text:
Reader comments are listed below. Comments are currently closed and new comments are no longer being accepted.
As a regular user of London's offering there are few ways in which I prefer to travel whether for business or socially especially outside of rush hour but the cost sticks in the craw especially when the fares are going in part to provide the cosseted employees with astronomical salaries, pensions and time off all the while striking for more, at regular, highly inconvenient intervals.
Let's hope these new metros learned from London's biggest mistakes, 4 tracks per line (for 24 hour service) large enough tunnels to allow air conditioning and possible future innovations (double decker carriages, who knows what else). The big one is of course driverless trains with limited scope for unions to get their claws into a private sector workforce.
Good thinking, Bat Guano! I remember - fondly - Sydney's double-decker metro trains and taking refuge from the heat in a Bangkok airconditioned underground station . How marvellous it would be to experience a metro with all the aspects you cite.
Interesting- why if London's tube is the most expensive it does not make money ? Even so as it reduces traffic it is worth a subsidy. My request- can they reserve a car or two for clausterphobes like me ?
Although the complicated bureaucratic structure and bad management play a part, the main reason the tube doesn't make money is because the unions hold management hostage, knowing that striking can bring London to a standstill. The result is that thousands of semi-skilled train drivers make upwards of £50,000 ($80,000)a year. These jobs could easily be done by computers (as trains in the Paris Metro and London Docklands Light Rail are). When TFL management grow a pair, or actually learn how to manage, and finally invest in driverless trains, then maybe we might get cheaper fares.
It's also a subsidy thing. Our rail, whether over or underground is (in the South of England at least) one of the least taxpayer subsidised (and falling) networks in the world, hence high ticket prices.
I for one don't have a problem with that, commuters by definition earn more that taxpayers in general but what drives me mad is that our fares are wasted by what taghairm and I explained rather than being invested in a faster, more efficient and modern network.
As an engineer conversant with both capacity and safety concerns, I am concerned with two fallacies advanced in this posting. First, while reasoning that computer technology can be gainfully employed, attention was not paid to the operating scenario in which failure of computer systems can cause accident like the Washington Metro Crash in 2009.Second,the relative contribution of engineering and managerial staff to the overall wage bill was overlooked while attributing high cost of ticket prices to the front line train drivers.
While this is a common refrain its mostly untrue, converting the Tube to a driver-less system such as Copenhagen's would be a trillion pound expense.
It would require all new rolling stock, computer systems and modifying every station with platform barriers to prevent people and things falling on the tracks.
There are some lines though that may be suitable for it; mainly ones that are entirely underground and have separate lines. Others that go through the spaghetti of different systems may never be suitable for driver-less trains.
I don't see why ST. The Victoria line in London has been automatic since the '60s, the driver merely controls the doors.
Platform barriers are nice to have, prevents suicides/accidents but a driver physically in the cab would arguably be less likely to spot a potential hazard than a control room operator with the benefit of multiple camera angles and the ability to monitor the platform in real time.
Things fall onto the track area all the time, so what? Nothing a physical driver can do about that now.
I'm certainly not doubting that there would be a substantial upgrade requirement involved but 60% of the the GDP of the UK seems a little wide of the mark.
Just as a rule of thumb:
Divide the No. of passengers (on the right column) by the length of the rails (on the left colums). That's the base "passengers per km" of each city. Greater that number, more potential profit that city has. Which is why Tokyo Metro runs a healthy profit even at minimum fare of 160 yen (GBP 1.30).
I wonder if the unions hold management hostage or the unions and management together hold the London public hostage. After all, the pockets of the members of the management grow at the same rate, if not more, as the pockets of the union members.
Before talking about Chinese of Korean manufacturers entering the global metro market, it is worth noting that Kawasaki Heavy Industries, one of Japan's major train manufacturers, have been supplying many metro trains in US cities (including a third of NY Subways) since 1990s, and has a dedicated factory in the US to give Bombardier run for their money.
Even small island-nations in the Caribbean are jumping onto the metro bandwagon.
Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic's capital, opened its subway in 2008. The second line was opened just last month in 2012.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, I believe was the first island in the Caribbean to open a metro system. This one opened in 2004.
Speaking of world records for metros, Lima, Peru probably holds the one for the longest time to complete a metro, and one that is only 13 miles long with 16 stations. The tren electrico, which finally opened in 2011, was first conceived in the early '70s and approved by the government in 1974. After a period of political instability and economic turmoil, construction only began during Alan Garcia's presidency in the mid-80s. However, due to political rivalries, corruption and incompetence, building work was abandoned, after only seven stations were constructed. Even the trains had been bought with a loan from the Italian government. However, for over 20 years, a half-built, commercially unviable metro loomed along the main thoroughfares of Lima. Considered a giant white elephant by many, successive administrations did try to kickstart the project, but never got anywhere. In the mid 2000s, when Alan Garcia returned to power, he was determined to finish the metro he'd started so long ago and as if to prove sceptics and critics wrong, the second half of the metro was finally completed in just two years.
When I was in Lima (the metro was not yet finished, they just introduced the metro bus service) one of the figures of speech was:
"When the metro is finished"
My take was that it was a Peruvian version of "Manana", or in other words: Never
There is a subway line on the East Side of Manhattan that was conceived in the 1950s or 1960s, and is now finally under construction.
See Second Avenue subway, also once described as "the line that time forgot." The New York Times had an article on the planning, financing, approval, construction "oddyssey" (two d's used on purpose).
Bogota Colombia is worst, in 60 years, have passed ten proyects of metro system, and this city never started the construction.
Colombia has gone in a different direction. Due to the high cost of building an underground system, it has built a metro using buses. With dedicated lanes and stations it is truly innovative and working superbly.
Google Transmilenio to have a look at it.
BRT (Bus Rail Transport) concept was pioneered at Curitiba in Brazil, and is widely adopted in South America, because of low initial cost and convertibility from existing buses.
As a Bogotan citizen, who has used the transmilenio and others brt in Colombia, and some metros in another countries in the world, i can say the brt is just good for middle and litlle cities, Bogota needs now a metro.
i think transmilenio is very slow for bogota,for example if you take the caracas line, it can take one and half hours go between the two ends of the line in just 27 km, i think Bogota goes in the wrong way with this system.
While the length of Tokyo's metro tracks have not increased as fast as its Chinese counterparts, they have been extending their coverage by linking with existing suburban rail network and providing mutual direct access.
Today, 10 out of 13 Metro lines in Tokyo have at least one interconnecting suburban lines, many with two, and one line with three. There now runs a direct fast service from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport that goes through one of the Metro lines (Asakusa Line). This means that while the total length of tracks owned by the Metro operators are 305km, total length of the actual network covered by Metro TRAINS are easily more than double that.
To that point, wasn't there an effort some years back (say around 2005) to improve connections and coordination of schedules so that folks from the exurbs could get into (and out of) Tokyo faster?
I am thinking of maybe for folks living out towards Yamanashii, or in Chiba or Saitama prefecture, or down in Kanagawa around Odawara?
Thought there were efforts to shave off time, increase convenience, and enable people to get into work from farther distances? Could be mis-remembering...
You remember correctly, and in fact are talking about the same initiative to improve suburban access to Tokyo's Metro network. There have been more than a dozen such improvements made since 2000, with several projects still ongoing.
Madrid Metro is superb
Despite of economic turmoil (many strikes) it remains as a safe and fast service. Moving underground is the only way to avoid Madrid traffic, always stuck, like in many other big cities...
I agree 100%!!!! Superb ....
Isn't CAF (if I have the name right) a competitive provider of trains and rail equipment?
Madrid Metro is superb except for those whose pockets have been picked.
Yeah its one of the best out there. I have been robbed once here in Madrid metro but then I think it may happen in any of the metros in the world. Underground Metro in European countries is really a requirement given the winter and traffic you experience here.
During the winter Underground is such a boon. I can hardly imagine waiting outside for Metro in this winter.
Most of these underground money wasters are totally uneconomic and are only undertaken for silly political reasons. If politicians had to tell the true facts, probably none of them would be built.
Though one would also have to take into account the economic losses caused by crippling traffic jams in megacities with no or inadequate metro systems, like Jakarta and Sao Paulo.
Adam Smith believed in government support for infrastructure and transportation (canals, roads, bridges, etc., even grudgingly the Navigation Acts - for defense reasons).
As the prior poster mentioned, public rail systems in large metropolitan areas are needed if economic activity is threatened with strangulation by gridlock and tranportation bottlenecks.
As are street systems.
Technically, New York City's admittedly diminutive Beach Pneumatic Transit was the second subway, selling 400,000 tickets in 1870, its first year of operation.
What about the metro in Johannesburg in South Africa? is the coverage too short to be considered?
Funny you didn't mention the United States, where unions, contractors and consultants have inflated the cost of public construction even as past debts and pensions have eaten away at the revenues that might have funded them.
We did built McMansions, however. And those who buy them don't have to share them.
Looking at the public financial picture, I'm glad I mostly ride a bike.
The above applies because the politicians and public servants in charge allow them to. There seems to be no evidence of fixed price contracts, transparent decision making and adoption of global best practice for public works(presumably Singapore, don't call Boston!).
Sorry, but you article is wrong on its time line. The New York Elevated system in Manhattan (not Chicago) followed the London Underground.
Proposals for the Manhattan Elevated system came in 1864, prompted by the success of the London Underground, and the fact that horse-drawn Omnibuses were already running in Manhattan on a 13 Second headway, and the term we still use for rush hour passengers (Sardines), was coined in 1865.
Alfred Ely Beach, the founder and publisher of the Scientific American Magazine, and a famous inventor, making use of the1826 research and experimentation of England's John Vallance, installed and ran a "Tube" sized experimental Pneumatically driven Subway during 1868 under Broadway across the street from City Hall for the distance of Two Blocks. Although not seriously received, it ran successfully, and launched the Pneumatic Tube industry used for mail and inter-office communications ever since.
On Manhattan Island, limited services were in operation on Greenwich Street-9th Avenue from 1868 to 1878 and regular services began on the 3rd, 6th and 9th Avenue elevated lines in 1878.
A 2nd Avenue line commenced operation in 1880 and across the East River in 1885, elevated service began in the then-independent City of Brooklyn.
Chicago started its Elevated system in 1892, while Boston started their first Subway in 1898.
The start of the true subway system in NYC came in Manhattan in 1904. Boston's first Elevated line came in 1901. Chicago didn't open its first Subway line until 1943.
The point is that whereas London indeed was first to build a Subway, NYC and Brooklyn came next in 1868 with its Elevated, followed by Chicago in 1892 with its Elevated, and Boston in 1898 with its Subway. All of the other American Subways and Elevateds came after 1900.
Athens claims 1869 as their start year, but that was for a steam railroad, which was electrified and turned into a Metro in 1904, while Paris indeed opened their first Subway line in 1900.
You've left out Budapest Metro, opened in 1896.
Thank you for reminding me.
and you forget to mention the philadelphia elevated:
'The original subway tunnel from City Hall to the portal at 22nd Street, as well as the bridge to carry the line across the Schuylkill River, just north of Market Street, were built from April 1903 to August 1905.[5] Construction on the Market Street Elevated west from this point began In April 1904, and the line opened on March 4, 1907.' ----from wikipedia.
The article did not mention that after London's 1863 subway, the next two cities with underground rail transit routes (as opposed to Elevateds in New York and Chicago) both opened their systems in 1896. These were Budapest and Glasgow (in the UK, as well). Both original lines are still in use.
Wholecar. Bum!
a remark: you said "any high-frequency, high-capacity urban system separated from other traffic counts as a metro" ...right? So São Paulo city in Brazil have 336 km of metro system ( 74 underground + 260 surface )not to mention exclusive bus corridors as well as tramway .. easily the 5th metro system in the world.
absolutely not. you're talking about dedicated lanes, which are not separated, they are just painted with a different color!
dallagnese, do you know São Paulo´s transportation systems ?
after living in sao paulo for about 10 years, i'd say i do.
great! living in São Paulo for ten years you´re fluent in Portuguese, please take a look at take a look at http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cptm and at http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrô_de_São_Paulo
and as you well know METRô is a subway system with 74 km and 4 separated lines AND CPTM is ANOTHER train system with 260 km and 6 separated lines right They are two different systems, both serving same city, with a total of 334 km. Not "same lines with different colors"
no, thanks.
all the other cities have above ground transportation systems, too. the author clearly decided not to include those on the statistics.
do not try to change the article and use wikipedia citations to modify the world's perception of Sao Paulo's small and insufficient transit system.
First´and foremost, it´s not my intention to "modify" world´s perception of nothing, and I´m not "using" Wikipedia, I just pointed a true fact, there are 334 km of rails on São Paulo city, period. Author don´t use same criteria for all cities, please peruse km values carefully - as I did. São Paulo, as 99% of other world´s great cities ( and medium and small too...) have a insufficiency of many things...however, being one of 10 most populous cities in the world ( and noticing you lived there for ten years ) I respectfully disagree, transit system isn´t "insufficient" as you said. Of course, I don´t know *exactly* where you lived at São Paulo and places you moved within. It matters a lot in a city with as many people as a small European country...anyway, São Paulo city welcomes all foreigners - like you and me :-)
BTW significant portions of the NYC subway are above-ground, or in a trench, but were included here.
Yes, but they are all operated by the same operator. Similarly, overhead sections of London's Underground and Paris's and Tokyo's Metro networks are included in the statistics, but not any of the overground network (JR and other private suburban railways for Tokyo, London Overground in London, and RER in Paris) are included in this statistics.
After only a little over a decade, China now has more high speed rails lines than any other country. More than Japan and Europe combined.
It is the same way with subways. Shanghai's subway only began in 1995 and is the world's second largest system.
It is hard to argue with phenomenal progress.
Now China is setting its expertise in exporting mass transit, subways and high speed rail.
They can build it for less than half the cost of domestic Western contractors.
They can build in less than half the time.
And use the world's leading technology, with the only commercial Mag-Lev train in the world.
They build the world's fastest trains.
They can not only engineer, provide technology, build, but critically finance projects with deep Chinese Banks.
They are building high speed rail projects in Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
150 years ago Chinese coolie laborers built the American Transcontinental Railroad.
Today Chinese engineers may be the best hope for American High Speed Rail lines, especially since no American companies have the technology.
Infrastructure is so critical, opening up domestic projects to the Chinese is a no-brainer.
...Or you can wait for GE to re-invent the wheel by souping up cargo locomotives.
The Maglev utilized German technology, with the trains built by Siemens (and possibly a bunch of other German partners).
I thought Japanese and German firms threatened to sue if China exported knock offs of high speed rail technology? Recall seeing some unusually blunt statements by Kawasaki a year or so ago.
Would be interesting to know, or re-remember, if the crash in 2011 involved indigenous or foreign technology...
it involved the signal system, the only part not being foreign technology. furthermore a very short training of drivers and testing probably didnt help.
Further more i dont understand they hype about the maglev and the other chinese high speed trains being so fast, maglev rarely goes faster than 301 km/hr and high speed trains are always around 270 km/hr. not bad but not faster than the "ancient" TGV and Shinkansen (the Taiwanese high speed network is also excellent). the train network is never the less very impressive and well run.
The crash in 2011 near WenZhou was not a "Highspeed bullet train 350km/hr" but a 'fast train' at 200km/hr. The fault was found to be the Beijing base controls manufacture.
There are no Bullet train lines to WenZhou.
The technology patents from Siemens were bought over by the Chinese train makers and indigenous patents have been applied on the newer generation trains such as better metallurgy on stronger axles and wheels (thus higher speed), highspeed window glass etc. I can't see how the German firm can sue for the patents.
The maglev in Shanghai is the only truly commercial maglev in the World. There may soon be another one between Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The Japanese and the German firms will not sue anyone because first they know that the technology does not belong to them and second, if they have to sue where will they take their case? To China, Japan or Germany. Their threat was an empty threat. It simply showed their frustration because they kinow they have been beaten openly and without cdheatingt. They also kinow that they are not and will never be as good as the Chinese.
The crash in 2011 was, as everyone knows, an accident. Measures have been taken to prevent a repeat of this kind of accident. In 2012, the high-speed rail in China has run much much longer than the rest of the world high speed rail systems put together.
"The crash in 2011 near WenZhou was not a "Highspeed bullet train 350km/hr" but a 'fast train' at 200km/hr. "
- The first Shinkansen ran originally at around 200 km/hr I believe. It was called a bullet train.
- I have come across the Chinese arguements, but have they tested in practice the threat of Kawasaki (or more discrete protests of Siemens and possibly others?)?
- You made claims of better metrallurgy and window glass, etc. - is their any supporting evidence by a third party validating such claims?
Probably sue in the country that Chinese firms attempt to sell/export to (see Apple/Samsung/others in the latest patent wars over smartphones and tablets).
If there is evidence of government collusion to support unfair trade practices/export advantages, the German and Japanese or others could conceivably try to have their governments take their cases to the WTO.
There have been patent cases brought to the WTO.
The Shinkansen (Kanji pinyin meaning new trunk line) was first built in the 60's at around 200km/hr. It was considered a bullet train back then.
The WenZhou train runs on old existing tracks that were used by the conventional trains, with new coach trains and upgraded electrical systems, not a 21st century bullet train that runs on new dedicated tracks at over 300km/hr.
The original trains CRH1 to 5 series co-produced with Siemens and kawasaki technologies were designed for up to 250km/hr. and I think CNR paid 390 millions euros for the Siemens patents.
The new upgraded CRH380 trains were developed by a joint plan from Chinese Acedemy of Science, Tsinghua University and Beijing JiaoTong University and run over 350km/hr.
These reports were in HongKong newspapers couple years ago.
you are such a sour graper deep down in your heart and mind and /eerybody/ knows that.
Do you mean that if Saudi Arabia chose China to build its high speed rail system, the saudi Government will accomodate the stupid Germans and Japanese in order to destroy their rail programme?
Why do you characterize the Germans and Japanese as stupid?
Interesting use of language.
Thank you for the link, and taking the time to respond. Quite interesting. I believe "311 mph" translates into something around 500 km/hour. Impressive for a rail test bed.
That resonates with me because I had the opportunity to ride the Yamanashii linear motor test vehicle some years back, and they had the speedometer hit 500 km/hour at maximum speed.
Here is another link if you are interested.
The construction of the HSR from HongKong to Shenzhen has been awarded to CSR couple years ago.
I haven't seen any protest from the Germans or Japanese yet.
The threat was with regards to markets outside China I believe.
HongKong is an independent member of the WTO and considered to be seperated and outside of China.
Fair enough point. Still would say Hong Kong is an anomaly.
Proof in the pudding about the seriousness of certain posturing would probably be seeing how things unfold with plans on the board with Turkey (which the Europeans already have an in), Russia (think the Euro's have an in there too, like Siemens), Saudi Arabia (more of a consortium going on there), UAE and others.
Also, the legal systems of those countries may not care?
Have heard of places where "commissions" help make things possible.
Thanks again for the links.
Speaking about Turkey. I wonder if NATO will allow Turkey to purchase the HQ9 long range anti-air missiles from China. It sounds like China is the top runner over the US, European and Russians on this.
But it is off topic. Interesting times.
I suspect the US would try to bloc it. Who knows, maybe the recent public introduction of the Patriots into Turkey resulted from some marketing angle?
I say public because I wouldn't be surprised if there were already Patriot batteries over at Incirlik (or older models at least).
I could see a push for "standardization" of equipment. Who knows, maybe Turkey would be invited to participate in some upcoming upgrade (MEADS?), to gain the latest electronics/mobile platforms, etc. (thinking of Turk participation in the F-35 program)?
Otherwise, Russia may have had a shot at such a project if it didn't tangle with Turkey over Syria. Seems things soured a little between the two. But even last summer lack of NATO membership was cited as a disadvantage for Russia.
Now as I understood it, the French were messing around here, and they seem like a wild card - Part of NATO, but independent, and no longer making noise about Armenia or Kurds or what not. May want to win at all costs, like with the Rafale with India?
I have not seen a short list come out. Did the Turks ever go through with announcing that?
No announcement just yet. But what I heard is that the Turks are keen on technical transfer. They want to eventually co-produce the missiles and China is willing to share the export version HQ9/FD2000 technology, with a range of 350km at cheaper price.
The others are more expensive with shorter range and not willing to share the knowhow.
There aren't many choices. Only the US, Russia, China and joint French/Italy are capable of producing long range surface to air missiles.
Micheal Dunne,
As Wenzhou crash demonstrated, the art of HSR lies not in the hardware but in the operation, and JR companies were barred from participating in the mainland projects because of their active role in running the Taiwan HSR (which is the sole genuine export case of Full-blown Shinkansen system so far). Specifically, signalling software and operational know-hows were never transferred from Japan to Mainland China.
The Wenzhou crash was found to be a signal problem during rain storm and the fault lies with the design from a Beijing based company.
Japan has been operating HSR for decades and they do have lot more experience in operations.
That said, China is learning fast on its own. It is now operating close to 10,000km of HSR lines and carry about 3/4 million passagers a day without major problems. As time goes, they will perfect their operational skills.
I think Russia is off the table. Maybe it is China vs France and Italy?
As for HongQi 9 I saw this stat from SinoDefense: The HongQi 9 is reported to have a slant range of 200km up to an altitude of 30km.
Now seems the stats vary in different sources. Same with the speed - between mach 2 to 4.2 (SinoDefense for the former; Wikipedia for the latter).
The Patriot C may be Mach 5.
Stuff could have changed over time.
Then there is the matter of ballistic defense. The US could argue greater experience in that area (having also funded/developed Iron Dome for the Israelis). Of course that could bring up the matter of the old cooperation between Israel and Turkey (something the current political leaders may not relish).
Now there is talk of a version of HQ9's radar (search radar maybe) that employs AESA technology. That could be interesting.
It will be interesting to see how hard NATO try to block the sale from China. There was talk of leakage of NATO defence info and China is a potential future rival. But I think it is more to do with sales, althrough 'Standardization' is a good reason.
Anyway, it is off topic. And I am not sure China is willing to share the latest tech. (AESA Radar). The FD2000 export version is a downgrade system I believe.
"After only a little over a decade, China now has more high speed rails lines than any other country. More than Japan and Europe combined."
So, how many passengers have used the Chinese HSR in 2011? I'd be surprised if they exceeded the total No. of passengers for Japan's Shinkansen (280 million passengers total) for the same year.
In 1919, when Detroit was booming, their subway system was voted down by a mere one vote. Autotive companies probably had input and made their case on more fluid, cheaper auto/bus system. The train system probably would've helped Detroit invest into more solid central city. Cities with metro systems usually run them into the red but it's hard to argue that the metro subway system aren't a backbone to synergy to the city and an engine to vibrancy.
Most of the world's subway systems, be they in Shanghai, London, Paris or NYC, are bleeding financially and many need bailouts.
The two exceptions are the subway systems of Singapore and Hong Kong which both make big bucks from various sources of revenue.
I think New York was closing gaps with fare increases and decreases in services in areas.
God knows what the hurricane did, but here were some projections by the MTA from last summer (now this includes buses as well as the subway), as reported by Bloomberg:
"The MTA projected that 2012 would end with a $46 million surplus, with a similar balance in 2013. But the deficit would be $129 million in 2014, $14 million in 2015 and $231 million in 2016."
Also, I think there are some competing estimates, with darker views on costs of pensions and other things.
Bottom line, New York may dodge the bullet in having to ask for a bailout (or it may get a stealth bailout with Hurricane Sandy aid, if they go about it smartly)
It's not always about the bottom line, particularly when talking about government-funded infrastructure. I don't think any New Yorker would argue against their subway.
No, the NYC subway is actually in a lot of financial trouble. The "surplus" you refer to is exclusive of the capital program, which includes things you wouldn't normally consider capital investment, like ongoing normal replacement and station painting. The capital program is almost entirely funded by debt.
Also, in a quirk of accounting, the MTA considers a "surplus" to mean that there is money left in the bank at the end of the year. In other words, it is really a balance sheet term, not an income statement term. You could have a surplus ten years running but accumulate no extra money.
In addition, the MTA receives subsidies in the form of various dedicated taxes. These include a real estate transfer tax and (until recently) a payroll tax. Outrageously, the state occasionally reallocates this 'dedicated' money for non-transportation purposes.
In addition to its huge debt burden, the MTA also has significant unfunded future liabilities for retiree health care and pension costs.
Finally, labor rules require that the MTA's compensation for its workers is based on its "ability to pay", which pretty much ensures that it can never run a profit. In the past arbitrators have ruled that even the ability to run up debt or defer capital maintenance should be considered part of the organization's "ability to pay".
So what is their deficit then? I think I heard some group put out a figure out a little while back, but can't recall specifics.
I'm a former MTA employee who follows public finance closely. With the exception of the fact that the payroll tax still exists (though it is under attack), vectro's summary is pretty much right.
Basically, you've had an "everybody wins" situation since the early 1990s recession. The city and state cut off general revenue capital subsidies and never restored them. More and more money was borrowed instead. Money has been borrowed for capital ongoing normal replacement even since. And any operating cost near a capital project is considered a "reimbursable expense" -- reimbursed by borrowing.
Since "capital money is less green" because no one faces the pain of paying for it as long as money is borrowed, the construction industry jacked up prices for maintenance projects.
The unions got several pension enhancements during the 1990s stock market bubble, all described as costing nothing since investment returns would pay for it all. To maintain that fiction needed pensions contributions were deferred several years during the early 2000s recession. In one deal, in exchange for the taxpayer kicking in less in the short run the employees got to kick in less forever.
For New York City transit, a series of discounts were handed out starting in 1995, which drastically reduced the cost per transit ride. Money was borrowed to make up for it. The fare is still far less, adjusted for inflation, than in 1995 and far less than in London. Tolls were also frozen for years, with discounts for certain people with influence (ie. those who live on Staten Island).
When the bills started to come up, various politicians and interest groups took to blaming the MTA as an agency for all the problems, and washing their hands of it. Generation Greed. Their influence on our common future is everywhere.
Oh, by the way, we've had two MTA heads in two years. One just quit. No one seems to want the job of covering for the decisions, non-decisions and deals of the past by first denying the problems and then taking the blame.
Good points. Quite illuminating. So what is the deficit according to alternative views/those with a decidely negative view of the accounting? Are we talking $1 Billion in the red in reality? Or $3 Billion, or more?
I haven't added it up, and it's a question of what to include.
They've had "balanced budgets" and "surpluses" year after year, due to the rollover effect described above, but somehow total debt continues to soar.
It went from $26.5 billion in December 2008 to $32 billion in November 2012, according to what I could quickly get on line. That's an increase of $5.5 billion in four years. Some of that is for entirely new infrastructure, like the East Side Access project, but some of it isn't.
In addition, a bunch of debt for the MTA was raised on the state's books in recent years, backed by a 1/8 cent increase in the sales tax. The next 30 years of that tax are already spent.
The MTA also projects $2 billion in "New Money Bonds Issued" in 2013, rising to $3.4 billion in "New Money Bonds Issued" in 2015. Is that over and above rollovers? Don't know.
You forgot to mention Tokyo Metro, which runs 9 of the 14 Tokyo Metro lines (the other 4 are run by Tokyo metropolitan government DoT). They are running hefty annual profit of about 10 billion yen ($110 M), which is no small change.
Sorry, I misread the Tokyo Metro annual statement. The actual profit for FY2011 was 70 billion yen, not 10 billion.
Over the past few months or since I began reading articles from the Economist, I've pinned down several inaccuracies about Brazil and even contempt towards it, to my amazement, or reports which resembled more those written by a C- first year of secondary school student as strange as it may sound. Though I have to say this one was impressively informative and accurate! China, though still much under-developed socially and only topped by India among the Brics in this respect, has set an example to the world insofar as how rapidly they've been bettering their infrastructure. Yes, yes, yes, Brazil's underground system is without the shadow of a doubt found missing. Come to think of it, São Paulo which is the country's economic hub and holds the largest tube coverage which can compared to just one of London's lines. And for a country of a continental size, it stands to reason that most of its transportation should be done by rail, not by road, where after a few hours' bus ride on several of them, you start to wonder if the country's been recently bombed. And the world cup lies 1 1/2 year ahead.
with few exceptions.
"China, though still much under-developed socially and only topped by India among the Brics in this respect"
I am just curious, but in what respects- apart from being democratic- is Brazil more socially developed than China?
Brazil has a lower literacy rate, lower life expectancy, and (according to the World Economic Forum) less gender equality than China. Brazil also has far more homicide and violent crime than China largely on account of having vast impovershed favelas that have nothing comparable in China.
I think your view on Brazil seems stereotyped and Rio-based and yours on China-Olympic games influenced. I suggest you consult the HDI of the Brics and learn it by yourself.
I have. The HDI measures three things: literacy, life expectancy, and gross national income per capita. China surpasses Brazil in the first two. Brazil has higher GNI per capita, but this is accompanied by greater economic inequality. By inequality adjusted HDI, China scores a .534 and Brazil scores a .519.
HDI does not measure other factors like violent crime and homicide which I think most people would agree play a large role in determining how socially developed a country really is. Brazil's homicide rate is 21 per 100,000. China's is 1 per 100,000. Whether or not you want to believe China's homicide rate, the country is definitely way less violent than Brazil.
These aren't stereotypes.
You forgot to mention there's so much corruption in China that the multinationals feel obliged to jump on the bandwagon to make investments and or open new businesses. Also, that middle class in Brazil accounts for nearly 50% and in China 10%. By your standards one could say that the US would be considered less socially developed thanChina for having more crime and violence. China's not just Shangai and other big cities. There's unimaginably massive poverty in the countryside which can be even poorer than or as poor as in most favelas except they're not on the slopes and don't look as ugly
The corruption perception index in China is 3.6 and in Brazil 3.8. Not too different. I really don't think that the corruption in China plays a significant role in attracting foreign investment.
13% of the people in China live in absolute poverty compared to 6.14% in Brazil. So yes there is more poverty in China because largely because of massive overpopulation. Unlike the favelas- or at least the common represenation of them the poor villages in China are quite safe and welcoming. There is nothing unimaginable about the poverty, because I frequently travel throughout China's interior. The impoverished villages are crumbling and ancient; they have pigs and oxen walking around. But within the squalor the people are clean and well-dressed, warm and welcoming, and hold themselves to a high level of behavior (as determined by Confucianism).
I'm not sure what definition of middle class you are using because unlike poverty it is much harder to define. But I have already acknowledged that Brazilian people are on average wealthier than the Chinese. But in terms of education, health, and security the advantage goes to China.
If you go to the Build your own index on the UN HDI site, and just select the education category, it appears Brazil comes out ahead of China.
Not sure if this specific data set is accessible here -http://hdr.undp.org/en/data/build/ - but:
Brazil comes in 103 place with a score of 0.663 apparently;
China comes in at 116 place with a score of 0.623
If you just hit the health category, Brazil just edges out China, getting the 85th spot to China's 86.
Have you listened to The Economist Radio on Facebook?
The Economist Radio is an on-demand social listening platform that allows you to listen, share and recommend The Economist audio content
Test your EQ
Take our weekly news quiz to stay on top of the headlines
In Other Words
Try our new audio app and website, providing reporting and analysis from our correspondents around the world every weekday
Want more from The Economist?
Visit The Economist e-store and you'll find a range of carefully selected products for business and pleasure, Economist books and diaries, and much more


text:
Roberta Sackschewsky - December 31, 1969
Roberta Louise Sackschewsky, 83, longtime resident of the Thayer area, was received into the loving arms of Jesus on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, at Grand Island.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in York with the Rev. Lee Seetin officiating. Burial will be at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Thayer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Hour or to the family for later designation. Condolences may be left for the family at www.metzmortuary.com.
Metz Mortuary, York is handling arrangements.
She was born March 17, 1929 in rural Hampton to Albert and Marie (Rhode) Joseph. Following high school, Roberta attended college and received her teaching degree. She taught school until her marriage to Delbert E. Sackschewsky on July 15, 1951, at Hampton. The union was blessed with four children: Eileen, Lois, Wayne, and Brenda.
Roberta devoted her life to caring for her home and family. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Thayer where she was active in LWML and enjoyed singing in the choir. She belonged to the Choral Union, where she first met Delbert, also the Ladies Aide and was an officer of AAL. She was also a charter member of the Farmerettes Extension Club. Roberta enjoyed taking care of her flowers, working in her garden, and watching and feeding the birds.
She is survived by her children, Eileen (David) Brhel of Denton, Lois (Gerald) Klone of York, Wayne (Cheryl) Sackschewsky of York and Brenda (Brent) Pedersen of Milford; Roberta's grandchildren and great grandchildren include Brian (Karen) Brhel and their daughter Haley; Michael (Rita) Brhel and their children Rachel, Emily and Nathan; Timothy (Becky) Brhel; Phillip (April) Sackschewsky and their sons John and James; Valerie (Michael) Wohlgemuth; Melissa Sackschewsky; and Alissa, Andrea and Kevin Pedersen.
Also surviving are her twin brother Robert Joseph of Billings, Mont. and sisters-in-law Arlene Joseph of Hampton and Norma Joseph of Grand Island. She also leaves behind many nieces; nephews; and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Delbert on Dec. 17, 2012; brothers Lawrence, Arnold, Reuben and Gerhard; sisters-in-law Dorothy, Evelyn and Lillian; nephew Don Joseph; and nieces Kathy Zastrow and Betty Sheldon.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Therapeutic Specialty Representative
Why did you join GSK? What makes GSK a great place to work?
I chose to work for GSK because of its reputation as a pharmaceutical leader both in the US and across the globe. I needed long term stability from an industry leader. I knew GSK would offer multiple opportunities for growth and development. GSK is a great place to work because it has provided countless opportunities throughout the many phases of my career.
What have been the challenges in your role?
I have faced many challenges here at GSK. These challenging times have forced me to adapt and prepare for any negative situation. Each new challenge has become an opportunity to test my own personal limits and to see how successful I could be when faced with adversity. I am now a more strategic, tenacious, problem solver who is not risk adverse. As the Pharmaceutical Industry continues to change, it is reassuring to know I have the full support of the entire leadership team here at GSK.
What have you learnt and enjoyed?
I was able to be a part of Sales Training as an Associate Trainer to new representatives where I developed Coaching, Platform and Facilitation Skills. I also explored the field of talent acquisition as an Associate Recruiter, working with District Sales Managers to select the finest candidates to work here at GSK.
I have enjoyed the many development opportunities offered to me.
What responsibility and progression have you experienced so far?
Hired as a Vaccine Sales Representative, I learned the dynamics of account based selling. I had the opportunity to transfer to the Philadelphia Pharma division where I worked as part of a team for the first time in six years.
I have also been a part of the Regional Development Program which has helped me to be prepared to take advantage of future career opportunities by developing professional skill sets and exploring different career paths. Currently, I am participating in the Emerging Leaders Program. ELD is a very prestigious program here at GSK because it is a training and development program that assesses the readiness of future Management candidates.
What are your career aspirations and how do you see GSK supporting that?
I have both short and long term career goals and I have the opportunity to work as a Field Sales Coach and a Field Sales Supervisor. These roles have given me the opportunity to experience the responsibilities and activities of a District Sales Manager. Most recently, I attended the 1st of 3 phases of the Emerging Leaders Development Program. Over the next 12-18 months, GSK will help me prepare for the role of a District Sales Manager. Throughout this program I will learn how to successfully handle the business and personnel challenges a new District Sales Manager will face.
GSK constantly invests time and money to help prepare me for my long term career goals.
How would you describe GSKs company culture?
The leadership team works diligently to make sure employees have every possible resource they might need. At sales meetings we are always offered workshops on employee benefits and career development. GSK has countless programs to save their employees time and money from health advocates who help employees deal with physicians and HMO's to discounts on phone services. I am most impressed by GSKs commitment to employee health; there are discounts for health and well-being programs (fitness or weight management) and reimbursement for smoking cessation.
What would be the 3 main points you would sell to prospective applicants interested in GSK?
- GSK is an industry leader that offers long term opportunities and there are multiple selling divisions to support a diverse career.
- The GSK pipeline will provide security and growth potential.
- The company benefits package, "Total Reward".


text:
Washington Nationals' top 2012 draft pick Lucas Giolito is heading to see Dr. Lewis Yocum for a second opinion after a recurrence of soreness in his elbow following his only professional appearance. The Nationals are prepared for the possibility that Giolito will need Tommy John surgery.
"If he needs surgery, we're going to give him the surgery," said Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo who has seen two of his star pitchers, Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann, undergo the procedure, as well as several others. Top left-handed prospect Sammy Solis also underwent the surgery in March.
"There's no sense in delaying it. We're in the process of getting a second opinion on 'Does he need surgery?'"
Giolito, who threw two innings in a Gulf Coast League game on Aug. 14, complained of soreness in his right elbow after his outing. Giolito had been working in Viera, Fla., with the Nationals' staff as he continued his rehab program. He got through that fine but once he got on a mound the same issues that cost him most of senior high school season with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament returned.
The Nationals were aware that Tommy John might be a route they'd have to take when they drafted Giolito No. 16 overall this past June. In reality, the only reason the once potential No. 1 overall pick fell to them was because of concerns over his elbow. The Nationals signed Giolito for $2.925 million just before the July 13 deadline.
After his start, the Nationals brought Giolito to see team medical director Wiemi Douoguih, who found the same injury that Giolito had dealt with before the draft, and the team is in the process of scheduling an appointment with Yocum for a second opinion.
"Once we get a diagnosis from him then we'll proceed with whatever we have to do," Rizzo said. "We knew when we drafted him this was an issue and, you know, we were comfortable with the fact that, worst case scenario was Tommy John surgery.
"We'll see where that's headed. Going into this with our eyes wide open, we felt this was a scenario and a possibility."
Asked what the mindset of the 18-year-old was at this point, Rizzo said he too was prepared for the possibility.
"His mindset is that he wants to be healthy and get back on the mound pitching," Rizzo said. "So whichever road gets him back on the mound sooner, that's the one he's going to take."


text:
On Jan. 27 at 1:44 p.m., South Whitehall Police were called to a home at 1412 N. 21st St. because two residents were experiencing respiratory illness.
Police determined the residents had used a significantly high level of a residential pest control product in a small area. The occupants of the home, first responders and pets were decontanimated by Special Operations as a precaution.
South Whitehall Emergency Management, Lehigh County Special Operations, Lehigh Valley Health Network Department of Public Safety and Lehigh County Animal Response team were called in to assist.
Cetronia Ambulance Corps treated the occupants of the house.


text:
We are a new facility with brand new rooms and beds located right on the main beach, but walking distance to the town... Plus d'info »
Golden Hills Bungalows is a set of bungalows and dorms aimed at backpackers and those looking for a fun time. It is... Plus d'info »
Charming little resort of 12 bungalows with individual or shared bathroom and 20 bed dorm situated at about 10... Plus d'info »
Ma-Ney (Maney) Resort has a family charm, nestles in the foothills of the main viewpoint walk. At the quieter end of... Plus d'info »
Phutawan Bamboo Resort is located on Hin Poo Bay Near Loh Dalum Bay. In addition, all guestrooms feature a variety... Plus d'info »
Apache dorm room is a budget accommodation in the Ao Lo Dalam Bay, close to the bustling nightlife of Phi Phi... Plus d'info »
1. Check in from 1pm and check out until 11am. 2. Cash only upon arrival 3. Cancellation Policy: Any cancellation... Plus d'info »
Coco's Guest House is 250 m from Loh Dalum Bay. It offers clean and comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi. For guests'... Plus d'info »
Welcome to Phi Phi Sea Sky Resort, a dream location for any visitor looking for either an eventful or relaxing... Plus d'info »
Marine House offers 3 rooms with balcony and queen beds, 6 rooms with twins or queens and 1 rooms is mixshare for 4... Plus d'info »
Brand New hostel in the center of town, Ploy Dorm Room welcomes the friends from all over the world. Plus d'info »
Welcome to Ibiza House Phi Phi Island, Offering quality accommodations in the culture, water sports, nightlife... Plus d'info »
Welcome to Sunwaree Phi Phi Resort! It is a dream location for any visitor looking for Private bay of Hin Poo with... Plus d'info »
We are in the best place to relax in the natural environment behind the green mountain and Andaman sea. Phuphaya... Plus d'info »
Phi Phi Chang Grand Resort is a place featuring individual bungalow from grand luxury saving up for other activities... Plus d'info »
The Phi Phi Cozy Seafront Resort is the ideal place for vacation with the unique experience with pleasant services... Plus d'info »
Centerpoint Hostel has a nice and large reception/common area. All the rooms and bathrooms are cleaned everyday, we... Plus d'info »
Stones Bar Dorm Rooms and Restaurant offers 32 comfortable beds split between two floors, with air-con, hot shower,... Plus d'info »
Free Wi-Fi with All Air-conditioned room, Hot & Cold shower, Cable TV, Mini-bar The Phuttachot Resort is a mini... Plus d'info »
Comfortable for rent by the day, week month in the Phi Phi Islands. Kinnaree House has 40 rooms so the atmosphere is... Plus d'info »


text:
You think in today's times of social media, no one can be so naive to click on the 'share'-button recklessly? Way off the mark! Think back: have you ever been taught about how to use social media websites properly? Have you ever taught your kids? If yes, congratulations! If not, you're not alone. Think for ten seconds: do you know someone who teaches young kids how to handle Facebook and Twitter? No? Neither do I.
wants to change this situation. Based in Tarrytown, our belief is that social technology is leveraging the power of social media to establish social good. Social media is a part of every teen life. Therefore they should be taught about the paths and trends of social technology and how to use it to direct their lives towards a positive outcome. Therefore we organize a Social Media Tech Camp, especially for teens between 13 – 18 years.
Our instructors will help our youth develop best practices that will give them a positive impact in their lives. Our camp is not only limited to social media websites such as Facebook or Twitter, though. Since everyone seems to have a Smartphone, we will be teaching Java- and Android Game-classes. But wait, there is so much more! The Social Media Tech Camp will be held at Iona College in New Rochelle from June 25th until August 17th. If you are already excited, go to www.froogleinstitute.com/camp and get the latest news about your chance to become a social media expert! Don't forget to register!


text:
More propaganda
Re: Ruben Navarrette's Nov. 11 column, "A loyal, not logical, constituency":
Navarrtte's opinion of how Latino "revenge" should be understood and carefully dealt with in future elections, is just another layer of propaganda designed to blur the lines of what is acceptable when it comes to obtaining citizenship or other legal status in the United States.
Politicians are not attempting to make the large group of illegal immigrants feel like second-class citizens. They are not citizens of any class. In my view, climbing border fences, tunneling under borders, killing border agents, or killing property owners on their illegal march north, is not an acceptable method of obtaining status in this country.
There are laws and millions have followed those laws to achieve rightful citizenship. I know of no politician who opposes legal immigration into the USA. To imply otherwise is deceitful and only plays into the ill-placed rhetoric that continues to fan that racist flame.
It is a sad situation when one political candidate can anticipate 97 percent of one ethnic vote or 75 percent of another, to me that is racism in another form. Where your ancestors lived for centuries does not automatically guarantee you rights! Just ask an American Indian .
- Ron Van Rossum,
Subscribe to the Ventura County Star
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-710-6182.
Monday-Friday: 6am-3pm / Saturday: 6:30am-10:30am / Sunday: 7am-11am


text:
Rocky Mountain Chocolate
10 Employee Reviews (View Most Recent)
"Frustrating and yet fun."
Pros – It was fun! People are happy when you sell them chocolate, and are generally very interested, and not very cranky. And when they are, it's ridiculous so you don't care, really.
Cons – The managers and owners didn't actually know anything about the business. The night supervisor and myself and the girls, seemed to be the only ones who knew what was up.
Advice to Senior Management – Stop treating the franchises like crap.
No, I would not recommend this company to a friend
"The ownership makes the difference"
I worked at Rocky Mountain Chocolate
Pros: You get to eat all the chocolate you want! As a franchise… Cons: Most locations are franchises, and therfore you are at the beck and call of your owner. I have worked for… Advice to Senior Management: As a Company RMCF has little intervention at the store level, I would advise them to have a training… No, I would not recommend this company to a friend More
"Worked as a cashier for a few months during college."
I worked at Rocky Mountain Chocolate part-time for less than a year
Pros: Great part-time job. Great product that I felt comfortable selling to people. Most customers were very… Cons: Wasn't much opportunity for growth, but I wasn't really expecting… Advice to Senior Management: Keep on keeping on. Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend More


text:
Editor's Choice: Lemon Cream Dessert
This week our Editor's Choice comes to us from Liz over at That Skinny Chick Can Bake. Her November 19th Group C assignment was Gloria's blog Canela Kitchen, and the recipe she chose was Lemon Cream Dessert.
What with the holidays upon us, it seems desserts are everywhere. Most of those desserts have chocolate as an ingredient in one way or another. While I love chocolate just as much as the next person, sometimes it's nice to satisfy our sweet tooth with something different. You definitely get that with this dessert. Light, fruity and yummy pretty much sums up this beautiful treat.


text:
A few months ago I became aware of Nextdoor through this very publication. This new social network promised to connect me to my neighbors (of whom I know 0), help me solicit advice about local services, and provide a forum for neighborhood safety, Belmont issues and anything else that may be of concern to my fellow residents.
I soon learned that I inhabit a wonderful neighborhood called Plateau Skymont, but no one else from my area had signed up for the service so I had to wait until several weeks later, I got an email informing me I could finally sign up for Nextdoor, and I did!
Our little social network is slowly growing, but with only 58 members and and 7% of our households signed on, not much is happening. However, I love seeing who lives near me, including our "lead" - the head of our neighborhood social network - who at the time happened to be working for the same company as my fiancé. It's really quite fascinating to suddenly have a sense that you're not alone on your street, that there are people just a few doors down that share similar interests with you - and some very different ones!
Although it has yet to happen, one of my network members suggested a block party or a small meet and greet gathering, something that I was also interested in doing so I can physically meet my neighbors. However, with the small participation in our network, it's hard to get anything going. Nextdoor offers the option of sending postcards to your neighbors to encourage them to join, or printing flyers, but something about that seems a little creepy to me, sending postcards to someone you don't even know. Maybe it's just me ...
And then Nextdoor did something awesome! They opened up the lines of communication to surrounding neighborhoods, so if someone in a neighborhood near me chooses to share their post with multiple neighborhoods, rather than just their own, that post shows up in my feed! Suddenly there's all sorts of people filling up my feed, asking for recommendations for babysitters and recommending mechanics, offering items for sale and sharing local events.
Two particular posts struck me. First, someone in the Highlands offered five opera librettos for free. I immediately jumped on the opportunity, since I sing opera as part of my varied repertoire, and the next day I found myself driving through this neighborhood I didn't even know existed! As a relative newcomer to Belmont and the Peninsula, Nextdoor really has the potential to broaden my horizons.
And then today, I saw a post for a furniture item for sale, that the seller will deliver, an item of furniture my fiancé was just saying a few weeks ago he'd really like to have, constructed of wood that I particularly like. What an opportunity! As soon as the soon-to-be hubby and I talked, I messaged that person.
I'm urging other Belmont residents to try out Nextdoor. It's easy to sign up, easy to verify you actually live in your neighborhood (for security/privacy), and I believe the site has a real potential to enhance our relationships with our neighbors, as well as our own lives (through recommendations, buy/sell boards, event sharing, safety alerts, etc.).
Try it out today! www.nextdoor.com


text:
From new contributor Andrea Egizi. You can find the full piece, as well some of her other work, on the website "News Junkie Post"; previous works on that site can be found by clicking her name after "Editor's note" at the bottom of each post.
The mission statement of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is to "support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards." For those who have become victims of this never-before-seen super storm, most likely will disagree with this mission statement and response time of FEMA. One such hard hit area is Atlantic City. This East Coast gambling Mecca is a densely populated tourist region on the northern most point of Absecon Island and is know for it's transient population of the casino industry. Before the storm reached the coast, the whole barrier island chain was issued a mandatory evacuation and ended up taking a direct hit from the storm sustaining major wind damages and over 80 percent of the island was flooded. The result has been a housing nightmare for not only homeowners, but for the poorer renting residents and who are being denied and/or have pending FEMA checks due to landlord illegalities such as unregistered/unlicensed multiple family homes and single rooms for rent.
Read the post in its entirety right here.


text:
Just Another Adrenaline JunkyRyan | Friday, May 4th, 2012 2 Comments
The bike is dropped at the reservoir. The run bag is at T2. The items on my three-day pre-race checklist have been checked.
Now, I wait.
I wait knowing that in 24 hours, I'll still be on the bike for up to another 30 minutes or so. I wait knowing that in several hours after that, this whole thing will be over for several months. No more races on my calendar until September. Possibly no more Ironmans (unless WTC comes through with an inaugural event in Tahoe or San Luis Obispo) until I qualify by lottery for Kona one day. 70.3 events? Sure! I'm down with that. Full Ironmans…we'll see.
I've found that time, like all the Zipped-out athletes on-site, really does fly in the days and hours leading to an Ironman. There's never enough pre-race time to just chill. And I don't have kids! I so admire the parents here at the hotel who are wearing the blue Ironman participant bracelets while feeding their kids or schlepping them to the pool. Don't tell my wife though, because I also have some sense of hope that if they can do it…maybe I can too?
At Friday at 3 p.m. Utah time, it feels like I've reached the peak of a roller coaster climb. The past few days have moved quickly but efficiently. While I didn't control everything around me, my schedule largely held up and I'm race-ready. But now, now that everything is done the roller coaster is rocketing downward. Hurtling so fast the bolts on the rails feel like they're shaking. Let's hope my bike feels that way with a tailwind tomorrow.
Stop! I just want to savor this moment once more. All day. And never go away. I've written this before and I'll do it again, the moments before an Ironman are just as precious as the experience itself. Something awesome is about to happen tomorrow and the anticipation makes me filled with adrenaline. Perhaps I like the adrenaline rush more than the sport. The thrill of the challenge, the idea of the challenge, the feel of the challenge — more than the challenge itself.
This notion hits me hard. Because it means whether there are three Ironmans or 30, it's the adrenaline rush that needs feeding, not necessarily the triathlon bug. Though I love triathlon and will continue to race as long as there's this kind of manic desire to see how far, how fast, how strong I can go.
Before I sign off until after the race, I gotta point out that I don't recall feeling this … explosive before in my previous two Ironmans. I'm surging with energy. While I want to enjoy the moment of peace, my body is screaming to start the race NOW. It's such a dichotomy. I feel like I'm in one of those shredded wheat cereal TV commercials where one side of the cereal piece is all business (the side that knows I should be relaxing and stay in the now) and the other is all sugar (START THE GUN NOW!!!).
Oh, sleeping will be fun tonight.
Let's do this. But let's savor this just a bit more first.
No related posts.


text:
You are not logged in |
Log In
Home Page
09/13/13 - The New PinPics is getting ready to launch! Please note that the new site will require one email address per PinPics account. You can edit your account info now or after the new site goes live. Also comments will now be moderated, as such all comments not included in a pin description will not be automatically transferred over to the new listing. Comments with authenticity information will be added to the new site individually by the PinPics moderators.
Subjects - Patriotic Disney
Pin 12279: Lanyard Set - Sorcerer Mickey Star Pin w/Chip & Dale Plastic Holder
Disney Pins; Disney Pin Accessories
Walt Disney World
Cast Member
Limited Edition:
SKU Number:
Original Price:
Members Trading
Members Wanting
This lanyard was bought at the Cast Connection at WDW.It is blue with red & white writing "DISNEY" in red , "WORLD" in white and "U.S.A." in red and white.
Card holder has a fabric Chip & Dale over the initials "USA" which are red with white stars and a blue border. Mickey as the Sorcerer's Apprentice is facing to the left pointing up with his right hand and finger and has his left hand clutched together. The pin is a 5 sided star shape with 2 shades of yellow circles and gold stars inside. The inner circles Glow In the Dark.Measures 1 1/4 by 1 1/4 in.
Backstamp of pin = c Disney, China
This lanyard set comes in a Fanny Pack and is currently being given to Guests at WDW that are visiting from Japan that booked a certain WDW travel package (The special travel package is only sold in Japan).
Individual pin #21450.
If you own or help with this pin group, you may
Edit This Pin Now
Questions or comments? Send us an e-mail at:
Copyright © 1999-2012 Pin Pics. Disney images and Disney pins are copyright © Disney. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. Any use of this site is subject to our Terms Of Use policy.


text:
None of us "does" family perfectly. We sometimes say and do things that offend loved ones. All of us are guilty of "sins" of commission or omission toward those we care about. Forgiveness is an essential part of strong, healthy relationships.
Judeo-Christian beliefs teach that nobody is exempt from forgiveness; we should forgive all wrongs that have been done to us, regardless of their severity. The Family: A Proclamation to the World (paragraph 7) singles out forgiveness as an essential feature of successful marriages and families. Once thought to be exclusively a religious doctrine, the notion of forgiveness has rapidly moved beyond religious borders into mainstream society.
One definition of forgiveness is the ability to release the mind and the heart from all past hurts and failures, all sense of guilt and loss. Forgiveness enables us to overcome anger and feelings of resentment or a desire to punish or get even with someone who has crossed us. Forgiving involves changing your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in relationship to the offender. Bad feelings and judgment toward the offender are reduced, not because they don't "deserve" that treatment, but because we willingly view the offender with compassion, benevolence, and love.
Health professionals tell us that the body manufactures "high voltage" chemicals like adrenaline and cortisone when you don't forgive. Too many of these chemicals can result in tension-related ills such as headaches and abdominal pains. Left unchecked, this can result in more serious problems such as ulcers, gastritis or irritable bowel syndrome.
When couples and families fail to forgive, unequal relationships are created and maintained. True closeness is an impossibility because the "offended" is in a position of holding the "offender" in bondage, and the obsession with being wronged and seeking revenge holds the victim in bondage as well. The person who made the mistake or hurt the other is kept in a "one down" position of being indebted to the other. The following phrases are common to such a situation:
Forgiveness researchers suggest that family members from all families must humbly seek and grant forgiveness so that their relationships can survive.
The benefits of forgiving are recently being discovered by science and have long been taught by religious organizations. Scientifically validated benefits of forgiving include the reduction of chronic pain, cardiovascular problems, and violent behavior; increased hope; and decreased levels of depression and anxiety. People who don't forgive typically have higher heart rates and blood pressure and other physical problems. The unforgiving responses of blame, anger, and hostility have been linked with poor health, particularly coronary heart disease and even premature death. Most people who have forgiven others will testify of the joy experienced as the emotional burden they had been carrying was released.
Countless family situations present the need and opportunity for forgiveness. One regular battle between a teenage son and his father ended when the youth retreated to his bedroom, packed his bags and left the house in great anger and resentment, despite his mother's tearful protests. As he left, his father called out saying, "I know I haven't been the best father to you. I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you. I love you." The young man boarded a bus for a distant town. As he traveled, his father's words--"I'm sorry----I love you"--rang in his ears. His boiling resentment cooled, and he began to weep. He bought a return ticket at the next stop. The youth arrived home late that night to find his father in the rocking chair with his face buried in his hands. The youth whispered, "Dad" and they ran into each other's arms. The son later wrote, "Those last years at home were the best ones of my childhood."
Here's an exercise suggested by authors Howard Markman, Scott Stanley, and Susan Blumberg in their best selling book Fighting for Your Marriage. You can apply the tips to all kinds of relationships. They may help you tap the healing power of forgiveness.
First, reflect on areas where you may harbor resentment, bitterness, and lack of forgiveness in your relationship with family, friends, work associates, or others. Do you hold grudges? Write these down. How old are these feelings? Do you bring up past events in arguments? Are there patterns of behavior that continue to offend you? Are you willing to push yourself to forgive?
Second, reflect on situations where you may have hurt a family member. Have you taken responsibility? Did you apologize? Have you taken steps to change recurrent patterns that offend? You may be standing in the way of reconciliation if you've never taken responsibility for your part of the problem.
Here are some steps to make forgiveness happen:
Expect forgiveness to take time. A relationship has the best chance to heal when each party takes appropriate responsibility to make things good again in the relationship.
What if the other party has wronged you and won't take responsibility, won't apologize?
"You can still move ahead and forgive," say Markman, Stanley, and Blumberg. "It may be hard, but if you don't, you and the relationship will suffer added damage. You put yourself at risk for psychological and physical problems such as depression, ulcers, high blood pressure and rage. That's no way to live."
Marriage and family therapists James Harper and Mark Butler offer additional help in forgiving and seeking forgiveness from others.
Seeking forgiveness from others:
Forgiving others:
Forgiving one another from our hearts helps restore the peace and contentment that can be a part of every family. But forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. By forgiving another, regardless of the actions of others, you do yourself a great service. You let go of bitterness, contempt, vindictiveness, and desires for revenge that sap you of mental and emotional energy you could use in other areas of your life. It is important to let these things go because if you don't, the other person - even if you never see them again - continues to hold power over your emotions and your thoughts - and you.
Written by Trampas J. Rowden and Sean D. Davis, Graduate Research Assistants, and edited by James M. Harper, Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy, and Stephen F. Duncan, Professor of Family Life, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.
Affleck, G., Tennen, H., Croog, S., & Levine, S. (1987). Causal attribution, perceived benefits, and morbidity after a heart attack: An 8-year study. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 55, 29-35.
Enright, R. and the Human Development Study Group (1994). Piaget on the Moral Development of Forgiveness: Identity or Reciprocity. Human Development, 37, 63-80.
Freedman, S. R., and Enright , R.D., (1996). Forgiveness as an intervention goal with incest survivors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 983-992.
Gordon, K. C., & Baucom, D. H. (1999). A multitheoretical intervention for promoting recovery from extramarital affairs. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6, 382-399.
Gorsuch, R. L., & Hao, J. Y. (1993). Forgiveness: An exploratory factor analysis and its relationships to religious variables. Review of Religious Research, 34, 333-347.
Hargrave, T. D., & Sells, J. N. (1997). The development of a forgiveness scale. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 23, 41-63.
Markman, H. J., Stanley, S. M., & Blumberg, S. L. (2001). Fighting for your marriage. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
McCullough, M. E., Worthington, E. L., & Rachal, K C. (1997). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 321-336.
Miller, T. Q., Smith, T. W., Turner, C. W., Guijarro, M. L., & Hallet, A. J. (1996). Meta-analytic review of research on hostility and physical health. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 322-348.
Pettitt, G. A. (1987). Forgiveness: A teachable skill for creating and maintaining mental health. New Zealand Medical Journal, 100, 180-182.
Subkoviak, M., Enright, R., Wu, C-R., Gassin, E., Freedman, S., Olson, L., & Sarinopoulos, I. (1992). Measuring interpersonal forgiveness. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.
Tennen, H., & Affleck, G. (1990, Sep.). Blaming others for threatening events. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 209-232.


text:
During the summer there is nothing quite like going to camp for a kid. Learning new things, exploring new ideas and seeing extraordinary things create memories that not only can last a lifetime but that can also inspire what a child wants to be when they grow up. The day camps offered at Busch Gardens give kids a rare glimpse into the animal world.
The admission for the camps begin at $270 per person, per week and are held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted. (Prices accurate as of July 2014)
Campers can register at the Day Camp website or call 1-(877) 248-2267
Below are some of the camps offered at Busch Gardens by grade level. The dates available vary and they book quickly so if you are interested in any of them be sure to act fast.
1. Kindergarten through First Grade
Animal Investigators - Explore the world of animals through up-close encounters. Learn more
Wildlife Warriors - Discover what makes animals unique and what you can do to help animals in your backyard. Learn more
2. First and Second Grade
Colorful Communicators - Learn how animals use camouflage to find friends or stay hidden from predators. Learn more
Habitat Helpers - Explore animals and the creature comforts they need to call an environment home. Learn more
3. Third and Fourth Grade
BioBuddies - Meet animals from the land and the sea, with a day trip to SeaWorld. Learn more
Super Sleuths - Get to the bottom of how the park operates with a week of thrills, splashes, and shows. Learn more
Zoo Chefs - Make lunch for a lemur and feed a giraffe as you learn what it takes to feed all the animals. Learn more
4. Fifth and Sixth Grade
Adventure Apprentices - Discover the behind the scenes secrets it takes to keep Busch Gardens running smoothly. Learn more
Adventure Trekkers - Travel to different attractions throughout the Tampa and Orlando area for unique adventures. Learn more
Creature Researchers - Learn the skills it takes to be a wildlife researcher by observing a variety of animals. Learn more
Splash Seekers - Enjoy Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, and SeaWorld as you discover the thread that ties them all together. Learn more
5. Seventh and Eighth Grade
Adventure Champions - Compete in a whirlwind adventure through Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, and Aquatica. Learn more
Junior Zookeepers - Discover what it's like to work with exotic animals. Learn more
SEA Trekkers - Explore Busch Gardens, splash through Aquatica and spend the night at SeaWorld. Learn more
Thrill Seekers - Learn team-building skills as you experience the thrills. Learn more
6. Grades Nine through 12
Counselor in Training - If you are looking for something fun to do this summer, that will provide you with valuable career experience, then the Busch Gardens Counselor in Training program (CIT) is the summer camp program for you. This week-long program offers you a real opportunity to learn from the best. Our expert educators will share their experience and knowledge with you on topics from child development to zoo careers and environmental awareness. You'll complete a specialized orientation and participate side by side with our camp counselors during our summer day camp programs. Application required. Download application
7. Additional Tips for ALL Campers
Camps include the following amenities:
- Daily lunches, snacks & drinks
- A Camp T-shirt and a water bottle
- A complimentary photo with a Busch Gardens animal ambassador
- Complimentary admission to Busch Gardens following camp each day for campers
Camp activities will go on as scheduled regardless of the weather and there are no refunds due to inclement weather. Rain or shine camp continues.


text:
Practice Area
Open Office Hours at Involution Studios Boston
by Jon on July 16th, 2012 - Comments (1)
We're excited to announce that we'll be having Open Office Hours here at Involution Studios Boston, every Thursday from 4-6 pm, starting on July 19, 2012.
Involution has long been involved in the Boston UX community, and we're thrilled to be joining the Open Office Hours movement, to share our design expertise with our colleagues and friends. Part of what makes the Boston / Cambridge area such a great place for knowledge work and the innovation economy is the opportunity to meet, network, and discuss interesting ideas with people from different backgrounds. We're hoping that Involution Studios Open Office Hours might facilitate some of that discussion and collaboration.
Bring your ideas and questions about UI, UX, and software system design to Involution each and every Thursday. Feel free to show us your software at any stage — sketches, UI screen mockups, prototype, or live product. Our team is here to help with design critique and problem solving. And we'll have coffee and other beverages and goodies to share. Everyone is welcome!
So, come check out our beautiful space in Arlington, at 661 Massachusetts Avenue — in what was formerly the city's grand ballroom — just a 15 minute drive from Harvard Square. RSVP is not required. However, if you want to let us know you're coming, so we know how much coffee to brew, give us a shout on Twitter at @goinvo or e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
The team at Involution has designed software for Apple, 3M, Microsoft, Oracle, and over a hundred start-up companies.
Involution Studios
661 Massachusetts Ave.
Third Floor
Arlington, MA 02476
Public Transportation:
We're accessible via the 77 Bus Line from Harvard Square.
There's free on street parking and inexpensive parking behind the building in the municipal parking lot.
Tagged Design, open office hours, UX
One Response to "Open Office Hours at Involution Studios Boston"
[...] team. Juhan Sonin, Involution's Creative Director, teaches product design at MIT. And our open office hours every Thursday, are a way for us to foster the open discussion and cross-pollination of ideas with start-ups and [...]


text:
Your Facebook Username
Have you claimed your Facebook username yet? No, I'm not referring to your login information. The social networking site allows you to choose a "username" for both your personal page as well as any fan pages you administer (once they have 25 fans). Think of it as a vanity plate for your profile.
Claiming Your Business On Foursquare
Foursquare – https://foursquare.com/ – is a locations based application that helps you explore the world, meet up with friends, discover new places, save money and have fun doing it. It was founded in 2007 by Dennis Crowley & Naveen Selvaduri while they were working in the same office space for different companies in [...]
5 Essential WordPress Plugins
WordPress – http://www.wordpress.org/ – is an incredibly powerful tool even in its "out of the box" presentation. What started as a blogging platform has morphed into a fully functional content management system (CMS) which can be further extended and customized through the use of plugins.
According to the site, "Plugins can extend WordPress [...]
How Much Does A Website Cost?
I get asked all the time, "How much does a website cost?" I hate giving a two word answer but nearly 100% of the time I do. The answer is, "It depends."
You can pay next to nothing for a website. You can pay over a $1,000,000. What you end up paying to get [...]
Recent Posts
- Your Facebook Username
- Claiming Your Business On Foursquare
- 5 Essential WordPress Plugins
- How Much Does A Website Cost?
- A Local Icon Moves Forward
- How To Work With A Website Designer
- The @ Reply – What Is It And How To Use It
- Death, Taxes And PayPal?
- Commerce For Quitters
- Are You Ready To Get Your Wing On?


text:
Downtown Napa
BottleRock Napa Valley, Like A Day At The Fair
More people are expected Friday evening and through the weekend as more big-name acts perform on three stages at the Napa Valley Expo on Third Street in downtown Napa…
Some Napa Residents Upset About Upcoming Bottle Rock Music Festival
Not everyone in the city of Napa is happy about the upcoming Bottle Rock Music & Arts Festival, which is bringing some of the biggest acts in music to the North Bay.
Head North And Explore Downtown Napa
Wine Country isn't just tasting rooms and rolling vinyards. Head north on a daytrip to explore the new and improved Napa Riverfront and downtown area. This flourishing neighborhood is experiencing a renaissance of cuisine, shopping, splurging, staying, and of course, sipping.


text:
Gary Lin
Morgan Hall 303
(309) 677-2747
Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida
M.S., Statistics, Texas Tech University
B.S., Industrial Engineering, Chuny-Yuan Christian University, Taiwan
If you wish please download a copy of my profile.
Research Areas:
- Inventory Management
- Supply Chain Analysis
Selected Publications:
- Gary C. Lin, "Lot Sizing for a Production System with Two Imperfect Components and a Bivariate Geometric Distribution". IIE Asian 2012 Conference Proceedings June 28-30, 2012 at Singapore, page 74 - 81.
- Dah-Chuan Gong, Gary C. Lin, Jia-Lun Kang, Wen-Na Ma, Tsi-Yang Lu, "Production Lot Size Determination in Considering Time-of-Value and Two Imperfect Key Production Subsystems". IIE Asian 2012 Conference Proceedings June 28-30, 2012 at Singapore, page Paper 133-140.
- "Genetic Search with Dynamic Operating Principles," Computers and Operations Research, 21, 941-954, 1994. Sencer Yeralan and Chen-Sin Lin. (SCI)
- "Implementation of a Demand-Pull System in a Job Shop Environment," International Journal of Production Research, 32, 2915-2927, 1994. Chung-Yee Lee, Chen-Sin Lin, Cheng-Chau Wong, and Reha Uzsoy. (SCI)
- "Single Machine Stochastic Scheduling: Minimizing the Number of Tardy Jobs," American Journal of Mathematical and Management Sciences, 14, 289-330, 1994. Chen-Sin Lin.
- "Single Machine Stochastic Scheduling with Dual Criteria," IIE Transactions, 27, 244-249, 1995. Chung-Yee Lee and Chen-Sin Lin. (SCI)
- "The Single-Item Newsboy Problem with Dual Performance Measures and Quantity Discounts," European Journal of Operations Research. 100, 562-565, 1997. C.-S. Lin and D. E. Kroll. (SCI)
- "Integrated Production-Inventory Models with Imperfect Production Processes and a Limited Capacity for Raw Materials," Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 29, 81-89, 1999. C.-S. Lin. (SCI Expanded)
- "Single-Machine Scheduling with Maintenance and Repair Rate-Modifying Activities," European Journal of Operational Research, 135, 493-513, 2001. Chung-Yee Lee and Chen-Sin Lin. (SCI)
- "Integrated Production-Inventory Models for Imperfect Production Processes under Inspection Schedules," Computers & Industrial Engineering, 44, 633-650, 2003. Chen-Sin Lin, Chih-Hua Chen, and Dennis E. Kroll. (SCI)
- "Economic Lot Sizing for an Imperfect Production System Subject to Random Breakdowns," Engineering Optimization, 28, 73-92, 2005. Gary C. Lin and D. E. Kroll.
- "Determining a Common Production Cycle Time for an Economic Lot Scheduling Problem with Deteriorating Items," European Journal of Operational Research, 173, 669-682, 2006. Gary C. Lin, D. E. Kroll, and C.J. Lin. (SCI)
- "On a Production-Inventory System of Deteriorating Items Subject to Random Machine Breakdowns with a Fixed Repair Time," Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 43, 920-932, 2006. Gary C. Lin, D.-C. Gong. Determining a production run time for an imperfect production-inventory system with scrap, Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 66, 724-735, 2007. Gary C. Lin and H.-D. Lin.
- "On a Production-Inventory Model for Deteriorating Items Subject to an Imperfect Process," Journal of the Chinese Institute of Industrial Engineering, 24, 319-326, 2007. Gary C. Lin and D. Gong.
- "Design and analysis of experiments in CMM measurement uncertainty study," Precision Engineering, 31, 94-101, 2007. C. J. Feng, A. L. Sall, J.G. Salsbury, A. R. Ness, and G. C. Lin.
- "Wavelet-based neural network and statistical approaches applied to automated visual inspection of LET chips," Journal of scientific & Industrial Research, 67, 412-420, 2008. H-D Lin, G. C. Lin, Ch-Y Chung, W-T Lin.
- "Extended research on an imperfect process production-inventory model with deteriorating items under two dispatching policies," Journal of Management & Systems, to appear in July 2009, Sung, June-Chun, Gary C. Lin, and Dah-Chuan Gong.


text:
The median home value in Dora, AL is $68,300.
This is
lower than
the county median home value of $72,800.
The national median home value is $152,300.
The average price of homes sold in Dora, AL is $68,300.
Approximately 57.98% of Dora homes are owned,
compared to 27.53% rented, while
14.49% are vacant.
Dora real estate listings include condos, townhomes, and single family homes for sale.
Commercial properties are also available.
If you see a property you're interested in, contact a Dora real estate agent to arrange a tour today!
Learn more about Dora Real Estate.
Gorgeous Southern estate offered with 13 +/- acres with an option for additional acreage. Totally loaded with amenities. 10' main floor and 9' second floor ceilings, hardwoods and tile throughout, massive trimwork, very large rooms, master on the main with a second master suite upstairs, two fireplaces, full unfinished basement, 2-car main-level garage, 2-car basement garage, and detached 3-car garage. Very private setting, beautifully landscaped, and surrounded by wooded area. Builder's personal home.
Absolutely stunning full brick home loaded with amenities. Elegantly decorated, this home is a palace complete with an upstairs suite fit for a princess! Arched doorways, ornate crown & trim, hardwoods, lighting, multiple staircases, soaring ceilings, & lots of detail add to the character of this beautiful home. Formal living & dining areas greet you as you enter the open and inviting foyer. A beautifully detailed kitchen/breakfast nook/keeping room is the heart of the home and features a double-sided FP. The luxurious master suite has a bath w/soaking tub, separate shower, double vanity, & huge walk-in closet. Upstairs are 4 bedrooms & 2 full baths. For added convenience, a 2-car main-level garage is just off the kitchen in addition to the 3-car detached garage. Garage also includes a very nice apartment with living/kitchen/bedroom/full bath. Situated on a beautifully landscaped level lot with multiple outdoor living amenities including wrap-around porch, pergola, & gazebo. MUST SEE!
Gorgeous, Immaculate, Stunning, Sophisticated, Spacious. Just a few words that describes this 5 bedroom/ 3 full bathroom home in the Bagley community near the new Corner high school. As you walk into the 2 story entry and great room, you will be amazed. High ceilings, marble fireplace, custom built mantle, elaborate trim for doors and windows, and great views into the kitchen and formal dining room. The trim and crown molding in this house will blow you away. The luxurious master bedroom has hard wood floors, bay window, a sitting area, and a tray ceiling. Entry into the master bath has his and her walk-in closets. Master has oversized shower, jetted tub, two vanities, and beautiful tile flooring. The second bedroom, another full bath, and laundry room is also on the main level. Upstairs has 3 other bedrooms and a full bath. The balcony view of the great room, the oak stair case, and the full basement with poured concrete walls could make this house a dream come true for YOU.
Gorgeous estate home in gated community situated on large partially wooded lot. Beautifully detailed trimwork, high ceilings, hardwoods, and arched doorways are found throughout the home. The formal entry provides instant appeal with ornate columns surrounding the dining room, an overlooking second floor balcony and alcove, and a grand staircase. Coffered ceilings and a fireplace with built-in cabinetry highlight the great room. In the kitchen you'll find an abundance of cabinets, granite countertops, tiled backsplash, stainless appliances, center island with breakfast bar, desk,and more. The master bedroom is accented by a unique triple-tray ceiling with faux painting and recessed lighting. The master bath includes a double vanity, jetted tub, tiled shower, large water closet, linen closet, and a beautifully detailed faux-painted ceiling. Also on the main level is a spacious powder room for your guests. Upstairs are three bedrooms and two full baths. 2-car ML garage plus basement.
DORA/Hickory Ridge Estates/NEW ROOF & in ground Pool !! Lavish 4BR/4BA, Beautiful southern columns inside & out, man cave or 4th BR downstairs. Basement can hold 4 vehicles, NEW ROOF, circular drive, in ground pool just in time for summer !! Window box seating in BR, hardwoods, tile, some new carpet, relaxing main level outside seating area overlooking in ground pool !!
Builders personal home on 3.4 acres. Very private country living and still close to shopping and restaurants. High ceilings, crown molding, custom kitchen with granite countertops,hardwood throughout main floor,huge master suite with custom bathroom with multi-head shower and jetted garden tub and huge walk in closet. This house has a office located on main floor. Yard has well established landscaping and trees. Way too many custom touches and extras to list. You must see it for yourself!!
Large home with over 4000 sq ft completely renovated throughout. Home sits on approx. 1.5 acres m/l. Main level features split bedroom floor plan. Large living room, kitchen, dining room with hardwood floors and all are open, great for entertaining! Island kitchen with beautiful glazed cabinets, new granite countertops and backsplash. Large master bedroom with trey ceiling. Master bath with 2 vanities, separate shower, large tub and walk in closet. Large main level laundry room. Finished basement with kitchenette, large great room, additional bedroom/office, garage and storm shelter room. Basement could be used as in-law suite or great area for teens. Covered front and back porch, fenced back yard, 2 car detached garage, lots of poured concrete and much more. Great home for growing family! Home is located only 2 miles from the New Corner High School! This is a must see! Lots of designer touches throughout.
Nice brick home situated on two lots! Kitchen has granite with stone backsplash and appliances were replaced in 2013. Master bath has new tile shower, flooring, granite countertops, and plumbing fixtures. Open floor plan from kitchen to dining room. The second floor has a large library overlooking the two story foyer. Featuring custom built cabinetry, fireplace with wood surround. Walk-in attic space flanks the library, great storage space. Sunroom looks out over beautiful, well manicured, large courtyard with full brick fencing and waterfall. Windows are double pane, insulated and were replaced in 2011. Security system, central vacuum, full basement.
Come see this beautiful 4 bedroom/3 bath home located in the city limits of Sumiton. The master bedroom is on the main level along with the newly re-modeled Master bathroom. The other 3 bedrooms are spacious and on the second level. You are going to love the kitchen area that has lots of cabinet space, an island with cook top, and a nice size eating area. The laundry sits just off of the kitchen area. The main level also has a formal dining room, huge family room, office, and separate bath. Most of the inside has just been repainted as well. The house is in a quiet and much desired neighborhood off Sellers Road and has 3+/- acres full of beautiful trees. This is a great place to raise a family. Don't miss out on this home.
Two story family home situated on a large wooded lot. Floor plan features an open great room/breakfast nook/kitchen for great family living. Amenities include hardwood floors, tile, crown molding and a gas log fireplace. Formal Dining Room and powder room are just off the foyer. Also this plan has a main level laundry room. Master suite has a tray ceiling, double doors open to the large master bath and walk in closet. Fenced in backyard. This home is a must see!