Readout of Secretary Chuck Hagel's Meeting with People's Republic of China State Council, Yang Jiechi

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout:

 

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met in the Pentagon today with People's Republic of China State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

 

The two leaders discussed the importance of maintaining the positive momentum that has developed in the U.S.-China military-to-military relationship. They also reaffirmed their shared interest in strengthening cooperation on regional and global challenges, and noted the potential for greater cooperation in several areas, to include providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief when crises arise, and containing the spread of Ebola in West Africa.

 

Both sides highlighted the importance of President Obama's trip to Beijing in November and expressed a shared desire that the trip be a success.

 

'WALL THAT HEALS'

10/20/2014 03:01 PM CDT

A mother and child peer at the names inscribed on the traveling "Wall That Heals" in Fort Mill, S.C., Oct. 19, 2014. About 8,000 people visited the memorial, which includes the names of 11 service members from Fort Mill who died from wounds directly received during the Vietnam conflict. The traveling wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

GREETING CHILDREN

10/20/2014 02:24 PM CDT

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Arrington greets children in the village of Kali Musa in eastern Afghanistan, Oct. 13, 2014. Arrington and other soldiers meet with Afghans to build trust between residents and coalition forces. Arrington is a senior scout assigned to the 101st Airborne Division's 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment.

Why are the Holidays So Hazardous to Our Health?

Physician Shares Tips for Giving Your Body What It Needs

 to Fight Illness

It’s a sad statistical fact: The holidays, from Christmas to New Year’s, are a treacherous time when it comes to our health.

“There’s a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues,” says Dr. John Young, a physician specializing in the treatment of chronic illnesses through biochemical, physiological and nutraceutical technologies, and the author of “Beyond Treatment: Discover how to build a cellular foundation to achieve optimal health,”www.YoungHealth.com.

“The incidence of pneumonia cases spikes – in both cold and warm climates. And deaths from natural causes spike. In fact, more people die of natural causes on Christmas Day than any other day of the year!”

While those numbers are well-documented, the cause(s) are not.

“Stress plays a role, particularly if your immune system is weakened,” Dr. Young says. “If you look at how most of us eat from Halloween through New Year’s, it’s easy to see how the immune system takes a beating and otherwise healthy people become more susceptible to illness during the holidays.”

It’s basic biochemistry, he says.

“We eat a lot more refined sugar, for instance, which is a carbohydrate that’s been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins that make up a complete carbohydrate,” he says. “Our bodies can’t use that, so the cells in our digestive organs work overtime, burning up a lot of energy, vitamins and minerals to digest it, and they get nothing back. So, eventually, they grow weak.”

So – can we have a little sugar, and good health, too? Dr. Young says we can.

“The occasional slice of pumpkin pie is fine as long as you’re also feeding your cells with the nutrients they need – the minerals, vitamins, good quality protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids – to stay healthy.”
He offers these tips for staying healthy through the holidays and throughout the year.

•  Get your vitamin D!
Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and one of our best sources for it is sunshine. Unfortunately, many people work indoors all day, so they get little sun exposure. When they do go outside, they wear long sleeves and sunblock to protect against skin cancer. And, of course, in the wintertime, people in cold climes tend to stay inside. As a result, many of us are vitamin D deficient, and should be taking supplements.

“Vitamin D is crucial to many physiological systems, including our immune defenses,” Dr. Young says. “It helps fight bacterial and viral infections, including the flu. It supports our cardiovascular system; optimal vitamin D levels can reduce hypertension, heart attacks and stroke.

“If I feel I’m coming down with a cold, I’ll take 40,000 units of vitamin D at bedtime,” he says. “The next morning, I usually feel like a new person.”

•  Eat your protein – 1 gram for every 2.2 pounds of body weight daily.
In this country, we think a healthy diet means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. We’ve forgotten protein, Dr. Young says.

“Our immune system is made up of proteins – our bones are 40 percent protein,” he says. “We need protein.”

When calculating your protein intake, consider: an egg has about 8 grams, and 8 ounces of fish, chicken, beef or pork have about 30 grams.

