June is American Humane Association's Adopt-A-Cat Month | Steve ...

June is American Humane Association's Adopt-A-Cat Month

There's no question that Americans love pets. There are more pets than children. Most homes have a pet, including about 40 million homes with at least one cat, adding up to over 86 million pet cats, according to the American Pet Products Association. Also, polls suggest that over 90 percent of pet owners consider their pets members of the family.

Despite all that, estimates are that every minute, approximately four cats are euthanized in U.S. shelters. It's tragic and shameful because the majority of these pets are adoptable.

June is American Humane Association's Adopt-A-Cat Month. It's easy enough to visit a local shelter, and even easier to let your mouse sniff out a new pet at Petfinder.com. There's certainly no shortage of adoptable cats.

There's a "no kill" movement spreading across America, celebrating the notion that far too many pets are needlessly killed in shelters. Of course, I'm on board with that general notion. However, many passionate individuals and organizations espousing this movement are, in my opinion, a tad too fervent -- blaming any shelter which isn't "no kill" for euthanizing animals.

No one I know who works at a shelter wants to euthanize. But if there are, say, five shelters in a community, and three become "no kill," the reality is that the problem only shifts to the remaining two facilities, which then carry the euthanization burden.

There's only one way to solve the problem: Reduce the numbers of pets coming into shelters in the first place.?In many places, this has been achieved for dogs. Some shelters actually have a shortage of what they consider adoptable dogs, so they "import" from other local facilities, other counties, or other states. I don't know of a single shelter complaining about not having enough adoptable cats.

So, how do we impact cat overpopulation? Here are three steps I believe can change the equation:

1. Indoors Only: If "indoors only" really becames the mantra for pet cats, spay/neuter compliance would increase. Confining intact cats indoors, and living with their "idiosyncrasies" can be challenging. One added benefit is that life indoors is safer, and as a consequence cats live longer,healthier lives.

2. Bad Kitty: Kidney disease and cancers kill many cats, but bad behavior is likely the No. 1 cause of death. When family members get frustrated and fed up with a cat eliminating outside the litter box, scratching the sofa, or yowling overnight, the human/animal bond fractures, landing the pet in the local animal shelter. Worse, the "offender" simply gets the heave-ho. Either way, the odds of survival aren't great.

More resources are available than ever before to solve behavior issues, but not all cat owners know that help exists or can afford such help. Increasingly, shelters offer low cost or free behavior counseling. You can locate a cat behavior consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists or American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.?

Encouraging owners to get qualified help before behavior problems become overwhelming is key.

3. Trap, Neuter, Return: TNR programs utilize community volunteers (often in conjunction with non-profits who raise dollars for this purpose or animal shelters) who humanely trap feral cats, have them spay/neutered and vaccinated for rabies before releasing back to their colonies.

Some shelters still use their precious resources (shelter space and employee/volunteer time) attempting to socialize and adopt out feral cats. Instead, I endorse TNR. I argue, overall, that most feral cats are more content living in their colonies, letting shelters focus on other, more adoptable cats.

If you're thinking, "What can I do?" Adopt a cat! If you already have a cat or cats, volunteer at your local shelter.

A great and free resource for all cat owners is called "CATegorical Care: An Owners Guide to America's No. 1 Companion."

?Steve Dale, Tribune Media Services

Filed under: American Humane Association, animal shelters, CATalyst Counci, cats

Tags: adopt a cat month, American Humane Association, American Veterinary Society Animal Behavior, American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, AVSAB, cat adoption, cat behavior, CATegorical Care: An Owner's Guide to America's Number One Companion, IAABC, International Association Animal Behavior Consultants, petfinder.com, Steve Dale archives, TNR, trap neuter return

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Stocks tumble after weak jobs report

Brendan Mcdermid / Reuters

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

By msnbc.com news services

Updated at 11:20 a.m. ET: Stock prices plunged on Wall Street Friday after a report showed job growth in May was the weakest in a year and employers added fewer jobs in the prior two months than previously reported -- another blow to investors worried about global growth.

