a Spanish speaking country, they speak English because of the English Colonial background of the island. The next ethnicity is the native Hondurans. From what I was told by my driver, and he took us through one of their shanty towns, they were moved over from the mainland by the government, speak Spanish, are more likely to be unemployed and are overall a poorer community. There are also quite a bit of Europeans who live and work in Routan. My impression from taking to people and asking my driver is there are a lot of younger Europeans, especially from the UK and Italy who came on their gap year and just stayed and started working in different parts of the tourist industry. There are also quite a bit of Europeans who own many of the businesses in Roatan from hotels, to restaurants, even a rum factory that I went to that is owned by Italians. Lastly, there are many Americans who have moved to Routan to retire and also own businesses and property there. So when you travel there, the only language that you need to know is English.
3. There is plenty to do in Roatan
Roatan has become a huge tourist destination with direct flights to the United States and many cruise ships are stopping. Because of this, there really is plenty of things to do. Scuba diving is huge as Routan lies on the southern end of the second largest reef in the world. There are plenty of options here from excursions on cruises, to different outfits taking day tours, and to hotels that specially cater to the diving industry. There are beautiful beaches to explore, some large with lots of commerce to smaller and more secluded beaches. There are mangroves and ziplines that you can explore along with different wildlife experiences. A popular place to stop by is Arch's Iguana Park. This is a private park started by an American who wanted to preserve the iguana's who are a popular ingredient in a stew in Roatan even though they are protected. About 2,500 iguanas live here and you can touch and feed them. It cost $10 to get in and it is worth the price.
4. Safety is an issue (kind of)
For the most part Roatan felt safe. Although it was pretty disconcerting that in front of many gas stations and stores had a guard with a very very large gun. The tourist areas are safe, although, as in all tourist areas, there is always the chance for robbery or begging, but I did not feel unsafe in any of the tourist areas. I was told that there are some areas of Roatan that are not safe and they do not recommend tourist going to these areas. Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world and the state department has a travel warning for the country. However, Roatan is much safer as it is removed from the mainland. I highly recommend reading the state departments travel warning before going which you can get here.
So if you are on a cruise and it stops in Roatan, it is worth getting out of the cruise area and enjoying the island. Come with an open mind and learn about the place. But if you are nervous or afraid, and just want to sit at the beach, you can do that right off the ship without actually going into the island. Go ahead and do that as well, it is your vacation and you should enjoy it as you feel comfortable.


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Angela Bryant @ Terrain Exhibitions
704 Highland Ave. Oak Park, IL
February 9 – March 5
Opening reception Sunday, February 9th 1-4PM
Angela Bryant is fascinated with the unseen and the unexplainable. Interested in both the spiritual and the scientific, whether experienced through a dedicated belief system or the use of a microscope. Bryant's artwork seeks to make visible the invisible. Using paint, newspaper, and plastic her work interrupts what is surface and exposes the mystical within the mundane.
Bryant received her MFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is the recipient of many awards including the Odyssey Travel Grant, an Art-in Architecture Public Art Commission at Western Illinois University and the Archibald Motley Award of Ragdale Artist Colony in Lake Forest, IL.
Bryant is also the founder of Abryant Gallery, an art consultation service and rotating contemporary art gallery focused on emerging artists. She is also the Director of Exhibitions for the O'Connor Art Gallery at Dominican University and the Director and co- founder of MOUNT Curatorial Residency at Design Cloud Gallery in Chicago, IL. Her work will be exhibited at the Chicago Cultural Center this spring in the exhibition Visceral Painting.
Website: terrainexhibitions.tumblr.com