Dr. Young does not give any of his patients more than 100 grams of protein a day.

•  Get a good night’s sleep, exercise, and manage your stress.
Yup, some doctors’ orders never change. Rest, exercise and finding effective, healthy ways to cope with stress are simple ways to pamper your cells.

 “One of the many cellular benefits of exercise is that it increases the oxygen in our bloodstream. Every cell in our body requires oxygen, so consider exercise another means of feeding your cells.”

It’s also important to manage stress during the holidays. With unchecked stress, our body releases large amounts of cortisol which, among other things, suppresses the immune system.

“Take time out to meditate, listen to music, or take a walk in the woods,” Dr. Young says. “It feels good – and it’s good for you!”

About John Young, M.D.

Dr. John Young, (www.YoungHealth.com), is a medical doctor with more than 15 years’ experience working in emergency rooms and pediatric burn units. He’s the medical director of Young Foundational Health Center, specializing in treating patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes by addressing the physiological issues and not just the symptoms. He's also medical director of Young Health Products, which incorporate the latest biochemical, physiological and Nobel Prize-winning protocols for optimal cellular nutrition. Dr. Young is the author of “Beyond Treatment.” He takes questions via a call-in conference call every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. Call(760) 569-7676, access code 772967.

Senator Dianne Feinstein Endorses Jeffrey Prang for Assessor

As an overwhelming wave of supporters ranging from business, community and public safety leaders keep moving to endorse Jeff Prang as Los Angeles County's next Assessor, one more prominent local, state and national leader has thrown her considerable influence in the ring.

California's senior Senator, Dianne Feinstein, says Jeff Prang is not only the right person for the vital position of Los Angeles County Assessor, he is the only person for the job.

Senator Feinstein explained her endorsement in this prepared statement: "I'm so pleased to offer my full support for Jeffrey Prang's candidacy for County Assessor. Jeffrey is a hard-working and effective leader. Through his many years of dedicated service to the Los Angeles community, Jeffrey Prang has distinguished himself as a public administrator of the highest caliber. 

"I have utmost confidence that his hard work, integrity and experience will bring to this vital county leadership position the necessary skill-set to reinvigorate the office and make him a great County Assessor. I am thrilled to support Jeffrey Prang for Los Angeles County Assessor."

Senator Feinstein has built a reputation as an independent voice, working with both Democrats and Republicans to find common-sense solutions to the problems facing California and the Nation.

Since her election to the Senate in 1992, Senator Feinstein has helped strengthen the nation's security both here and abroad, combat crime and violence, battle cancer, and protect natural resources in California and across the country. In the 111th Congress, Senator Feinstein assumed the Chairmanship of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where she oversees the nation's 16 intelligence agencies - the first female Senator to hold that position.

Senator Feinstein is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Energy and Water. Senator Feinstein also serves on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which she chaired during the 110th Congress. 

Mr. Prang said leaders like Senator Feinstein is the reason he has served the public as an administrator and elected official for nearly three decades.

"Senator Feinstein has lead the charge for a better California and nation for more than 30 years," Mr. Prang said. "Senator Feinstein's public service is a beacon of light for me, and I am humbled by her endorsement. It inspires me to work even harder than I already am to secure the future of the Los Angeles County Assessor's Office."

Senator Feinstein joins with California's Attorney General Kamala Harris; former Los Angeles District Attorney John Van de Kamp; Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer; the Los Angeles area Chamber of Commerce; Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce; the Culver City Chamber of Commerce; Los Angeles County Business Federation; as well as all three past living Los Angeles County Assessors, Kenneth P. Hahn, Rick Auerbach, and Robert Quon. This is just a small sampling of Mr. Prang's enormous support. To see the full list go to Jeff's website atwww.JeffreyPrang.com.

The slopes of Mount Rainier in Washington are a patchwork of...

The slopes of Mount Rainier in Washington are a patchwork of brilliant fall colors this time of year. Mount Rainier National Park is located southeast of Seattle and has more than 260 miles of maintained trails — making it a perfect place to explore the beauty of our public lands. Photo by National Parks Service.

