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Zelkova Ventures is a venture capital firm committed to helping talented entrepreneurs build incredible companies. Primarily we look to invest in early stage companies, many times pre-revenue. In many instances we provide a company's first outside/institutional capital. As former entrepreneurs, we understand the highs and lows of launching a new company. We look to take an active role and partner with the companies we invest in. Along with our capital Zelkova brings expertise, insight and execution to all of our portfolio companies.
Our Approach Our Portfolio Our Team


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Charles Best Born: 1899Purified Insulin. Canadian scientists Banting, Best, and Collip determined that insulin injections would help keep diabetics alive and developed techniques for extracting, isolating, and injecting it. Although not a cure, insulin remains the most effective means for treating the disease. Died: 1978Fact Monster/Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Seven 99Gs play with Wisconsin Rush in Vegas
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, seven players from the Alaska Rush 99G Nike team traveled to Las Vegas to join forces with players from Wisconsin Rush and Southern California Rush to compete in the Thanksgiving Classic sponsored by the Nevada Youth Soccer Association. Sophie Gross, Madeleine LaPorte, Megan Currier, Carina Kay, Cung Davidson, Kendra Luiten, and Mia Wilson all played well and enjoyed their time in Vegas.
With Sophie Gross as captain, the girls got off to a good start beating the Santos SC 99 by a score of 4-0. Carina Kay had an assist and Mia Wilson played strong defense. In the next game against the Northwest Nationals, the girls got off to a quick start by scoring two early goals. However, the Nationals scored a late goal resulting in 3-3 draw. With Madeleine LaPorte taking over the reigns as captain, the girls from Alaska came on strong in their final game against the Players SC 99. Megan Currier had a goal and two assists. Sophie Gross also added an assist and fired off some good shots at goal. Cung Davidson added another goal in the second half leading to a 4-0 victory, which won their bracket. In the semi-finals, the girls met a tough Warriors team. Kendra Luiten came out strong and played some of the best soccer of the week. Despite their efforts though, the Warriors won the game and went on to win the tournament.
Our Alaska girls again showed the other Rush clubs around the country that we are capable of producing some of the best soccer players around. Being able to guest play with other Rush teams is one of the benefits of being a Rush club. The girls were able to get some excellent training and coaching, meet girls from other clubs, and take advantage of the benefits of being a part of a international soccer club. Congratulations to our girls for a job well done!


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One can create spiraling motions for particles using expressions. This method propagates a local up vector for the curl so that the twist direction does not go through pole flipping as the particle changes direction.
Here is the vein brush from my unfold presentation, along with help on creating brush presets.
As promised here are the scene files from my Unfold presentation along with some brief descriptions.
I've modified the roman candle scene in my previous post to use lights positioned at particle locations for illumination, along with further refinements.
Here is a simple example that uses Maya nParticles and Fluids to simulate a roman candle.
One can use nParticles to create a jiggling Jello substance that can be sliced using an nConstraint with breakable bonds. The workflow is relatively quick and easy.
This scene file shows an easy set up for a relatively fast to simulate boiling water effect using Maya Fluids.
The trail of a torpedo is tricky to do because it combines fluid dynamics, surface and volume rendering as well as fog and light scattering.
I just noticed that someone uploaded to YouTube an old animation I did for Siggraph way back in 1987. It is nice for me to see, as my own copy (on tape) had degraded to the point it was virtually unviewable.
One can create chains with nCloth that are efficient to compute and capture natural chain behavior.


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Bad thermostat oven not reaching set temperature Edward B. • Delray Beach, FL • April 11, 2014 Appliance: Frigidaire Frigidaire/electric Range PLES389DCE My Repair & Advice The simplest way to replace thermostat is to first remove oven door. Thermostat is located at top, left rear of oven. Slide oven out so that you can get to the rear of the oven and remove back panel using Phillips screwdriver.Two Phillips screws hold thermostat in pace inside the oven and must be removed from inside the oven. Then disconnect electrical connection to thermostat ar rear of oven and replace with new unit in the same sequence. Simple job. Was this review helpful to you?
The bottom heating element wasn't working in top oven Kevin Scott W. • Parker, CO • January 09, 2015 Appliance: Frigidaire Frigidaire/electric Wall Oven PLEB30T8CCB My Repair & Advice Before we replaced the board, my wife tried to replace just the element. We had one we had ordered several years ago when this same thing happened. When that didn't work we replaced the board and could see where the old board was damaged so we figured this was the solution. It would have been except the bottom element my wife used to replace the old element (which was fine but had been thrown out figuring the new one was new so why keep the old one) was 1" shorter in the back than the old one. Unbeknownst to us, that one inch was very important as, some of the insulation had moved around and exposed metal that the back of the element was pushing up against. So as soon as we turned it one it was metal on metal and it burned the connectors right off. After a couple connectors blew off and we put our fingers back there and could feel the metal, we figured out what was going on and we were able to find a work around so there was no more metal on metal and the oven works great! So we had two issues, the original was the board was out and then our own made problem of to short of ends on the element. Was this review helpful to you?
