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Saturday, October 10, 2009
Rick Santelli on Inflation and the Dollar…
Three Washington State Stories Reflect Underlying Credit Conditions…
The Washington State economy has been relatively better off than some of the hardest hit areas. Our economy tends to lag the rest of the nation by about 18 months. This used to be due to our dependence on Boeing and the fact that the airline aircraft order cycle tends to be out of phase with business cycles due to the lag time. Now, of course, our economy is way more diverse with companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, and other high tech companies as well, many of which now reside in Bellevue, just east of Seattle.
Incidentally, the Bellevue area still looks like a high tech boom town and is Washington State's version of Orange County – you know, modern, clean and nice looking. I just drove the length of I-5 from LA to Seattle and can tell you that I-5 in California does not look as well kept as it did in the past. There are areas where the weeds are growing several feet tall on the shoulders and the freeway is noticeable deteriorating in certain areas, something that I've never seen before on I-5.
At any rate, I have read three articles in the local Puget Sound Business Journal lately that underscore how deteriorating credit conditions are finally impacting Washington State.
The first article states that retail sales have dropped the LARGEST AMOUNT IN HISTORY! In the second quarter of this year, retail sales, as measured by taxable receipts (again, not susceptible to manipulation), fell by a whopping 14% year over year! That's an ACCELERATION from a yoy drop of 12.8% the first quarter, and a 10.8% drop in the quarter prior:
Washington state retail sales drop sets record
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)
In the second quarter of 2009, Washington state taxable retail sales dropped 14 percent compared with the same time a year earlier; a quarterly decline so large that state officials said it set a new record.
Sales fell to $25 billion in the latest April-to-June quarter.
In the first quarter of 2009, sales fell 12.8 percent compared with the first quarter of 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, sales fell 10.8 percent compared with a year earlier. Those two quarterly drops are the second and third-largest declines since the 1974, when the state said reliable records began being kept.
Among the biggest declining industries in the latest quarter, retail sales from construction dropped 26 percent to $4.3 billion and motor vehicle and parts dropped 21 percent to $2.3 billion.
In Seattle, total taxable retail sales fell 13.1 percent to $3.8 billion in the second quarter.
This is the type of revenue hit that all municipalities are facing. Yes, they have the power of taxation, but buyers and holders of municipal bonds need to be paying attention. RISK is rising while at the same time the Federal government is artificially forcing interest rates down. This can and will eventually snap back – as interest rates rise, the price of bonds fall.
Now, please consider the percentage drops in taxable sales and compare them to the statistics being reported in such phony baloney statistics as Goldman's ICSC or the Redbook who's greatest yoy sales decreases are in the 4+% range. Why the discrepancy, and how can retail sales only be down 4% per year when imports are down 30%+ year over year?
Here's the answer… just like the stock market indices, these "indices" are vulnerable to SUBSTITUTION BIAS. If you are measuring same store sales, for example, how does that "index" handle it when one of their store chains goes out of business? Why they are no longer counted, of course! So the index only counts companies that are still around and does not capture those that have gone out of business, just as the DOW Jones Industrials doesn't capture the fact that only one of the original companies in the index, GE, is still in business and that ALL THE REST HAVE FAILED or been bought up by other companies. So, that's why the sales tax data captures what is really happening in the economy and why those other reports are close to worthless.
The next article is related to imports and exports. The Port of Tacoma is one of the largest and busiest in the nation. They had been so busy that they planned on spending $1 BILLION on expanding the terminal! But now that's on hold "until cargo volumes return:"
Port of Tacoma shelves $1B terminal project
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - by Steve Wilhelm
The Port of Tacoma has decided to shelve a $1 billion plan for a massive terminal and waterway development project until cargo volumes return.
The port announced Oct. 1 that it won't build the planned $300 million, 168-acre terminal on the Blair Waterway for NYK Line, which is to start calling at the port in 2012.
The terminal project was just part of a $1 billion port development plan that included building roads, railway connections and a new terminal for Tacoma-based Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc., which operates cargo vessels between Tacoma and Anchorage. All of these steps were necessary to develop the NYK terminal.
Tokyo-based NYK will still come to the port. It will share space with Horizon Line at the existing AP Moeller terminal directly in front of Port of Tacoma headquarters on the Tacoma Tideflats.
"I will be able to see their ships from my desk," said Port of Tacoma spokeswoman Tara Mattina.
Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc., also called TOTE, will stay in its current terminal on the Blair, she said.
The port decision was driven by declining cargo volumes, which are down 15 percent so far this year, coupled with a 20 percent increase in the cost of the larger development plan, Mattina said.
"This is one way to bring NYK without spending that money," she said.
Last year, container volume at the port dropped 3 percent to the equivalent of 1.9 million 20-foot containers. The worsened slide this year could pull volumes down to 1.6 million containers for 2009.
In a statement, Port of Tacoma Executive Director Tim Farrell called the decision "an important step to balance supply and demand," which leaves the port with room for "substantial growth" in the long term.
That's $1 billion less that is not going to ripple through the local economy. Notice they don't do the math for you to express how much container traffic is down this year… well, the .3 million of 1.6 million containers equal an 18.75% drop in container traffic this year, right in the same range that retail sales are down, how 'bout that?!
The third article that caught my attention is related to both housing and the travel industry…
Starwood says it will fill its Seattle excavation
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - by Jeanne Lang Jones
A big hole in the ground at Second Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle, next to Macy's parking garage, should be filled just in time for the holidays.
Connecticut-based Starwood Capital Group Global, which had planned to construct a luxury hotel and condominium tower on the site, mothballed the project when the economy soured. Starwood will start filling the excavation next week, according to a company spokesman. The firm will retain ownership of the property.
Work on the 23-story 1 Hotel & Residences stopped in the fall of 2007 after Starwood Capital failed to obtain construction financing on acceptable terms.
In a press release, Starwood Capital said, "As we wait for capital markets to stabilize sufficiently enough for us to realize our vision of building a world-class hotel and residences at the gateway to Seattle's retail district, we are working in partnership with the city to ensure the property remains clean and presentable over the short-term at this important location."
Starwood said its affiliate, Avstar Seattle LLC, the entity that owns the property, "remains committed to Seattle as an investment opportunity and has a vested interest in seeing downtown Seattle be successful."
Starwood bought out its former partner in the project, Portland developer Paul Brenneke, in June 2008.
Note that it was only the middle of last year that Starwood took on this project and already they are abandoning it and filling in the foundation! Perhaps their "forecasts" were a little optimistic about the strength of the Seattle area?
All three of these stories show the result of a collapsing credit bubble. Consumer spending, port traffic, hotel/travel traffic… all way down. Down so far that the numbers no longer can justify the huge expense. $1 billion on just one port expansion? Last time I checked, a billion was still a lot of money. That money must come from somewhere, and that somewhere for local governments is usually through bond offerings. They don't number out, and that's because the price to build, just like subprime housing, has reached ridiculous heights on the back of cheap credit, the largest credit bubble in the history of mankind. DEFLATION is what's required to bring the math back in line. Stop building ridiculous hotels, stop spending billions on port expansions, consumers stop spending money they don't have and price will fall back in line with EARNINGS. This is the cleansing of misallocation that is CAUSED BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT and their failure to regulate the creation of money.
Of course, if you peruse the Puget Sound Business Journal, you'll find all kinds of articles and opinions by "experts" talking up the strength of the area and putting their naturally positive spin on the situation. The truth is that Washington State is not all that far behind California in relation to it's size.
Here's a local newspaper article from last year showing the massive deficits the State is running:
State's projected budget deficit: $5.1 billion
Last updated November 19, 2008
Figure is nearly $2 billion more than was predicted 2 months ago
By AMY ROLPH
Washington's projected budget deficit has ballooned to $5.1 billion, nearly $2 billion more than predicted just two months ago.
That means when lawmakers convene in January to assemble the next two-year spending plan they'll have to drastically cut state programs or raise taxes, something Gov. Chris Gregoire has said she won't do.
"This will be ugly," said Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, chairman of the House Revenue Committee. "It's much larger than I expected it to be."
Tax revenues are expected to drop $1.9 billion below the state's former projections, meaning a possible doomsday for some programs -- and substantial belt-tightening just about everywhere else.
In September, the state's projected deficit for the 2009-2011 biennium was pinpointed at $3.2 billion. Now, not only has that deficit burgeoned to $4.6 billion, but the state's current budget is also suffering a $500 million shortfall.
The nation's economy has been widely blamed for Washington's growing deficit. As financial markets continue to experience record measures of volatility, consumers aren't spending like they used to -- and that means sales and real estate taxes aren't pouring into state coffers…
Let's see… that's $5.1 billion short of a $30 billion budget, hmmm…. The trusty calculator says that's a 17% shortfall, once again the same exact range as the numbers we're seeing in the articles above – HUGE! That $5.1 billion divided into the state's 6.5 million people means that the one year shortfall equals $785 for every man, woman, and child ($3,140 for my family of four), for just the year 2008 and just for the state's shortfall, not the local town and not the Federal Government, just the State.
And Washington State is certainly NOT alone. The following study was published just last week from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. It lists the current and forecast shortfalls for all the states including the years 2010 and 2011. Keep in mind as you see the horrific numbers in this report that those projections are forecasts which are proving to be wildly optimistic in their assumptions.
For the year 2010, 48 states are projected to run deficits and their income will fall short of their expenditures by a whopping 24% of their budgets, or more than $168 Billion, $350 Billion for 2009/2010 combined! Please spend some time looking at the table for your state, especially if you live in California…
Paul Simon – Slip Sliding Away:
California Budget = Giant Sink Hole…
California has a gapping hole – their government is much too big and it is sucking the life blood out of the California economy. The budget situation is so bad that they have resorted to issuing I.O.U.'s and using accounting tricks in an attempt to do anything but the right thing which is to shrink the size of government.
Even after all their latest tricks, their latest attempts at establishing a sustainable budget are simply falling way short. It's simple… you must spend less than you take in. That is true for your personal budget, it's true for a business's budget, and it's true for all government budgets despite what idiot Keynesian twisting politicians think or say.
California Budget Is Already in the Red 10 Weeks After Passage
By William Selway and Michael B. Marois
Oct. 10 (Bloomberg) -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will know within a month whether a $1.1 billion drop in revenue collections is part of a growing budget shortfall or an isolated event, his budget spokesman said.
Revenue in the three months ended Sept. 30 was 5.3 percent less than assumed in the $85 billion annual budget, state controller John Chiang reported yesterday. Income tax receipts led the gap, as unemployment reached 12.2 percent in August.
"The culprit here appears to be estimated quarterly personal income tax statements," H.D. Palmer, the governor's budget spokesman, said yesterday. "The numbers are cause for concern, but the issue now for us is to determine if this is a one-time event or whether it has more long-term implications."
The latest figures show that California is facing resurgent fiscal strains brought on by the U.S. recession. Since February, Schwarzenegger and lawmakers have cut $32 billion from spending, raised taxes by $12.5 billion and covered $6 billion more with accounting gimmicks and borrowing. Even with those actions, state budget officials predict an additional $38 billion in deficits in the next three fiscal years combined, including $7.4 billion in the year starting July 1.
Schwarzenegger must present a budget for the coming fiscal year in January. The state's Franchise Tax Board will deliver new data to the governor in November.
Debt Sales
The budget news comes as the most populous U.S. state prepares to sell as much as $15 billion of bonds in the next nine months to refinance debt and fund public-works projects, and as a surge in fixed-rate municipal issuance sent benchmark rates up by the most in almost four months.
California, already the largest borrower in the municipal market, may offer $4 billion of debt during the week of Oct. 26 to refinance the bonds used by Schwarzenegger to cover previous budget deficits. The budget enacted in July would allow the sale of as much as $11 billion more of general obligation bonds through the June 30 end of the fiscal year if financial markets allow, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer said. The exact sale amount hasn't been decided.
"If the market is inhospitable, we won't go," Lockyer said in an interview yesterday. "We'll just have to wait and see how the feelings are when we get ready to think about it again."
Additional bond sales by California would follow an offering of $4.1 billion of general obligation bonds this week.
Scaled-Back Offering
The state was forced to scale back the size of the deal by almost $400 million as benchmark yields surged. The yields climbed after gains in the tax-exempt market last week pushed them to a 42-year low.
California's sale follows a two-month rally in municipal bond prices, fueled by a record flow of money into mutual funds that outweighed lingering fiscal strains on localities, said Craig Elder at Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co.
U.S. Treasuries also fell, sending two-year notes toward their first weekly loss since the period ended Sept. 18. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank is ready to tighten monetary policy once the outlook for the economy improves.
California, a state that's been among the hardest hit by the recession, had already issued $22 billion of debt since March, including $8.8 billion of notes that provided the state with an advance on taxes collected next year.
Even after increasing what it would pay, California still borrowed more cheaply than during previous offerings. A taxable California bond maturing in 2039 yielded 7.23 percent this week, down from a yield of 7.43 percent during a sale in April.
"Everybody thinks there's still an appetite for California bonds," Lockyer said. "There's certainly a continuing need for long-term investments in schools, high-speed rail, stem-cell research centers and so on."
There is a limit to how much debt a government can "sell." California is bumping up against that limit now (California Bond Issuance = FAIL ).
Interest rates begin to rise as "investors" begin to see the risk involved. If the risk becomes too high, they will simply stop showing up altogether and then the only solution left will be to either do the right thing and shrink the size of government, or to do the worst thing and that's fall back on the lender of last resort, the Federal Government who is in worse shape than the State of California, the only difference being their ability to print money and to thus rob the American people of their productive efforts.
Printing money is not our government's latest trick, it's a time honored tradition that has brought down many governments throughout history…
Dire Straights – Your Latest Trick:
How the Depression of 1920 Was Conquered…
…an excellent video from Tom Woods, the author of Meltdown, explaining the depression of 1920 and how the federal government's hands off approach led to a quick rebound. A must watch, with some explanation of the Austrian school of economics.
I agree with Joe, a great presentation by a very good speaker – well worth the time to watch. I will note, however, that I do not necessarily agree with the Misses Institute that a return to "hard money" (the gold standard) is necessary or appropriate.
October 10, 2009 9:37 AM by Thomas E. Woods (49 minutes):
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Most Overvalued Market in History…
First, let's note that although M2 rose in the past week, in terms of raw money, total M2 and the larger measurement, MZM, are both pointing down at this time, no longer up:
Last week I showed that the velocity of money is at historic lows and this week I want to again show the chart of the Monetary Base Velocity Growth… as the Fed pours money into the system, the velocity of that money has crashed:
Total Loans and Leases at Commercial Banks as well as Commercial and Industrial Loans are in NEGATIVE territory. This is what the Fed is attempting to fight by forcing more money into the system. The reason the money pumping doesn't go anywhere is that the entire financial system is saturated with debt.
Those who underestimate the importance of consumer credit are destined to repeat the same mistakes as those who believed that subprime would not infect the rest of the economy – that's because it was a SYMPTOM of a much larger debt and corruption/fraud problem. Note the drop in Consumer Credit, it is accelerating downward. Meanwhile NONFINANCIAL Commercial Paper is collapsing at a MINUS 40% YOY RATE!!
Now, let's talk about market valuations – Price/Earnings. This is a very basic and simple ratio – simply put the PRICE of the stock overtop the Earnings to develop a simple ratio. When you do that for the entire S&P 500, you come up with the most overvalued market in history:
Note the date of that chart, it is current as of this week. Still near 140, the P/E has turned down slightly from the high last month. There are two ways to get this ratio down… one is for the PRICE of stocks to go down, and the other is for earnings to go up. The bulls are arguing that earnings are going to go up while the bears are arguing that the price is going to come down. Reality will almost always be found in the middle, but it will most certainly not be found here at a P/E of 140!
David Rosenberg, now at Gluskin & Scheff, just published an outstanding article describing the different price to earnings ratios and the arguments presented by both the bulls and the bears. Anyway you want to measure it, whether it be by looking at hopeful mark-to-fantasy future earnings or by looking at current or trailing earnings, this market is overvalued!
I'd like to point out something Rosie didn't… namely that what earnings we currently show ARE FALSE EARNINGS made primarily on the back of the financial industry and their MARK-TO-FANTASY, Congressionally supported, Corporate money financed, Enron like, TOXIC WASTE, bonus generating, FALSE PROFITS.
Hey, you can believe whatever you want and invest your money wherever you please. You can take to the bank, however, that the market WILL return to historical ratios.
