text:
AFGHANISTAN: The Reach of War; U.S. Report Finds Dismal Training of Afghan Police
Five years after the fall of the Taliban, a joint report by the Pentagon and the State Department has found that the American-trained police force in Afghanistan is largely incapable of carrying out routine law enforcement work, and that managers of the $1.1 billion training program cannot say how many officers are actually on duty or where thousands of trucks and other equipment issued to police units have gone.
In fact, most police units had less than 50 percent of their authorized equipment on hand as of June, says the report, which was issued two weeks ago but is only now circulating among members of relevant Congressional committees.
In its most significant finding, the report said that no effective field training program had been established in Afghanistan, at least in part because of a slow, ineffectual start and understaffing.
Police training experts who have studied or had first-hand experience with the American effort in Afghanistan said they agreed with the report's findings, and some said they had warned for years that field training was the backbone of a strong program. But they said additional problems needed to be investigated, including the quality of private contractors and the cost and effectiveness of relying on them to train the police officers. In particular, the experts questioned why the report focused on United States government managers and only glancingly analyzed the performance of the principal contractor in Afghanistan, DynCorp International of Virginia.
Considering the state of the police force, an estimated $600 million per year will be needed indefinitely to sustain it, says the report, undertaken by the offices of the inspectors general at the Pentagon and the State Department. Howard J. Krongard is the inspector general at State, which led the work on the 97-page report, and Thomas F. Gimble holds the office at the Pentagon.
American advisers will also have to combat endemic corruption in the force, the report says.
Efforts to respond to some of the issues that the report identifies are already under way. Afghan and American officials recently announced that they had instituted an ''auxiliary police'' program at the end of the summer, which aims to hire 11,200 officers in parts of the country beset by Taliban attacks, primarily in the south.
But those officers receive only two of the standard eight weeks of training, and the police training experts say the program could worsen the situation. They say the new hastily created program could place ill-trained and poorly vetted officers in the field and allow militias and criminals to infiltrate the force.
An American official involved in the new effort said the program became necessary after southern governors besieged by Taliban attacks began hiring police officers on their own. American officials feared they were seeing the beginnings of de facto private militias.
''This was designed to avoid the creation of the militias,'' said the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly.
The training experts say the United States made some of the same mistakes in training police forces in Afghanistan that it made in Iraq, including offering far too little field training, tracking equipment poorly and relying on private contractors for the actual training. At the same time, those experts say, the failure to create viable police forces to keep order and enforce the law on a local level has played a pivotal role in undermining the American efforts to stabilize both countries.
In Afghanistan, the failure has contributed to the explosion in opium production, government corruption and the resurgence of the Taliban.
In Iraq, the challenge is even larger: Sectarian death squads have infiltrated the police force and helped push the country to what many are now calling a civil war.
''In both places we were extraordinarily late getting started,'' said Robert M. Perito, a policing expert at the United States Institute of Peace and a former National Security Council, State Department and Justice Department official. ''In both places you have a dysfunctional Interior Ministry in control, and in both places the United States has tried to stand up a ministry advisory group to bring order out of chaos.''
In an interview this fall, the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, said the violence in the country's south was partly a result of the lack of a viable force. He called for ''much more support'' from the United States and for an expansion of the country's force of roughly 70,000 officers.
''It is not that they are strong,'' he said, referring to the Taliban. ''It is that we are not strong enough to defend ourselves.''
Most of the $1.1 billion the United States has spent on the training program in Afghanistan has gone to DynCorp, a technical services company based in Falls Church, Va., with 14,000 employees in about 33 countries. DynCorp also won the largest part of the training work in Iraq; it received a total of $1.6 billion for its training and security work in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 fiscal years, according to Gregory Lagana, a company spokesman. The work accounted for roughly 30 percent of the company's revenue during those years. In May, the company raised $375 million in an initial public offering of its stock.
Under orders from the Defense Department, the company has deployed 377 police advisers to Afghanistan, roughly half the number the United States has deployed in Iraq. Police training experts say far more police advisers are needed in Afghanistan, which is roughly the same size as Iraq. The report says that management of the DynCorp contract by United States government officials in Afghanistan has fallen into a state of disarray; conflicting military and civilian bureaucracies could not even find a copy of the contract to clarify for auditors exactly what it called for.
The report does not suggest that DynCorp held any responsibility for the program's failures, but former Afghan officials and several American policing experts who have examined DynCorp's training on the ground say that the company is partly to blame for long delays and that the use of private contractors for training should be reviewed. Afghan officials have complained about the high cost of the advisers and have said that some have too little experience.
Ali Jalali, an Afghan-American military historian who served as interior minister from 2002 to 2005, said the expertise level of some DynCorp advisers sent to his ministry was mixed. He said he rejected the first group he was offered because their résumés were unimpressive. When a second group arrived, some were retired officers not up to the demands of working in Afghanistan, he said. Others knew virtually nothing about the country.
''They were good on patrols in Oklahoma City, Houston or Miami,'' said Mr. Jalali, now a professor at the National Defense University in Washington. ''But not in a country where you faced rebuilding the police force.''
Mr. Lagana defended the company's work and said State Department officials closely monitored their activities. He said the Interior Ministry advisers who drew complaints regarding their experience level were removed.
''We filled positions based on the requirements and salary levels authorized by the State Department,'' Mr. Lagana said. ''As we went along, everyone realized we needed people with experience at higher levels in law enforcement.''
Seth Jones, an Afghanistan expert at the RAND Corporation who has made eight trips to Afghanistan since 2003 to study army and police training, called for a review of the company's performance. He said he had repeatedly heard complaints from both Western and Afghan officials in Afghanistan about the quality and experience of DynCorp's advisers.
''I was surprised, based on what I have seen on the ground, that DynCorp was let off the hook so easily,'' he said of the report. ''I think a very frank assessment of DynCorp needs to be done.''
Mr. Krongard, the State Department inspector general, acknowledged the seriousness of the report's criticisms. But he said in a statement in answer to questions about the report that in the face of obstacles like largely illiterate recruits, low pay and corruption, the program was ''generally well conceived and well executed,'' but that for the police force to be self-sustaining, ''long-term U.S. and international assistance and funding will be required at least beyond 2010.''
The report concluded that the official figure of 70,000 trained police officers was inflated and that only where American advisers were present was the counting reliable to some degree.
As a best estimate, the report said that 30,395 Afghan officers -- fewer than half the official total -- were ''trained and equipped to carry out their police functions.''
The report also says that the vetting process for recruits, intended to keep the Taliban and people with powerful sectarian or tribal loyalties out of police ranks, has not been effective. After recruits are trained, they are often assigned by local police commanders to menial tasks like guard duty.
The international effort lost critical time when it initially mounted a token effort to train officers in Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials and policing experts. For the first two and a half years after the fall of the Taliban, no systematic police training program existed outside of Afghanistan's capital, according to American and Afghan officials. The United States focused on training a new multiethnic army and paid little attention to the need for policemen. Germany pledged to train a new force but sent only 40 police advisers to Kabul.
Then, in 2004, the State Department issued a contract to DynCorp to deploy 30 police advisers across Afghanistan and construct seven regional training centers.
The United States spent $164 million building and running the training centers; recruits received two to four weeks of training. The effort was poorly monitored and achieved mixed results, according to a June 2005 report by the Government Accountability Office.
In April 2005, the Defense Department took over police training in Afghanistan and drastically expanded the number of American police advisers; the number is 377 today. Still, police training experts said the Afghanistan effort remained far too small, with small teams of advisers each expected to field train thousands of Afghan policemen.
The small corps of advisers also makes it more difficult to track equipment, and the report said that just 3,000 of 5,000 vehicles issued to the police nationwide could be accounted for. Although the report does not explicitly connect its warnings on corruption to the loss of equipment, the two appear to be closely related.
The weakness of the police has contributed to Afghanistan becoming the world's largest producer of opium, accounting for 92 percent of the world's supply, experts said. A report issued by the United Nations Office of Drug Control and the World Bank on Tuesday found that corruption had stymied efforts to counter opium production and that a handful of politically connected traffickers increasingly dominated the drug trade.
''The drug industry in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly consolidated,'' the report says. ''At the top level, around 25-30 key traffickers, the majority of them in southern Afghanistan, control major transactions and transfers, working closely with sponsors in top government and political positions.''
The report on police training strongly recommends expanding the advising program to take care of some of those problems but points out that an expansion would cost the United States much more money ''as well as increasing the risk to U.S. personnel.''
- 18 CSC/ DynCorp
- 23 Private Security
- 176 War Profiteers Site
- 185 Corruption
- 187 Privatization