Turns out it is the control panel but the terminal block was broken as well Patricia R. • Calera, AL • April 16, 2015 Appliance: Model 790.95329301 My Repair & Advice We replaced the broken Terminal Block but have not yet replaced the Control Panel. Will purchase that part from you shortly. Was this review helpful to you?
My oven door would not close tight causing the oven light to flicker on and off periodically Keith H. • Burlington, KY • March 14, 2014 My Repair & Advice I ordered two oven hinges online and received them the next day. The fix was pretty simple and the oven door closes tight with no more flicker. Was this review helpful to you?
We shattered the interior window of our oven Jason C. • Seattle, WA • December 02, 2014 My Repair & Advice I ordered this glass and used a youtube video to replace the shattered glass step-by-step. I was a bit wary of doing this work myself, but it proved to be a snap. Within an hour of finding this package on my front porch, I had the oven as good as new. Was this review helpful to you?


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The Mill Valley Fire Department, in partnership with Marin County Parks, has begun the Alto Bowl Fire Fuel Reduction Project. This multi-year project is aimed at eliminating invasive french broom, pampas grass and acacia in the Alto Bowl Open Space Preserve.
The primary benefit of this project is the removal of highly flammable vegetation that poses a threat to Mill Valley homeowners. The second benefit is restoration of the native plant species that predated the arrival of broom and other non-native vegetation.
Beginning Monday, February 4th, 2013, the Mill Valley Fire Department will be burning piles of cut vegetation above Midhill Drive in Scott Valley. This operation will last several days and will produce a small amount of smoke in the area. All work will be performed on designated permissible burn days as dictated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Mill Valley Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Barnes at 415-389-4139 or Elise Holland, Chief of Planning and Resources, Marin County Parks at 415-473-2820.
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents. They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.


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Recent Encino Reviews
An amazing experience from start to finish! You wont be dissapointed!
Wow! What a gem! The owners were more than accommodating. Conveniently located minutes from 2 major freeways, it seemed we were close to everything! Myself, my daughter and granddaughter had more than enough room to have our own space. Both roof top and floor patios are dreamy. They are perfectly groomed with plants and flowers. There's shade as well as open sun area's. The main patio has a great BBQ, with outside seating for 6, the top was perfect for sun worshipping. With the hot tub at night for relaxing and star gazing.We never wanted to leave! Leaving snowy Canada for some California sunshine, we had no idea we would enjoy our living space so much! Don't fill your calendar! Your going to want to hang 'home' a day or two just to enjoy the space. We rearranged ours : ) The master bedroom is large enough that all 3 of us napped together. In the evening, our toddler bathed while the two of us got ready for bed in the ensuite! The kitchen has every appliance you could need or want!The updated washer and dryer on the main floor meant no laundry when we got home. We felt absolutly safe in this gated community. The garage has space for 2 vehicles There is a bit of stair climbing, so if you can't do stairs, this wouldn't be for you : ( Spotless and comfortable, we can't find anything to complain about. With dish television and wireless internet we wanted for nothing. Sound surround inside and out. The ad doesn't even metion the wet bar in the living room! With a convenient rolling bar, this served well for evening cocktails on the patio. The owers have every particular you might need so check it out before shopping!
We know we will be back on our next visit. Without a doubt!
Thanks Elena! Out of all places I have stayed, all experiences I've had on this site, you and your place get 2 thumbs up! The best yet!


text: Excerpted from Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me by Condoleezza Rice. Copyright © 2010 by Condoleezza Rice. Excerpted by permission of Ember, a division of Random House LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.


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If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter, follow the link below and click on SUBSCRIBE http://garywassner.com/bio.html Thanks For all of you who reside outside of the U.S. and who have asked where you can buy the GemQuest books, here is the best way to do it. If you live in Canada simply purchase them through Amazon.ca. If you live in Europe, Amazon.uk and Amazon.de sell them as well. For Australia follow these simple steps: The best way for people to order if outside the US is to simply email Zach at email@example.com . He will handle everything -- including making sure you get a 20% discount and the best deal on shipping (like the flat rate $9.00/$12.00 box). However, international buyers often follow the link at Windstorm's webcenter and follow those guidelines instead. http://www.windstormcreative.com/global/customers.htm They simply place their order, pay the US shipping amount, and get billed for the difference the same day.
Uk For those of you in the UK, Blackwells Online sells The Awakening: http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/bob...h&source=3266474136&type=isbn&term=1590920791 I haven't been able to find the new editon of The Twins, or The Shards on the site yet.
Bugs? I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter, Gary, but the link doesn't work (the US one). Also, there is no way to scroll the pages or windows down on garywassner.com. P.S. Just finished reading Revenge of the Elves and loved it! Can't wait for the next one.
Glad you liked it! I'm changing my web hosting service and the links aren't working right now. It may be a while.... I would suggest that you check in on my forum for updates and info until the links are back in operation. But I must apologize for my infrequent posts of late. I'm working hard on book V, the final book in the series, and I haven't been around much recently. I do check in regularly. I just don't have too much time for discussions these days.