RADIO IN

10/20/2014 12:31 PM CDT

Marine Sgt. Paul Luna radios for an extraction during a helicopter-raid exercise on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 16, 2014. Luna is a squad leader assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.

Soldiers Leave Senegal for Liberia to Support United Assistance

By Air Force Maj. Dale Greer
Joint Task Force Port Opening Senegal

DAKAR, Senegal, Oct. 20, 2014 - The commander of the 101st Airborne Division and more than 30 of his troops departed from Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport here yesterday en route to Liberia, where they will join hundreds of U.S. service members engaged in the fight against Ebola in West Africa.

A group of 30 U.S. military personnel, including Marines, airmen, and soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, board an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, Oct. 19, 2014. The service members are bound for Monrovia, Liberia, where U.S. troops will construct medical treatment units and train health care workers as part of Operation United Assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development-led, whole-of-government effort to respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Army Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, commanding general of the 101st, will take charge of the Joint Forces Command for Operation United Assistance upon arrival in Liberia, succeeding Army Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams, commander of U.S. Army Africa, in that role.

"Operation United Assistance is a critical mission," Volesky said. "We will coordinate all of the Department of Defense resources in Liberia in support of the United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. government's lead agency in this mission, and the government of Liberia to contain the Ebola virus and, ultimately, save lives."

The Army is sending about 700 soldiers from the 101st as part of the effort, including members of the division headquarters staff, sustainment brigade, combat support hospital and military police battalion, Volesky said. Another 700 troops will be deployed from multiple engineering units to build 17 100-bed medical treatment units and a 25-bed hospital.

Staging base task force

Volesky's flight to Liberia was supported by Joint Task Force Port Opening Senegal, an intermediate staging base that stood up operations here Oct. 5. The joint task force's mission, according to unit commander Air Force Col. David Mounkes, is to funnel humanitarian aid and military support into West Africa in support of Operation United Assistance.

"I couldn't be more proud of the professionalism and unique capability that all the members of our United States Transportation Command JTF-PO team have exhibited in this dynamic and challenging environment," said Mounkes, a Kentucky Air National Guardsman. "JTF-PO Senegal stands ready to continue supporting the international response and humanitarian aid the United States and partner nations are bringing to the effort to alleviate human suffering and contain the spread of Ebola."

The JTF-PO is staffed by more than 70 airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group, based in Louisville. The Kentucky troops are augmented by seven active-duty airmen from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and Joint Base Maguire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

OFFLOADING CARGO

10/20/2014 11:34 AM CDT

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group offload cargo pallets from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, Oct. 18, 2014, to support Operation United Assistance. The airmen, operating a staging base in Dakar to funnel humanitarian aid and military support cargo into affected areas, are working with soldiers from the U.S. Army's 689th Rapid Port Opening Element.

TRANSPORT WHEELS

10/20/2014 11:50 AM CDT

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group remove transport wheels from a mobile airfield operations center at Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, Oct. 17, 2014, to support Operation United Assistance. The airmen are operating a staging base to funnel humanitarian aid and military support equipment into affected areas to respond to the Ebola outbreat in West Africa.

NASA TV Coverage Set for U.S. Cargo Ship’s Departure from International Space Station

NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Reid Wiseman, crew members of International Space Station Expedition 41, will operate the robotic arm to release the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from the station's Harmony module at 9:56 a.m. EDT Saturday, Oct. 25.

Image Credit: 

NASA

After delivering almost 5,000 pounds of supplies and experiments to the International Space Station during a month-long stay, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is set to leave the orbital laboratory on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to detach from the Earth-facing side of the station's Harmony module and unberth through commands sent by robotic ground controllers in mission control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston operating the Canadarm 2 robotic arm. Mission control will maneuver Dragon into place then turn it over to Expedition 41 robotic arm operators Reid Wiseman and Barry Wilmore of NASA for release, which is scheduled for 9:56 a.m. EDT.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of Dragon's departure beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Space station and SpaceX officials delayed Dragon’s departure four days from the originally scheduled date of Oct. 21 because of high sea states in the splashdown and recovery zone west of Baja California.

Dragon is the only space station resupply spacecraft able to return to Earth intact. It will return about 3,276 pounds of cargo, including science samples from human research, biology and biotechnology studies, physical science investigations and education activities sponsored by NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, the nonprofit organization responsible for managing research aboard the U.S. national laboratory portion of the space station.

Dragon will execute three thruster firings to move away from the station to a safe distance for its deorbit burn at 2:43 p.m. The capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean around 3:39 p.m. Neither the deorbit burn nor the splashdown will broadcast on NASA TV.

Dragon launched on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on Sept. 21 on the company’s fourth commercial resupply mission to the station. It arrived at the station Sept. 23.

EBOLA EFFORT

10/20/2014 11:21 AM CDT

A group of 30 U.S. military personnel board a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, Oct. 19, 2014. The personnel flew to Monrovia, Liberia, where U.S. troops will construct medical treatment units and train health care workers to respond the the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as part of Operation United Assistance. The personnel include Marines, airmen and soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division.

Why Most Experts Fear for the Future of Technology Tech Expert & Macroeconomist Explains Moore’s Law & What Needs to Change

Technology moves so fast today that many of us, upon buying a brand new electronic device, may wonder how long it’ll take before the product is old news.

Is it less than a year; a few months; as soon as you pull it out of its packaging?

Throughout most of human history, the same methods and tools of trades were handed down generation after generation. How is it that, these days, cutting-edge technology earns antique status in less than a decade? The shortest answer is found in Moore’s Law, says tech expert and macroeconomist Apek Mulay.

“Moore’s Law, named after Intel co-founder Gordon Moore in 1965, is the observation that, in computing hardware, the size of transistors on a chip shrinks, enabling the number of transistors on a chip to roughly double every two years, thereby increasing their capacity for computation and energy,” says Mulay, author of “Mass Capitalism: A Blueprint for Economic Revival,” (www.ApekMulay.com), which presents solutions to the economic problems threatening the United States and global semiconductor industry.

“Moore’s Law has profound implications both for technology and the national and global economy. As long as it can be sustained, we can continue benefitting from the technological innovations and new consumer electronic goods.”

While Moore’s Law is, on the one hand, a law of physics, many semiconductor industry professionals believe that the economics of manufacturing – specifically, the high costs of investments in shrinking transistor dimensions – will force its premature end. That would be disastrous for the economy – the end of growth for a huge sector, and associated sectors which depend upon it.

Moore’s Law can easily continue for the foreseeable future if the chip manufacturing industry becomes sustainable by having a balanced economy, he says. That will require some major macro-economic reforms.

Mulay offers three remedies:

•  Refuse to accept monopoly capitalism in the global semiconductor industry. In 1968, 256KB worth of memory for a mainframe computer would have cost you $100,000. Today, eight gigabytes of memory costs just $6. However, while the price of the basic technology has plunged steeper and faster than Moore predicted, the cost to consumers of products utilizing that technology is still high. The plunging prices from the progress of Moore's law have mainly benefitted the highest income earners, including investors, due to monopoly capitalism. Government sanctioned monopolies have succeeded in maintaining artificially high prices at the retail level in order to protect their profits and share value.

•  Implement a system of neo-cooperative ownership of companies by their employees. Company decisions should not be controlled by outside investors due to their ownership. Instead, mass ownership and neo-cooperative management by a company’s employees not only benefits them but America’s overall national interests while helping to sustain Moore’s law. Employee owned/operated companies are examples of mass capitalism as opposed to monopoly capitalism, which is driven almost entirely by profit seeking non-employee investors. The manipulation of pricing endemic to monopoly capitalism is contributing to the early demise of Moore’s Law. Another benefit: Firms that are owned and guided by employees would provide better benefits to their workers, freeing the government of this task and reducing its deficits.

•  Reform our political system in order to mitigate the power of special interests. In order to make the necessary economic changes, we’ll have to reform our political democracy. Rather than having special interests and deep pockets dictate federal policy, power must be restored to the electorate. Representatives and senators should poll their constituents on a wide range of issues, from maintaining the military industrial complex to how best to deliver equitable health care. We should also consider decentralizing the Federal Election Commission in favor of putting such power and influence on the local level, thereby focusing democracy on localized issues. A civilian democracy can work successfully on a national level only when it can work at the grassroots level.

About Apek Mulay

Apek Mulay is CEO of Mulay’s Consultancy Services, a senior analyst and macroeconomist in the United States semiconductor industry and author of the new book, “Mass Capitalism: A Blueprint for Economic Revival,” (www.ApekMulay.com). He attended the University of Mumbai in India and later completed his master’s in Electrical engineering at Texas Tech University. Mulay authored the patent “Surface Imaging with Materials Identified by Colors” during his employment at Texas Instruments Inc., and has chaired technical sessions at International Symposium for Testing and Failure Analysis (ISTFA). The U.S. government approved his permanent residency under the category of foreign nationals with extraordinary abilities in science and technologies.

Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq

From a U.S. Central Command News Release

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 20, 2014 - U.S. military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria yesterday and today, U.S. Central Command officials reported.

Separately, officials added, U.S. military forces working in coordination with Iraqi ground forces conducted six airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, six airstrikes near Kobani destroyed ISIL fighting and mortar positions, an ISIL vehicle, and a stray resupply bundle from a U.S. airdrop of Kurdish supplies to prevent these supplies from falling into enemy hands. All other resupply bundles were successfully delivered, officials said.

To conduct these airstrikes, U.S. forces used attack, bomber and fighter aircraft deployed to the Centcom area of operations.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, two airstrikes southeast of Fallujah struck a large ISIL unit and destroyed three ISIL vehicles. Three airstrikes south of the Bayji oil refinery struck a small ISIL unit, destroyed an ISIL building and three ISIL vehicles, and damaged another ISIL building. Another airstrike south of Bayji destroyed four ISIL boats and damaged at least four more.

To conduct these airstrikes, U.S. forces used bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft deployed to the Centcom area of operations. In addition, Centcom officials said, France and the United Kingdom participated in these strikes.

All aircraft involved in the Syria and Iraq airstrikes left the strike areas safely, officials said.

The U.S. strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate ISIL and the threat it poses to Iraq, the region and the wider international community. All airstrike assessments are based on initial reports, officials said.

Face of Defense: Captain Serves Nation Her Family Chose

By Army Maj. Fredrick Williams
1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait, Oct. 20, 2014 - A behavioral health officer serving here with 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, has given more than 10 years of service as an enlisted soldier and as an Army officer.

Army Capt. Susana Guerrero, a behavioral health officer, listens intently as one of her soldiers discusses the day's cases at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Oct. 3, 2014. The El Salvador native immigrated to the United States with her family in 1980 and has served in the military for more than 10 years. U.S. Army photo by Maj. Fredrick Williams  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The desire to serve the country that gave her family a better chance in life was one of the main reasons Capt. Susana Guerrero said she enlisted in the Army.

Guerrero and her family fled El Salvador in 1980 during the Salvadoran civil war and settled in the Washington, D.C., area. Her mother had immigrated to the United States in 1977 and left Guerrero, then 3 months old, with her grandmother until the family could be reunited. Guerrero's grandmother died in 2008.

"My grandmother was the most influential person in my life. She was the matriarch of our family," Guerrero said. "She kept our family together and our values strong, always being there to listen and give life lessons through parables or stories."

A new life, but still no luxuries

Even though her family made it out of El Salvador, Guerrero said, they lived in poverty during her formative years. "We were limited on a lot of things, but we never went hungry," she added. "We did not have the luxury to have name-brand clothes, have our own rooms or have whatever toy we wanted."

As a teenager, Guerrero said, she could not participate in after-school events, go out with friends or do what other kids her age did, because she had to care for her younger siblings. She began working at 15, she said, with every paycheck going to support her family.

"I wanted to be different and break the cycle," Guerrero said. "I realized in order to not fall into the cultural norm and not be another statistic, I had to take a chance and do something different, so I joined the military."

Guerrero completed basic combat training in August 1997 and advanced individual training in February 1998. She served four years as an active-duty logistical specialist.

In 2006, she earned a bachelor's degree in social work while also serving in the Army Reserve. She later earned a master's degree in social work from George Mason University.

In 2012, after gaining field experience and earning her license as a clinical social worker, Guerrero decided to continue her career in the Army, this time as an officer.

A different sense of purpose

"I returned to the military with a different sense of purpose," Guerrero said. "I wanted to serve the country that gave my family and me a better chance in life, and to give back to the military and at the same time continue to grow and benefit from the opportunities it offers."

As one of the only two behavioral health officers here, Guerrero's duties consist of enhancing unit readiness and the emotional and mental well-being of service members through individual counseling or treatment groups. At times, she provides crisis intervention when service members display and express high levels of stress.

"Captain Guerrero is very encouraging, easy-going, and makes you feel welcome to open up and let your emotions free that you may be holding in," said Army Sgt. Sharon Purvis, flight operations battle noncommissioned officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 147th General Support Aviation Battalion, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Giving her children a better life

Guerrero said she has used every one of her experiences to ensure her two children would have a better life than she did growing up.

"My children, Victoria and Victor Jr., are my true motivators and inspiration that contribute to my sense of purpose at work and in life," Guerrero said. "It is because of my children and the future I want for them that I continue to exhibit my level of commitment to the military. I see my accomplishment through them."

Guerrero said she plans to make the Army a lifelong career, to further her education and increase her skills to better serve soldiers.

"I get great satisfaction when my clients express relief and comfort from my counseling sessions," she said. "I feel purpose from knowing that I can make a difference in someone's life, either by listening to them, helping them cope with challenges or just being there for moral support."

U.S. Resupplies Kurdish Forces Fighting ISIL Near Kobani

From a U.S. Central Command News Release

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 20, 2014 - U.S. military forces conducted multiple airdrops near Kobani, Syria, last night to resupply Kurdish forces on the ground defending the city against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists, U.S. Central Command officials reported.

Air Force C-130 aircraft deployed to the Centcom area of responsibility delivered weapons, ammunition and medical supplies that were provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq and intended to enable continued resistance against ISIL's attempts to overtake Kobani, officials said, adding that all aircraft left the airdrop zone safely.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The airdrops were conducted in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to degrade and defeat ISIL and the threat it poses to the region and the wider international community.

To date, Centcom officials said, U.S. forces have conducted more than 135 airstrikes against ISIL in Kobani. Combined with continued resistance to ISIL on the ground, they added, indications are that these strikes have slowed ISIL advances into the city, killed hundreds of the terrorist group's fighters and destroyed or damaged scores of pieces of combat equipment and fighting positions.

Hagel Orders Formation of Expeditionary #Ebola Support Team

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2014 - In response to a request by the Department of Health and Human Services -- and as an added prudent measure to ensure the nation is ready to respond quickly, effectively, and safely in the event of additional Ebola cases in the United States -- Secretary Hagel today ordered his Northern Command Commander, Gen. Chuck Jacoby, to prepare and train a 30-person expeditionary medical support team that could, if required, provide short-notice assistance to civilian medical professionals in the United States.

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby issued a statement saying Gen. Jacoby is now working with the military services to source and to form this joint team. It will consist of 20 critical care nurses, 5 doctors trained in infectious disease, and 5 trainers in infectious disease protocols.

Once formed, team members will be sent to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for up to seven days of specialized training in infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE). That training is expected to start within the next week or so and will be provided by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Upon conclusion of training, team members will remain in a "prepare to deploy" status for 30 days, available to be sent to other CONUS locations as required. They will not be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas and will be called upon domestically only if deemed prudent by our public health professionals.

Identifying, training, and preparing forces in advance of potential requests ensures that we can respond quickly and is analogous to how we prepare DoD personnel in advance of other potential civil support missions, such as hurricane relief and wildland firefighting.