When does that correction finally begin? Here's a clue… LQD, the iShares Investment Grade Corporate Bond Fund, has been growing non-stop since the equity market bottomed back in March on a perfect rising trendline. That trendline just broke to the downside meaning higher interest rates.
As interest rates rise, the PRICE of bonds fall. This fund grew from $65 in 2002 to over $106 at its peak last week. The Fed has set the Federal Funds rate at zero and has flooded the market with liquidity and quantitative easing to artificially hold rates down. Now Australia and a few other wise countries are beginning to raise rates yet we're trying to hold fast, after all we need to keep the appearance of a healthy economy up, don't we? Well, rates will not remain below historic norms forever, that broken trendline is a clue, it is talking to you, are you listening?
I'm going to grant you that in the past rising rates have meant that money is flowing out of the bond market and into equities. What is different about now from the past? DEBT, that's what.
As rates rise with debt saturation, the cost to carry that debt skyrockets. It's what Bernanke is fighting and it's a battle that will eventually be lost, there's no way around it, to include devaluing our money.
Ignore historic ratios and broken trendlines at your peril.
The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go:
Morning Update/ Market Thread 10/9
Equity futures are down slightly mainly on a higher dollar:
The dollar jumped on Bernanke's comments that as the economy picks up he'll have to raise interest rates. No kidding? Who could have thunk it? Of course the whiff of higher rates sent the dollar higher… why did he make those comments now? Because the dollar was breaking key support and he has to give lip service to our "strong dollar policy" while at the same time destroying it in actual practice. These type of things always happen when the sentiment gets leaning too strong in one direction. I read that the bearishness on the dollar has never been higher, something like 97% of analysts are bearish on the dollar and that is a sure recipe for the dollar to increase. Oil, gold, and bonds are all down as a result.
Analysts are expecting inflation too, and while I think they get it in the long run, they won't in the short run.
The international trade figures for August were released this morning. They show a contraction in the deficit, one of the true good benefits of the current recession. Imports are still falling showing weak demand inside the U.S., but exports are picking up just slightly but still down huge year over year:
The U.S. international trade deficit shrank in August on both lower oil and consumer goods imports, reflecting a still sluggish economy. Exports, however, did edge rise, largely on industrial supplies, services, and auto shipments to Canada. The overall U.S. trade gap unexpectedly narrowed to $30.7 billion from a revised $31.9 billion shortfall in July. The August deficit was much smaller than the market forecast for a $33.0 billion differential. In the latest month, exports improved by 0.2 percent while imports declined 0.6 percent. The shrinking of the trade deficit was due to a narrower petroleum shortfall which came in at $16.5 billion compared to $17.8 billion the previous month. The nonpetroleum gap expanded to $24.3 billion from $23.6 billion in July.
The improvement in the trade deficit was due to both a rise in exports and a dip in imports. While exports were up 0.2 percent, there were divergent trends in components. Goods exports actually declined 1.6 percent but would have been up were it not for a sharp decline in civilian aircraft exports. Nonetheless, exports of industrial supplies and autos were up significantly. Also, services exports were up on the "other transportation" component which includes items such as business, professional, and technical services, insurance services, and financial services.
Imports fell on lower imports of crude oil and consumer goods. The narrowing in the petroleum deficit was due to fewer barrels brought in as the price of imported oil rose to $64.75 per barrel from $62.48 in July.
Year-on-year, overall exports rose to minus 20.7 percent from minus 22.2 percent in July while imports improved to down 28.6 percent from minus 30.3 percent the prior month.
Overall, the August trade data show modest improvement in real terms and will add slightly to third quarter growth. The dollar should firm on the numbers and equities should like the export gain.
Before this crisis began we were running deficits in the $60 billion a month range, now they have been cut in half. That's exactly what the invisible hand is supposed to do, and it's not done yet despite the government fighting it.
The 60 minute stochastic is overbought and in need of a correction. Note that prices yesterday could not stay over the 1,070 level but they did close above the 1,061 pivot. The next higher pivot is 1,090 and the next lower support is now 1,041.
The Nobel committee has finally lost it completely by awarding Obama the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts at international peace. This for a person who swore that the first thing he would do is exit the U.S. from two wars and who instead has done nothing but increase troop numbers overseas and increased spending on the military industrial complex that was already insanely out of control. The Nobel committee, of course, had already lost it when they awarded Krugman the prize for his "work" in economics. Mass psychosis is all I can say.
Just wait until it's time to rock the Casbah…
The Clash - Rock the Casbah:
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Ron Paul on the Daily Show...
|The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
|Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
|Ron Paul
California Bond Issuance = FAIL
California ups yield in bond sale to draw demandAs investors look at the destruction of our own currency by our own government, they realize that 4.63% just isn't going to cut it over the next 20 years, especially for a state in such dire straits as California. With the Fed artificially holding rates at zero, there is but one way left for interest rates to move.
By Deborah Levine
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- California had to raise the yield on Thursday offered to investors to entice enough people to buy its tax-exempt and taxable bonds, an originally intended $4.5 billion sale that analysts had expected to go smoothly. Bond traders said the state offered 20-year tax-exempt debt on Thursday at 5%, up from 4.63% on Tuesday. After two days of orders from retail buyers, the state treasurer's office said it took orders from retail buyers for 33% of the tax-exempt portion and 31% of the taxable debt, less than half the demand seen at the state's short-term note sale last month. On Thursday, the amount of tax-exempt debt remained at $1.3 billion, while the state told investors that $2.9 billion in taxable debt would be sold.
Of course California is not as privileged as the Fed and Treasury who work in concert with the Primary Dealers to backstop their debt issuance with phony bids and money from nothing. This same situation will catch up the Federal Government, it's just a matter of time.
Those holding municipal and State bonds had better be paying attention. When rates rise, the PRICE of bonds fall. To obtain PRICE appreciation, one should buy bonds when rates are high and sell when rates are low.
Many of you are probably wondering why stocks would be up strongly on a day with an event like this. Well, think about the flow of capital… higher interest rates drives money from bonds and if the dollar is going to be devalued, then owning equities makes more sense. Be careful, though, as timing is everything and once everyone believes that to be true the exact opposite will happen in the short term and that's why it usually takes longer for the obvious to play out.
Once a debt saturated society has pulled ALL of their future income into the here and now, they is no more income to support even more debt. Thus investors demand higher interest rates. That equals FAIL in the bond world. EPIC FAIL is the next step, that's when there are no bidders at any price! Hey, money's for nothing get your chicks for free!
Dire Straits
Morning Update/ Market Thread 10/8
Equity futures are substantially higher this morning following earnings from Alcoa yesterday:
The dollar dropped dramatically, testing the 76 level and even sending a probe down to 75.68. If the 76 level breaks, the next support isn't until the 72ish range, a large move that could happen fairly quickly. Gold is higher, touching $1,060 overnight, and oil is hovering around the $70 a barrel range, but dropping just prior to the open.
Alcoa's earnings were an improvement quarter over quarter (down 30% yoy), but there's a caution point here in that their increased revenues came solely due to higher prices for aluminum and it looks as though their total throughput of aluminum was actually down substantially. That may indicate weaker demand than the price is reflecting and, of course, most analysts did not pick up on it.
Weekly initial unemployment claims fell to a much cheered level of "only" 521,000, the lowest level in 9 months and yet still a total disaster. Here's the spin, long live the king:
Fewer workers are filing for unemployment claims in what is encouraging news for the economic outlook. Initial claims fell significantly in the Oct. 3 week, down 33,000 to a 521,000 level that is much better than expectations (prior week revised 3,000 higher to 554,000). The four-week average is at 539,750, down 9,000 in the week. Continuing claims also fell, down 72,000 in data for the Sept. 26 week to 6.040 million. The unemployment rate for insured workers, as high as 5.2 percent in June, slipped another tenth in the week to 4.5 percent. Levels in this report are at their lowest since the first quarter. Initial reaction was very limited, perhaps because improvement in this report during September didn't pan out to improvement for the monthly employment report.
Meanwhile Congress is wrestling with extending benefits a whole 4 weeks as a record number of unemployed fall off the backside of benefits and are simply no longer counted. It always hurts to remember that the U.S. now employs fewer people in manufacturing than we did prior to WWII.
And speaking of wars, the "war" in Afghanistan now has gone on for more than 8 years, TWICE AS LONG as WWII! I'll never forget listening to Obama give a speech in Seattle, pre-election, where he was talking about ending the wars being his first priority. Once elected, however, his first priority became funneling more money to the central banks to "get credit flowing again!"
From a technical perspective, it would appear that we completed the first 4 subwaves of wave 1 up of 5 up of c up of B up yesterday. The overnight ramp may have been wave 5 up (or it may finish up today), so I expect wave 2 down to begin soon and it should be followed by another strong push higher for wave 3 up.
There was a very small movement on the McClelland Oscillator yesterday meaning that a large move is coming either today or tomorrow. With prices overnight clearing the 1,061 pivot, it becomes support with 1,041 being the next level of support and now 1,090 is overhead. Should 1,080 be breached, then the fifth wave will have made another high taking the failed fifth wave scenario off the table.
Consumer credit came in at minus $12 billion for the month of September. Here is the updated TOTAL consumer credit chart clearly showing that consumer credit is shrinking:
All those credit dollars... simply dust in the wind, lol!
Kansas – Dust in the Wind:
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The New Yorker Piece on Martin Armstrong – "The Secret Cycle…"
Martin Armstrong – Conspiracy Theories Cloaking Reality…
The bottom line from my perspective is who and when do reasonable men step in to place limits on their activities?
Martin Armstrong – A Three Year Old With a Pocket Calculator can Figure Out We are Screwed!
Don't miss what he's saying on the last page… interest rates are destined to rise, that is true.
Martin Armstrong – Deflation or Inflation, Which is More Likely?
Is that not happening today? Latvia is just making headlines as I type?
While I completely agree that our dollar is destined to the dustbin of history, its demise is a matter of timing. I am going to once again point to the shadow banking system and the current unwinding of debt and leverage. That unwinding is NOT over and government efforts have NOT completely stopped the collapse of credit. Like Jim Sinclair, Martin will eventually be right on this call, I just don't believe that time is now. Still, an interesting read, his history perspective is always educational.
Economic Potpourri – by the charts…
Return on average equity for banks with assets from $1B to $15B... these are middle sized banks, both the larger and smaller banks charts show the same type of picture. So, where are the real bank profits? The only profits they are actually making is on paper, the result of mark to fantasy accounting because the FASB caved into pressure from Congress who in-turn caved into pressure from the central bankers:
Total net loan charge offs… this is for all loans. Still no greenshoots here, the banks have been reticent to write off bad loans. They are still holding inventory in hopes of price recovery that will never happen and thus the end of charge offs is nowhere near complete as the trajectory of this chart clearly shows:
Of course, the number of loans not performing is skyrocketing and is NOT letting up:
Revolving credit (primarily credit cards) is down significantly in terms of raw dollars… total consumer credit comes out this afternoon:
I've gone over what ALLL is before… it's the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses. The higher the allowance the better, low is bad… and right now the allowance for losses has never been smaller! This chart is for banks over $20 billion, ALLL is in the gutter meaning that banks do not have the cushion normally required. No surprise, then, that banks are failing. Where are the regulators and what are they doing? Good question:
Federal Government receipts are down… big time. This is the nation's INCOME from all sources:
And yet to compensate what does our government do? Well, they believe that economic rules and math does not apply to them or the central banks, it only applies to us sheeple who eventually get taxed or robbed via the crashing value of our money. So, as our income is plummeting, our expenses are skyrocketing thanks to Economic Mass Psychosis:
Of course with income down and expenses up, what does that do to our government's savings? Oh yeah, that's what happens…
I like looking at import and export figures as a sign of economic activity as the numbers are not YET susceptible to massaging and manipulation unless you look at anything labeled "REAL." Real means that it has been adjusted for inflation… what kind of inflation? The trumped up government kind, and those numbers are thus not reliable to reflect reality.
Let's start with imports… are they looking any better? How about a 30% crash in yoy percent change? Greenshoots, really?
And just to throw in the "real" dollar figure for exports (in "chained" dollars, of course), you will see yet another parabolic curve and subsequent collapse as math and nature dictate that all exponential math collapses in the real world:
And Exports? Below is a chart of exports in raw billions of dollars. Note the classic parabolic shaped curve and subsequent collapse. Is it over?
Here is the same chart expressed in yoy % change. Down more than 20% with still no recovery whatsoever:
Still, note that exports have not fallen as much as imports. That means that our country's demand is falling more than demand in the rest of the world. It also means that our negative balance of trade is coming in somewhat.
Oversupplied and overpriced, the housing correction continues but is migrating now to the more expensive homes financed primarily with option ARM loans. Those resets are in the pipeline and we are beginning to see them pick up already. Meanwhile, before a house can be built it must receive a permit. Permits have fallen to levels not seen in modern history and that's a good thing as adding inventory to an oversupplied situation is not appropriate:
Housing starts are likewise still at historic lows:
The real question to ask in regards to housing is, "Do incomes support current rents?" This ratio is still out of whack, but is getting close in some areas. The problem I have with all of it is that I include the caveat, WITH NORMAL and CONVENTIONAL FINANCING. Can your income support a new house WITH NORMAL AND CONVENTIONAL FINANCING? Is financing normal when the Fed has interest rates artificially set at zero? What happens to affordability and thus prices when interest rates normalize?
Joe made a terrific chart showing cumulative job losses since the end of '07. The blue line represents jobs lost per month and the red line is cumulative. Nearly 8 million jobs lost in less than two years. This pulls massive amounts of personal income out of the economy and also pulls massive tax revenues out as well:
The civilian employment population ratio continues to erode and is on a slope pointing due south:
The number of hours worked in manufacturing continues to plummet:
The consumer represents about 70% of the economy, so how are we looking? Personal income is decreasing at nearly a 3% rate:
With unemployment rising and wages down overall, the total amount paid out in compensation is FALLING:
This is reflected in income receipts:
And it's also reflected in personal consumption spending:
Consumption of both Durable and Nondurable Goods is falling:
Ironically, despite falling overall incomes, personal savings are rising. This is somewhat misleading as consumers who pay off debt are counted as "saving." We don't know, for sure, how much is debt repayment and how much is actual savings.
Here's one clue, however, to the savings puzzle. While "savings" as reported above are climbing, unemployment is skyrocketing. How do unemployed people save? They don't. And that's why total GROSS savings are falling despite the increased savings rate. That might help to tell us that most, if not all, of the increased savings rate is actually debt repayment:
With the stock market rising non-stop since March, surely investors are pricing in increased earning to justify the current 150+ price to earnings ratio, right? We're about to find out, but earnings to be in historic norms will have to increase a mathematically impossible amount, so don't look for that P/E ratio to return to historic ranges anytime soon UNLESS the PRICE corrects… hmmm.
Corporate profits have enjoyed the boom times of money creation growing at an exponential rate, resulting in a parabolic mark-derivatives-to-fantasy blow off top and subsequent collapse. Then, to kick off this rally, FASB changed the much more realistic mark-to-market rules back to mark-to-fantasy, and wallah, the financials are back to "profits." Those profits are not real and they will NEVER be recognized in reality. Meantime, people like Bank of America's CEO, Ken Lewis, walks off with more than $40 million in personal ill-gotten gains at the expense of Americans who rightly own the central banking function from which he manipulated and stole.
One reason to own stocks is to share in the profits of the company. Those profits are paid out in the form of dividends. Dividends, however, have plunged to follow alongside of plunging profits and are down 20% year over year!
Corporate profits are down, and so too is proprietor's income:
Sales are down as indicated by final sales of domestic products:
And sales to DOMESTIC purchasers is down even more, once again showing that demand from within the U.S. is down more than demand in the rest of the world:
Of course inventories have been plummeting to correct for weak sales. Many believe that inventories were adjusted too far downwards and that rebuilding those inventories will lead to an increase in manufacturing. And, in fact, the manufacturing ISM just recently turned positive for the first time since this crisis began. Does that mean that it's going to stay positive? We'll have to watch inventories in conjunction with manufacturing and imports/exports, no sign yet of an inventory recovery:
Those are all recently revised charts that caught my attention, there are literally thousands at the St. Louis Fed's website. It's very difficult to put together an argument that the ECONOMY is recovering from my perspective. It's also difficult to put together an inflation argument except for the money aggregates. Money aggregates do not capture what is happening to the shadow banking world of derivatives and leverage. It's still my contention that deflation is occurring now despite the best efforts of governments to continue never-ending fantasy growth via inflation. The only thing they will be successful at in their efforts is to devalue the dollar and to destroy confidence in our entire monetary system and system of governance that has truly become a system of the corporation for the corporation.
The stock market IS NOT an indicator of anything other than the big players manipulations in the current condition. Those who claim economic recovery are looking at the markets and not at the real economy. The real economy will eventually catch up to the purveyors of paper engineering, and when it does…
The Animals – Boom, Boom:


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Will Rand vote for gun control again this time?
It is unfortunate that this is even a question, but he has voted for it twice in the past
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subset: commoncrawl


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Tips for Your Middle School or Junior High School Child
The year your child enters middle school or junior high school is both an exciting and a challenging time. They are little fish in a big pond and often want desperately to fit in. Because your children may now see older students using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and may think they are cool and self-assured, your children may be tempted to try drugs too. Drug use goes up dramatically in the first year of middle school or junior high.
To help your children make good choices during this critical phase, you should:
- Make sure they are well-versed in the reasons to avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs;
- Get to know their friends by taking them to and from after-school activities, games, the library and movies (while being sensitive to their need to feel independent);
- Volunteer for activities where you can observe your child at school; and
- Get acquainted with the parents of your children's friends and learn about their children's interests and habits. If it seems that your child is attracted to those with bad habits, reiterate why drug use is unacceptable.
To make sure that your child's life is structured in such a way that drugs have no place in it, you should:
If possible, arrange to have your children looked after and engaged in the after-school hours if you cannot be with them. Encourage them to get involved with reputable youth groups, arts, music, sports, community service and academic clubs.
Make sure children who are unattended for periods during the day feel your presence. Give them a schedule and set limits on their behavior. Give them household chores to accomplish. Enforce a strict phone-in-to-you policy. Leave notes for them around the house. Provide easy-to-find snacks.
Get to know the parents of your child's friends. Exchange phone numbers and addresses. Agree to forbid each others' children from consuming alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in their homes, and pledge that you will inform each other if one of you becomes aware of a child who violates this pact.
Call parents whose home is to be used for a party. Make sure they can assure you that no alcoholic beverages or illegal substances will be dispensed. Don't be afraid to check out the party yourself to see that adult supervision is in place.
Make it easy for your child to leave a place where substances are being used. Discuss with your child in advance how to contact you or another designated adult in order to get a ride home. If another adult provides the transportation, be available to talk to your child about the situation when he or she arrives home.
Set curfews and enforce them. Weekend curfews might range from 9 p.m. for a fifth-grader to 12:30 a.m. for a senior in high school.
Encourage open dialogue with your children about their experiences. Tell your child, "I love you and trust you, but I don't trust the world around you, and I need to know what's going on in your life so I can be a good parent to you."