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Company Address
Port Washington, NY, 11050
United States
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Company Description
Aceto Corporation is a global leader in sourcing and distribution of specialty chemicals. Our operations include a staff of 26 in Shanghai and 12 in India. We source approximately 67% of our products form China and India. In the coatings industry we offer Organic Pigments, Titanium DIoxide, Stabilizers, Plasticizers, Crosslinking Agents, Solvents, Matting Agents and UV Photoinitiators.
Distributor Guide Regions
- Central America & Caribbean Islands
- South America
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13 CFR 115.21 - Audits and investigations.
Title 13 published on 2014-01-01
The following are only the Rules published in the Federal Register after the published date of Title 13.
For a complete list of all Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices view the Rulemaking tab.
Title 13 published on 2014-01-01
The following are ALL rules, proposed rules, and notices (chronologically) published in the Federal Register relating to 13 CFR 115 after this date.
GPO FDSys XML | Text type regulations.gov FR Doc. 2014-00295 RIN 3245-AG56 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Final rule. This rule is effective February 12, 2014. 13 CFR Part 115 The Small Business Administration (SBA) is issuing this final rule to conform the regulations governing the Surety Bond Guarantee Program to certain provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (NDAA), including the provisions that increase the contract amounts for which SBA is authorized to guarantee bonds, grant SBA the authority to partially deny liability under its bond guarantee, and prohibit SBA from denying liability based on material information that was provided as part of the guarantee application in the Prior Approval Program. This rule also makes changes to the Quick Bond Guarantee Application and Agreement, the timeframes for taking certain actions related to claims, and the dollar threshold for determining when a change in the Contract or bond amounts meets certain criteria or requires certain action. Finally, the final rule eliminates references to the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) that have expired.


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About Us
In This Issue
May 4, 2015
Breitbart: Should Congress Trust Americas Economic Future to this President?
Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel: TPP wont help state manufacturers
Doylestown Intelligencer: Obama trade deal wont help Pennsylvania manufacturers
The Scranton Times-Tribune: Trade deal bad open for state manufacturers
Kearney Hub: Trade deal wont help Nebraska manufacturers
Uniontown Herald-Standard: Obama trade deal wont help Pa. manufacturers.
Industry Week: The Trans-Pacific Partnership Won't Help U.S. Manufacturers
Centre Daily Times: Their View: Latest trade deal not good for Pa. manufacturers, workers
USBIC In the News
Contact Us
USBIC in the News
See us spread the word
Japan Taps Lobbyists to Bolster U.S. Ties
USBIC: TPP doesn't help US job creation
Why Is Obama Pushing The TPP?
Arts and culture not enough to sustain Philadelphia
Coalition Of Business, Farm, Labor Interests Plans Anti-TPA Lobby Push
Christie should add Hamiltonian vision to presidential bid
Eamonn Fingleton: China Knows Something You Don't: U.S. Economists Are History's Biggest Patsies
Alan Tonelson: Apples, oranges, and free trade deals
More USBIC in the News...
Watch / Listen
Our multimedia Trade library
Alan Tonelson on CNBC's Power & Money
Tonelson at the Maine Citizens Trade Policy Commission
The Future of American Exports
China's Taste for Trash
CSPAN Free Trade Agreements discussion with Alan Tonelson
Alan Tonelson at Cleveland World Affairs Council
Alan Tonelson's Blog
Alan Tonelson is a Research Fellow at the U.S. Business & Industry Educational Foundation and the author of The Race to the Bottom: Why a Worldwide Worker Surplus and Uncontrolled Free Trade are Sinking American Living Standards (Westview Press).
New GDP Figures Confirm Trade Keeps Slowing the Already Feeble Recovery
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Todays new first quarter GDP figures (the second of three estimates the government will release) confirm last months finding that trade significantly damaged the nations economic performance for the first three months of 2014.
The relative damage inflicted by a growing inflation-adjusted U.S. deficit fell short of the record levels reported in Aprils advance figures. But this smaller role stemmed solely from considerably worse deterioration in other parts of the economy notably inventories than initially estimated.
In absolute terms, the new GDP report revised the real U.S. trade deficit for the first quarter up from $414.4 billion to $418.9 billion at an annualized rate. The annualized deficit for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $382.8 billion.
As a result, according to the new GDP figures, the real trade deficits worsening has cut cumulative inflation-adjusted U.S. growth by 3.80 percent during the already sluggish American recovery.
Even more important, the growth hit from trade flows heavily affected by U.S. free trade agreements and other elements of trade policy is much bigger. The reason? Those components of the trade deficit only slightly affected by such Washington decisions trade in energy and services have seen their balances improve since the recovery technically began in mid-2009.
According to the new GDP figures, real U.S. exports fell sequentially during the first quarter at a slightly slower rate than initially reported by 6.00 percent on an annualized basis rather than by 7.60 percent. (The deficit worsened because the U.S. import change was revised from a decrease to an increase.)
