text: I'm new to linux so please forgive me if this question is too easy I have three OS's on my computer Win98SE, Win XP Home, and Linux Fedora. At first I had Core 3 installed I then upgraded to Core 4. I originally set the default boot as Windows but since the upgrade Linux is now the default boot. How do I change it back to Windows.


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About us
Welcome to Adam's Electronic Repair! We have been repairing electronics for happy customers for the last 35 years. Our founder has been passionate about electronics since he was in high school. He spent several years working and training in highly esteemed electronic laboratories and graduated technical college as an electronics design and engineer in 1987. Soon after, he started his own business in Ukraine repairing electronics.
In 1992, the Chernobyl disaster forced him to relocate to Colorado, where he once again built a successful electronic repair business. He also began technical training at some of the biggest electronics companies in the industry, including RCA corp., Zenith corp., Mitsubishi, and Sony. More recently, he has trained at the Mcintosh service center.
Over the years, the business has grown. AA TV & VCR Service opened in 1997, followed by a second location, Boulder TV in 1999. The business relocated to Lakewood, and Lakewood Electronics opened in 2000, followed by Adams TV Inc. opening in Denver in 2005.
Now, Adam's Electronics Repair is here with a new location in Tampa, Florida to help you with all of your electronics repair needs. Customer service is our number one priority, and we haven't had a single complaint as long as we've been in business.
How we work
The way we operate is different from other small electronics repair companies because we bring our services to you. This means that you don't need to worry about hauling heavy or expensive equipment to and from a repair shop. Instead, we employ our knowledge, skills, expertise, experience to fix any unit in your home or business. We'll find and use every possible resource within our means to fix your unit onsite.
If, for reasons beyond our control, we find we are unable to fix the broken unit on site, then we may request to move the unit offsite. We'll get your permission before moving forward. Once you give us the go ahead, we'll do what we can to move the unit to our electronics lab for more detailed assessment and repair.
What we repair
We repair all types of small electronics units, including lamps, radios, TVs, turntables, amplifiers, and espresso machines. We also restore antique/vintage audio equipment. We don't rush repairs because it's important to us to make sure they are done correctly. We aren't going to leave until we are satisfied that your unit is working better than it was when you bought it.
Our team of experts are professionals and always ensure that the steps they take to fix a malfunctioning unit are within the confines of our customers' request. If new operational issues arise during the repair process, we'll always communicate with you and make sure you agree to the repairs before taking action.
If you have a small electronic unit that needs repair, schedule an appointment today or give us a call to find out more about our services and how we can help you. We look forward to serving you!

subset: commoncrawl


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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins didn't go for the big splash at the trade deadline this time.
General manager Ray Shero believes the little ripples his team made instead can be just as effective as the franchise pursues its fourth Stanley Cup.
The Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins acquired two-way forwards Marcel Goc from the Florida Panthers and Lee Stempniak from the Calgary Flames in exchange for draft picks after making a fruitless run at Vancouver's Ryan Kesler, who stayed with the Canucks.
"There wasn't a deal there to be made," Shero said. "I think our goal was to try to increase our depth up front and help our forward group ... and I think we've done that."
A year ago, the Penguins dominated the deadline, bringing in forwards Jarome Iginla, Jussi Jokinen and Brenden Morrow along with defenseman Douglas Murray. All that star power, however, netted only a four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Penguins find themselves with a comfortable lead in division with a month to go in the season. Rather than part with any significant pieces, Pittsburgh opted to added depth along the third and fourth lines to help take some of the pressure off stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Goc had 11 goals and 12 assists in 62 games this season for the Panthers, and the 31-year-old Stempniak had five goals and 18 assists in 52 games with Calgary.
"I think that we're comfortable with our team," Crosby said. "We know we need to play better as a group. That's up to us. That's something we feel is important. But that being said, I think the guys we have are confident. These guys are going to provide a lot of depth for us. They're good additions to our team."
Pittsburgh sent a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in the 2015 draft to Florida in exchange for Goc, while the Flames received a 2014 third-round pick for Stempniak.
The moves also allowed third-line center Brandon Sutter to relax. He was considered a significant piece of Pittsburgh's pursuit of Kesler despite being a strong if somewhat inconsistent presence since joining the Penguins in a draft day trade in 2012.
"I'm just glad it's done with," Sutter said. "It's a tough couple days when you're not sure what's going to happen or when it's going to happen. ... Obviously it's nice to have it (done) now, and I can just worry about playing again."
The Penguins have the Eastern Conference's best record and are fourth in the league in goals scored. The majority of that production, however, has come from Crosby, linemate Chris Kunitz, Malkin and James Neal. Finding any kind of continuity along the third and fourth lines has been difficult due to a string of injuries that has forced coach Dan Bylsma to juggle lineups relentlessly.
Bylsma said there's "a chance" both Goc and Stempniak could be available Thursday night when Pittsburgh plays at San Jose. While Shero stressed it will be up to Bylsma to figure out where the new additions fit, he said the added flexibility could allow Bylsma to pair Malkin and Crosby together in certain situations.
"Guys are familiar with playing different positions; both can score," Crosby said. "I think the fact that they're both pretty experienced helps the transition, too. We're excited to have them and we want to make sure that we're coming together and we're playing the right way here."


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Floor plans with principal dimensions, and front, rear, and side elevations.
Complete construction set for one home. Options:
Build license for multiple homes from this plan, modifications, marketing artwork, DWG files, and more.
BSA offers discounts for multiple plans, alternate exteriors, plan alterations, and new designs.
Floor plan modifications or alternate exterior styles are available.
Historic House Plan
New Urban Classics Collection
House Plan ID:BSA-2243
2,243 SqFt
3 Bedrooms, 2½ Bathrooms
2 Floors
Width/Depth: 26'-0" x 95'-0"
Copyright ©2023 Building Science Associates, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama. All Rights Reserved.


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The Brilliance of Failure, In the Words of a Self-Made Billionaire E-commerce mogul Michael Rubin plays fast and hard and has lost a lot along the way. But to hear him tell it, that's exactly why he is winning now.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Michael Rubin became friends with the lady who served his debt collection notices when he was in high school. That's because by the time he was 16, Rubin was $200,000 in the hole.
Being there -- being down that far, that early on in his career -- is exactly what he says made him the ever-hungry, ever-restless business man he is today. Rubin sits at the head of Kynetic, an umbrella company for three e-commerce businesses that collectively employ more than 2,000 people full-time and thousands of seasonal part-time employees.
Rubin's entrepreneurial career started early, and by the time he was 14, he had opened his own ski equipment retail store. At the end of a snowless ski season when Rubin was 16, Rubin was left with $200,000 worth of debt to vendors and not enough inventory to cover it, even if there were demand from snow-bound skiers.
"I was essentially bankrupt at the age of 16," says Rubin. "That almost near-death experience kind of built the next success for me in business."
Related: How Michael Rubin Went From Bankrupt to Billionaire
With the debt collector showing up daily, Rubin needed a clever out -- and fast. He realized that if his ski shop was unable to sell the ski gear, then neither were other nearby ski shop owners. Rubin came across $200,000 worth of ski equipment being auctioned off at a fire-sale price for a bit over $12,000.
The problem? Rubin didn't have $12,000.
His father refused to lend him money because he wanted Rubin to go to college, and he knew that there would be a smaller chance of that happening if his son had an existing business to run. Rubin went to a family neighbor and borrowed the cash. It came at a very steep price -- approximately $1,000 a week.
In going around his parents and taking the very expensive loan from his neighbor, Rubin was able to buy the ski inventory on clearance. He then turned around and sold the inventory on the wholesale market, which enabled to pay off his debts. This was a whole new business model for Rubin -- buying and selling closeouts -- and it worked.
By the time Rubin was in his 20s, he had built a closeout business that was generating more than $100 million a year in revenue.
Related: Self-Made Billionaire Michael Rubin: E-Commerce Is Rapidly Changing (Video)
Rubin learned the business model because he had to. He was pressed against the wall. That's how Rubin has learned most of what he knows about business.
Here are his best tips.
1. Fail without fear. "I am such a big believer in this. I could give you a long list of things I have done wrong," says Rubin. Of particular note was being more than $200,000 bankrupt at 16. "That was a big failure, by the way," he says.
Rubin says that he often hears from aspiring entrepreneurs about their great ideas, but they are consistently blocked by some variety of fear.
2. Learn from failure. In the same breath that Rubin encourages would-be entrepreneurs that failure is ok and good, he also says that you have to be able to learn from it to make it productive. To be able to fail forward, you need to learn from each mistake.
"I like to fail," he says. "I have had so many failures and each time I have failed, I have figured out how to grow."
3. Don't go it alone. If you are going to build a company, you have to bring on smart people to help you. Rubin, the ever sports aficionado, says it's all about having a solid team. "If you have a big idea and you go after it, you have to get the right team together," says Rubin.
4. Stay focused. Entrepreneurs are often easily excitable. But to build a great business, you must stay focused. "Many times I have gotten distracted," says Rubin. "That has hurt or impeded success." Rubin says that with his early sports gear business, GSI Commerce, he got distracted too easily. But with Kynetic, the business he currently leads, Rubin is "laser focused."
5. Love what you do. For Rubin, retirement is not on the horizon because he loves what he does. He always has loved building businesses, and that means the motivation comes easily. "Some kids are good at sports, some are good at school work. I just always loved business, from the time I was a little kid. It was always something that I really enjoyed," Rubin says.
Related: 10 Trends for 2014: We Seek Imperfect, Human Moments. With Our Smartphones at the Ready.