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Information here is provided with the permission of the ACM
Note that when possible I link to the page containing the link to the actual PDF or PS of the preprint. I prefer this as it gives some context to the paper and avoids possible copyright problems with direct linking. Thus you may need to search on the page to find the actual document.
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Animals Are Natural Meditators
By Doug Knueven
Q.) Every time I sit down to meditate my cat wants to get in on it. I have always heard to put animals in another room while meditating so they won't disturb you so that's what I do, but she is quite persistent. Is there anything wrong with meditating with a pet?
A.) I too have heard from experts that you should lock animals out of your meditation practice. I think those who make such recommendations have a more distant relationship with their pets than many of us. As one who meditates, and who is a student of the Cayce readings and a holistic veterinarian, I'm here to tell you that it is fine to meditate with your pet. In fact, I would say it is better than fine.
For me, the purpose of meditation is to connect with our Creator and all of creation. There are many ways to strive toward this goal. Some people use a mindfulness approach and pay attention to their breath. Others repeat a mantra over and over. The Cayce approach involves the use of an affirmation. The words of the affirmation are repeated in order to evoke a feeling of peace and oneness.
As they say, "Different strokes for different folks." Each individual must find her or his way to quiet the mind and go within. There are those who find their pets to be distractions (and this certainly may depend on the pet's personality, too.) But for those of us who have a deep relationship with our animals, making them part of the meditation practice can be meaningful and even helpful.
Here's the way I look at it. Pets fill a need in the lives of those who love animals. With their instinct to comfort and heal us, they demonstrate qualities that even humans sometimes lack. I believe that pets have such an effect because they help us maintain contact with the natural world—a connection which our modern lifestyles tend to eliminate.
Nature is infused with the divine. It is impossible for most people to study biology without developing a sense of awe for the beauty of the balance that is maintained in intricate, natural systems. Each of the billions of cells of the body has a life of its own, and yet they all cooperate to function as a whole. Animals, plants, microorganisms, and inert materials have developed amazingly complicated relationships in every ecosystem in the world. Even the celestial bodies have an orderly rhythm that mystifies the human mind. All of creation is alive with a palpable, heavenly heartbeat.
With a purr, a nudge, a lick or a wag, our pets can reunite us with the mysteries of the universe. For me, connecting with a pet on a spiritual level is one way of connecting with the divine.
Here's how it works for me:
As my wife Judy and I sit down to meditate in the morning, our pets jump on our laps. As I relax, I become aware of my breath. I imagine that God is breathing the "breath of life" into me. I realize that the same breath of life is flowing within my four-legged companion.
I envision the amazing underlying life force, Spirit, which is stirring within both our bodies. As I become more aware of my dog lying in my lap, I feel her warmth and I feel her chest rise and fall.
I imagine this warm feeling of love expanding in my chest, and feel it overflow and embrace this special little being. I allow the love to continue to expand and imagine we are both floating in a sea of love. This feeling joins me with all of creation and I melt into the Oneness. I then enter the silence maintaining the feeling of oneness. My dog helps me anchor that feeling.
I would love to report that things happen just this way every day at my house but that would be a bit of a stretch. However, on those mornings when the stars are aligned, it is a beautiful thing.
Doug Knueven, DVM, is a regular contributor to Venture Inward magazine and the author of Stand By Me, A Holistic Handbook for Animals, People, and the Lives They Share, available at ARECatalog.com or 800-333-4499, and Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog. For more information go to BeaverAnimalClinic.com.
Excerpt from April, May,June 2012 issue of Venture Inward magazine available in the online member section.