Nonetheless, the new GDP reports still leave the economy certain to fall far short of achieving President Obamas export-doubling goal. In the first quarter of 2009 the baseline for the Presidents commitment U.S. real exports of goods and services stood at $1.5348 trillion on an annualized basis. The new first quarter 2014 figures show them at $2.0232 trillion. The increase has so far totaled only 31.82 percent. Since these exports need to increase by 100 percent from the start of 2009 through the end of this year to reach doubling, its clear that the Presidents goal remains on life support.
The Drug Pusher from Harvard
Friday, May 23, 2014
Martin Feldstein doesnt look like a drug pusher. Rather than some seedy miscreant hanging around a schoolyard, hes an economics professor at Harvard, and a former chair of President Reagan's Council of Economic Advisors, among other prestigious titles and roles.
Nonetheless, Feldstein is pushing a narcotic and one ultimately far more dangerous than the controlled substances that have ruined so many lives. Hes pushing the kind of economic narcotic that has already helped trigger a near-world financial meltdown and the worst recession since the Great Depression, and that still threatens an even worse catastrophe: the narcotic of overly easy money.
This serious charge is justified by Feldsteins May 15 Financial Times essay urging an end to the debate over Chinas currency manipulation. His primary reason? The trade and current account surpluses amassed by countries like China largely due to manipulation and to numerous other predatory economic practices finance their purchases of American government bonds.
These massive buys of official American debt have been crucial in keeping U.S. interest rates low. Therefore, they have kept the U.S. economy afloat since the financial crisis and of course before even though, especially recently, the resulting growth and job-creation rates have not been remotely satisfactory.
Yet the continuing flood of cheap money into the United States has not only failed to restore genuine economic health. Its served as a major obstacle. Economically, it keeps plunging the nation even more deeply into debt and encouraging investors to take reckless risks. In particular, as the last decades bubble should have taught, overly easy money tends to foster dangerous overheating in the prices of assets like housing and stocks, and shortchanges productive activity like manufacturing and innovation. And let's not forget how foreign currency manipulation further damages American industry.
Politically, by keeping the economy artificially alive, practically free money enables Americas leaders to avoid taking the structural steps on trade policy overhaul, on infrastructure building, on tax reform, and on so many other fronts vital to rebuilding real prosperity.
A special irony is that Feldstein himself has warned about the dangers of excessive credit creation notably in a January 2, 2013 Wall Street Journal op-ed predicting not only bubble-ization and explosive debt growth, but higher inflation. The Federal Reserve, he charged, is heading in the wrong direction. Why, then, when the Chinese and other foreign exchange rate protectionists supply the financial raw material for these dangers, is he brimming with gratitude?
The Korea Trade Deal: A Preliminary Second Anniversary Scorecard
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Recent second-anniversary analyses lambasting Americas record under the 2012 trade deal with Korea were a little premature. The agreement did enter into force that March 15, but given the lag in releasing the monthly U.S. trade figures, the March, 2014 statistics were not then available.
Now two full years of data are in, though, and the distressing story remains the same. Im still working on the detailed sector-by-sector data. But under the KORUS deal, Americas chronic merchandise trade deficit with Korea has surged, meaning that its undercut U.S economic growth and hiring, and added to the national debt. At least as bad, the Obama administration has touted KORUS as the template for the much broader, high standards Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal its seeking. Yet U.S. merchandise trade by key measures has performed worse under KORUS than U.S. merchandise trade with the world as a whole despite not only the deal, but a sizable currency edge that also should have turned KORUS into a big winner for Americans.
Under KORUS on a monthly basis, U.S. goods exports to Korea have risen by 3.27 percent from $4.226 billion to $4.364 billion. But U.S. merchandise imports from Korea have increased more than five times faster by 17.60 percent, from $4.778 billion to $5.619 billion
As a result, the merchandise trade shortfall with Korea has more than doubled from $551 million to $1.256 billion. Either American producers of manufactures, farm products, and other commodities experienced a sudden, dramatic loss of competitiveness versus their Korean counterparts, or the ballyhooed Obama approach has left Koreas economy pretty much as hermetically sealed to U.S. products as ever on a net basis.
In fact, American manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, and producers of energy and fuels have traded more successfully with the world economy as a whole than with Korea under KORUS. The growth in their global exports has trailed the growth of their Korea exports rising by just 2.45 percent during the KORUS years on a monthly basis. But U.S. global imports have actually fallen slightly between March, 2012 and March, 2014 by 0.77 percent, versus the nearly 18 percent jump in merchandise imports from Korea. So although the goods trade gap with Korea has greatly worsened under KORUS, its improved by 7.26 percent with the entire global economy.