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Dr Oz: 4 Pains That Mean Cancer
Dr Oz's show today was called "4 Body Pains That Could Mean Cancer." You have a common pain in your arm or your back and you think it's due to stress or an athletic injury. On today's show, Doctor Oz shows you that these and other pains may be your body trying to tell you something else. Backache, arm pain, stomachache, and heartburn are also potential warning signs of cancer. Along with Oncologist, Dr. Deborah Axelrod, Dr Oz is giving you the power to fight back and find out if your body is warning you of cancer.
Dr Oz: Pancreatic Cancer Back Pain Symptom
Nadine, audience member, told Dr Oz that she gets aches and pains all the time. She figured it was due to stress or was work related so she really didn't concern herself with the pain.
Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
– Back pain
– Loss of appetite
– Diarrhea
Dr Oz says this type of cancer effects 44,000 people a year.
The pancreas is located in middle of the belly and is supposed to secrete a chemical into our digestive systems to digest our food. As you eat food, your body secretes all kinds of chemicals to make sure you digest the food particles. With pancreatic cancer, it blocks the tube to digest food. The food can't get to the intestinal system and the result is erosion and big, massive inflammation inside the pancreas and in the surrounding areas. Dr Oz likened it to a raging forest fire that was eating you away on the inside.
Dr. Deborah Axelrod stated that if your back pain or muscle pain was not relieved by anti-inflammatory products, or if it is accompanied by a greasy stool, see your doctor.
Dr Oz Lymphoma Chest Pain Symptom
Lymphoma Symptoms
– Sharp shooting chest pains
– Flu like symptoms
– Exhaustion
There are 75, 000 cases every year of Lymphoma.
Warning signs also include lymph nodes swelling under your throat. To test, feel under your throat, along the muscles, going down to chest and right above clavicle bones. Feel for nodules under the arm, too. You can also find nodules in the groin area.
Unlike the flu, if you get unexplained weight loss or unexplained night sweats, it may be an indication of lymphoma. If you have symptoms for more than a week or two, see your doctor.
Dr Oz Lung Cancer Arm Pain Symptom
There are 200,000 new cases of lung cancer. It is also the #1 cancer that kills women.
Lung Cancer Symptoms
– Pain in arm
– Shoulder tenderness
– Nagging cough
Pain is critically important as a symptom for lung cancer. Most associate lung cancer with smokers, however, 1 in 5 women diagnosed have never smoked in their lives. The cancer in the lung grows out to the shoulder and travels down the arm, which is why you have that intense pain in your arm.
Dr Oz Colon Cancer Stomach Pain Symptom
There are 140,000 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed every year. Most are curable if found early.
Colon Cancer Symptoms
– Stomach pain
– Constipation
– Painful bloating
Many women associate colon cancer with men, but Doctor Oz says it's 50/50. This is the reason why diagnosis in women is delayed. If your bloating lasts for longer than a week or two, it may be something more serious. See your doctor. One warning sign of colon cancer is if someone in your family at age 50 has had colon cancer. In any case, at age 50, women should have a colonoscopy.


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An increase in layoffs may be the culprit behind the weak employment picture, rather than a decrease in hiring.
Goldman Sachs economists, in a note, point to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that shows the lack of jobs growth in May was caused mainly by more layoffs, rather than a reduction in hiring. Monthly employment data released Friday was revised to show that a total of just 25,000 non farm payrolls were added in May, and that just 18,000 were added in June.
They note the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey reportshowed that during May, hiring increased by 64,000 while non-layoff separations, or people quitting positions or retiring increased by 39,000. "Private payroll growth actually decelerated by 168,000 (from 241,000 to 73,000) because of an increase in layoffs: private sector gross firing activity increased by 194,000 in May, the largest month-over-month increase in a year," they wrote.
The survey data for June will not be available until August. The economists note that the June employment report showed the number of people unemployed for less than five weeks was elevated in June, and that could signal layoffs was a factor in the June jobs report.
The next jobs related data is Thursday's weekly jobless claims, expected to stick at about the recent 420,000 level. Claims have been elevated for more than two months. "Confirmation shows that layoffs have increased has implications for how we read the weekly jobless claims statistics. In particular, the fact that claims remain steady at around 425,000 likely means that a higher level of layoffs is still a drag on employment growth," Goldman economists wrote.
Goldman economists see a mixed message from Tuesdays' job openings report. "On the one hand, the rise in layoffs is discouraging. The fact that some businesses are shedding workers suggests they see sustained weakness in demand, rather than just a 1-2 month slow patch. On the other hand, some statistics in the report are consistent with an ongoing recovery. Most importantly, a gradual increase in quitting activity and more job openings points to greater confidence among both workers and firms," the note said.
Questions? Comments? Email us at


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Accounting Exporter
Seamless Integration Between your Current Accounting System and Miracle Service
Miracle Service integrates with 20 standard accounting software packages, including a seamless 'one-button-click' export to QuickBooks®, the #1 best-selling accounting software.
Unlike other Service Management Software systems that lock you in to a proprietary, expensive accounting system, Miracle Service gives you the flexibility to maintain your existing accounting software. This makes your transition into Miracle Service much easier and faster than other service management software.
* In order to achieve this certification, Miracle Service has undergone rigorous technical reviews to ensure that it works seamlessly with QuickBooks®.