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Managing the media is a key part of introducing Summary Care Records (SCRs) successfully, according to NHS Connecting for Health.
"The programme comes under intense media scrutiny," Siobhan Roberts, a communications lead for CfH, told a session at Assist's annual conference at the NEC in Birmingham on 4 June 2009. During the introduction of SCRs in early adopter areas, "a lot of the old news is regurgitated," she said, advising that such stories should be rebutted or ignored.
She illustrated the point with a slide of three news articles, labelled the good, the bad and the ugly. The last was a headline from The Register: "Summary Care Records – you might die, but they never will." She advised trusts adopting SCRs to involve their internal communications staff as early as possible, as well as local MPs and media.
SCRs have received hostile press coverage as a result of the assumed consent model chosen by the government, where patients' medical data is placed in a nationally available record unless they specifically ask for it not to be. Initially, the process for opting out was onerous and patients would not be specifically informed the transfer was taking place.
In response to this, CfH changed its process, so every patient above the age of 15 and three quarters receives a letter telling them about the transfer, is pointed to sources of further information and is given 12 weeks to refuse. If a patient does nothing, an SCR is created from the data held by the GP.
Nick Dunaway, director of ICT for South Birmingham PCT, said that an article in The Guardian on SCRs had discouraged eight of the area's 63 GP practices from involvement in the trust's adoption of the records, with a similar number of practices put off by the work involved.
South Birmingham started as an early adopter of SCRs in early 2007, and so far 45 of its practices have transferred patient data to CfH systems, "despite the poor press," Dunaway said. He added that he thought 100% of practices would eventually join.
Richard Corbridge, CfH's programme manager for implementation of SCRs, said that "the most controversial part of the SCR has been consent". But he pointed out that, as of 1 June 2009, just 0.7% of patients asked have opted out of having a record. As of that date, 288,953 SCRs had been created from patients at 46 GP practices, and 850,386 patients have been contacted about the scheme.
SmartHealthcare.com is published by Kable, a business division of Guardian News & Media Ltd. To register click here.


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We know you can't absorb everything you need to know about managing your career and conducting an internship or job search in just a few short weeks at the beginning of your program. That's why we offer ongoing workshops throughout the year based on the interests and needs of our students.
Workshops are taught by CMC staff, Student Career Advisors, and outside experts on a variety of topics including:
We are fortunate to have a career resource center (CRC) that is sponsored by one of our corporate partners, JPMorgan. The CRC is fully staffed by the Career Management Center and part-time by a University of Rochester research consultant librarian. The CRC also houses Simon Student Career Advisors (SCAs) who are available to assist you with career research, job search strategy, target lists, resumes, mock interviews, and anything else needed to help you develop and execute your internship or job search action plan.
>> Curious about employment results? Check out the MS 2016 Employment Report to learn where our graduates are beginning their new careers


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UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — A large brawl broke out during an annual charity hockey match between New York City police and firefighters on Long Island.
Videos posted online show players from both teams clearing the bench and throwing punches while referees are seen trying to break up the fights. Hockey sticks and gloves are seen littered about the ice.
Newsday said the fights began during the second period of the match at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on Sunday as both teams were tied 3-3. The NYPD eventually won 8-5.
The fire and police departments both declined to comment.
Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com


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News 12.29.09
Best wishes from CFAO for 2010
Best wishes from CFAO for 2010 ! Find out CFAO's electronic greeting card for this new year....
Press release 12.4.09 PDF
Exercise in full of the over-allotment option
Exercise in full of the over-allotment option. Total offering size increased to €926.9 million....
Press release 12.3.09 PDF
NYSE Euronext welcomes CFAO to its European market
CFAO today celebrates its listing on NYSE Euronext's Paris market under the symbol "CFAO"....
Press release 12.2.09 PDF
CFAO Announces the Successful Results of its IPO
CFAO Announces the Successful Results of its IPO. Offering price of €26.00 per share....
Press release 11.17.09 PDF
CFAO launches its initial public offering on Euronext Paris
CFAO announces the launch of its initial public offering and proposed listing of its shares on Euronext Paris (Compartment A)....


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Tuesday, November 3, 1998 - 6 p.m. CST
The SPARTAN satellite was captured and returned to its berth this afternoon,
successfully completing its two-day solar science mission. SPARTAN Mission
Manager Craig Toohey congratulated the crew and flight control team
on their performance in executing the mission exactly as planned. Toohey
said that 30 percent of the science data already had been linked to
the ground and the remainder would be off-loaded at landing. SPARTAN
Scientist Dr. Richard Fisher noted that investigators were pleased to
have the satellite in orbit near a solar maximum cycle and that its
instruments had captured sought-after data on a solar mass ejection
The rendezvous began with Commander Curt Brown firing Discovery's orbital
maneuvering engines to drop Discovery's orbit, accelerating it ahead
of the SPARTAN. After closing the distance, Brown and pilot Steve Lindsey
maneuvered Discovery in close as Mission Specialist 1 Steve Robinson
operated the 50-foot robot arm. With MS2 Scott Parazynski assisting,
Robinson directed the arm to a smooth grapple of the satellite at 2:45
p.m. CST. SPARTAN was placed in its berth in Discovery's cargo bay a
short time later.
During the final maneuvers, astronauts tested the Video Guidance Sensor,
a component of an automated docking system being prepared for use on
the International Space Station. Flight Controllers noted that the system
worked as planned.
Spartan will be used again tomorrow for data collection, once again
being unberthed from its payload bay cradle for a few hours so that
cameras can be pointed at a series of targets on the spacecraft. Those
cameras will test the Space Vision System that uses remote camera views
to provide a robot arm operator with the ability to view areas that
cannot be seen with the naked eye.
While SPARTAN operations captured most of the attention today, other
science operations continued aboard Discovery. Payload Specialists Chiaki
Mukai and John Glenn, along with Parazynski and European Space Agency Mission Specialist Pedro Duque, continued taking blood samples as part
of the Protein Turnover Experiment measuring muscle changes in zero
Glenn also attached electrodes and a data recorder to himself which
record his heart rhythm on orbit, as part of an investigation of heart
rate variability during space flight. He also fed bone cell cultures
that are part of the OSTEO experiment, an evaluation of bone cell activity
under microgravity conditions, and he worked with the Advanced Organic
Separations (ADSEP) experiment, which provides the capability to separate
and purify biological materials in microgravity..
Glenn and Duque worked with the Astroculture plant-growing experiment
and with the MEPS (Microencapsulation Electrostatic Processing System)
that studies the formation of anti-tumor capsules containing two kinds
of drugs. Duque collected video data and photograph samples from the
Microgravity Glovebox (MGBX) which is used for investigations of colloids,
or systems of fine particles suspended in fluid. Mukai continued her
work with the Japanese Vestibular Function Experiment Unit (VFEU), which
holds two toadfish that are electronically monitored to determine the
effect of gravitational changes on the inner ear's balance system
All systems aboard Discovery continue to operate well. The next STS-95
status report will be issued at approximately 6:30 a.m. Central time


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You're laying in bed, snuggled under the blankets. You're sound asleep and as comfortable as can be. Suddenly the night is pierced by a blood curdling scream. A child, in the next room, is screaming and shrieking.
You might leap to your feet, visions of intruders or wild animals mauling your child in your head. You might rush to your child's bed ready to do battle or whatever is required because no human child would make such a sound unless being tortured.
Unless of course, your child is severely autistic.
In that case, you might open your eyes and listen for a moment. Much like the cries of a baby, screams and shrieks have their own language, their own meaning. They can mean "I need a diaper" or "I don't want to be in bed anymore" or "I really like the way this screaming sounds." Often it's the latter.
That's how the past three mornings have started for me. Screaming and shrieking from the other room.
Autism isn't rational. Applying reason to it isn't a relevant prospect, you'll lose and end up in tears yourself.
On Saturday, the day the screaming STARTED up in such earnest, I decided we weren't doing this.
So we had a good day. I insisted we have a good day.
We baked cookies and made hot chocolate, and we focused on CHRISTMAS.
There was still a lot of screaming. But for the non-autistic people in the house, there is something therapeutic about saying "OK now if you're done screaming, let's make cookies." "OK who wants to help me make eggnog pancakes? You can't help if you are throwing a fit." "Stop eating your hair and we'll play tea party."
I know that's probably weird, but autism wants to control my life. In many ways, ways I can't really even articulate, it dictates a lot of the direction of it.
But autism is just the wind blowing a storm at us. We captain the ship, and WE can trim our sails and make some progress. Maybe not always the way we want - but a good captain knows some progress is always a victory.
But I'm still writing it.
That's sort of my mood this morning. Autism slows me down, it makes life harder. But it doesn't STOP me.
Our life will never be normal. But it will be ours.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Saying No to Autism
Posted by Gidge Uriza at 7:39 AM
Labels: autism, autism sucks, Mommyhood, parenting
1 comments:
- Isle said...
Great post, Gidge. You inspire me everyday to be a less selfish and more patient mother.
- Tue Nov 27, 09:26:00 AM


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But if you do, now you can buy a clock that will recreate the experience!
Yes, for only $24.98 you can recreate that "cheap apartment with the alcoholic repairman who can never fix the damn thing" feel. Clock does not include rodents, sexually loud neighbors, or intoxicated roommate listening to Metallica at 3:00 a.m.