But the story gets worse from the U.S. standpoint. From mid-March, 2012 to mid-March, 2014, the dollar weakened versus Koreas currency, the won, by 4.75 percent. Yet it strengthened versus the broadest index of foreign currency values kept by the Federal Reserve by 3.81 percent. If commerce between the U.S and Korea really had been substantially freed up by the Korea deal, the exchange rate effect alone should have generated a significantly better relative performance with Korea for Americas producers, their employees, and the entire U.S. economy. Instead, Korea trade became an even bigger relative loser for Americans.
In principle, KORUS cheerleaders can explain the lagging U.S. trade performance with Korea by pointing out the near-absence of any energy trade between the two countries. America's dramatically improving oil trade accounts in particular have generated all the improvement in U.S. global merchandise trade -- and then some.
At the same time, the energy factor underscores the more important reality that America's non-energy merchandise trade flows -- which have been profoundly affected by deals like KORUS - keep deteriorating.
The industry-by-industry statistics may paint a brighter picture than these broad aggregates. Americas trade with Korea might also start dramatically improving after a rocky first 24 months. And there are still Korea tariffs on U.S. exports yet to be reduced or eliminated under KORUS terms although the lions share of these moves have already been made.
But barring a startling turnaround for these or other reasons, the messages being sent to Congress and the public by the Korea trade agreement could not be louder or clearer: The Obama approach to trade has failed the U.S. economy with this major trade partner. Equally bad and completely unaffordable results logically can be expected from the TPP if this Obama blueprint is any guide. And whenever lawmakers vote on the issue of approving sweeping fast track negotiating authority for the President in the trade arena, their only responsible choice is an emphatic thumbs down.
What You Need to Know About China's Currency Manipulation
Friday, May 09, 2014
Talk about bad timing! Or is it good timing? I guess it depends on your perspective. But two influential Washington think tank analysts picked a heck of a week to issue a report claiming that Chinas long undervalued yuan is now fairly valued that is, right where it should be if its exchange rate versus the dollar reflected fundamentals, not the Chinese governments determination to boost its net exports by artificially under-pricing foreign competition.
A heck of a week because throughout the early spring, the yuan had been weakening so dramatically that even the Obama administration which has consistently coddled this currency manipulation in deeds if not in words stepped up its criticism a notch.
On May 1, however, analysts from the venerable Peterson Institute posted a study contending with some confidence that the yuan is now fairly valued, which is a striking change from even 2005, when the currency was undervalued by nearly 30 percent. The authors, Martin Kessler and Arvind Subramanian, went on to venture that This change possibly heralds the end of nearly two decades of China's mercantilist development strategy based on boosting exports by keeping the currency artificially low.
This study is especially important because although the Peterson Institute has been a staunch supporter of offshoring-focused trade deals starting with NAFTA, it has for years provided much of the intellectual heft not only for claims of major yuan undervaluation, but for recommendations that U.S. tariffs offset the effects.
Nonetheless, according to the authors, comprehensive new World Bank data on the prices of goods around the world sheds new light on the subject. Specifically, they reveal whether prices and incomes in China (or anywhere else) in the non-tradable part of an economy remain low enough to allow resources to flow to tradable sectors. If they do, they reflect a depreciated exchange rate.
The authors conclude that this new data show that the yuans appreciation versus the dollar since 2005 when Beijing began loosening the peg that tied its value to the dollars at a level chosen by the government has indeed represented comparable movement toward proper valuation. Even better, the new data show that this movement is now complete.
Wall Street Journal reporter Bob Davis was nice enough to ask for my reaction, and presented a short excerpt in a blog posting on May 2. But theres much more to be said, so heres a lightly edited version of my full response which also sought to dispel some widespread broader misconceptions about Chinas currency manipulation:
First, though, some context. The U.S. Business and Industry Council originated the idea of treating currency manipulation as a countervailable subsidy under U.S. trade law. So we and our members have been deeply concerned with the problem for many years. At the same time, we have never stated or implied that even the most effective U.S. responses to this practice would eliminate the problem of mercantile Chinese trade and broader economic policies. These not only include intellectual property theft, widespread industry subsidization, technology extortion, discriminatory government procurement policies, etc. They are also thoroughly fungible. And China's opaque governing system has from time to time eased up on one only to intensify another. A prime example came in the wake of the Asian financial crisis of the late-1990s, when Beijing (to loud international applause) refrained from devaluing the yuan a second time during that decade, but proceeded to gain many of the benefits of a devaluation by increasing its VAT rebates for many leading export products.
So the Peterson conclusion that China may have ended the era of exchange rate-driven protectionism is largely beside the point as far as impacts on the U.S. economy are concerned, since the underlying Chinese mercantilist approach to trade takes so many different forms. And as made clear each year by an annual report from the U.S. Trade Representatives office (among other sources), many Chinese trade barriers remain firmly in place.
Second, I'm puzzled by the methodology's emphasis on Chinese prices. After all, the prices of so many goods and services in China are set by the state, not by market forces. Chinese production costs are also profoundly affected by the government's subsidization of so many key inputs, including land, energy, water, and the price of labor (through systematic repression of internationally recognized labor rights), as well as by its flagrant disregard for worker safety, pollution, etc. So a price-based analysis of currency valuation seems completely inappropriate for what remains largely a command economy.