The Dow Jones industrial average was lately down over 200 points, wiping out all its gains for the year. Other stocks indexes also fell sharply. The VIX index, a measure of investor fear, rose to levels not seen in five months.

The Labor Department?s latest jobs report showed U.S. employers created only 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year, as the nation?s unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April -- the first increase in 11 months.

The government also said the economy created far fewer jobs in the previous two months than first thought, revising numbers down to show 49,000 fewer jobs created.

The market had discounted a mildly negative employment report, said Barton Biggs, a hedge fund manager at Traxis Partners.

?But it hadn?t discounted the kind of numbers we saw this morning,? he told CNBC Friday.

Biggs also warned that the chance of a ?mild double-dip recession? is now about 40 percent.

?I?m not that bearish about the economy and the market, but am I ready to step in in a big way? No,? he said.

The dismal jobs data are likely to stoke fears that the U.S. economy is struggling. It could also weigh on President Barack Obama's re-election hopes and lead the U.S. Federal Reserve to take more steps to prop up the economy.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney called the jobs report ?devastating news? and a sign that President Obama's economic policies have failed.

"Today's weak jobs report is devastating news for American workers and American families," he said in a statement.
He called the May report "a harsh indictment of the President's handling of the economy."

"It is now clear to everyone that President Obama's policies have failed to achieve their goals and that the Obama economy is crushing America's middle class. The president's re-election slogan may be 'forward,' but it seems like we've been moving backward," he said.

The troubles in the euro zone were also a focus for Wall Street, as investors digested the latest economic data from the region.

Unemployment the euro zone was 11 percent in April. The figure was unchanged from March, but still at the highest level since records started in 1995. Spain?s had the highest rate in the region at 24.3 percent.

Treasury yields hit their lowest level in hundreds of years and global stock indexes dropped toward 2012 lows as investors scrambled for lifelines amid worries about Spain's parlous finances and China's growth outlook.

Weighing on the global demand outlook: China's official purchasing managers' index fell to 50.4 in May from April's 13-month high of 53.3.

The German two-year bond yield fell below zero for the first time, meaning investors are paying for the right to hold that debt. Other "safe havens" -- Denmark and Switzerland -- said they were prepared to set negative interest rates to prevent their currencies spiraling.

Oil fell below the psychologically key level of $100 a barrel, striking an eight-month low.

"We've had constant worries about Greece, Spain, the euro, poor data from the U.S., and overnight the Chinese data was not positive," said Tony Machacek, an oil futures broker at Jefferies Bache.

The euro hit its lowest against the dollar in nearly two years while 10- and 30-year German Bund yields hit all-time lows. The dollar index rose to a 21-month high.

Madrid's need to recapitalize its troubled banks and shore up its heavily indebted regions is the latest focus for turbulent markets, though IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde denied late on Thursday that the Fund was preparing financial assistance for Spain.

Spaniards alarmed by the dire state of their banks are squirreling money abroad at the fastest rate since records began, figures showed on Thursday.

Earlier, European stocks fell to their lowest levels this year.

Reuters contributed to this report.

The unemployment rate ticks up to 8.2 percent after the May unemployment report showed US employers added a meager 69,000 jobs for the month. A CNBC panel discusses the data.

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The Importance Of Accurate Financial Accounts For Small Businesses

It is all to easy to fail to give sufficient time and energy to ensuring your small business accounts are in order when you are busy trying to establish your small business.

With not enough hours in the day, a small business owner must prioritise tasks in the best way they can, especially in the early days. Unfortunately other important tasks are usually placed higher in the list of priorities, as many individuals do not recognise the real necessity of maintaining accounts accurately.

Presently, the failure rate for small businesses is unbelievably high. A business can fail when poor financial choices are made, or there is no realistic business plan.

Reliable accounts boost the chance of success.