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Nurse Anesthetist (66F)
- Enlisted
- Officer
- Active Duty
- Army Reserve
- National Guard
- Entry Level
An integral component of the U.S. Army health care team, the Army Nurse Corps continues to distinguish itself from the traditional nursing field. As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and officer on the U.S. Army health care team, you'll provide specialized care to patients requiring general anesthesia, respiratory care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and fluid therapy. You'll work as part of a multidisciplinary team, surrounded by dedicated professionals who share your values.
Job Duties
- Scope of practice encompasses all areas where anesthesia is administered to include: inpatient operating rooms, Ambulatory Surgery Center, delivery rooms, postanesthesia recovery rooms, critical care units and emergency departments
- Develop an anesthetic plan based on a preanesthetic evaluation
- Perform or supervise the performance of the anesthetic experience in collaboration with an anesthesiologist and/or appropriate physician throughout the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative phases of anesthesia and surgery
- Administer analgesia and anesthesia for the labor and delivery process
- Active involvement in acute postoperative pain management of the surgical patient utilizing various techniques and pharmacological agents
- Document the anesthetic process to include physiological and psychological reactions to anesthesia and surgery
- Provide consultation and service for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and airway management
- Conduct medical research on diseases of military importance, and conduct, supervise, and participate in graduate medical education and training of other medical personnel needed to sustain a robust medical system
Unique duty positions include: clinical staff nurse; instructor; phase II director; program director or deputy program director; assistant chief or chief, anesthesia nursing section
- Master's degree in nursing anesthesia, from an accredited program
- Between 21 and 42 years of age
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist
- U.S. citizenship
- In addition to the above qualifications, permanent U.S. residency is required for Reserve duty officers.
- Between 21 and 42 years of age (may request a waiver, Locate A Recruiter for more information)
In the U.S. Army, the case diversity nurses experience in caring for Soldiers and their families far exceeds the medical care environment of the private sector. As an Army Nurse Corps officer, you'll have access to the most sophisticated technology, the opportunity to consult with experts in both the military and private sector, plus exceptional professional growth opportunities, which may include paid continuing education, clinical specialization and residencies.
Your introduction to the Army Reserve begins with the Army Medical Department Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC), a nine-week program that will expose you to the variety of mental and physical challenges you'll face as a member of the health care team. You'll learn about the U.S. Army's approach to health care firsthand, training with other professionals and attending lectures, conferences and demonstrations that cover everything from U.S. Army customs to crisis management. You may even have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on medical simulation of an in-theater field medical unit.
After completing BOLC, you will serve with a Reserve unit a minimum of two days each month and participate in annual training for at least two weeks each year. During this time, your duties may include attending professional seminars and military or nursing education courses provided by the U.S. Army. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to work in a wide range of health care environments, whether it be in a modern hospital, working with skilled professionals in a variety of clinical situations or supervising paraprofessionals in a field medical unit.
Helpful Skills
The normal environment of an Army Nurse Corps officer's work requires time-sensitive problem analysis with an accurate, sound and immediate decision. Ability to operate under stress, apply critical thinking skills, make decisions, and translate these skills to battlefield conditions is critical to medical and mission success.
Effective patient care requires the proper balance between technical skills and the ability to apply the appropriate treatment or procedure at the right moment. Army Nurse Corps officers possess expert knowledge in their area of concentration, patient management, and general support and coordination principles. Nurses gain this knowledge through continuing medical education and experience sustained by mentoring, additional institutional training, continuous self-development and progressive levels of assignments within their specialty.
In addition to the many privileges that come with being an officer on the U.S. Army health care team, you'll be rewarded with:
- Army Nurse Accession Bonus
- Health Professions Loan Repayment Program Travel opportunities, including humanitarian missions
- No-cost or low-cost medical and dental care for you and your family
- Noncontributory retirement benefits with 20 years of qualifying service
- 30 days of paid vacation earned annually
- Healthcare Professionals Loan Repayment Program
- Networking opportunities
- Noncontributory retirement benefits at age 60 with 20 years of qualifying service
- Low-cost life and dental insurance
- Travel opportunities, including humanitarian missions
Both active and Reserve duty officers enjoy commissary and post exchange shopping privileges; a flexible, portable retirement savings and investment plan similar to a 401(k); may receive pay for continuing education; and specialized training to become a leader in their field.
Earn Cash For In Demand Jobs
You could earn up to $40,000 in cash bonuses just for enlisting under certain Military Occupational Specialties. Visit Jobs in Demand to see if this job qualifies for an enlistment bonus.
Education Benefits
The Army Nurse Corps encourages its nurses to improve their skills and enhance their professional experience through a variety of educational programs, including postgraduate opportunities and continuing education and specialty courses, all of which they often attend at the U.S. Army's expense. These programs not only ensure a high degree of motivation, professional opportunities and career satisfaction but also serve to maintain both the U.S. Army's high nursing standards and your level of expertise.
One of the many advantages of becoming a member of the Army Reserve health care team is that you'll be able to focus on patient care instead of medical school loans. By continuing to practice in your own community and serving when needed, you may qualify for HPLR to repay your nursing school loans.
Future Civilian Careers
As you advance through your medical career, you will be looking for experiences that blend teaching, research and clinical excellence to best prepare you for unique and challenging opportunities in medicine. Our nurses excel in the clinical, research, academic and health administration arenas. Many have worked in more than one career track throughout their time in the U.S. Army and have held leadership positions ahead of their private sector counterparts.
The nurse's responsibility and authority for professional nursing practice expand with education and experience. Expert nurse anesthetists are role models for their specialty, providing leadership and clinical guidance for effective nursing practice both during their tenure in the Army Nurse Corps and throughout their careers.
PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH SUCCESS (PaYS) Program
Those interested in this job may be eligible for civilian employment, after the Army, by enrolling in the Army PaYS program. The PaYS program is a recruitment option that guarantees a job interview with military friendly employers that are looking for experienced and trained Veterans to join their organization. Find out more about the Army PaYS Program at http://www.armypays.com.
- Johns Hopkins
- GE Healthcare
- Cleveland Clinic
- Mercy Medical Center


text:
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At the moment, I'd say that the only places in the Arab world that might be safe enough for TAR are Kuwait and Jordan; even Israel would be safer than the rest of the Arab world right now. Even Morocco is off the map.
Quote from: theschnauzers on February 21, 2011, 11:10:55 PMAt the moment, I'd say that the only places in the Arab world that might be safe enough for TAR are Kuwait and Jordan; even Israel would be safer than the rest of the Arab world right now. Even Morocco is off the map.There has been protests in both Kuwait and Jordan. especially in Jordan, where even the royal regime might be in some danger. The only Arab countries that are relatively safe for now are Qatar and UAE (meaning Abu Dhabi, Dubai). Nothing has been heard for Syria, but there was no way Americans would go there and it's a pity because is one of my favourite countries.
Love the timing on this. I had actually heard some strong rumors that there was going to finally be another Egypt leg this time around...no surprises here.Tunisia would be a no-go as well.
Harsh words for Episode 6 from the Onion A.V. Club re-cap:http://www.avclub.com/articles/i-feel-like-a-monkey-in-a-circus-parade-kolkata-in,53666/
Remember when Michael and Kevin had to sit on blocks of ice for ten minutes? Well, that feat looks like scaling the Matterhorn in comparison to this one, as Gary and Mallory simply have to prepare the fuel mixture for their bike in the right proportion. This couldnt have taken more than two minutes, which makes me wonder why they even bother with these Speed Bumps in the first place.
Found this rather obscure chart in "The Atlantic", plotting Primetime TV shows as regards Political party affiliations vs. Voter turnout.According to this, TAR rates as having a Democratic skew with higher voter turnout. Puts it in the company of shows such as 20/20 and Dateline. huh? and I thought it was a reality/entertainment show. Really?!?
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Michael LaBelle
Dr. Michael LaBelle is an associate professor and the Jean Monnet Chair in Energy and Innovation Strategies at Central European University. He holds a joint appointment between the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy and the Department of Economics and Business. His research is centered on energy governance, innovation strategies, and energy justice. The role of state institutions to foster investment is central to understand the role of companies developing new energy technologies. Professor LaBelle's past research focused on policies and regulations behind Central Europe's energy systems, including geopolitics of gas and neoliberal market reforms. He has published widely on the attempt to foster a shale gas industry in Eastern Europe. He teaches courses on energy policies and technologies, including sustainability and innovation. Much of his research involves issues of risk governance, with special attention paid to the sunk cost of energy investments. In addition, he has written peer reviewed articles and consulting publications on the strategic movement of energy firms and the regulatory environment in the Central Eastern European region.
Previously, Dr. LaBelle was a member of the Atlantic Council's Emerging Leaders in Environmental and Energy Policy Network. He worked in the CEU Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Policy (3CSEP) and at the Regional Center for Energy Policy Research (REKK) at Corvinus University. He has worked on projects for the European Commission, United States Agency for International Development, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, Energy Regulators Regional Association and with energy consulting companies and European universities. He holds an MSc and PhD in Geographical Sciences from the University of Bristol.
Office Hours: Mondays 13:30 - 14:30


