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US 20030023498 A1 Abstract A method in which a group of financial institutions and member businesses cooperate to establish a trading network in which member sellers accrue derivatives equal to the value of sales of goods or services to member buyers, and then use the derivatives to purchase items from other members of the network. No money is transferred in the course of the transactions, but the financial institutions act as guarantors to ensure that the derivatives exchanged for goods or services are backed by U.S. dollars or another international currency of choice.
Claims(23) 1. A method of buying and selling goods and services among members of a network including financial institutions, comprising:
(a) conducting a credit check on prospective participants in the network; (b) assigning a credit limit of derivatives to each participant which has qualified as a network member; (c) assigning a required reserve contribution for each member for deposit with its financial institution; (d) determining a working balance of derivatives for each member equal to the sum of available credit from the assigned credit limit and the balance of recorded sales of goods or services made by that member; (e) executing a transfer of goods or services between members of the network including:
(i) transmitting a purchase request from a member buyer to a member seller;
(ii) approving the purchase request in the event the amount of the purchase is less than the working balance of derivatives of the member buyer;
(iii) crediting derivatives to the working balance of the member seller equal to the amount of the purchase; and
(iv) debiting derivatives from the working balance of the member buyer equal to the amount of the purchase.
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17. A method of buying and selling goods and services among members of a network including financial institutions, comprising:
(a) conducting a credit check on prospective participants in the network; (b) assigning a credit limit of derivatives to each participant which has qualified as a network member; (c) assigning a required reserve contribution for each member for deposit with its financial institution; (d) determining a working balance of derivatives for each member equal to the sum of available credit from the assigned credit limit and the balance of recorded sales of goods or services made by that member; (e) executing a transfer of goods or services between members of the network including:
(i) transmitting a purchase request from a member buyer to a member seller;
(ii) approving the purchase request in the event the amount of the purchase is less than the working balance of derivatives of the member buyer;
(iii) crediting derivatives to the working balance of the member seller equal to the amount of the purchase;
(iv) debiting derivatives from the working balance of the member buyer equal to the amount of the purchase;
(f) periodically auditing the working balance of derivatives of each member. 18. The method of
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Description [0001] This invention relates to the purchase and sale of goods and services, and, more particularly, to a method of buying and selling goods and services among members of a trading network including financial institutions in which derivatives are accumulated by members as a result of sales and then used to make purchases from other members of the network. Excess derivatives may be redeemed for cash at variable discount rates from participating financial institutions. [0002] Many newly organized and existing businesses face a variety of challenges in securing sufficient funds to finance ongoing operations and growth. An increasingly pervasive problem in recent years has been the trend for purchasers of goods or services to delay payment over longer and longer periods of time. Whereas payment cycles had been 30 days or less in the past, it is not uncommon today to have accounts receivables on the books in the 45 to 90 day range or more. This severely hampers the ability of a business to purchase new products, or expend funds on expansion, unless the size and credit history of the business allows it to obtain lines of credit from a bank or other financial institution. For many businesses, such lines of credit are not available, or can be obtained only at unacceptably high interest rates. [0003] A number of options are available to assist businesses with cash flow and the generation of funds for operations or expansion, but each has inherent limitations and risks. As noted above, many buyers have chosen to extend the time of payment for their purchases well beyond historic 30 day cycles. While delays in payment allow a buyer to retain funds for a longer period of time to accrue interest or be put to other uses, the seller's cash flow suffers and inhibits it from making purchases of goods or services from others. Eventually, the entire system is slowed because the buyer who deferred its payment to a seller ultimately suffers delays in the purchase of and payment for its own goods by others because prospective buyers have not received payment on their receivables. For those businesses who are unable to obtain satisfactory lines of credit, this cycle is difficult to break. [0004] Banks and other financial institutions have aggressively promoted the use of credit cards, both at the consumer level and for use by businesses. Although widely accepted, credit cards have a number of pitfalls for all parties involved. Sellers of goods or services who accept credit cards typically pay a fee to the issuer of the card in the range of about 3-4% of the purchase, plus monthly fees to remain on the system. Additionally, payment from the issuer for the amounts charged by buyers may be delayed up to 10 days or more, which impacts the cash flow of the seller. From the standpoint of the issuer of the card, purchases made on a credit card automatically become a loan to the buyer and are debited to the issuer. While the financial institutions which issue cards have an opportunity to qualify those who receive one, and set credit limits, defaults on the �loans� or credit extended to card holders are common and losses can be significant over time. The same features of credit cards which are attractive to card issuers are a detriment to card holders. If cash flow is insufficient to pay off balances when due, the card holder will be required to pay interest on the unpaid balance which can exceed 18% per annum. This is a huge source of income to the issuers, but a real burden to the card holder. Moreover, businesses with little credit history, and/or businesses with poor credit ratings, often do not qualify for credit cards, or if they do, the credit limit is set at a comparatively low amount. [0005] Another source of funds which businesses are often forced to utilize is known as �factoring.� This term refers to the practice of obtaining funds from a lender by pledging or assigning the accounts receivable of the business as collateral. Due to the increasingly longer delays in obtaining payment for receivables, as noted above, many businesses have been forced to employ factoring to generate cash. One problem with this alternative is that it is expensive, e.g., the bank or other financial institution which provides funds based on the accounts receivables of a given company typically charges as high as 15% of the value of the receivable. Additionally, most states have laws requiring the buyer to disclose to a seller that it is purchasing goods or services by factoring its receivables. Many consider this to be an indication of financial weakness, and it may result in the cancellation of a purchase, presently or in the future, or a modification of the amount or terms of a pending sale. [0006] Still another method of trading which has existed for ages, known as bartering, is sometimes used by businesses. Bartering comprises the exchange of goods and/or services of one party for those of another without the transfer of money between the parties. It has been found that this method of doing business often results in problems with valuation of the goods or services to be traded, usually where one or both parties assigns an inflated value to their contribution to the transaction. Additionally, no bank or other entity stands in the position of a guarantor, and therefore the parties are left with little recourse in the event of a default or non-performance. [0007] It is therefore among the objectives of this invention to provide a method of buying and selling goods and services among members of a trading network including financial institutions which substantially increases the availability of funds, which creates faster turnover of proceeds from sales between members, which reduces the risks among members of default or non-performance by other members, which reduces risk to participating financial institutions and thus permits lower transactional charges, which provides a guarantor to each transaction, which generates additional sources of revenue for the financial institutions, which eliminates up-front capital contributions by all parties, which provides for redemption of member equity in U.S. dollars, which employs existing infrastructure including credit card systems, account processing, record keeping and data processing, and, which requires periodic settlement of negative account balances. [0008] These objectives are accomplished in a method according to this invention in which a group of financial institutions and member businesses cooperate to establish a trading network in which member sellers accrue derivatives equal to the value of sales of goods or services to member buyers, and then use the derivatives to purchase items from other members of the network. No money changes hands in the course of the transactions, but the financial institutions act as guarantors to ensure that the derivatives exchanged for goods or services are backed by U.S. dollars or other international currency of choice. [0009] The method of buying and selling goods or services according to this invention is predicated on the concept of substantially reducing the time interval between the sale of a product or service by a seller, and the availability of the proceeds from the sale for use by that seller in the purchase of another product or service from someone else. Unlike current systems in which funds are tied up in accounts receivable for 45 to 90 days or more, the proceeds of a sale among members of the trading network herein are available in the form of transferable derivatives within 24 to 48 hours from the sale. As a result, the seller in the original transaction has the means to become a buyer in another sale within a day or two, thus effectively increasing the value of the proceeds from the initial purchase because of the rapid turnover of funds from one party to the other. [0010] In the practice of the method of this invention, each prospective participant in the network is carefully screened by a financial institution such as a bank, so that credit worthiness and stability is ensured before approval as a network member. Each bank sets a credit limit, a minimum required reserve, assigns an account number and issues a card somewhat similar to a credit card for each member it approves. No party is required to contribute capital to the network, but each member must allow its bank to hold a minimum number of derivatives, once it makes sales within the network, which comprises the required reserve. A �derivative� essentially corresponds to one U.S. dollar or other currency of choice, except it is not cash as such but a numeric designation used to quantify the value of the goods or services exchanged in a sale among members of the network. [0011] Sales take place among network members in a manner generally similar to typical transaction over the Internet, a sale using a credit card or a purchase involving direct contact between the buyer and seller via phone, fax or e-mail. Once identified as a network member, credit data is obtained from the buyer by the seller and transmitted to a central processor which maintains real time records of the �working balance� of each member, i.e., the sum of available credit, and the balance of purchases and sales as of that point in time for each member, expressed in terms of derivatives. If the working balance of the prospective buyer is greater than the transaction amount, the sale can be approved and all parties, including the buyer's and seller's banks, receive a record of the transaction. Depending upon the requirements of the seller's bank, the derivatives received by the seller for the transaction are made available to spend within a day or two after the sale is initiated to allow for correction of errors. [0012] In the presently preferred embodiment, an account reconciliation or settlement is required of each member's account once a month. If the balance of purchases made by the member is greater than the value of its sales as of the reconciliation date, e.g., a negative balance, the member must pay cash to its bank or execute additional sales to generate derivatives in order to make up the difference. On the other hand, if the member's account shows a positive balance, the member has the option of redeeming excess derivatives for cash at a discount rate which varies depending on the magnitude of the surplus. [0013] The method of this invention has a number of advantages for all participants. Considering the member businesses, one significant benefit is the substantial reduction in time within which funds from a sale are made available to the seller for use, i.e., from current 45 to 90 day delays to 2 days, as noted above. As such, funds can be �turned over� or used by the members a number of times in a single month, instead of once every two to three months under the current accounts receivable system. Additionally, member businesses have less risk of bad debt and non-performance than in typical transactions. All members have been carefully screened by their banks before they are allowed to participate in the network, and each transaction is separately approved or declined depending on the records of a central server which maintains real time updates of each member's working balance, as described above. Further, the transactions are guaranteed by the participating banks or other financial institutions. [0014] The financial institutions or banks also enjoy a number of significant benefits under the method of this invention. Each bank is a broker, not a lender. Unlike credit cards, for example, the derivatives which are exchanged between a buyer and a seller in one network transaction accrue from sales previously executed by the buyer in other transactions. Although the banks do assign a credit limit to each of its members which can be used in network exchanges, derivatives primarily result from sales with which the banks do not become involved. A number of safeguards protect each bank. First, a credit screening process is undertaken before any member is accepted. Credit limits are assigned by the bank in accordance with the credit history and rating of a member, and each member is required to maintain a required reserve with its bank equal to a predetermined number of derivatives generated by sales made by such members. The required reserve contributions made by the members may be placed in interest bearing accounts by the bank to generate money. No up front money need by contributed by the banks. Additionally, as noted above, each member account is reconciled on a monthly basis, for example, and any negative balances must be paid in cash or derivatives to the banks by the member(s) in order for them to participate in future exchanges. [0015] Although the banks may be asked to redeem derivatives for cash by qualifying members, as described below, the magnitude of such redemptions is limited by the required reserve amounts. Moreover, the banks are authorized to charge varying discount rates for the redemption of derivatives, which provides a further source of income. In some instances, banks may choose to extend additional credit to selected, qualifying members, e.g., to cover negative account balances as of the account reconciliation date, and the interest made on such credit is another income source. Banks may use the present transfer network to generate additional business clients who may need other banking services, and the method herein is one way to assist struggling and/or start up businesses with minimal risk since the accrual of derivatives is dependent upon sales and not loans from the bank. These start up customers may become larger, more valuable customers for the bank over a period of time. [0016] With the numerous advantages to the financial institution participants of the trading network herein, it is anticipated that the operating expenses can be made comparatively low. This allows the banks to offer nominal discount rates at which derivatives may be redeemed, as well as reductions in the cost of other member services. Moreover, because existing credit card, data processing, account records and other infrastructure can be employed with the method of this invention, there is limited need for additional equipment or training for the personnel of the participants. This benefits all parties, and permits the method herein to be implemented with minimum expense and delay. [0017] The operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of the method of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0018]FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the sequence of events to qualify a prospective participant in the trading network herein as a member; [0019]FIG. 2 is a flow chart representative of a portion of the purchase sequence of the subject method; [0020]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the credit approval process represented by the box at the bottom of FIG. 2; and [0021]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the account reconciliation procedure of the method of this invention. [0022] With reference now to the drawings, the method of this invention is schematically depicted by a several flow charts which are representative of a sequence of events and operations performed by or on behalf of the network participants. Each flow chart contains a number of �boxes� identified by reference numbers, which, for ease of discussion, denote an event or operation in the method herein. For purposes of the present discussion, it is presumed that one or more financial institutions or banks have joined together with a service provider, identified as the �central processor� as discussed below, to establish the trading network of this invention. These banks then solicit and establish a membership among their existing business accounts, and other businesses, according to rules and procedures to be described. The resulting �trading network� therefore comprises the participating banks, member businesses and the central processor who interact via computer, telephone, fax or other means to execute the trading method of this invention. [0023] Referring initially to FIG. 1, the sequence of events to qualify a member of the trading network is schematically depicted. A prospective participant 10 in the network is solicited or requests to fill out an application, represented by box 12, for membership in the network. The application contains whatever credit information the participating bank requires, and a credit check 14 is undertaken which is not unlike one which would typically be required for a business seeking a loan, line of credit, credit card or the like. Boxes 16 and 18 are intended to represent that not all applicants will be accepted, but for those that are an account is established. It is contemplated that in initially organizing the trading network, the bank(s) will establish substantially uniform, or at least minimum, criteria for credit approval and the opening of an account for a new member business. For each member, its bank will set a minimum required reserve as at box 20, a credit limit 22 and provide an account number 24 which appears on a card (not shown) issued by the bank similar to a credit card. [0024] Trading in the network of this invention, in the manner described more fully below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, takes place between member buyers and sellers who exchange �derivatives,� instead of money. As noted above, a derivative essentially corresponds to one U.S. dollar, or other mutually agreed upon currency unit, except it is not cash as such but represents a numeric unit used to quantify the value of the goods or services exchanged in a sale among members of the network. The required reserve 20 represents a minimum number of derivatives which the bank is permitted to retain from sales made within the network by each member. No up-front cash payment is required of a member business at the inception of its participation in the network, but a portion of its initial sales of goods or services to another member is retained by its bank for the required reserve 20. The bank is free to convert the required reserve 20 to cash and invest same in an interest bearing account or other investment of its choice to generate funds. [0025] The credit limit shown in box 22 is also set by a member's bank in terms of derivatives, the magnitude of which is based upon the credit worthiness of a given member. As discussed, the member banks will likely adhere to jointly agreed upon criteria in setting credit limits to ensure that the financial integrity of the network is protected. [0026] Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic depiction is provided of the initial steps for the purchase of goods or services among members of the network. Initially, a network member identified as the �buyer,� as at box 26, undertakes a search 28 for a product or service of interest and/or a particular seller. This search may involve one or more of the sources collectively depicted in the box 30, shown in phantom, including, without limitation, the Internet web site 32 of the seller, a catalog 34 or other publication, a roster of members 36 of the network, signage 38 located at members' places of business and essentially any other source. With respect to the �roster of members 36� of the network, it is contemplated that over a period of time a data base of members and the goods or services each offers will be developed and provided to each network member via an Internet web site or printed listing in a directory or the like. [0027] Once the buyer 26 has located a product or service of interest, the actual sales process is initiated as at box 40. In the context of a transaction which takes place over the Internet, i.e. where the buyer 26 locates something to buy at the web site 32 of a member seller, the buyer 26 first activates the buy button 42 to indicate its intention to purchase a given product or service. As with conventional Internet sales, a data page appears and the buyer 26 is prompted to enter certain credit information represented at box 44 in FIG. 2. The form and content of the data page for sales among members of the network may vary to some extent from web site to web site, but common information would include the name and address of the buyer 26 and information concerning its network account such as the account number 24. Once the data page is completed, a request for credit approval is initiated as denoted by box 46 in FIG. 2, which is discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 3 below. [0028] In addition to Internet-based sales, transactions among members of the network can take place in a manner similar to conventional point-of-purchase sales or direct contact methods. As schematically shown in box 48 at the bottom of FIG. 2, a member buyer may employ its card issued as part of the credit approval process of FIG. 1 to purchase an item at the place of business of a member seller. The card 48 would be swiped in a reader device of the type commonly used in credit card sales, and data would be entered by the seller relating to the purchase amount for transmission to box 46 and the beginning of the credit approval process. Alternatively, the buyer may contact the seller directly via phone, facsimile, e-mail or the like, as at box 50, to convey its intention to purchase a product or service. Essentially the same credit information entered into the data page at the web site of an Internet transaction (box 44), would be obtained by the seller in this type of direct contact sale, as depicted at box 52. Such information is then transmitted to box 46 to begin the credit approval process, as noted above. [0029] Referring now to FIG. 3, the credit approval process and execution of the sale between network members is diagrammatically illustrated. As noted above, the network of the subject invention is initially formed by one or more financial institutions and a �service provider� designated as a central processor 54 in FIG. 3. The central processor 54 is an entity which maintains a server and ancillary equipment capable of storing and processing data generated in the course of operation of the network. Such data includes, for each member, its account number, amount of required reserve, amount of actual reserve, working balance, credit limit, amount of available credit, balance of recorded sales, identity of the member's bank and other information. This data is updated on a real time basis for use in the transaction approval process as described below, and the central processor 54 is connected via the Internet, e-mail, fax or other means to each member and to each bank. [0030] The request for credit approval 46 is transmitted from the seller to the central processor 54 where an initial inquiry is made as to whether the buyer 26 is a member of the network. See box 56. If not, the transaction is declined, as denoted by the �no� arrow from box 56 to box 58. The next inquiry made in the data base of the central processor 54 is to compare the working balance of the buyer 26 with the transaction amount, e.g. the purchase price of the goods or services desired. See box 60. The term �working balance� refers to the sum of the �available credit� of the buyer 26 and its �balance of recorded sales.� As noted above, each member is assigned a credit limit 22 upon entry into the trading network, corresponding to a number of derivatives. Sales by each member result in a credit of derivatives to the seller's account, as discussed more fully below. On the other hand, when a member purchases a service or product, its account is debited by the number of derivatives equal to the value of such purchase. The �balance of recorded sales� therefore refers to the amount of derivatives credited to a member's account due to its sales to other members, less the number of derivatives it has spent on purchases within the network. If that balance is negative, derivatives can be obtained from the credit assigned to a member up to its credit limit 22. As such, the term �available credit� refers to the difference between the assigned credit limit 22 of the member and the number of derivatives of credit which that member has used in prior purchases. [0031] The balance of recorded sales, the available credit and the sum of the two, or working balance, is calculated and stored in the server of the central processor 54 on a real time basis. As noted in box 60, the server has the capability of comparing the working balance to the transaction amount in a proposed sale. If the working balance of the member buyer is not greater than the transaction amount, the central processor 54 declines the transaction as indicated by the �no� arrow extending from box 60 box 62. In the event the central processor 54 determines that the working balance of the buyer is greater than the transaction amount (see �yes� arrow from box 60), a notice of the pending sale is sent to the buyer and to the seller involved in the transaction a denoted in box 64, Additionally, a temporary �hold� or fixed period of delay is instituted before the transaction is finalized. See box 66. The purpose of these procedures is to allow each of the participants in the sale to review the details of the transaction, e.g., the purchase price and item or service which is the subject of the sale, to make sure the records of the central processor 54 are accurate and correctly reflect the intent of the parties. A check or review of the transaction details is denoted by box 68, and provision is made for the parties to contact the central processor 54 to correct errors in the sale as recorded. See box 70. [0032] The period of delay or pendency of a transaction is typically one to two days, unless a problem develops between the buyer and seller. Assuming that such period passes, the sale is finalized and the operations shown at the bottom of FIG. 3 are executed by the central processor 54. An amount of derivatives equal to the value of the transaction amount are credited to the seller's account as at box 72 and debited to the buyers account as denoted by box 74. The working balance of both the seller and buyer is updated as at boxes 76 and 78, respectively, and each party is provided with a record of the transaction. See boxes 80 and 82. The central processor 54 also provides the sellers bank and the buyer's bank with a record of the transaction, as shown in boxes 84 and 86, and the details of the sale are archived in the server of the central processor 54 as represented by box 88. A service fee may be charged by each of the buyer's and seller's bank to their respective customers, as part of the transaction. [0033] One important aspect of the method of this invention is to ensure the accounts of each of the members remain current. In the presently preferred embodiment, an audit of each account is conducted on the 10th of each month based upon the balance of sales for the period extending between the 25th of each of the two prior months. For example, an audit conducted on June 10th would examine the balance of sales for each member during the period from April 25th to May 25th with the balance of the month of May and the first 9 days in June being carried over to the July 10th audit. Although the 10th and 25th days of the month are discussed herein, it should be understood that essentially any other dates could be chosen, as desired. [0034] With reference to FIG. 4, the audit process is schematically illustrated. The central processor 54 initiates the audit as at boxes 90 and 92 by first determining the balance of sales as reflected in the account of each member for the applicable period. As denoted in box 94, the central processor 54 first determines whether or not the balance of recorded sales of a given member is less than zero, e.g., a negative balance. If so, as indicated by the �yes� arrow from box 94, the member is required to contribute an amount of cash sufficient to bring its account balance to zero. See box 96. It is contemplated that in many instances a member will maintain a cash account with its bank, such as a savings or money market account, and after notification by the central processor 54 of the negative balance the bank debits the cash account of the member to make up the deficiency in its network account balance. In the event a member does not maintain a cash account with its network bank, such member would be required to make a cash payment to the bank to cure the negative balance. Alternatively, the negative balance in the member's account could be made up with sales to others in the network in lieu of a cash payment. [0035] It should be noted that the �negative balance� referred to in this aspect of the method herein does not take into account the reserve of a given member, i.e., each member is required to maintain its required reserve 20 at all times, and such funds are not available for use as payment for a transaction within the network. Additionally, this feature of the subject method provides a means of �de-listing� a member having financial difficulty at an early stage and with minimum difficulty. In the event the member is unable to return its account from a negative balance to zero, or a positive balance, the central processor 54 and its bank will immediately decline any further transactions of that member in the network until such time as the negative balance has been eliminated. As such, both the banks and other network members are protected from circumstances which can be lead to payment delinquencies and other problems by the present method. [0036] Assuming the account of a member has a positive balance, the next inquiry made by the central processor 54 is to determine if the balance of recorded sales is less than the required reserve as represented by box 98. If the answer to that query is �yes,� as expressed by the arrow from box 98, then a restriction is applied to future trades of such member until the next audit is conducted. As shown in box 100, such member is limited to transactions involving an exchange of derivatives among members of the network, and it is not eligible to redeem derivatives for cash, as described below. For example, if the cash reserve set by the bank of a member is 2000 derivatives, and the balance of derivatives from network purchases and sales of such member is 1000, any future transactions of the member until the next audit would be limited to purchases having a value of 1000 plus any available credit. The purpose of this restriction is to encourage members to maintain an appreciable account balance, and to provide a safeguard to the network banks against the redemption of derivatives for cash where a member's account is at a comparatively low positive balance. [0037] As noted above, a required reserve of derivatives is retained by each bank from its members generated by the sales made by such members to others in the network. This required reserve 20 may be on the order, for example, of 2000 derivatives for a typical member. A �ceiling reserve� is preferably also set for each member by its bank, which can be, for example, 5000 derivatives per member. As represented in boxes 102, 104 and 106, redemption of derivatives for cash depends on the number of derivatives which are maintained in a given member's account in comparison to the required reserve and the ceiling reserve. With reference to box 102, the central processor 54 calculates whether the balance of recorded sales is greater than the required reserve 20 but less than the reserve ceiling. If the answer is �yes� as represented by the �yes� arrow from box 102, then the member is permitted to redeem the number of derivatives in excess of the required reserve at a �standard� discount rate, e.g. on the order of 3-4%. See box 104. Alternatively, if the balance of recorded sales of such member is greater than the reserve ceiling, denoted by the �no� arrow from box 102, then the member is permitted to redeem for cash the number of derivatives in excess of the reserve ceiling at a preferred discount rate on the order of 1-2%. For example, assuming a required reserve of 2000 derivatives and a reserve ceiling of 5000 derivatives, a member with a balance of recorded sales equal to 3000 derivatives would be permitted to redeem 1000 derivatives for cash at a discount rate of 3-4%. If a member had a balance of recorded sales equal to 7500 derivatives, it could redeem 2500 derivatives for cash at a discount rate of 1-2%, and, if desired, an additional 3000 derivatives for cash at a discount rate of 3-4%. [0038] It is noted that sellers who accept standard credit cards incur a charge of 3.5% or more, including monthly fees, for each purchase. The standard discount rate for the method of this invention is no more than such credit card fees, and the preferred discount rate is less. Moreover, business checking accounts bear no interest. Consequently, there is no net loss and potential benefits for members to maintain at least some amount of derivatives in their network accounts. From the standpoint of the network banks, the members are given an incentive to maintain more derivatives in their accounts by changing comparatively low discount rates so that more funds are available to the banks for investment and income generation. If a network bank had 100,000 member clients, each provided with an incentive to maintain 5,000 or more derivatives on account, such bank has generated $500 million of funds to invest. Given the relatively small investment required of the banks, both in terms of infrastructure and payment to members, substantial sums can be earned by the banks even allowing redemption of derivatives at preferred discount rates. [0039] While the invention has been described with referenced to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Referenced by
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You should move out of New York before you fill a gun with cement I would say you shouldn't dry fire a .22, but it doesn't sound like that'll be a big problem!
I can't believe how many people suggest moving when these types of threads pop up. Yeah, that's easy for most... lol
Altering a real gun in any way to make it non-firing does not change the fact that it is a real gun. You cannot alter or remove the serial number (federal felony, and probably a capital offense in NY) in any case whatsoever. You must use a non-firing replica. That having been said, I have a Rohm .22 revolver (piece of crap gun) that my sons use for practicing fancy work. It functions, but only barely, and I don't feel it is safe to shoot anymore. But I don't care if it gets dropped and breaks either. Of course it was free to me so YMMV. If they make those airsoft guns that are a good analog for the real thing then that would be ideal.
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SONOMA Sonoma Spa (457 First St. W., Sonoma; 707/939-8770), a modest day spa in the center of Sonoma, entices with all-natural beauty and health treatments,...Hawaii's Invisible Resort: Four Seasons Hualalai
You come to the Big Island to see Hawaii, not a high-rise hotel. The new Four Seasons Hualalai knows that, and blends in with sea...Three Classic Vermont Towns
A trio of small towns in central Vermont look their best when dressed in winter whiteRoaming Australia's Margaret River Region
Here, nature runs wild and the wine flows freelyBeginners' Guide to London with Kids
On a getaway deal in the city of pomp and politesse, a family finds a warm welcome for childrenVisit to the Thai Island of Koh Samui
Connoisseurs of islands are heading to Koh Samui, where luxury meets nature, Thai-style...Best Places to Fly Fish
Until a couple of decades ago, fly-fishing meant trying to hook trout. Then the definition of the sport began to expand, and today's fly fisherman...Family Trip: Florida's Cheeca Lodge
Florida's Cheeca Lodge Lures Kids with Water, Water Everywhere


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Photos: Storms pound Twin Cities region
Storms hit the Twin Cities area Tuesday morning, June 19, 2012, snapping power poles and downing trees. Some 60,000 Xcel Energy customers lost power, the utility said.
Winds in the core metro area reached 40 to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. Trees and power lines were downed, particularly in Dakota County.
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NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Homes in Gotham got a little more affordable in the third quarter...or rather, prices dropped, but they still remained in nosebleed territory for most people.
The price declines followed two consecutive record quarters in which real-estate prices saw gains of at least 10 percent.
In its third-quarter Manhattan Market Overview report released Tuesday, Prudential Douglas Elliman attributed the price declines to a number of factors, including a modest uptick in mortgage rates, concern over the economic impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and a spike in gas prices.
Luxury-home prices (condos and co-ops combined) were hit hardest, according to the report. The average sales price of a luxury home sank 26 percent, to $3.8 million, from $5.2 million in the second quarter. It also was 7 percent below the average price of $4.1 million from a year earlier.
The median price of luxury homes � meaning the price above which half of all luxury home sold -- also dropped, falling to $3.1 million from $3.8 million in the second quarter. A year ago, the median price was $3.2 million.
Meanwhile, the average sales price for all types of Manhattan homes combined fell nearly 13 percent to $1.1 million from a record $1.3 million in the second quarter. Still, that was 10 percent higher than a year ago.
The median sales price also fell, by 3.2 percent to $750,000. But it was still 25 percent higher than the median price of $600,000 a year ago.
There were, however, price increases for smaller apartments. The average price for studios rose nearly 13 percent, to $428,831, while the average price for one-bedrooms rose nearly 10 percent to $687,744.
Drilling down, prices for condos and co-ops both fell. Most notable: the average price of a co-op fell below the $1 million threshold, which it crossed for the first time in the second quarter.
Sales activity overall declined. The number of units sold fell 8.4 percent, to 1,997, from 2,181 in the second quarter. And the average size of apartments sold fell 14 percent to 1,169 square feet. That's due in large part to the fact that there was an increase in sales activity for studios and 1-bedroom apartments, while demand declined for larger apartments.
Not everything was down in the third quarter, however. The average price per square foot rose 1.4 percent, to $984, compared with the second quarter and it was up 22.5 percent from the year-ago price.
Also higher was the amount of time it took to sell a property: 133 days versus 102 in the second quarter.
Have a good networking story to tell? For an upcoming feature in Money magazine, we are looking to speak with people who have landed a new job (or helped someone else find one) through creative networking. E-mail email@example.com.
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Dr. John A. Furrey, MD
Plastic Surgery, John A Furrey MD
- 299 Faunce Corner Rd Fl 1
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 - 1 Office Location
- (508) 995-7800
Dr. John A. Furrey graduated from the UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School at Newark in 1974. He works in North Dartmouth, MA and specializes in Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. Dr. Furrey is affiliated with St Lukes Hospital. He speaks English and French.
Gender: Male
Years in Practice: 41 Years
Languages Spoken: English, French
Medical School: UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School at Newark
Graduation Date: 1974
Hospital Affiliations: St Lukes Hospital
Specialties: Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery


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Training Camp after Easter 2015 at the Hotel Sarti
Training Camp after Easter 2015 at the Hotel Sarti
Have you spent Easter well?
After a few days of relax, would you like to get back into top-shape?
At the Hotel Sarti an intensive training programme waits for you to become super-fit and
fully exercised.
Book a 5-days stay and only pay 3 !
A gift will wait in the room for the first 5 bookings:
- a bottle of olive oil from "Frontali"
-a private parking in the Hotel Sarti's underground garage
Monday, April 6th – Welcome-Aperitif and, for those who arrive in the early afternoon, a guide is at your disposal for a short "warm-up"-ride on Mount San Bartolo (Panorama-Road).
Tuesday, April 7th – Biketour with Guide at your disposal
Wednesday, April 8th – Biketour with Guide at your disposal and rest with refreshments at a "delicious" Agriturismo (local Farm) with tasting of local products from the surroundings: wine, cheese, cold cuts, oil, piadina
Family members and accompanying persons who do not ride the bike can be brought to the Agriturismo with the hotel's minibus (minimum number 4 persons).
Thursday, April 9th – long biketour (for example to Mount Fumaiolo or Mount Nerone or along the Novecolli-Route, in accordance with our Bike Guides) accompanied with the minibus (on request) and refreshments with Pasta, Piadina and prosciutto-ham.
Friday, April 10th – Chill-out biketour (for example to Cesenatico or most parts on plain roads). At the return to the Hotel, Romagna-style "Malatesta e Montefeltro"-Dinner, with typical delicacies from the surroundings and live-music afterwards.
For family members and accompanying persons the following services are available:
– Daily entrance to Sarti Wellness: 200 square meters of pure relaxation with Sauna, turkish bath, Frigidarium with ice-waterfall and ice-water bucket, aroma-showers, relaxation room and massage cabins.
– hotel-owned minibus for Shopping (San Marino/Rimini) tours or Culture (Rimini/Gradara/Urbino) excursions (minimum number 4 persons)
– hotel-owned city bikes for easy bike rides
Please note:
– This offer can not be combined with other offers
– This offer is valid for a limited number of rooms
Those who tried recommend
""Great Cycling Experience at Hotel Sarti""
"My wife and I are from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and stayed at Hotel Sarti specifically for the cycling. We enjoyed the first week of September there and rented the bikes from the hotel (Colnago) which were fine. Our experience was wonderful as we found the staff to be excellent, the service outstanding and the food to be exceptional. We stayed in a sea front room with a balcony which was great and the location of the Hotel is perfect. Our biking guide, Bettina, was informative and very personable and ensured all in our group was challenged to their abilities. We took advantage of the laundry service for our biking gear which was very dependable. Some people in our biking group have been returning to Hotel Sarti for over 35 years, and we can certainly understand why. We hope to return for another great experience soon.
Franco on Tripadvisor – Travelled with family ●●●●●


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Welcome International Customers
We're excited to share our jewelry collection with you!
Just choose your country and currency to personalize your shopping experience.
We're excited to share our jewelry collection with you!
Just choose your country and currency to personalize your shopping experience.
Item#: 797125
These 4.90 ct. t.w. round white topaz halo earrings create a striking contrast for day and night. Post/clutch, 18kt yellow gold over sterling silver earrings with a black rhodium finish.
Due to the incredible value on your Clearance selection, no additional discounts apply.
Our 100%
Diameter: | 3/8 inch |
Metal: | 18kt 18KT: Karat (abbreviated kt or K) is a unit that indicates the purity of gold in the metal. 18kt is 75% gold. In Europe, 18K yellow gold is most favored and used in jewelry. Gold Over Sterling STERLING SILVER: Also known as "Standard Silver," sterling silver is silver alloyed with other metals to increase the hardness and durability. Generally, sterling is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. Some sterling silver jewelry is plated with 14kt-18kt gold and referred to as "vermeil," or "gold over sterling." Silver |
Finish: | Polished POLISHED: A buffed-out finish used to produce a mirror-like shine. |
Backing: | Post/Clutch POST/CLUTCH: An earring with a post insert and a slide-on clutch backing to hold it in place. |
Hanging Length: | 1/4 inch |
Stones per Earring: | 23 |
Stone 1: | Topaz TOPAZ: Available in a stunning selection of shades, the topaz's sky blue hue is one of the most popular colors for jewelry designs. Once thought to offer protection, today topaz is favored for its durability and affordability. Yellow topaz is the birthstone for November while blue topaz is for December. (Color: White, Quantity: 2, Shape & Cutting Style: Round, Weight: 4.50 ct. t.w., Size: 8 mm) |
Stone 2: | Topaz (Color: White, Quantity: 44, Shape & Cutting Style: Round, Weight: 0.40 ct. t.w., Size: 1 mm) |
All weights and measures are approximate.
You May Also Like
Learn More About: Sterling Silver Polished Finish Earring Buying Guide Topaz
out of


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If the Plaintiff files for dismissal, with the following:
Is there a statute of limitations or time limit barring the Plaintiff to reopen a Florida
"With Out Prejudice" case?
Dismissals of civil actions in trial courts, whether voluntary or involuntary, are routinely entered without prejudice to the party to refile the action. Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.420 acknowledges that voluntary dismissals of civil actions are without prejudice unless denominated otherwise in the notice or stipulation, or unless the voluntary dismissal in question follows a refiling after a prior voluntary dismissal.
The Statute of Limitations on the case would be whatever the original claim was for. The Without Prejudice means that there has been no determination on the merits of the case and that the complaint can be refiled.
For example, some limitations periods are:
Personal Injury: 4 years.
Contracts: Written, 5 years; Oral, 4 years. Actions for specific performance must be commenced within one year.
These are just two examples and not meant to be all inclusive as I don't know the type of claim that was filed. You should speak with an attorney in your locale to obtain information about your specific legal rights.
Disclaimer: This answer was provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or creating an attorney-client relationship. As with any question concerning your rights and obligations under the law, you are urged to speak with qualified counsel in your locale.


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Movie (2009)
As Bella begins her 18th birthday celebrations with the Cullen family, a near-death experience causes Edward to depart from Forks, leaving Bella heartbroken and alone. A childhood friendship with Jacob Black is resumed, leading Bella to discover new supernatural secrets about the town she lives in. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner resume their much-loved roles.
Test your knowledge with the LocateTV New Moon!
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- Cast & Credits 34 people
The Twilight Saga: New Moon on TV
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Kristen Stewart Bella Swan
Robert Pattinson Edward Cullen
Ashley Greene Alice Cullen
Nikki Reed Rosalie Hale
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Comments - what do you think of The Twilight Saga: New Moon?
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2 years ago, debbieschappell said:I love all the Twilight movies. I will watch them everytime they are on television or on cable. Report abuse


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2007 Porsche RS Spyder Chassis: 9R6-704 Here is a very rare opportunity to own a unique piece of Porsche racing history. The RS Spyder... More
Built on a Porsche 996 or 997 platform, this true to original 997 GT3RSR Clone is the wildest contemporary Porsche ride ever. All the... More


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After year's of not being loved you were almost thru it Juno........so close and so loved i'm sure. Now you have no more pain, no reason to be afraid and your heart that is filled with love will be returned without conditions and tear's. Run and play and make friends and know you are free, really free..
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UV laser induced transmission change of pure and doped silica glass
Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Mater Sci Ed (Impact Factor: 0.48). 11/2008; 23(6):879-882. DOI: 10.1007/s11595-007-6879-z
- Citations (10)
- Cited In (0)
- [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The amplitude of the 5 eV optical absorption band of oxygen-deficient germanium-doped silica samples (3GeO2:97SiO2) was varied by annealing in oxygen at 1000°C for different periods of time. Each sample was irradiated with the same dose of 5 eV light from a KrF excimer laser to study the effect of the absorption band amplitude on the photo-induced changes. ESR (Electron spin resonance) and optical absorption measurements were carried out after each annealing and each laser irradiation cycle. We find that samples with an initially higher 5 eV absorption band amplitude exhibit a larger increase in the absorption bands related to the photo-induced paramagnetic Ge E′ and GEC (Germanium Electron Center) when irradiated with the same laser dose. Deconvolution of the measured spectra shows that the concentrations of the photo-induced paramagnetic Ge E′ and GEC defects are well correlated with the concentration of GLPC (germanium lone pair center) defects associated with a 5.14 eV absorption band.Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 01/1999; 246(1):39-45. · 1.72 Impact Factor - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Several kinds of optical diagnostics are planned in a fusion reactor. Complicated optical systems such as periscopes are thought to be primary candidates for optical measurements, especially for visible wavelengths. However, optical fibers have several advantages over such optical systems. Also, the optical fibers could be a far better transmission line for signals under a high electromagnetic field. However, they have been considered vulnerable to heavy irradiation. In this study, several kinds of optical fibers were irradiated in the Japan Material Testing Reactor (JMTR). The optical transmissivity in fibers was measured in situ during fast neutron and gamma irradiation, up to doses of 2×1024 n m−2 and 5×109 Gy, respectively. The irradiation temperature ranged from 300 to 700 K. For pure ionizing irradiation environments, some methods for improving the radiation resistance of optical fibers were indicated. The results showed that effects of the irradiation associated with fast neutrons would be different from the effects of pure ionizing irradiation. Some fibers were found to withstand the heavy irradiation, especially in an infrared wavelength range.Fusion Engineering and Design 01/1998; · 0.84 Impact Factor - Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 01/1985; 73:51-77. · 1.72 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.


text: The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit (also known as the Stealth Bomber) is a multirole heavy bomber with "low observable" stealth technology capable of penetrating dense anti-aircraft defenses to deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. Twenty B-2s are operated by the United States Air Force. Categories: Airplanes - Military - Parked - Bombers Links: en.wikipedia.org By: kjfitz


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Scuba diving has allowed humans to explore uncharted terrain and discover which of its majestic wildlife is delicious. Dive in to this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $199 for a semiprivate PADI Open Water Diver certification course (a $575 value)
- $299 for a semiprivate PADI Open Water Diver certification course and two underwater scooter dives (a $1,025 value)
Beach Cities Scuba's semiprivate Open Water Diver course is imparted over the course of two weekends, which can be consecutive or spread out to fit each student's schedule. After a brief Wednesday-night orientation, the first weekend starts with a classroom session, which covers the basics of equipment usage and quizzes students on the favorite colors of all known fish before taking to the safe confines of a pool for five pool dives. Four subsequent dives take place in the open ocean, giving each student the chance to dive off the edge of a boat or from the beach.
Newly certified students can strut their subaqueous stuff during two dives aided by an underwater scooter. Students must provide their own mask, snorkel, logbook, glove, and fins, which can be purchased at a discount through Beach Cities Scuba's store; all training materials are theirs to keep.
Beach Cities Scuba
The instructors and professional staff at PADI five-star instructor center Beach Cities Scuba introduce students to the big blue with PADI-certified diving courses for divers of all levels. They certify newbies with basic open-water courses and teach advanced divers in specialty courses such as Deep Diver, Rescue Diver, and Shark Therapist. They operate out of five convenient locations and sling necessary gear in onsite stores, from wetsuits and facemasks to spear guns. Beach Cities Scuba also connects divers through its dive club and hosts exotic dive trips to locations such as Indonesia, Fiji, and Cozumel.
84% of 103 customers recommend
"Ask for Shane! He made our experience with Beach Cities Scuba great! He is very helpful and knowledgeable. "
"Read the fine prints"
"You can buy your equipment anywhere"


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Olive :: 8 Months + Surgery
Olive turned 8 months old this month and that meant it was time to have her spayed, which is always such a stressful experience. I imagine it is stressful for any animal owner but when dealing with a flat faced breed it can be even more stressful as putting them under anesthesia causes heightened concern. Also with the sudden loss of Addis, I found myself having a terrible time with her impending surgery...as it goes with loss you are never far from the realization how quickly life can turn and nothing seems safe from it.
Olive felt so small as we carried her into the vet and though everyone loves her there and she was gleefully dancing about clueless to what was about to happen...I felt my heart sink and remained in knots until they called to tell us she had done marvelously and we could pick her up in a few hours. I started to cry - the relief of good news!
As with all bulldogs she is impossible when it comes to trying to get her to remain still and heal properly. She seems completely unaware of what she's just been through and wants to play, leap and wrestle. We've had to watch her like a hawk and Andrew even built her a little ramp so she doesn't have to climb any stairs until she's healed more. I tend to compare bulldogs to rhino's as they are mighty and stubborn with a will of joy unlike any other and though that is what I love about them - it is a nightmare after surgery. We have a long two weeks of recovery ahead of us but praise be to God that her surgery is now behind us and moving onward!


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72-11890 - OBD II Automotive Fault Code Reader
Find out what that pesky engine light has been trying to tell you, and then have the ability to clear it. This handy diagnostic tool reads the code from your OBDII enabled vehicle (most vehicles 1996 and newer).
Mfr Name: Performance Tool
Mfr Number: W2977
See all items in Automotive Testers
82-18191 - Multifunction CCTV Tester w/ IP, PoE, and TDR
This multifunction tester is the perfect tool for any security/surveillance installer. It not only lets you test any camera or monitor remotely in both IP and analog installations, but also features a TDR function that locates the specific distance of cable fault...
Mfr Name: Defender Security
Mfr Number: 82-18191
See all items in CCTV Test Equipment
20-2200 - Freeze Spray 10 Oz
Rapidly evaporating liquid that super-chills isolated areas. Used as a troubleshooting aid for intermittently faulting capacitors, resistors, semiconductors, and other defective components. It also increases visibility of cold solder joints, cracks in printed circ...
Mfr Name: Techspray
Mfr Number: 1672-10S
See all items in Freeze Spray
555-20220 - 8 Way Isolated DMX Splitter - 3-Pin to 3-Pin
8-Way Isolated DMX Splitter Eight way DMX splitter solves two basic limitations of DMX-512 control, cable distance and number of devices. Because each output is isolated and independently amplified, it also prevents faults on one branch from affecting others.
Mfr Name: Stellar Labs
Mfr Number: DMX-SPLIT8
See all items in DMX Control
555-22450 - Rack Mount Stereo Amplifier 550w X 2Ch Max at 2 Ohms
XLS DriveCore Series Power Amplifier Crown's XLS Series amplifiers define the standard for portable PA systems with unmatched performance, technology and affordability. Its advantageous flexibility includes multiple inputs so you can plug in anything and play any...
Mfr Name: Crown Audio
Mfr Number: XLS1000
See all items in Stereo Rack Mount
28-9845 - APC BE350R Battery Backup
The most popular desktop UPS in the world! The Back-UPS ES offers our best value for protecting your home and home office computer systems. It provides battery backup power that allows you to work through short and medium length power outages. It also safeguards...
Mfr Name: APC
Mfr Number: BE350G
See all items in 200~350VA
74-300 - Plug-Bug GFCI Receptacle Tester
For use on 110~125VAC receptacles. Detects common wiring problems in standard and GFCI outlets. To test, simply plug into receptacle and observe the light pattern. Push the yellow button to test operation of ground fault receptacle.
Mfr Name: Triplett
Mfr Number: 9610
See all items in AC Outlet Testers
72-9960 - 3-In-1 Professional Cable Tester/Tracer/Toner
A mult-function test set for RJ-45 LAN cable, BNC and "F" coaxial cable, tone generator, continuity and 6P2C/4P2C jacks. Ideal for electricians, service technicians. telecommunications, networking or general home use.
Mfr Name: Tenma
Mfr Number: TCT-700
See all items in Tone & Probe Kits
72-9916 - Network Cable Analyzer
A fast comprehensive tool for testing RJ45 based network cabling such as Cat5, Cat6, etc.. Identifies the connection configuration (straight through, crossover, token ring and many other types) and also identifies faults such as open, short or miss-wired connecti...
Mfr Name: Peak
Mfr Number: ALTLAS IT
See all items in Network Cable Testers
72-9685 - Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter - 250W
A low interference, high efficiency modified sine wave DC-AC inverter that simply plugs into any 12V cigarette lighter socket making it ideal for use in cars, boats, trucks or RV's. You can also connect directly to a battery with battery clamps (included). Conve...
Mfr Name: Samlex America
Mfr Number: SAM-250-12
See all items in DC - AC Power Inverters
28-10240 - 7 Outlet Surge Protector
Essential surge protection for computers and home electronics. Lightning and power surges can permanently ruin your electronic equipment. Changes in voltage cause lockups and loss of work. This unit will protect your equipment from the threat of bad power. The Es...
Mfr Number: P74
See all items in Surge Strips
72-10115 - Snap Shot™ Fault Finding/Cable Length Meter
The Snap Shot™ meter accurately finds cable length and faults in cables at the end of every wire in your data, power, communications or video system up to 3,000'. Advanced Spread Spectrum TDR technology works in all wire environments and is immune to voltag...
Mfr Name: Platinum Tools
Mfr Number: TSS200
28-9850 - APC BE500R Battery Backup
The most popular desktop UPS in the world! The Back-UPS ES offers our best value for protecting your home and home office computer systems. It provides battery backup power that allows you to work through short and medium length power outages. It also safeguards y...
Mfr Number: BE550G
See all items in 360~550VA
72-9690 - Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter - 450W
Mfr Number: SAM-450-12
22-2000 - E-Z Check Plus GFI Circuit Tester
The E-Z Check® plus GFI circuit tester checks for the following conditions: Correct wiring, open ground, reverse polarity, open hot, open neutral, hot on neutral, hot and ground reversed with open hot, and ground fault interruption...
Mfr Name: Ideal
Mfr Number: 61-051
See all items in Circuit / Outlet Finders & Testers


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US Army more selective on recruits, re-enlistments
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press – 3 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Uncle Sam may not want you after all.
In sharp contrast to the peak years of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the Army last year took in no recruits with misconduct convictions or drug or alcohol issues, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. And soldiers already serving on active duty now must meet tougher standards to stay on for further tours in uniform.
The Army is also spending hundreds of thousands of dollars less in bonuses to attract recruits or entice soldiers to remain.
It's all part of an effort to slash the size of the active duty Army from about 570,000 at the height of the Iraq war to 490,000 by 2017. The cutbacks began last year, and as of the end of March the Army was down to less than 558,000 troops.
For a time during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army lowered its recruiting standards, raising the number of recruits who entered the Army with moral, medical and criminal — including felony — waivers.
Recruits with misdemeanors, which could range from petty theft and writing bad checks to assault, were allowed into the Army, as well as those with some medical problems or low aptitude scores that might otherwise have disqualified them.
A very small fraction of recruits had waivers for felonies, which included convictions for manslaughter, vehicular homicide, robbery and a handful of sex crimes. The sex crimes often involved consensual sex when one of the individuals was under 18.
In 2006, about 20 percent of new Army recruits came in under some type of waiver, and by the next year it had grown to nearly three in 10. After the Defense Department issued new guidelines, the percentage needing waivers started to come down in 2009.
Now, as the Army moves to reduce its force, some soldiers will have to leave.
Officials say they hope to make cuts largely through voluntary attrition. But Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army chief of staff, has warned that as much as 35 percent of the cuts will be "involuntary" ones that force soldiers to abandon what they had hoped would be long military careers.
"This is going to be hard," said Gen. David Rodriguez, head of U.S. Army Forces Command. "This is tough business. As we increase things like re-enlistment standards, some of the people who were able to re-enlist three years ago won't be able to re-enlist again."
The Army, in an internal slide presentation, is blunt: "Re-enlistment is a privilege, not a right; some 'fully qualified' soldiers will be denied re-enlistment due to force realignment requirements and reductions in end strength."
In a memo earlier this year, Army Secretary John McHugh laid out more stringent criteria for denying re-enlistment, including rules that would turn away soldiers who have gotten a letter of reprimand for a recent incident involving the use of drugs or alcohol, or some soldiers who were unable to qualify for a promotion list.
"It's all focused on allowing us ... to retain only those soldiers who have the right skills, the right attributes and who help us meet the requirements and are those soldiers which truly have the greatest potential," said Army Brig. Gen. Richard P. Mustion, the Army's director of military personnel management.
Last year, as the budget and personnel cuts began to take hold, just a bit more than 10 percent of Army recruits needed waivers to join. The bulk of those — about 7 percent — were medical waivers, which can include poor eyesight that can be corrected. About 3 percent were for misconduct that did not involve convictions.
The decline in recent years was almost entirely on conduct waivers, not medical. As an example, there were 189 recruits with "major misconduct" waivers last year, and none with criminal convictions, compared to 546 misconduct waivers in 2009 and 220 with convictions.
Mustion said that as Army recruiters look at the applicants coming in they "are truly able to identify the very best soldiers, future soldiers, and those who display the greatest potential."
He said they are evaluating each one on his physical, academic and aptitude test performances "and, quite frankly, would they require a waiver to come into the military versus the next soldier who has the same credentials but wouldn't require a waiver."
Waivers have long been a source of debate. Military officials have defended the process, saying it allows good people who once made a minor mistake to enlist. But mid-level officers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan also told top defense officials that the dramatic rise in the number of bad-behavior waivers was a problem, that they were often spending too much time on "problem children."
. Steven Dale Green, a former 101st Airborne Division soldier, came into the Army on a morals waiver because of an earlier problem with drugs. He is now serving five life terms for killing an Iraqi family and raping and killing the 14-year-old daughter in March 2006.
With the economy struggling, it's still a recruit-rich environment. But Army officials worry that as the economy gets better, they may not get all the high quality recruits they need, and their best soldiers may decide not to re-enlist because they may do better in the corporate world.
For now, however, the Army is saving money in the process.
According to Mustion, soldiers in just six types of jobs are getting bonuses when they enlist: interpreter/translators, divers, cryptologic linguists, medical laboratory specialists and explosive ordnance disposal specialists. And those bonuses average about $3,300-$3,500, he said.
That is a steep drop from the $16,000-$18,000 bonuses the Army was paying on average to new recruits in 2007-08. In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2008, the Army paid nearly $860,000 in enlistment bonuses, compared to just $77,000 in the 2011 fiscal year.
Re-enlistment bonuses for soldiers now average about $7,500-$7,700.
Military leaders say the key goal is to shape the force as they cut, winnowing out not only the lesser qualified, but keeping the right number of soldiers in critical jobs and all across the ranks, particularly the mid-level officers.
"We need to keep the right balance," said Rodriguez. "We don't want a well-modernized force with no personnel that are trained."
The Army, he said, "can build a young soldier quickly, but we can't build a major and a sergeant quickly. So we have to figure out the right ratios as we move forward, and we have to be able to expand if we need to."
Lolita C. Baldor can be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lbaldor .
Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Here is an article from 2008.
Dumb and Dumber
The U.S. Army lowers recruitment standards … again.
By Fred Kaplan|Posted Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, at 5:25 PM ET
The Army is lowering recruitment standards to levels not seen in at least two decades, and the implications are severe—not only for the future of the Army, but also for the direction of U.S. foreign policy.
The latest statistics—compiled by the Defense Department. and obtained through the Freedom of Information Act by the Boston-based National Priorities Project—are grim. They show that the percentage of new Army recruits with high-school diplomas has plunged from 94 percent in 2003 to 83.5 percent in 2005 to 70.7 percent in 2007. (The Pentagon's longstanding goal is 90 percent.)
The percentage of what the Army calls "high-quality" recruits—those who have high-school diplomas and who score in the upper 50th percentile on the Armed Forces' aptitude tests—has declined from 56.2 percent in 2005 to 44.6 percent in 2007.
In order to meet recruitment targets, the Army has even had to scour the bottom of the barrel. There used to be a regulation that no more than 2 percent of all recruits could be "Category IV"—defined as applicants who score in the 10th to 30th percentile on the aptitude tests. In 2004, just 0.6 percent of new soldiers scored so low. In 2005, as the Army had a hard time recruiting, the cap was raised to 4 percent. And in 2007, according to the new data, the Army exceeded even that limit—4.1 percent of new recruits last year were Cat IVs.
These trends are worrisome in at least four ways.
First, and most broadly, it's not a good idea—for a host of social, political, and moral reasons—to place the burdens of national defense so disproportionately on the most downtrodden citizens.
Second, and more practically, high-school dropouts tend to drop out of the military, too. The National Priorities Project cites Army studies finding that 80 percent of high-school graduates finish their first terms of enlistment in the Army—compared with only about half of those with a General Equivalency Degree or no diploma. In other words, taking in more dropouts is a short-sighted method of boosting recruitment numbers. The Army will just have to recruit even more young men and women in the next couple of years, because a lot of the ones they recruited last year will need to be replaced.
Third, a dumber army is a weaker army. A study by the RAND Corporation, commissioned by the Pentagon and published in 2005, evaluated several factors that affect military performance—experience, training, aptitude, and so forth—and found that aptitude is key. This was true even of basic combat skills, such as shooting straight. Replacing a tank gunner who had scored Category IV with one who'd scored Category IIIA (in the 50th to 64th percentile) improved the chances of hitting a target by 34 percent.
Today's Army, of course, is much more high-tech, from top to bottom. The problem is that when tasks get more technical, aptitude makes an even bigger difference. In one Army study cited by the RAND report, three-man teams from the Army's active-duty signal battalions were told to make a communications system operational. Teams consisting of Category IIIA personnel had a 67 percent chance of succeeding. Teams with Category IIIB soldiers (who had ranked in the 31st to 49th percentile) had a 47 percent chance. Those with Category IVs had only a 29 percent chance. The study also showed that adding a high-scoring soldier to a three-man team increased its chance of success by 8 percent. (This also means that adding a low-scoring soldier to a team reduces its chance by a similar margin.)
Fourth, today's Army needs particularly bright soldiers—and it needs, even more, to weed out particularly dim ones—given the direction that at least some of its senior officers want it to take. When the Army was geared to fight large-scaled battles against enemies of comparable strength, imaginative thinking wasn't much required except at a command level. However, now that it's focusing on "asymmetric warfare," especially counterinsurgency campaigns, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, the requirements are different. The crucial engagements—in many ways, the crucial decisions—take place in the streets, door to door, not by armored divisions or brigades but by infantry companies and squads. And when the targets include hearts and minds, every soldier's judgment and actions have an impact.
The Army's 2006 <a data-linktype="Internal" href="http://www.slate.com...2145175/">field manual on counterinsurgency, which was supervised by Gen. David Petraeus (who is now trying to put its principles into action as U.S. commander in Iraq), emphasized that successful counterinsurgency operations "require Soldiers and Marines at every echelon to possess the following"—and then the authors recite a daunting list of prerequisites, including a "clear, nuanced, and empathetic appreciation of the essential nature of the conflict," an "understanding of the motivation, strengths, and weaknesses of the insurgent," rudimentary knowledge of the local culture, and several other admirable qualities.
Some of the officers and outside specialists who helped Petraeus write the field manual expressed concerns to me, at the time, that the Army—which was just beginning to lower its standards—might not be up to the demands of this kind of warfare. Given that standards have dipped quite dramatically since—and add to that the problems the Army has had in retaining its most talented junior officers—the concerns now must be graver.
It's well-known that the Army might not have enough combat troops to conduct sustained counterinsurgency campaigns. Now it seems the problem may soon be about quality as well as quantity (brains as well as boots).
The main reason for the decline in standards is the war in Iraq and its onerous "operations tempo"—soldiers going back for third and fourth tours of duty, with no end in sight. This is well understood among senior officers, and it's a major reason why several Army generals favor a faster withdrawal rate. They worry that fewer young men and women—and now it seems fewer smart young men and women—will sign up if doing so means a guaranteed assignment to Iraq. They worry that, if these trends continue, the Army itself will start to crumble.
So, there's a double spiral in effect. The war keeps more good soldiers from enlisting. The lack of good candidates compels the Army to recruit more bad candidates. The swelling ranks of ill-suited soldiers make it harder to fight these kinds of wars effectively.
Petraeus and officers who think like him are right: We're probably not going to be fighting on the ground, toe-to-toe and tank-to-tank, with the Russian, Chinese, or North Korean armies in the foreseeable future. Yet if the trends continue, our Army might be getting less and less skilled at the "small wars" we're more likely to fight.
So, we're facing two choices. Either we change the way we recruit soldiers (and, by the way, cash bonuses are already about as bountiful as they're going to get), or we change the way we conduct foreign policy—that is, we engage more actively in diplomacy or, if war is unavoidable, we form genuine coalitions to help fight it. Otherwise, unless our most dire and direct interests are at stake, we should forget about fighting at all.
Edited by The Situation, 25 May 2012 - 05:06 PM.