text:
2012 Chrysler 300 Reviews
2012 300 New Car Test Drive
The Chrysler 300 is a full-size four-door sedan that comes in a variety of models to suit a style, performance, or set of features. Whether V6 or V8 and regardless of model it's a roomy, comfortable, quiet cruiser. Apart from its relative the Dodge Charger, the Chrysler 300 is the only rear-wheel-drive sedan we can think of that you can get for less than $35,000.
Thoroughly revamped and restyled for 2011, the 2012 Chrysler 300 nonetheless gets some revisions. Some new models have joined the lineup for 2012: a stylish Chrysler 300S, the new Chrysler 300C Luxury Series, and a new Chrysler 300 SRT8 super-sedan.
The Chrysler 300S is a sportier 300, with 20-inch wheels and firmer suspension.
2012 Chrysler 300 V6 models offer a new 8-speed automatic transmission from ZF that makes the Hemi V8-powered car nearly irrelevant. With this new transmission, the V6 gets an EPA-estimated 31 mpg Highway.
A new, optional navigation system is the best we've ever seen, with a large, 8.4-inch screen that's easily understood at a glance and easy to operate. We highly recommend opting for it. Also new for 2012 are the usual assortment of color and wheel design upgrades, and not one but new sound system upgrades.
The Chrysler 300 has all the heritage traits of an American luxury sedan such as room, comfort, endless features and amenities, power and a degree of presence, yet is also has good road manners, stops and changes directions as well as it goes. It also has a distinctive look ever harder to find in this era of economy-driven aerodynamics, pedestrian impact standards and corporate styling.
All-wheel drive is available. The ride height on 2012 Chrysler 300 AWD models is slightly lower than on 2011 models.
The Chrysler 300 comes in nearly any combination of V6 or V8 engine, 5- or 8-speed automatic, and rear- or all-wheel drive.
The 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 model comes packed with a 470-hp 6.4-liter V8 (only a Corvette ZO6's is larger), Brembo brakes, forged alloy wheels, and Bilstein adaptive dampers similar to those Maserati uses. It's quick and good bang for the buck.
Consideration for the Chrysler 300 covers a wide spectrum including the Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKS, Lexus GS, Infiniti M, Hyundai Genesis, Volvo S60, BMW 3 Series by price or 5 Series by size, and Mercedes C and E classes for the same criteria. A 300C AWD can compete with Ford's Taurus SHO. At about $47,000, the SRT8 is a cost-effective sports sedan alternative to Cadillac's CTS-V, BMW's M-cars and Mercedes-Benz's AMG E-Class. A Hyundai Genesis R-Spec is near identically priced but we don't find it a performance match.
The 2012 Chrysler 300 ($27,170) comes standard with a 292-hp 3.6-liter V6, 5-speed automatic, cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate control, multi-function tilt/telescoping steering wheel, driver information center, keyless entry, power windows/locks/heated mirrors, cruise control, AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA Sirius audio with SD card and USB inputs, 12-way power driver seat, LED cabin lighting, 60/40 split-fold rear seat, and 17-inch wheels.
Options include an 8-speed automatic transmission ($1,000) and Uconnect voice control with Bluetooth ($295). Available for any 300 are Ivory pearl paint ($500) and an engine-block heater ($40). (All prices are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices, which do not include destination charge and may change at any time without notice.)
Chrysler 300 Limited ($32,170) upgrades to leather upholstery, 8-speed automatic, remote start, fog lamps, 18-inch wheels, 276-watt Alpine audio system, power passenger seat, and heated front seats. Chrysler 300 Limited AWD ($34,320) features all-wheel drive, bigger brakes and 19-inch wheels. The Luxury Group ($3,250) includes fancier leather, Olive wood trim, heated/cooled front seats and cupholders, heated rear seats, wood and leather wrapped heated power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power adjustable pedals, driver memory system, power rear sunshade and auto-dimming exterior mirrors. A SafetyTec package ($2,420) adds adaptive cruise control with collision warning, adaptive bi-Xenon SmartBeam headlamps, blind-spot and cross-path detection, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear park sensors, and rear fog lamps.
Chrysler 300C ($38,170) and 300C AWD ($40,320) come with a 363-hp 5.7-liter V8, 5-speed automatic and bigger brakes. Standard equipment mirrors the 300 Limited with Luxury Group and navigation, but with Olive wood optional. Also available: premium audio systems, SafetyTec package, moonroof, 19 and 20-inch wheels.
Chrysler 300S comes with a choice of V6 8-speed automatic ($33,170) with AWD ($35,320); V8 5-speed automatic ($39,710) with AWD ($41,320). S denotes body-color trim with gloss-black grille and headlight trim, matte carbon and piano-black cabin trim, 300S logo on cloth (V6) or leather (V8) seats, and the Beats By Dr. Dre sound system. The S V8 also gets rear sunshade, rain-sensing wipers, and performance-tuned steering. 300S options include UConnect with 8.4-inch touch screen, Garmin navigation, Sirius Travel Link with Real Time Traffic and Sirius satellite radio ($795).
Chrysler 300 SRT8 ($47,170) comes with a 470-hp 6.4-liter V8, five-speed automatic, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, Bilstein adaptive damping, and unique suspension and stability control calibration, brakes and tires. It also includes new nose and tail sections, sport seats with suede inserts, SRT-specific instrumentation and driver information, and a one-day driving experience on track with professional driver instruction. Most 300-line features are standard on the SRT8 though there are some options: three-season performance tires ($150), moonroof ($1,295), SafetyTec package, Harman/Kardon audio ($1,995), black chrome package and premium leather package. SRT8 carries a $1,000 federal Gas Guzzler Tax.
Safety equipment on the Chrysler 300 includes front, front side, driver knee, and side curtain air bags, electronic stability control with Brake Assist, and tire pressure monitoring system. The optional SafetyTec package groups several safety features together. Optional all-wheel drive improves stability in slippery conditions.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
COVER- ANNUAL MANUAL: Our Town- Community low-down
Size: 10.26 square miles
Population: 40,315
Change since 2000: -10.5 percent
Density: 3,929 people per square mile
ALBEMARLE COUNTY (about 3/4 the size of Rhode Island)
Size: 722.61 square miles
Population: 92,035
Change since 2000: +13.9 percent
Density: 127 people per square mile
The only town in the County, Scottsville has the distinction of being so small that election to government offices (of which there are many) is hotly contested.
Size: 1.54 square miles
Population: 555
Density: 360.2 people per square mile
–source: U.S. Census 2006 estimate (except Scottsville, 2000 Census). It remains to be seen if Charlottesville has actually lost 5,000 people in six years or whether the Census is underestimating and about to create another 5,000-person miscount in the 2010 survey as they did in 2000.
What's this area like?
Well, according to demographic firm called ClaritasExpress, the 22901 and 22902 zip codes consist of the following human types: Boomtown Singles, Country Squires, Gray Power, Young Influentials, Bedrock America, Family Thrifts, Hometown Retired, Mobility Blues, Suburban Pioneers and Suburban Sprawl (as if we needed Claritas to tell us that!). According to the census, which is summarized by many folks, women constitute over 53 percent of the local population.
Predators nearby?
Virginia requires convicted rapists, pedophiles, and other violent sex offenders to register their whereabouts with the state police. You can search the database to see if there's one living near you. http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/. Don't get too hung up, though; there's always 911 for emergencies.
Noisy neighbors?
CHARLOTTESVILLE- In residential areas of the city, the 10pm-6am noise limit is 55 decibels (or about the level of loud talking). Charlottesville police are the enforcers on this one and may be willing to come out and measure the racket with their special meters. 970-9041
ALBEMARLE- Any increase of 15 decibels above the ambient sound level– with a few officially sanctioned exceptions like school events, agriculture, church bells, and the "lawful discharge of a firearm"– is prohibited. The law is broader when it comes to TV and musical devices; it says any annoyance of anybody in a residence is right out. Albemarle police can be reached at 296-5807.
Remove the snow!
CHARLOTTESVILLE- Many people don't realize that a city ordinance requires all citizens to remove snow from the sidewalks along their property within 12 hours of the time the snowfall ceases. (During the blizzard of '96, an altercation broke out when someone dug out a spot for his car, and an interloper parked in it!)
CHARLOTTESVILLE- In the city, you're subject to a fine if you let them grow over 18 inches tall. Not long ago, the city created "no mow" zones near creeks and streams in five city parks, but as for houses, grass must still be mowed within 150 feet of a residence unless a citizen petitions the city to have a riparian buffer zone– and to date, no one has. Moreover, city residents are required to mow up to the street even if the grass in front of their house doesn't actually belong to them. Enforcer: zoning department. 970-3182
The Newcomers Club of Greater Charlottesville says it's open to all who have been residents of the area for less than three years. 980-2725, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Before you dig...
Since undergrounding utilities is all the rage, Virginia has one sweet phone number you should call first to avoid death and injury when you put that shovel in the ground. After you call "Miss Utility," honchos come out, free of charge, and spray-paint lines where underground utilities lurk. 800-552-7001
Getting electricity
Currently you are served by only one company. Depending on where you live, it's probably one of the following:
Dominion Virginia Power- 888-667-3000
AEP-Virginia- 888-707-4237
Allegheny Power- 800-255-3443
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative- 800-367-2832
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative- 800-552-3904
Choosing the juice
While you still don't have any choice over which company attaches its electric wires to your house, you can pick which company produces the energy that flows through them, thanks to a state-mandated competitive program called Virginia Energy Choice. When you sign up for electric service, most of the above utilities should be available. 877-YES-2004
Going green
If you're a Dominion customer, you can buy "green" electricity (generated entirely from renewable resources) or wind power from Arlington-based Pepco Energy Services (703-253-1800).
Landline phones
The phone book lists several local providers, but as far as we can tell, the only one that actually provides landlines for a price that doesn't require a second job is... Embarq. Embarq split off from its parent company when Sprint joined forces with Nextel. Embarq inherited Charlottesville's landline and high-speed Internet business and also offers separate wireless service. To establish service, dial 811 from an Embarq landline or 800-304-7628. Businesses can buy local service from Ntelos (877-468-3567) or Telcove (formerly Adelphia) (817-8170), in addition to Embarq's business unit (800-901-9675).
Natural gas