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Individuality is all that matters when it comes to personal style in SL. Anyone can buy the same skin, shape, hair, etc and come up with the same look but if you use makeup then its much harder to duplicate your look.
Here are a few inexpensive looks that I've found and how I use them to customize my look.
All looks start with this "base" skin from .: Glamorize :. Karena 01 Skin (Nomark) (Pack includes 24 skins - 12 different makeup looks with optional beauty mark)
Then I add a touch of makeup.
Alaskametro<3 fall look 2008 dark free
Sometimes I just want a bit of color on my lips so I add my bronze 6 lip gloss by Avion 100L
Other times I just want to play up my eyes. I've got lots of makeup from Elegant Epiffany. This one is risk-black group gift
This one is a Christmas Gift 1 f lucid from Elegant Epiffany.
retain-noir by Elegant Epiffany
This is Daydream Smoke 12L by .: Glamorize :.
.: Glamorize :. Kitty Makeup 15L is similar but the smokey eye is better. All items are mix and match so you can wear the eyeshadow by itself or add the beauty mark without the lipstick. You can also wear the whole look together. I really like the optional beauty mark.
Moonshadow Natalie2 150L is similar but its more of a vamp look with the dark lip and matching eyeshadow.
Alaskametro<3 Vintage Glam 4 light 50L
Alaskametro<3 Pinky 02 dark 50L
Alaskametro<3 launch skin light free
Just for fun. .: Glamorize :. Attitooth Lips Dollarbie


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Nejo is a 2.45-kg ordinary (L6) chondrite that fell near the village of Jarso, in the Wollega Province of Ethiopia May 11, 1970.
According to the Meteoritical Bulletin (MB 50):
High-pitched noise indicated that three objects passed over Jarso heading north-northwest. One fell hitting the ground at the same time an explosion was heard. The object was not burning nor brilliant, and it produced a hole 25 cm in diameter and 30 cm deep in hard soil.


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Expedition cruising on the Chindwin River
Journeys on the Chindwin River offer a chance to explore otherwise inaccessible parts of northern Myanmar (Burma) in comfort and style.
Each day of the journey you will have the chance to disembark to explore the towns and villages that lie on the banks of the river, learning about the fascinating history of an area rarely seen by outsiders.
A number of companies offer cruises on the Chindwin, with the RV Pandaw Zawagyi a particular favourite. This small ship has been specially designed with a very low draught to ensure it can pass over the numerous sandbanks that often prevent the larger ships from progressing further upstream - the only ship to journey beyond Homalin into Nagaland.
Reflecting the stark seasonal differences in Myanmar's climate, the Irrawaddy and Chindwin Rivers have a dramatic ten-metre average height difference between the rainy season (May to October) and the dry season (November to April). Cruises operate from the end of the rainy season through to the end of March, when water levels become too low for many vessels to operate.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: 303 952 0379
Important notice: We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in Myanmar. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full Myanmar holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this section of the web site.
Expedition cruising on the Chindwin River
located in MonywaRead more >
Interested in this Experience? It is included in this tour:
Sail away down the Chindwin River into an area of Myanmar (Burma) rich with history and barely touched by the modern world.
Chindwin River Explorer
Bookended by stays in the colonial cities of Mandalay and Yangon, this cruise whisks you away from the tourist trail and deep into northern Myanmar (Burma), where the towns and villages are rich with the stories of history.
Other suggested Boating & CruisingView more >
Day Cruise from Mandalay to Bagan
A sedate downriver cruise to take you from Mandalay to Bagan.
Overnight cruise from Mandalay to Bagan
For a few glorious days travelling on the mighty Irrawaddy River, why not join a cruise linking the must-see destinations of Bagan and Mandalay?
Longtail boats on Inle Lake
Get out on Inle Lake in the local way: aboard a longtail boat that glides through the narrow channels between floating farms and stilt houses.
Expedition cruising on the Irrawaddy River
By river is one of the best ways to explore Myanmar, with an enticing range of options guiding you to the remote corners of this beautiful country.
Boating to Sagar
Sagar, the far southern region of Inle Lake, is a very special destination and one that very few visitors have had the chance to witness.
The boat to Twante
For an alternative view of life in and around Myanmar's biggest city, board a riverboat for a short cruise to the small market town of Twante.