Third, it appears that the methodology makes a crucial mistake similar to that found in many analyses of China's currency policies. It assumes that proper currency values are fixed targets (in this case, a certain relationship between income levels and certain prices in the economy in question). But when currency values are set by market forces rather than government fiat, they inevitably are moving targets. And they are moving because they reflect investors' judgments regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the economy in question.
In the case of the yuan, its appreciation versus the dollar until recently should not be confused with movement toward proper valuation because, during the period in question, China's economic fundamentals improved so dramatically versus America's. Indeed, it's most reasonable to argue that the yuan's appreciation brought it no closer to proper valuation during this period - because had it been traded freely, it would have appreciated much more.
Importantly, the Treasury Department's latest report on foreign exchange rate policies made this very point. It noted that, because of China's rapid productivity growth, continuing yuan appreciation would be necessary "to prevent the exchange rate from becoming even more undervalued."
Nor are we reduced to proving counterfactuals when discussing where the yuan would be in the absence of manipulation. As this latest Treasury report and several predecessors have documented, Chinese monetary intervention intended to control the exchange rate, and the resulting accumulation of foreign exchange reserves, continues at a very sizable level. As a result, combined with developments like improved productivity, this intervention arguably is conferring artificial competitiveness advantages on Chinese-produced goods at least as great as those they received when the yuan was weaker versus the dollar in absolute terms.
In conclusion, the U.S. Business and Industry Council does not find this analysis persuasive. We believe that the yuan has remained substantially undervalued - and in fact may have grown even more undervalued during much of the time of its appreciation. We believe that this undervaluation mainly stems from China's determination to create artificially cheap prices for its traded goods. And we urge Congress and the President to put in place strong counter-measures that would fully offset the effects of this continued Chinese currency manipulation.
An Historically Awful Quarter for U.S. Trade
Monday, May 05, 2014
With Marchs U.S. trade figures set to come out tomorrow, its worth reviewing the historically awful trade performance revealed by last weeks initial report on economic growth in the first quarter of 2014. Tomorrows data will fill in some crucial details, but the broader numbers presented with the gross domestic product statistics once more make clear that the nations trade flows keep costing it far more growth and therefore jobs than they create. In addition, they greatly strengthen the case that the Presidents trade strategy, which, like his predecessors, purportedly focuses on opening foreign markets, is a major part of the problem.
The new first quarter GDP figures released by the Commerce Department showed that trade not only subtracted from growth in the first quarter of 2014, but that on a relative basis, its drag was the biggest in U.S. history or, more technically, since quarterly GDP data began to be released in 1947.
According to the new Commerce Department results, the U.S. economy grew at an annualized inflation-adjusted rate of 0.1 percent in the first quarter of 2014. But the sequential worsening of the inflation-adjusted U.S. trade deficit from $382.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013 to $414.4 billion subtracted 0.83 percentage points from that growth.
By this measure, the next worse trade performance in U.S. history came in the fourth quarter of 2002. Then, the economy grew at a real annualized rate of 0.2 percentage points. But the widening of the real trade deficit subtracted 1.34 percentage points from that performance. In absolute terms, the trade subtraction from growth was bigger in 4Q 2002 than it was in 1Q 2014. But when growth is compared with the trade hit to growth, the 1Q 2014 trade drag was considerably greater.
For comparison's sake, in absolute terms, there have been much bigger quarterly hits delivered to growth by the inflation-adjusted trade deficit's worsening. For example, in the fourth quarter of 1947, the real trade deficit's widening subtracted 4.22 percentage points from annualized real GDP growth. But that GDP growth was 6.5 percent.
U.S. inflation-adjusted exports turned in an historically bad performance in the first quarter of 2014 as well. Their 7.6 percent drop from the fourth quarter 2013 levels represented the biggest percentage decrease since the first quarter of 2009 when the last recession was peaking and world trade was in near-freefall. Yet this latest export plunge took place during an ostensible economic expansion. The last time inflation-adjusted U.S. overseas sales shrank by a greater amount at a time of economic growth was the fourth quarter of 1977.
The first quarter decrease in real U.S. imports was much smaller than that in exports 1.4 percent hence the spurt in the deficit.
Moreover, because real exports fell sequentially during the first quarter, the new GDP figures show that the nation moved farther away from President Obama's declared goal of doubling U.S. exports during the period 1Q 2009 through the end of this year.
In the first quarter of 2009, U.S. real exports of goods and services stood at $1.5348 trillion on an annualized basis. The new first quarter 2014 figures show them at $2.0232 trillion. The increase has so far totaled only 31.84 percent. Since these exports need to increase by 100 percent from the start of 2009 through the end of this year to reach doubling, its clear that the Presidents goal is on life support.
But even this weak performance overstates U.S. exports gains in a crucial respect. The reason? The improvement has been heavily concentrated in the energy sector which has almost nothing to do with the trade agenda the President is pursuing.