Efficient stuff for heating. Only available through the underground pipes of Charlottesville's City Public Service, which serves the City and nearby suburban areas. Charlottesville Gas even has a new natural gas safety mascot: Flicker the Flame. (Flicker snuffed suggestions "Jack Gas" and "The Flamer.") City Public Utilities is hungry for customers and provides three interesting services: $100 rebates for converting to gas water heaters and installing low-flow toilets, and
one free pilot-lighting of your furnace each year.
Billing: 970-3211
Pilot lighting: 970-3801
Propane and fuel oil
An alternative for folks who don't live on the natural gas pipeline. While fuel oil is generally just for heating, many Central Virginia households use propane for both cooking and hot water in addition to heat. Many local companies will fill your tank.
Coal and firewood
UVA, in addition to burning natural gas and fuel oil, also makes heat the old-fashioned way: with coal. But as far as we can tell, no one is selling coal retail in Charlottesville, and there are probably only a few dozen houses with a workable little coal-burning fireplace. As for firewood, every bubba and his brother seems to be selling the stuff come fall. Make sure you get what you pay for. A cord is 128 cubic feet, or 4 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. (or 3 ft. x 6.5 ft. x 6.5 ft.). Prices typically range from $90 to $160 per cord.
Internet access
In addition to the myriad national providers, residential customers have several firms with a Central Virginia presence to choose from:
Blue Ridge Internetworks - 817-0707
Broadband Network Services, Inc. - 817-7300
Ceva Net - 877-444-2382
Comcast - 888-266-2278
Embarq - 866-228-1362
Firstnet - 817-3131
Helix - 963-4900
Ivy Group - 979-2678
Localnet - 977-2962
Ntelos - 877-4NTELOS
Pure Internet - 866-517-0033
VA.net - 434-296-6055
Cable/Satellite/Wireless Television
Many years ago, when cable television was thought to be a natural monopoly, the city struck a deal making Adelphia the sole provider of cable television in the city. In 2006, Adelphia got divvied up between Time Warner and Comcast, the latter of which got dibs the local cable market. Technically, it's not the exclusive provider; it just works out that way. The company provides everything from local broadcast channels to all the premium goods including HBO and Cinemax. 888-266-2278
Dish Network satellite service starts at $19.99/month for 10 months. 800-333-3474 Circuit City offers DirecTV which provides 150 channels for about $41.99/month. 973-0601.
CHARLOTTESVILLE- Before they open the flow, they'll demand a letter of credit or ask you to pay a deposit. But that's not what scares some customers. Ever since the drought of 2002, rates have soared– with the summer water (May-September) price currently $45.57 per 1000 cubic feet and winter $35.05 per 1000c.f. The sewage rate is $35.20/1000c.f. There's an additional $4/month service charge for each utility. Charlottesville Public Service: 970-3211
ALBEMARLE- Albemarle has a scaled-fee system which is consistent all year. Up to 3000 gallons of water is $3.62 per 1000 gallons. From 3000-6000 is $5.43 per 1000g. Above 6000 gallons, your rate nearly doubles to $9.67 per 1000g. Nonresidential and multi-family rates are $5.33 per 1000. The sewer rate is $4.41/1,000 gallons– plus $5.11/month service charge. That's a hike of a couple of dollars across the board, and according to the Albemarle County Service Authority, that's due in part to the County replacing old pipes this year. (Note that Charlottesville and Albemarle calculate their rates differently. Charlottesville uses the cubic foot, which equals 7.48 gallons. Get out those calculators!) Albemarle County Service Authority: 977-4511
If you're not on the water grid...
Many communities in Albemarle County must use well water or trucked-in water because they're not hooked up to the water system by choice or because they're in rural areas. Many suburban houses buy their water from the Authority and then use an in-ground septic system to process wastewater. These things are regulated by the local Health Department at 1138 Rose Hill Drive, which can even show you a little sketch of where your property's septic field is located. 972-6259
Where's my water from?
If you're on either the city or county water system, your water is stored at one of these three reservoirs: the South Fork Rivanna, Ragged Mountain, or Sugar Hollow. The quasi-public body that chlorinates and sells the water to Charlottesville and Albemarle is the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. Confused? Yep, us too.
Ye olde droughte
Emergency water restrictions took effect during the infamous summer and fall of 2002. No washing of cars or sidewalks or watering of plants, etc. As a result, now all automatic irrigation systems on the public water supply must contain a rain sensor. If we get another such emergency and you want to report someone breaking the conservation rules, call 970-3040.
CHARLOTTESVILLE- Curbside recycling is free: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, cardboard, aluminum cans, other metals, and brown, green, or clear glass bottles are picked up at curbside on the day your trash is collected. No plastic bottles, though. City guidelines are available from the City Public Service, 970-3830.
ALBEMARLE- To the eyes of many greenies, Albemarle County stepped back into the dark ages on July 1, 2003 when– aware that there's insufficient market for second-hand glass and plastic– it dropped those two categories as well as cans from its curbside program. Now the county demands that the private trash haulers (who actually do the work) pick up only newspapers and magazines. Find out more from the county Engineering Department, 296-5861.
Now your best bet to offload that flotsam you feel so guilty tossing in the trash is the McIntire Road Recycling Center (906-0763) which accepts almost all major categories including cardboard, books, spray cans, #1 and #2 plastic, and colored glass. M-F 7:30am-5:20pm, Sat 8am-5:20pm, Sun 12:30-5:20pm. If you have a lot of metal– like old radiators or refrigerators– you might get some real money down at Coiner's Scrap Iron & Metal in the Woolen Mills neighborhood. 296-6465
Trash hauling
CHARLOTTESVILLE- The city gets this done via a private firm that swings by your house once a week, but you have to pay (to cover landfill fees and encourage recycling) via the dreaded sticker system. Here's how it works. You have to buy stickers, which you affix to your trash can or bag. You can pay weekly by buying 32-gallon stickers for $2.10 each or 13-gallon stickers for $1.05 Or spring for the annual sticker ($94.50) and paste it on the side of your trash can. Details: 970-3146.
$25 large-item disposal- Until 2004, Charlottesville residents got a big bonus: up to two annual visits from a huge truck with a giant claw that would take away jumbo trash like refrigerators, tree limbs, and sofas. They still pick up, but now you have to pay– and you get only two pick-ups a year, even when you pay. To schedule, call 970-3321.
Free leaf pickup- Another bonus of living in the city. Free collection begins each November with pickup of bagged leaves (the city even provides free bags) and vacuuming of raked-to-the-curb leaves. 970-3830
ALBEMARLE- Many people haul their own trash to the landfill or bury it on their property, but most suburbanites hire one of the many private haulers who advertise their services in the Yellow Pages. Typically, they charge $10-20/month.
Burning stuff
ALBEMARLE- You're allowed to burn stuff in the county! But there are some rules. Moreover, between February 15 and April 30, open burning may take place only between the hours of 4pm and midnight, unless you're burning a distance of 300 feet or more from woodlands or other material capable of spreading fire to woodlands. Other regulations also apply.
Fire Marshal: James Barber
Albemarle Department of Fire & Rescue: 296-5833
CHARLOTTESVILLE- No outdoor burning in the city.
Fire Marshal: Steve Walton
Charlottesville Fire Department: 970-3240
The landfill
It operates under the goofy name Materials Utilization Center, but everyone still calls it "The Ivy Landfill." Located on Dick Woods Road (Route 637) in Ivy, it no longer actually puts trash in the ground. Instead, it accepts your garbage and documents that need shredding for $66/ton (less for vegetation) and ships it far away. Hours: 7:30am-4pm Mon-Sat. It accepts the following items for free: paint, motor oil, antifreeze, batteries (including household batteries). The landfill is also the site of the Encore Shop, which proves one man's trash is another man's treasure– for a price. 977-2976
Reporting dead animals
CHARLOTTESVILLE- Call City Public Service (970-3830) or police dispatch (977-9041) for pickup.
ALBEMARLE- Call VDOT (293-0011) or police dispatch (977-9041) for pickup.
Reporting pollution
Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) urges you to report suspected pollution incidents during business hours by calling Amy Owens at DEQ's regional office at 540-574-7800– or the Department of Emergency Management at 800-468-8892 on nights, holidays, and weekends.
In Virginia, potential jurors are selected randomly by jury commissioners using lists designated by the court, such as the voter registration list and the driver's license list. You are reimbursed $30 for each day you serve. See our "Courts" section in Government & Economy for more.
This town contains not only an old-fashioned rural Co-Op, but also a major national catalog retailer in Plow & Hearth, and more garden centers than you can shake a watering can at. Plus, the City of Charlottesville offers 30' x 30' plots of land that can be rented for just $40 a year ($60 to non-residents) in Azalea Park and at the old Fairgrounds near the original Bodo's. Renewal registration starts the first Monday in February. New renters can sign up the third Tuesday in February. 970-3260
Every April, some of the most sumptuous gardens and grounds are open to the gawkers of Historic Garden Week. See "Annual Events" in our Outings section for more. 804-644-7776
Farmer wannabes should call the Virginia Cooperative Extension to find out what the extension agents think you can grow and how to do it. 872-4580
–>>See our "Books" section in Culture for libraries.
Charlottesville Police- Information: 970-3280. Chief: Timothy Longo
Albemarle Police- Information: 296-5807. Chief: John Miller
UVA Police- Information: 924-7166. Chief: Michael Gibson
All emergency calls- For all three jurisdictions: 911
All non-emergency dispatch calls- For all three jurisdictions: 977-9041
Consumer tips–>>See our Consumer section
The most fun time locally is the winter when everyone flips out when it snows. On average we get 24 inches per year, but it takes only a flake or two (or even the threat thereof) to close schools. Remember the February 2003 snow? The National Weather Service claims we had only seven inches, but the granular nature of what fell from the sky was so dense that most area schools were closed for two days after the bulk of the snow had fallen. (Monday, February 16, 2003, Presidents Day, was already a holiday.) That's still well short of the all-time record for Charlottesville, when 20.7 inches fell– on March 6, 1962.
It's not proven, but our state climatologist thinks this area has the makings of a minor tornado belt.
Hot hot heat
Charlottesville averages highs in the mid-80s during the summer, but it's not, as they say, a dry heat. With average relative humidity during the summer months hanging around 70 percent, the average heat index (a.k.a. "feels like") is in the low 90s.
Sources: Virginia State Climatology Office as well as the National Weather Service which has stations in Blacksburg, Sterling, and Wakefield that compile data on this area.