Secretary Hagel is committed to ensuring DoD is prepared to provide appropriate capabilities, as required, to support our government's response to this deadly disease. He is extraordinarily proud of the skill and professionalism of our servicemen and women and of the unique capabilities they bring to this important effort.  As always, their safety and security will remain foremost on his mind. 

Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby

Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby on Department of Defense Support to Department of Health and Human Services

"In response to a request by the Department of Health and Human Services -- and as an added prudent measure to ensure our nation is ready to respond quickly, effectively, and safely in the event of additional Ebola cases in the United States -- Secretary Hagel today ordered his Northern Command Commander, Gen. Chuck Jacoby, to prepare and train a 30-person expeditionary medical support team that could, if required, provide short-notice assistance to civilian medical professionals in the United States.
 

Gen. Jacoby is now working with the military services to source and to form this joint team. The team will consist of 20 critical care nurses, 5 doctors trained in infectious disease, and 5 trainers in infectious disease protocols.
 

Once formed, team members will be sent to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for up to seven days of specialized training in infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE). That training is expected to start within the next week or so and will be provided by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.
 

Upon conclusion of training, team members will remain in a "prepare to deploy" status for 30 days, available to be sent to other CONUS locations as required. They will not be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas and will be called upon domestically only if deemed prudent by our public health professionals.
 

Identifying, training, and preparing forces in advance of potential requests ensures that we can respond quickly and is analogous to how we prepare DoD personnel in advance of other potential civil support missions, such as hurricane relief and wildland firefighting.
 

Secretary Hagel is committed to ensuring DoD is prepared to provide appropriate capabilities, as required, to support our government's response to this deadly disease. He is extraordinarily proud of the skill and professionalism of our servicemen and women and of the unique capabilities they bring to bear in this important effort. As always, their safety and security will remain foremost on his mind."
 

A breathtaking aerial view of the Gates of the Arctic National...

A breathtaking aerial view of theGates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska. This photo was taken by Student Conservation Association intern Devdharm Khalsa, who got to see the park in most spectacular fashion while documenting the work of a National Park archaeology crew this summer. “The sight I saw as we helicoptered into the park was awe-inspiring. Pristine rivers — the surface glittering like thousands of diamonds — flowing hundreds of feet below us, vast mountain valleys, towering peaks and patches of boreal forest dotted the tundra landscape. It was a dream come true for me.”

Survey Monkey – Are there any alternatives?

How many times did you need to send out forms to gather information from collaborators, partners or clients?

• Internal forms
• Confidential documents
• Purchase orders
• Surveys
• Event organization
• Etc..

Yes, in fact, it is a very common need, but until now, without any practical solution.

The most common way to do it, is to build online forms, which are not always an easy task nor very good option for confidential information.

There are several online services like Survey Monkey, where you can build an online form, but there is another possibility:

What about PDF forms?

PDF forms are commonly used in several industries; financial services, insurance agencies, travel agencies, or any company that has to send or receive orders.
But until now, it wasn’t easy to gather all the information in the received forms and to export the data to analyze it.

A recent website launched a freeware software that can perform this task for you: PDF-COLLECTOR®

The PDF-COLLECTOR® is a free software that can be downloaded without register in the website: www.formulario-pdf.com

According to the makers of this software, the PDF-COLLECTOR® is a tool that was lacking in the regular tools of the Adobe Reader®:

“This tool is essential to any business that uses PDF forms. We believe that it should have been distributed for free with the Adobe Reader®. We understand that a designer should have to buy the subscription of the full Acrobat XI PRO® to create fillable PDF forms for their clients. But it makes no sense that the final client cannot have access to the tool that allows to collect and analyze the data in the forms.”

Well, now you can gather all the information in the PDF forms and export the data to excel, where you can analyze all the information received.

Just go ahead and download this rocking freeware software. It’s free and very easy to use, and if you need help to create professional fillable PDF forms,www.formulario-pdf.com can help you converting your PDFs to fillable PDF forms at a very low cost with prices starting at just $1.90 per page.