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There is no better way to measure the effectiveness of a school than by the success of its alumni. For the past 75 years, Clark Elementary has been building solid foundations on which students have achieved lifetimes of accomplishments. There are numerous reasons for such great success. Two of the most important reasons include a dedicated faculty and a strong parental involvement in the educational process.
Clark continues the longstanding tradition of excellence in education while being a front-runner in innovative educational practices. We look forward to the challenge of meeting the needs of our dynamic student population in the coming year.


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Teeth Whitening just £199
To welcome our new Dentist Valerie we are delighted to offer Whitening treatment for just £199
and a free check up instead of £300 for bookings with Valerie on Wednesday mornings.
Call us on 020 7223 2244 or get in touch to book in today for a free consultation.
Valid for bookings made before 31 August 2017.


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Dr. David Madsen was named the 2019 recipient of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians' Meritorious Service Award during the association's 50th Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. The award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the AASV.
Born into a Nebraska family that raised purebred Hampshire pigs, Madsen became determined to become a veterinarian after following a local veterinarian on his father's farm. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1969 from Purdue University. At graduation, he was the only member of his class with an interest in pigs. He was a swine veterinarian and practice owner in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, then moved to Nebraska to initiate SwinePro Associates, LLC., in partnership with Jack Anderson, DVM, in 1994. Madsen was also the Director of Health Services for Heartland Pork in Iowa and Premium Standard Farms/Murphy Brown in Missouri and Smithfield in Princeton, Missouri. In his career as a swine veterinarian and producer, Madsen has seen the emergence of many important swine diseases, including atrophic rhinitis, pseudorabies, circovirus, Streptococcus suis, and PRRS.
Madsen attended the pioneer class of the Executive Veterinary Program at the University of Illinois, and achieved Diplomate status of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Swine Health Management in 1995, where he later served 10 years as the Vice-Regent, Credentials.
Madsen became a charter member of the American Association of Swine Practitioners (now AASV) in 1969. He served as a District Director for the AASV Board in 1992 and as AASV president in 2001. He represented AASV in the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) House of Delegates for 12 years, and was selected to represent all food animal veterinarians on the 7-person committee to write the AVMA Overarching Principles of Animal Welfare. Serving on the AASV Foundation Board, Madsen was integral in the support of future swine veterinarians. He proposed that the Foundation develop a free pre-conference seminar for students and recent graduates by funding the speaker expenses. He planned and moderated the first AASV student pre-conference seminar; that event has grown into one of the best-attended AASV conference seminars. Madsen proposed the phrase, "Ensure Our Future: Leave a Legacy," adopted as the motto by the AASV Foundation Board.
When asked to comment about receiving the award, Madsen responded, "AASV has been a large part of my professional, educational, and personal career, providing lifelong learning and introducing me to a large number of outstanding individuals. Although it took me 23 years to become involved with association tasks, my involvement was both rewarding and enlightening, to say nothing of challenging and entertaining. I would trade my experiences through AASV with no other opportunities."
David and his wife, Sandie, have a daughter, Jenna, who lives in Minnesota with her husband, John, and (grand)daughters Ellie and Sophia. Retired in 2014, David and Sandie live in Dillon, Montana, where he serves as Swine Outreach Coordinator for the Montana Board of Livestock, working with 4-H & FFA groups across the state. He also works as a part-time general practitioner in a mixed practice, and provides surgical services for the local animal shelter.
More AASV Coverage:
AASV Celebrates 50 Years with Record Attendance at Annual Meeting
Illinois Veterinarian Named AASV's 2019 Swine Practitioner of the Year
How Will Pork Industry Survive Trying Times?
Waddell Challenges Future Leaders; Says AASV is Built to Last
AASV Announces Veterinary Student Poster Competition Awardees