Since Mr. Obamas first inauguration, when his export-doubling clock began ticking, Americas inflation-adjusted oil exports have increased on a monthly basis from $3.454 billion to $6.312 billion (in February, 2014 the latest monthly data available). That 82.74 percent rise has been much faster than the 31.63 percent gain in all other goods exports from $82.478 billion to $108.569 billion. In fact, on a monthly basis, real non-oil goods exports are actually down since last June.
Further, these non-oil flows are crucially affected by the kinds of trade deals the President is aiming to sign. Real non-oil imports so far in 2014 are generally below late 2013 levels, too, but the decrease has not been enough to keep the real trade deficit from worsening.
There can be no doubt that the decades-old trade agenda that Mr. Obama seeks to advance has widened the trade gap and thus depressed U.S. growth and hiring by expanding trade with countries manifestly uninterested in mutual gains, by dithering (at best) as they ignore free market practices, and by promoting way too much production and job offshoring. The only big remaining questions surrounding U.S. trade policy are how the President can possibly believe that This Time Will be Different, and whether Congress will join in in perpetuating the nations past trade failures.
Manufacturing Hiring Sinks Deeper into Laggard Territory
Friday, May 02, 2014
Even with a return to employment gains in the last two months, manufacturings job-creation pace during the recovery fell further behind that of overall economys, and its share of nonfarm employment hit a new low. Worse, a Congressional blank check for President Obama to negotiate new trade deals with protectionist Asian and European countries is likeliest to wipe out even this inadequate improvement.
The new (preliminary) job gain for April was pegged at 12,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also transformed last months 1,000 job loss for March into a 7,000 gain, and revised Februarys improvement from 19,000 to 20,000.
Manufacturing has now recouped 647,000 of the 2.293 million jobs (28.22 percent) it lost from the last recessions onset in December, 2007 through its employment bottom in February, 2010. By contrast, the total, the total nonfarm sector of the economy the Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. employment universe has now regained 98.87 percent of the 8.695 million jobs it lost from December, 2007 through February, 2010. In other words, the total U.S. jobs recovery has been 3.5 times stronger than the manufacturing jobs recovery.
With the already large gap between the manufacturing job recovery and the overall U.S. jobs recovery widening even further, industry's share of total nonfarm employment fell on a monthly basis from 8.76 percent to a new low of 8.75 percent. Both figures, moreover, are far lower even than the manufacturing share during February, 2010 employment bottom of the last recession (8.86 percent).
Manufacturings year-on-year jobs growth is now showing some acceleration. Between April, 2013 and last month, the sector gained 99,000 net new jobs up from Marchs upwardly revised 85,000 number for 2013-14, Februarys upwardly revised 81,000 figure, and Januarys 79,000. Yet except for the April number, all of the 2013-14 manufacturing gains remain below their 2012-13 counterparts.
Manufacturing's lagging hiring progress lately shows that industrys jobs rebound earlier during the economic recovery was purely cyclical, not structural, and that contrary to President Obama and others, no structural domestic manufacturing renaissance is in sight.
History teaches, moreover, that manufacturing employment will face new downward pressure if Congress awards President Obama sweeping new fast track authority to negotiate new trade agreements.
A Spring Thaw for Manufacturing - and a Steel Recession
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
The Federal Reserves new manufacturing production figures were a mixed-at-best bag for domestic manufacturing. They confirmed the role played by the harsh winter in slowing industrys inflation-adjusted expansion to a near crawl. But the growth that has been recovered is much slower than the rates achieved earlier in the recession. Moreover, the new data make clear that the critical steel sector has tumbled into a technical recession.
Manufacturing productions real monthly growth hit 0.54 percent in March, and Februarys output figure was revised upward from 0.90 percent to 1.40 percent. The new Fed data also kept Januarys 0.89% drop intact.
The data also brought manufacturings post-inflation year-on-year growth to 2.93 percent in March better than the upwardly revised 2.52 percent figure for February and the 1.76 percent rate for January. But this improvement is markedly slower than the comparable 2012-13 figures of 3.50 percent, 3.08 percent, and 3.00 percent, respectively.
As a result, inflation-adjusted manufacturing production remains 0.70 percent lower than the peak it hit just before the last recession struck more than seven years ago, in December, 2007.
In a departure from recent trends, real nondurable goods output in March grew faster on a monthly basis than real durable goods production 0.65 percent versus 0.44 percent. The revised February results were more typical, with durable goods output growing 1.83 percent on month and durable goods production expanding by 0.92 percent.
Marchs relatively subdued durable goods production gains were held down by a 0.81 percent monthly drop in the long torrid automotive sector. The harsh winters impact on inflation-adjusted output in motor vehicles and parts has been especially striking, with production sinking by 5.88 percent in January and then rebounding by 6.87 percent in February.
In another important durable goods development, primary metals industries, including steel, fell into technical recession in March. Real output is now down on net since last July due to a 1.46 percent monthly decrease. USBIC defines a technical recession as six months or more of net production decline.