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In Late-Night Metered-Market Household Averages for Saturday
* "Saturday Night Live," with host Jeremy Renner and musical guest
Maroon 5, averaged a 5.1/12 in metered-market households, the show's second-highest overnights of the season. The only higher rating so far this season was the 5.4 on October 20 with an edition hosted by Bruno Mars. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.7 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49.
* Versus the same night last year, "SNL" was up 11 percent in
metered-market households (5.1 vs. 4.6).
* In national ratings so far this season, original telecasts of
"Saturday Night Live" are up versus one year ago by 7 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 3.1 vs. a 2.9, "most current") and up 6 percent in total viewers (8.0 million vs. 7.5 million).
Saturday Primetime Results:
* At 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Revolution" averaged a
0.5/2 in 18-49 and 2.0 million viewers overall. It's the top "Revolution" Saturday encore since October 20 in 18-49 and since October
13 in total viewers (pending updates).
* At 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Chicago Fire" delivered a 0.5/2
in 18-49 and 2.4 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "Chicago Fire" grew by 10 percent in total viewers (2.5 million vs. 2.2 million).
* At 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims
Unit" (0.7/2 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall) grew from its first half-hour to its second by 17 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 0.7 rating from a 0.6), 25 percent in adults 25-54 (1.0 vs. 0.8) and 21 percent in total viewers (3.6 million vs. 3.0 million).
NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.


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Madison-Oneida BOCES supports local families through the holidays
VERONA - For the fourth consecutive year, faculty and staff from Madison-Oneida BOCES have collected food for local families in need during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.
During the past several weeks, teachers, teaching assistants and support staff from across the BOCES campus have donated a wide variety of food to the effort. This year, more than 25 families throughout the region benefitted from this collection.
"It's wonderful to be a part of something like this. It helps us to remember what is important. If we can help someone in need, we make the world a better place," said Equine and Animal Science teacher Mary Maitland, who coordinated the collection and housed all the donations in her classroom.
Ellen Franklin, teaching assistant in the Alternative Education programs, spent her personal time identifying local families in need and coordinating the delivery of donations to the families' homes. Maitland called Franklin "one of our Earth angels."


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SHIPPING IS FREE, ALWAYS. Items are shipped in an envelope with a First Class (1-3 business days) Forever USPS stamp. If your items are lost or damaged, they will be replaced in a timely manner. Please message us with any questions or concerns.
3-5 business days
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.


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A slide that sent rocks crashing onto frozen Mendenhall Lake in late November actually caused a small tsunami. It also posed a scientific question as well as concern that rock slides are another unpredictable hazard for people exploring the frozen lake this winter.
A slide that sent rocks crashing onto frozen Mendenhall Lake in late November actually caused a small tsunami.
Apparently no one witnessed the rock slide, but Thanksgiving Day hikers on Nugget Falls Trail reported seeing jumbled piles of ice tossed by waves onto the beach. Refrozen ice plates 6 to 8 inches thick can still be seen on the lake.
"The first thing I noticed was that there was broken lake ice on one side and then there was broken lake ice on another side," said Laurie Craig, a naturalist at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center.
With no evidence of glacier calving, Craig said trying to figure out what happened was like "geologic forensics."
A spotting scope trained on Bullard Mountain showed evidence of a rockslide. Tree limbs also were seen in the rubble ice.
"We could clearly see evidence of where this narrow band of rock cascaded down off the mountainside and broke the lake ice that was right up against it," Craig said. "And then it reverberated under the lake and hit against rock on the other side, which broke there as well."
How does that happen?
If the rocks had hit water, there would be a big splash and a wave would travel across the lake. That's simple enough, she thought, but Mendenhall Lake was covered with ice.
Craig posed the question on Friday to Joel Curtis, Warning and Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Juneau.
"How does the water pop up on the other side of the lake under the ice? Let's say the ice is thicker out in the middle. It's a very, very interesting physics problem and I am asking people who are geekier than I am to look at this," Curtis said.
One of the scientists he consulted was Dr. Eran Hood at the University of Alaska Southeast, a hydrologist and glaciologist. The two came up with this:
"The wave that was formed propagated right along with the ice, although the wave was dampened because it had to lift the ice. But it still was enough to get across Mendenhall Lake and have water squirt out on the other side."
Technically, Curtis said, it was like a small tsunami under the ice.
The take away?
Ice is not as rigid as most people think. While the ice on Mendenhall Lake may look stable, it is not, Curtis said. Definitely avoid the face of the glacier, ice caves, creeks, icebergs and the area where the lake flows into Mendenhall River.
"And of course, the freeze/thaw cycle can cause rock slides on any of the steep slopes," he said. "We all really love the lake and love going out there, but you have to be safe when you do."
On Jan. 11th, the U.S. Forest Service and Capital City Fire and Rescue will hold ice safety training and demonstrations at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center.


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Customer Reviews
* FTC Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by contributors of the product reviews are their own and not necessarily those of Netrition.com. These reviews should not be taken as recommendations but rather customer opinions of the products that they may or may not have used. Furthermore, Netrition.com makes no warranty or representation, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information contributed by outside sources, and assumes no responsibility or liability regarding the use of such information. Netrition.com does not warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of any materials listed or linked to on Netrition.com.
October 11, 2017Reviewer: A guest* I used to use Musclpharm Combat Powder for a long time until they changed the formula. I know Beverly International has a good reputation for quality. I was pleasantly surprised how good it tasted and digested without side effects. The Graham Cracker flavor is great mixed with yogurt.This review is specific to Ultimate Muscle Protein, Vanilla
August 11, 2017Reviewer: Therese in New York* Great tasting. Easy to swallow. Satiated feeling for hours. Try it, you'll love this.This review is specific to Ultimate Muscle Protein, Cookies & Creme
August 08, 2017Reviewer: Don in Ohio* Great tasting, mixes well. Best protein on the market.
February 13, 2015Reviewer: Linda in North Carolina* I am not one to write reviews, but this product exceeded my hopes so I felt like I had to. I ordered this in the chocolate flavor. My primary reason for trying this was that it is a low carbohydrate product. And oh, boy, it is so good. I usually have a shake every morning before my 4 mile walk (no weight lifting) as I do not like eating breakfast and the taste is great. Not exactly like a traditional high calorie, high far, high carb shake but not far off. It is a little pricey but it is worth it. Just ordered another one in chocolate and also am trying strawberry. Try it, you will not be disappointed!!This review is specific to Ultimate Muscle Protein, Chocolate
April 05, 2012Reviewer: Penny in Florida* I have been using this product for a long time and I think it is a necessity of life. The taste is actually pleasant! The vanilla is by far the best. I highly recommend it!This review is specific to Ultimate Muscle Protein, Vanilla
April 13, 2010Reviewer: John in Illinois* A friend of mine who is a serious power lifter turned me onto this product. I am currently using as part of a meal replacement program similar to Medifast. It has much more protein and is significantly lower in carbs than the Medifast product. Its also cheaper per serving and tastes better. I like the Chocolate the best and also have the Cookies & Cream, which is a bit on the sweet side but still very good. Both mix well in water and are easy to use.
I have also used Optimum Nutrition Complete Protein Diet shakes and Myoplex and find this product to be superior.
My understanding is that Beverly International enjoys a solid reputation in the bodybuilding industry, but does not spend a ton of money on marketing. I am very pleased with this product.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpfulMarch 03, 2010Reviewer: Patty in Illinois* This is by far the best tasting chocolate or vanilla shake out there and as for quality and price you get what you pay for and this stuff in my opinion is the best!!! I look forward to my shakes each day. The chocolate tastes like hot chocolate but cold, not hot obviously and the vanilla is like a vanilla cake mix, YUMMY!! The gym I go to only sells this for a reason, it is the BEST!


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The current iteration of the Nürburgring is a largely sanitized space that's been safely reshaped thanks to years of crashes and accidents, thus making our constant references to the "Green Hell" slightly hyperbolic... with the exception of public tourist days. That shit cray.
Now imagine a more dangerous, less well-marked 'Ring full of drivers in Fiat 850s and Beetles and Porsche 914s and Opels rounding Adenauer Forst. This is what you get. We miss rear-engined cars.
This video is hypnotic.
(Hat tip to RJ!)