text:
A great way to hide trash cans or air conditioning units!
Aside from chemicals, pallets can also harbor bacteria, insects, and mold. You never know where a pallet has been, or if it could have come in contact with something dangerous, or if it was used to ship a hazardous material such as a pesticide.
Keep these things in mind when considering your pallet project.
Have a great week!


text:
Licensed innovation is the field territory of law that methodologies the insurance of the privileges of the makers of unique works. It incorporates everything, i.e. writing, music, innovations and trademarks. As a rule, the principle motivation behind licensed innovation purview are to support the improvement of new advancements, creations, expressions and advance monetary development and development. In other words, singular makers and innovators have a tendency to have more grounded motivating forces to expound their inventive activities once they know that their work will be ensured and they may have some money related advantages from it.
Cyprus built up an inventive framework that arrangements with the insurance of IP rights in points of interest. Unequivocally, it was set up a propelled framework that ensures that the results of development and innovativeness are secured at a national, European and International levels. Likewise, Cyprus is a signatory to universal IP bargains and conventions, for example, WIPO, European Community Trademarks, The Patent Cooperation Treaty, Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial, Trademark Law Treaty a.o.
In Cyprus, the primary components for scholarly rights insurance are licenses, trademarks and copyrights.
Licenses shield a work from being made, exchanged or utilized by others for a specific period. In Cyprus, a national patent testament is issued by the Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver. Then again, an European Patent declaration is conceded by the European Patent Office. Universal Patent declarations following the arrangements of the Patent Cooperation Treaty are overseen by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Trademarks secure the names and empower the ID of brands, items and organizations. The rationale of trademarks is to help the shoppers to recognize the diverse contenders. Trademarks are built up when a business starts utilizing a remarkable stamp to distinguish its organization.
Trademarks insurance is masterminded in the accompanying ways:
1. The arrangements of Cap. 268 of the Cyprus Law offers insurance at a national level.
2. The EU Regulation 207/2009 and the EU Regulation 6/2002 offer through Cyprus, uniform insurance in the entire region of the European Union.
3. Given that Cyprus is a signatory to the Paris Treaty on the Protection of Industrial Property, as oversaw by WIPO and a gathering to the Madrid Protocol, a worldwide insurance of trademarks is ensured.
Copyrights consider the assurance of aesthetic works. Makers have restrictive rights to recreate and display their work in broad daylight as they wish. Regardless, it ought to be cleared up that copyrights don't consider the insurance of thoughts yet the way they are communicated. Copyrights empower makers to have money related advantages from their work. Moreover, copyrights hinder others from profiting from makers' work without their consent.
The Law N.59/79 on the Protection of Intellectual Property offers copyrights insurance at a national level. Moreover, Cyprus is a signatory to the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works that involves a broad scope of rights, including programming copyrights. The last gives insurance to all the Convention part states with no further activity being required.
Cyprus "IP Box":
In Cyprus, the "IP Box" plot was presented on the first of January 2012. In particular, it is a bundle of motivators and duty exclusions concerning income got from IP rights. Among the rule destinations are to support interests in innovative work and imaginative developments that will be valuable to the overall population. The idea of "IP box" alludes to decreased tax collection on wage or benefits originating from permit, transfer, or exchange of a patent.
The EU nations that apply comparable IP assessments plans are France, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain and the UK. "IP box" plans could be partitioned into two classifications. The main classification, embraced by France, the Netherlands and the UK, alludes to assess diminishments on qualifying wage. The second classification, received by Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg, Spain and Cyprus, thinks about an exception of a specific level of income.
Cyprus offers extensive expense motivations, for example,
Powerful expense rate of 2.5% every year, which is the least rates inside the EU. Cyprus is more focused than different nations. Accurately, in Luxembourg the powerful assessment rate is 5.7% and in the Netherlands 5%. Therefore, organizations putting resources into IP resources in Cyprus can take favorable position of a compelling duty rate of 2.5% from the misuse of IP. In the meantime, they advantage from EU and worldwide IP arrangements and conventions.
Aggressive amortization arrangements for a long time. This arrangement alludes to IP rights got or created after the first of January 2012.
Cyprus has a wide system of twofold assessment settlements.
80% of worldwide sovereignty net pay produced from IP claimed by organizations situated in Cyprus is absolved from pay assess.
80% of the net benefit created from the transfer of IP possessed by organizations situated in Cyprus is excluded from pay charge.
A Cyprus International Trust getting profits from a Cyprus IP proprietor won't be subjected to any sort of tax collection in Cyprus. Besides, the trust may gather pay that can be changed over into capital toward the finish of the year with no duty results for the trust or its recipients, given that none of the recipients is a Cyprus impose inhabitant.
An IP gets the advantages said above just if the citizen is the proprietor of the IP, authoritatively enroll in Cyprus or abroad. Additionally, the IP ought to be connected in the age of salary.
The proficient IP impose administration and the corporate purview of Cyprus are two imperative factors that constitute Cyprus an exceptionally appealing goal for the obtaining or improvement IP resources. As it was expounded above, Cyprus IP box offers alluring motivating forces for building up a business in IP in Cyprus.


text:
Auto Publishers Price Starting at
*Based on model year EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your atual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery pack age/condition (hybrid only) and other factors.VIEW OUR INVENTORY
Compact dimensions; available 4-wheel drive, low base price; good fuel economy; lots of optional equipment; short wheelbase for easy parking
The Jeep Renegade was a brand new vehicle last year, and a few new features have been added for 2016. A new premium sound system is the biggest change, it features 9 speakers, a 506-watt amplifier and a 6.5-inch subwoofer. Additional new features include rain-sensing wipers and a few new exterior color choices.


text:
The founder of Vision 3 talks about the company's work on films including Jack The Giant Killer and Gravity.
Stereographer Chris Parks and the company he founded, Vision 3, are the top of a field that only a few years ago was virtually nonexistent. As studios make 3D entertainment a increasing priority, Vision 3 has become one of the UK's top 3D service providers, working on such feature films as Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, John Carter, and Jack The Giant Killer as well as the ground-breaking David Attenborough documentaries Flying Monsters 3D and Kingdom Of Plants 3D.
Parks was a keynote speaker at Ravensbourne's 3D Storytelling Conference in March where he discussed frankly about what was working in 3D production and what was still missing the mark. In an interview with ScreenTech, he expands on that Ravensbourne talk, sharing his insights on 3D production, how to bring 3D neophytes up to speed and what 3D can really offer beyond mere heightened audience experience.
You're finishing Bryan Singer's Jack The Giant Killer. What is happening on it now?
Chris Parks: We're in post-production. All I have left is the depth grade in June, which is where I fine-tune the depth that I've put in place during shooting. It's often underappreciated how much that final adjustment can affect the look and feel of the project. It will help achieve some things we set out to achieve when we were shooting - trying to give a sense of scale to the giants and a sense of claustrophobia to Jack's poor hut. A lot of that can really be brought out in the depth grade.
Your early involvement can have a big effect on the look and style of the movie.
It depends on the film and on the dynamic with the DP and the director. Those relationships are critical. But the prep period can really help the DP and the director – and the designers as well – in the 3D design of the movie. On Jack The Giant Killer I started six or eight weeks before we started shooting. On Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón's sci-fi thriller starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney), we did some initial test shoots and had some 3D conversation about a year before we started shooting. If I'm able to get the director excited about how he can use 3D, it can open up all sorts of possibilities. Often it's the case that the director is incredibly busy, but even in those cases it's important for me to get under the skin of the film and come up with a plan – some people call it a "depth script", I think of it more as a "depth plan" – a structure and a logic for how the 3D will be used throughout the film. Every shot is different and you do adapt as you go along, but I'm a very firm believer in having an intelligence to the 3D. Some of the 3D effects we're doing on Gravity are quite dramatic and a lot of that's being pushed by Alfonso who's really challenging me with the 3D about what is possible.
What do you think is the number one area where people need to be educated most with 3D?
There are a few things. We've had a lot of conversation at the studio level about 3D and my single, most passionate message for people is that 3D shouldn't be the reserve of the summer tentpole feature. 3D in its current resurgence has been used almost as an add on to the VFX – "We have a visually stunning movie, let's make it even more visually stunning with 3D." I understand where that approach comes from, but I think that the incremental increase that 3D can add to the big summer movies is less than it can be in the cases of other films. You've already got impressive visuals and arguably the 3D doesn't necessarily work best in those situations. The message I've been trying to get across is that what 3D can really excel at is the intimate moments, that conveying of emotion. In everyday life you know most of human communication is unspoken. It's body language, subtle changes in expression, micro-movements in the face. Because of the extra information that 3D can convey, well shot, well-scripted depth can help the actor to convey much more. And I think it will require different acting skills, in the same way that acting for IMAX. You can underplay because you pick up so many more details. The visually striking sequences can benefit from 3D, but it's the personal moments that can really benefit. And I think that's where films like (Baz Luhrmann's) The Great Gatsby are really going to be interesting. I don't know how well the 3D will be done, but a film like that can hugely benefit from it. And hearing some of the tales from the set it's sounding very exciting.
I agree. I've always wanted to see what Ingmar Bergman would have done with 3D.
Exactly. Another thing I've run into is that when people plan for stereo films, they begin to think they need a lot of depth in their scenes – "We need a mid-ground, a foreground, a background, we need to be able to see out over the vista and beyond, and that's what will look good." Actually, again, it's almost the reverse. If we are trying to create a scene that has real power, that will give a tactile, visceral zing to the audience, I will often advise the director and DP and the designers that we want to be flattening off the scene. If we close the windows and draw the curtains, our experience is now fully contained inside the room. We're not having to accommodate everything on the outside. Trying to introduce a background or a mid-ground into a scene can reduce the depth of the thing that you're actually interested in. On a cinema screen, you can only introduce about 5% or 10% of the depth you can see in real life, so it's not about just putting up a lot of depth on the screen, it's about selectively creating scenes with a depth that will have an effect. 3D is about the space between objects rather than the objects themselves. It's not about sticking an object in the middle of the screen. You want to use your objects to define a volume and that's when 3D becomes satisfying.
How do you see things moving on from here in 3D?
There was a lot of hype following on from Avatar and a lot of it was rubbish. People were coming and talking about 3D as this thing that was going to dominate the world and was the answer to everything and talking completely unrealistically about how it was going to e used in films. It was being seen as a cash cow and a bandwagon that needed to be jumped on. It was exciting but it wasn't leading to good 3D in a lot of cases. We had conversations where people would say, "We weren't able to get this made in 2D, but 3D is now enabling us to get it made." Now we're past that hype and in this kind of backlash. Hugo has arguably helped to push us out of the backlash and I think the films of this year will help bring us up to a plateau of productivity. So though there has been a backlash, I think that's expected, and I think now we're past all that hype and it gives everybody a chance to actually make some good quality 3D films.