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Computer Science & Information Systems
Welcome to the CSIS department!
Student majors in CSIS programs have the significant opportunity to work closely with our faculty members for advice, support, and mentoring throughout their chosen program. There are numerous success stories of our graduates who have gone on to highly successful careers in professional work environments. Our graduates are positioned to join these alumni in significant and rewarding careers.
We believe that one of the strongest attributes of our programs is the continuing opportunity for you to build collaborative relationships with our faculty and other student majors as you learn and interact in a nurturing environment where the faculty member "knows your name."
Undergraduate Majors:
Computer Information Systems (CIS)
Computer Science (CS)
Information Technology (IT)
Undergraduate Minors:
Computer Information Systems (CIS)
Computer Science (CS)
Human Computer Interaction / User Experience (HCI/UX)
MBA Concentrations:
Information Systems Concentration
We encourage you to contact us so that we can explore the possibilities for providing you with an exceptional educational experience that will position you as a top candidate when entering a highly competitive job market. Thanks again for visiting!


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Every term Warwick University hold an event called "Skool Dayz", where you dress like school kids and dance to school disco songs.
As someone that has particularly outdated music taste- this is my cup of tea! Put me in a club playing busted, mcfly, Blink-182, Fatboyslim, spice girls and Robbie Williams and I am in my element.
We had predrinks at Jack's University halls, as it was an SU event, then headed over to the copper rooms.
It lived up to its typical warwick university night expectations:
- Drama- a group of girls got in a trolley and tried to mount a curb… was never going to end well. The University Security team, first aiders and an ambulance later- turns out they had just had that little bit too much to drink.
- I made a friend in the loo- I always love this, she complimented my eye liner, I complimented her outfit and I'm pretty certain she won't remember the conversation.
- Overpriced drinks- but that's why you budget!
- Sticky dance floors.
- Grumpy bouncers.
If you enjoyed reading this, or want to read more, please like and follow!
Bee xoxo