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Country: Austria
Age: 33
Past Olympic experience: Was second in the downhill at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.
Career highlights: The tallest skier on the circuit at 6-foot-4 won the World Cup downhill crown in the 2004-05 and 2005-'06 seasons. He has 10 career downhill wins and won the world championship downhill in 2003.
Quote: "The downhill title is the biggest thing, especially in Austria. It shows you're one of the best, not just at that moment, but in history."
Country: Norway
Age: 26
Past Olympic experience: Finished 21st in downhill at Turin, fifth in Super G and sixth in giant slalom.
Career highlights: Won the World Cup overall title in 2006-07, then missed most of the following season after a horrific crash in a downhill at Beaver Creek, Colo., where he broke several facial bones and suffered a six-inch gash in his buttocks.
Quote: "I knew I was going to be nervous 1/8returning to Beaver Creek 3/8 so I figured there's no point in acting tough and pretending you're not nervous. If you admit it, then you can work on it. That's a better strategy than pretending like you're Superman because none of us really are."
Country: Austria
Age: 28
Past Olympic experience: Was 22nd in downhill at Turin.
Career highlights: Finished eighth in the downhill standings last season. Has yet to record a World Cup win, but had his third career second-place finish earlier this season in Bormio, Italy.
Country: Liechtenstein
Age: 37
Past Olympic experience: Has appeared in four Olympic Games, with his first top 10s coming in Turin in 2006 when he was sixth in Super G and seventh in downhill.
Career highlights: All his best results have come since turning 34, including a second-place finish in the downhill standings in the 2006-07 season. He loves racing in Canada, where he was 10th in the Super G at Whistler in 2008 after winning the Lake Louise downhill in 2006.
Quote: "It's like the wine — the older I get, the faster I get. But suddenly you've got to watch out you don't turn to vinegar."
Country: Canada
Age: 25
Past Olympic experience: Was 13th in downhill, 20th in Super G at Turin.
Career highlights: First podium finish came at Lake Louise in 2006 when he was second in the downhill. He had five top 10s last season en route to a sixth-place finish in the downhill standings.
Quote: "If you don't feel like you deserve it or belong there, you'll never be there. No matter how good a skier you are, you just won't fluke out and do it (at the Olympics). You need to stand on the podium, you need to feel like you can do it and have done it."


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Strength and purpose in every line
The new Land Cruiser advances its reputation with a new, more modern, robust exterior styling. Every line serves a purpose. The bonnet is shaped to enhance downward visibility at the centre; and headlamps and grille cooling openings are higher to maximize protection and wading depth.


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2 more pelicans blown to Rhode Island by Sandy return home
Total of 4 brown pelicans found in Rhode Island
The Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet just got a second pair of brown pelicans that were blown into Rhode Island by Superstorm Sandy.
They join two other pelicans that went through the same ordeal and are already being cared for there.
The birds are common in Florida, but not in Rhode Island.
The two birds hopped a Delta flight to make the journey from Rhode Island to the sanctuary in Volusia County.
A rehab center up north collected donations to pay for the flight.
"Before this, there were only about a dozen records of the brown pelicans in Rhode Island, so these are very rare birds in that area," said Michael Brothers, from the Marine Science Center.
The first two that arrived at the center had some bruising to their wings, and one suffered frost-bite, but the second pair is in better shape.
The pelicans are a little underweight, but they're feasting on Florida fish now and getting stronger.
"Often these birds would have been killed in storms like this," said Brothers.
Local bird specialists said the people in Rhode Island did a remarkable job saving the pelicans.


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Third Road Safety Week, 1 to 7 May 2000
The objectives of the Third Road Safety Week should be achieved by appropriate campaigns at the national level to be organized by Governments and national organizations. The international character of the campaigns will be expressed by:
(i) a common target group - vulnerable road users;
(ii) a common slogan: "PARTNERSHIP ON THE ROAD INCREASES SAFETY";
(iii) a common emblem
(iv) waging the campaign in the same week.
Activities to be carried out by the UN/ECE
The UN/ECE will give all possible support and publicity to the preparation, execution and follow-up to the Road Safety Week. Before the Third Road Safety Week the secretariat should: (i) transmit this Programme, as soon as it is adopted by the Working Party on Road Traffic Safety, to member Governments inviting them to undertake the preparatory work for national campaigns, to monitor campaigns before and during the Road Safety Week and to report on the results achieved to the secretariat;
(ii) transmit the Programme to international organizations concerned inviting them to give support and to contribute to the Road Safety Week;
(iii) give the widest possible publicity to the Road Safety Week by:
issuing an ECE Press Release devoted to the event; creating Internet links between the road safety web sites of member States and NGOs and this ECE road safety web page created to mark the Road Safety Week; using other available channels of international mass media; (iv) hold a workshop on safety of vulnerable road users under the aegis of the UN/ECE;
(v) if possible, make a contribution to the International Festival on Road Safety Film to be organized in Lille by the LASER Association
(vi) elaborate and distribute as widely as possible a brochure containing a message from the Executive Secretary of the UN/ECE, the text of resolution No. 246 of the Inland Transport Committee, a statement by the Chairman of the Working Party on Road Traffic Safety and data and information useful for national campaigns, to be elaborated on the basis of statistical data concerning vulnerable road users. The brochure may be used by member countries as a sample for the design of their own brochures;
(vii) if possible, produce and distribute, in cooperation with member Governments, the UN Department of Information and possibly the LASER Association, a video which could be used by television stations in ECE member States during the Third Road Safety Week.
(viii) organize a round-table debate on: Safety of Vulnerable Road Users is Your Safety at the Palais des Nations in the course of the thirty-fourth session of the Working Party just prior to the Third Road Safety Week;
After the Road Safety Week the secretariat will prepare a report on the Third Road Safety Week on the basis of information received from Governments and international organizations concerned. The report will be used by the Working Party on Road Traffic Safety for the evaluation of the Road Safety Week and the adoption of follow-up action.
The list of envisaged ECE activities and the deadline for their implementation are the following:
|1. Adoption of the Programme of the Third Road Safety Week.
|1-4 September 1998
|2. Transmission of the adopted Programme to member Governments and international organizations concerned.
|October 1998
|3. Issue of a UN/ECE Press Release to be prepared on the basis of the Programme.
|December 1998
|4. Consideration of matters arising from the preparatory work for the Road Safety Week by the Inland Transport Committee.
|8-12 February 1999
|5. Launch of ECE road safety web site.
|March 1999
|6. Issuance and distribution of brochure.
|September 1999
|7. Issuance of newsletters containing information about the activities planned for national campaigns in member countries.
|Periodically during 1999
|8. If possible, production and distribution, in cooperation with member Governments, of a video to be used by national authorities.
|By the end of 1999
|9. Organization of a workshop
|Autumn 1999
|10. Contribution to international festival on road safety film organized by LASER Association.
|April 2000
|11. A round-table debate to be organized at the Palais des Nations.
|April 2000
|12. Elaboration of the report on the Road Safety Week by the secretariat on the basis of contributions from Governments.
|June 2000
|13. Issue of a UN/ECE Press Release summarizing the Road Safety Week.
|June 2000
|14. Evaluation of the Road Safety Week and adoption of follow-up action by WP.1
September 2000
Activities to be carried out by other international organizations.
The European Commission, the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are invited to support the Third Road Safety Week. The International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are invited to give their support to the Third Road Safety Week by appropriate action dedicated to the objectives of the Third Road Safety Week. The United Nations Postal Administration is invited to consider the possibility of issuing a set of stamps on the theme of the Third Road Safety Week. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is asked to consider inviting national postal administrations to issue a special stamp(s) on the occasion of the Road Safety Week. Non-governmental organizations dealing with road safety, in particular the European Road Safety Equipment Federation (EUROADSAFE), the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR), the International Federation of Pedestrians (FIP), the International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA), the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), the International Road Federation (IRF), International Road Safety (PRI), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the International Road Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the International Touring Alliance/International Automobile Federation (AIT/FIA) are invited to give the widest possible support to the Road Safety Week, to provide Internet links to the ECE road safety week web page and to recommend their members to take an active part in national campaigns. The European Broadcasting Union is invited to announce the Road Safety Week to its members and to recommend them to participate in national campaigns. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES
National activities to be carried out in the framework of the Road Safety Week and specific messages to be addressed to vulnerable road users (or to a specific subset of this group) should be determined and implemented in accordance with the road safety situation and problems in the particular country.
During national campaigns it may be appropriate to focus on issues relating to vulnerable road users provided they meet the following criteria:
(i) address the various groups of vulnerable road users;
(ii) differentiate between vulnerable road users (or a particular group of them) and other road users (physical and mental abilities, characteristic behaviour, etc.) in particular traffic situations and challenges;
(iii) provide measures designed to improve the safety of vulnerable road users;
(iv) influence mass-media, advertising agencies and private organizations which could shape public opinion to further the aims of the campaigns.
Examples of such issues are:
Disabled persons: relevant traffic rules and regulations, the use of prescribed signs on vehicles driven by disabled persons, special attitude required from other drivers, etc.; Children: relevant traffic rules and regulations, particularities of the behaviour of children on the road and in the proximity to roads, marking of school buses, car seats/restraints recommended for use by children, wearing of seat belts, etc. Governmental and municipal authorities as well as private entities and road users organizations active in the area of road traffic safety and mass media should be involved in the campaign as widely as possible. They should be invited by Governments to contribute to campaigns as early as possible.
In order to ensure the exchange of information about the activities planned for national campaigns, Governments are invited to transmit to the secretariat relevant information and details on focal points, as soon as the programme of the national campaign is established. Information received from Governments should be circulated to all member countries by the secretariat through newsletters and/or Internet.
The implementation of the Road Safety Week should be continuously monitored. After the Third Road Safety Week, Governments are invited to transmit to the secretariat a report on the holding of the Third Road Safety Week in their country with an indication of particular problems and possible lacunas in national and/or international legislation regarding the safety of vulnerable users in order to enable the subsequent evaluation and adoption by WP.1 of follow-up action as referred to in paragraph above