When properly maintained, your financial records will allow you to easily see your businesses future cash requirements because you will be able to access everything at a glance. Being able to visibly account for all revenue will help you to focus on what you are already doing well and also to be aware of which areas require attention. The financial overview of your business will keep you on par and ahead of the game.

The practical benefits gained through accurate accounts are countless. You could not approach the bank for a loan to develop your business or file your tax returns without these files.

A professional accountancy service is the best solution. There are great accountancy services for small business owners. Accountancy needs to be managed by experts and it a common mistake to try to handle it in house.

You should be able to find a local reputable company. A skilled accountant will boost your business using their experience and knowledge. In most cases an accountant will save you money in several areas. Typically, you will find that an accountant will be able to offer several packages at fixed rates. This type of arrangement provides the best value in the long run and is the most straightforward to budget for.

Employing an accountant lifts a weight from your shoulders and allows you more time to focus on the day to day running of your business.

Are you looking for Accountants in Nailsea Area? Neil Houghton Accounting have over 25 years of experience looking after the accounting needs of a diverse range of businesses and can offer your company a very broad range of accounting services. Looking for Bristol Accountancy Firms?

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Salmonella outbreak tied to chicks; 93 ill

ATLANTA (AP) ? A new salmonella outbreak that sickened nearly 100 people has been traced to mail-order chicks from Ohio, health officials said Thursday.

Since March, 93 cases of salmonella have been reported in 23 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Eighteen people were hospitalized and one death is being investigated to see if it was caused by the infection.

Investigators interviewed dozens of the patients and most said they had touched chicks or ducklings before they got sick. Health officials advise washing your hands after handling live poultry.

The birds were traced to a mail-order hatchery in Mount Healthy, Ohio, north of Cincinnati. The business, Mount Healthy Hatcheries, was tied to a salmonella outbreak last year as well.

State regulators visited the business repeatedly and say it has done what the state asked.

"The place is very clean," said Erica Pitchford, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

It's possible salmonella may have come from other businesses that supply chickens to the hatchery, she said.

A representative of the hatchery could not be reached after business hours Thursday.

The latest outbreak is different from one reported Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. That one involved more than 300 cases of a different salmonella strain over eight years, and was traced to a hatchery in New Mexico.

The ability of officials to identify and trace outbreaks is improving. But there may also be a real increase in salmonella cases from chicks that's driven by the increasing popularity of backyard flocks, said Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC veterinary epidemiologist.

___

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaBabyBirds/

Associated Press

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BRoP: Interview with Jacqueline Seewald ? T.W. Fendley, Author

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TruthSleuthThe Drowning PoolThe Inferno Collection

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It?s my pleasure to introduce this week?s Blog Ring of Power author, Jacqueline Seewald, a friend I met through publisher L&L Dreamspell author?s group. Jacquie has a broad range of writing success, including a story in the TOUCHED BY WONDER anthology that was nominated for a Nebula Award.? A multiple award-winning author, Jacquie has taught creative, expository and technical writing at the university level as well as high school English. She also worked as an academic librarian and an educational media specialist. Eleven of her books of fiction have been published. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications. She enjoys spending time with family and friends when she isn?t writing. In addition, she is a playwright, a landscape artist and loves many types of music.

Be sure to check out the rest of her BRoP interview

  • Part 2 @ Emily ? Friday, June 1
  • Part 3?@ Sandra ? Monday, June 4
  • Part 4?@ Dean ? Tuesday, June 5
  • Part 5 @ Terri- Wednesday, June 6

Jacqueline SeewaldABOUT YOU

BRoP: How long have you been writing?

JS: I?ve been writing since elementary school. I wrote my first short story in fourth grade.

BRoP: When and why did you begin writing?

JS: My mother was a reader who treasured books, and she made walking to the library a great adventure and pleasure for me as a child. She was a great role model. I started reading early and it made me eager to write my own stories.

BRoP: When did you first consider yourself a professional writer?

JS: The first time I actually got paid for a piece of writing made me feel like a professional writer. It was a short mystery story published in England?s The London Mystery Selection. I was thrilled.