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Town Square
Post your review of "The Good Shepherd"
Original post made by News Guy, another community, on Feb 8, 2007
Where's Jason Bourne when we need...
Read the full review here: Web Link
Watch the trailer: Web Link
Post your review below.
CAPTION: Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon in The Good Shepherd
Comments (1)
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Feb 8, 2007 at 11:40 am
The standards that News Guy applies to this movie ignore the fact that "The Good Shepherd" is a quasi-documentary story about the OSS and the CIA and real-life cold-war spy and bottled-up character named James Jesus Angleton.
Movies based on real life rarely have the action and suspense of fiction. This one is valuable because of the suspense it does have. The action and suspense are in the mind. I was completely engaged for the entire movie.
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Trouble ahead for one of Obama's key economic superstars? The Treasury Secretary choice is facing questions over thousand of dollars in federal taxes, which he reportedly failed to pay over several years. There are also questions about the working papers of a former household employee.
For now, it looks like Obama is sticking with the internationalist Geithner — a student of Mandarin and Japanese, and a former resident of Zimbabwe, India and Thailand.
Money quote:
"The President-elect chose Tim Geithner to be his Treasury Secretary because he's the right person to help lead our economic recovery during these challenging times," incoming White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. "He's dedicated his career to our country and served with honor, intelligence and distinction. That service should not be tarnished by honest mistakes, which, upon learning of them, he quickly addressed. He made a common mistake on his taxes, and was unaware that his part-time housekeeper's work authorization expired for the last three months of her employment. We hope that the Senate will confirm him with strong bipartisan support so that he can begin the important work of the country."
And so it begins...


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This email was created by [your name] who thought you would be interested in the following Article:
"Validation in WPF Toolkit's DataGrid" Describe validation when presenting data in WPF Toolkit's DataGrid.
CodeProject also contains hundreds of articles, free source code samples and applications to help in your day to day programming. Why not give it a try!


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8 results for "week 14"
NFL - Week 14 line moves and Millman Rankings
Chad MillmanChad Millman takes a look at Week 14 line moves and offers his weekly Millman Rankings, a list of the most important players in the NFL against the spread.
Blog | Conversation | December 07, 2012 -
NFL - Millman on Week 14 line moves
Chad MillmanESPN Insider Chad Millman offers insights into this week's NFL line moves.
Blog | Conversation | December 09, 2011 -
NFL Week 15 line moves: Philadelphia Eagles-New York Giants, New ...
Chad MillmanChad Millman and Bryan Leonard preview Week 15 NFL matchups and line moves, including Philadelphia Eagles-New York Giants, New York Jets-Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints-Baltimore Ravens and more.
Blog | Conversation | December 17, 2010 -
New Jersey puts sports betting on the ballot, plus Week 14 result...
Chad MillmanAs part of its quest to legalize sports betting, New Jersey puts the issue on next November's ballot, plus Hilton Supercontest results.
Blog | Conversation | December 14, 2010 -
NFL Week 14 line moves: New England Patriots-Chicago Bears, Tampa...
Chad MillmanChad Millman and Mirage bookmaker Jay Rood preview Week 14 NFL matchups and line moves, including New England Patriots-Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Washington Redskins and more.
Blog | Conversation | December 10, 2010 -
The mercurial Chicago Bears prepare for a showdown with the red-h...
Chad MillmanAfter clubbing Jets, Patriots are 2.5-point favorites against the Bears. Chad Millman talks through the Vegas approach to this key Week 14 game.
Blog | Conversation | December 07, 2010 -
College football line moves: Oklahoma Sooners-Nebraska Cornhusker...
Chad MillmanA handicapper's take on Week 14 college football line moves, including Oklahoma Sooners-Nebraska Cornhuskers, Auburn Tigers-South Carolina Gamecocks, Florida State Seminoles-Virginia Tech Hokies and more.
Blog | Conversation | December 02, 2010 -
NFL - Chad Millman: Point spread movement analysis for NFL Week 1...
Chad MillmanChad Millman looks at point spread moves for NFL Week 14, including the Bengals-Vikings contest, the Cards-49ers MNF game and the Saints trying to stay perfect vs. the Falcons.
Blog | Conversation | December 11, 2009


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For new questions please post at magento.stackexchange.com, the community-run support site for the Magento community. We will be providing updates on the new forum solution soon. For questions or concerns please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
I've been running a live store now for approximately two weeks and, for the most part, everything has been working quite well. As part of the setup fro the new store, I used the Oscommerce import tool to get all my old customers into the new store. That part seems to have worked fine. However, there is a pretty big disparity between the number of customers I see in 'manage customers' and the number of newsletter subscribers/non-subscribers in 'newsletter subscribers'. There are about 3,000 more customers than subscribers.
I'm under the impression that the total count should be pretty much the same, but it's obviously way off.
My question is this: How do I get the two tables back in sync? Basically, I want all the customers who didn't make it into the newsletter_subscribers table to get in there, along with their correct status subscribes/unsubscribes.


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My flight had been delayed, so I arrived late to a 2004 academic conference, a law school gab-fest exploring legal issues in the War on Terror. The professor giving the keynote address was well into his remarks when I sheepishly entered the rear of the hall, trying to muffle the creaky door. I wasn't paying Professor Keynote much mind until I heard him begin to inveigh against the "American Taliban."
That was an attention grabber. Righteous rage was not the usual tone of discussions about John Walker Lindh on college campuses. That was usually reserved for George W. Bush. But fear not: Lindh was not the target of the good professor's wrath. No, the "American Taliban" the professor decried was . . . me.
Not me specifically, at least on this occasion — though this insult and others in the same vein were ones I'd hear any number of times at law schools and legal conferences throughout the Bush years. The professor was talking more generally: The "American Taliban" were all the lawyers who worked for the Justice Department under John Ashcroft. He meant the prosecutors who exploited the Patriot Act, detained suspects on material-witness warrants, used the immigration laws to deport illegal aliens who popped up in terrorism investigations, put Islamic "charities" out of business for funding terrorist organizations, etc. The prof's wrath was directed at people like me (it was known that I'd be a panelist at the conference) who'd supported such counterterrorism policies as indefinite detention for enemy combatants, military-commission trials, aggressive interrogation of top jihadists, warrantless surveillance of enemy communications, and who hold the general view that jihadist terror is driven by Islamist ideology, not by American policies abhorred by the Left.
The ad was sponsored by Keep America Safe, an organization that advocates stronger U.S. national security, under the direction of Liz Cheney, Bill Kristol, and Debra Burlingame. That list of names tells you everything you need to know about the indignant tone of the criticism.


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This review is for front pleated pants based on a plus size pattern : Burda 06/2011 # 130. The look of the front is reminescent of harem pants. The side pockets are much appreciated. Caveat the uber long legs.
I went out of my comfort zone when choosing this pattern but I am very pleased with the result. The roomy front is forgiving though stylish and very comfortable. No zip is necessary and making them is quite easy if you mark the front pleats and follow the instructions.
I think I will wear this garment more than I had first planed for they are nice worn with both short or longer tops and tunics.
Very nice polyester crepe. You are asked to use a drapy fabric.
Nov 15, 2012, 02.12 AMby stefanisarah
Wow, great trousers. Perfect front, perfect back.
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Fri October 4, 2013
Skydive And Build A Website At The Same Time
By editor
Originally published on Fri October 4, 2013 9:36 am
Good morning, I'm Renee Montagne.
Some people skydive, others build websites. Designers Chris Hirst and Leo Zhao have now done both, at once. The stunt was to promote their product, Designbymobile. The message: We've made Web designing so easy, you can do it anywhere. On their first jump, they gathered video. On the second, they used that footage to create a website. It only took a minute, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the 8,000-foot plunge.
It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.