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Home > News & Events > Speeches & Testimony
Financial Stability: Incentives Matter
Last week the IMF-World Bank meetings were held in Washington, and once again world financial leaders came together in a sincere effort to find solutions to the economic malaise plaguing many countries. Despite a myriad of reforms proposed or implemented subsequent to the financial crisis of 2008, we seem unable to escape its pull. The debate continues over whether we have done enough to assure a stable financial environment supportive of growth. What kind of incentives, fiscal conditions, central bank actions, legal frameworks, asset exposures, correlations and institutional interconnections must we address to assure that global financial markets work as they should through goods times and bad? The issues are truly global in nature.
There is a host of possible causes affecting the world's recovery and worth discussing.1 My perspective is one of economic incentives, the important role they played leading up to the crisis and how they continue to affect events, making a fuller recovery more difficult to achieve. I will first focus on monetary policy and its longer-run effects on the economic environment within which financial firms operate. I will also offer my perspective of the effects of government guarantees on firm and market behavior, and steps that remain to be taken if, in my opinion, we are to achieve a more robust and stable growth path for world economies.
Monetary Policy Matters
We all understand the fundamental role of money as a store of value and medium of exchange. However, we have come to expect more from it. We have modified and expanded its role, captured its effects on short-term interest rates and found that it can influence the economy broadly to stimulate or control economic activity. Central banks, by pushing interest rates below long-term equilibrium levels, have stimulated economic activity and achieved goals of higher employment. The perceived success of this tool has in the U.S. led to a broadening of the Federal Reserve's mandate to include the objective of full employment.
Monetary policy is a powerful tool, of course; but as we all know tools, when used too frequently, can harm as well as benefit an economy. Monetary policy over this past half century has contributed to economic growth, but all too often it appears also to have contributed to increased financial volatility and crisis. This should not be lost on today's policymakers.
As one measure of the accommodation of monetary policy in the U.S., during the past half century the real federal funds interest rate has been held below the average growth rate of GDP for that period more than 70 percent of the time. Coincidently, during this period the U.S. price level has increased by more than six times. The U.S. suffered through a dramatic recession and banking crisis in the 1980s as inflation nearly overwhelmed its economy. Most recently, accommodative policies pursued just prior to the Great Recession in a effort to bring unemployment levels to below 6.5 percent saw, instead, it eventually rise to above 10 percent.
Despite this mixed record, monetary policy once again is the preferred means to attempt to stimulate economies. The world is awash in liquidity, and its effects have yet to play out fully within world markets. Stock values and long-term asset prices are increasing rapidly. The incentives around low interest rates and rising asset pricing invite portfolio shifts into longer-term assets, as returns demand that greater risks be taken.
The effects of such a monetary policy we know can be slow in coming but, if allowed to continue unchecked for an extended period, will sow the seeds of instability. History is full of examples that should not be ignored.
Concentration and Complexity: Threats to Financial Stability
On another level, we learned in the most recent financial crisis that one of the greatest threats to financial stability is the concentration and complexity of the world's largest financial institutions and the systemic risk they pose. In the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, regulators worldwide took actions needed to stabilize the system. However, their actions have left us with an even more highly concentrated, complex and interrelated financial system, which is more difficult to regulate and which poses an even greater threat to financial stability going forward.
The change in concentration over time has been quite dramatic. In 1997, the four largest U.S. bank holding companies had total assets equal to 4 percent of GDP; by 2006, that number had grown to 14 percent of GDP; and by the end of 2012, to 50 percent of GDP. For a country with both a large GDP and a large number of banks, a concentration of this magnitude is impressive, and yet, even these large numbers fail to capture the off-balance-sheet positions of these institutions.
The Wrong Incentives
This concentration of resources and risk has intensified market vulnerabilities to individual firms and has led to a steady extension of government protections to creditors of the largest banking firms. It has changed the fundamental incentive structure driving financial conglomerates' behavior and the functioning of the markets within which they operate. The more we study the implications of size, concentration and interconnectivity of firms to systemic risk, the more convinced we should be that these factors remain a threat to financial stability and sustained economic growth.
This protection of their creditors enables global firms to borrow at lower costs -- a subsidy related to size and complexity. Numerous studies have documented the existence of this subsidy and its effects on financial company behavior and financial risk. Also, while the subsidy varies depending on the state of the economy, its greatest value occurs under severe economic stress. Andrew Haldane of the Bank of England estimated that there was an annual subsidy of $70 billion that grew 10 times to $700 billion at the peak of the crisis in 2009.2
The ability of the largest firms to increase the financial system's risk profile has been facilitated further with the adoption of the Basel capital standards. These standards represent a global cooperative effort to set capital standards that would better account for banks' risk portfolio, thus making banking more market sensitive and more stable.
Unfortunately, to be successful such an effort requires an ability on the part of a central authority to measure and anticipate shifts in risk that is beyond any authority's capacity to do. Too often this effort systematically misallocates risk weights, encouraging investments that in hindsight hold risk unrelated to the assigned weights. The outcomes of these efforts have been disastrous for world economies because high risk or politically favored activities receive weights too low for the risks assumed.
Basel also too easily creates the opportunity to manipulate a firm's balance sheet to enable greater leverage in an attempt to increase short-term returns on equity. Many of the largest firms in the world report Basel Tier 1 risk-weighted capital ratios of 12 percent or higher. However, when all assets are counted and only tangible equity is treated as capital, the leverage ratio falls to as little as 3 or 4 percent.3 This level of capital is too low, and it leaves the largest firms vulnerable to any significant economic shock they might encounter.
Management Incentives and Outcomes
Incentives matter, and financial managers, unless they are highly disciplined, often react too quickly to the incentives placed before them. Driven importantly by the incentives and market conditions outlined above, managers booked an unprecedented degree of risks over the decade leading to the crisis in 2008. A highly accommodative monetary policy with sustained low interest rates created an almost insatiable demand for credit.
The safety net within the U.S., one of the largest markets in which financial products traded, was extended to an ever-wider array of activities and firms. These markets were deregulated and liberalized, thus providing a vast supply of new financial products to meet this demand. Almost simultaneously, capital standards worldwide were dramatically eased, inviting an unprecedented degree of leverage within the global financial system. These conditions introduced an almost overwhelming opportunity for bank directors and managers to enhance return on equity by adding risk to their balance sheets at discounted costs.
Banks globally manufactured debt securities and created complex derivatives such as CDOs and CDO2, to generate trading income and fees. These managers leveraged their banks' balance sheets from levels of 15 to 1, to 30, 40 and even 50 to 1. Those in the market who should have provided the discipline against such actions had become complacent, as they felt secure under the notion that the government would bail them out as a last resort.
And finally, compensation tied to short-term returns not only perpetuated but also exaggerated the advantages of leverage for managers to the detriment of these institutions when problems became apparent. With little market oversight and too little board and management self-discipline, the financial industry self-destructed. We continue to experience the effects today.
These incentives, therefore, contributed in no small way to the Great Recession. More importantly, today, for all the laws and regulations that have followed the recession, many of these incentives remain in place.
Changing The Incentives
To begin to address these issues, we should change the incentives and not just add regulations in the expectation that this alone can control outcomes.
There is pressure building to change the course of monetary policy. World central banks, it appears, recognize that tapering down the current level of monetary accommodation might be in order. I would agree with this view. It would be advantageous to do so in such a way as to avoid the excesses that so often follow an extended period of highly accommodative policy. While we would all agree this has to be done with care to avoid an overly harsh market reaction, it should be done soon to avoid creating a too fragile economy dependent on an unrealistic interest policy of zero.
In addition, so long as the largest banks receive a government guarantee, explicit or implied, they should be limited in the kinds of activities they are allowed to conduct within that guarantee. Authorities around the world are beginning to address this issue in the form of the Volcker Rule in the U.S., the Vickers' Ring Fencing in the U.K. and the Liikanen proposal for Europe. I would propose going further and separating fully the safety net's coverage for high-risk activities. Trading and other broker-dealer activities should be conducted in completely separate corporate entities.
And finally, the Basel capital standards should be revamped and prioritized using a tangible leverage ratio as the principle measure of capital across banks, across countries. The risk-weighted standards could be a secondary standard to judge bank concentrations of risk within the overall balance sheet.
These steps would do much to change the incentives driving management's actions. They would place markets at greater risk of loss, forcing them to play a more direct role disciplining excessive risk taking.
Management and markets respond to the incentives placed before them. Change the incentive, you will change the outcome.
There is no single solution to prosperity, and there are more policy areas to address than what I have outlined here today. Obviously fiscal policy plays no small role in determining an economy's stability and strength. The overall regulatory structure within which global firms operate is of significant importance in defining boundaries of their behavior and assuring accountability. Still, incentives matter and how we define the role of monetary policy in setting the overall credit conditions within an economy will have an enormous effect on economic performance.
How we choose to subsidize and protect our largest financial companies will define their long-run impact on economic events within our economies. We have taken some steps to correct past errors in these incentive systems. However, if current conditions and emerging risks are an indication, we must do more.
Thomas M. Hoenig is the Vice Chairman of the FDIC. More details about his policy positions can be found at http://www.fdic.gov/about/learn/board/hoenig/index.html
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the FDIC.
1 "The Nordic Banking Crisis from an International Perspective," speech by Stefan Ingves at the Banking, Insurance and Securities Commission of Norway Seminar on Financial Crisis, Oslo Norway, September 2002. http://www.imf.org/external/np/speeches/2002/091102.htm. In his speech recalling the Nordic financial crisis, Governor Ingves discusses four causes underlying the crisis: (i) bad banking management practices, (ii) lack of market discipline, (iii) inadequate banking regulation and supervision at a time of financial liberalization, and (iv) inappropriate macroeconomic policies against a background of asset price inflation and weak economic fundamentals.
2 Haldane, Andrew. "On being the right size." Speech given by Andrew G. Haldane, Institute of Economic Affairs' 22nd Annual Series, The 2012 Beesley Lectures, October 25, 2012.
3 Capitalization table for G-SIBs: http://www.fdic.gov/about/learn/board/hoenig/capitalizationratios.pdf
|Last Updated 4/25/2013


