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Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars: Squadrons is an epic space combat video game from Star Wars, set after Return of the Jedi. Choose to become one of the Galactic Empire or the New Republic navy and control starfighter ships. Earn more experience points as you play and use it to unlock new weapons, upgrades, shields, and other cosmetic items
for the pilot and their ship. Play in 3 different gaming modes, which include single-player and multiplayer options. Buckle up and feel the adrenaline as you fight and pilot your very own Star Wars starfighter.
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Shooter , Action, Fantasy, Science fiction, Warfare
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Star Wars: Squadrons Tips & Tricks
What is latency, and how does it affect my response time in Star Wars: Squadrons?
Latency is a term that is commonly thrown around in online gaming. Latency (in an online gaming context) refers to the average total time that it takes for your computer to send data to the gaming server. Latency is measured in milliseconds, and a second is composed of 1000 milliseconds. On the other hand, your game response time is the time it takes for the data and the corresponding event to reach the game server and then back to your computer. Basically, your response time is 2x the latency, which means if you lower your latency by 250ms, you'll also reduce your game response time by 500ms, which is half a second. If you lower your latency by 500ms, you'll also reduce your game response time by 1000ms, which corresponds to a second, and so on. The lower your latency, the faster the data will make its way to the game server, and the quicker the data to return to your computer. A low latency connection time will significantly improve your gameplay, especially on fast-paced games like Star Wars: Squadrons, where you need to quickly execute an action. WTFast helps reduce your latency and protects you from lag spikes and high ping times. We have dedicated servers across 190 different countries, which will reduce the number of hops needed to transfer between different servers. Using WTFast, you have more chances of lowering your latency and achieving a much better gaming experience.
What is a traceroute, and how does it apply to Star Wars: Squadrons?
When playing a video game online, you access information from the game server, allowing you to play with players from all over the world. However, to reach this game server, your connection has to take a specific route, and this route in the online world is called your traceroute. And like with any other route you take to reach your destination, the shorter it is, the quicker you will get to your destination. Furthermore, the traceroute consists of gateways or "hops," which are specific stops your connection has to travel through to get from your computer to the game server. The greater the number of these hops, the longer it will take for your connection to reach the game server. This increase in the time taken can lead to lag, high ping, and other related issues from showing up in Star Wars: Squadrons. As a result, the ideal scenario would be to have the shortest and most direct traceroute with the least hops.
What is ping time, and how does it apply to Star Wars: Squadrons?
Ping is a measurement of the reaction time of your internet connection. Your ping time measures how long it takes for data packets to get from your device to the Star Wars: Squadrons server. Ping measures the time it takes to make a round trip time between your computer and the Star Wars: Squadrons server, and it is typically measured in milliseconds. A fast ping time means you have a more responsive connection for latency-sensitive apps like online games. Ping was initially a term used in active sonar technology, and it described the time it took for a sound to be sent and received between the sender and target. In the animal kingdom, bats use a similar method called echolocation, which uses high-frequency sounds to help the bat determine how close it is to a destination, even in total darkness. On the internet, determining your Star Wars: Squadrons ping time can be a bit trickier. Internet connections are not typically direct – there are multiple 'hops' between the sender and the target. Much like bats, we're often flying blind on the internet, unaware of the latency of the next 'hop.' When calculating your overall ping time, it's essential to factor in each 'hop' along the route. When your Star Wars: Squadrons connection is laggy, it's usually due to a poor connection between 2 or more points. For example, your computer may be the Sender, and the Star Wars: Squadrons server may be your Target, but there could be other mystery hops along the way, causing issues.
How do I get rid of lag on Star Wars: Squadrons?
Lag in video games comes in two different forms, network or graphical lag. The latter is relatively easy to fix as all you have to is make alternations to your game's graphic settings. You can play around with the settings and even lower the resolution until the lag goes away. However, if you are still experiencing lag, then the issue isn't with your graphic settings. Your network might be the culprit here. But don't you worry, we have you covered there too. To fix network-related lag, you can make the following changes. Give each and everyone a try and see which one does the trick for you as, unlike graphical lag, where you know precisely where the lag comes from, with network lag, things are quite complicated. You can never exactly pinpoint the root of the lag. So, it's just a case of trial and error. Test out these fixes, and hopefully, you'll get rid of lag in Star Wars: Squadrons: • Wireless connections are usually unstable and cause frequent ping fluctuations. This can cause lag to surface in Star Wars: Squadrons. So, to avoid this, you can opt for a wired connection. (If, for some reason, you can not switch, try to limit the number of active users on your network. Doing so can help you get rid of lag in Star Wars: Squadrons. ) • When playing, we advise you to close or shut down any active background application, especially those that consume your internet bandwidth. This includes Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. • Pause any downloads that are currently in process. • Consider using local servers or the servers that are closest to your location in Star Wars: Squadrons. • You can also try resetting your router or your modem to refresh your connection. To do this, shut it down for a minimum of 5 seconds and then restart it by pressing the power button located at the back of the device. • Get a subscription to WTFast. WTFast optimizes your connection by reducing the number of hops between you and the Star Wars: Squadrons game server. This will substantially minimize unnecessary lag in online games.
How does WTFast help improve my Star Wars: Squadrons ping time?
WTFast is a utility that helps redirect your internet traffic from the 'regular' internet to a private connection. Think of WTFast a bit like a 'fast lane,' where there are fewer cars on the road or fewer planes in the sky. For instance, private airlines fly higher in the air than standard commercial airline routes. Operating in less busy airspace allows private airlines to fly faster than the usual commercial lines, often enabling business people to get to their destinations more quickly. There are multiple hops between your home internet connection and the Star Wars: Squadrons server. WTFast allows you to reduce the number of hops to get much closer to your game server. When you use WTFast, you can select a Proxy Server that sends your traffic directly to the game server instead of leaving your connection up to chance. Standard internet traffic routing wasn't intended for low-latency gaming, like playing Star Wars: Squadrons with fast ping times. Instead, it was designed to handle large quantities of data shuttling between places in the most cost-effective way possible. Bandwidth is expensive, especially when you're streaming Netflix in 4K. And since video streaming is such a popular activity on the internet, internet service providers have to optimize for the most popular uses of their services. Decreasing the number of hops between you and the Star Wars: Squadrons game server can help, as well as routing your traffic through quieter and less populated proxy paths (what we call our "GPN Nodes.") We support thousands of games and over 60,000 combinations of GPN proxy servers to handle your connection across 190 countries. There are over 72 billion potential combinations of game, game server region, country, and proxy routes that we handle. If one path using WTFast doesn't work for you, consider trying a different server route.