text:
Katazome-shi 054 - Sample 8.5" x 11"
An 8.5" x 11" hand cut sample section.
All sample papers have FREE SHIPPING to Canada and US!
"Katazome-shi" literally means stencil-dyed papers. Using traditional kimono-printing techniques, these elegant bold patterned papers were developed in Kyoto during the 20th century by an inspired soul. Using persimmon-dyed kozo as the stencils, and aided by paste and "Kojiro" (soy bean juice), the pigments absorb deeply into the paper to produce long-lasting colour and the unmistakable look of a print truly made by hand.
While beautiful and decorative – perfect for framing – these papers are also incredibly strong, making them ideal for covering books and boxes.


text:
SpeakToText Speech Recognition 2.51
With SpeakToText Version 2.51, you can dictate text directly into other applications, recognize audio files you create, have you computer read text to you, and create your own speech commands.
Use the SpeakToText Advanced Mode to dictate directly into other applications and switch between windows with a simple mouse click. The "User Commands" feature lets you create your own speech commands to start programs, open files, browse WebPages, play music and much more. You can even give your computer personality by making it talk back to you. Use the send message feature to chat hands-free with most popular chat programs, and write and send emails in Outlook, Outlook Express and Netscape 7.2. New features include and "auto send" feature for sending transcripts of your voice chat communications; and enhanced "text-to-speech" that reads your documents, emails, and Web pages with a single speech command. This latest release also comes with CoolInfo 1.1 Voice Recognition, a free speech recognition utility by CoolSoft that lets you get information from the Internet entirely by speech.


text:
Hi, I've never packaged anything before so I might have gotten this wrong but I followed this guide http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=139262
and used the same instructions listed there except for some reason the first time I did ./configure with all the switches, etc after it, it wouldn't let me make it. I typed ./configure again and then it let me go through make and sudo checkinstall without any errors.
At the very end it said I had a .deb. I'd be happy to share with everyone but I'd love not to bork anyones anything, so if someone wants to test it out first and give me any pointers on what I did/did not do I'd be forever grateful.
I'd love to start packaging though and this might be a good enough start. Conky is running fine on my system for now.
One question though, I've created the .deb and its sitting in a temp file in my home folder, is it safe to delete/move somewhere else? If so, anywhere I should move it to?
conky 1.6.1
Forum rules
Before you post please read how to get help
Before you post please read how to get help
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1


text:
Shipping Policy
1. Shipping:
phil&teds online will ship throughout most of the world. There are some regions that we are unable to ship to due to prohibitive freight charges including South America and most of Africa. Please note that phil&teds takes no responsibility for the payment of customs duties, import and other such taxes or levies as the freighted product may attract. Payment of such fees remains the responsibility of the purchaser.
2. Delivery time frames:
All delivery time frames are estimated, we cannot guarantee delivery within this time frame due to unforeseen circumstances, including customs delays at country borders. Estimated delivery time frames are as follows:
Rest of World: 5-8 business days.
3. Freight & handling (Shipping) charges:
Rest of World: Orders under US$200 pay US$100, orders between US$201 and $400 pay $200, orders US$401 and over pay US$250
4. Payment Methods
We currently accept payments through PayPal. You will be required to provide your name, credit card number, expiration date, and the CVV number on the back of your card.
PayPal is a unique way to send money online, to anyone who has an email account. PayPal allows you to shop without sharing any financial information, and is 100% protected against unauthorized payments. You must first have a PayPal account established through www.paypal.com before we can process your order via PayPal.


text: [i:Vibes] :: View topic - Mike Shiver - Calling On You [OUT NOW] Guidelines FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Bookmarks Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Main Menu Frontpage News Reviews Interviews Party Reports Artist Profiles Label profiles Diaries Tutorials What is... Links Radio-info Interactive Forum User Stats Info FAQ Crew-info i:Vibes Info Site Updates Mike Shiver - Calling On You [OUT NOW] [i:Vibes] Forum Index -> Music discussion (trance, techno, progressive and other genres) View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message KrisAHead BouncerVibes: 119.62Joined: 24 Nov 2008Member #: 26,996Posts: 573 Post subject: Mike Shiver - Calling On You [OUT NOW] Artist: Mike Shiver Release: Calling On You Label: Enhanced Recordings Spotify / Beatport: https://enhanced.lnk.to/Enhanced276 Release Date (all stores): 3rd February 2017 Continuing his association with Enhanced with one of the label's first releases of 2017, Swedish producer Mike Shiver delivers one of his freshest productions to date in 'Calling On You'. Merging the lines between forward-thinking Future House low-ends and smooth, harmonic chord-lead builds Mike's latest outing on Enhanced bears all the hallmarks of a innovative thorough-bred hit. Dotted with deft vocal samples, chops and FX 'Calling On You' brings Mike's beloved sound back to the label. Another impressively arranged production emerges from Mike Shiver on Enhanced, this is 'Calling On You'. Connect with Mike Shiver Facebook: https://facebook.com/mikeshiverofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeShiverMusic SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mikeshiver Connect with Enhanced: Website: http://enhancedmusic.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/EnhancedMusicLtd Twitter: http://twitter.com/enhanced_music YouTube: http://youtube.com/EnhancedRecordings SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/enhancedprogressive Instagram: http://enhan.co/EnhancedInsta Post rating: 0 Rate this post: Not logged in Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:53 am Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First [i:Vibes] Forum Index -> Music discussion (trance, techno, progressive and other genres) All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Spam----------------Spam posts Music----------------Music discussion (trance, techno, progressive and other genres)EquipmentArtist and Label NewsRadio BroadcastsMusic Production and DJ Mix PromotionClub Listings Non-music related----------------Other discussionBuy & Sell [i:Vibes]----------------Site Feedback and Help Content Discussion----------------News DiscussionReview DiscussionInterview DiscussionTutorial DiscussionWhat is...Party ReportsArtist ProfilesLabel Profiles You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group


text:
Everything you love and need.
At Gateway Villa and Gateway Gardens in Marble Falls, TX we believe it's not how long you stay, it's how well you're treated. Maybe you want to "try out" senior living before making a commitment, or maybe family is traveling out of town and you want resources and support close at hand. That's why even if you're here for a few days or a few weeks, you're still home when you're here.
Enjoy restaurant-style dining, a spacious activity center, numerous social and recreational events, even a full-service barber and beauty salon. Everything you need meets everything you love, at Gateway Villa and Gateway Gardens.
Amenities You'll Love
We're here to help.
Find helpful blog posts, e-books, and resources about senior living, health topics, caregiver wellness, and more for older adults and family members.
A Daughter's Guide to Transitioning Your Parent to Senior Living
Moving a parent from their home into senior living is about much more than what to pack. Inside the Five Star Senior Living "A Daughter's Guide to Transitioning Your Parent to Senior Living" eBook we share some tips for embracing this fresh opportunity, for everyone.
Let's start a conversation!
Whether you're looking for a community for yourself or a loved one, let's talk about where you can go from here.
Find A Community Nearby
Five Star offers options and excellence, with 260 senior living communities in 33 states.