BRoP: What books have most influenced your life?

JS: A great many books have influenced my life. I read constantly. I would say my favorite romance novel is still Jane Austen?s Pride and Prejudice. I love Shakespeare as well. Of course, Bible stories were also influential. The story of Ruth remains an all-time favorite of mine.

DeathLegacyBRoP: What genre do you write?

JS: I don?t write in one genre. I enjoy being creative and experimenting with many different types and styles of writing. I write novels, short stories, plays, poetry, and nonfiction. I write for adults, YA and children. I write mystery, romance, horror, science fiction and fantasy. I also write literary stories. Many times I combine several genres.

BRoP: What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?

JS:?My Kim Reynolds novels combine mystery with romance and the paranormal. Kim is a librarian with psychic abilities. She hates these abilities and does her best to repress them, but they just keep coming back to haunt her, as do the spirits of dead people who connect with her. The series begins with THE INFERNO COLLECTION which is available in hardcover and large print in many libraries all over the English speaking world and in all ebook formats from L&L Dreamspell. THE DROWNING POOL is also available in libraries and as an ebook, but also as a paperback from Harlequin Worldwide Mystery. The third novel in the series, THE TRUTH SLEUTH, is available in hardcover as well as large print and will come out as a paperback from Worldwide in 2013 along with THE INFERNO COLLECTION. I intend to continue the series. I feel very connected to the main characters.

BRoP: If you couldn?t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

JS:?I am a retired teacher, have taught English at the university, high school and middle school levels. I enjoyed that very much. Eventually, I became an academic reference librarian at Rutgers and also an educational media specialist. But writing has always been in my blood.

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BRoP: Please let us know where your readers can stalk you:

Website: http://www.lldreamspell.com/JacquelineSeewald.htm
Blog: http://authorexpressions.blogspot.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jacqueline-Seewald/e/B001JP0XOS
Barnes and Noble Online:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/jacqueline-seewald?keyword=jacqueline+seewald...

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AllData 10.51 Domestic / Asian / Europe 3Q2011 - Information base ...

AllData 10.51 Domestic / Asian / Europe 3Q2011 - Information base for car repairs (02.2012)
AllData 10.51 Domestic / Asian / Europe 3Q2011 - Information base for car repairs (02.2012) | 33.8 GB
AllData 10.51 professional workshop service and repair manual, maintenance, wiring diagram, diagnostic, all cars & light trucks 1982-2012. AllData 10.51 Professional, the leading computer-based diagnostic, repair and estimating information system, can help you boost shop performance and build customer loyalty as you efficiently repair more makes and reduce comebacks.

Alldata contains a full description of repair and maintenance for cars of American manufacture, as well as Asian and European vehicle production produced for the American market. Alldata 10.51 will help to repair not only American cars, but it will renovate and European and Asian foreign cars, since many nodes in the cars are identical, despite the assembly for different markets. The program provides detailed information on repair, which describes the features of the device separate mechanisms, norms of various parameters (volumes of refueling capacities, wheel alignment, etc.), the diagnostic and repair equipment and special tools, the description of works on assembly, disassembly, adjustment, repair and diagnostics, information about the location of components and tools, etc.
The program Alldata 10.51, you can not only repair but also to engage in troubleshooting electronic components car. To do this, you have the following information: location of the diagnostic connector, detailed tables decoding fault codes indicating the possible causes, symptoms, and the consistency checks to fix the problem, description of the read blocks of current parameters with an indication of normative values, work with channel adaptation, etc . This version is the portable version and can be run from an external hard drive, unlike the previous version of this Alldata 10.51 added more drives, now the total number of 48 disk.

AllData 10.51
- The most comprehensive information for 1982 to present vehicles, updated quarterly
- OEM images, diagrams and diagnostic flow charts
- Parts and labor information
- Maintenance schedules
- Manufacturer TSBs and Recalls
- Integrated estimating software
- OEM wiring diagrams with connector, ground, power distribution and splice information
- A2Z Component Search - the fastest route available to component information

Automotive repair shops that use the ALLDATA 10.51 system have a clear differentiation from other repair facilities. ALLDATA-equipped shops can provide their customers with the most accurate repair estimates and proof of diagnostic and repair procedures. ALLDATA also includes factory-correct maintenance schedules that itemize additionally needed services. Moreover, ALLDATA helps shops build consumer confidence and loyalty.

AllData 10.51 Contents List:
Show or hide text

Daignosis and Repair
All Diagnostic Trouble Codes(DTC)
Relays and Modules
Sensors and Switches
Maintenance
Engine, Cooling and Exhaust
Powertrain Management
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Traction Control
Starting and Charging
Power and Ground Distribution
Steering and Suspension
Heating and Air Conditioning
Restraint Systems
Accessories and Optional Equipment
Body and Frame
Cruise Control
Instrument Panel, Gauses and Warning Indicators
Lighting and Horns
Windows and Glass
Wiper and Washer Systems

Parts and Labour
Popular Information
Diagnostic Trouble Codes DTC
Technical Service Bulletins
Specifications
Locations
Diagrams
Service Precautions
Technician Safety Information
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Vehicle Identification
Tools and Equipment
System Diagnosis
Five-Step Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Precautions
Troubleshooting Tests
General Troubleshooting
Power Relay Test

AllData 10.51 Models List:
- USA (Domestic 1-10)
- Model's 1960-1981 (Emission 2002)
- Asian (Import 1-18)
- Europe (Import 19-37)
Full list of models available on each disc (total 48 disc's), also look in the archives AllData.10.50_48xDVD_How.to.Install_Run.From.HD_Manual.Info.rar and/or in the txt-file ALLDATA_3Q2011_Full_Complect_DVD_Contain.txt. These files are on each file-exchanger in the section Download.

Install notes:
- Place all ISZ-image files in one folder on your hard drive (eg.: AllData.10.50);
- Before you install, carefully examine the installation instructions! All the detailed instructions found in the archives AllData.10.50_48xDVD_How.to.Install_Run.From.HD_Manual.Info.rar and AllData_10.50_3Q11_Install-Updates-Fixes_Cr4ck.rar.
1. Burn or mount the Image AllData_10.50_3Q11_Install-Updates-Fixes_Cr4ck or AllData.10.50_Install_Disk with your favorite Tool (se bottom **).
2. Start Setup and install.
3. After installation is complete, copy the files from Crack-folder in a folder with a installed program's.
4. Enjoy!
** Alcohol 120, DAEMON Tools or UltraISO - the best Tools for mount or convert and burn ISZ-images
*** The archive Support_Utilities contain more tools, patches and fixes for some crash bugs.

Download:

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Let's Rock! Elmo Review

Hasbro brings together two things that preschoolers love 1) Music and 2) Elmo into Let?s Rock! Elmo.? This toy is one seriously cute and fun interactive toy. My daughter and I have had a lot of fun singing and making music with Let?s Rock! Elmo.? Elmo is always contagious with fun but the Let?s Rock! Elmo brings it to a new level of fun!? He comes with his very own microphone, drums, and tambourine and likes to share these items with his friends. His cute and witty comments are simply adorable, making this toy irresistible.

picture of Let's Rock! Elmo

Let's Rock! Elmo

Your child, ages 18 months ? 4 years old will enjoy making music and singing with Elmo. Elmo sings 6 rockin? songs, several of which your child will probably already know like ?Elmo?s World?, Alphabet Song,? and other rock and roll songs that at least you will know like ?What Elmo Likes About You? and ?It Takes Two?.

Let?s Rock! Elmo Video Review

Let?s Rock! Elmo Review

Let?s Rock! Elmo will have your child giggling and singing with him as he sings, plays instruments and asks your child to join in by singing and playing the instruments with him. My preschooler loves to sing and has had so much fun singing with Elmo. Plus, the songs are too babyish, so even a 4 year old can have fun with this toy while younger toddlers will enjoy the beat too.

picture of Playing with Let's Rock! Elmo

Playing with Let's Rock! Elmo

Let?s Rock! Elmo not only sings but interacts with your child. He?ll ask for your child to give him an instrument, tell your child to play one he isn?t playing with, and even say ?Thank you? for each instrument you give him. He even says cute phrases like ?Is this thing working? Can you hear me?? when you give him the mic. I like that it is easy for little hands to place the mic in Elmo?s right hand, the tambourine in his left hand, and place the base of the drums under his foot. Kids will feel in charge since they can do it themselves. Elizabeth has no problem giving Elmo the instruments and operating the toy.

I really like that if you lose one of the instruments, Elmo will only ask for it 5 times. If you don?t give it to him, he?ll stop asking for it. This is sure to eliminate distress if and when you misplace one of the items for a while. If you find it again, simply reset Elmo.

Let?s Rock! Elmo can even go more interactive with the line of LET?S ROCK! instruments like the Sesame Street Let?s Rock Cookie Monster Keyboard, Elmo Guitar, and Grover Microphone. When your kids play their LET?S ROCK! instruments close to Elmo, and you place your instruments on ?Band Mode?, Elmo will recognize it and ask you to play along with him. We don?t have any of these instruments but just seeing how my daughter enjoys playing with the pretend instruments with Let?s Rock! Elmo makes me see how fun it would be with the real instruments!

This is one seriously cute toy. It would make the perfect gift for kids as young as 18 months through 4 years old.? It is a fun toy for kids as they never know what he is going to say or sing. Plus, every play time is different as they decide what instruments he will play and they will play. I highly recommend this toy for it?s pure entertainment value. I just wish he was around when my kids were a little younger ? or even when I was a kid!

Buy Let?s Rock! Elmo

You can buy Let?s Rock! Elmo at stores nationwide, on the Hasbro website, and on Amazon.com for about $39.99.

This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. Thank you to Hasbro who provided the products for review.

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Rumored 7-inch Google tab hits benchmark site; Android 4.1 hits our servers as well

Undefined, indeed.

The Benchmark result site at Rightware has an interesting entry -- the Google ASUS Nexus 7. Android Police did a little digging and found some more curious info -- the device code name is grouper ?(which is in line with other fishy Nexus codenames), and it's got the JRN51B build of Android 4.1, which is a likely version number for JellyBean (or whatever the next Android version will be called). It falls right in line with rumors we've been hearing about the 7-inch Google tablet, and if it's going to be unveiled in a month at Google I/O it's about time to see it start cropping up on Internet logs and sites.

Speaking of which, Android 4.1 has been pinging Android Central for a little while now, so if this is true it's nice to see a version number for the next release. Let's pretend for a minute that what you see above hasn't been faked. (It's certainly easy enough but the inclusion of some kernel info helps a bit.) Plenty of questions remain. Codenames and numbers are just that. We wanna see what's behind that curtain.

Android 4.1

Source: Rightwave; via Android Police

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Andrew Bacevich: The Golden Age of Special Operations

Globalizing the Global War on Terror

Cross-posted with TomDispatch.com

As he campaigns for reelection, President Obama periodically reminds audiences of his success in terminating the deeply unpopular Iraq War. ?With fingers crossed for luck, he vows to do the same with the equally unpopular war in Afghanistan.? If not exactly a peacemaker, our Nobel Peace Prize-winning president can (with some justification) at least claim credit for being a war-ender.

Yet when it comes to military policy, the Obama administration?s success in shutting down wars conducted in plain sight tells only half the story, and the lesser half at that.? More significant has been this president?s enthusiasm for instigating or expanding secret wars, those conducted out of sight and by commandos.

President Franklin Roosevelt may not have invented the airplane, but during World War II he transformed strategic bombing into one of the principal emblems of the reigning American way of war.? General Dwight D. Eisenhower had nothing to do with the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb.? Yet, as president, Ike?s strategy of Massive Retaliation made nukes the centerpiece of U.S. national security policy.

So, too, with Barack Obama and special operations forces.? The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) with its constituent operating forces -- Green Berets, Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, and the like -- predated his presidency by decades.? Yet it is only on Obama?s watch that these secret warriors have reached the pinnacle of the U.S. military?s prestige hierarchy.

John F. Kennedy famously gave the Green Berets their distinctive headgear.? Obama has endowed the whole special operations ?community? with something less decorative but far more important: privileged status that provides special operators with maximum autonomy while insulating them from the vagaries of politics, budgetary or otherwise.? Congress may yet require the Pentagon to undertake some (very modest) belt-tightening, but one thing?s for sure: no one is going to tell USSOCOM to go on a diet.? What the special ops types want, they will get, with few questions asked -- and virtually none of those few posed in public.

Since 9/11, USSOCOM?s budget has quadrupled. The special operations order of battle has expanded accordingly.? At present, there are an estimated 66,000 uniformed and civilian personnel on the rolls, a doubling in size since 2001 with further growth projected. Yet this expansion had already begun under Obama?s predecessor.? His essential contribution has been to broaden the special ops mandate. ?As one observer put it, the Obama White House let Special Operations Command ?off the leash.?

As a consequence, USSOCOM assets today go more places and undertake more missions while enjoying greater freedom of action than ever before.? After a decade in which Iraq and Afghanistan absorbed the lion?s share of the attention, hitherto neglected swaths of Africa, Asia, and Latin America are receiving greater scrutiny. Already operating in dozens of countries around the world -- as many as 120 by the end of this year -- special operators engage in activities that range from reconnaissance and counterterrorism to humanitarian assistance and ?direct action.? The traditional motto of the Army special forces is ?De Oppresso Liber? (?To Free the Oppressed?).? A more apt slogan for special operations forces as a whole might be ?Coming soon to a Third World country near you!?

The displacement of conventional forces by special operations forces as the preferred U.S. military instrument -- the ?force of choice? according to the head of USSOCOM, Admiral William McRaven -- marks the completion of a decades-long cultural repositioning of the American soldier. ?The G.I., once represented by the likes of cartoonist Bill Mauldin?s iconic Willie and Joe, is no more, his place taken by today?s elite warrior professional.? Mauldin?s creations were heroes, but not superheroes.? The nameless, lionized SEALs who killed Osama bin Laden are flesh-and blood Avengers.? Willie and Joe were "us." ?SEALs are anything but "us." ?They occupy a pedestal well above mere mortals. ?Couch potato America stands in awe of their skill and bravery.

This cultural transformation has important political implications. ?It represents the ultimate manifestation of the abyss now separating the military and society. Nominally bemoaned by some, including former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, this civilian-military gap has only grown over the course of decades and is now widely accepted as the norm.? As one consequence, the American people have forfeited owner?s rights over their army, having less control over the employment of U.S. forces than New Yorkers have over the management of the Knicks or Yankees.

As admiring spectators, we may take at face value the testimony of experts (even if such testimony is seldom disinterested) who assure us that the SEALs, Rangers, Green Berets, etc. are the best of the best, and that they stand ready to deploy at a moment's notice so that Americans can sleep soundly in their beds. ?If the United States is indeed engaged, as Admiral McRaven has said, in "a generational struggle," we will surely want these guys in our corner.

Even so, allowing war in the shadows to become the new American way of war is not without a downside.? Here are three reasons why we should think twice before turning global security over to Admiral McRaven and his associates.

Goodbye accountability. ?Autonomy and accountability exist in inverse proportion to one another.? Indulge the former and kiss the latter goodbye.? In practice, the only thing the public knows about special ops activities is what the national security apparatus chooses to reveal. ?Can you rely on those who speak for that apparatus in Washington to tell the truth?? No more than you can rely on JPMorgan Chase to manage your money prudently.? Granted, out there in the field, most troops will do the right thing most of the time. ?On occasion, however, even members of an elite force will stray off the straight-and-narrow.? (Until just a few weeks ago, most Americans considered White House Secret Service agents part of an elite force.) ?Americans have a strong inclination to trust the military.? Yet as a famous Republican once said: trust but verify. ?There's no verifying things that remain secret.? Unleashing USSOCOM is a recipe for mischief.

Hello imperial presidency. ?From a president?s point of view, one of the appealing things about special forces is that he can send them wherever he wants to do whatever he directs. ?There?s no need to ask permission or to explain.? Employing USSOCOM as your own private military means never having to say you?re sorry.? When President Clinton intervened in Bosnia or Kosovo, when President Bush invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, they at least went on television to clue the rest of us in. ?However perfunctory the consultations may have been, the White House at least talked things over with the leaders on Capitol Hill.? Once in a while, members of Congress even cast votes to indicate approval or disapproval of some military action. ?With special ops, no such notification or consultation is necessary. ?The president and his minions have a free hand.? Building on the precedents set by Obama, stupid and reckless presidents will enjoy this prerogative no less than shrewd and well-intentioned ones.

And then what...? ?As U.S. special ops forces roam the world slaying evildoers, the famous question posed by David Petraeus as the invasion of Iraq began -- "Tell me how this ends" -- rises to the level of Talmudic conundrum. ?There are certainly plenty of evildoers who wish us ill (primarily but not necessarily in the Greater Middle East). ?How many will USSOCOM have to liquidate before the job is done? ?Answering that question becomes all the more difficult given that some of the killing has the effect of adding new recruits to the ranks of the non-well-wishers.

In short, handing war to the special operators severs an already too tenuous link between war and politics; it becomes war for its own sake. ?Remember George W. Bush?s ?Global War on Terror??? Actually, his war was never truly global.? War waged in a special-operations-first world just might become truly global -- and never-ending.? In that case, Admiral McRaven?s "generational struggle" is likely to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Andrew J. Bacevich is professor of history and international relations at Boston University and a TomDispatch regular.? He is editor of the new book The Short American Century, just published by Harvard University Press. To listen to Timothy MacBain's latest Tomcast audio interview in which Bacevich discusses what we don?t know about special operations forces, click here or download it to your iPod here.

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5 Tips for Good Customer Service | Zaplee

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It doesn?t matter how good your product is or how hard you work if you don?t have good customer service. This is particularly true when you are running a small business, like many of Zaplee?s cloud call center customers. No matter how many new customers you bring in, you won?t get repeat customers without great customer service. So here are 5 tips for good customer service to keep your small business on its A game.

Step #1: Always, always, always answer your phone.

If a customer calls and gets nothing but an endless ring, they will hang up and call someone else. No one wants to wait around and keep trying their call again; they?ll just move on to the next business. Of course, if you are running a small business, you may be running a one-man show, and you can?t always be there to answer the phone. Zaplee?s cloud call service makes sure that the phone always gets answered, even when you can?t be there to pick it up yourself.

Step #2: Be a good listener.

Too many businesses have a standard script in place, and they recite the same lines, no matter what the customer has to say. So pay attention to your customers and respond appropriately and personally to their concerns.

Step #3: Go above and beyond the call of duty.

Be helpful to everyone, even if there is no immediate profit in sight for you. If a customer contacts you and you don?t have what they are looking for, tell them who can help them. People remember these acts of kindness, and they will come back to you when they do need your services later on. It always pays off to be kind in the long run.

Step #4: Address complaints.

You can?t always please everyone, but you can certainly try. Listen attentively to the customer?s concerns, be sympathetic, and do whatever you can to correct the situation. This can make all the difference in whether that customer becomes a repeat customer or moves on to another business the next time around.

Step #5: Give your customers more than they are expecting.

Any time you can throw in something extra, whether it?s in the form of additional product or superior service, you are giving your customers something they aren?t getting anywhere else. Going that extra mile will bring customers back to you in the future.

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