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Dear Mr Cameron,
TAPOL has been closely following your visit to Indonesia this week. We note that you praised Indonesia as a 'Democracy (which) offers hope to the Muslim World'. You were also quoted as saying that you had decided 'to relax controls of arms exports to Indonesia … as a sign of Indonesia's democratic maturity'. Your delegation to Indonesia included representatives from several British arms manufacturers.
I would remind you that two years ago in an article on West Papua in The Daily Telegraph you were quoted as describing 'the plight of the tribespeople as a terrible situation'. This is a valid description of what has been happening in the past few years. Bearing that in mind, we would reasonably have expected you to use the occasion of your visit to Indonesia to express concern about the situation in West Papua.
The sufferings of the Papuan people are to a great extent due to operations by the Indonesian military, TNI, which has been conducting 'sweep operations', including several now underway in the Central Highlands of West Papua. Whole communities have been attacked and homes destroyed, along with churches, traditional meeting centres and public buildings. Such assaults, purportedly aimed at eliminating the poorly-armed Papuan resistance, have forced villages to flee their homes in search of security in nearby forests where they are cut off from their livelihoods and face the possibility of starvation and disease.
Allow me to draw your attention to certain other recent incidents and developments. According to data collected by TAPOL, since 2008 at least 80 Papuans have been arrested and charged with 'treason' or related offences simply for peaceful actions such as raising the Papuan Morning Star Flag. They have been imprisoned for terms ranging from 10 months to six years. Under Article 106 of Indonesia's Criminal Code, anyone found guilty of treason can face a sentence of up to 20 years or life. Among those now incarcerated is Filep Karma, a civil servant, who was arrested in December 2004, convicted of treason and sentenced to fifteen years in jail.
In October 2011, the Third Papuan People's Congress was held in Jayapura, attended by hundreds of people. The Congress proceeded peacefully for three days. However, as the participants were dispersing after the final session on 19 October, police and army troops rounded up hundreds of the participants. Without provocation, the troops opened fire and killed three people. The fact that no-one has been held accountable for the killings is indicative of the impunity enjoyed by security forces personnel. By contrast, five Papuan leaders who were taken into custody following the Congress were put on trial, found guilty of treason and last month sentenced to three years in prison. This exemplifies the severe restrictions on the right to free expression experienced by the Papuan people.
We call upon you to acknowledge that such acts of repression and human rights violations against unarmed civilians should never occur in a democratic country.
We further call upon you to take account of all of these facts and urge you not to allow the sale of military equipment to Indonesia to proceed.
We hope that your government will use its close relationship with the Indonesian government to urge it to end to the practice of charging peaceful Papuan demonstrators with treason and press the Indonesian Government to release all those now serving sentences for peaceful political activities.
Yours sincerely
Carmel Budiardjo


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|HASSANAL Bolkiah, Sir
|Prime Min.
|HASSANAL Bolkiah, Sir
|Min. of Communications
|ABDULLAH bin Bakar
|Min. of Culture, Youth, & Sports
|HAZAIR bin Abdullah
|Min. of Defense
|HASSANAL Bolkiah, Sir
|Min. of Development
|SUYOI bin Osman
|Min. of Education
|Awang ABU BAKAR bin Apong
|Min. of Energy
|Mohammad YASMIN bin Umar
|Min. of Finance
|HASSANAL Bolkiah, Sir
|Min. of Finance II
|ABDUL RAHMAN bin Ibrahim
|Min. of Foreign Affairs & Trade
|MOHAMED Bolkiah, Prince
|Min. of Foreign Affairs & Trade II
|LIM Jock Seng
|Min. of Health
|ADANAN bin Mohd Yusof
|Min. of Home Affairs
|BADARUDDIN bin Othman
|Min. of Industry & Primary Resources
|YAHYA bin Bakar
|Min. of Religious Affairs
|MOHAMMAD bin Abd Rahman
|Senior Min. in the Prime Min.'s Office
|Al-Muhtadee BILLAH, Crown Prince
|Ambassador to the US
|YUSOFF bin Abdul Hamid
|Permanent Representative to the UN, New York
|LATIF bin Tuah


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When God Whispered
by Fred Alberti
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
My four-year-old son had to learn 2 Timothy 3:16 for AWANA. One of the leaders was concerned and stated that there was just no way the children could grasp the idea of Scripture being "God-breathed." So we decided to ask my son to explain what "God-breathed" meant.
You know I think we are sometimes too quick to underestimate a child's ability to understand the truths of the Bible. We are so quick to dismiss their abilities yet this is what Jesus had to say in Matthew 11:25, "At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."
Jesus knew what children could understand.
I recently was walking through a nature trail. The leaves rustled underfoot and the sun shone out over the lake next to the trail inviting me to stop and reflect on God's glory. I found a bench and while I sat there I heard the breeze whispering through the tops of the trees. Just a slight hushed sound and my thoughts. That's when I pondered on my son's words.
What did my son say?
He said, "Well, God-breathed means that…" and here he lowered his voice, "God whispered it."
Wow… God whispered His Word.
Peter said, "…you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Our Bible isn't just some compilation of stories. It is the very Word of God whispered into the hearts and minds of men who were selected to be his special vessels to communicate His good news.
How about you?
Have you, like Elijah, heard the "still small voice" of the Lord bringing you comfort, encouragement, and guidance?
If not, maybe you need to spend some time to just be still and maybe in His time you'll hear His whisper in your heart too.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Go for a walk in a park or through a quiet museum and find a quiet place where you can be still before the Lord.
Further Reading
1 Kings 19:9-18
Hebrews 4:11-13
Inward Stillness
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Want to grow your prayer life? The So Much More Podcast shows you how to create space to be with God. This podcast, hosted by Jodie Niznik, introduces you to two types of scripture experiences: Lectio Divina and Imaginative Prayer. Join our growing prayer community today!


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Thyroid Related Eye Disease
Treatments - Photographs
- Graves' ophthalmopathy generally causes the eyelids to open more widely.
- The front surface of the eyeball becomes exposed beyond the eyelids and causes discomfort and excessive tearing; exposure keratopathy.
- Surgically repositioning the eyelids can reduce the irritation.
Pre - Operative Photograph
Post - Operative - 2 weeks after lowering upper eyelids
Pre-Operative Photograph showing RIGHT upper eyelid retrac tion
Post-Operative Photograph showing normal upper eyelid position
Pre-Operative Photograph showing upper eyelid retraction
Post-Operative Photograph showing normal upper eyelid position
Lower Eyelid Retraction
Pre-Operative Photograph showing
LEFT LOWER eyelid retraction
Post-Operative (3 Weeks) Photograph
showing LEFT lower eyelid position
showing LEFT lower eyelid position
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease. It most commonly affects the thyroid, causing it to grow to twice its size or more (goiter), be overactive, with related hyperthyroid symptoms such as increased heartbeat, muscle weakness, disturbed sleep, and irritability. It can also affect the eyes, causing bulging eyes (exophthalmos). It affects other systems of the body, including the skin and reproductive organs. It affects up to 2% of the female population, often appears after childbirth, and has a female:male incidence of 5:1 to 10:1. It has a strong hereditary component; when one identical twin has Graves' disease, the other twin will have it 25% of the time. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke is associated with the eye manifestations but not the thyroid manifestations. Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of symptoms, although thyroid hormone tests might possibly be useful, particularly to monitor treatment.


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When pundits name-check "the welfare-warfare state," we usually mean, and are usually understood to mean, something along the lines of "bread and circuses at home, military adventurism abroad."
That's as good a definition as any, I suppose, and certainly an accurate description of today's global political environment, but it fails to really capture the nature of the post-WWII trend in US politics.
In America, the "welfare" and "warfare" aspects of the state have, over that period, achieved a near-perfect merger. Rather than representing one side of two mutually reinforcing but nominally separate sets of policies, US "defense" spending has become the single largest, and by far most redistributive, welfare program in the federal budget.
This phenomenon is best illustrated by the Hobson's Choice offered in the final debate between US president Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney: "Draconian cuts" of 10% growth (yes, you read that right) over the next five years (Obama) or 18% growth over the same period (Romney). Real cuts aren't even on the table. Like Henry Ford said, you can get any color Model T you want, as long as it's black.
The numbers are constantly changing, but a 2010 baseline looks like this:
Approximately 1.4 million Americans work as members of the armed forces, and another 1.6 million workers labor in the civilian "defense" industry. These Americans are welfare clients of the "workfare" variety.
As an economic factor, they might just as well be digging holes and filling them back in (in fact, as a US Marine infantryman, I did quite a bit of exactly that!). The vast bulk of the work they do serves no "legitimate" function with respect to actual defense of the United States from attack or invasion, and in fact more likely increases the risks of such.
Some high double-digit percentage — I think 75% is a reasonable and conservative estimate — of "defense" spending is not about "defense" in any meaningful sense of the word. It's about keeping those 3 million workers on the clock, and keeping their politically connected employers in profit.
Those 3 million workfare clients cost the American taxpayer $700 billion per year — $233,000 per client. But they don't take that much home, of course. If their average income tracks to US per capita, they take home an average of $41,500 per year each, or a total of nearly $125 billion.
Where does the other $575 billion go? That's the gross rakeoff, after workfare costs but before other overhead, of the real welfare queens: "Defense contractors." If we generously assume that 25% of that rakeoff actually does produce "legitimate" defense benefits, they are knocking down more than $430 billion in welfare checks. But let's be fair: According to the US Department of Defense, the top 20 "defense" contractors average a profit margin of only about 4%. So, $17 billion.
With that much money at stake, the $30 million or so that "defense"-related contributors have spent on the 2012 election so far is chump change: About 2/10ths of 1% of the profits they get from having politicians on their side.
If that was the end of it, it would be pretty bad — one out of every five dollars earned by American workers siphoned off on an incredibly inefficient welfare program. But that's not the end of it at all. The existence of the welfare program is a major incentive for going to war early and often.
First, when you have a $700 billion hammer, it's easy to fall into the habit of looking at every problem as a nail.
And secondly, welfare programs are expected, by everyone involved, to demonstrate their own necessity. If peace breaks out, the workfare clients go back to doing something else … and "defense" contractors have to cut back on the caviar and brie.
There's no easy way out of the situation. If we have a welfare-warfare state, we're going to spend a lot of blood and treasure on wars. And if we have a state, it's going to become, and do everything in its operators' power to remain, a welfare-warfare state. You can have politics or you can have peace, but you can't have both.


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NATIONWIDE – The current foreclosure crisis constitutes a monumental civil rights issue. Communities of color were targeted for risky mortgage loans, have experienced disproportionately high foreclosure rates, and have been stripped of vast amounts of wealth because of discriminatory lending practices. From 2005 to 2009, median wealth fell by 66 percent among Latino households and 53 percent among African-American households, compared with just 16 percent among white households, largely due to declining home values. From 2009 through 2012, African Americans are projected to lose an estimated $194 billion in housing equity, and Latinos are expected to lose $177 billion.
Unfortunately, there is reason to believe that the destructive effects of the foreclosure crisis on communities of color have yet to be fully realized. They face another devastating blow caused by further discriminatory treatment towards homes and neighborhoods by the very lenders who initiated the foreclosures.
The civil rights problems that permeate the foreclosure crisis are unfolding in stages. First, lenders targeted communities of color with subprime and other risky loan products that led to foreclosure. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the largest residential fair lending settlement in history, in which Bank of America agreed to pay $335 million to settle allegations that Countrywide Financial discriminated against African-American and Latino borrowers during the housing boom. DOJ found that Countrywide loan officers and brokers charged higher fees and interest rates to 200,000 African-American and Latino borrowers than to white borrowers who posed the same credit risk. Countrywide also steered borrowers of color into costly subprime mortgages when white borrowers with similar credit profiles received prime loans. Countrywide was not an isolated example. Other research has found that African-American and Latino borrowers were much more likely to receive subprime loans than white borrowers, even after controlling for income level or credit risk.
Now, it turns out, lenders are failing to properly maintain or market the foreclosed properties they own, and leaving these properties in a state of disrepair. According to a recent investigation by fair housing organizations, this stage of the crisis is not affecting all communities equally. Due to the discriminatory maintenance and marketing of foreclosed properties, African-American and Latino communities and cities with high minority populations risk losing many billions more in wealth through reduced neighborhood property values and increased expenses incurred by local jurisdictions. Importantly, these practices affect not those families who already lost their homes, but their neighbors living next door or down the street from the vacant foreclosed property.
This month, the National Fair Housing Alliance ("NFHA") and four of its member organizations released a report, entitled "The Banks Are Back, Our Neighborhoods Are Not: Discrimination in the Maintenance and Marketing of REO Properties," which examines ongoing discrimination in the maintenance and marketing of bank-owned foreclosed properties known as real estate owned (REO) properties. The study evaluated over 1,000 REO properties in cities across the county. The findings are extremely troubling: banks have engaged in substandard maintenance and marketing of foreclosed properties in communities of color, while properly maintaining and marketing foreclosed properties in predominantly white communities. In other words, properties in white neighborhoods "were more likely to have neatly manicured lawns, securely locked doors and attractive 'for sale' signs out front," while homes in communities of color "were more likely to have overgrown yards littered with trash, unsecured doors, broken windows and indications of marketing as a distressed sale."
The fair housing groups evaluated the maintenance and marketing of REO properties on a 100-point scale, subtracting points for such deficits as broken windows, water damage and overgrown lawns. The evaluations took into account 39 different aspects of the maintenance and marketing of each property.
Overall, REO properties in communities of color were 42 percent more likely to have more than a dozen maintenance problems than properties in white neighborhoods. Other trends revealed by the investigation include:
- REO properties in communities of color were 82 percent more likely than REO properties in white communities to have broken or boarded windows;
- REO properties in white neighborhoods were 32 percent more likely to be marketed with the proper signage than African-American neighborhoods and 38 percent more likely than in Latino neighborhoods; and
- Newer homes generally scored higher than older homes, but racial and ethnic disparities persisted with non-structural factors such as curb appeal and signage.
Since releasing the report, NFHA and several of its member organizations have filed housing discrimination complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against Wells Fargo, et al. and U.S. Bank, et al.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 requires banks, investors, servicers or any other responsible party to maintain and market properties that are for sale or rent without regard to the race or national origin of the residents of a neighborhood. It is illegal to treat a neighborhood differently because of the race or national origin of the residents, and banks are obligated to monitor the actions of the companies they hire to perform housing-related transactions to ensure that those third-party entities comply with fair housing laws.
The Fair Housing Act has two goals: to eliminate housing discrimination and to promote residential integration.HUD's regulations interpreting the Fair Housing Act state:
It shall be unlawful because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability to restrict or attempt to restrict the choices of a person by word or conduct in seeking, negotiating for, buying or renting a dwelling so as to perpetuate segregated housing patterns, or to discourage or obstruct choices in a community, neighborhood or development.
Differences in the maintenance of foreclosed properties based on the racial composition of neighborhoods can certainly violate the Fair Housing Act.
- HUD's regulations clearly state that "failing or delaying maintenance or repairs of sale or rental dwellings because of race" is a prohibited action under the Fair Housing Act.
- Steering by real estate agents based on neighborhood racial composition is illegal and other behavior in the housing sale or rental market that operates to discourage potential buyers from purchasing or renting homes in neighborhoods of color, such as by failing adequately to maintain properties in minority neighborhoods, can also violate the Act.
- In addition, the Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to "make unavailable or deny" housing to any person because of race.If the poor maintenance of a foreclosed property in a neighborhood of color makes it difficult for a potential purchaser to obtain a mortgage loan for the property, the poor maintenance has made the housing "unavailable" within the meaning of the Act.
To date, more than four million families have lost their homes to foreclosure, and nearly three times as many families are seriously delinquent on their mortgages and face a real threat of foreclosure.Efforts are underway to reform mortgage lending and servicing practices to prevent another foreclosure crisis. These are much needed and long overdue, but they are not enough to address the harm that has been done to minority borrowers and communities of color. More must be done to stabilize these communities and help these families rebuild their lost wealth. Establishing effective quality controls on foreclosed properties, and providing remedies to the African-American and Latino neighborhoods affected by the discriminatory maintenance and marketing of foreclosed homes are two crucial steps. Making sure they happen is an urgent civil rights issue facing our federal government, our nation's financial institutions, and communities across the country.
By Leslie Proll
Director of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund's Washington Office
Special to the NNPA from the American Constitutional Society for Law and Policy


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The new consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony
Microsoft is the last of the three big video game console makers to unveil its latest gaming system. Tuesday's unveiling comes nearly eight years after the Xbox 360 went on sale. It follows last fall's debut of Nintendo's Wii U and a preview in February of the upcoming PlayStation 4 from Sony.
Each machine has a set of features designed to draw gamers away from rival consoles. There's one thing all three have in common, though: They are about more than gaming and include entertainment services such as television, movies and music.
Here's a closer look at the three systems. More details are expected at the E3 video game conference in Los Angeles next month.
— Wii U (Nintendo)
The Japanese gaming company launched the Wii U, the follow-up to its popular Wii, in November, making it the only new console out for last year's holiday season. The console features a tablet-like controller with a touch screen, called the GamePad, which can be used to control games on the TV set or to play games separately, as you would on a regular tablet computer. It also allows someone with a GamePad to have a different experience with a game than someone playing it at the same time with a regular Wii controller.
The GamePad also serves as a fancy remote controller to navigate a TV-watching feature called TVii. The service groups your favorite shows and sports teams together, whether it's on live TV or an Internet video service such as Hulu Plus. And it offers water-cooler moments you can chat about on social media.
Unlike the Wii, the Wii U features high-definition graphics. In doing so, Nintendo's system catches up to the years-old Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 from Sony.
Sales of the Wii U have been disappointing, with 3.5 million sold as of March 31, the end of Nintendo's fiscal year. Nintendo Co. had originally expected to sell 5.5 million units and later lowered the forecast to 4 million, but it still fell short.
Price: Starts at $300 but some retailers have offered it at lower prices.
— PlayStation 4 (Sony)
Sony shared some details about the PlayStation 4 in February, but it didn't show what the console would look like. The company said the PS4 would essentially be a "supercharged PC," much like the Xbox. That's a big departure from the old and idiosyncratic PlayStation design and should make it easier for developers to create games.
But the adoption of PC chips also means that the new console won't be able to play games created for any of the three previous PlayStations. Players will have to stream older games over the Internet.
Other new features revolve around social networking and remote access. With one button, you can broadcast video of your game play so friends elsewhere can watch. You can also run a game on the PS4 to stream over the Internet to Sony's mobile gaming device, the PlayStation Vita, which debuted last year.
The PlayStation online network will have access to Sony's video and music services, as well as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon—as long as you have subscriptions to those services. You'll also be able to access Facebook.
The PS4 will have a Blu-ray disc drive for movies, just like the PS3. The console will go on sale this holiday season, though Sony Corp. has not disclosed an exact date.
Price: Not yet announced.
— Xbox One (Microsoft)
Microsoft's new console seeks to deliver the Holy Grail of home entertainment—an all-in-one device that lets you watch television, play movies, listen to music and browse the Internet as well as play video games.
The Xbox One lets you use voice commands to switch between watching TV and playing "Call of Duty," or ask "What's on HBO?" to view a TV channel guide. A new version of Microsoft's camera-based Kinect controller offers better motion and voice detection than the one currently available.
Microsoft also reached a multiyear deal with the National Football League to develop new interactive viewing experiences, such as the ability to watch games, chat with other fans, view statistics, access highlights in real time and gather fantasy information about players and teams—all on a single screen.
Microsoft did not immediately say whether Xbox One will always have to be connected to the Internet to work.
Although Nintendo's Wii was the most popular of the three at first, the Xbox 360 has outsold its rivals in recent years largely because of its robust online service, Xbox Live, which allows people to play games with others online. Activision's "Call of Duty," has been a driving force behind Xbox Live, and Microsoft said players will be able to download new content for upcoming titles in the series on the Xbox One before any other system.
The new console will also add the ability to play Blu-ray discs, matching what Sony has in its older PlayStation 3.
Microsoft said the system will launch this year, but it did not give a date.
Price: Not yet announced.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


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Add to Spiritual Diary
Shivratri, or Mahashivratri, is the most auspicious day dedicated to Lord Shiva and is popularly known as the night of Siva. In 2014, the date of Shivratri is February 27. In Panchangs and Hindu calendars followed in Australia, United States, United Kingdom (Britain) and Canada, Shivaratri is marked on February 27. This holy night of Shiva is observed on the night before 'amavasya' in the Hindu month of Phalgun (February – March) as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. The corresponding period in other regions is the night before Magh Amavasya.
Most Hindu festivals are noted for its mirth and color but Shivratri is a night dedicated to prayers and contemplation. Of course, when Lord Shiva is worshipped there is joy all around but it is not just joy but bliss that is achieved through Brahman realization – When Lord Shiva is seen in all animate and inanimate.
When we realize that it is his Tandava that creates each cell and it is his Tandava that is responsible for the transformation of each cell – we attain Moksha
Planetary Position on Shivaratri Night
It is believed that the planetary positions align in such a way on Shivratri night that it naturally creates an upsurge of energy in the human system. This is also why traditionally it is known to be beneficial both physically and spiritually to stay awake and aware through the night.
Shivratri and Amavasya (No Moon)
The significance of Shivratri is closely associated with 'amavas' - the no moon night or full dark night as per traditional Hindu Calendar. Amavas symbolically represents Kaliyuga or spiritual ignorance. Lord Shiva appeared just before the beginning of Kaliyuga to rid the world of evil and ignorance. Therefore Shivratri is celebrated to get rid of evil and ignorance.
It must be noted here that Shivratri is observed during Phalgun month inNorth India. The corresponding month in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh is Magh Month.
There is also a Masa Shivratri which is observed on thirteenth day of Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in all traditional Hindu months.
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News and notes from around the world of sports video gaming:
• The second week after E3 is typically when 2K Sports cranks up the hypeotron for NBA 2K, and we're hearing the engine hum right on schedule. The game's social media operation is asking people to tweet what they hope or want to see in NBA 2K13 using the hashtag #UncoverNBA2K. Depending on the volume of Tweets made, they'll start filling in what looks like a jillion-piece jigsaw puzzle on the game's Facebook page, offering folks a guess at an early reveal of the latest cover star.
• Xbox Live has offered college- and pro sports-themed Avatar costumes before, now it's getting into racin' with a wardrobe of NASCAR firesuit getups. Drivers like Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon are available but, sadly, no Joey Logano in a GameStop (or Home Depot) No. 20. That's my lil' racin' fan with his toy at left.
• Though EA Sports has taken control of the UFC license, its previous publisher, THQ promises they aren't abandoning the game. A forum administrator about a week ago promised that a patch is on the way. [Pasta Padre]
• On that note, THQ added that its other licensed sports title, WWE, remains a strong, exclusive contract between the two sides. RipTen, wondering if the weakened THQ had any intention of jettisoning this deal, too, was told the relationship " has never been stronger." THQ pointed out that the pact will last through 2017. [RipTen]


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Caractéristiques détaillées
Dual SIM triple SIM adapter X-Triple 6 with protective case for iPhone 6
3 in 1 solution: Install and use 3 SIM cards in your iPhone 6.
The DualSIM adapter case X-Triple 6 is a triple dual SIM device which allows you to have 3 SIM cards (1x nano SIM, 1x micro SIM and 1x mini SIM) in your smartphone.
The case Triple dual SIM X-Triple 6 is easy to install. The first SIM (nano SIM) fits directly into the slot of your iPhone 6 and the two other SIM cards are placed on the back of your cell phone and are maintained by the external protective case.
The SIMore menu appears automatically in your phone's main menu to manage your 3 telephone numbers.
Call, send and receive your SMS/MMS, access your data and browse Internet using 3G / 4G with 3 SIM cards on one iPhone 6.
With this tactile and ergonomic Triple dual SIM case, your mobile is fully protected while keeping all its features available(buttons, connectors and camera of your iPhone 6).
For all persons who use several SIM cards, businessmen, borders or traveling, you switch between your three SIM cards depending on your desires and needs.
Choose the SIM card you want to be connected.
4G and 3G Internet / data access with all SIM.
Avoid international roaming fees.
Separate your business and your private life.
Rename your SIM cards to know which SIM is active.
Anti-shock protective case.
Technical specifications
- 3 SIM locations (1 x nano-SIM, 1 x micro-SIM and 1 x standard SIM)
- No jailbreak needed
- Manual or automatic SIM cards switching
- Anti-shock and anti-scratch function
- Compatible UMTS - 3G - LTE - 4G - HSDPA
- Color: Black
Works with all iPhone 6 and all iOS versions
Compatible with all nano SIM, micro SIM and mini SIM cards of all mobile phones providers
The combination of some SIM cards requires to restart the iPhone 6 after switching between SIM
Your iPhone 6 must be unsimlocked to use two or three SIM cards from different providers
SIM cards not included
Complete your purchase
With the dual triple SIM adapter X-Triple 6, we recommend the kit of SIM adapters and the cutter Noosy
iPhone 6 + X-Triple 6 Dual Triple SIM adapter with switchView the video
Installation manual
Does the SIMore dual SIM card support a connection with 5G-LTE-4G-UMTS-HSDPA-3G-WCDMA?
SIMore guarantees a connection with 5G-LTE-4G-UMTS-HSDPA-3G-WCDMA for the Speed X, Speed ZX and Speed Xi ranges.
SIMore guarantees a connection with LTE-4G-UMTS-HSDPA-3G-WCDMA for the X-T and DualSim Infinite ranges.
SIMore guarantees a connection with UMTS-HSDPA-3G-WCDMA for the DualSim Platinum ranges.
SIMore guarantees a connection with GSM-GPRS-EDGE for the DualSim Black, Silver and Gold ranges.
How to switch from one SIM card to another?
Once the SIMore device is inserted into your mobile, the SIMore menu will automatically appear in the main menu of your phone.
It allows you to manage your numbers and to define your settings.
You can switch from one number to another in just two clicks.
The Speed X, Speed ZX, WX, Platinum and Infinite versions have the shortcut key function to switch from one SIM number to another without going through the SIMore menu.
Example for Speed X, Speed ZX and WX: #11 for SIM-1, #22 for SIM-2, #33 for SIM-3, #44 for SIM-4 and #55 for SIM-5
Example for Platinum and Infinite: # 001 for SIM-1 and # 002 for SIM-2
Where can I find the SIMore menu in my phone?
Once the SIMore device is inserted into your mobile, the SIMore menu will automatically appear in the main menu of your phone.
You'll find the SIMore menu under:
- "Settings > Mobile Data > SIM application" for iPhone new iOS versions
- "Settings > Phone > SIM application" for iPhone
- "Applications" for Samsung
- "Program" for Windows Mobile
- "Main Menu" for Nokia
Call # 99 and then press the green button to launch the call function and the SIMore menu will appear automatically on the screen of your mobile.
Warning: the shortcut key only operates on the DualSim Speed X, Speed ZX, WX-Triple, WX-Five, Platinum and Infinite versions and is not supported by all mobile phones.
Can we go on the Internet and make video conference calls with the SIMore dual SIM card?
Yes, the SIMore dual SIM card X-T 3G/4G/5G and DualSim 3G can go online and make video conference connections via 5G-LTE-4G-UMTS-HSDPA-3G-WCDMA.
Is the original operator menu STK (SIM Tool Kit) still available?
The original operator menu STK (SIM Tool Kit) remains accessible for the SIMore Platinum and Infinite versions.
For versions X-T, Black, Silver, Gold, the STK (SIM Tool Kit) original operator menu will be replaced by the SIMore device.
Can I receive calls on my SIM cards simultaneously with the Multi-SIM adapters ?
Your mobile phone is equipped with one transmitter and one receiver, thus it can not simultaneously connect several SIM cards on several different networks.
You choose which SIM card you want to be connected (SIM-1, SIM-2, SIM-3, SIM-4 or SIM-5)
For example: If you are connected on SIM-1 and someone calls on SIM-2, the caller will reach your box and may leave a message.
You will be notified of the message when switching on SIM-2.
However, you can activate the automatic function (not available on all adapters) that allows you to switch between your SIM cards with ease.
You can therefore be quickly notified if you have received a message or a missed call.
Example: 1 hour 30 minutes on SIM -1, 5 minutes on SIM 2, 20 minutes on SIM-3, ...
Attention: The automatic switching function is not supported by all mobile phones.
If you need 2 or 3 SIM cards active at the same time, we recommend you the simultaneous adapters.
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text:
It seems the only soldiers who are safe from the coming budget axe are those that parade around Parliament Hill in the changing of the guard ceremony for tourists in the summer, according to a leaked report.
Defence spending will be in crosshairs when the federal budget is presented on Thursday as the Canadian army faces another barrage of major reductions over and above the Conservative government's established deficit-fighting strategy and program review.
An army planning document shows that land forces are bracing for a further 8 per cent hit on operating and maintenance in the coming fiscal plan, in addition to an existing 22 per cent budget reduction.
The latest cuts, estimated in the range of $32-million, will slice into the army's ability to train for operations in the jungle, desert and mountains, and come on top of $226-million in cuts ordered in the government's strategic review and Deficit Reduction Action Plan, says a Jan. 31, 2013 document, written by Lieutentant-General Peter Devlin.
There's expected to be an $8-million clawback on contracted services, and the army will be required to absorb a further $10-million related to civilian wages.
The document says funding for full-time reservists will have to be further reduced, and unused cash in the budget for part-time soldiers may have to be raided in order to keep full-timers.
Yet, despite the budget ravages, the army is under pressure to maintain the pet projects and pageantry admired by the Conservatives, who once promised stable and predictable funding.
"Ceasing activities viewed as priorities by the government of Canada will invite scrutiny into those activities the Army chooses to do at the expense of those items that hold government interest," said the letter, which is meant to guide the army's business planning for the coming year.
"As an example, activities such as the Ceremonial Guard hold particular interest for the [government of Canada] and must be sustained; even at the expense of area programming. Any and all [government of Canada] directed activities will be fulfilled."
The Ceremonial Guard, comprised of mostly reserve members, conducts the changing of the guard ceremony on Parliament Hill during the tourist season.
National Defence is the biggest discretionary line item in the federal budget and has long been the target for deficit-slashing governments, regardless of political stripe.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned Defence Minister Peter MacKay last June that initial budget-cut proposals did not go deep enough on the administrative side of the department, a message he reinforced at the swearing-in of new defence chief General Tom Lawson when he said he wanted a military with "more teeth and less tail."
When criticized about how spending cuts appear to have singled out the army, MacKay has pointed out that the army's baseline budget is $500-million higher than it was when the Conservatives took office in 2006.
"After years of unprecedented growth, and following the end of the combat mission in Afghanistan, it is necessary for the government to balance military needs with taxpayer interests," said MacKay spokesman Jay Paxton.
"Under our government, the military will always have the tools it needs to defend Canada and care for its people."
Defence sources say as much as $600-million will be cut out of military "readiness" in all branches in the coming year. Readiness refers to training and equipment maintenance that a military needs to do in order to deploy both overseas and at home.
Indeed, Gen. Devlin's planning report says the army will have to limit the scope of its operations in the Arctic, which is "five to seven times" more expensive than missions conducted in southern Canada.
The average 1.5 per cent increase in the army's budget for fuel comes nowhere near covering the anticipated diesel costs, which rose by 24 per cent in 2011-12. As consequence, the army will have to "reduce the level of activity."
In a recent interview with Maclean's magazine, MacKay revealed that department intends to sell surplus property, some of which is either outdated or too costly to maintain.
Analyst Dave Perry from Carleton University in Ottawa has crunched the overall defence budget numbers and projected, in an updated analysis to be released this week, that the department will lose $2.4-billion — about 12.4 per cent — of its approximately $20-billion budget when compared against spending in 2011-12.
In his benchmark report, retired lieutenant-general Andrew Leslie called for deep cuts in the size of National Defence headquarters and for the savings to be plowed back into the field force.
But Perry's analysis shows that since the government will not cut the overall size of the regular or reserve forces, and is not expected to give up equipment capabilities, such as specific classes of planes, tanks and ships, there is nowhere else to cut except in readiness and training.
"Since the size of the regular Forces is the largest driver of overall personnel spending, and major capital fleets account for the bulk of capital equipment fleets, this essentially protected the two single largest spending categories from the budget reduction," Perry wrote in his analysis, obtained in advance by The Canadian Press.
"As a result, the department has been tasked with finding the majority of its cuts from the funds spent on (operations and maintenance)."
Leslie's report has gone largely ignored, he said.
"DND has taken almost no action to enact his recommendations," Perry said. "As a result, the bulk of the budget cuts are falling on operational readiness and training."


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Remarks at a Campaign Rally in Grand Junction, Colorado
The President. Hello, Colorado! It is good to be back in Grand Junction. Love Grand Junction! It was about 4 years ago, around this time, that I was first in Grand Junction. We had a bunch of bales of hay. [Laughter] You remember that? Everybody was nice. Weather was a little warm. [Laughter] And it is great to be back.
I've got a couple of people I want to acknowledge. First of all, please give DeAnne a big round of applause for the great introduction. And I'm a little sweet on Deanne, not just because of a great introduction, but also because she's a nurse, and I just love nurses because they do such a great job every day.
Also, we've got one of your outstanding U.S. Senators, Michael Bennet, in the house. There he is. And one of your former Senators, who is now doing an outstanding job looking after the natural resources of this great country of ours: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
Now, those of you who have a seat, feel free to take a seat. [Laughter] Those of you who don't, just remember to bend your knees because—[Laughter]—sometimes I have people drop off in the middle of—[Laughter]—even when I'm not talking too long, just because they've been standing too long. So—especially when it's warm like this.
Audience member. We love you!
The President. I love you back. Who was that? I do.
Now, obviously, this is a smart crowd, and so I know that most of the last couple of weeks, you've been watching the Olympics, cheering on our U.S. athletes over in London. You've been spending time with family and trying to get outdoors, at least when it cools off. But unless you've been able to hide the television completely or your cable is broke, then you may be aware there's a pretty intense campaign going on right now. And the reason it's such an intense campaign is because the choice that we face in November could not be bigger.
This is not just a choice between two candidates or two political parties. It's a choice about two fundamentally different visions for the country, two fundamentally different paths. And the direction that we choose—the direction that you choose when you walk into that voting booth in less than 3 months—is going to have a direct impact not just on our lives, but on the lives of our children and our grandchildren for decades to come.
Now, 4 years ago, we came together—Democrats, but also Independents and some Republicans—to restore the basic bargain that had built this country, that had made us the most prosperous nation on Earth. And it's a very simple bargain. It says, if you work hard, your work will be rewarded. It says that if you put in enough effort, you can find a job that pays a decent wage, pays the bills; that you can afford to have a home that you call your own; that you have health care you can count on when you get sick; that after a lifetime of labor, you can put away enough to retire with dignity and respect; and most importantly, that you can give your kids the kind of education and opportunity that allows them to dream even bigger and do even better than you could ever imagine. That's the promise of America. [Applause] That's the promise of America.
Now, when we came together, we knew restoring that bargain—that deal, that compact—was not going to be easy. We knew it would take more than one year or one term or maybe even one President, because——
Audience member. Four more years!
The President. ——because we had seen what had happened in the previous decade. Jobs had moved overseas. Folks were working harder and harder, but their wages or incomes, they were staying flat, sometimes even going down. The cost of everything from health care to college was going up. And then, it all culminated in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, a crisis that robbed too many of our friends and our neighbors of jobs, the value of their homes, their savings. And all that pushed the American Dream even further out of reach for too many working people.
But you know what, we've spent the last 3 1/2 years digging ourselves out of that hole. We averted a depression, created 4.5 million new jobs, 500,000 in manufacturing. We saved an auto industry. We made sure that we worked to make college more affordable. We worked to make sure that health care was secure for families.
And what we discovered during the course of these difficult times is that a crisis doesn't change our character. It doesn't change who we are as a people. It doesn't change what makes us great: our toughness, our grit, our resilience, and our ability to come together and work together on behalf of this country. And when we came together in 2008, we understood that there is a core decency, that there is a goodness to the American people, and we need to make sure that that's reflected in what happens in Washington. And our mission has never been more urgent.
So, after 3 1/2 tough years, we're still going. We're here to build an economy where hard work pays off, so that no matter who you are or what you look like or where you come from, here in America, you can make it if you try.
That's what this campaign is about, Colorado. And that's why I'm running for a second term as President of the United States of America.
Now, understand, there are no quick fixes or easy solutions to some of these challenges. But here's the thing that I constantly am reminded of wherever I travel across the country: We have the capacity to meet any challenge, because we've still got the best workers in the world. We've got the best entrepreneurs in the world. We've got the best scientists and researchers in the world and the best colleges and the best universities in the world. We're still a young nation, and we've got the greatest diversity of talent and ingenuity, and people want to come here from every corner of the globe.
And so no matter what the naysayers tell us, no matter how dark the other side tries to make things look, the fact is, there is not another country on Earth that would not gladly trade places with the United States of America.
So we can solve our problems. What's standing in our way is not that we don't have good ideas or we don't have solutions to problems like energy independence or improving our schools. What is standing in our way is our politics. You've got a bunch of folks in Washington who think the only way is their way and who think that the only way to go forward is to go right back to the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place.
Audience members. No!
The President. They believe in the old top-down economics that we spent an entire decade trying and that did not work.
And look, I'm not exaggerating here. My opponent, Mr. Romney, and his friends in Congress, when you look at their economic ideas, when you look at, you know, they've spent a lot of time on commercials, saying how there aren't enough jobs and the economy is not growing fast enough. And then, you ask them, okay, well, what is it that you're thinking about doing? And you know, I am not exaggerating, it boils down to two things. First of all, they want to give more tax cuts to folks at the very top.
Audience members. Boo!
The President. Five trillion dollars' worth of tax cuts on top of the Bush tax cuts. And then—so that's idea number one. Idea number two is let's get rid of regulations that we put into place to make sure that Wall Street does not misbehave again and we don't have another meltdown or getting rid of regulations that help protect our air and our water or getting rid of regulations that protect consumers from unscrupulous lenders. That's their basic idea. You get rid of regulations, and you cut taxes for wealthy Americans, and somehow, jobs and prosperity will all rain down on all of us.
Audience members. Boo!
The President. This is the path they're proposing. If you think I'm exaggerating, you go to their websites, you look at the bills that have been passed by this House of Representatives. That is where they will take us if they win. In fact, the centerpiece of Mr. Romney's entire economic plan is this new $5 trillion tax cut. And now I want you to pay attention here; we're going to do a little math. I know it's not everybody's favorite subject, but math is important.
Audience member. I love math!
The President. I like that; somebody said they love math. There you go.
All right, so we've known for a while that a lot of this new $5 trillion tax cut would go to the wealthiest 1 percent of all households. But last week, an independent nonpartisan organization crunched the numbers. They looked, what does this mean, $5 trillion? Keep in mind, by the way, the defense budget is about $500 billion. So a $5 trillion tax cut is—over 10 years is like a tax cut that's as big as our entire defense budget every single year. All right? So these guys were trying to analyze what does this mean. They found that Governor Romney's plan would raise taxes on middle class families with children by an average of $2,000.
Audience members. Boo!
The President. Now, the reason is—as he says—that this $5 trillion tax cut he'll pay for by doing other things, by slashing education or making Medicare into a voucher.
Audience members. Boo!
The President. But even after he makes all the cuts to education and training and science and research and transportation and environmental protection, you name it, it turns out, he is still short. So the only way that you could actually pay for it is to have you pick up the bill.
So you would then pay $2,000 extra every year not to reduce the deficit, not to help our kids get an education, not to rebuild our roads and our bridges or lay broadband lines into rural communities. He would ask the middle class to pay more in taxes so he could give another $250,000 to people making more than $3 million a year.
Audience members. Boo!
The President. Now, he was asked about this, his campaign was asked about it, and if this sounds like an idea that would be difficult to explain to the American people, you're right. [Laughter] Let's just say there was a whole different kind of gymnastics being performed by Mr. Romney than what's been happening in the Olympics. [Laughter]
So they were twisting, and they were turning and doing backflips and trying to say, well, this is a biased report, despite the fact that the head of this nonpartisan center used to work for President Bush. But it's not surprising that he was trying to scramble a little bit, because they've tried to sell this old, trickle-down tax cut fairy dust before. [Laughter]
And you know what, it did not work then. It won't work now. It's not a plan to create jobs. It's not a plan to lower the deficit. It's not a plan to move our economy forward. It's not a plan to build the middle class. We don't need more tax cuts for folks like me. We need tax cuts for working Americans who are trying to raise a family and keep our families healthy and send our kids to college and keep a roof over their heads. That's who needs some help. That's the choice in this election, and that's why I'm running for President: to fight for you.
Now, you guys still bending your knees? [Laughter] All right. You've got some water; get hydrated.
Audience member. Sing for us!
The President. Michelle made me promise that I can't sing to others anymore.
Audience members. Boo!
The President. Because she wants me to just sing to her, you know? [Laughter]
But look, Grand Junction, I've got a different plan for America. Their ideas aren't going to work.
Four years ago, I promised to cut middle class taxes. That's exactly what I've done. The typical family has seen their taxes go down by about $3,600. So when you talk to your friends or neighbors and they say, he's a big, spending, tax-raising Democrat—[Laughter]—you've got to tell them, no, actually, if you're in the middle class, your taxes have gone down.
So now I want to keep taxes exactly where they are for the first $250,000 of everybody's income. So if your family makes under 250,000—which, by the way, 98 percent of Americans do, 97 percent of small businesses do—you will not see your income taxes increase by a single dime next year. That's my plan. And by the way, I've told Congress—I told the Republicans in Congress—I said, let's do it now. You guys say you don't want to see anybody's taxes go up; I don't want to see anybody who's making $250,000 or less see their taxes go up. Let's go ahead and sign a bill. But shockingly enough—[Laughter]—they haven't agreed so far, because they're holding you guys hostage to try to get tax cuts for the top 2 percent.
Now, look, if you're fortunate enough to be in the other 2 percent of Americans, you're still going to get a tax cut on the first $250,000 of your income. So if you make 260,000, the first 250, you're still keeping all that tax cut. It's just that little bit over 250. Now, if you're making $5 million, you can afford it. Right?
All we're asking for folks who have been blessed—like me—I mean, I'm not being self-interested here. It's not like I love paying taxes, but I understand I've got certain obligations because this country has been so good to me. So what I've—all we're saying is for folks in the top 2 percent, let's go back to what we were paying under Bill Clinton. Let's contribute a little bit more so we pay down our deficit and we can still invest in things like education that help our kids succeed.
Now, keep in mind, just in case you're talking to your friends or neighbors again and they say, well, that just—a little bit of tax increase on the top 2 percent, that won't cut the deficit, they're right. We've got to do more. So we've already cut a trillion dollars. Federal spending is growing at a slower rate than any time since Dwight Eisenhower. I'll make sure Government continues to do its part, and we'll cut out spending we don't need. But I'm not going to pay for a massive new tax cut for millionaires and billionaires by gutting investments that have always made us strong as a country.
And by the way, just like we tested their plan under the previous administration and it didn't work, we've tested my plan because, as you'll recall, under Bill Clinton, when those taxes were a little bit higher on folks like me, the economy grew faster than it has in years, 23 million new jobs. We went from a deficit to a surplus. And folks at the top did well. We created a lot of millionaires to boot. And the reason is that, look, when a construction worker has a got a little money in his pocket, now he starts thinking about buying a new car. When a teacher has security in her job, now she might go to a restaurant once in a while.
And so what happens is, when the middle class is strong, suddenly, businesses have more customers, businesses have more profits, businesses decide to hire more workers. Everybody does well. That's how we build a strong economy, not from the top down, from the middle out, from the bottom up. That's the choice in this election. That's why I'm running for a second term for President of the United States.
Audience members. Obama! Obama! Obama!
Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
The President. Now, let me say, you can see how this plays out on a whole bunch of issues, not just taxes and the deficit. When the American auto industry was on the brink of collapse, more than 1 million jobs at stake, Governor Romney says, let's "let Detroit go bankrupt."
Audience members. Boo!
The President. I said let's bet on American workers. And the American auto industry has come roaring back.
So now I want to make sure that the jobs of tomorrow, including advanced manufacturing jobs, that they're not taking root in China or Germany. I want them to take root in Colorado, in Ohio, in Michigan.
Governor Romney and I have a different theory. He spent his private sector experience investing in companies that were called "pioneers" of outsourcing. I want to insource. I want to stop giving tax breaks to companies that are shipping jobs overseas. Let's give those tax breaks to companies that are investing in Colorado, investing in Grand Junction, hiring American workers, selling American products, stamping those goods with three proud words: Made in America. That's what I believe.
Mr. Romney says it was "tragic" for me to end the war in Iraq, like I promised. I think after a decade of war, it's time to do some nation-building here at home. Thanks to the incredible service of our men and women in uniform, Iraq is in charge of its own destiny. We are bringing troops home from Afghanistan. We went after bin Laden and Al Qaida, and we got them.
So now let's take half of the savings that we were spending on war, and let's use it to put people back to work rebuilding schools, rebuilding bridges, rebuilding roads, improving our airport systems, improving our ports so that we can move goods and services that will make our economy strong not just now, but in the future. And by the way, that also helps us pay for providing services that our men and women in uniform have earned. Our veterans fought too hard for us for them to have to fight for a job or a roof over their heads when they come home. That is a sacred trust we've got to keep.
I'm running to make sure America once again leads the world in educating our kids. I want to hire new teachers, especially in math and science. Help 2 million people go to community colleges to train for the jobs that businesses are hiring for right now. And I want to make sure that every young person can afford to go to college. We have already expanded student aid; now we need to bring tuitions down. That's why I'm running for President: to give our young people a chance.
On every issue, there's a difference. On housing and foreclosures, Mr. Romney says let the market just bottom out. I say let's let every American refinance their homes at historically low rates, save $3,000 per family, per homeowner. That could actually boost the economy and strengthen the housing market.
When it comes to health care, he wants to kill Obamacare. I'm implementing Obamacare because it was the right thing to do. Already, as we speak, 6.5 million young people under the age of 26 can stay on their parent's plan. Millions of seniors have saved hundreds of dollars on their prescription drugs, and we're closing the doughnut hole. Individuals and businesses are getting rebates from their insurance companies because insurance companies have to use most of the money they get in premiums to provide care, not for CEO bonuses and administrative costs. If your child has a preexisting condition, insurance companies can't turn them down. Soon, adults who have preexisting conditions cannot be turned down.
So if that's what Mr. Romney wants to get rid of, despite the fact that he did the same thing in Massachusetts and it worked pretty well—[Laughter]—then that's a different—that's a choice in this election.
You know, I don't think we should be refighting some of the battles he wants to refight. I think it was the right thing to do to end "don't ask, don't tell." I think you should be able to serve your country no matter who you are. I don't think it makes sense for us to take away control that women have over their own health care decisions.
But most of all, most of all, I want to make sure that that original bargain that made this country great, that basic idea that if you work hard you can make it, that that is restored. And everything we do—from health care to education, to manufacturing, to our infrastructure, to our investment in science and research—all of this is designed to make sure that we've got a strong middle class going forward, that no matter what you look like, where you come from, that everybody has got a fair shot and everybody is doing their fair share and everybody is playing by the same set of rules.
That's the same promise our parents and our grandparents and our great-grandparents believed in. And now we've got to pass on that same promise to the next generation.
Now, over the last—over the next 3 months—89 days, to be precise—[Laughter]—the other side will be spending more money than we've ever seen. You've got these guys writing $10 million checks. You've got these super PACs that are just going crazy.
Audience members. Boo!
The President. And now, here's the thing. I don't know why they're running all these ads, because basically, they only have one ad. It's just a variation on the same ad, which is, the economy is not where it should be and it's Obama's fault. That's their basic argument. Because they know they can't sell their actual plans; they don't have plans. Their message is designed to try to win an election, but it's not a plan to create jobs. They don't have a plan to grow the economy. They don't have a plan to revive the middle class. But I do.
And so when you're talking to your friends and your neighbors, and they say, well, I don't know, Mr. Romney, he ran a business and I think maybe that might work, look, if you believe that trying what we already tried and it didn't work is worth trying again, if you believe it's okay to cut taxes for folks who are doing really well and ask folks who are struggling to do more, if you think it's okay for us to cut back on our investments in education and science and set our sights lower, then their—that's your choice. That's how our democracy works. Try it out.
But you know what, if you believe that we're on the right track—if you think like I do that we've come too far to turn back now—then I'm going to need you, Colorado. We've got too many good jobs to create. We've got too many good teachers to hire. We've got too many great schools to build. We've got too many students we need to help go to college. We've got too much homegrown clean energy to generate. We've got more troops to bring home. We've got more doors of opportunity to open to everybody who is willing to work hard, to walk through that door. We've got to leave something behind for the next generation so they can do even better, so they can do even bigger than we ever imagined.
That's what's at stake. That's why I'm running. And if you're willing to stand with me and if you still believe in me just like I believe in you, we will win, Colorado. We will win this election. We'll finish what we started. And we'll remind the world why the United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth.
God bless you. God bless the United States of America.
Note: The President spoke at 4:20 p.m. at Grand Junction High School. In his remarks, he referred to Grand Junction, CO, resident DeAnne Stanberry; Republican Presidential candidate former Gov. W. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts; Donald B. Marron, director, Tax Policy Center; and former President George W. Bush.
Barack Obama, Remarks at a Campaign Rally in Grand Junction, Colorado Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/302158


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"Where'd You Find That?!": An Illustrated Discography of the (Almost) Unique
(a CollectorScum.com hosted site)
Sure, some records are rare. How many times have you heard "less than a dozen copies known to exist"?. Well, here's an attempt to document some of the unique, or almost unique, '77-'83 punk records. We're talking test presses, acetates, legitimate one-off alternate covers, perhaps certain fully-autographed items. Have anything that fits the bill? Email a description and scan to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Dischord, Touch and Go, and Related:
Please no email asking about buying or trading for these. I don't even own most of them.
Additions? Corrections? Questions? Email email@example.com.
Thanks: Ryan Richardson, Roger Mah, Ian Cunningham, Ben Shupe, Chip Kinman, Tom Moran, Fat Rich, Jason Litchfield, Jamie Holmes, Michel Bastarache, Chris Bisorca, Marty Duda, David Redding, Henry Weld, Henrik Bechchem
Return to CollectorScum.com
Last Updated: 20 April 2006


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Well, MGM's remake of Carrie received quite a boost from Stephen King's off-the-cuff mention of Lindsay Lohan as a potential Carrie White. The gossip sites that quote unnamed sources are abuzz. According to TMZ, "sources close to" Lohan said the actress was "stoked" to hear that King mentioned her name, adding that working with the author "would be epic." Even more surprising, Megan Fox is said to be gunning for the lead role in Carrie, according to ShowbizSpy. Like TMZ, ShowbizSpy quotes a "source close to" Fox as saying, "Megan is a huge fan of the original and would love the chance to play the lead. She's 25 now but she's sure she could still do justice to teenage Carrie. She's told her people to make it happen." In 2009, Fox played the antagonist in the Carrie-esque Jennifer's Body, and later had a public falling out with Michael Bay over her role in his Transformers series. The ShowbizSpy article stresses that Fox wants to get away from her "Transformers image," and is hoping to start mixing theater work with her film career.
Speaking of Carrie, a couple of weeks ago, in the print version of Entertainment Weekly, critic Owen Gleiberman reviewed the new Disney film Prom, pointing out that "a mere decade ago, the event was still called 'the prom,' but in Prom... it is never referred to as anything but 'prom'-- as in, Who are you asking to prom? It's not even fully clear whether prom is now a noun or a verb (are you going to prom? We're going to prom like it's 2099!). And that signals that the prom is no mere party but, in fact, a state of mind."
In the print version of his review, Gleiberman includes a section in which he tours through proms as depicted in various films, including Napoleon Dynamite, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Pretty In Pink, Saved!, and Footloose, while devoting a separate paragraph to Brian De Palma's Carrie:
There's no doubt that the ultimate prom movie is Carrie (1976), a suburban Cinderella daydream-turned-blood-drenched nightmare. As the pale senior-class mouse who gets duped into becoming prom queen (all so she can get a bucket of blood dumped on her during the crowning), Sissy Spacek makes Carrie the cringing wallflower in all of us: one who both covets and fears acceptance. Then she becomes an avenging angel, and the film's slow-motion majesty turns it into the most lyrically emotional of all modern thrillers, a vision of high school as hell.
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NJ man who shot off-duty officer must pay $5.9M
Feb 12, 2012, 7:48 PM
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – An off-duty New Jersey county sheriff's officer who was shot and seriously wounded when he tried to intervene in a domestic dispute has won a $5.9 million civil judgment against the gunman.
A judge recently awarded the money to Joshua Hahn and his wife after Billy Heisler _ who was convicted last month on attempted murder and weapons charges _ failed to respond to the suit.
The 34-year-old Mercer County Sheriff's officer suffered two punctured lungs and a shattered vertebra when he tried to break up a fight between Heisler and his sister at a Hamilton Township pizzeria in July 2007. Hahn eventually had to retire on permanent disability.
Hahn was awarded $963,871 in lost wages; $1.5 million for pain and suffering and $2.5 million in punitive damages. Hahn's wife was awarded $1 million,
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Book review: Falling: A Love Story by Jane Green
Jane Green, the mesmerising storyteller who has turned romance novels into an art form, works her special brand of magic in this gorgeous, gripping tale of two unlikely lovers discovering the true meaning of home, happiness and family.
A former feature writer for the Daily Express and now the bestselling author of seventeen clever, compelling novels, Green has become adept at exploring not just relationships but the psychology of how we face the slings and arrows of life's everyday misfortunes.
Here we meet a go-getting, thirtysomething businesswoman who eschews her life in the exhausting, high-octane world of New York finance to find peace, and maybe even happiness, in a quiet waterfront town in Connecticut.
What she does discover are some life-changing home truths, the unexpected rewards of family life and a man who is everything she thought she didn't want but who touches her heart and soul like no one has ever done before.
When Emma Montague left the strict confines of upper-crust British life for New York eight years ago, she felt sure it would make her happy. Away from her parents and expectations, she felt liberated, throwing herself into the Manhattan lifestyle and enjoying a high-paying banking job, a gorgeous apartment and a string of successful boyfriends.
But the cut-throat, all-consuming world of finance and the relentless pursuit of attaining yet more have started to take their toll. This isn't the life she really, truly wants and she's packing it all in.
On the move again, Emma answers an online ad and finds a tiny beach cottage to rent in the picturesque waterfront town of Westport, Connecticut, a world apart from both England and Manhattan.
It is here that she begins to confront what it is she really wants from her life. With no job, and knowing only one person in town, she channels her passion for creating beautiful spaces into renovating the dilapidated cottage she rents from Dominic DiFranco, a local handyman and fixer-upper who lives next door with his six-year-old son Jesse.
Unlike any man Emma has ever known, Dominic, from an American-Italian family, is confident, grounded and committed to being around for Jesse whose flighty mother walked out shortly after he was born.
Dominic is a world away from the men she would normally be interested in but they become friends, and slowly over a shared garden, time spent with Jesse and late-night conversations, Emma finds herself not only feeling at home in a way she never has before but falling for Dominic in a big way.
But just as they start to imagine a life together as a family, fate intervenes in the most shocking way. For the first time, Emma has to stay and fight for what she loves, for the truth she has discovered about herself… or risk losing it all.
Green's moving, masterful novel is so much more than just another summer romance… love, loss, change and acceptance all come within the author's remit as she invites us to share in a story high on emotion, drama and the family tensions that we can all recognise.
Written with insight, sensitivity and a keen eye for the frailties of the human psyche, Falling is the kind of book that makes you glad you chose to read it.
(Macmillan, hardback, £14.99)