text:
October 3, 2013
The blog is written by Ilona Bray, a Nolo editor and the author of Becoming a U.S. Citizen. Her working background includes both solo immigration practice and working or volunteering as an immigration attorney with nonprofit organizations in Seattle and California.
Among Ilona's most memorable volunteer experiences were passing out HIV+ literature in Guatemala, researching U.N programs as a legal intern for Amnesty International in London, and representing (pro bono) disabled, low-income people seeking Social Security benefits in Washington, DC.


text:
Question about RTO 125cc Full Size Adult Quad ATV
Posted by fmhuntclub on
Thanks for your question!
I'm sorry that you haven't received an answer yet.
The response rate on FixYa FREE questions is usually over 80%, but sometimes questions go un-answered when:
1. the question is unclear, incomplete, or poorly worded...
2. the question is mis-categorized - so the correct experts aren't viewing it...
3. the question requires an answer for something that cannot be explained online adequately...
4. specific training, tools, or equipment are required to avoid injury or death...
5. the Experts that are online simply don't have the resources to answer your question fully...
Please feel free to re-work your question if you feel one of these may be the reason.
Of course you are not required - but converting your question to a PAID one usually increases the reply rate as well.
Normal rates for FixYa are...
$ 9.99 answer for one question.
$12.99 Live Real-Time online chat or premium e-mail support.
$29.99 Live Real Time phone support
Sometimes FixYa will run specials for unlimited questions via monthly subscription or reduced rates for limited periods.
Consider the savings that can be had when an informed Expert can save you a $100 service call, or a $350 trip to the car dealership.
Your problem solved - guaranteed! Or your money back!!
If you don't want to pay - feel free to re-submit your question so it returns back to the top of the work queue if you still need help.
Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating is appreciated for helping with your FREE question
Posted on Aug 18, 2010
Tips for a great answer:
Oct 07, 2018 | kawasaki 2005 Prairie 360
Aug 02, 2016 | kawasaki 2005 Prairie 360
Oct 08, 2015 | kawasaki 2005 Prairie 360
Oct 08, 2015 | kawasaki 2005 Prairie 360
Sep 12, 2015 | ATVs
Aug 10, 2014 | kawasaki 2008 Prairie 360 4x4
Jul 02, 2014 | kawasaki ATVs
May 10, 2014 | kawasaki 2004 Prairie 360 4x4
Feb 19, 2014 | RTO 200cc Full Size Four Wheeler ATV
Sep 23, 2013 | kawasaki 2012 Prairie 360 4x4
454 people viewed this question
Usually answered in minutes!
Level 3 Expert
85239 Answers
Level 3 Expert
10422 Answers
Level 2 Expert
355 Answers
Step 2: Please assign your manual to a product:


text:
A hummingbird sips nectar from a columbine blossom near the kitchen window. In the distance, chickadees splash in the birdbath while a cottontail nibbles grass beneath a bush. With some research and thoughtful planning, you can transform your yard into an inviting space for wildlife.
Providing backyard wildlife habitat need not be expensive if you phase in plantings over a period of several years and do some of the work yourself. Maintenance should cost no more than the average lawn and, in fact, may be less expensive and time consuming since wildlife benefits from a wilder, less-manicured space.


text:
Cardinals' Washington arrested on assault charges
Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington was arrested Friday and booked on two counts of aggravated assault.
The arrest came after Phoenix police investigated alleged reports of a domestic violence assault with a women on Wednesday.
"This is a legal matter and I am limited in what I can say other than that my lawyer and I will continue to cooperate with investigators and welcome the opportunity for all the facts to be presented," Washington said in a statement released Friday. "I regret that the situation has brought this kind of attention to my family and my team. I look forward to resolving it as soon as possible."
Washington, 26, has already ran into some trouble this offseason. Nearly one month ago, he was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
A second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2010, Washington earned his first Pro Bowl appearance last season after posting a career-high 134 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 16 games.
He has registered 319 tackles, 15 sacks, four interceptions and three forced fumbles in three seasons with Arizona.


text:
$9.99 $7.00
We have run out of stock for this item.
Mount the cup holder onto the cup holder lug (close to your stroller handle on the left hand side).
If you own an earlier model buggy that does not have this cup holder lug, you will need to also order the cup holder lug & handle screws kit or cup holder lug and handle screws kit for duo & double urban to adapt your frame to accommodate this style cup holder. Alternatively, the bottle holder is a universal fit to any Mountain Buggy stroller.


text:
February 3, 1959: The Day the Music Died
On February 3, 1959, a plane crashed shortly after taking off from Clear Lake, Iowa, killing all four people aboard: pilot Roger Peterson and musicians Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. The date became known as The Day the Music Died.
Charles Hardin Holley was born in Lubbock, Texas in 1936. He was only five years old when he earned his first money for singing, $5 at a local talent show. He formed a band in high school that performed on local radio and the country music circuit. They recorded several country songs for Decca in Nashville, but failed to find success. Holly (he dropped the "e" when his name was misspelled on the record contract) returned to Lubbock and played various venues, including opening for Bill Haley and the Comets and Elvis Presley. Elvis suggested Holly forget country music and start playing rock-and-roll. Holly's band, now known as The Crickets, recorded "That'll Be the Day" as a demo, which got them a contract with Coral/Brunswick records. A string of hit followed in 1957 and '58, including "Peggy Sue" and "Oh Boy". Holly wrote the songs, but had to share credit on some with producer Norman Petty. Holly split from Petty and The Crickets in October of 1958. Legal hassles following the breakup led to money problems, which led to Holly signing onto a winter tour in late 1958. By then he had married Maria Elena Santiago, a girl he proposed to on their first date. Holly's life story was detailed in the 1978 movie The Buddy Holly Story. Holly was 22 years old when he died.
Richie Valens was only 17 years old when he died. Born Richard Steven Valenzuela in southern California, he learned to play guitar at age eleven. Valens was influenced by Mexican folk songs, country music on the radio, and singing cowboy movies. He played for school assemblies and parties in high school. Valens joined a band called The Silhouettes and had locally steady work. A talent agent spotted him and brought him into Keen Records for an audition. The instrumental he played for that audition evolved into his first hit, "Come On Let's Go". It sold half a million copies in 1958. Valens' followup single was "Donna", a song written for his girlfriend, with a Mexican folk song called "La Bamba" on the flip side. Both songs were riding high on the charts when Valens signed on for a tour with Buddy Holly and two other acts. Valens life was the subject of the 1987 movie La Bamba.
Jiles Perry Richardson recorded and toured under the name The Big Bopper. He was the oldest of the plane crash victims at 28. Richardson grew up in Texas where he was active in school music programs. He studied pre-law in college, then dropped out to work full-time as a radio disc jockey. He once stayed on the air for five straight days, breaking the record for continuous broadcasting. Richardson also served a stint in the army, married, and fathered a daughter. He took the name The Big Bopper for a radio show. According to some sources, The Big Bopper was the first person to use the phrase "music video". He was in the process of promoting a video business when he died. Meanwhile, Richardson was busy writing songs. He wrote 'White Lighting", a hit for George Jones, and "Running Bear", recorded by Johnny Preston. The Big Bopper recorded "Chantilly Lace" in 1958, which went to #6 nationally. The success of "Chantilly Lace" led to a slot on a winter tour with Buddy Holly.
Valens, Richardon, and Holly were on tour with a show called "The Winter Dance Party Tour" with Dion and the Belmonts. The tour bus was so cold and miserable that one band member reportedly developed frostbite. Buddy Holly had had enough, and decided to charter a plane in Clear Lake to fly to Fargo, North Dakota for the next gig. Dwyer Flying Service was hired for $36 a seat, and the plane was ready to leave after the show at the Surf Ballroom. Waylon Jennings, a backup singer for the show, relinquished his seat on the plane to Richardson because he was running a fever. Another backup singer, Tommy Allsup, lost his chance to fly in a coin flip with Valens.
When Holly learned that Jennings wasn't going to fly, he said, "Well, I hope your old bus freezes up." Jennings responded, "Well, I hope your plane crashes." This friendly banter of friends would haunt Jennings for years.
The pilot, 21-year-old Roger Peterson, was not qualified to fly on instruments alone. The weather had been clear earlier, but a storm warning had been issued. Neither Peterson nor Dwyer Flying Service was aware of the weather alert. A blinding snowstorm enveloped the plane soon after takeoff, and it spun into the ground. Jerry Dwyer, owner of the plane was concerned that it hadn't landed in Fargo by morning. After the fog cleared, he searched by plane and found the crash about a quarter of a mile from the nearest road. You can see photos of the crash aftermath, but be warned there are bodies visible. All three musicians were thrown from the plane. The plane had to be cut to extract the pilot.
Holly and Richardson both left pregnant wives behind. Maria Holly had a miscarriage shortly afterward. Born three months after the plane crash, J.P. Richardson Jr. performs under the name The Big Bopper Jr. He plays the role of his father in a tribute show called The Dance Party Tour.
Buddy Holly and the Crickets inspired the names of both bands The Beatles and The Hollies. The 1971 song American Pie by Don McLean was written about the events of February 3rd, 1959. Candace Rich provides us with an explanation of the lyrics. The town of Clear Lake expects crowds of thousands to commemorate the anniversary of the first rock-and-roll plane crash. The community held concerts and a symposium with some of the victim's family members over the past few days. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame designated the Surf Ballroom as one of its national landmarks. Holly, Valens, and Richardson had extremely short musical careers by today's standards, but their music and influences live on.