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Stockbroker in N4.8bn share scam, remanded in Ikoyi prison ON FEBRUARY 2, 201712:03 AMIN BUSINESS,
NEWSCOMMENTS By Peter Egwuatu The Managing Director of Partnership Inves-tment Company Plc has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He was remanded in Ikoyi Prison following his arrest and arraignment.
His arrest, arraignment and remand in Ikoyi Prison were sequel to a petition by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which accused him of fraudulent misappropriation of the sum of N 1,237,245,000 and US$80,000.00. and for sundry offences including stealing and dishonest conversion of proceeds of share sale.
Some of the defrauded investors yesterday revealed that over 300 investors of Partnership Investment Company Plc (PIC) were swindled of over N4.8 billion. Dishonest conversion of proceeds
Some of the victims whose shares were in the deal include former Managing Director of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, ETI, Mr. Arnold Ekpe with over N1.237 billion worth of shares; Mr. Godwin Anono, Chairman Standard Shareholders Association of Nigeria N160 million; Mr. Alabi Olushola Ibrahim, N12.540 million; Mr. Solesi Samuel, N40 million worth of shares. Also among the victims is a widow with over N4 million worth of shares and other investors scattered across the country.
Narrating his ordeal, Olushola stated: "Mr. Ogiemwonyi, the Managing Director of Partnership Investment Company Plc called me to say that since I have some shares that are not being traded over the years that it would be good for me if his company could manage those shares and generate 10 per cent returns and that this would be paid to me twice a year.
When in 2014 the returns were not forth coming, Ogiemwonyi started giving one excuse or the other; that the returns are being reinvested, it was then I realised that he was playing fowl, hence I demanded for my shares which could not be returned to me. "
Mr. Arnold Ekpe, through his lawyer, McPherson Barristers & Solicitors has written to the NSE for intervention and no remedy has been provided. Also, some of the other investors including myself have taken the case to court and Mr. Ogiemwonyi has been remanded in prison custody at Ikoyi, Lagos."
Meanwhile, responding to the letter sent to the NSE over an allegation of the fraudulent conversion of the N1.237 billion shares belonging to Arnold O Ekpe, the Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Olumide Orojimi said the Stock Exchange has already taken action on the matter. According to a statement from the NSE: "On October 17,2016, The Exchange suspended Partnership Securities Limited (PSL) from trading on all floors of the Exchange, effective October 18, 2016. PSL remains under suspension from trading on the floor of the Exchange. "On October 17, 2016,
The Exchange requested the Central Securities Clearing System Plc. (CSCS) to request the settlement bank to place N42,499,761.20, being the proceeds from the sale of ETI shares for Mr. Ekpe made by PSL on October 14, but due to settle on October 18, 2016 into a special CSCS bank account in order to prevent the proceeds from settling into the account of PSL.
Subsequently, the sum of N43,301,792.70 being the proceeds of sale less statutory charges was paid to Mr. Ekpe's Union Bank Plc. account on November 3, 2016 as a direct result of the steps undertaken by The Exchange immediately upon its receipt of Mr. Ekpe's complaint. "The Exchange on October 19, 2016 formally informed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the complaint and requested for a joint examination of PSL and its associated companies.
This formal notification was a follow up on an earlier oral notification to relevant personnel of the Commission shortly after receipt of the complaint on October 17, 2016. "The Exchange thereafter held a meeting with Mr. Ekpe, his solicitors McPherson Barristers & Solicitors (McPherson) and PSL on Monday, October 24,2016 to address the issue and take necessary steps towards recovery of the sums misappropriated and sanctioning of PSL upon conclusion of the matter." Olumide also explained: The Exchange being a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) regulates its members with a view to ensuring fair treatment and protection of all investors equally within the market.
By your appointment as Provisional Liquidator of Partnership, other creditors within the capital market to whom Partnership may be indebted, may be concerned that their interests could be in jeopardy and their interests may not be given due consideration.
To this end, we believe that we can obtain assurances from you that the interests of all creditors would be given adequate consideration by your organization in view of the fact that the Companies and Allied Market Act, 1990 (CAMA) enjoins a Provisional Liquidator to be an officer of the court and act in the interest of all creditors concerned."
Meanwhile, when contacted the Acting Managing Director, Partnership Investment Company Plc , Mr. Andrew Elueni via text message, he said " The case is in court. Anything said may be prejudiced. Meanwhile, there is nothing like share scam as Partnership had the customer's mandate to sell."
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/stockbroker-n4-8bn-share-scam-remanded-ikoyi-prison/


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Fireside chat with Radio TFS
Martin Woodward and Mickey Gousset called me at home a few days ago to talk about Visual Studio, TFS and the upcoming year much like they did last year. Take a listen to our interview here. It's always a great pleasure to chat with these guys about some of my favorite topics.
Happy new year!


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I am reposting this (I had written it right after the launch):
After the controversy died down (for now), I really have been thinking about my customers, my "Mamacitas". I was sickened when some bloggers accused me (thinking I was a big faceless corporation) of "taking advantage of womens insecurities" with my shapewear that is disguised as lingerie meant to be worn during intimacy to hide our abdominal folds, puckering, and fat.
It really got my thinking…
I can see how the SexCies product and my company comes off as "Here, we think you are beautiful just the way you are but here is our lingerie to cover up your fat". I really can, especially since I am not there to explain to each new person who sees the product why I made it. I can see why feminists think I am throwing us back into the 50's, as we should be at a point in our society where we can accept a woman's body the way it is.
I wish.
I WISH we lived in a society where stretch marks, puckering, and flappy bellies were considered beautiful. I WISH people would look at cellulite and say, "Wow, good for her..this shows how many kids she has had to bear and take care of". I WISH we lived in some places in Africa, where my Mom (who went in the 60's) would tell stories about the bigger the woman, the more attractive she was to the men. I WISH, I WISH, I WISH.
But we don't.
We live in a society where there is a mulit-BILLION cosmetic industry. We live in a society where low-carb, counting calories, and starving ourselves in the name of thin has become the norm. We also live in a society where porn is a multi-BILLION dollar a year industry, as well…see the pattern here?
Please, my precious Mamacitas, understand that I am NOT calling you fat, or saying that you are anything other than actualized, amazing, and incredible women who should be revered as the fabulous Goddesses you are. I wish we weren't self-conscious about are tummies, and wish we didn't feel we had to be if they aren't "perfect".
What I am saying? Even though I think that you "SHOULDN'T" feel this way, I understand why you DO. I do, too! So here I am, trying to get a product out that keeps our mind off our tummies in the bedroom and focusing on the intimacy with our partner. "SexCies gives you Confidence" is one of my slogans.
So I am raising my glass to you, Mamacitas, my sweet sisters who endure so much, with love for every pucker, stretch mark, scar and fold, you will always be beautiful to me ((hug)).
With love for my Mommas,


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For VMware Horizon or Amazon WorkSpaces users,
and PCoIP Zero Client and Management
Console Enterprise administrators.
For moving Windows and Linux workloads to
the public or private cloud. Now includes support, resources, and brokering for PCoIP Remote Workstation Cards!
For moving graphics-intensive Windows and Linux
applications to the public or private
cloud. Now includes support, resources, and brokering for PCoIP Remote Workstation Cards!
Partner with Teradici to simplify
your IT
BURNABY, British Columbia – August 27, 2015 – Teradici®, developer of industry-leading PCoIP® technology for secure virtual workspaces, today announced the release of the Teradici PCoIP Management Console Enterprise Edition, a web-based tool designed to help IT simplify the management and configuration of Tera2 PCoIP Zero Client deployments.
The new edition of PCoIP Management Console is ideally suited for medium and large businesses and allows administrators to scale, manage and monitor up to 20,000 PCoIP Zero Clients under a single console. For large deployments, IT architects and administrators can now use a single console to configure hundreds to thousands of zero clients varying across device type and manufacturer, saving valuable resources.
"For any other type of client device, we usually have to send an engineer," said James Goldings, senior systems engineer at Computer Concepts Limited. "Not with Teradici. With the PCoIP Management Console, it's simple to put the device on the desk, plug it in, configure remotely and be done. It's a true zero-touch deployment."
Ideal for industries with the greatest number of PCoIP Zero Clients, such as banking, education, telecommunications, healthcare and government, the PCoIP Management Console Enterprise Edition removes deployment pain points and enables greater efficiency.
"We've seen broad adoption of PCoIP Zero Clients in organizations looking to simplify endpoint management, improve security and maintain high performance," said Jayesh Shah, vice president, product management, Teradici. "The new release of PCoIP Management Console dramatically frees up IT resources in organizations with large deployments of zero clients by equipping IT managers with enterprise-grade management and configuration tools in a single console."
Up and running within minutes, the PCoIP Management Console Enterprise Edition enables users to remotely provision new devices, review operational metrics, configure settings, update firmware, view event logs and more by delivering:
PCoIP Zero Clients provide organizations with high-performance and ultra-secure endpoints at lower cost and with minimal footprint compared to traditional OS-driven devices. Available in a variety of form factors, including standalone, integrated monitor and laptops, the zero client strictly decompresses and decodes pixels, without the need for a hard drive, operating system, graphics processor or security software. Since images are transmitted to the endpoint device in pixel-only format over PCoIP, no data lives on the zero client, ensuring maximum security.
PCoIP Management Console Enterprise Edition ships with release 2.0 and will be available in late September as a one-year or three-year subscription for $20 USD per device per year, and includes Tera2 PCoIP Zero Client firmware support and maintenance with a valid PCoIP Management Console subscription license.
For more information on the Teradici PCoIP Management Console Enterprise Edition, visit: teradici.com/MCvideo.
About Teradici
Teradici is the technology leader for creating secure virtual workspaces. The company's PCoIP technology powers the spectrum of local, remote, mobile and collaborative work styles, fundamentally simplifying how computing is provisioned, managed, and used throughout virtual and cloud environments. The world's largest cloud computing companies rely on PCoIP technology to fulfill the promise of the cloud – an outstanding user experience, securely delivered to any device, anywhere. Teradici customers include Fortune 500 enterprises and institutions around the world, local and federal government agencies, and cloud and service providers. Teradici was founded in 2004, and is headquartered in British Columbia. For more information, visit www.teradici.com.
Teradici and PCoIP are trademarks of Teradici Corporation and are registered in the United States and/or other countries. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.
Editorial Contact:
Blanc & Otus Neil Desai, +1-415-856-5150 firstname.lastname@example.com


