If a hurricane is expected to strike, board them up with plywood or install hurricane shutters.

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Even with the payout, Microsoft has piled up a huge cash position in recent years, and thus could easily finance a large acquisition or, should the mood strike its board, lay another special dividend on shareholders or simply increase its payout.

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Councillor Lorraine Cameron, convener of Renfrewshire's education policy board, said a strike would be "unhelpful" and "disrupt children's education".

BBC: Renfrewshire teachers balloted on 'hours cut'