text:
Slidell leaders seek to fill major budget shortfall
Mayor goes before council with plan to fix budget
Facing sagging sales tax income, the city of Slidell is tackling a budget shortfall approaching $1 million.
However, the situation may not be as bleak as first thought.
Just how bad the money problems are in Slidell really depends on who is talking.
"I have to do things now. I can't wait until May or June to try to recoup the million dollars," Mayor Freddy Drennan said.
Facing the prospect of substantial cuts, and the stark possibility of layoffs at the first of the year, Drennan will go before the city council Tuesday with plans to deal with the budget shortfall.
The main problem is that sales tax dollars are being drawn away by big box stores opening in other parts of the parish.
"Those sales tax dollars that were coming here for years and years are not coming back. That's a reality. We have to realize that," Drennan said.
Councilman Buddy Lloyd said, "I do think maybe people might be a little too doomsday kind of at this point. Let's be cool about it. Until we pass something, nothing is in stone right now. It's important we remember that."
Councilman Joe Fraught said, "I don't think that we're going to end up cutting as much from personnel as originally was thought."
Layoffs could be eased by retirements and not filling already vacant positions, but Police Chief Randy Smith has vowed not to take police officers off the street.
The chief said he'll decide where any cuts in his $7 million budget will come from.
"The mayor and the council can make recommendations and suggestions where I should cut, but they cannot dictate that I have to lay people off," Smith said.
The city got some encouraging news Tuesday. Officials said property tax revenue was more than $500,000 ahead of what was initially projected and there are some supplemental, one-time dollars to be had.
"I have to find recurring money. One-time money is only going to be a Band-Aid approach on a gaping wound," Drennan said.
Those adjustments will just get Slidell to the end of the fiscal year in June. Then the process starts all over again.
City leaders said if they don't act now the problem could be significantly worse next year.
The council was schedule to meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Slidell Council Chambers.


text:
Make sure it's an original!
Metal Sign available in a range of styles. Including: Mini - 150 x 200mm, Large - 300 x 400mm, Jumbo - 500 x 700mm, Dangler - 65 x 90mm, Magnet - 65 x 90mm
Customer Reviews
Delivery Info
We process and dispatch orders Monday to Friday 8.00am - 5.00pm so delivery and dispatch timescales quoted on the website exclude weekends or bank holidays.
Whilst we endeavour to deliver products within the specified timescales we cannot guarantee delivery in, or accept liability for deliveries made outside those timescales. We do not accept liability for out of pocket expenses or other costs incurred due to failed or delayed deliveries.


text:
Tour Guide Only Services for Ephesus and the Surrounding Area
Hire a local private tour guide in Ephesus !
For travellers who are travelling Turkey with a rent a car, we offer tour guide only services. Your expert Ephesus tour guide can meet you in front of Basilica of St. John or at your hotel in Selcuk or Kusadasi.
Travellers will have the total freedom to decide what to see and where to go. Your tour guide will meet you at the desired location and will accompany you to the sites you would like to visit.
Tour guide only services are offered in English and Spanish only.
English speaking tour guidance fee for this private tour is 60 Euros (whatever your group size is)
Spanish speaking tour guidance fee for this private tour is 75 Euros (whatever your group size is)
The tour is limited with Ephesus and surroundings for 7-8 hours. Your tour guide can meet you at any time you like.
* Referenced rate is for tour guide only and does not include entrance fees and parking fees to the sites.
For English speaking tour guide bookings on certain dates we are offering %20 discount !
Meeting point in Selcuk town with your tour guide will be in front of Basilica of St. John.:
Western region of Turkey is a easy place to drive a rental car. If you are planning to rent a car at İzmir Airport, make sure that your rental car has a toll sticker or a toll transponder to pay the highway tolls. You cannot pay the tolls any other way Note that you can not pay tolls with cash! As you exit from Izmir airport, follow the green signs for Aydın (not İzmir). Green sign is for toll road. The toll for the drive from the Izmir airport to Selcuk (Ephesus) is about 3 Turkish Liras. In the toll road there are no signs here for Selcuk or Ephesus, so follow the signs for Aydın. After 30 minutes drive from Izmir airport is the Selcuk turn, Leave the toll road by this exit, following signs to Selcuk and Efes (Ephesus). After passing the toll gates in 10 minutes you will reach Selcuk (Ephesus). If you are going to use our tour guide only service, you will meet your tour guide in front of Basilica of St. John, therefore look for a brown sign as ''Basilica of St. John''


text:
1. Wait. I forget... Is Bloomberg a Democrat or a Republican? He's an "independent" now. He was a lifelong Democrat, until he ran for mayor (in 2001) as a Republican. He came out as an independent in 2007.
2. What does the mayor of New York have to do with Massachusetts? He was born in Massachusetts, grew up there, and went business school there.
3. Why did he pick Brown over Warren?
[T]he mayor had chosen to support Mr. Brown... for opposing a "national concealed-carry reciprocity amendment," which would have required states to honor concealed-weapons permits issued by other states.Concealed-carry reciprocity "would let people with gun permits from rural states like Arkansas and Kentucky carry hidden handguns in New York City," according to the mayor's spokesman.
It's not as though Warren opposes gun control, but when you "take a tough stand and buck party orthodoxy that helps the city of New York, the mayor would like to support you."
Interesting. By the way, why specify "rural states like Arkansas and Kentucky"? That has a bigot-y feeling to it. I suppose they might mean that in a system of decentralized gun regulation, what's right for a rural state is different from what a place like NYC needs/prefers. Federally imposed reciprocity undercuts the federalism values inherent in letting the states decide for themselves. But "rural states like Arkansas and Kentucky" — to my ear — sounds more like disgust for hillbillies.


text:
1351896789 - Vans Triple Crown of Surfing hydrated by vitaminwater
Related Links
Another year has gone by, but all our memories of Andy Irons remain as strong as ever. On this second anniversary of his passing (November 2nd) we celebrate his life and impact on surfing and all those who loved him for who he was. The entire Billabong family wishes to take a moment to join the surfing world in remembering one of the greatest surfers and personalities our sport has ever known.
Out of respect and acknowledgement of Andy's legacy we continue to dedicate the Billabong Pipe Masters in his memory.
Billabong is also proud to announce the new global AI Forever collection for release in Summer 2013 in stores and online March 15, in the USA. Proceeds from the AI Forever line will go toward ongoing guaranteed support for Andy's wife Lyndie and young son Axel.
Andy Irons continues to touch hearts and minds of so many in the surf community - "AI Forever" says it all!
Aloha, Andy with love.
- The Billabong International Family


text:
A true story about three eight year olds who couldn't read
I often get asked how to start teaching a child to read. This story gives some practical tips to use at home, as well as a peek inside an everyday classroom situation. At a school I used to visit, there … Continue reading


text:
For the latest from UN Geneva, visit www.ungeneva.org.This site is no longer updated (except for the Disarmament section) as we transition to the new site.
In 2016, the Fifth Review Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) established a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). The GEE held its first meeting from 13 to 17 November 2017 in Geneva.
At their 2017 Meeting, the High Contracting Parties to the CCW agreed that the GGE on LAWS shall meet again in 2018 for a duration of ten days in Geneva. The first meeting of the GGE on LAWS in 2018 took place from 9 to 13 April. The second meeting will be held from 27 to 31 August 2018. The meeting will take place in Conference Room XVIII on 27 August and in Room XX from 28 to 31 August 2018. Ambassador Amandeep Singh Gill of India is the chair of both meetings of the GGE on LAWS.
The final report of the 2017 meeting of the GGE on LAWS, particularly the "Conclusions and Recommendations" section, provides guidance and direction for the work of the GGE to be undertaken in 2018.
The overarching issues in the area of LAWS that will be addressed in the 2018 meetings of the GGE include:
Address: Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. | P: +41 (0) 22 917 1234 | F: +41 (0) 22 917 0123 | CONTACT US
Copyright | Terms and Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice


text:
Tax planning for clients during tax season always generates new strategies and ideas, as unique situations tend to get my analytical wheels turning. From a risk/reward wealth management perspective, I like to look at tax planning with the actual cost to the client in mind, including what is the best cash flow option, because the most tax efficient savings strategy for each person's situation is the ultimate wealth planning strategy. Here are a few thoughts that may also relate to your clients:
Negative Cash Flow Savings
I've never been a big proponent of the Roth IRA due to its drastic current negative cash flow. Here's what I mean by negative cash flow savings: Let's assume your client can put $6,000 in a Roth IRA, which costs them $7,800 in cash flow to save $6,000 (assuming a 25% federal and 5% state income tax bracket). Putting that same $6,000 in an IRA will only cost $4,200 in cash flow to save $6,000 – assuming the same tax rates above.
I've learned that most clients want to save money for retirement, while also living a little along the way, traveling and enjoying quality time with kids/family as they age. The IRA savings example above gives families an extra $3,600 of cash flow per year, which they could further save or spend. Of course, many of you will argue that the Roth IRA is tax-free for life, while the other is taxable when withdrawn. That's true, based on the current tax laws. However, in my experience many clients live on less money in retirement, usually dropping them at least one tax bracket below where they saved/contributed the money while working.
For example: Assuming the same tax rates above (25% federal and 5% state – for a total of 30%) for a client contributing to an IRA, in most cases, that client withdraws money out of an IRA during retirement at a total 15% bracket (15% federal with little or no state income tax on retirement assets, depending on the state of residency). This example provides long-term tax-free savings comparable to a Roth IRA when also considering the overall total cost of the long-term differing cash flow effects mentioned earlier. For further clarification on this point, you may want to read a past article of mine entitled: The Gamble of a Lifetime.
Income Qualifying Limits & Low Contribution Limits
The second reason I'm not a fan is the Roth IRA's low income qualifying restrictions and the IRA's low contribution limits. If an investor is not part of a 401(k) or covered pension plan where they work, the odds are pretty much stacked against them for retirement savings. In 2014, Roth IRA income limits for single filers are $114,000 to $129,000, and for joint filers it's $181,000 to $191,000, with both IRA & Roth IRA contribution limits maxed out at $5,500 each unless over age 50.
Therefore, if we still assume a 25% federal and 5% state tax bracket, plus a prudent low-end savings of 15% of income per year to fund a client's retirement, let's further assume a single filer could actually invest $11,000 between both an IRA ($5,500) and a Roth IRA ($5,500) in retirement-specific accounts each year (current IRS rules only allow $5,500 maximum in a IRA or Roth).
As such, a single filer would already be short $6,100 (15% of $114,000 – $11,000) in retirement savings, if it were possible to effectively contribute to both an IRA and Roth IRA. If you compare the actual cash flow cost to saving 15% annually, it would roughly cost the non-401(k) covered single filer $18,930 (130% of $11,600 + 70% of $5,500) to save 15% of their $114,000 income or $17,100.
(Note: The above two paragraphs have been modified from the original content to correct a mistake.-Ed.)
A covered 401(k) plan employee has contribution limits of up to $17,500, not including company matching contributions. The same single filer saving $17,100 in a 401(k) plan would have cash flow costs of only $11,970 (70% of $17,100) to save 15% of the $114,000 income or $17,100. The earlier contribution limits indirectly force a huge cash flow difference of $6,960 per year between the two examples. Joint filers are no different in like-kind comparisons, prompting the need to help clients decide where, how much and what works best to tax efficiently save 15% to 25% of income annually for retirement, and enjoy life along the way.
Despite the fact that most clients want to save money, very few can tax efficiently save for retirement while optimizing their current lifestyle. They either save a lot, thereby significantly sacrificing their family's ability to enjoy life along the way, or save too little, enabling them to experience more with their families, but leaving them on the job till 67 or 70 because they haven't saved enough. Helping clients tax efficiently save for retirement is a must in our current tax-structured system, so hopefully these ideas provide discussion opportunities with your clients. Look for my next article in the series where I'll discuss a few additional ideas.


text:
Located in the southern-central part of Maine, the state's capital—just 55 mi/90 km northeast of Portland—was at various times a lumber center and a major supplier of ice (cut from the nearby Kennebec River) that was sent to places as far away as the Caribbean. The State House was designed by Charles Bulfinch, the architect of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Be sure to peek at the veranda on the upper floor, where you'll likely find legislators and lobbyists taking a break.
There are a good number of National Historic Register buildings in nearby Gardiner, 6 mi/9 km south. And in Monmouth (pronounced MON-muth, 13 mi/20 km west), is Cumston Hall, where performances of classic plays are staged in July and August. In November, Monmouth celebrates Great Maine Apple Day with such activities as a pie-eating contest, and participants sample new hybrids of apples grown in the area.
Request Full Destination Guide
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.
|Copyright ©2020 Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Your Travel Specialist
Courtyard Travel LTD., A Branch of Tzell Travel Group
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
1010 Northern Blvd.
Great Neck, New York 11021


text:
Diy Wall Art (13)
These days, the trend of decorating rooms with wall art is becoming immensely popular everywhere. In this way, the internet sites are full of unique ideas to decorate the walls in a great manner. In this article, we would share some of the amazing concepts of diy wall art. You won't have any trouble while implementing these ideas on your room's wall.
- If you are a regular magazine reader, you can use it for another great purpose. Simply cut the images of anything you like and keep it inside a frame. Cut many of your favorite images and hang them on the wall.
- Many people prefer decorating the walls with the framed photos. It gives a look of the amazing photo gallery at your room. You can also use postcards and blank cards to decorate the walls.
- If you prefer designs more than the clicked pictures, it's better to go for wrapping paper. Buy a bunch of wrapping sheets and cut them in different styles. Put all the cuttings inside the frame and enjoy watching beautiful diy wall art every time.
- Fabric can also be used in a great manner to decorate the walls. Similar to the wrapping paper technique, you need to cut any printed fabric and frame it to hang on the wall. We usually don't think about it but honestly, it looks superb on the wall.
- The drawer lining paper can also be used to enhance the beauty of your home's wall. These papers are easily available with different patterns in the market.


text:
Equity futures fell sharply on the Employment Situation Report, but have bounced back to roughly even prior to the open. The dollar is down slightly, bonds are roughly flat after rising on the report, oil is higher, and gold is close to break-even.
The headline number came in considerably less than expected at 103,000, with a private payroll of 113,000 (180k expected), and the headline (trumped up) rate falling to 9.4%. Below is the entire BLS report:
Employment December
Here's Econoday's take on the report:
Today's report was mixed with payroll jobs underperforming and the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropping. Unfortunately, the payroll number is more credible and the rate decline is likely an aberration. Overall payroll employment in December gained 103,000, following a revised 71,000 rise in November and a 210,000 boost in October. The December advance came in significantly below analysts' estimate for a 160,000 gain. However, the October and November revisions were up net 70,000. Private sector payrolls increased 113,000 in December, following a 79,000 advance the month before. The consensus expected an 180,000 boost.
For the latest month, strength was in private service-providing jobs which rose 115,000 after an 84,000 increase in November. Good-producing jobs declined 2,000, following a 5,000 decrease in November. In December, manufacturing grew 10,000; construction fell 16,000; and mining rose 3,000. Government jobs fell 10,000, following an 8,000 dip in November.
Within private services for December, leisure and hospitality increased by 47,000 while health care rose 36,000. Also, professional & business services gained 7,000 and were led by temp hiring, up 16,000.
The drop in government jobs was led by a 20,000 fall in local government, with non-education declining 12,000. Federal employment increased 10,000 while state government jobs were unchanged.
Wage inflation remains anemic. Average hourly earnings in December edged up 0.1 percent, following no change the previous month. The December number matched the market median forecast for a 0.1 percent increase. The average workweek for all workers was unchanged at 34.3 hours, equaling expectations.
On a year-ago basis, overall payroll job growth improved to up 0.9 percent in December from up 0.7 percent the prior month.
Turning to the household survey, the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 9.4 percent from 9.8 percent in November. Analysts had called for 9.7 percent. The rate declined in part due to a notable drop in the labor force, suggesting the unemployment rate will rebound when discouraged workers return.
Today's report clearly is disappointing and takes some wind out of the sails of the consumer sector. While many indicators have been strengthening, the lack of improved momentum in the labor market will likely constrain overall resurgence for the economy. On the news, equity futures eased, the dollar dipped, and interest rates slipped.
As they mentioned, the Household Survey data produced a very large drop in the rate, falling from 9.8% to 9.4%. This part of the report was better than expected but once again is being fudged lower with large reductions in the size of the workforce – the "participation rate" dropped by .2%, which is a very large drop. The population of the United States is now over 310 million, and is growing at a rate of 1%. That means that 3.1 million jobs must be created each year just to keep up with that growth, that's 258,000 jobs each month. Anything less than that means that the economy is net losing jobs, which we still are.
The number of "discouraged" workers increased dramatically in this report, rising by 389,000 in just one month!
As expected, the Birth/Death model adjustment was very close to last year's, adding 24,000 artificial jobs:
Fooling with the size of the workforce produces many distortions in the report. When we go and look at the "Alternative Measures" table, we find that U-6 (the measurement most closely resembling true unemployment) actually ROSE from 16.3% to 16.6% when not seasonally adjusted, but FELL from 17.0% to 16.7% with those adjustments.
Note, however, that U-3 fell in both categories. That is just one result of simply saying that the workforce is shrinking because there are so many "discouraged" workers and so we just won't count them anymore!
That's nice, and it gives the media something to fool the masses with, a "low" and "improving" 9.4% rate! Party time, massive hiring is coming this year! (Suckers!)
According to ShadowStats, true unemployment is over 22%:
Our economy is marketing driven. It must be all good all the time or it just won't sell. We're all hucksters now, we don't care about making or doing something well or innovative, all we care about is that the numbers keep growing and as a society we'll do anything to make it appear that it is – even if it isn't. Thus we are a mass delusional society, one that history is going to spank severely for our complacency.
Consumer Credit is released at 3:00 Eastern.
The market looks to me like a marathoner who is about to fall down just before reaching the finish line. The internals are getting worse as the market moves higher, not better. Divergences are historic in size and across all time frames. Yet we know that the market isn't real, there are POMOs every single day to keep the illusion of growth alive. This illusion is going to end, I can guarantee you that, I just cannot tell you exactly when. If you are an "investor," a part of your job before letting go of your hard earned cash is to perform due diligence. If you do that for most equity and debt market investments today, I believe that you will find FRAUD that underlies most and thus valuations are extreme when the fraud is removed. Owning something based on a fraudulent value simply is a sure way to get bit eventually. It's sad, but it's the state of America today – top to bottom, all levels of government, and in corporate America too, especially the entire financial sector and particularly in any company that is really a financial in disguise, like GM and GE.
Marketing and fraud, right on down the line: