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Auto title loan and its features
The auto title loan is the financial solution which provides the borrowers with an amount of loan needed for purchasing a car. This is a monetary solution which enables people with the capability of purchasing a car. The car remains the security for the loan and thus the repayment gets to start. In this way, the auto title loan works.
This is a financial solution which is pretty much good to some respect. At the same time, there are some negative issues which are associated with this monetary help at prnewswire.com.
The features of auto title loan:
The auto title loan consumes the following features:
- Credit check:
Basically, credit checking is a must in all kind of financial solution. This is a financing which enables people to avail an auto loan without any credit checking procedure. In fact, even if you possess poor credit rating, you can apply and get this loan. Basically, availing an auto title loan is easy. The creditors won't check a lot of financial attributes of yours.
You are going to get the monetary help without a credit checking procedure and with that monetary help you can eventually purchase the automobile.
- Security:
The auto title loan may not require any credit checking procedure. But, it requires security for the loan. The security for this financial aid is the automobile itself. In fact, this will act as collateral in the total loan procedure. So, even if you are not eligible for any kind of auto loan solution, you can take the chance of getting an auto title loan.
You will not have to go through any credit checking procedure. But, what you will have to do is to take risk with the car which you are purchasing with the loan. But, there is nothing to worry a lot if you disburse the debt accordingly. If you can do that, it will not be a bad deal. In fact, this is never a bad deal even if the car is collateral at visit our website. Just you will have to pay the debts back right on time.
- Interest rate:
The credit checking or security, both are not disadvantaging attribute for the auto title loan. But, the most troubling fact of this financial solution is that it charges a higher interest rate. It might not be possible for ordinary borrowers to pay the debts back accordingly as the interest rate is too high. Not only that! The debt has to be paid back within short period of time.
But, if you take a look at the attributes of secured loan, you will find that the secured loans possess lower interest rate as the creditors are provided with 100% security. The auto title loan seems like a secured loan. But, it possesses higher interest rate which is absolutely unfair. In fact, in any case, if you can not repay the debs accordingly, you will have to lose your car for which you have availed a higher rated loan.
Bad credit personal loan being a monetary help for emergency
The funds of yours might turn dangerously low. This is certainly not an expected situation to go through. In such cases, you will not know if you will be managing to fix up the situations until next payday. The financial situation might turn too much worse. The credit score might become too much vulnerable. In such cases, you probably have no other options than that of getting financed. In fact, you will need a loan faster. That is the reason; you are here being suggested to get a personal loan even though the credit score is worse.
Does the scheme of bad credit personal loan exist?:
When you are intending to get a personal loan, the first thing will arrive in your mind is the fact of credit score. Yes. Probably almost all the people know that people who lack credit score might not get an unsecured loan. Certainly, you will not take risk with your home for carrying day to day expenses through taking a secured loan. In this case, you probably have no other option rather than getting financed with a bad credit personal loan.
Here you will find yourself in a paradox whether such a financing is available or not. Well, for your information, you must know that such lenders do exist in the money lending market. But, in order to get that, you will also have to prove yourself as an eligible one at click here. This procedure is certainly going to be a tough job as you already lack sufficient amount of credit score.
Easy application procedure and a quick approval:
Well, when the credit score as well as the current financial situation both are in greater vulnerability, you will have to look for a reliable personal loan creditor. In order to get that, you will need a simplistic, efficient and convenient loan application procedure. When your situation is in such jeopardy, you should concentrate on getting a personal loan with bad credit.
You will face some amazing facilitating attributes of getting financed when you will look for an online solution. When you will apply for the loan, you will be getting an online form and you will need to fill that form up. This won't take more than a couple of minutes. But, certainly you will need to prove to the creditors that you have the ability to pay the debt back. When you can do this, you will get the unsecured loan quickly. The loan approval in this case takes place within a few minutes.
Basically, you are going to be facilitated with such a method of getting financed with bad credit personal loan in terms of availing a payday monetary help. The unsecured and secured loans do not possess such an easy processing procedure. So, whenever you are asking for such a solution, you must know that you are here availing a payday loan. And this will require your income statement. So, make sure you have that and you are capable of sending that towards the creditors.
Car Insurance – Tips to Cut the Cost
When That I was 17 I desired to have a Ferrari and exist in a fast street. Even only could own afforded your vehicle, then I actually couldn't contain afforded the actual insurance to hide it. At 17 you happen to be brand novices to the earth of driving a motor vehicle and statistically you will make some sort of insurance declare. Mixing high-powered motors with ignorant drivers just isn't something car insurance policy companies usually are super-keen on the subject of, the possibility that a say shoots in the roof with the price tag on the rates following it all. When you will be young and even inexperienced, obtain a low-powered, low significance car to keep your truck insurance premium to the minimum.
When it is worth a lesser amount of then it'll cost you less in order to fix/replace when in the youthful exuberance most people crash the application. The exact logic actually refers to everyone, the lower the additional value of a pick-up truck and the low the car insurance will be in many instances. Sports and even premium vehicles will generally cost more to fix in a crash so insurance can reflect this unique. New cars and trucks now have myriads in anti-theft together with driver can help that on many occasions will easily reduce the buying price of insurance so monitor the specification on the handset sheet when reviewing a fresh car. A good principle is which will less appealing and small value new or used cars are much less expensive to confirm.
The far more years you'll be able to accumulate without getting a claim more suitable as the majority car insurers may offer a discount for your insurance with this. Effectively you happen to be proving you will be good business to acquire and when you haven't designed any claims next you are a great risk so they can underwrite. There's nothing that can be done here but prevent your nose clean and do not claim. If you possess a cheap value automobile and reduction it automobile, you'd end up advised not to produce a claim with comprehensive insurance because the device would eliminate no-claims incentive, likely to get for handful of money and that you will even result in paying for many of it dependent upon excess.
If that's the case, provided you might have not caused problems for any additional vehicles or maybe property, retain quiet, repair it yourself plus your saving upon no-claims bonus might be sweet the examples below year – soon enough, when you may have built upward three or higher years no-claims plus, you may actually protect one's own bonus, meaning although you may make an important subsequent claim you do not lose ones bonus.
Take Advantage From Florida Health Insurance
Florida medical insurance companies can be feeling the end results of any increased rate transparency the fact that the Internet makes. Now longer can it be a technique of days or even just weeks to put together multiple health care insurance quotes right from top Florida health care insurance companies. The simplest and quite a few efficient methods to obtain health insurance cover in Florida in actual fact to make the superior health insurance providers in their state (Golden Rule/United Medicine and health, Aetna, and Humana) compete to your business!
If you actually cringe at the idea of a U. s. Healthcare broker, an Aetna representative, and a new Humana adviser all clustering approximately you concerning a swarm in other Florida health insurance coverage agents and looking to push his or her's company's plan upon in which case you read at; for health insurance coverage shopping on the net has basic everything. You'll find so many Florida health care insurance websites that come with Florida medical insurance coverage quotes but you'll find a good number of very vital distinctions relating to the different kinds.
Marketing Organizations usually do not sell insurance plans, are certainly not regulated as a result of any insurance plan department, and generally haven't any knowledge by any means concerning Florida health insurance coverage. However, they could offer shoppers a bit appealing assistance. How will be able to they help out with purchasing health care insurance?
They become a middleman involving Florida health insurance coverage shoppers as well as Florida health care insurance agents. Any time Mrs. Jones in Tampa, FL asks for a medical insurance quote then a marketing business sells the girl's information as being a lead so that you can 5 plus Florida coverage agents.
Ignoring a privacy issues as well as issue belonging to the qualifications in the health insurance coverage agents that'll be purchasing your data there stands out as the larger plus more practical dilemma of you don't want to acquire 5+ insurance coverage agents boldly seeking your home business?
Making a Insurance Claim For Motorbike
Having a vehicle accident on a person's motorbike is actually never the ideal situation. When the accident, you're able to get terrified and confused with regards to the steps to have next You need to remain relax in these types of circumstances along with do delivering next step of getting the declare. One important section of advice being aware of when generating a motorbike claim should be to remain honest together with the claims associate. Due to details in it, if the insurance vendor finds away the policyholder ended up being dishonest any way, they maintain and most likely the policy will turned into void. As well as in building the insurance coverage claim could be to call the insurance firm to call them in the accident. Most insurance companies have disaster claim popular lines, accessible 24 / 7, where a policyholder may discuss his or her claim by using a representative instantly that allows you to report the much proper info. Usually they can give guidance about how to handle it to ensure the task goes immediately.
When earning, you will certainly typically want your protection number not to mention any the specifics of payment track record. As long when the policy is actually paid 100 %, there has to be no challenge proceeding while using the claim. What amount of money the insurance vendor will deal with does count on kinds of cover a policyholder had when it comes to the lay claim. If any policyholder presented third-party merely insurance, the insurance underwriter will never cover any difficulties for their car or truck. Another major element of completing the actual claim can be interviewing the actual policyholder over the details on the accident, including all third-party members who had been involved. You need to know any date along with location, not to mention time within the accident while completing a strong insurance case. Any witnesses into the accident with their contact information are usually very important assets towards claim the actual policyholder is definitely filing also. If a motorbike was first damaged into the extent that it can be unable to get driven family home, contact the insurance underwriter right away to build arrangements just for relocation.
Usually insurance policies have Okayed garages pertaining to proceeding by using claims. These garages work with the insurance companies to make sure that a rapid estimate as well as repair on the bike. The policyholder needs to pay the extra amount, influenced by their protection plan, and your insurer is going to compensate the entire garage to your remainder whenever repairs have already been completed. For some patients, depending regarding cover, the policyholder could be granted some sort of hire mountain bike. In almost all cases, but, the policyholder will favor to use consumer transit for the maintenance.
Insurance Coverage For Home Renters
Just as you're renting real estate, it doesn't necessarily mean that there's no need to apply with regard to home renters insurance plan. Don't assume that your chosen landlord actually has a person's properties dealt with. It seriously isn't your landlord's responsibility to generate you coverage. Your system is insured your properties are certainly not. So if you ever lose an individual's belongings within a natural disaster or even burglar moved into your equipment or the location house you're residing in, you have to pay to your replacements all by yourself.
What happens if the unit that you are renting receives burned affordable? What in case your burglary accessed and took your earrings- Concerning your property renter's insurance coverage, you ought to be mindful for the liability insurance in the process. Here is usually a situation. You may have your friend at your spot. Then he / she clumsily jaunt because her shoelaces are usually untied. Your dog falls decrease his stairway and smash his triceps / bicep. Realistically, fully sued for this, even if it is not an individual's fault the mere incontrovertible fact that the accident was held in your house is explanation enough so you might be held accountable.
If your dog sues people, fighting which usually case will set you back hundreds to a large amount. At least together with the home renter's insurance cover, your auto insurance policy will assist you to foot any bill. There are actually situations should the insurance might foot the full legal charge. The home renter's insurance cover must status the Renters Insurance coverage which protects the individual belongings on the client. Precisely the same conditions of having home implements for you to ultimately be even more informed to the conditions of the property renter's insurance policy, you can discuss with a realtor. You will ask him or her higher standard coverage is ideally suited for your true self and your financial allowance.
Generally, dwelling renter's insurance cover covers your own property safeguards and friends and family liability insurance. It as well covers any medical costs on the visitors in which are injured in your own home. The your home renters insurance will in addition deal with your expenses when you feel yourself in have to have of provisional housing as a result of reconstruction. It is for you to decide to decide upon which insurance coverage you would wish to sign way up for. Every insurance broker has diverse plans to consider and make sure you decide sensibly. An investment has become the biggest decisions you could potentially ever make inside your life.
Life Insurance Policies Explained
It doesn't matter how fancy all the policy distinction or sales and profits presentation will probably appear, all an insurance plan policies possess benefits produced a number of a three simple kinds established below. Some coverage due combine many kind of insurance and is confusing. Term life is the loss protection in a term of one year. Some companies are offering to you policies along with terms close to thirty many. Premiums relating to term insurance coverage remain level in the life belonging to the policy. Term life has basically no cash worth account. Death benefits are going to be paid given that you stop functioning within which usually term about years. Term insurance coverage generally supplies the largest rapid death protection for one's premium monetary.
Some term life policies happen to be renewable for one additional term despite that your well being has modified. Each effort you rekindle the policy in a new timeframe, premiums are going to be higher. You might check any premiums located at older mature and just how long the policy is continued.
Some term coverage is additionally convertible. Consequently before the of any conversion stage, you could trade the concept policy in a whole daily life or endowment insurance plan in case you are not even in health. Premiums to the new policy can be higher than you've gotten been venturing into the word insurance.
An endowment insurance policy pays a fabulous sum or simply income you, the policyholder, in case you live to somewhat of certain their age. If which you were to die-off before consequently, the loss benefit can be paid with your beneficiary Premiums together with cash character for endowment insurance coverage are above for the equivalent amount of experience of living insurance. Thus endowment insurance provides the least magnitude of death protection for use on your premium money.
Whole insurance gives fatality protection so long as you survive. The most frequently found type is addressed straight lifespan or ordinary insurance, for which you pay the equivalent premiums so long as you take up residence. These premiums might be several times raised above you would certainly pay initially for those same quantity of term insurance plans. But they are really smaller compared to a premiums believe eventually pay once you were to maintain renewing the term insurance until your old age.
Personal Insurance Reviews – Benefit The Agent and Customer
A very own insurance review is just reviewing your insurance plans with an individual's agent. This is done through phone or face-to-face. I feel it will always be nice to accomplish these personally. Meeting face-to-face makes the actual review a lot more personal together with builds rapport along with your agent. I suggest completing your own insurance analysis every one or two years. There are numerous benefits to using a common insurance analysis.
One reward is that you could uncover discounts that you will be eligible to get. Insurance businesses offer many different discounts with their policyholders, so you would like to see that you will be receiving almost all discounts open to you. One example of your discount that could be overlooked may be the Good Pupil Discount. Many companies offer you this low cost, but the particular agent is probably not aware a child qualifies for that discount before an insurance plan review is performed. Updating the particular electrical, heat, or plumbing on your own home may supply you a discount on your own home insurance plan; but the agent may well not know these updates were done to your house until you possess an insurance cover review. Personal insurance coverage reviews certainly are a great opportunity so that you can discuss almost all discounts available along with your agent.
An additional benefit is always to review the actual coverage about existing coverage. Your situation could have changed because the policy was initially written and you will not need precisely the same coverage when you did in the past. One typical situation is somebody that has vehicles on the policies for quite some time. Sometimes these kinds of vehicles nevertheless have full dental coverage plans, but the consumer does never realize it again. The age group or condition with the vehicle may well not warrant the extra premium for full dental coverage plans. Another typical situation is individuals who still have surprisingly low deductibles on the home insurance plan.
A 3rd benefit is always to locate virtually any gaps during coverage. There are numerous areas exactly where gaps may appear in an insurance system without everyone realizing the idea. Your existence changes regularly and lots of the changes might appear minor, but can have an impact on your insurance plan. Some frequent changes which affect the insurance happen to be updating a property can expand its price.
Nebraska Car Insurance Guide
It is vital to be sure that you have adequate Nebraska automobile insurance coverage if you happen to a Nebraska Hawaiian for resident). Assert of Nebraska find the honey bee when their assert insect probably because doing so is thus industrious. You might mimic all the behavior from this busy bee and search for rates if your home is and own your car in the state of Hawaii of Nebraska.
Nebraska practices a Tort procedure of law when it comes to car crashes. This shows that someone must remain found that they are at flaw for inducing the automobile accident, and see your face and their rates company is in charge of all destroys. You also needs to have Asset Damage Liability rates coverage in how much $25, 000. Take into account that if you will be found to be the explanation of an auto accident, you might be held really and financially chargeable for any damages and also medical expenses that's not covered from insurance. Medical bills and motor vehicle repair costs mount up fast, so you might purchase beyond the minimum number of car insurance coverage required.
To find out more on the specified amount with insurance, or when you have any problems about Nebraska's rates requirements, it is possible to call a Nebraska Area of Insurance operating out of Lincoln or talk with a accredited Nebraska car insurance policy agent. Without required by means of Nebraska regulations, you should purchase car insurance coverage. In case you are in a mishap, comprehensive rates will find the money for repairs about the White Book value for the car, and if for example the costs might be over this amount your sub will get deemed to generally be totaled to receive the amount value for the car.
Comprehensive coverage can be required from your bank or simply other lending company when you have a car loan package or lease the car. In quite a few cases difference insurance will be sensible as clearly. Gap rates will insure up the actual difference between exactly what is paid by car insurance and what the heck is owed for your loan when your car can be found to come to be totaled during an accident. Also not necessary by the state of Hawaii of Nebraska, you might purchase collision rates coverage. Collision coverage will probably pay for repairs on your car, without your allowable, in case you get excited about an auto accident.
Personal Financial Planning
How can you define very own success? I question this question plenty, and strangely enough, the alternative frequently incorporates the very idea of financial liberation. When Document dig a little bit deeper, financial freedom results in a number of dreams Some reasons why financial flexibility so interesting? Perhaps for the reason that so a lot of people limit their chance to turn ideas into reality for their financial condition.
We most know people today in employment that will no longer bring happiness, but people stay because of the need to keep your a specified income tier. How many companies are treading waters in at standstill markets as they are afraid to take the steps to switch the home business until revenue reach the specific level? Doubts they happen to be financially absolutely free.
If your financial predicament is keeping you from dancing, what on earth do you do in case you were around better debt shape? Assuming you'll be able to answer this question using a few undoubtedly defined desired goals (and if you that comes along first), financial planning will help you take tips toward spanning fears and even demystifying a unknown just by systematically looking for the problems, and assessing the methods.
Although many individuals address economical issues simply because they arise perhaps a child joining college, someone you care about dies, or it will be time to offer the home business, financial thinking about requires yourself to anticipate the longer term by positioning goals. Without goals you are unable to get pretty far inside financial scheduling process, and not using a financial plan you should be limited around achieving one's own goals.
Comprehensive debt planning necessitates that many critical aspects are evaluated in addition. Looking located at any vicinity in isolation will still only tell an important partial narrative, and the top alternatives to anybody issue may be missed. The regular areas are usually tax arranging, investment operations, cash operations, budgeting, retirement plan planning, residence planning, and even insurance. The researching is adjusted depending on specific really needs and may additionally include instruction funding, charity giving, and even trust supervision.


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Style Map
Daily Dispatches From The Global Scene
Phillips de Pury and Company's Saturday at Phillips series returns this weekend with a new addition to its auction block: contemporary fashion. Curator Phoebe Stephens is launching the category with a group of one-off dresses from emerging New York label Electric Feathers, as well as jewelry made in collaboration by Alyssa Norton and Electric Feathers designer Leana Zuniga. "It's a great platform," notes Zuniga, whose apparel has heretofore been available only at downtown boutique No.6 and by special order. "When you work on a one-of-a-kind dress, you can really invest in the creative process. There's not that pressure of, oh God, how do I manufacture 100 more just like this?" Potential bidders—and the merely curious—can get a sneak peek of Zuniga's creations at tonight's cocktail party preview of the Saturday at Phillips auction slate, which will also include art toys, contemporary photography, and vintage watches. "I'm really trying to develop the idea of current fashion as a collectible item," says Stephens, "the same way an amazing vintage dress will become collectible, years later. Eventually, I'd like to be commissioning exclusive pieces from more established designers, people who already work at the place where relevant fashion meets art. I mean, the two things are already so intermixed, I figure, why not mix it up a bit more?"

subset: commoncrawl


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I don't trust them. They're up to something. Consider;
1) By federal law marijuana related businesses can not use banks. No checks, no debit cards, no credit cards, not even money orders. Cash only.
2) Marijuana is going to be a very cash intensive enterprise at every level. Background checks, license application fees, security costs, testing, insurance, taxes, taxes, and more taxes.
3) The feds have just announced new rules forbidding armored car firms from serving the marijuana industry.
4) One of Holder's stated criteria is no increase in violence, especially gun related violence.
Isn't that handy? By requiring the marijuana industry, a multimillion dollar enterprise in even the smallest of states to go cash only they guarantee $100k's of dollars neatly stacked in multiple locations and by banning armored car services they make sure that cash is being moved in a passenger vehicle with no protection. Why don't they just paint a huge bulls eye the cars, shops, and employees while they're at it?
This behavior ensures violent armed robberies. And I'm sure they will scream bloody murder should the shop owner defend himself with a firearm even though that wouldn't raise so much as an eyebrow if it were a liqueur store.
Could it be the feds are trying to initiate a chain of tragic events just so they can say "I told you so"?
Then again it could just be more inter agency fighting as the pigs scramble to protect their pensions.
Bank of America has agreed to allow marijuana based businesses to open accounts with them while the feds are talking about loosening banking rules to make it easier for them to do so.
The feds are also looking to loosen the restraints on banking for cannabis related businesses. With the current government shutdown a new source of revenue must be looking pretty good to them.
As Colorado Loosened Its Marijuana Laws, Underage Consumption And Traffic Fatalities Fell
"Drug Warriors Try but Fail to Show That Marijuana Legalization Has Been a Disaster in Colorado"


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WWII veteran died from smoke inhalation (From Herald Series)
When It Happens Panel Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email
WWII veteran died from smoke inhalation
7:40am Saturday 1st February 2014 in News
A 93-year-old war veteran died from smoke inhalation and severe burns during a fire at his home, a post-mortem examination concluded.
Oliver Minchin, who survived two torpedo attacks while serving with the Royal Navy in the Second World War, died at his home on Sunday night.
An inquest into his death was opened on Thursday at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court and was adjourned for witness statements and for a pathologist report to be assembled. It will be reopened and concluded in due course.


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Some draft questions at BA.
It seems the top 8 right now are Alvarez, Matusz, Crow, Smoak, Melville, Beckham, Hosmer, Alonso. I'd be happy with any of those 8. Of course it's still early, and that will almost certainly change, but it seems like a relatively deep draft according to Callis. Only Alvarez and Hosmer are represented by Boras so far.
Q: Steve from Chicago asks:
Hey Jim. There's great fear in Chicago that the White Sox will continue to not take the best available talent. Their 1st round picks in recent years seem to be conservative picks while passing on much higher ceiling players. Granted they've been picking lower in the draft, but what do you envision them doing with this year's 8th overall pick? Watching the Tigers snag elite talent (some of which the Sox passed on) while not being afraid to go over slot is not making Sox fans very happy about the Sox' recent draft philosophies.
A: Jim Callis: I've heard that fear as well (I live on the North Side up here in Subzeroland). Last year, GM Kenny Williams reportedly mandated landing some multitooled athletes, but they loaded up on pitchers. I don't think you'll see Jerry Reinsdorf start playing the over-slot game, but I do think you'll see the White Sox take a quality player at No. 8. They might be in play for one of the first basemen, like South Carolina's Justin Smoak or Miami's Yonder Alonso, or someone like Skipworth. I'd be a little surprised if Chicago took another pitcher. The Sox system is really bereft of advanced hitters right now.
Q: Landy from Hinsdale asks:
White Sox fans believe Kenny Williams is enamored enough with Jordan Danks that there's contemplation about selection him 8th overall. Please reassure me that this won't happen. Please Jim. For the love of Shoeless Joe, say it ain't so...
A: Jim Callis: Oh boy. The White Sox did take a late-round flier out of high school and did deal for his brother. And if they wanted Danks, they might have to take him at No. 8 because they won't pick again until No. 84. But I can't see them popping Danks there at all, and he could be available at No. 84. He looks great, but his bat isn't what scouts thought it would be at this point. So, it ain't so . . .


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- Aug 8:
- Colorado moves on flood debris removal, watershed restoration
- Aug 1:
- Sixteen communities, 4 counties get $12 million in flood grants
- Jun 8:
- Large parts of Colorado reject federal flood insurance program
- May 8:
- Colorado floods recovery: Fishing, tourism count on health of state's rivers
- Apr 27:
- Race is on to beat snowmelt in areas pummeled by fall's Colorado flood
- Mar 30:
- Jeffco homeowners vexed by new flood-map spurred insurance spikes
- Mar 25:
- No easy fix on federal flood insurance
Boulder Canyon reopened at 5:18 p.m. Sunday, after road crews worked for more than three weeks to repair the damage from last month's historic floods.
Colorado 119, the only direct link between Boulder and Nederland, has been closed since Sept. 12, the second day of rainy weather that shattered records and caused extensive damage in the region.
The route through Boulder Canyon suffered significant damage to the road surface and rights of way, the state Department of Transportation said Sunday. Repairs on Colorado 119 finished a week ahead of schedule, according to the state highway department.
Other major roadways in Boulder and Larimer counties remain closed, including U.S. 34 and U.S. 36. Gov. John Hickenlooper and CDOT officials are expected to visit Colorado 119 on Monday morning and talk about the timetable for restoring those roadways and others damaged by the floods.
Colorado officials estimated last week that it could cost $475 million to mend flood-damaged county, state and federal roads and bridges.
Last month's floods were the result of record-breaking rainfall totals between Sept. 11 and Sept. 16.


text: Your record company (and you too) are disappointed with your last album's sales. Your mother dies of cancer. You're a singer and have throat surgery. This is just the most basic summary of what the situation was like for Cinderella's singer, songwriter, and lead guitar player Tom Keifer as the band tried to put this album together. They were some of the factors at work.What comes out of this is an album with a decidedly dark and agressive aspect. Mercury tried to hype it as a return to the old Cinderella "attitude". Clearly they pushed for a record closer to "Night Songs" and "Long Cold Winter" feeling it would be more commercially viable. What they got though was a record that is almost sinister at times. This vibe is achieved largely through the first three songs. "Bad Attitude Shuffle" is just a great kiss off song, and uses the f-bomb for the first time on a Cinderella record. "Take Is Cheap" and "All Comes Down" follow in a moody, (…angry) vein. What follows is "Hard To Find The Words" which is Tom's song for his recently departed mother. "Blood From A Stone" is another song which talks about futility and being in tough times and is another raised middle finger to the world. This is not late 80's party music. It's hard rock but it's dark without quite being metal. The sound is different too. There is quite literally a wall of guitars on each track. The pianos and horns are still there but it seems as if Cinderella were told to up the guitar quotient. It's as if Phil Spector had produced in a way. There are weaving lead guitars throughout most of the album which also contribute to a feeling of oppresiveness and confusion. The angst Tom Keifer must be feeling is almost there for you to touch.That is not to say though that the entire album is dark. "Still Climbing" is an excellent track that while sonically similar to the album's first half manages to be a self-affirming song about keepig going in the toughest times. "Freewheelin'" is a Cinderella song from before they were ever signed and "Easy Come Easy Go" could gave been off of the band's "Long Cold Winter" album. They're both more positive rockers that sandwich "Through The Rain" which is a more uplifting ballad. It touches a similar point as "Still Climbing". "The Road's Still Long" concludes the album proper and is a song about dealing with life and thinking you know what it's all about. Obviously this was partly inspired by Tom's mother's death as well. It was written with help from Andy Johns who was supposed to produce the album. Finally it comes to a close with "Hot & Bothered" from the Wayne's World soundtrack. This was recorded a few years before and is probably the closest hint at what Cinderella's fourth release would have been if not for Tom's throat problems and the loss of his mother. As such though "Hot & Bothered" sounds completely out of place.Overall it's a fine album but for Cinderella fans such as myself it's a tough listen. Tom's voice is noticably different as he was still recovering from throat problems, there is the prevailing darkness of the album's first half, and the sound itself is a lot more busy and less streamlined than the band's earlier efforts. It doesn't make it any worse of an album, but it sure is different.At the time I didn't know of Tom's throat problems, and I figured out the death of his mother from "Hard To Find The Words". It was a VERY powerful first listening, but also shocking as aurally it's quite different from the band's first three albums. It doesn't fit their musical progression. I believe that commercial pressures and Tom's personal problems explain this. As such it is Cinderella's most intimate records in some ways as you can really tell what's going on with the band.Ultimately I think the record has so much truth and heart, and rocks so hard, that it is must hear for people who enjoyed Cinderella's chart topping days or like hard rock in general. There are lessons to be learned here.


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Panthers add two free agent vets to bolster bottom of the roster.
Gyms are expensive, super crowded, and they always seem to reel you back into membership. But you don't need one to get fit.
Downfall of Dadonov's once bright NHL career ends as winger heads overseas.
The Barons and Rampage will open their second round playoff series on Thursday in Oklahoma City. Will you Fear the Steer or Seer the Steer?
Once again, the Panthers sit first in the Southeast Division by virtue of a tie-breaker, but they are no longer tied with the Washington Capitals. It is the Winnipeg Jets who have passed the...
The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired Evgenii Dadonov and A.J. Jenks from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jon Matsumoto and Mattias Lindstrom.
Divisional foes swap prospects, AHLers
The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled Jerome Samson from Charlotte of the AHL for tonight's game vs. Philadelphia.
Jon Matsumoto, Zac Dalpe, Brett Carson, Bryan Rodney, Drayson Bowman and other familiar faces are playing tonight in Charlotte. Check out the game on channel 519 on TWC and chat it up in here.
Justin Peters returns to the scene of his only win this season and will start at Florida for Carolina.
Jon Matsumoto and Bryan Rodney have been reassigned to Charlotte, but both could be back for the Hurricanes' next game.
The Hurricanes have recalled Jon Matsumoto and Bryan Rodney on an emergency basis from Charlotte of the AHL.
Five observations from the Canes-Isles game, including fourth-line magic and the soaring confidence — and play — of Joe Corvo.
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Posts filed under 'BP / Gulf Oil Disaster'
Outrageous: Louisiana's Republican Governor Signs Bill Blocking Lawsuits Against Oil and Gas Companies
Wow, what hutzpah and what a huge middle finger to all the people, animals, sea creatures and land damaged or destroyed by British Petroleum (BP) and oil companies past, present and future. Talk about a corporatocracy. This is just sickening. Talk about outrage overload:
Rejecting the advice of his own attorney general and dozens of legal scholars, Louisiana governor and potential presidential contender Bobby Jindal effectively blocked a New Orleans-area levee board from suing oil and gas companies for allegedly destroying the state's coasts – and in so doing, may have also derailed state and local claims against BP for damages and tax revenue lost following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, was also quoted in the statement distributed by the governor's office, hailing the measure as a "huge victory for the oil and gas industry."
The law, SB 469, essentially bars a levee district in New Orleans' East Bank – the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East, or SLFPA-E – from pressing forward in its lawsuit against 97 oil and gas companies, which it blames for exposing New Orleans to catastrophic damage from hurricanes Rita and Katrina by cutting thousands of miles of pipes and canals through sensitive barrier islands and wetlands that otherwise would have protected the coastal city.
The lawsuit, filed last summer, sought to force energy companies to restore the wetlands, fill in the canals, and pay for past damages.
"We are looking to the industry to fix the part of the problem that they created," SLFPA-E vice president John Barry told the Times-Picayune last year. "We're not asking them to fix everything. We only want them to address the part of the problem that they created."
Impeach the bastard for crimes against humanity and nature. Not only that, what, he wants to use taxpayer dollars to clean-up BP's mess? What, he probably doesn't care about clean-up at all.
Everyone in the country, er, the world needs to know about this. This is what politicians who are owned by oil and gas companies do.
We're Romanticizing Oil Spills? Really?
The most destructive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico ever, after which people and animals are still suffering is mesmerizingly beautiful?
Really? Is that where we are? Is that what we've become? People who see beauty in oil spills?
OMG, Solar Already!
Geezus can we please, please, please ween ourselves off of oil already:
BP is leading an industry-wide push to develop technology that can retrieve oil from formations that are so deep under the sea floor, and under such high pressure and temperature, that conventional equipment would melt or be crushed by the conditions.
One BP field in the Gulf of Mexico, called Tiber, makes the Macondo field that the Deepwater Horizon rig was probing look like simple puddle of oil. It is thought to hold twenty times the amount of oil as Macondo. At 35,000 feet below the sea floor _ 6.6 miles into the earth's crust _ it is about twice as deep.
There's an extraordinary amount of oil in similar discoveries around the world, several of which are controlled by BP. But BP first must figure out how to get it. New equipment, including blowout preventers far stronger than the one that failed on the Deepwater Horizon, must be developed. Then BP must convince regulators it can tap this oil safely.
Another disaster could threaten BP's existence, but success could restore the company's fortunes _ and perhaps its reputation. "There's 10 to 20 billion barrels of oil just for BP in this," says Kevin Kennelly, who runs BP's global technology operations. At today's prices, that's worth up to $2 trillion.
$2 trillion and the potential destruction of the environment but oh well, money's all that matters.
We are insane.
BP Execs Tried to Blame Blue-Collar Rig Workers for Oil Spill
BP executives wanted to concentrate blame for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster on "blue collar rig workers" in order to save themselves, U.S. government lawyers wrote in a court document that until Thursday was partially redacted.
According to the newly public and complete version of the court document, Justice Department lawyers are taking an even harsher tone against BP Plc for the 2010 oil spill than previously thought, invoking the language of class conflict.
The August 31 document from the Justice Department was already notable for its strong wording about what the government considers gross negligence on the part of the London-based oil giant and its management.
Government lawyers charge that the internal inquiry, run by BP executive Mark Bly, ignored embarrassing emails from drilling supervisors that preceded the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that killed 11 people.
"Bly and BP's management in London purposefully limited the investigation by excluding any of the systemic management failures that led to the disaster," the lawyers wrote.
They continued: "This was a decision designed to ensure that the public and legal lines of accountability would be focused exclusively on blue collar rig workers and other contractor/defendants – but at all cost, not upon BP management and the inexplicable behaviors that coursed through the pages" of the internal BP emails.
This isn't all that surprising in and of itself — typical corporate behavior — but coupled with BP asking we taxpayers to pay for the cleanup, BP attempting to bribe politicians with tickets to NBA games, BP getting caught dumping sand on top of oil covered beaches in Louisiana, BP burning turtles alive that could have been saved and BP's CEO Tony Hayward going yachting while oil was still spewing into the Gulf, this company, that wants us to think of it as ecologically sensitive and cool and hip, this company is truly despicable.
And to think they were the #1 sponsor of the 2012 Summer Olympics. Trying to make us think they care about people and the planet and getting along and all that.
If I ever run across BP in person, since corporations are people after all, I might just spit in BP's face.
There's no End to BP's Exploitation of the Gulf Coast
While McDonald's will remain king of the chips at the London 2012 Olympic Games, BP has charged itself with delivering the culinary "spirit of the Gulf". The Louisiana Office of Tourism announced this week that the oil company would be hosting a series of events for Team USA that will pair three Gulf coast bands with chefs from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida preparing "the world's freshest and best-tasting seafood".
No doubt Team USA will enjoy the New Orleans jazz and Cajun food on offer, but it's more than a little troubling that, after the 2010 Gulf oil spill, BP has co-opted the phrase "spirit of the Gulf" as a promotional device to position itself as the gatekeeper to the region's culture and cuisine.
Back in the Olympics PR world, Crystal Ashby, BP's vice-president of government and public affairs, tells us: "BP is proud to use the power of the London 2012 Olympic Games as another way to promote the Gulf coast, draw new visitors to the region and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the community."
In the light of the Louisiana memorial's litany of loss, it's hard to say exactly how BP has promoted the Gulf Coast. Ravaging ecosystems and destroying community livelihoods, though, probably wouldn't make the list.
This Olympic marketing move looks, at best, horrifically ironic and, at worst, like rubbing salt (or should I say oil?) in the wound.
No kidding.
BP Named Official Sponsor of the UK's "Greenest Ever" Olympics
I don't know whether to laugh or cry:
It was billed as the "greenest Games ever." Hailed as the most environmentally friendly Olympics since the Greeks raced chariots through the streets of Athens (or some such equally ridiculous claim). In 2007, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) – with then-Prime Minister Tony Blair's full support – promised to ensure preparations for the London 2012 summer Olympics would be made with unprecedented deference to environmentalism and sustainable development. Well, as it turns out, the only thing that has been sustained is a sham of monstrous proportions – a fraud that should make any sensible human being bloody furious.
You see, all that tough environmental talk and all those lofty goals of sustainable development have been completely undercut (and even mocked) by one singularly thoughtless, contradictory act: Signing BP as the official "Sustainability Partner" of London 2012.
How sublime. The Brits pick as a major sponsor of the greenest Games since who knows when the perpetrator of the worst oil spill in U.S. history – a devastating environmental disaster that continues to wreak havoc on the Gulf Coast and its weary residents. BP is truly the perfect ambassador. When I "think green" the first thing that leaps to my mind is 205 million gallons of Louisiana sweet crude spewing into the loins of the Gulf of Mexico.
This is truly astonishing. Even if the London Olympics weren't being billed as the "greenest Games ever," it is an abomination that BP would be picked as an official anything for any event. They should be shunned.
Geezus. Awful.
Hillary Clinton's Pants Are on Fire
They think we're total idiots. I.e., I don't believe this for a second (i.e., filed under Dumbed Down and They Think We're Idiots):
Clinton says TransCanada working to upgrade safety of oil pipeline from Canada to Texas
A Canadian company that hopes to pipe oil from western Canada to Texas is working with U.S. officials to develop safety standards beyond those required by law, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday.
The new standards should ensure that if a permit for the 1,900-mile pipeline is issued, "the project will be as safe as it could possibly be," Clinton said.
"We've been clear from the beginning that the safety of the pipeline is one of our highest priorities," said Clinton, who is expected to decide on the project by the end of the year.
The State Department has authority over the pipeline because it crosses an international boundary.
Among other changes, the company has agreed to build the pipeline 4 feet below ground, instead of 3 feet…
Email this to your grandkids and ask them to bookmark it and read it again in 10 years. By then, advanced countries (those who are, today, weaning themselves of oil) will be living off of renewable energy and the U.S. will be creaking along, tearing up its national parks and wildlands for any shred of oil it can find. And, sadly, it will be dealing with oil spills because, as is true today, the people who are in charge of monitoring this shit are in bed with the oil companies.
So, hey Hillary, sounds good but I know better.
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Shuts Down
The trans-Alaska pipeline has shut down due to a leak at a pump station (fish and animals — run for your lives!):
The 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipeline is shut down due to a leak at Pump Station 1 on the North Slope.
North Slope oil producers have been asked to cut their production to 5 percent of normal.
An oil line encased in concrete leaked an unknown quantity of crude oil just outside a booster pump building, according to Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. spokeswoman Michelle Egan. Alyeska operates the line and its pump stations.
A crew doing a routine inspection noticed the leak this morning and Alyeska shut down the pipeline at about 9 a.m., Egan said.
If I Were BP/Transocean I'd Be in Prison for 150 Years
From Yahoo News:
BP, Transocean Shares Shrug Off Oil Spill Report:
Shares in BP and Transocean rose on Thursday as investors bet a new Presidential panel report that spreads the blame for the country's worst-ever oil spill means the companies will avoid a highly costly gross negligence charge.
The report blamed the rig blast and subsequent spill on bad decision-making by BP, drilling contractor Transocean and well cementer Halliburton, which it said highlighted bad industry practice and regulatory shortcomings.
Investors and analysts said the fact that the blame for the blowout was shared so widely suggested BP and Transocean were less likely to be pinned with a allegation of gross negligence.
BP shares have gained over 60 percent since falling below 300 pence at the height of the crisis in June last year.
Meanwhile BP has selected a new director of communications, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, as it seeks to rebuild its image in the wake of the spill.
Shorter: BP/Transocean incinerated 11 men (who leave behind mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives and children) and it has been found to be at fault, but it looks like their lawyer$ will find a way to reduce and/or deflect the blame, so it's all good.
Oh, and they're hiring "a new director of communications" to
"rebuild their image.
Truth be told: They're mounting a campaign to brainwash and lie to us about how great they are.
But hey, the shysters on Wall Street relate to this — destroying people and getting away with it — so they're thrilled.
If I killed 11 people I'd be in prison for 150 years.
Kenneth Feinberg — Why Should He Hurry To Settle BP Damage Claims?
Back in September we got news that the Justice Department was joining other critics of Kenneth Feinberg, the Obama-appointed head of the "Gulf Coast Claims Facility," for his slow pace at meting out payments for BP oil spill damage claims.
Today it seems pretty darn obvious why Feinberg is taking his sweet ol' time:
Kenneth Feinberg and his law firm have been paid more than $2.5 million in 3 1/2 months to administer the $20 billion fund set up by BP Plc to compensate victims of its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The $850,000 monthly payments to Feinberg's firm will continue through year-end and then will be reviewed, a person familiar with the contract said today.
The money goes to seven professionals at Feinberg's firm and is paid by BP separately from the fund to help victims, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity about details not spelled out in today's report. Among those being paid is Feinberg's brother David, according to the report. David Feinberg is listed on the firm's website as director of special projects.
(My emphasis.)
Pretty nice gig if you can get it, huh?
And in the end of course, the people who suffer the most are the fishermen and the mom and pop restauranteurs who are waiting for their claims to be settled — all while Feinberg soaks up that $850,000 monthly paycheck. He has no incentive whatsoever to hurry.
What a freakin' racket.
This Seems Like Kind of a Big Deal
This seems like kind of a big deal: Thad Allen: In Hindsight, BP Might Have Shut Down Oil Well Sooner…
In hindsight, if BP had removed the 5,000-foot-long tangle of riser pipe from its damaged Gulf well in the early days of the spill, a new blowout preventer or cap could have been installed, shutting down the well perhaps within weeks instead of months, according to both the federal incident commander and petroleum engineers.
…but after a quick check of the cable "news" websites, I don't see a thing.
Another Rig Has Exploded in the Gulf
Say it ain't so already.
NEW ORLEANS — One person is missing after a rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, about 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay, the U.S. Coast Guard said.It happened around 9 a.m., and as of 10:15 a.m., the rig was still burning, the Coast Guard said. Rescue crews from New Orleans and Houston are responding.Officials said there were 13 people aboard the rig, and all but one are accounted for.
Corexit: "At Least 25 Times" Safer Than Dish Soap
Here is a must-see video of David Horsup, the Vice President of Nalco Energy Services, the maker of Corexit, demonstrating how Corexit works and explaining how safe it is:
"The toxicity of this particular product is at least 25 times less toxic than common dish washing soap everybody uses in their house on a day-to-day basis."
As for Croexit getting into the food chain?
"From the standpoint of the oil getting into ah, into, into the food chain, yes, there is certainly a concern there, but from the dispersant standpoint? Absolutely not."
So, if it's "at least 25 times less toxic than common dish washing soap," ah, why is the guy wearing industrial strength rubber gloves?!
Stay Classy, BP
BP Hires Prison Labor to Clean Up Spill While Coastal Residents Struggle.
In the first few days after BP's Deepwater Horizon wellhead exploded, spewing crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, cleanup workers could be seen on Louisiana beaches wearing scarlet pants and white t-shirts with the words "Inmate Labor" printed in large red block letters. Coastal residents, many of whom had just seen their livelihoods disappear, expressed outrage at community meetings; why should BP be using cheap or free prison labor when so many people were desperate for work? The outfits disappeared overnight.
Work crews in Grand Isle, Louisiana, still stand out. In a region where nine out of ten residents are white, the cleanup workers are almost exclusively African-American men. The racialized nature of the cleanup is so conspicuous that Ben Jealous, the president of the NAACP, sent a public letter to BP CEO Tony Hayward on July 9, demanding to know why black people were over-represented in "the most physically difficult, lowest paying jobs, with the most significant exposure to toxins."
BP Asks Taxpayers to Pay the Bill for Their Disaster
BP's Latest Outrage: $9.9 Billion Tax Break for Spill Damages:
When BP announced creation of a $20 billion fund to clean up the Gulf of Mexico and compensate gulf coast residents for damages caused by the Deepwater Horizon disaster, it seemed as if the company was serious about promises to "make things right" after the worst oil spill in history.
This week however, BP signaled that it expects American taxpayers to share its burden. The firm announced it will take advantage of U.S. tax laws and claim a $9.9 billion tax credit against the $32 billion it says it has lost because of the spill.
As White House press secretary Robert Gibbs noted on Tuesday, the 35 percent tax credit on business losses that BP plans to exploit is a longstanding part of the tax code.
Still, said Common Cause president Bob Edgar, "BP's use of the provision is disappointing – another example of the cut-costs-whatever-the-consequences mentality that appears to have led to the spill.
"And the availability of such a tax break is a sad illustration of the rewards that powerful corporate interests reap from their investments in our political system," Edgar added.
But Washington's answer to mind-blowing inequity isn't to go after the corporations and to change the tax laws that give them such unfathomable benefits, it's to go after the wait staff at your local restaurant and to cut their minimum wage.
It's a Lie That The Oil in the Gulf Has Magically Disappeared
Read Mac McClelland's rant from this morning. She's been in the Gulf for at least a month now and she knows what's she's talking about — the oil hasn't gone away folks.
My favorite part:
I sent one text message to Bloomberg's Lizzie O'Leary, who's standing on Grand Isle, Louisiana, right now, asking how the beach looks. "Lower part past the barrier untouched with globs of oil that washed up last night," she said. By "untouched," she means by cleanup crews, and that "barrier" she's talking about is the one the press isn't allowed past. I sent another text to Drew Wheelan, who's also in Southwestern Louisiana, doing bird surveys for the American Birding Association, asking him how big the biggest tar mat on Grand Terre—the scene of those now famous horrifying oiled-bird photos is. "20 feet by 15," he said. "But bigger ones submerged slightly."
If I managed to find that much oil with my BlackBerry without getting dressed or leaving the house, let's hope Thad Allen, who is quoted in the article as saying, "What we're trying to figure out is where is all the oil at and what can we do about it," can locate some more with the staff and craft of the United States Coast Guard at his disposal. As for the reporter's alarmingly unsubstantiated claim that "The beaches should be relatively painless to mop up," I can't even count the number of correspondents down here who've pointed out that digging a finger under the surface of supposedly clean sand turns up crude, or the number of cleanup workers who've said cleanup efforts are strictly cosmetic, or that no matter what they do the contamination just keeps bubbling up.
It's BP's job to whitewash this story and make it easier to indulge the desire to forget about the scope of the devastation, guys. Not the media's.
BP Bribes California Politicians With Free Tickets to NBA Games
The people who supposedly represent We The People apparently see no conflict whatsoever in participating in this neat little bribery scheme:
For more than a decade, BP has operated a hush-hush phone line that California lawmakers can call to request box seats to NBA games and concerts at the Sacramento stadium named after its West Coast subsidiary.
In the past five years, BP has given state officials more than 1,200 complimentary tickets to the Arco Arena, hosting them in its corporate suite to see Sacramento Kings games, World Extreme Cagefighting matches, and Britney Spears and Lil Wayne concerts. Getting the tickets is as easy as calling the BP ticket request line, an exclusive, unpublished phone number that appears to exist for the sole purpose of granting freebies to lawmakers, regulators, and their staffs.
BP has given away roughly $300,000 worth of tickets over the past 10 years, handing them out to everyone from lowly assembly clerks to top lawmakers.
Oy. It's only Wednesday and this has already been a week of outrage overload, on steroids.
Tony Hayward Ready for His Golden Parachute
The Times (of London) is reporting that BP CEO Tony Hayward is preparing to "stand down as early as next month."
I'd like to think he might suffer a bit but undoubtedly his "severance pay" and golden parachute will be enough to feed and house Gulf coast fishermen for decades.
BP Begins to Rewrite History
Now that the cap appears (knock on wood) to be working, the spin begins:
BP Stops The Spill!
Congratulations to the people and animals and birds and fish in the Gulf — BP says it has stopped the spill.
(I hope I don't regret the title of this post — fingers crossed.)
BP "Deeply Affected" by Parody Video
Watch this hilarious "BP Spills Coffee" video:
And then watch Bob Dudley, BP's Managing Director being interviewed on PBS, saying that the staff at BP was "deeply affected" by it and that it "makes their shoulders go down."
Well yeah, because it shows what idiots you are.
Pets (and their Guardians) in the Gulf Region Need Our Help
I can't imagine how economically destitute I would have to be to give up my two dogs. I think I would sell just about everything I had and cut way down on food — anything — to keep them. So, the folks in the Gulf are obviously suffering absolutely terribly if they're being put in a position of needing to surrender their pets in order to make ends meet survive:
Responding to the burdens the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has placed on pet owners and animal shelters in coastal communities, the Louisiana SPCA is offering free veterinary care to dog and cat owners in St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Terrebonne and Jefferson parishes.
The Gulf Coast Companion Relief Program, established by the SPCA with assistance from several organizations, also will help out-of-work fishers feed their pets rather than give them up.
Animal shelters in coastal parishes are packed with pets being dropped off by owners who say they cannot afford to care for them any longer.
"The coastal parish animal shelters have experienced 2-3 times the number of pets being relinquished than last summer," said Ana Zorrilla, chief executive officer of the Louisiana SPCA. "Studies have shown pets reduce stress, aid in overcoming depression and loss, and provide comfort in times of need. Knowing how bonded people are with their pets, it's heartbreaking to hear of families having to make this kind of decision. The pets have become innocent victims of this disaster."
It broke my heart to read the article so I made a $15.00 donation. Wish I could give more. If you're interested, here's the SPCA's home page, and here's the donation page.
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), Dammit, He's Gonna Protect Louisiana!
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said the state will not waiting for federal approval to begin building sand barriers to protect the coastline from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Oil has pushed at least 12 miles into Louisiana's marshes, with two major pelican rookeries awash in crude.
Gov. Jindal was critical of the amount of boom his state received to ward off the oil seeping toward the coastline. But his major gripe comes at the expense of the Army Corps of Engineers, who have yet to give the go-ahead for the building of sand booms to protect the Louisiana wetlands. He used photographic evidence of oil breaking through hard booms, soft booms and another layer of protection, before being finally being corralled by a sand boom built by the National Guard.
"It is so much better for us. We don't want oil on one inch of Louisiana's coastline, but we'd much rather fight this oil off of a hard coast, off of an island, off of an island, off of a sandy beach on our coastal islands, rather than having to fight it inside in these wetlands," Gov. Jindal said, making the case for sand booms.
The governor said he has been forced to protect Louisiana without the approval of the Army Corps of Engineers, which is weighing the ecological impact of the construction of more sand booms.
"We are not waiting for them. We are going to build it," Jindal said.
July, 2010 and these are Bobby Jindal's sand booms Going, going, gone.
Good idea Bobby.
Oil Gusher = 2 Billion Cans of Soda
Check out the Associated Press' "Oil Spill Meter."
Human Sniffers Determining the Oil Content of Gulf Seafood
My God. We put a man on the Moon in 1969. 40+ years later, the way the government is determining whether seafood from the Gulf is contaminated with oil is and/or that Gulf fishermen can go back to work — is via human sniffers? Unbelievable.
When oil from BP's Deepwater Horizon well finally stops gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, the decision about whether to reopen at least 81,000 square miles of waters to commercial fishing will rest with the trained noses and palates of a secret panel of nearly two dozen seafood sniffers.
They're the deciders, a group of experts — highly skilled and exquisitely practiced in detecting unusual odors and tastes, including those of petroleum – that will largely determine the fate of the region's $659 million-a-year fishing industry.
Working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, they will be charged with sniffing raw and cooked samples of 10 kinds of fish and shellfish, tasting a bit of each – and then deciding, yea or nay, whether an area can reopen.
United States Coast Guard Homepage Void of BP Spill Info
It's just remarkable that the headline on the homepage of the United States Coast Guard is about it sponsoring a women's professional soccer game. One would think the goings on surrounding the BP oil disaster would get top billing. Instead, one has to scroll down to the bottom of the page to get to a link for that.
Ted Glick — Oil-Owned Senators, Judges and Lobbiest Want Him Locked Up
Ugh. I'm dragging myself back to a reality that seems unreal after a wonderful 4th of July weekend. Happy dogs, good food, friends, rain, sunshine and gentle breezes. It couldn't have been better.
But, again, back to what is now known as reality here in the good old U.S. of A. — flags, flags, flags and fireworks included – is this story that caught my eye. It exposes the lie that is the ugly underbelly of the "freedom" we're supposedly celebrating this very minute:
Environmentalist Faces [Three Years in] Jail for Hanging a Banner in Senate Office Building:
A 60 year-old environmental activist who hung two banners in a government building will be sentenced Tuesday — and faces up to three years in prison.
Bloomfield, NJ resident Ted Glick will be sentenced Tuesday for unfurling two banners saying "Green Jobs Now" and "Get to Work" from the Hart Senate Office Building's 7th floor into the atrium on Sept. 8, 2009, the day the Senate returned from its summer recess. Glick and approximately 30 demonstrators were attempting to pressure the Senate to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act which passed the House in June 2009.
Despite entering the building legally and following all security requirements, including providing identification and having the banners and other items scanned, Glick was convicted of two misdemeanors—disorderly conduct and unlawfully assembling on Capitol Grounds—on May 13.
So, a guy who thinks we should have clean air and water and who hangs two banners in a government building faces three years in prison? Are. You. Kidding. Me?!
This gigantic, coordinated, world-wide cabal is willing to go after anyone, even small voices like Glick's, so as to scare the shit out of us small people. They want us to to sit the f**k down and shutting the F**k up.
Meanwhile — let's keep waiving those flags and talkin' about our "freedom."
BP Caught Dumping Sand On Top of Oil-Covered Beaches in Louisiana
What the hell is going on around here? How is BP able to get away with this:
British Petroleum is trucking in sand to cover up the oil. Let me repeat that – instead of cleaning up the oil they are just bringing in sand from other beaches and covering it up. In the photos and the video you can see the layering of Grand Isle, LA sand, oil and then a sand of a different type. Photo-journalists have four independent confirmations by local Sheriff's in Grand Isle, Louisiana.
Living on a Dying Delta
Here is a deeply moving piece by the always-wonderful Dahr Jamail about a day trip he took through the area south of New Orleans, where oil from the BP geyser first hit.
Later, as we drive back north towards New Orleans, I feel a seething rage towards BP and the US government. It is easy to vent my frustrations towards this giant oil company with the worst safety record on the planet. It is easy to rage at the US corporate-controlled so-called government. They are both easy targets for our rage.
U.S. to Accept Foreign Help in Oil Spill
Bottom line is that BP ain't gettin' the job done. Why it took the administration so long to realize that they couldn't/wouldn't is something I'll leave to the psychologists.


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soooooo, when is the next chapter of the Ice Princess going to come out?
Say, it would seems that ¨Venom¨ has found the hideout were Mr. Freeze´s is storing his woman till he finds the cure. Wont Mr. Freeze be pissed to find see that a delta operator is doing the beast with 2 backs with his girl? and you know that if Mr. Freeze gets involved, Batman is in too........He of course walks up a opens it and finds "Ms. Freeze" intombed in ice. He starts touching her coffin and soon triggers the coffin to release very hot water melt the ice.


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Home > Post > Post 9 > Post 9 News Release > 2010 News Releases > News Release
News Release
Trooper Shaun Little
Public Affairs Officer
Kentucky State Police
Post 9, Pikeville
(606) 433-7711
Click here to e-mail Trooper Shaun Little
Robbery investigation of Family Dollar Store in Sidney, Ky
Date of News Release: 11/27/2010
(Sidney, Ky.) -- At 15:57 hours Post 9 Pikeville received a call of a robbery at the Family Dollar Store in the Sidney area of Pike County. An unknown male subject entered into the store armed with a knife and demanded money from the cashier. The suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. There were no injuries. The male subject was described as wearing black hooded jacket with the hood covering his head and a handkerchief covering his face, red and white in color. He was wearing black sunglasses with thick frame, wearing black pants and gloves.
This case is under investigation by Detective Jimmy Anderson.
Detective Jimmy Anderson was assisted on scene by Trooper Randall Coots, Trooper Jake Stinnett, and Pike County Sheriff's Department.
KSP asks that anyone with information pertaining to this investigation call KSP Post 9 Pikeville at (606) 433-7711 or 1-800-222-5555 (inside the state of Kentucky).


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New Orleans Saints
Jay Richardson - #97 - DE
|6' 6"/ 280 lbs.
|Dublin, OH
|Ohio State
|Years played
|2007, 5th round, 1st pick by Raiders
Sharper may return to Saints
Even though he would be entering his 15th NFL season, we hear FS Darren Sharper would like to return to New Orleans next season, and the team may be receptive to his return, according to NFC South Whispers.
Saints would rather not have to replace OLT Bushrod this offseason
OLT Jermon Bushrod could become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, but we hear the Saints are not eager to get rid of him.
Seahawks show NFL parody, not parity
There is really only one thing you can say about wild-card weekend, writes Ron Borges, and you didn't have to wait until Sunday night to say it.
Window to win not shut for Saints
The Saints will have to make some difficult decisions on personnel before next season and there will probably be more roster turnover between now and next season than the Saints experienced between winning the Super Bowl and the start of ...
Saturday's games a ratings boon for NBC
Saturday's exciting wild-card games on NBC earned milestone ratings for the network.
Saints won't go all out to keep RB Thomas
Oft-injured RB Pierre Thomas will be a free agent in the offseason, and while the Saints would like to have him back, they won't get into a bidding war to retain him, according to NFC South Whispers.
Underdog Seahawks stun Saints in 41-36 win
Matt Hasselbeck threw four touchdown passes and Marshawn Lynch scored on an electrifying 67-yard run in the final minutes to lead the Seattle Seahawks to an improbable 41-36 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the ...
Saints' Williams says he's in no hurry to leave
While he's drawing interest from at least one team with a head-coaching vacancy, Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams reiterated Thursday that he's not prepared to leave his current position for just any head-coaching job.
Hasselbeck to start for Seahawks vs. Saints
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll announced after Thursday's practice that Matt Hasselbeck will be the team's starting quarterback for their wild-card playoff game against the Saints on Saturday.
Saints place RB Thomas on I.R., sign RB Bell
The Saints have placed RB Pierre Thomas on injured reserve and signed RB Joique Bell to take his spot on the roster.
Oddsmakers make Seahawks massive underdogs
Whether the Seahawks are indeed the biggest home playoff underdog ever can't be conclusively said, though it is clear they are in the team picture.
Saints playoff primer
PFW examines the Saints as they prepare for the playoffs, identifying the keys to the offense and the defense, a player to watch, and what they have to do to win the Super Bowl.
Saints place RB Ivory on I.R.
Days before they begin their playoff run against the Seahawks, the Saints placed RB Chris Ivory on injured reserve and signed RB DeShawn Wynn.
Overcoming injuries against Seattle won't be new drill for Saints
The Saints beat the Seahawks, despite having several key players sidelined, earlier this season, and they may be facing similar circumstances when they get the postseason underway at Qwest Field Saturday.
Game times announced for NFL playoffs
The Jets-Colts wild-card game will be the Saturday night game in the first weekend of the NFL playoffs.
The Jets signed Richardson, a free agent.||||||| Richardson was a fifth-round pick of Oakland in 2007, and played three seasons with the Raiders. He signed with Seattle in 2010 after being waived by Oakland, and played in seven games with the Seahawks. Richardson, who has seven sacks in 55 games, didn't play in the NFL last season.
Richardson was released by the Raiders on Saturday.||||||| Richardson started much of his first two years in the NFL before being relegated to a reserve role last season. He started 22 games in 2007 and '08, but had knee surgery in training camp and never was healthy enough to return to the practice field.
Richardson got his first career start on Sunday against Cleveland, replacing Derrick Burgess, who is out with a calf injury.||||||| Richardson has played two games this season in limited roles, getting one tackle and deflecting one pass. He should be more involved in the defense against the Browns.


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Dolphins Taking First Ever Trip to Highland Heights
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University men's soccer team returns to Atlantic Sun action this weekend in a 7 p.m. matchup against Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 26. Coming off of a disappointing non-conference match at Georgia Southern, the Dolphins look to turn things around and continue to break way in the A-Sun with their first ever trip to Highland Heights.
The Dolphins (4-8-1, 2-2-0) currently sit in the fifth spot in conference standings and have four remaining matches before the seasons end. "This [Returning to A-Sun action] is the main focus of our team and I feel confident our guys will be ready to play a full 90 against a very good-very disciplined NKU team," says Head Coach Ryan Pratt.
Despite scoring just two goals in two matches last weekend, the Dolphins tie with Eastern Kentucky for most goals per game with an average of 1.5. While injuries have forced key JU players to sit out, the team has asked others to step up and they have done just that. In example, getting his second start in the 4-1 loss to Georgia Southern, freshman midfielder Valentine Murombo played quality minutes for the Dolphins and netted his first career-goal.
Joining the conference in 2012, the Norse has seen many successes in their two years of Atlantic Sun play. Nine overtime matches played so far this fall, NKU (6-3-6, 2-1-1) is two extra periods shy of tying the NCAA record for most in a season and has already set a conference record for most draws. Scoring 17 goals as a team, junior forward Caleb Eastham leads Norse with four goals.
Jacksonville at Northern Kentucky
Overall: NKU leads the series, 1-0.
Notable: In the sole matchup between JU and NKU, the Norse defeated the Dolphins, 2-1, last season in Jacksonville.
Coach Quotes: "They are a tough gritty team that plays with a lot of confidence at home. We will need to make sure we are ready for the challenge that lies ahead".


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Congressman Adrian Smith has been assigned to both the Health and Trade subcommittees of the Ways and Means House Committee.
As part of the Trade Subcommittee, Smith will face issues related to trade agreements; budget authorizations for several departments; and special trade-related problems involving market access,
export policy and promotion, and bilateral trade relations including trade with
developing nations.
The Subcommittee on Health will have Smith overseeing taxes
and payments (from any source) relating to Medicare and all other health care
and health delivery systems except Medicaid.
"These subcommittees offer a unique opportunity to
represent the interests of the Third District during the 113th Congress as the
U.S. negotiates new trade agreements around the world, and many of the most
burdensome provisions of the 2010 health care law begin to take
effect," said Smith. "I also look forward to addressing comprehensive tax reform
with the full committee to simplify the tax code for all Americans and
encourage economic growth."
Smith has served on the Ways and Means Committee since January


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I was thinking about our good buddy Braden Looper and the 2010 Brewers in general. Even though it would cost us $1 million to un-invite him back for 2010 (the mutual option is not a free option, thanks Doug), I think it's safe to say that most people around these parts would prefer to be Looper-free next season. Although that might seem obvious to us, given the lack of feasible options on the free agent market, I think Doug Melvin is seriously toying with bringing him back.
This is where you come in. Doug has been at the helm for the past seven years, and by now, I think I have a fix (sort of) on how he thinks. Putting aside what you think he should do, what do you think he'll actually do this offseason to "improve" the 2010 Brewers? Looper is a good starting point, but there are a lot of decisions he'll have to make: Weeks, Lopez, Cameron, Hardy, McGehee, not to mention the search for pitching and the future of our interim pitching coach.
So have at it. Give Doug a vacation this offseason but telling him what he's going to do before he does it.


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Christmas has once again come to life in southwest Atlanta. A drive-through nativity scene at Cascade United Methodist Church features live animals and actors who portray the story of Jesus' birth.All five scenes from the Bible are displayed.Church leaders say they hope to share the true meaning of Christmas.
1551 Briarcliff Rd., NEAtlanta, GA 30306Main Number: (404) 875-5555News Tips: (404) 898-0100


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FITCHBURG (WKOW) -- Part of McKee Road will be closed overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. Crews will be putting up the rest of the bridge for the Military Ridge Path.
All westbound lanes of County PD, east of Verona Road, will be closed from 8p.m. Tuesday to 5a.m. Wednesday.
One lane eastbound will also be closed during that time.
Drivers will be re-routed.
The first part of the bridge went up November 20.


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Our Indiana Pacers will finish the season with a .500 record more than likely. The second half of the season is definitely lighter than the first half for us and we are probably lucky to have the record we have considering some of the teams we have had to beat to be here. Currently I beleive we are 7th in the East and will probably be there at the end of the year. For a lot of Indycornrows nation we had exceeded expectations so now that we are in such a funk that is obviously due at least in part to a lacking system, gameplan and coach the outcry is amplified. For one reason most of us know as we are currently constructed from head coach down, we will be lucky to win one game in the first round. If we have made it that far without having a total disconnect of players and coach.
So what do we do? I like firing the coach even if we just promote an assistant in the interim. Also, we need another post scorer preferably who can rebound and play D at the 4 in my opinion to at least get this team playing a little more enjoyable to watch. Carl Landry has been said to be on the block, Id like to trade Dunleavy or TJ maybe second rounder for him. I know he's been talked about before and has had his rebounding and D questioned, but hes a rent to own so it could help us this year be more consistent, with a n option to resign him at the end of the year. Maybe you all have a better idea for how we should proceed. So what say you, what is our best course of action from here on?
If you do like the fire coach idea someone started a fire JOB facebook page.


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New England Patriots
Tommy Kelly - DT
|6' 6"/ 325 lbs.
|Jackson, MS
|Mississippi State
|Years played
Patriots-Jets matchup of the day: Saturday
Just because Rex Ryan said his team will return to the "ground and pound" doesn't mean the Jets will not try to air it out.
Five questions with Jets correspondent Dan Leberfeld
For this week's "Five questions with ..." segment, PFW talked with publisher of Jets Confidential and PFW's Jets correspondent Dan Leberfeld to preview Sunday's Patriots-Jets game.
Patriots-Jets matchup of the day: Friday
If there's a game for the Patriots' pass rush to come alive, it's this Sunday against the Jets.
Patriots fantasy report: Week Five
Do you start either BenJarvus Green-Ellis or Stevan Ridley against the Jets this week? Can Deion Branch rebound after two poor weeks? Here's a look at some of the Patriots' fantasy football options this week.
Patriots add DB Victorian to practice squad
The Patriots announced Friday that rookie DB Josh Victorian has been re-signed to the practice squad. To make room for him, the team released FB Eric Kettani.
Patriots-Jets matchup of the day: Thursday
One of the Jets' bigger weapons could pose a matchup problem for the Patriots — TE Dustin Keller.
Patriots getting creative with extra blockers
Without a true fullback or H-back, Bill Belichick is using offensive tackles and a linebacker to add an extra blocker on offense.
Patriots-Jets matchup of the day: Wednesday
The mystery of which opposing receiver Jets CB Darrelle Revis will cover is always intriguing, and everyone wants to know if he will cover Wes Welker on Sunday.
Pats sign CB Moore to practice squad
The Pats signed rookie CB Sterling Moore to the practice squad and released DB Josh Victorian.
Patriots rookie report: Week Four
Rookie RB Stevan Ridley notched his first career touchdown in the Patriots' win over the Raiders.
Patriots 60-second rant: Jets provide opportunity for Patriots' defense to step up
The Jets bring their struggling offense to Foxborough, giving the Patriots' defense an opportunity to gain some confidence.
Patriots-Jets matchup of the day: Tuesday
All eyes will be on the chess match between Tom Brady and the Patriots' offense vs. Rex Ryan's defense in Sunday's game.
Report: Patriots RB Woodhead has sprained ankle
Patriots RB Danny Woodhead left Sunday's win over the Raiders and did not return. He sprained his ankle and reportedly avoided a major injury.
Patriots re-sign S Ventrone to practice squad
The Patriots re-signed S Ross Ventrone to the team's practice squad on Tuesday.
The First Fifteen: Week Five
Here's an early look at the Week Five action, the first shortened (and the bye isn't coming at a great time for a few teams) week of the 2011 NFL season.
The Oakland Raiders have released Kelly, cutting ties with their longest-tenured position player on the roster.||||||| Kelly signed a $50.1 million, seven-year contract to remain with Oakland in 2008. He was owed $6.5 million this year before being cut. Kelly had one sack in 16 games last season.
Kelly accepted responsibility for his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, saying he made a bad mistake.||||||| Kelly went out drinking Sunday night after the Raiders returned from a road trip to Kansas City. He was booked at Oakland's Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility on Monday and later released. Kelly acknowledged that he is under more scrutiny this season after signing a seven-year contract in the offseason that was worth up to $50.5 million and included $18.125 million in guaranteed money. Coach Lane Kiffin sat down with Kelly on Wednesday to talk about the situation.
Kelly was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Authorities say Kelly was booked at Oakland's Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility on Monday and later released.||||||| The Raiders signed Kelly to a $50.5 million contract this year even though the veteran defensive lineman was coming off a serious knee injury that cut his 2007 season short. Kelly had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Kelly replaced Warren Sapp as the anchor of the Raiders' defensive line.
The Raiders resigned Kelly on Thursday to a seven-year contract that reportedly could be worth more than $50 million. Kelly, coming off reconstructive knee surgery, was set to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday. But the Raiders pre-empted that with a lucrative contract that guarantees Kelly more than $18 million.||||||| Keeping Kelly was an offseason priority for Oakland after defensive tackle Warren Sapp retired. Kelly was the team's most consistent defensive lineman last season before sustaining the season-ending knee injury Oct. 28 against Tennessee. Kelly's versatility is one of his biggest strengths as he is able to play inside at tackle or outside at end. He finished 2007 with 27 solo tackles, one sack and a blocked kick.
Kelly will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee, the latest injury to hit Oakland's defensive line.||||||| Kelly had 27 solo tackles and one sack this season, moving back and forth between end and tackle with ease. He also came up with one of the biggest plays of the season for Oakland, blocking a potential winning 40-yard field goal attempt by Cleveland's Phil Dawson on Sept. 23.


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IBM and Canonical Bring Netbook Software to Africa
IBM has joined Canonical to market Ubuntu-based netbooks with IBM's Smart Work applications in emerging world markets. Africa is the beginning.
IBM's goal is to outdo competitor Microsoft with more affordable prices in the emerging markets. Target groups for the netbook suite are different than the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) initiative in not being schoolchildren but small enterprises who can't afford a PC for each of their coworkers. The viability of the IBM-Canonical offer remains to be seen, but depends on configuration and support needs. The software bundle should be up to 50% more affordable than an equivalent Microsoft desktop, based on licensing costs, administration and maintenance.
The Smart Work client will include email programs, text and spreadsheet processing and communications software. IBM will includes its Lotus programs, that is to say Lotus Notes or Web-based iNotes as mail client along with the free Lotus Symphony productivity application suite and the Lotus Sametime messaging and collaboration software. The LotusLive hosted services will provide services in a cloud environment. Smart Work can be expanded with diverse Lotus components and virtualization technologies.
IBM has already found service providers in Africa for client distribution and is in contact with universities to bring its software model into academic focus.
Netbook DownloadsSo does it mean that this is we some kind of OS?? I am not getting it clearly!!
Issue 166/2014
Buy this issue as a PDF
Tag Cloud
Knoppix 7.4 Released
Klaus Knopper announces the latest version of his iconic Live Linux system.
PHP Attack Puts WordPress and Drupal at Risk
All websites that use these popular CMS tools could be vulnerable to denial of service attacks if users don't install the updates.
Heartbleed Bleeds On
According to a report, many potential victims of the Heartbleed attack have patched their systems, but few have cleaned up the crime scene to protect themselves from the effects of a previous intrusion.
Drone Brain Goes Open Source
DARPA and NICTA release the code for the ultra-secure microkernel system used in aerial drones.
Password Management Services Vulnerable to Attack
Should you trust an online service to store your online passwords?
New Raspberry Pi Adds Two USB Ports
New B+ board lets you build cool things without the complication of a powered USB hub.
Microsoft Grabs No-IP.com Domains
Redmond rushes in to root out alleged malware haven.
Firefox Steps into 3D
New initiative will bring futuristic virtual reality effects to the web surfing experience.
New Trojan Targets Online Banking
Dyreza malware launches a man-in-the-middle attack that compromises SSL.
HP Rolls Out Massive Cloud Network
New cloud combines worldwide access with local attention to data security.


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I usually avoid rebutting rebuttals, but I want to explore the Bellevue Union School District's capital appreciation bonds a little further in light of the superintendent's response to an editorial ("Time to hit the pause button on costly bonds") I wrote about three weeks ago.
You can read the editorial here and Superintendent Alicia Henderson's rebuttal here.
In short, the editorial said capital appreciation bonds are a bad deal for taxpayers. With interest payments deferred until the bonds mature (and interest being charged on interest along the way), they cost a bundle. In Bellevue's case, the district will pay $4 million to retire a $378,000 CAB issued in 2011. That's more than $10 in interest for every dollar in principal.
Henderson said I was wrong, but I don't think she backed that up. In addressing the interest costs, she combined the $378,000 CAB with $4.3 million in other Bellevue bonds sold in 2011. The interest-principal ratio on the $4.3 million loan, she said, was 1.05:1. Once the $378,000 CAB was added, she said, the ratio climbed to 2.1:1. "None of the facts suggest loan shark rates," she said, quoting the editorial. OK, a 2-1 ratio isn't bad on a loan. But let's put it in context: The district increased its borrowing by about 10 percent, and its debt ratio jumped 100 percent. Sounds like an awfully steep interest rate to me.
Henderson also said the district couldn't pass up the opportunity because the federal government is going to pay 90 percent of the interest. So the interest costs are being shared by taxpayers in Windsor and Willits and Twin Falls, Idaho and Madison, Wis. and Marietta, Ga. – well, you get the picture. That's a great deal for Bellevue taxpayers – as long as no other school district is doing the same thing.
Bellevue, of course, isn't alone.
If you're interested in this subject – and if you've gotten this far I assume you are – you should read an outstanding piece of investigative reporting by the Orange County Register (link). The Register peeled the onion on a much larger CAB deal in the Placentia-Yorba Linda school district. Beyond the $280 million in interest to be paid on a $22 million loan, reporter Melody Petersen detailed the conflicting interests of the school district, which presumably should be looking for the least expensive deal for taxpayers, and its financial advisers, who double as campaign strategists and bond underwriters. They want to maximize returns. In this instance, I'd say they did.
Not to worry, Placentia-Yorba Linda district officials said. It's a great deal. You see, the interest payments are heavily subsidized by the federal government. Including the taxpayers in the Bellevue Union School District.
– Jim Sweeney
280 million payback for a 22 million dollar loan is a "good deal". I don't know who is more ignorant here, the elected officials or us, fee voters who elect idiots who state, with all sincerity, that a280 million payback for a 22 million dollar loan is a good deal
INSIDE OPINION is permanently closed.
The Sonoma Valley United School District has done something similar. The school district issued bonds in 2010, borrowing millions of dollars for the local schools. Members of the school board did not read the prospectus, did not understand the terms of repayment and believed the Superintendent who told the board that the money was essentially "free." In fact, the repayment of the school bonds is not part of the operating budget.It is repaid by our taxes, a matter of no concern to the board. The interest rate paid on one of the zero coupon bonds was/is 12%, at a time when banks were paying less than 1% on savings deposits and mortgage loans were less than 5%. The school did not concern itself with the high cost of borrowing since taxpayers would repay the "free" money provided to the district. We brought this to the attention of the school board, but got the impression that math wasn't their thing.
Any good manager knows that borrowing must be done in a prudent manner and must not be allowed to "balloon" as it could result in the failure of the company and, if a small business, the manager/owner going bankrupt and losing everything including their home.
No such worries for our clueless bureaucrats who happily make very bad deals that someone else will have to pay the price for.
Living within one's means does not apply to government drones.
Jim, I'm with you on this. But I think your editorial and comments should include the length of the loan and interest rate. The numbers are probably outlandish not because the interest rate is obscene (although I don't know that) but because the school chose to make no payments for . . . what? . . . . 20-30-40 years. That's a lot of compounding.
This gets muddied a bit by supposedly educated people claiming that the money is practically free from the Feds, as if they know that the Feds will be able to afford even 5 years from now.
…and they'll all get re-elected.