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Light Up Your Holidays
(Family Features) Whether you are the first one on your block to hang lights or the last-minute decorator hurrying to decorate your tree, nothing is more frustrating than having a section of lights fail to illuminate.
"Spirits can be dampened when you've gathered the family to decorate the tree or house and come to find that some of your light sets don't work," said John DeCosmo, CEO of Ulta-Lit Technologies, the maker of the LightKeeper Pro, a tool that not only finds the bad bulb on a string of lights but also illuminates the working bulbs by sending a harmless charge through the string of lights.
The LightKeeper "Pros" have several other tips to keep your holidays bright and stress levels low when it comes to holiday lighting:
- Measure: To estimate the number of lights needed for your tree, plan an average of 100 lights for every foot of tree height. Serious decorators often double that.
- LED vs. Incandescent: LEDs are more expensive than incandescent lights, but last longer. Likewise, more sets of LED lights can be strung together end-to-end than traditional incandescent light sets. When it comes to energy use, a tree with 1,000 incandescent lights can cost $10 over an average holiday season while the same tree using LED lights costs around $1.50.
- Inspect: Before stringing lights, check for broken bulbs and sockets, frayed cords, burned out lights and loose connections. For sets with bulb outages, use the LightKeeper Pro for incandescent lights or the LED Keeper for LED lights to find and fix the problem. Squeeze the trigger a few times and most light sets will illuminate in seconds.
- Connect: When using incandescent lights, connect no more than three strands of mini string sets together. LED light sets can handle connecting more than 30 strands together.
- Indoor vs. Outdoor: Commercial-grade light sets are more reliable for outdoor use because of their durability and thicker insulation.
- Live and artificial trees: When stringing lights on a tree, begin at the top of the tree and wind the strands through its center, widening with the tree's shape. Real trees should be watered daily. When the tree is purchased, request half an inch be sawed off so the tree can take in more water.
- Replace and repair lights: To get the most out of your light sets, do occasional visual checks for any bulbs that are no longer working. Replace those bulbs as soon as possible. Two burned out bulbs can decrease the lifespan of the light set by 39 percent; four burned out bulbs by 67 percent.
Should your holiday lights go dark, the lighting pros at Ulta-Lit are at your service year round, and seven days a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas to answer questions: 888-858-2548 or online at UltaLit.com.
LightKeeper Pro

subset: commoncrawl


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SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced today that California has joined a coalition of 49 attorneys general and dozens of state banking regulators in a multi-state effort to demand that lenders find solutions to serious and potentially widespread problems in the foreclosure process across the country.
"While California continues its own vigorous efforts to ensure that homeowners facing foreclosure are treated fairly and lawfully," Brown said, "we are now working together with other attorneys general and regulators to seek solutions that reach across state lines to protect all borrowers at risk of losing their homes in this foreclosure crisis."
On Friday, Brown called on all lenders in California to halt foreclosing on California homes until they can demonstrate that they are complying with state law. Earlier, Brown sent letters to Ally Financial and J.P. Morgan Chase directing them either to prove they are in compliance with state law or else halt foreclosures. His office also has been in discussions with other lenders, including Wells Fargo, One West and Bank of America. Brown's office will continue its independent efforts to protect homeowners facing foreclosure.
Bank of America announced on Friday that it was temporarily halting foreclosures nationwide.
The multi-state group will review how lenders verify foreclosure documents nationally. The group was formed after several lenders and loan services admitted that officials, dubbed "robo-signers," had vouched for the accuracy and completeness of foreclosure documents without reviewing them. Such sham verifications may constitute a deceptive and unfair practice or otherwise violate state laws.
Regulators in the states involved, including California, have already started examining whether mortgage servicers have submitted improper affidavits or other foreclosure documents.
Although each state has its own foreclosure laws, all attorneys general and financial regulators have a common goal of making certain that every lender and servicer conduct a good faith review of foreclosure documents, only foreclose on homeowners after confirming all requirements have been met, and obey all state laws.
California law prohibits lenders from recording notices of default on mortgages made between Jan. 1, 2003, and Dec. 31, 2007, unless – with certain exceptions — the lender contacts or tries diligently to contact the borrower to determine eligibility for loan modification. A notice of default must include a declaration of compliance with California law.
California homeowners who experience problems with foreclosures, or other consumer issues, can file a complaint online with the Attorney General's office at: www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general.php.


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- A happier audience: No one really wants the speaker to speak the full amount of time. No one. A speaker who shows not just a healthy respect for time limits, but errs on the less-is-more side, will win the day and get more praise, applause and love from the listeners. Leave them wanting more.
- A more engaged audience: Most audiences come to talks wanting to participate in some way, and I don't just mean by applauding. People arrive with questions, things to add to the discussion or points they want to argue. Leaving extra time lets them contribute and feel satisfaction from doing so.
- Less stress in the room: When speakers skirt too close to closing time, you can feel the stress in the room, from the person in front who's mouthing "Five minutes!" to the people in the back checking their watches and cellphones. Some of that stress comes from people realizing their questions won't get answered, some from people who need to be somewhere next. All of them are hoping you'll conclude before the clock or the moderator tells you to do so.
- More time to show off your deep knowledge: If you've got lots to say, I recommend saving some of it for the Q&A. Instead of front-loading your talk with all your data and knowledge, open things up for questions and show your smarts in the answers. This is a great tactic for making sure you don't overwhelm the audience with data, and for looking confident in Q&A.
- Ease in handling the unexpected: The speaker who doesn't plan a wall-to-wall approach benefits when anything unexpected hits the fan, from a late-arriving moderator to a crisis that requires you to shorten your remarks on the fly. At one major conference this year where I was coaching speakers, a fire alarm and evacuation required several speakers to shave their presentation times dramatically so we could keep the program on time. If you've already allowed some air in your remarks, you'll have less last-minute angst in a situation like that.
- A chance for better, more dramatic pacing: If you're not jamming in every fact and story you know, you can stretch out your stories and use dramatic pauses and varied pace. Speakers who are more focusing on putting too much content into a short time have only one choice: Talk fast and keep going.
- Better comprehension from your audience: The speedy speaker loses out in another way, because audiences need you to slow down when you speak or present, compared to the way you speak in conversation. If you're more intent on filling your time, you may have spoken all the things you want to say, but your audience might be catching less of your message overall--so is that really a win? I think not.
Inspiration, ideas and information to help women build public speaking content, confidence and credibility. Denise Graveline is a Washington, DC-based speaker coach who has coached nearly 200 TEDMED and TEDx speakers--including one of 2016's most popular TED talks. She also has prepared speakers for presentations, testimony, and keynotes. She offers 1:1 coaching and group workshops in public speaking, presentation and media interview skills to both men and women.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
7 secret advantages of the speaker who allows extra time
Posted by eloquentwoman at Wednesday, August 15, 2012 0 comments
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- 1 pound slender green beans, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1/2 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) pepitas (shelled raw pumpkin seeds)*
- Coarse kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- Cook green beans in large saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender and still bright green, about 5 minutes. Drain beans and cool in colander. Cut beans into 1-inch pieces.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add pepitas. Toss until starting to pop and brown, about 8 minutes; sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper. Transfer to plate. Reserve skillet. DO AHEAD: Green beans and pepitas can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in reserved skillet over medium-high heat. Add rosemary and garlic; stir 15 seconds. Add beans and pepitas. Toss until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with coarse salt and pepper.
- Available at many supermarkets and at natural foods stores and Latin markets.


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But could it do it over any useful distance?
230 Sqn in NI pulled off a similar PR 'Stunt' a few years ago when one of their 330s lifted NIs first new style Range Rover for Charles Hurst and delivered it to the clients backyard. The only issue was that the entire engine block had to be removed to make the vehicle light enough for the mission to be completed.


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Australian Affairs
Lucy Clark
|About the Book
Lucy Clark was born in England in the Lake District, but at the age of two, her parents decided to move to Australia and thankfully took her with them. Lucy loves the sunburst country, the land of sweeping plains, with its rugged mountain ranges and droughts and flooding rains! She recalls only happiness during her childhood, even when her two older sisters and older brother used to tease and manipulate her (like all older siblings).She first discovered a passion for the written word when receiving excellent grades in her comprehension and English lessons and rather appalling grades for everything else. A late bloomer in the reading department, she would sit up until all ours of the night (or early morning) devouring one romance novel after the other. At the age of seventeen, she decided she could write one, and immediately knew shed found her calling in life. She wrote her first manuscript, sent it over the wide, blue ocean to the offices of Mills & Boon in London and received a very nice rejection letter. The devastation set in. Dreams of becoming a well-known romance writer, of travelling the world, of book-signing tours, of international recognition…were blown away with the wind.After meeting Peter, the man of her dreams and marrying him, Lucy decided to once more try her hand at writing a romance. While working full time in a teaching hospital as a medical secretary for two busy orthopaedic surgeons, she typed up a fresh story and submitted it for publication. Rejection again. Although by this time, shed called for reinforcements—her romance writing group. They provided counselling (lunches) and support (dinners). Then one day she had an idea! Lucy decided to try and write a Medical Romance book in collaboration with her husband. This she did and broke through the barriers into the publishing world. Elation! Excitement! Euphoria! When she floated down from the clouds, she now realized the enormous task that lay ahead in producing further work. Planning books is now a necessity, editing is an appalling process that unfortunately must be done. Ideas, medical research, characters, situations and settings now fill most of her time…along with her family, of course.Lucy and Peter currently live in Adelaide, Australia, and have the desire to travel the world with their children. Lucy largely credits her writing success to the support of her husband, family and friends. She looks forward to a long and happy association with her characters, her editors and her readers with only one eternal wish. That the dry sense of humor she and her husband share doesnt get her into trouble, as it often has in the past!


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Nuremberg Hospital
Specialist field: Neurology/neurosurgery
Prof. Dr. med. Hans Steiner
International Department:
Tanja Porter
Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Straße 1
904019 Nürnberg
Tel. +49 (0) 911 / 39 87 071
Professor Hans Steiner
Senior Consultant at the Neurosurgery Department at Nuremberg Hospital
As a specialist medical field, neurosurgery has benefited more than most from advances in microsurgical and minimally invasive techniques, state-of-the-art imaging and computer and navigation technologies. Professor Steiner, Senior Consultant at the Neurosurgery Department at Nuremberg Hospital South, is able to utilise the latest medical equipment for neurosurgery.
In a long-established tradition of development, the Neurosurgery Department at Nuremberg Hospital continually improves its already successful treatment methods by integrating new technical standards as well as diagnostics systems, digital navigation systems and surgical procedures, all of which offer increasing levels of precision.
The treatment of tumours of the brain, spinal cord and nerves is one of the main clinical fields at the Nuremberg site. The risks of paralysis and other complications in patients who need to have tumours removed are getting lower all the time.
By deploying the latest techniques, including microsurgery, computer-assisted intraoperative neuronavigation and laser and ultrasound methods, it has become possible to perform operations even in critical functional areas of the brain, such as the centres for motor control. The neurosurgeon first has to see the exact proportions of the tumour, which he does with the aid of intraoperative diagnostics that, during the operation, provide him with precise images and even a 3D image for better visualisation.
Brain waves are measured at the same time, meaning any major disturbances are detected immediately. The better the surgeon is able to see the size and proportions of the tumour, the faster, more gently and more precisely he can remove it entirely and without any damage to neighbouring areas of the brain – that is the aim of a neurosurgical procedure.
Nowadays, it makes sense to treat brain tumours by drawing on interdisciplinary expertise for the different therapy options and radiation techniques. The neuro-oncological centre, one of the largest in southern Germany, is a certified centre of expertise comprising neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuro-oncologists, radiotherapists, neuroradiologists and neuropathologists. If surgical removal of the tumour is no longer deemed possible, stereotactic procedures can be a option. This involves creating a 3D image of the tumour and then treating it using a different method, such as radiotherapy
Another specialist area of neurosurgery at Nuremberg is the treatment of neurovascular diseases, i.d. vascular deformities such as aneurysms, angiomas, cavernomas and arteriovenous fistula within the meninges and the cerebral cortex. Therapy for cerebral vascular disorders is no longer an exclusively surgical domain, but instead takes place in close interdisciplinary cooperation with related departments, including neuroradiology and radiotherapy. To stabilise the blood vessels, stents are inserted in an interventional procedure using endovascular catheters.
Spinal conditions make up a high proportion of neurosurgical cases. These include deteriorative disorders such as a slipped disc and abnormal narrowings of the spinal canal as well as tumours and inflammations of the spine, spinal canal and spinal cord. Other advances in neurosurgery encompass functional methods that can be used in pain therapies or in the treatment of severe tremors in Parkinson's sufferers. This greatly improves the patients' quality of life.
In spite of all the state-of-the-art medical technology available, treatment should always focus on the person. Without respect and empathy for the patients, who often come from other cultures, attempts at treatment have little prospect of success.
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Will Mario Draghi and the ECB deliver?August 1, 2012: 3:48 PM ET
After the Federal Reserve declined to spike the punchbowl Wednesday, fans of monetary stimulus are now entirely dependent on the European Central Bank for a fix.
In leaving its policies unchanged, the Fed gave investors what they expected, but not what they wanted. Now, all eyes are turning to Frankfurt, where top ECB officials will meet Thursday for their monthly policy discussion.
ECB president Mario Draghi raised the stakes last week when he said the ECB will do "whatever it takes" to preserve the euro currency. In a coda that caught the attention of many stimulus-hungry investors, Draghi added: "Believe me, it will be enough."
But investors who think that Draghi is going to do something big and bold as soon as Thursday morning are much more likely to be let down if he fails to deliver. Beware, this could end in tears.
"We think there is plenty of scope for disappointment," said John Higgins, senior market economist at Capital Economics. "The ECB's bark could prove louder than its bite."
Granted, Draghi sent a strong signal last week that the ECB would intervene in the bond market to ease borrowing costs for Spain and Italy.
Draghi appeared to argue that buying bonds would fall under the ECB's mandate. But it may not be that simple.
The Bundesbank, Germany's powerful central bank, quickly reiterated its opposition to additional bond buying under the ECB's controversial Securities Market Program, or SMP.
While German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warmed to the idea, Bundesbank president Jens Weidmann could still vote against intervening in the bond market, said Holdger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank.
That wouldn't necessarily prevent the ECB from pushing ahead, but it could give investors reason to doubt the bank's resolve.
"Once again, the Bundesbank would undermine the ECB," said Schmieding.
As an alternative, analysts say eurozone leaders could use funds from the European Financial Stability Facility to buy bonds directly from governments in the primary market, while the ECB intervenes in the secondary market. But Tobias Blattner, a former ECB economist who is now at Daiwa Capital Markets, noted that Spain and Italy have not made any requests to sell bonds to the EFSF.
Under another proposal, the ECB would set a cap on bond yields or limit the spreads between yields on Spanish and Italian bonds versus the German benchmark. This approach, which is similar to steps the Swiss National Bank has taken to support the franc, would help eliminate doubts about the ECB's commitment, according to Schmieding. "The ECB might not have to actually buy many bonds," he said.
There is also speculation that the European Stability Mechanism, a bailout fund that has yet to be fully established, could be given a banking license. In theory, this would allow the ESM to borrow money from the ECB, effectively giving it a source of unlimited funding to buy bonds.
But this is "highly unlikely" given that the ESM from barred from becoming a counterparty of the ECB under current statutes, according to Blattner.
Blattner said the most likely outcome is that the ECB will offer European banks another round of ultra low cost financing by launching a third Long-Term Refinancing Operation, or LTRO. A third LTRO is "the very least market participants are looking for from Thursday's meeting," said Blattner. "There has always been a broad majority in the ECB's governing council in support of liquidity measures for solvent banks."
The ECB funneled more than €1 trillion into the banking system in two previous LTROs, which temporarily drove down sovereign borrowing costs earlier this year.
Related: IMF calls for action as euro crisis escalates
However, critics say providing additional liquidity would only reinforce the unhealthy co-dependence between banks and governments, in which banks are the main buyers of domestic sovereign debt only because they are receiving cheap ECB financing.
In addition to this so-called doom loop, a third LTRO also raises questions of moral hazard. Draghi has repeatedly argued that the ECB cannot solve the underlying problems in the eurozone, which he says must be addressed by government leaders. The concern is that ECB intervention would remove the incentive government policy makers have to implement unpopular reforms.
Sound familiar? Fed chairman Ben Bernanke is pretty much saying the same thing about Congress and the upcoming fiscal cliff. It's good to see central bankers sticking together.


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Hi everyone - This is the FINAL CALL for paper submissions for the 4th
annual HITB Security Conference in Amsterdam, #HITB2013AMS. We're
looking for talks that are highly technical, but most importantly,
material which is new and cutting edge.
Submissions are due BEFORE 8th Feb 23:59 CET
HITB CFP: http://cfp.hackinthebox.org/
#HITB2013AMS takes place at the Okura Hotel in Amsterdam from the 8th
till the 11th of April. We kick off as always with two-days of hands
on technical trainings (8th and 9th).
We then continue with a triple track conference with keynotes by Eddie
Schwartz, Chief Information Security Officer at RSA and Bob Lord,
Chief Security Officer at Twitter. The closing keynote will be
presented by Winn Schwartau.
Event Website: http://conference.hitb.org/
Each accepted submission will entitle the speaker(s) to
accommodation for 3 nights / 4 days and travel expense reimbursement
up to EUR1200.00 per speaking slot.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following:
Cloud Security
File System Security
3G/4G/WIMAX Security
SS7/GSM/VoIP Security
Security of Medical Devices
Critical Infrastructure Security
Smartphone / MobileSecurity
Smart Card and Physical Security
Network Protocols, Analysis and Attacks
Applications of Cryptographic Techniques
Side Channel Analysis of Hardware Devices
Analysis of Malicious Code / Viruses / Malware
Data Recovery, Forensics and Incident Response
Hardware based attacks and reverse engineering
Windows / Linux / OS X / *NIX Security Vulnerabilities
Next Generation Exploit and Exploit Mitigation Techniques
NFC, WLAN, GPS, HAM Radio, Satellite, RFID and Bluetooth Security
Your submission will be reviewed by The HITB CFP Review Committee:
Charlie Miller (formerly Principal Research Consultant, Accuvant Labs)
Katie Moussouris, Senior Security Strategist, Microsoft
Itzik Kotler, Chief Technology Officer, Security Art
Cesar Cerrudo, Chief Technology Officer, IOActive
Jeremiah Grossman, Founder, Whitehat Security
Andrew Cushman, Senior Director, Microsoft
Saumil Shah, Founder CEO Net-Square
Thanh 'RD' Nguyen, THC, VNSECURITY
Alexander Kornburst, Red Database
Fredric Raynal, QuarksLab
Shreeraj Shah, Founder, BlueInfy
Emmanuel Gadaix, Founder, TSTF
Andrea Barisani, Inverse Path
Philippe Langlois, TSTF
Ed Skoudis, InGuardians
Haroon Meer, Thinkst
Chris Evans, Google
Raoul Chiesa, TSTF/ISECOM
rsnake, SecTheory
Gal Diskin, Intel
Skyper, THC
Note: We do not accept product or vendor related pitches. If you would
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Mark Thomas
Generally this dish is served in Andalusia as part of a mixed fish fry, but it's wonderful on its own. The marinade makes the fish flavorful and succulent.
- Yield
- Makes 8 servings
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 bay leaves, finely crumbled
- 2 pounds skinless halibut fillet, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Olive oil (for frying)
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- Lemon wedges
- Whisk vinegar, garlic, oregano, thyme, cumin, and bay leaves in medium bowl to blend. Add fish and toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.
- Heat enough oil to come 1/2 inch up sides of pan in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Place flour in large bowl. Remove fish from marinade. Toss fish in flour, then shake off excess. Working in batches, fry fish until cooked through and brown all over, turning occasionally with tongs, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer to platter. Serve warm or at room temperature with lemon wedges.


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Your donation provides valuable resources to ATC. Here is a small sampling of what your gift can support.
Provides personal protective equipment for volunteers and youth conducting stewardship projects on the trail.
Provides transportation for a youth group experience or stewardship project on the trail.
Gift provides wilderness first aid training for 28 participants.
Gift provides the opportunity for 45 communities to convene for an annual conservation summit.
Gift supports five major land protection projects.


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Omnitrans has purchased 100 solar light fixtures to install at selected bus stops throughout its service area.
The lighting fixture attaches to the top of an individual bus stop pole and illuminates an area of about 6 feet around the base. No push button activation is required. It comes on automatically at dusk and turns off in 6 hours. Each day it recalibrates itself to turn back on about 2 hours before sunrise.
If you know of a particular stop where lighting is need, please let us know by posting the location and stop number in the comments below.


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Column by Mike Murray
These days, it's hard to perform a penetration test without attempting some sort of online social engineering, and most often, this takes the format of some type of phishing attack (whether targeted or across a wide user base).
While we spend epic amounts of time getting our exploits and payloads perfect (even if we're using SET), far too often we see testers using stock emails or variants of canned emails that they've been taught to use without thinking about the real keys to getting their emails read and acted upon.
These are my five most-often overlooked secrets to making sure that your email phishing works…
Discuss in Forums {mos_smf_discuss:Murray}
The subject line of an email is much like your first impression – you will get away with nearly anything if you have a good one, and you'll rarely ever recover if you have a bad one. Unfortunately, most of us write bad email subject lines – our subject lines in SE situations tend to be vague and unimaginative.
While it's a natural instinct to want to be as unobtrusive as possible (i.e. when performing most SE engagements, we don't exactly strive to be memorable), this is exactly the logic that will get your emails moved immediately to the "trash" folder (especially if you do a bad job with the next four secrets).
Of course, the subject of the email has to be relevant to what you're attempting. If it's not, then you're going to be remembered (and you're going to get reported to the local security team by any moderately responsive workforce).
Phishing Scenario
Typical Subject Line
Good Subject Line
|Fake Administrative Update
|Security Update
|Important: Patch Your Computer
|Malicious PDF Document from a colleague
|The Documents you Requested
|Can you believe that he sent me this?
|Direct to an entertaining malicious web link
|You should see this site
|Have you seen this one?
Protip: It's always good to instill some urgency in your target, but exclamation marks and heavy capitalization in your subject line scream "I'm a phishing email." Avoid them at all costs.
The number of phishing attacks that fail because the email address is too "phishy" probably is nearly innumerable. Many of us intuitively understand this and choose phishing emails that appear to come from the target domain; however, this can limit our ability to perform some of the scenarios that we may hope to accomplish.
This can all be avoided with heavy use of your GoDaddy (or other domain registrar) account and some creativity. Some ideas we have tossed around to make incredibly effective phishing email addresses have included the obvious ones (e.g. .net / .org analogues of our clients' domains) as well as some more esoteric tricks to replicate domains (internationalized domain names that have foreign characters that appear similar to the domain we're attempting to replicate).
An interesting one that we've actually used (effectively) was against a customer who we knew to be heavily dependent on Oracle products within their environment. In attacking their IT staff, we knew that a link sent from Oracle was likely to be acted on quickly. Of course, appearing as though we were Oracle was going to be somewhat difficult.
We also realized that the letters "c" and "l" placed next to each other look very much like a "d." So, we registered the domain "orade-support.com" (because "orade.com" was taken).
If you're creative, you can come up with any number of opportunities like this given who you're trying to impersonate.
The salutation of an email tells us much about the sender and their intent. This all goes back to the way that we learned about letter writing when we were growing up – the difference between "Dear Mike," "Hi Mike" "Mike" and "To whom it may concern" is pronounced in our understanding of what is to follow.
This is one of the fundamental failures of most traditional phishing emails sent from overseas (especially those countries with school systems based on British English like India and Nigeria) – they tend to be far more deferential and formal in their salutations than those in the US and Canada are.
Imagine, for example, you are sitting at work and get an email from a co-worker that begins with, "Dear Esteemed Colleague." How suspicious would you be?
Similarly, choosing the correct salutation for your email (and, often, the answer "no salutation" is the right one) is required to ensure that your emails don't set off the target's suspicion.
Much like the salutation, we learned from a young age that we needed to sign our letters. Consequently, our reaction to the signature of an email is impressed deeply on our unconscious minds. The right signature can soothe a budding suspicion, while the wrong one will set off alarm bells in even the most otherwise perfect email.
As an example, take one of the companies that you interact with often (e.g. Paypal, Google, eBay, etc.) and examine the signatures that accompany each. You will likely discover a constancy of signature across the emails that unconsciously reassures you of who you're dealing with.
Likewise, you probably will notice that your friends all sign their emails in a similar way each time. For example, anyone receiving an email from me will notice that my notes are signed "-Mike" or "-M" nearly every single time. When I don't sign my notes that way, people notice.
And anybody attempting to impersonate me had better get that right.
There are two types of tests that every phishing email should be put through, before it hits the wire to ensure that it has the best chance of success. The first test is to ensure that your email will reach its target, while the second is about ensuring that you're being as appropriate as possible in the way that you write your email.
Spam Assassin
Phishing attacks often fail for the stupidest reasons – chief among them is that the email is caught by the spam filters at your target domain. While this is what email filters are designed to do, it's easy to check your emails against industry standard spam filters like spam assassin before you send it.
When I'm crafting a phishing email, I'll often use my account at Aweber to test my email against their spam filters. They have an easy testing facility to perform that test.
However, if I didn't have an Aweber account, I'd use something like MailCheck to test my email and ensure its deliverability.
The Flesch Grade Level Test
Emails are written with a characteristic grade level, and usually that grade level stays consistent across a category of writing. As a simple example, stories in USA Today average a 10th grade level, while those in the Los Angeles Times average a 12th grade level (reference: http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/newsletter/plwork15.htm).
This same pattern holds true across given vendors and classes of emails – given a cursory investigation, emails from my bank appear to evaluate at around the 8th grade level, while sales emails from tech vendors evaluated around 7th grade level.
If you're trying to impersonate an email from Oracle, it's important that you're not writing at a similar level as a Ph.D. thesis. Luckily, you can use the Flesch Grade Level test (link: http://www.addedbytes.com/lab/readability-score/) to evaluate your emails against examples of emails you're trying to sound similar to.


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|*September 17- 23
of Kings
and Lord of Lords!
Read for This Week's Study:
|Matt. 24:23-51, 7:21-29, John 14:1-3, Acts 1:9-11, Phil. 2:9-11, Rev. 20:7-9.
Memory Text:
|"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. . . . And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:11, 16, NKJV).
Key Thought:
|Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will come again in glory to gather
the redeemed of all ages into His eternal kingdom. All those who have received
Him as Savior and Lord will welcome Him with joy when He returns to this
Of all the promises that Jesus, our Savior and Lord, has given us, the greatest promise is that He will return and take us from this sin-sick world. We have this hope, the hope in the coming of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, as our Savior, reconciled earth to heaven and thus paved the way for the great and glorious day of His return whenas KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDSHe will bring that reconciliation to its eternal consummation.
This is the great hope of all whose acknowledgment of Christ as Lord has been made manifest in their lives; in contrast, for those whoregardless of what they confesshave rejected Jesus as Lord of their lives, the Second Coming will be a sad and fearful event.
Why not, right now, make that complete surrender to the One who, at Calvary, surrendered all for us?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 24.
|September 18
The Certainty of Christ's Return (John 14:1-3, Acts 1:9-11).
Those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are a people of hope. With joyful expectation we are "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13, NKJV). Our hope concerning the return of our Lord Jesus Christ is not wishful thinking. It is based upon the faithfulness of our Lord to honor His promises.
What promise did Jesus Christ give to His followers concerning His return to this earth? John 14:1-3.
We trust in this promise of Jesus: " 'I will come again.' " This phrase might literally be translated "I am coming again." The verb to come is in the present tense. We call this a "futuristic present," which emphasizes the certainty of that which is being described. In this promise, Jesus Christ assures us His return is as certain as if it were already taking place!
What promise of two heavenly messengers confirmed the promise of Jesus regarding His return? Acts 1:9-11.
Seventh-day Adventist Christians have long cherished the blessed hope of the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our name, Adventist, reminds us that Jesus Christ, who came once as a baby in Bethlehem's manger, will come again as King of kings and Lord of lords. Even though our pioneers expected His return long before now, the promise is still sure. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come" (2 Pet. 3:9, 10, NKJV). The apostle Paul affirms the certainty of our hope in these words: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven" (1 Thess. 4:16, NKJV). The second coming of Jesus is not wishful thinking. It is our certain hope.
|Feeling discouraged, worried, fearful? Prayerfully, read again John 14:1-3 and place yourself, your name, in each spot where it's appropriate Realize that in a very real sense, Jesus is talking to you, that those Words are for you What hope do you draw from this precious, and intimate, promise of Jesus-to you, personally?
|September 19
The Nature of Christ's Return
Our Lord Jesus Christ wants us not only to be certain of His return but also to understand the nature of His return. We have already discovered from yesterday's study that His coming will be literal. Jesus declared," 'I will come again.' "We must reject any interpretation that would attempt to spiritualize Christ's second coming as His coming into our hearts. While it is true that Christ can dwell in our hearts through faith (see Eph. 3:17), this dwelling in our hearts by the Holy Spirit does not replace His literal return in glory.
What can we learn from the following comments of Jesus about the nature of His return? Matt. 24:23-26, 27, 30, 31.
The second coming of Jesus will not be secret. It will be dramatic, visible, and audible. These words of Jesus also imply that a resurrection of the dead will occur at the time of His coming. Listen to another promise of Jesus: " 'And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day'" (John 6:40, NKJV).
Read Paul's descriptions of the nature of Christ's second coming (1 Thess. 4:16, 17). Why would that be something hard for an imposter to fake? Why, too, with such clear biblical testimony regarding the nature of Christ's return, have so many people been fooled by false christs in the past?
The apostle Paul reinforces the teaching of Jesus regarding the nature of His return. The second coming of Jesus Christ is personal: The Lord Himself will descend from heaven. It is dramatic: The Lord will shout and the trumpet will sound. There will be a resurrection: The dead in Christ will rise first. Finally, all the redeemed will be gathered up to meet the Lord in the air.
|Using your imagination, depict in writing what it will be like when Jesus returns. Share it with your class.
|September 20
The Timing of Christ's Return
Almost two thousand years ago, in His last recorded comment in the book of Revelation, our risen Lord declared, " 'Surely I am coming quickly" (Rev. 22:20, NKJV). Christians have wrestled with that declaration ever since. From our perspective, it doesn't seem as though He is coming quickly. We realize, of course, that the Lord is not locked in time as we mere mortals are. The apostle Peter reminds us that "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Pet. 3:8, NKJV).
Dwell upon what Peter wrote regarding the Lord and time. What mistake should these words protect us from making?
In terms of eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming quickly. And yet, many times we find ourselves crying out with the souls under the altar," 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'" (Rev. 6:10, NKJV).
Read the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 24:45-51. In your own words, write out what you believe is the basic message Jesus is giving us here. Why is this parable so relevant for us as Adventists?
There's been a long-running debate in the church about the question of a delay. Is there one? If so, why? If not, then why hasn't Christ returned? And though we probably won't get all these questions resolved this side of eternity, the crucial thing for us is to be ready always, regardless of when He comes.
|If someone were to ask you, What does it mean to be ready for Jesus' return, how would you respond? If Christ returned today, would you be ready? Justify your answer.
|September 21
The Impact of Christ's Return
The glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will impact those living on the earth in one of two ways. For those who have refused to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, it will be a time of terror. Even for many professed followers of Christ, those who never let Him be Lord of their lives, it will [be] a time of fearful judgment.
Read carefully the following texts in light of this whole quarter's lesson: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23). How do these verses capture the essence of what it means to profess Jesus as Lord but not allow Him to be Lord? What is the crucial difference between the two?
Our Savior is very clear: We can't separate a profession of faith in Him from a life of obedience to Him. Notice how Jesus here links obedience with actually being in a saving relationship with Him; He says He "never knew" those whothough professing Him as Lord, and even doing deeds in His nameweren't obedient to the will of God. This has to be one of the strongest statements Jesus ever made about the futility of calling oneself a Christian while not living like one, and living like one demands that we do the will of the Father in heaven. Otherwise, our faith is made out of nothing but sand.
Read the parable that comes right after Christ's words here (Matt. 7:24-29). How does this fit in exactly with what Jesus said in verses 21-23?
|September 22
The Cosmic Confession
For Christians, their profession that Jesus is Lord is matched by a life of faithful obedience, not an obedience that saves (it can't), but an obedience that expresses a true faith in God.
Read Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, and Hebrews 9:12. What do these verses tell us about how we are redeemed?
"At His first coming, Christ was denied and rejected by men, and by them dragged as a criminal to Pilate's bar, where they charged Him with blasphemy. He was scourged and crucified. Nails were driven through His hands and His feet. . . . At His second coming, the scene will be changed. He will be acknowledged by all as the King of glory. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The angels will bow in adoration before Him. His enemies will see the mistake they have made, and every tongue will confess His divinity."Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, April 19, 1905.
However, for the wicked, this will not be a saving confession but simply a recognition of that which is undeniably true. There is no change of heart. No repentance. In fact, according to Revelation 20:7-9, they continue their rebellion against the Lord.
In contrast, there are those whothough sinners, though imperfect, though in and of themselves possessing no righteousnesshave, nevertheless, committed their souls to the Lord Jesus by surrendering their will to Him. These people will proclaim Jesus as their Lord, and their lives will reflect that proclamation. Our praise of the Lord in heaven will simply be our picking up where we left off praising Him here. If we love and serve Jesus even amid the toil, pain, sin, and corruption on earth now, then how much more so in the new heaven and a new earth? Our service to Jesus as Lord there will just be the continuation of our service to Him here but without the cumbrousness of sin, disease, ignorance, and the devil. That's the victory Jesus won for us. We can, by trusting and living by faith with Jesus as Lord, start enjoying the fruits of that victory, even now.
|September 23
Further Study:
|Read the
four chapters in the book of Revelation. Take time to meditate on this
beautiful scene of the new earth:
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. And there shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever" (Rev. 22:1-5, NKJV).
What a blessed hope is ours. Soon our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will return as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will create a new heaven and a new earth, and we will reign with Him forever and ever. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Discussion Questions:
| As a class, compare notes from what you wrote in Monday's study
about what it will be like when Christ returns.
What do you say to someone who, when the subject of Christ's return is brought up, says, "Look, ever since I was a kid, I was told that Christ was coming soon. That was so many years ago. Please, don't bother me with this talk of His 'soon' return."?
If you read the selection above in Revelation, talk as a class about what you think life will be like in the new earth. What will the major difference be between life there and life here now?
As a class, talk about the difference between merely believing in Jesus as Lord and experiencing that lordship in your life.
|I N S I D E Story
|Two Answered Prayers
Dorothy Eaton Watts
Jaggaya worked in a railway station in eastern India. One day the wind stirred up stray papers lying around the station. One paper landed near Jaggaya. He picked it up and read it. It told the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. Now that is amazing, Jaggaya thought. This Jesus must be a very great God to do this. I must learn more about Him.
Jaggaya asked a Protestant pastor in his village to tell him more about Jesus. Soon Jaggaya was attending church and reading his Bible. Always his prayer was that Jesus would teach him more. Then one day a stranger walked into Jaggaya's village.
Paul Reddy prayed as he neared the village, "Lord, lead me to some soul longing to know more about You." As he walked down the street, he noticed an old man reading a Bible. "Hello, Brother," Paul greeted the man. "I see you are reading God's Word. I am a Christian too." The two men talked for a while, then Paul asked him, "Do you know about the Bible Sabbath?"
"No," said Jaggaya. "I have read the Bible a lot, but I do not know anything about a Sabbath. Will you explain it to me?" Paul Reddy opened his Bible and began seven days of intense Bible study with Jaggaya. They studied many doctrines of the Bible. Over and over Jaggaya exclaimed, "This is wonderful! I never knew that before!" At the end of the Bible studies, Jaggaya asked Paul Reddy to rebaptize him, symbolizing his acceptance of the new Bible truths he had accepted.
"I will bring a minister to baptize you," Paul promised. But it took several weeks before Paul could return with a pastor. In the meantime, Jaggaya faithfully followed what he had learned from Paul Reddy and the Bible.
Jaggaya is 80 years old, but he walks the streets of his village sharing his newfound faith with others. He is studying the Bible with 20 people he has found. They are preparing to be baptized into the Adventist church.
The work in Orissa State in eastern India is exploding. In 1997 after 70 years of Adventist work, the church had 102 congregations in Orissa and
3,100 believers. Today there are more than 350 congregations and more than 30,000 believers. Pray that God will open the way to build more than 300 churches needed by new congregations in Orissa. Pray too that our new members will remain faithful to God in spite of great difficulties.
Dorothy Eaton Watts is assistant secretary of the Southern Asia Division.
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Below you will be able to find the That's awful! crossword clue answers and solutions. This crossword clue was last seen on LA Times Crossword September 16 2020 Answers. In case something is wrong or missing please leave a comment below and we will fix it right away!.
That's awful!
Already solved That's awful!? Go back and see the other crossword clues for LA Times Crossword September 16 2020 Answers.


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Emacs includes an abbreviation package that allows you to type a shortcut e.g. oc which it will expand it to (say) oversight committee.
And a good thing too. I've had to type rel="nofollow" a few too many times in the past few days. I'd much rather type, for example "rnf" which I can add using
(define-abbrev ...).
Another advantage is that I can include my inline styles in abbreviations which is very handy when wordpress.com makes it a little bit inconvenient to fix the master css.
(define-abbrev global-abbrev-table "rnf" "rel=\"nofollow\"") (define-abbrev global-abbrev-table "stcod" "style=\"font-size: 130%; background: #eee; padding: 3px;\"") (define-abbrev global-abbrev-table "stsrc" (concat "<pre style=\"font-size: 130%; border: 1px solid #bbb;" "background: #eee; margin: 15px 5px; padding: 5px;\">"))
Then add a hook to enable abbrev mode and you are good to go.
(add-hook 'text-mode-hook (lambda () (abbrev-mode 1)))


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(Sergiopolis in Syria)
For me, History, Food and Nature are the most seductive elements of travel. And the middle-east provides a fascinating mix of all three. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I consider Lebanon one of those dream places to visit, mostly because of this lovely book by Colin Thubron. In the book, Thubron explores the history and culture of a pretty ancient land while walking across its pastoral landscape. Another interesting book that traces a historical thread of the middle east is 'From the Holy Mountain' by William Dalrymple. The book is only one I have read that brings out the 'eastern' roots of Christianity through its exploration of Syrian Christianity. Funnily enough, the book also solved an old doubt I had pertaining to odd christian names in Kerala, such as 'Kuriakose'. For more on that, check out these posts.
And while on the subject of of the middle-east, here are my posts on middle eastern food.
And here is a post on my experience of Saudi Arabia, a country I wish everyone would go to (if they were allowed in!).
(Picture of peter & Paul, who are said to have set up the Patriarchate of Antioch. It is said that Antioch is the first city where 'Christians' were referred to as such. The Bishop of Antioch is called the Patriarch of Antioch)


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We put the most advanced technology in the hands of experienced, compassionate clinicians.
At 21st Century Oncology, our network of radiation therapy centers offers the most sophisticated radiation therapy treatment planning and delivery systems in the world. Not only do these technologies offer pinpoint accuracy, they do so faster and with minimum discomfort and interruption to patients' lives. In this section, learn about these advanced radiation therapy technologies. Or, use our location finder to see which of our centers and technology systems are available near you.
Our centers also offer additional specialized technologies that are appropriate for some patients.


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JOB TITLE: Associate Sterile Processing Tech
LOCATION: Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre
DEPARTMENT: Central Sterile Supply
WORK SCHEDULE: Days/Evenings, 11a to 7:30p. Rotation of weekends, holidays and on-call. Travel to GWV campus as needed per department needs.
WORK TYPE: Full-time
Responsible for the preparation, care, sterilization and/or transportation of medical and/or surgical instruments, packs, supplies and equipment.Performs duties to support the goals and objectives of Geisinger in its efforts to provide quality patient care and patient satisfaction.Works under the supervision of the Supervisor, Central Sterile Supply.Duties may vary by site.
Demonstrates good hand/eye coordination.Demonstrates ability to perform arithmetic calculations and communicate effectively.Demonstrates ability to maintain a good working relationship with coworkers and other department staff.Demonstrates a willingness to work in a team environment. Shows flexibility and resourcefulness when faced with unforeseen circumstances and is available for additional duties within the scope of practice.
High school equivalent or GED required.Certified Registered Central Sterile Technician (CRCST) or recognized equivalent certification must be obtained within 12 months of hire. Additional 90-day extension may be granted to attain certification.*Current employees with a minimum of 5 years of sterile processing experience as of 1/1/18 will be grandfathered and are not required to attain the CRCST certification, although it is still highly encouraged. Employees are not eligible to move to the Sterile Processing Tech if the certification is not attained.
Extensive periods of standing to perform most duties and bending, stooping, pushing sterilizer carriages and lifting up to 45 pounds is involved.
The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job.
OUR PURPOSE & VALUES: Everything we do is about caring for our patients, our members, our students, our Geisinger family and our communities. KINDNESS: We strive to treat everyone as we would hope to be treated ourselves. EXCELLENCE: We treasure colleagues who humbly strive for excellence. LEARNING: We share our knowledge with the best and brightest to better prepare the caregivers for tomorrow. INNOVATION: We constantly seek new and better ways to care for our patients, our members, our community, and the nation.
GEISINGER WYOMING VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER: (GWV), located in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., is an acute care hospital that is licensed for 274 beds, and houses the only Level II Trauma center in Luzerne County. The campus includes the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center, The Richard and Marion Pearsall Heart Hospital, the Janet Weis Children's Hospital Pediatric Unit, a transplant program and the Brain & Spine Tumor Institute. Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre is GWV's ambulatory campus.
About Geisinger
One of the nation's most innovative health services organizations, Geisinger serves more than 1.5 million patients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The system includes 13 hospital campuses, a nearly 600,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. A physician-led organization, with approximately 32,000 employees and more than 1,800 employed physicians, Geisinger leverages an estimated $12.7 billion positive annual impact on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey economies. Repeatedly recognized nationally for integration, quality and service, Geisinger has a long-standing commitment to patient care, medical education, research and community service. For more information, visit geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
** Does not qualify for J-1 waiver. We are an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer Women and Minorities are Encouraged to Apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or their protected veteran status.
*Domestic partner benefits not applicable at Geisinger Holy Spirit.


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She also made me get out of my comfort zone and try something new! I've never used flock before and had to give it a try thanks to her post HERE. I never knew it was so easy and fun but thanks to her video, I'm hooked.
I thought I would try it out on some cards for CARDS FOR GRACE. (You can find all the info. HERE) ...
Can you see that some parts of the octopus is shiny? I used glossy accents and I used pink flock on her flower.
I think this one is my favorite...
I used yellowish-orange flocking on his tummy. It's ADORABLE in real life...The next one I decided to use a bit of red flock on the heart...Punchline: "To get to the other tide!" hee.
I hope you can make some cards for Grace!
I'm off to clean up my scrap mess. Night! :)


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Two Dead in Crash at Grand Falls Casino
An accident involving a car and a semi truck hauling pigs in front of Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, Iowa has left two people dead Thursday evening.
Witnesses say the accident happened shortly before 6:00pm when the car pulled out of the parking lot of the casino and was struck by the tractor trailer.
The deceased have been identified as Charles J. Rice and Kristin Ann Loudermilk of Sioux Falls. The truck driver, Randy Gergen from Iowa was not injured.


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Global food insecurity has surged amid the coronavirus pandemic, threatening to worsen humanitarian crises and spur migration.
The experiences of dozens of countries offer lessons for U.S. officials as they prepare for the presidential election during the coronavirus pandemic.
As countries consider how and when to vote in the coming months, here's what experts recommend for holding safe and secure elections during the coronavirus pandemic.
CFR is following the presidential candidates on the major foreign policy issues. Dive deeper below.
The August explosions in Beirut were the latest in a series of man-made disasters that have led some experts to say Lebanon is becoming a failed state.
Climate Change
Fires in California and Oregon have been more devastating than ever before, but climate change means the worst is yet to come. Here's how officials can prepare.
Although negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government are historic, they are unlikely to result in a quick breakthrough.
The Center for Preventive Action has compiled an accessible overview of the Afghan peace negotiations, including the U.S.-Taliban agreement, the U.S.-Afghan government joint declaration, and the ongoing intra-Afghan process.
The Taliban insurgency remains resilient nearly two decades after U.S.-led forces toppled its regime in what led to the United States' longest war.
John Campbell discusses Nigeria, its history, colonial legacy, and strategic importance to the United States. Ambassador Campbell argues that Nigeria is the African country of greatest strategic importance to the United States, but it remains poorly understood. Unlike a conventional nation-state, Nigeria is run by a small cartel of self-serving elites who cooperate just enough to divvy up state oil revenue among themselves and their clients, but otherwise do little to improve the lot of the vast majority of Nigerians. How did it get this way? The answer lies in British indirect rule, a half-baked independence movement, a deadly civil war, and a generation of rapacious military rule that coincided with the oil boom. The CFR Master Class Series is a weekly 45-minute session hosted by Vice President and Deputy Director for Studies Shannon O'Neil in which a CFR fellow will take a step back from the news and discuss the fundamentals essential to understanding a given country, region of the world, or issue pertaining to U.S. foreign policy or international relations.
Russia interfered with the U.S. presidential election in 2016, and in 2018, internet trolls again spread disinformation during the midterms. Intelligence officials warn that interference in this year's presidential election may already be underway.
The effects of climate change, from higher temperatures, extreme rainfall, and stronger storms, have harmed communities across the globe, and will continue to cause significant damage if we fail to prepare for the consequences. In this meeting, panelists discuss climate change adaptation and the solutions being deployed to mitigate its effects.
Panelists discuss the Iranian hostage crisis and the implications of the failed rescue attempt for U.S.-Iran relations for the next forty years. From two-time Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple, Desert One tells the story of America's secret mission to free the hostages of the 1979 Iranian revolution.
Expert Spotlight
Stephen D. Biddle
Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy
Farah Pandith
Adjunct Senior Fellow
Radicalization and Extremism Terrorism and Counterterrorism U.S. Foreign Policy
Featured Publications
An invaluable primer from Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, that will help anyone, expert and nonexpert alike, navigate a time in which many of our biggest challenges come from the world beyond our borders.
The United States should respond to the COVID-19 reordering moment and stop deterioration in the balance of power with China, bolster relations with India and Europe, and reform the way it deals with allies and partners.
Diplomacy and International Institutions
Is America's alliance system so quietly effective that politicians and voters fail to appreciate its importance in delivering the security they take for granted?


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USD Launches City-Wide Expansion of Social Innovation Challenge
The University of San Diego's Center for Peace and Commerce, a collaboration of the School of Business Administration and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, has received a generous contribution from the Moxie Foundation to expand the Social Innovation Challenge (SIC) to other San Diego universities.
The grant will allow students from other universities in San Diego including the University of California, San Diego; San Diego State University; San Diego City College and Point Loma Nazarene University to compete for the "Moxie Prize" of $17,500 in 2014. In addition to this, the Moxie Foundation is providing funding for operations and marketing.
"By opening up the Social Innovation Challenge to more students across San Diego, we can advance the Moxie Foundation's vision of engaging the brightest, most creative people in our region to address the most pressing needs of our community and planet" said Peter Zahn, President of the Moxie Foundation. More schools likely will be added to the competition in future years.
In the Social Innovation Challenge competition, students create transformative ideas to solve social, economic, environmental and other problems in the U.S. and around the world. Since its inception in 2010, the USD Social Innovation Challenge has awarded $84,000 to student ideas for venture creation based on the 4Ps: People, planet, profit and peace. Past student projects have resulted in solutions for homelessness in San Diego, educational tools for autism, development in Africa, volunteerism abroad, and more. To learn more about SIC and 2013 projects go to sandiego.dellchallenge.org.
In 2014, USD's Social Innovation Challenge will award $50,000 to USD students and $17,500 to students from the other San Diego universities. "It is imperative that we provide opportunities to fuel new business and entrepreneurial thinking to address poverty, pollution, women's rights and other pressing global issues," said Zahn. "We expect to see benefits flow to the underserved and most needy, both locally and globally."
Nadia Auch, the Center for Peace and Commerce's Assistant Director and Stephen J. Conroy, PhD, Professor of Economics and Faculty Director for the Center for Peace and Commerce, will continue to administer the SIC.
"We know how excited and energized our USD students have become to participate in the Social Innovation Challenge and I'm sure their peers at other local schools will feel the same way," Conroy said.
To learn more about the Social Innovation Challenge, go to www.sandiego.edu/cpc/sic. Students must apply by March 3, 2014 and awards will be announced at a public ceremony at the University of San Diego on May 2, 2014.
The Moxie Foundation is a San Diego-based non- profit philanthropy, which presently funds entrepreneurship incubators and programs at UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and City College of New York. This will be Moxie's first region-wide entrepreneurship program.
For more information contact Nadia Auch at firstname.lastname@example.com or (619) 260-4857.
About the University of San Diego
The University of San Diego sets the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative Changemakers confront humanity's urgent challenges. With more than 9,000 students from 69 countries and 50 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. The university's eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. USD's Envisioning 2024 strategic plan capitalizes on the university's recent progress and aligns new strategic goals with current strengths to help shape a vision for the future as the university looks ahead to its 75th anniversary in the year 2024.
Denise Ward
(619) 260-4659


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About Ebi, What Needed to be Said Long Ago!
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuse ... =479586654
To: Ebrahim Hamedi
From: Ahreeman X
Date: March 27, 2009
Ebrahim Hamedi, Listen Buddy,
For the record, I am going to state a few points here.
Why do I respect your political views?
Regimes come and regimes go, but so far there has been no democratic regime established in Iran. So far, you always have been blackballed, blacklisted and unpopular with the regimes, yet popular with the masses of Iran. The reason is that you have always stated your mind clearly, never sucked up to any regime; furthermore, criticized all regimes and their followers for their undemocratic ways. Throughout the years, you stood solid to your views, never switched sides and always remained faithful to freedom and democracy. You never sold out, never kissed butt and always remained pure and clean. You always remained a free spirit. The only things you care about in politics are Nationalism and Democracy, that's all.
Why do I respect your music?
Anyone who reads my music articles, knows that basically I believe that except the Persian Classical masterpieces (Aminollah Hussein, Shahrdad Rohani, etc.), Persian Traditional masterpieces (Parissa, Shajarian, Nazeri, etc.), a few pop legends (Dariush, Farhad, Simin Ghanem, etc.) and a few talented new Rock, Rap and Blues meaningful bands, the rest of the Persian music, specifically the modern commercial Persian music is garbage. As a scientific musician, music critic, music collector and a music lover, I barely even listen to the Persian music, simply because, mostly it is garbage. Artists and bands are basically either copy cats of the western counterparts or simply cannot match up to the western artists. You my friend are another story. I don't want to make you feel old, but I grew up with you, your music and your generation of legends. You have a voice which can continue forever. You can continue a note forever ……, barely anyone in Persian Pop music can match up to your voice. The lyrics and music are superb and the soul in your music is in a separate class. I barely have any respect for anyone in the Persian music, either because they sold out musically or politically or they simply sing rubbish. Let me put it this way: It is because of a few artists like you that I still listen to the Persian music or else I would have completely dumped it in the trash can of history, because my time is too precious and my ears are too gentle to be wasted on Persian Commercial 6/8 beat!
Why do I respect you as a human?
Throughout the years, you have always been a true friend to the friends, a solid supporter of the underdog, underclass and the voiceless. You are a working class entertainer, always been, always are and always will be. You feel the ups and downs of the everyday Persian Adam O Hava.
Why do I respect you?
Let's put it in formula:
Nationalism + Democracy + Meaningful Music + Angelic Voice + Modesty + Humanity = Ebi
Soon or late, I must find time to write a music article about you and your music.
You need to replace the link to your homepage on your MySpace site to:
Because this link:
does not work.
Even this link:
has flaws and many buttons go to nowhere. You need a new webmaster! Anyway, your links are properly posted in the:
IPC Music
and your select videos and audios are properly posted in:
IPC Multimedia
Daramet Ebi, damet garm!
Who loves you baby?
Ahreeman indeed!
Who else?!
Best to you and the family my friend.
You are always close to my heart.
Always your comrade,
Pure Persian Pride
Ahreeman X


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CAD blocks are named groups of objects that act as a single 2D or 3D object. You can use them to create repeated content such as drawing symbols, common components, and standard details. Blocks help you save time, maintain consistency, and reduce file size by reusing and sharing content rather than re-drawing it every time you need it.
With AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT software, you can create your own CAD blocks or choose from a large library of pre-made blocks, including:
You can add attributes or dynamic properties to CAD blocks so they can accommodate different text strings, shapes, or sizes. All CAD blocks can use the following properties:
A dynamic block has flexibility and intelligence. You can easily change a dynamic block reference in a drawing while you work, manipulating the geometry through custom grips or custom properties. Dynamic blocks let you adjust the block reference in place as needed, rather than search for another block to insert, or redefine the existing one.
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Share on
Equipment Line
V-Class Standard.
Whether you're looking at the high-quality materials used, the functional appointments or the perfectly contoured design – the new V-Class will win you over from the start with its comprehensive standard specification. And everyone looking for an individual driving experience simply benefits from the many optional extras available.
With its 20-spoke light-alloy wheels with 225/55 R 17 tires, LED Intelligent Light System and separately opening rear window with partitioned load compartment, the new V-Class AVANTGARDE satisfies the most discerning needs in terms of design, comfort and variability. There's no shortage of driving pleasure either, thanks to AGILITY CONTROL suspension with selective damping system. Inside, the vehicle offers a convincing package of stunning appointments, such as Tartufo Napa leather seats and the new trim element in twin-stripe look – in the rear, too. Ambience lighting creates a pleasant atmosphere throughout the whole interior with three different mood lighting to choose from.
The V-Class EXCLUSIVE boasts a compelling mix of exquisite trim in brushed aluminum look, air vents in silver chrome, a roof liner in DINAMICA, the panoramic sliding sunroof, the large center console with integral refrigerated compartment and thermo-cupholders, climatized single seats in Napa leather for the driver, front and rear passengers, 19-inch light-alloy wheels, Burmester® surround sound system and a host of other equipment. Its uniqueness is instantly recognizable with the "EXCLUSIVE" label on the front wing panel.
V-Class sports package.
Really make a statement with the Exterior Sports package, including 20-spoke light-alloy wheels with 225/55 R 17 tires, brake calipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering and sports suspension. Choose the Interior Design package for your V-Class and enjoy luxury seats in Tartufo Napa leather, a Napa leather steering wheel and a new trim-element in twin-stripe look. Brushed aluminum sports pedals add the finishing touch to the cockpit
AMG Package.
The AMG body styling impressively enhances the dynamic appearance of the V-Class. The front apron with its prominent air inlets and chrome trim, the expressive spoiler lip and the diffuser-look rear apron emphasize the muscular character of the MPV. The AMG Line is also visually more powerful: it features a diamond radiator grille with chrome pins and thus delivers a sporty note. The side sill panels visually lengthen the side aspect, adding even more dynamism. 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in a seven-twin-spoke design round off the sporty appearance. The V-Class AMG Line also features a 17-inch braking system, brake calipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering and a sport suspension lowered by 15 millimeters with a taut spring and damper setup.
The interior features likewise show the handwriting of AMG: they include air vents in silver chrome, a sports pedal cluster in brushed aluminum, carbon-fiber look trim and a black headlining.
COMAND online (optional).
The intelligent COMAND Online option is the highlight of a new generation of telematics, bringing together all the familiar audio, telephone and navigation functions in one place, together with an internet browser. LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control is also an integral part of the system.
Burmester® surround sound system.
The Burmester® surround sound system, with its perfectly tuned amplifier and loudspeaker system, delivers an exciting surround sound experience into the vehicle. 15 loudspeakers and a bass reflex loudspeaker together deliver 640 W of listening experience. An awesome sound is delivered to every seat with the multichannel surround sound technology. In conjunction with COMAND Online voice amplification forms part of the system, which makes it easier for the driver and the front passenger to communicate with the rear passengers by channeling the voice of the front occupants, via an inbuilt microphone, through the rear speakers discreetly.
Seating Concept.
The new V-Class also offers impressive spaciousness and a wide variety of seat configurations in the rear. As a 6, 7 or 8-seater – the V-Class is exceptionally versatile. Four comfortable single seats are installed as standard in the rear. They offer a high degree of seating comfort and allow flexible use of the passenger compartment. An optional three-seat bench seats for the first and second rows in the rear increase the number of potential rear passengers to five or six. If a particularly large amount of load space is required, the seats in the passenger compartment can also be completely removed thanks to the seat rail system with its quick-release attachment system. This seat rail system also allows for the last seat row to be positioned to the very far end of the vehicle increasing the leg-room available for rear passengers.
Table Package.
The Table package contains many features to make a journey more pleasant for the rear passengers. They can use the folding, movable table for eating a snack, working or playing a game. Cup holders located in the sidewalls hold drinks securely in place. The nets on the backrests of the four individual seats provide even more storage space. And mobile devices can be connected up and charged through the 12 V sockets.
Rear window + EASY-PACK tailgate.
Wherever you're planning to go, the new V-Class is ready. There is ample space for whatever you need to take with you, plus plenty of great features to help simplify your journey. The separately opening rear window is just one of these. Thanks to its space-saving opening system with two loading levels and two baskets, loading and unloading really is child's play. Opening and closing the optional electrically operated EASY-PACK tailgate couldn't be easier either.


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In this clip, Wolf Lieser, Director of the Digital Art Museum [DAM] and initiator of the d.velop Digital Art Award, interviews artist Lynn Hershman Leeson about her life and work. This year, Leeson won the 4th develop digital art award [ddaa] for lifetime achievement in the field of new media art.
The joke about the short story in which a photographer goes completely insane trying to take a close-up of the horizon is my fav joke ever.


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If there is anyone interested in sharing toyboxes send me a friend request. I still have ideas for toyboxes that I want to build and building just for myself is pretty boring. I would also like to see what other builders can do.
My Nintendo ID is over there >>>>
PM me to let me know you sent the request.


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Nancy Graves established herself as an artist in the late 1960s with an exhibition of realistic, life-size camels. Fabricated out of wood, steel, burlap, polyurethane, animal hide, wax, and oil paint, these sculptures appeared to be taken directly from a natural history museum, and they asserted the artist's interest in science and history. Graves returned to sculpture in the 1980s after a hiatus dedicated to painting, still interested in science and nature, but far from her camels of the late 1960s.
In Wheelabout, Graves combines the shapes and forms found in nature with objects found in everyday life. Her interest in natural science is manifested in this piece through cast, organic materials. There is a strong affinity with the Pop art movement of the 1960s in her whimsical combination of ordinary objects, such as cast plants, molten bronze spills, C-clamps, and drain spouts. The composition's large, continuous curves, recognizable yet unrelated objects, and bright colors give it a playful appearance. The three wheels relate to that playful spirit, and the spoke-like palm fronds bring to mind the form of a tricycle, emphasizing a sense of movement.
The formal elements of Wheelabout are repeated and balanced throughout the piece. The S curve that dominates the upper half of the work is balanced by smaller curves, and this is again echoed in the two supports of one of the wheels, on which are welded small organic forms that further reinforce the repeated shape. The contrast between rigid, straight lines and fluid, sweeping curves give this assemblage of seemingly incongruent materials a sense of harmony and balance.


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Printer Engineer - Mid
- Employer
- Unisys Corporation
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Posted
- Aug 24, 2019
- Closes
- Aug 27, 2019
- Ref
- 294719231
- Function
- Engineer, IT, QA Engineer
- Industry
- Technology and Software
- Career Level
- Experienced (Non-Manager)
- Hours
- Full Time
We are currently seeking a motivated, career and customer oriented Printer Engineer - Mid to join our team in Washington, DC to begin an exciting and challenging career with Unisys Federal Systems.Duties: Performs a full range of servicing and repair procedures including diagnostics, installation, removal and retrofits on assigned printers. Performs troubleshooting and repairs or replaces equipment components as necessary. Escalation point for junior engineers. Requirements Experience: Must have a minimum of 3 years of experience maintaining and repairing printers. Must have experience working with a broad range of printer manufacturers and platforms.Education: High School Diploma/GED About Unisys Do you have what it takes to be mission critical? Your skills and experience could be mission critical for our Unisys team supporting the Federal Government in their mission to protect and defend our nation, and transform the way government agencies manage information and improve responsiveness to their customers. As a member of our diverse team, you'll gain valuable career-enhancing experience as we support the design, development, testing, implementation, training, and maintenance of our federal government's critical systems. Apply today to become mission critical and help our nation meet the growing need for IT security, improved infrastructure, big data, and advanced analytics.Unisys is a global information technology company that solves complex IT challenges at the intersection of modern and mission critical. We work with many of the world's largest companies and government organizations to secure and keep their mission-critical operations running at peak performance; streamline and transform their data centers; enhance support to their end users and constituents; and modernize their enterprise applications. We do this while protecting and building on their legacy IT investments. Our offerings include outsourcing and managed services, systems integration and consulting services, high-end server technology, cybersecurity and cloud management software, and maintenance and support services. Unisys has more than 23,000 employees serving clients around the world. Unisys offers a very competitive benefits package including health insurance coverage from first day of employment, a 401k with an immediately vested company match, vacation and educational benefits. To learn more about Unisys visit us at www.Unisys.com.Unisys is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) - Minorities, Females, Disabled Persons, and Veterans.#FED#


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Don't look now, but goal season has just opened for Jeff Cunningham. And this time he has a bigger prey than just the Golden Boot. He's gunning for D.C. United striker Jaime Moreno.
Two goals in FC Dallas's win over Philadelphia on Sunday brought Cunningham's career goal total at 127, five behind Moreno, MLS' all-time leading goal-scorer.
Cunningham's chase of Moreno has mostly slipped under the radar this season, partly because of the big-name signings casting long shadows, but also because Cunningham himself has been relatively off the mark this season.
After scoring four goals in the first six games of the season, Cunningham went on a 9-game slump. It got so bad, he was dropped from the starting XI.
But on Sunday against the 10-man Union, he showed vintage stuff. Speed, opportunism, and clinical finishing saw him put away two nicely crafted team goals: a slammed header from close distance and a deft flick over the keeper on a breakaway. Suddenly, with Moreno struggling to find the net—only one goal this year, and that in the 3rd game of the season—the conversation must turn to the all-time goal-scoring record.
We are now entering the time of the year when Cunningham comes alive. Last season, he scored 13 goals after July 31st. If he even comes close to matching that, we'll see a real shootout for the all-time record.
And since fate loves a good duel as much as anyone else, guess who FCD play this coming weekend?
Exactly. D.C. United.