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Proponents of a not-exactly-new weapons technology, microwave weapons, argue that North Korean ICBMs would be fried by these CHAMP missiles.
The U.S. Air Force developed microwave weapons that could defend against intercontinental ballistic missile attacks.
Who here is terrified of nuclear weapons?
There's a question to which I'm pretty sure I know the answer (everyone). Rightfully so, too, as thermonuclear weapons are the most powerful ever devised by humankind. Thermonuclear bombs refer to hydrogen bombs, which are much more powerful than the kind of bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II.
They're so powerful, in fact, that they provide a sort of lynchpin in world politics. The most recent and most public example I can think of is North Korea.
North Korea has been testing intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, by firing them into the Sea of Japan. Of course, they're firing them after releasing extreme threats from Kim Jong-Un, like, "No one knows when the touch-and-go situation will lead to a nuclear war, but if so, the Japanese archipelago will be engulfed in flames in a moment."
ICBMs give North Korea a delivery system for nuclear weaponry, which puts plenty of people ill at ease–to say the least.
Which is probably why the history of weaponry is a race between attack and defense. For every weapon, people try to come up with some kind of counter.Who doesn't love the idea of #ICBM defense? #nobodyClick To Tweet
For Russia, that counter is their sophisticated Pole-21 missile defense system. However, the U.S. Military is taking a different approach.
Whereas the Pole-21 system uses cell towers to shut missiles down, the U.S. uses Microwave Weaponry to pinpoint and fry electronics.
But how does that work, and is it an effective option against international attack?
I'm sure the world would like to know the answer.
Defending Against The Threat of ICBMs
Let's jump right into the first question: How do microwave weapons work?
The simple answer is that they disable electronic systems by bathing them in microwaves.
As Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) explains, "Think about when you put something in your microwave that has metal on it. You know how badly that goes? Imagine directing those microwaves at someone's electronics."
As it turns out, the government and the Air Force have been working on weaponized microwaves for over 20 years. The latest iteration of this research is the Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project, or CHAMP.
CHAMP can be fitted onto aircraft and deployed within 700 miles of a target. From there, they emit high-power microwaves (HPM) that fry enemy systems. And, don't forget folks, that enemy missiles are dependent on their systems.
Less advanced versions of this tech have already proven their usefulness with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the middle east. The problem, though, is the relatively short range. It's fine for IEDs, but when you are dealing with airborne weaponry 700 miles just isn't that far.
The weapon has had numerous tests and is reportedly "capable of flying into a contested area and disabling an adversary's electronic systems," according to the U.S. Air Force.
In one test, the weapons performed exactly as expected. That's according to Mary Lou Robinson, head of weapons development at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque. She said, "We had several different target classes in those facilities, and we predicted with almost 100 percent accuracy . . . which systems were going to be affected, which systems failed, and how."
It seems that, despite the 'range' issue, microwave weaponry research is bearing fruit. If it stops a nuclear war, then I think it's safe to say that it's good news for everyone.
That said, it isn't an absolute defense, it's just a really good one. Which begs the question: What can everyone else do in case an ICBM slips through?
A Future Without ICBMs
If an ICBM gets past defenses, it can do a ton of damage. From huge explosions, to EMPs that can send you back into the stone age, there's a reason why people refer to these things as 'world-enders'.
That's the beauty of Russia's Pole-21, or Israel's Iron Dome, I suppose. Whereas microwave weapons need to be deployed via aircraft, those systems provide a static shield.
Of course, if you are looking for something more small-scale, then the private bunker business is better than ever. So far, a bunker provides you with the best chance of survival.
And while surrounding yourself with earth, hardened concrete and steel may be safe, it isn't necessarily an acceptable option. Unless you're a hermit, then you'll love it.
We all love the Fallout video game franchise, but no one wants to actually live in a Vault-Tec vault.
In my opinion, the only solution for nuclear weapons is disarming and dismantling them worldwide. But, since that is unlikely to ever actually happen, I'm relieved to hear about new innovative defenses.
Maybe one day we'll come up with one that is absolute, and nuclear weapons get left in the dust.