Why is my in-game ping meter in Star Wars: Squadrons different from what I see in WTFast?
Imagine that your internet speed is a bit like driving a car. Now imagine that your vehicle only shows you an average of your speed, not your actual speed at any given moment. What if you are driving faster than the speed limit, but your car only shows your 'average' speed? Do you think you will get a speeding ticket if your dashboard says you're under the speed limit, but you are traveling faster than the speed limit? In-game ping meters tend to work similarly, showing you a snapshot or an average of your overall session. These in-game ping meters are useful for getting an approximate idea of your internet latency, but they are only a rough measurement tool and do not allow you to fix your connection. WTFast is an accurate networking diagnostic and improvement application. With WTFast, you get real-time statistics on your connection to Star Wars: Squadrons, which changes every time a packet is sent to and from the server! WTFast gives you detailed and nuanced stats on your Star Wars: Squadrons session. This way, you can see where your connection is going and how it's impacting your performance. How do I see the different 'hops' between me and the Star Wars: Squadrons server? To better understand the path your internet traffic takes to get from your device to the Star Wars: Squadrons server, you'll want to use a traceroute. In WTFast, we show you a map that traces the estimated route your data packets are taking to get from you to the Star Wars: Squadrons server. A standard traceroute is much less visual, showing you a text-based list of 'hops,' along with the latency between each point. The latency between each point in the traceroute is measured using the ping time between two points.
How do I reduce my Star Wars: Squadrons ping?
Ever since the release of Star Wars: Squadrons, players have complained about the game's rising ping issues. And with the game now becoming increasingly popular, these reports have skyrocketed as well. Now, the developers are working extra hard, trying to fix these issues in the game. But what can you do in the meantime? Well, this is where we come in. We have here some workarounds through which you can quickly reduce Star Wars: Squadrons ping. So, without any further delays. Here is a list of all of the possible workarounds you can implement to get better ping in Star Wars: Squadrons. Try and test each of these fixes until you are happy with the results. • Switch to a wired internet connection rather than a wireless one. (If you don't have an option, then try limiting the number of users on your wireless connection) • Close or shut down background applications, especially those hoarding your internet speeds like Chrome or Steam. • Check if you have any active downloads, including Windows Updates. If yes, try pausing and see if that helps. • Consider using local servers or the servers that are closest to your location in Star Wars: Squadrons. • Reset your router or your modem to refresh your connection and potentially lower your ping. • WTFast can lower your ping by reducing the number of hops it takes to get to your gaming server. By decreasing the number of hops between you and the Star Wars: Squadrons game server, you'll surely see a significant reduction with your ping and have a much, much better online gaming experience! The advantage of WTFast is that you aren't limited to a single internet connection between you and the game router. Instead, WTFast gives you thousands and thousands of potential alternative routes between you and the game server, giving you a multitude of options and choices for improving your connection! With such a powerful utility, we encourage our users to experiment with different connection routes to find the path that's best for them and their favorite game.
What are ping spikes, and how do they affect Star Wars: Squadrons?
Imagine playing Star Wars: Squadrons, and you are about to make a critical move that requires the quickest reflexes. You're all ready. You aim. And... BAM! Your little brother runs up and shoves you out of your chair. Unsurprisingly, you miss your critical move entirely! Not only do you lose the match, but now you're pissed off with your little brother. A ping spike is like having your brother shove you out of your chair right as you're about to make that move in Star Wars: Squadrons. A ping spike is what happens when your lag jumps suddenly, like when you go from a stable 10ms ping time to an unstable 300ms response. These drastic ping spikes are your enemy when it comes to online games and latency-sensitive applications where real-time interaction is expected. When your ping spikes suddenly, it almost always results in a missed move in games like first-person shooters, MOBAs, or fighting games. The more responsive and 'twitchy' the game mechanic, the more critical it is to make sure your connection is both fast AND smooth.
How is my ping time to Star Wars: Squadrons calculated in WTFast?
WTFast calculates an average ping time between you and the Star Wars: Squadrons server across each hop. While we do our best to calculate every hop along the route, some 'hop points' are behind firewalls or obfuscated (i.e., hidden from us), which makes measuring the ping time to and from that location a bit trickier. By calculating the difference between the total ping time between you and the Star Wars: Squadrons server, we can calculate an approximate time between obfuscated hop points. Still, it can be slightly less accurate than the non-obfuscated points, but it gives us the best possible estimate.
How do I fix Star Wars: Squadrons ping spikes?
Unlike lag, which can arise due to improper graphical settings or irregularities within the network connection, ping spikes usually occur due to only one thing, network issues. Now, you might think since the problem is linked with the network connection, the fix will be relatively straightforward. Well, we hate to break it to you, but it's not. It's just as tedious and frustrating. This is because you can never accurately pinpoint the exact cause of the problem. Hence, you have to go through the trial and error method and see which workaround works for you the most when fixing ping spikes in Star Wars: Squadrons. So, without any further delay, here is a list of all the workarounds you need to test to fix Star Wars: Squadrons ping spikes. • Close any application active in the background, especially those taking up internet bandwidth like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. • Switch to a wired ethernet connection. This is more stable and works much better compared to a wireless connection. (However, if you don't have a choice, try limiting the number of users on your network.) • Put a stop to any on-going downloads or Torrent files • Refresh your router/modem but restarting it • Subscribe to WTFast, and it's premium ping-reducing services. You can also opt for a trial period and see if it does the trick for you.
Why is my ping so high in Star Wars: Squadrons?
Almost everyone in the online gaming world knows the terms "high ping" and "low ping." Hence, you might already have an idea about ping and that it is the network latency between a gaming client and the game server. Ping is measured in milliseconds, where 1000 milliseconds is equivalent to 1 second. For gamers, low ping times are our best friend because a low ping equates to low latency. This means there are fewer chances for lags and delays to happen. Contrary to a high ping, which causes a significant amount of lag. Having a ping higher than 100ms can already produce a severe amount of lag. If you often experience pings that go higher than 100ms, chances are that you suffer from ping spikes and jitter. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially for an online gamer like you who plays Star Wars: Squadrons. You might be wondering why your ping is so high in Star Wars: Squadrons? Here are the possible reasons why... Your distance to the game server - the distance between your location and the game server has a significant impact on the amount of delay you're experiencing. The further you are located from the game server, the higher ping you'll have. Keep in mind that game servers are usually named by their geographic location, so you must check on that one. Wireless connections - connecting to the internet via a wireless connection will make you prone to interference. This will undoubtedly result in increased latency, packet loss, jitter, and all sorts of other network-related performance issues. All of these could contribute to increasing your ping and slowing down your game. Running programs in the background - all applications running in the background while playing could contribute strain to your network and computer in varying degrees. This could significantly affect your computer's performance, especially if the program is consuming a lot of bandwidth. Be wary of streaming applications and downloads happening on your computer, as this will increase latency between your computer and the game servers. Other devices are connected to your network - not only running applications, but other connected devices to your network could eat up your bandwidth as well. Devices such as other computers, consoles, smartphones, tablets, and others could consume your network's resources. This could also result in a higher ping on your part, which will dramatically affect your gameplay. Your ISP - the problem might also be lying on your ISP. Maybe your internet service provider does not route traffic optimally for gaming which is possible on a lot of internet service providers. Many of our ISP friends provide dedicated gaming packages with WTFast included in the bundle, which gives you a stronger connection and all the power of WTFast's dedicated network boosting service, too! You're not using a dedicated gaming software - using a gaming VPN like WTFast will improve your gaming performance by regulating and reducing your ping. Instead of just connecting to the "normal" server connection, WTFast will create a custom connection that eliminates the number of hops needed for you to reach the server. The quicker you get to the server, the faster your game will be!
What is a ping enhancer, and why should I use it on playing Star Wars: Squadrons?
Ping is a regular occurrence in online games. Basically, ping is the amount of time (usually measured in milliseconds) your machine and a game server takes to communicate with each other. With that said, higher pings mean lag for any online game that you play. Ping enhancers help lower your ping by improving the communication of your machine and the game server. WTFast is the world's leading ping enhancer software that gives you a much smoother and faster gaming experience. WTFast works by redirecting your gaming traffic to a private connection. Instead of only being stuck with your default internet path between your device and the game server, WTFast gives you thousands and thousands of possible different connections to explore and test-drive. WTFast establishes a private connection between you and the gaming server, which acts as a "fast lane," allowing you to transfer data much more rapidly. WTFast can significantly lower ping spikes, lags, jitters, and lost packet data, which will result in better gameplay and more wins!
What does "ms" mean in Star Wars: Squadrons?
Gamers often see the letters "ms" beside a number or a series of numbers in games like Star Wars: Squadrons. For those of you who don't know, "ms" is the abbreviation for milliseconds. It is the unit of measurement used in ping. Take note that 1000ms are equal to one second. So why does it matter in your game? In playing Star Wars: Squadrons, what you're aiming for is a low ms count. Having a low ms count means you have a lower ping. This means, if you see 250ms, this is precisely how long it takes for your data packets to reach that server. The higher the number, the longer it takes for you to transfer data, and the more "laggy" it will feel to you. So, the lower the millisecond ("ms") count, the better.
What is rubberbanding, and how does it affect my Star Wars: Squadrons experience?
Rubberbanding is one of the major problems most gamers encounter when playing online games. This is extremely annoying, especially with Star Wars: Squadrons and online games with fast-paced 'twitch' mechanics. Rubberbanding is a term used to describe a player's random or jerky movement in a multiplayer game when they're experiencing high latency. This often occurs in FPS or similar games that have a large number of people per multiplayer server. It is mostly seen in MMOs - a large number of players means there are more cases of rubber banding; either the server is overloaded, or players have high ping. When rubberbanding happens, a player appears to be thrown backward from the start of the action after executing that particular action. It feels like being caught in a rubberband - players get thrown back after moving forward, making it look like your character teleported or warped from one place to another. This rubberbanding problem is extremely frustrating, especially when you are in a crucial stage of the game. You're hiding from your enemy and just about ready to shoot. Then for just a couple of seconds, you suddenly appear in front of the enemy and… BAM! You're the one who gets shot and killed instead. This is the rubberband effect in action. Your action may also appear differently to other players. While you see it as a rubberbanding effect, other players may see your character as idle or motionless, commonly seen with players experiencing heavy lag. Rubberbanding is confusing for you and your opponents, and it definitely takes the fun out of the game.
How do I fix rubberbanding in Star Wars: Squadrons?
Similar to high ping and ping spikes, the way to fixing rubberbanding is by optimizing your network connection. However, before we go into fiddling around, we advised you to check with your ISP and confirm if their services are running perfectly fine. Rubberbanding can also surface from improper installation of the game or if your game has corrupted files. Having old drivers installed on your PC (specifically for your graphics card and/or network adapter) can also be one of the causes. If you are connected via a WiFi connection instead of a wired connection, chances are you may likely experience a rubberbanding problem. Another potential rubberbanding cause is a poor internet connection. It's always worth having a conversation with your ISP to see if they offer a dedicated gaming bundle, especially if they provide WTFast as a built-in value bundle. Ask your ISP if they bundle WTFast with their gaming package. So how can you fix this rubberbanding problem with Star Wars: Squadrons? Well, we have you covered. Here is a guide on how you can get rid of this pesky issue. First, take note that we will only show you general fixes for this problem. There is no 100% guarantee behind these workarounds, but these fixes have been proven to work for different players, so we can say they are worth trying. As mentioned in a previous tip, rubberbanding can be a result of improper installation of the game. You may want to try reinstalling your game, along with any external gaming launcher (like Steam), to see if your problem is fixed. Other than that, you may want to update the drivers of your graphics card and network adapter to see if there will be any major differences to your gaming experience. Try to switch to a wired connection instead of a wireless one. You can do this by using an ethernet cable and connect it to your router. This will eliminate packet loss, which is one of the major causes of rubberbanding. If the same problem still occurs, you should consider using a network enhancement program. WTFast has customized and private network connections that drive your traffic more directly to the game server, optimizing connection for much stronger stability and faster ping times. Supporting over 72 billion potential combinations of game, game server region, country, and proxy routes, you'll find a combination that is suitable for you. With the help of WTFast, you'll be able to focus on your game without any rubberbanding interruptions.
Help! My Star Wars: Squadrons lag is the worst. How do I fix it?
First off, you've come to the right place. We're anti-lag here at WTFast! Secondly, keep in mind that 'lag' is a general term and could apply to slow down (e.g., frames per second/FPS) or reduced responsiveness during gameplay. For clarity, we're going to focus less on graphical lag and more on your network latency and performance. At WTFast, we make software to help you boost your network performance for latency-sensitive programs like Star Wars: Squadrons. We can help improve your network latency!
What is jitter, and what is its effect on Star Wars: Squadrons?
You might already know about checking your ping and latency to improve your gaming experience. But there is one more factor that has a significant effect on the smooth gameplay you're supposed to have - and that is jitter. What is jitter? Jitter is an average of the change in ping over time or how your latency score fluctuates. It is the variation in latency, and it's a problem because it makes the experience unpredictable. Average internet users commonly ignore it, but to online gamers, especially those playing multiplayer shooter games, this problem is a big deal. Jitter (or more accurately, latency fluctuation/flux) shows itself during games like Star Wars: Squadrons through choppy gameplay. You're running around, and suddenly the world freezes. Once it unfreezes, everything has changed, as if time had stood still for you and then got caught up suddenly. Even if this just happened half a second, you'll probably notice this stuttery gameplay. Jitter causes the latency to change rapidly, for example, from 10ms to 80ms and back. In such a situation, it's tough for game servers to provide a fair environment for all players, which can be very frustrating.
How do I fix jitter or latency flux in Star Wars: Squadrons?
Jitter is the sudden deviation that you get in your ping whenever you are playing online games. For example, your average ping might be 45ms. But with jitter, that 45ms might spike to 90ms or even 300ms for a short time before going back down to your average ping. These sudden spikes in ping may throw off your game, causing you to miss that game-winning moment in games like Star Wars: Squadrons. A simple thing like jitter can cause you to lose a game, making your gaming skill completely irrelevant. How can you fix jitter? The leading cause of jitter is the difference in the average latency time of your packets. So, you can fix your jitter by lowering your latency and more. To resolve this, you should strongly consider using a wired internet connection if you're not already. This is highly advisable when you are into online gaming rather than using a wireless connection. A wired connection will prevent fluctuations and lost packets, which can significantly improve and lower your latency. Next is to use a high-speed internet connection. Lower internet speed may cause jitter or latency flux, especially when you're sharing it with other people or other devices. You may try and switch to fiber connections or even upgrade your connection and increase your bandwidth. Doing so can transform your gaming into smooth, no-jitter gameplay. Another step is to use a powerful router. Your router is the heart of your internet connection, so you'll want to invest in the best here. Maybe your router has been there for ages, and it's not working well for your needs anymore. Look for a powerful router that is fit for your gaming needs. Do some research and check reviews to verify the quality of the router. Make sure that the bandwidth capacity is high enough to handle the traffic your household produces. We suggest finding a router with WTFast built-in. This way, your router can handle all the complexity of finding the best route across the thousands and thousands of potential different connection routes available in WTFast. Our friends at ASUS offer dedicated gaming routers with WTFast built-in, giving you peace of mind for gaming without headache. If you're still experiencing jitter and aren't ready to upgrade your router, you can boost your game by simply using a gaming software that offers the network optimization solution for you. That software is WTFast! WTFast uses a custom business-grade network infrastructure that is perfect for your gaming needs. Our optimization services will provide you with a more reliable and responsive connection to reduce jitter and improve your network stability.


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Let's be honest. We've all been there, late at night, fridge open and Hershey's chocolate syrup squeeze bottle in hand. Shameful, but oh so delicious.
Now, imagine that the chocolate syrup isn't chockfull of artificial flavors, preservatives and processed sugars, but simple, quality ingredients and a whole lotta love.
The flavor in homemade chocolate syrup, especially when made with good quality cocoa powder (I recommend Valrhona), is much more intense than any store bought variety. It's fantastic drizzled on everything from fresh fruits to desserts like my Croissant and Chocolate Bread Pudding, Cream Puffs, Tiramisu or Vanilla Crepes.
Have a little fun and try this velvety, rich chocolate syrup for yourself – or rather, for your next dessert – sometime! It's decadent and delicious, and so satisfying to know that you can make this popular pantry staple at home with a handful of basic ingredients and just 5 minutes of your time!
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a small saucepan, combine cocoa powder, water, sugar and salt. Whisk until cocoa is dissolved. Boil for 3 minutes over medium heat. Be careful not to let it get too hot and boil over! Whisk in vanilla extract. Let cool.
- The chocolate syrup will keep for several months in a squeeze bottle or glass jar in the refrigerator.
- Enjoy!

subset: commoncrawl


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Go was born out of frustration with existing languages and environments for systems programming. Programming had become too difficult and the choice of languages was partly to blame. One had to choose either efficient compilation, efficient execution, or ease of programming; all three were not available in the same mainstream language. Programmers who could were choosing ease over safety and efficiency by moving to dynamically typed languages such as Python and JavaScript rather than C++ or, to a lesser extent, Java.
Go is an attempt to combine the ease of programming of an interpreted, dynamically typed language with the efficiency and safety of a statically typed, compiled language. It also aims to be modern, with support for networked and multicore computing. Finally, it is intended to be fast: it should take at most a few seconds to build a large executable on a single computer. To meet these goals required addressing a number of linguistic issues: an expressive but lightweight type system; concurrency and garbage collection; rigid dependency specification; and so on. These cannot be addressed well by libraries or tools; a new language was called for. [Language design FAQ]
Here's a Go program that outputs "Hello, World!":


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A New Deal for Illinois: The Federal Art Project Collection of Western Illinois University
A New Deal for Illinois: The Federal Art Project Collection of Western Illinois University
In October 1929, the stock market crashed, ushering in the Great Depression of the 1930s. The seismic effects of the crash quickly reached the Midwest, resulting in factory closings, massive unemployment and plummeting farm prices. As a major industrial and agricultural state, Illinois was especially hard hit by the economic crisis.
In response to the nation's devastating financial hardship, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration created federal work relief programs, which included the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP). Established in 1934, the PWAP was the first government program in the United States to support art on a national scale, providing unemployed artists with wages and creative opportunities. In 1935, it was replaced by the larger Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (FAP/WPA).
Although the Depression was especially challenging for educational institutions, Western Illinois University (WIU, then operating as Western Illinois State Teachers College) received substantial funding from New Deal agencies to advance the college through campus building projects and student work study programs. These funds were obtained through the dedicated and skilled efforts of the college's influential president, Walter P. Morgan.
Beginning in 1934, a unique federal arts program also provided support for the college to acquire New Deal art to adorn classrooms, hallways and other public spaces on campus. Increase Robinson and Theodora Pottle, two pioneering women in Illinois' early 20th century art scene, planned these acquisitions. A prominent gallery dealer and painter in Chicago, Robinson served as director of the FAP in Illinois during the 1930s. Pottle, head of the WIU art department from 1928 to 1958, advised the institution on its FAP art collection until 1936 and was a strong advocate for public art throughout her career.
In contrast to the national scope of the Smithsonian Institution's 1934 exhibition, A New Deal for Illinois examines New Deal art in the regional context of Chicago in the 1930s and in relation to the institutional history of WIU. The exhibition and accompanying catalog are the first scholarly studies to research the historical, socio-cultural and artistic factors associated with the formation of WIU's FAP art collection.
Many of the artists in the collection were based in Chicago in the 1930s and actively participated in the city's cosmopolitan and progressive urban arts community. The exhibition features works by such notable artists as Archibald J. Motley, Jr., Gertrude Abercrombie, Aaron Bohrod and Romolo Roberti, who were prominent in many of the innovative artistic movements of the 1930s, including Surrealism, Precisionism and Social Realism. WIU's FAP art collection is particularly distinctive for the inclusion of a large number of women artists and African-American artists, reflecting the liberal democratic policies of the New Deal to promote social and economic equality during a period of profound adversity and turbulent cultural change.
A New Deal for Illinois: The Federal Art Project Collection of Western Illinois University was organized by the Western Illinois University Art Gallery. The exhibition is curated by Dr. Gregory Gilbert, associate professor of art history at Knox College and co-author of Harry Gottlieb: The Silkscreen and Social Concern in the WPA Era.
This exhibition is on view September 14, 2013 through January 5, 2014.
Sponsored by:
Western Illinois University Foundation BIll and Jo Sanders
Archibald J. Motley, Jr., Jazz Singers, 1934, oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Fine Arts Program, Public Buildings Service, U.S. General Services Administration
Commissioned through the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP)
Charles Turzak, River and Canal Transportation, from the portfolio A History of Illinois in Woodcuts, 1933-34, woodcut
Courtesy of the Fine Arts Program, Public Buildings Service, U.S. General Services Administration
Commissioned through the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP)


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You've seen them. They're in newspapers and regional magazines across the country. Some smiling mom and her cute kid. It's an ad for some local clinic, always with a tagline like "You can't afford to be sick!" or "You don't have time to be sick!".
And they list things they treat, like headache, sore throat, ankle sprain, runny nose, and skinned knee (who the hell goes to the doctor for a skinned knee?). They make no mention of heart attack. Or accidental amputation. Or arrow through the head.
It's so comically misleading. As if there's something abnormal about being sick. Face it. The germs outnumber us. Being sick is part of the price of doing business of Earth. We all catch the crud here and there. And we all trip and fall, spraining this and scraping that.
These ads give the impression that it's horribly abnormal to catch some mild illness or suffer a minor injury. Better yet, they make it sound like they can magically fix you, like they're going to wave a wand, and the germs will suddenly vanish or you'll grow new skin immediately.
All they do is give you Sudafed and/or Tylenol and/or a band-aid, (which you could have bought yourself) and bill your insurance.
What really peeves me is that this enforces a cultural dependency on medical care. Yes, I'm a doctor. Medical care is how I earn a living. And there are certainly MANY conditions where you absolutely, positively, should see a medical professional. And I know sometimes it's hard to know what's what.
But did your Mom send you to the doctor for every little thing? (I know, some Moms did) Probably not. She sent you to bed, gave you some Tylenol, and told the school you were out. Or she gave you Tylenol and sent you to school.
And I'm willing to bet you felt a hell of a lot sicker at some point in college, after toga night at McBarfy's house of cheap beer. And you didn't see a doctor for that, either.
We have a lot of treatments in medicine. But the majority of things you get in your everyday life will get better with or without a doctor.
"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease."
Voltaire wrote that around 250 years ago. And, for the most part, I won't argue with him.


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Biology Forum › Botany Discussion › Amoeba, Paramecium, Diatom
May 8, 2012 at 2:31 pm #16467AyeshaaParticipant
I have to describe the ecology of these three organisms (amoeba, Paramecium, diatom), telling where it is typically found, how it meets its nutritional needs using and explaining the correct terminology…autotrophic, heterotrophic,parasitic,photosynthetic, etc. and what impact it has to environment (including but not exclusive to man) also if it acts as decomposers, producers, consumers etc.
I got some information, but I think I missed out on a lot.
I think Diatoms are found in the oceans, and serve as an important source of food for other organisms. I think they are photosynthetic, they give energy and oxygen production. Amoebas are found in fresh or salt water, damp soil. They are heterotrophic I think feed on other microscopic organisms like algae and ciliates. These are ingested into the cell by pseudopodia or false feet, they surround the prey and trap it in tiny drop of water forming food vacuole. I think Paramecium are found in freshwater ponds, lakes, streams, rivers and puddles. Some can even live in the bodies of animals or in most soil. Paramecium use cilia for movement which are little hair like things, all around the outside of their cell. They reproduce by binary fission, and eat algae, bacteria, other protozoans, dead plant and animal matter, and other tiny animals. I think Paramecium are consumers because it uses its cilia to sweep its food into where it digests food. I think they are heterotrophic.
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Algerian Christians to Appeal Conviction for Worshipping
Church leaders fear verdict could mean the end of the country's Protestant churches.
12/15/2010 Algeria (CDN) — Four Christian men in Algeria will appeal a court decision to hand them suspended prison sentences for worshiping without a permit, saying the verdict could have repercussions for all the country's churches.
The correctional court of Larbaa Nath Irathen, about 27 kilometers (17 miles) from the capital of Tizi Ouzou Province, gave two-month suspended prison sentences to four Christian leaders of a small Protestant church on Sunday (Dec. 12).
The pastor of the church, Mahmoud Yahou, was also charged with hosting a foreigner without official permission. The court gave him a three-month suspended sentence and a fine of 10,000 Algerian dinars (US$130), reported French TV station France 24 on its Web site. The prosecutor had asked for one-year prison sentences for each defendant.
Although the suspended sentences mean the four Christians will not serve prison time, Yahou told Compass that he and the three other men plan to appeal the verdict because the outcome of their case could affect all Protestant churches of the country, none of which have official permission to operate.
"If they close us, they can close all the gatherings and churches that exist in Algeria," Yahou said. "They could all be closed."
In February 2008 the government applied measures to better control non-Muslim groups through Ordinance 06-03, which was established in 2006. Authorities ordered the closure of 26 churches in the Kabylie region, both buildings and house churches, maintaining that they were not registered under the ordinance. No churches have been closed down since then.
Despite efforts to comply with the ordinance, no churches or Christian groups have received governmental approval to operate, and the government has not established administrative means to implement the ordinance, according to the U.S. Department of State's 2010 Report on International Religious Freedom.
Though none of the churches have closed since 2008, their status continues to remain questionable and only valid through registration with the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA). The EPA, however, is also trying to gain official recognition.
"Actually, this law of 2006 has come to light: people are condemned as criminals for the simple act of thinking and believing different," the president of the EPA, Mustapha Krim, told Compass. "If we accept this [verdict], it means we are condemned to close our churches one after the other."
Krim confirmed that based on Ordinance 06-03, none of the churches have actual authorization to operate, nor can Christians speak about their faith to other Algerians.
"If they condemn our four brothers, they need to condemn the others," he said.
In a sign of solidarity towards the men and to demand the abolition of Ordinance 06-03, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse on the first hearing of the case on Sept. 26. Demonstrators carried banners that read: "Places of worship for everyone," "Freedom of religion = freedom of conscience," and "Abolition of the Law of 06-03-2006."
Attending the re-opening of a Catholic church in Algeria's capital on Monday (Dec. 13), Religious Affairs Minister Bouabdellah Ghlamallah told reporters, "Religious freedom in Algeria is a reality," reported Reuters.
The Algerian Constitution gives the right to all citizens to practice their faith, although it declares Islam the state religion and prohibits institutions from behavior incompatible with Islamic morality.
Yahou said the judge did not pass a rightful judgment and thus had no real sense of justice.
"I think he has no conscience," Yahou said. "We can't be persecuted for nothing. He didn't judge on the law and constitution, he judged on Islam. If he had read what is in the constitution, he wouldn't have made this decision."
The small church of Larbaa Nath Irathen, consisting only of a few families, had problems as early as 2008, when a group of Islamic radicals launched a petition against the church without success.
Yahou told Compass that he knew very well the people in the village who brought charges against them, saying that they have tried to intimidate the church for the past few months in an effort to close it down.
"These are Islamists, and I know them in this village," Yahou said.
Tizi Ouzou is part of Kabylie region, an area of Algeria where the country's Protestant church has grown with relative freedom in recent years.
There are around 64 Protestant churches in the Kabylie region, where most Algerian Christians live, as well as numerous house groups, according to church leaders. The Kabylie region is populated by Berbers, an indigenous people of North Africa.
In October a court in the region acquitted two Christian men of eating during Ramadan in spite of a prosecutor's demand that they be punished for "insulting Islam."
In January Muslim neighbors ransacked and set on fire a church in Tizi Ouzou. In September a court in Tizi Ouzou ordered a local church to stop construction on an extension to its building and to tear it down.
Unofficial estimates of the number of Christian and Jewish citizens vary between 12,000 and 50,000, according to the state department's report.


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon avoided suspension Monday when NASCAR instead fined him $100,000 and docked him 25 points for intentionally wrecking Clint Bowyer at Phoenix International Raceway.
Gordon also was placed on probation through Dec. 31. But he'll be allowed to close out the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway despite his actions in Sunday's race, which triggered a fight in the garage area between the two drivers' crews.
"I take responsibility for my actions on the racetrack," Gordon said in a statement. "I accept NASCAR's decision and look forward to ending the season on a high note at Homestead."
The penalty drops Gordon to 11th in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship with one race remaining. He's now four points behind Martin Truex Jr. for 10th, and only the top-10 drivers have formal roles in the season-ending awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
Rick Hendrick also was docked 25 car owner points, and crew chief Alan Gustafson was placed on probation through the end of the year.
"I've always respected Jeff for standing his ground," said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "We also respect that NASCAR needs to police the sport and send a message when situations like this occur. It's been a great year, and we're going to put our focus on finishing in a positive way this weekend."
Gordon intentionally slowed his car and waited for Bowyer on the track Sunday to wreck him on what was scheduled to be the final lap. There had been contact between the two a few laps earlier, and Gordon viewed it as the final straw in an apparently escalating on-track feud with Bowyer.
He said after the incident he was "fed up" with Bowyer, and had to take a stand Sunday and would wait to see how NASCAR responded.
"They've got to do what they've got to do, and I guess I had to do what I had to do," he said.
The accident collected Joey Logano and Aric Almirola, and happened right in front of championship contender Brad Keselowski, who had to weave his way around the carnage.
It also led to the brawl in the garage that began when Gordon appeared to be jumped from behind by a Michael Waltrip Racing team member. Gordon was grabbed by a Hendrick Motorsports crew member and pulled out of the fracas and into his team hauler.
Bowyer, bewildered to find his stall empty when his burning race car came to a stop on pit road, saw the fight on the infield big screen and sprinted over the wall and through the garage to back up his guys. He was held back by NASCAR officials from entering Gordon's hauler.
Bowyer crew chief Brian Pattie was fined $25,000 and placed on probation through the end of the year for failing to maintain control of the crew.
NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton considered the matter closed after issuing the penalties.
"There's no doubt that a unique set of circumstances combined with a championship battle on the line resulted in raw emotions coming into play," he said. "We consider the penalties appropriate and those involved understand our decision and we expect them to abide by them."
And Michael Waltrip Racing apologized for the actions of its crew members, which said they did not live up to the standards it has set for its race team but was sparked because the accident "brought raw emotions of a long and hard championship battle to the surface."
Bowyer could have climbed back into the championship battle on Sunday, but Gordon's actions instead dropped him to fourth in the standings and mathematically eliminated him from title contention.
Meanwhile, Keselowski was fined $25,000 and placed on probation for having an electronic device inside the car — the phone he used to tweet during a red flag period caused by Gordon wrecking Bowyer.
Keselowski first tweeted during a red flag at the season-opening Daytona 500, and he was widely celebrated for his social media usage. He posted his view of the jet fuel fire that stopped the race for over two hours, answered questions and gave updates during the first prime-time Daytona 500 in history.
But NASCAR later told teams they could not have electronic devices in their cars, even though Keselowski has tweeted without penalty from Victory Lane at Bristol and from inside his car during a rain delay at Richmond since Daytona. It had some fans wondering Monday if he was really being penalized for a profanity-laced answer he gave during Sunday's post-race news conference about the race.
Keselowski was upset about what he believed was a double standard from drivers who had been critical a week earlier of how aggressive he had raced Jimmie Johnson on a pair of restarts at Texas. He argued with colorful language that it didn't come close to the Gordon-Bowyer incident on Sunday, or the last-lap crash that occurred because NASCAR failed to throw a caution despite oil on the track.
"It's the double standard that I spent a whole week being bashed by a half-dozen drivers about racing hard at Texas and how I'm out of control and have a death wish," he said. "These guys just tried to kill each other ... they should be ashamed. It's embarrassing."


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When die-hard music fans hear that their favorite performer is canceling a gig, it's a big disappointment—especially if the excuse seems less than earth-shaking. Recently, British pop sensation Dua Lipa needed to drop two dates from her world tour with Bruno Mars. However, she had a very good reason.
"I've been performing with an awful pain due to my wisdom teeth," the singer tweeted, "and as advised by my dentist and oral surgeon I have had to have them imminently removed."
The dental problem Lipa had to deal with, impacted wisdom teeth, is not uncommon in young adults. Also called third molars, wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt (emerge from beneath the gums), generally making their appearance between the ages of 18-24. But their debut can cause trouble: Many times, these teeth develop in a way that makes it impossible for them to erupt without negatively affecting the healthy teeth nearby. In this situation, the teeth are called "impacted."
A number of issues can cause impacted wisdom teeth, including a tooth in an abnormal position, a lack of sufficient space in the jaw, or an obstruction that prevents proper emergence. The most common treatment for impaction is to extract (remove) one or more of the wisdom teeth. This is a routine in-office procedure that may be performed by general dentists or dental specialists.
It's thought that perhaps 7 out of 10 people ages 20-30 have at least one impacted wisdom tooth. Some cause pain and need to be removed right away; however, this is not always the case. If a wisdom tooth is found to be impacted and is likely to result in future problems, it may be best to have it extracted before symptoms appear. Unfortunately, even with x-rays and other diagnostic tests, it isn't always possible to predict exactly when—or if—the tooth will actually begin causing trouble. In some situations, the best option may be to carefully monitor the tooth at regular intervals and wait for a clearer sign of whether extraction is necessary.
So if you're around the age when wisdom teeth are beginning to appear, make sure not to skip your routine dental appointments. That way, you might avoid emergency surgery when you've got other plans—like maybe your own world tour!
If you would like more information about wisdom tooth extraction, please call our office to arrange a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles "Wisdom Teeth" and "Removing Wisdom Teeth."


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Books for people who don't read print?
The Internet Archive is proud to be distributing over 1 million books free in a format called DAISY, designed for those of us who find it challenging to use regular printed media.
There are two types of DAISYs on Open Library: open and protected. Open DAISYs can be read by anyone in the world on many different devices. Protected DAISYs can only be opened using a key issued by the Library of Congress NLS program.
What is the DAISY format?
The DAISY digital format helps people who have challenges using regular printed media. DAISY digital talking books offer the benefits of regular audiobooks, with navigation within the book, to chapters or specific pages.
More information at daisy.org
What is the NLS?
The Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States through a national network of cooperating libraries.
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There was "modest to moderate" economic growth across the nation as the year began, the Federal Reserve says in its latest "beige book" review of conditions around the nation.
According to the central bank, five of its 12 districts "reported that economic growth was moderate in January and early February." Those five: Dallas, New York, Minneapolis, Richmond and St. Louis.
Another five "reported that activity expanded at a modest pace." They are: Atlanta, Cleveland, Kansas City, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
In "Fed speak," moderate growth is better than modest growth.
As for the last two, "the Boston District said the economy continued to expand slowly, and the Chicago District reported that economic activity grew at a slow pace." In Fed speak, "continued to expand slowly" is better than "grew at a slow pace."
The beige book, written eight times a year and named for the traditional color of its cover, is prepared by the Fed's staff for meetings of the bank's policymakers.
The day's other major economic news, as we reported earlier, was a survey showing that private employers added an estimated 198,000 jobs last month. Meanwhile, the stock market is up again today — building on Tuesday's record-high close for the Dow Jones industrial average.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Eyeball Licking: A Dangerous New Trend?
In the summer of 2013, news spread quickly about a dangerous new trend, called "worming" or oculolinctus, and a serious outbreak of disease among Japanese youth. Upon further investigation, many news sources retracted or amended previously published stories, saying the stories of a sudden increase in illness were only a hoax. In popular culture and social media, however, eyeball licking has earned a prominent presence; a quick internet search reveals that – rumor or not – this new fad has in fact caught on in both the east and the west.
The act of eyeball licking is what it sounds like – licking another person's eyeball. While children participate in any number of fads on dares or to fit in, this trend carries a number of serious health risks. By spreading the bacteria from one person's mouth to another's eye, "worming" can result in a number of serious infections and even blindness.
• Pink Eye or Conjunctivitis – Pink eye is highly contagious and common among children. It can be caused by both a viral and bacterial infection of the eye. Symptoms include: itching, redness, inflammation, and watery discharge (viral) or green/yellow discharge (bacterial).
• Herpes – Oculolinctus can easily spread the highly contagious herpes virus from one person's mouth (cold sores) to another's eye. Present in an eye, the herpes virus can lead to scarring of the cornea and eventually blindness.
• Corneal Ulcers – A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the outer layer of the cornea. Fungi, bacterial infections, and parasites normally cause corneal ulcers. The rough surface of a tongue, however, can easily scratch and infect the delicate surface of an eye leading to blurred vision, a bloodshot eye, pain, itching, watery discharge, and a white patch on the cornea. Minor abrasions can be treated with antibiotic drops, but a more serious abrasion might result in the need for a corneal transplant.
Talk to your teens. Find out whether they have heard about "worming," know someone who has tried it, or whether they already have. To stop this dangerous trend from spreading, inform your children about the serious, irreversible risks associated with eyeball licking.
Vaesa, Janelle. "Eyeball Licking: Dangers of Oculolinctus, New Fad Sweeping Japan." Decoded Science. June 2013.
Christian Nordqvist. "Eyeball Licking (oculolinctus) Warning Was a Hoax." Medical News Today, August 2013.
Castillo, Michelle. "Japanese "Eyeball Licking" Trend Carries Blindness Risk." CBS News, 2013.
Mohney, Gillian. "Experts Warn Eyeball Licking Trend Can Injure the Eye, Damage Sight." ABC News, June 2013.
Caught Red Eyed
While we all hope our children know not to try every new fad that comes along, all children make mistakes. It is important to talk openly with your teens about the risks associated with the dangerous trends among the youth. Be observant, paying attention to your child's behavior and appearance. If you notice any sign of a possible eye infection (whether contracted naturally or not) or if you know or suspect that your teen has participated in eye licking, contact your optometrist immediately to schedule an appointment for a full evaluation.


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Shutdown Showdown Intensifies Over Obamacare Delay
The political and economic stakes mounting with each tick of the clock, the White House and congressional Democrats say a House-approved delay in President Barack Obama's health care law does nothing but push Washington to the brink of the first government shutdown in 17 years.
Neither side showed signs of surrender early Sunday after the Republican-led House added a one-year delay in implementing health-care reform to legislation that would avert a shuttering of federal offices on Tuesday. The near party-line vote was 231-192, shifting the focus to the Democratic-run Senate less than 48 hours before government funds run dry.
Democrats said delaying the health care law would sink the bill. They also opposed a second provision the House added by 248-174: A repeal of a tax on many medical devices that helps finance the 2010 health care overhaul.
Republicans said the health care law, often called "Obamacare," was costing jobs and pushing up costs. Americans dislike "this crazy, delusional idea that nationalized, centralized planning will work," said Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C.
Obama has said he won't let the law - his chief domestic achievement - be gutted. Democrats said Republicans were obsessed with attacking the measure, aimed at providing health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans, and the president.
"Your hate for this president is coming before your love of this country," said Rep. David Scott, D-Ga. "Because if you love this country you would not be closing it down."
As prospects for preventing a shutdown dwindled, the White House promised Obama's veto should the bill reach his desk. Yet it seemed unlikely the president would get the chance because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Senate would reject the measure.
The House bill contained new concessions from Republicans who have long criticized the requirements the health care law imposes on insurers.
They said their measure would leave intact most parts of the health care law that have already taken effect, including requiring insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions and to let families' plans cover children up to age 26. An exception: Insurers would be allowed to deny abortion coverage based on religious or moral objections.
But it would delay a requirement for people to purchase coverage or face a penalty, and the creation of marketplaces - which are supposed to start functioning this Tuesday - where people could shop for coverage from private insurers.
Repealing the 2.3 percent medical device tax would boost deficits by roughly $29 billion over the coming decade - even though Republicans won the House majority in 2010 by pledging to tighten the nation's finances.
The shutdown bill brought unity, for the moment, to Republicans who have recently been divided and, at times, openly antagonistic toward each other.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other GOP leaders initially preferred waging the fight over health care on a separate bill for raising the government's debt limit, thus avoiding threatening a shutdown.
But a small cadre of younger Republicans led by Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah whipped up sentiment among fellow conservatives for using the shutdown measure for an all-out assault on the Affordable Care Act.
That drew scorn from many Republicans who saw it as an effort that could never prevail with Obama in the White House and Democratic Senate control, and that might prompt a shutdown for which voters would fault the GOP. Yet many conservatives have not relented.
The House also approved a separate bill paying troops, plus some defense contractors and civilian Pentagon workers, should a shutdown occur. The vote was 423-0.
This program aired on September 29, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.


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