Year-on-year, real durable goods output is up 4.13 percent in March better than the 3.96 percent annual improvement for February and the 3.16 percent rise for January. But as with manufacturing overall, all of these increases are smaller than the comparable 2012-13 production gains of 5.02 percent for March, 4.79 percent for February, and 3.89 percent rate for January.
The March data have pushed real durable goods production 5.39 percent higher than its level at the last recessions onset.
Nondurable goods productions 0.65 percent after-inflation March increase represented a slowdown from the 0.92 percent February increase. But January production had dropped by 1.00 percent on month.
Year-on-year production for nondurable goods demonstrates the same longer-term slowdown pattern displayed by the rest of domestic industry. March real output is up 1.64 percent on year better than the 0.92 percent and 0.20 percent improvements for January and February, respectively. But the 2013-14 real nondurable goods growth has been slower for each of its three months than 2012-13 growth which hit 1.82 percent, 1.19 percent, and 1.33 percent, respectively.
Real nondurable goods output is still 7.88 percent below its pre-recession peak hit in July, 2007.
Fast Track's Terrible Timing
Monday, April 14, 2014
Reading through the press coverage of the big international economic meetings held this past weekend in Washington, D.C. should make anyone wonder if anyone who makes U.S. trade policy has been paying attention. If they were, theyd realize that the heated but still-inconclusive monetary policy debate between the worlds rich and poorer countries that highlighted these meetings reveals yet another major reason to put new trade deals on ice for the foreseeable future.
As made clear once more by the assembled central bankers and finance ministers, the immediate bone of contention is the set of easy money policies followed in response to the financial crisis and Great Recession by the wealthier countries (especially the United States).
Where trade policy is concerned, however, the issue is not whether the United States along with Japan and the European Union should be taking the developing countries concerns more seriously as they consider scaling back their unheard-of money-printing used to restore acceptable growth. Nor is the issue whether or not the developing countries should be reacting by hoarding dollars to protect themselves from the sudden capital outflows spurred by the tapering of the U.S. quantitative easing (QE) policy in particular. Instead, the issue is how this impending accumulation of dollars will affect trade flows.
The answer could not be less promising for the U.S. economy. First, developing countries will rely even less for their growth on their own consumers demand. Few have ever been net importers or even close from the United States largely because of their low incomes. But more consumption-based growth and more net importing became possible when the rich countries easy money policies plunged their own interest rates way down, and when investment consequently raced after the higher returns offered by the riskier debt of the likes of Brazil, India, Turkey, and Indonesia.
When the Fed declared last year that easy moneys end was in sight, however, and U.S. interest rates rebounded, investors en masse forsook the developing countries markets for U.S. Treasuries, and suddenly staunched the flow of cheap credit.
Yet the trade effects of tapering or, more precisely, of all the monetary policy uncertainty engendered by the Fed lately will hardly end with curbing developing country consumption. For capital outflows from these economies have been so huge, and could become so much greater, that the national finances themselves of many now look alarmingly vulnerable. Since they cant borrow significantly in their own currencies if financial emergencies arise, many such governments also will need to start earning and holding on to as many dollars and other foreign currencies as they can. Or at least thats what they believe.
The most obvious way to achieve that goal is ensuring that exports stay greater and/or grow faster than imports. And conveniently, the more dollars they earn from exporting to the United States and then simply keep in their own treasuries, the weaker their own currencies become and the easier it gets to boost their trade surpluses with America much higher.
So just as much of an already weak world economy seems certain to become even less enthusiastic about Buying American, President Obama is seeking ambitious trade agreements with both European and Pacific Rim countries, along with a near-blank check from Congress to pursue them.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is especially worrisome. After all, it encompasses low-income Asian countries that have long and successfully pursued mercantile export-led growth at Americas expense. Moreover, membership for other such protectionist countries, like South Korea, Taiwan, and China, appears unavoidable. And ongoing global monetary policy volatility as these governments see matters could easily make their export obsessions stronger than ever. So its hard to imagine a better recipe for higher U.S. trade deficits, and therefore for slower economic growth and greater job loss, than expanding trade with this region.
And yet with U.S. trade officials continuing to tout the TPP and any trade expansion as an engine of exports, growth, and hiring, its clear that neither the left nor the right hands of the Presidents international economic policy knows what the other is doing. As a result, its left to Congress to make the connections, and ensure at least minimal competence, by denying Trade Promotion Authority to Mr. Obama and keeping the deals hes seeking off the legislative fast track.
Manufacturing Employment Still Stuck in the Slow Lane
Friday, April 04, 2014
The first month of manufacturing job losses since July and upward revisions for January and February created a mixed March performance for manufacturing employment. Yet the latest government figures also confirm American industrys status as a woeful job-creation laggard during the current recovery, with its employment gains less than 30 percent as strong as those of the total U.S. economy.
And the question remains for Congress: Why would anyone expect a brighter picture if lawmakers give President Obama a blank check to negotiate new trade deals with strongly protectionist Pacific Rim and European economies?
American manufacturing lost 1,000 jobs in March, according to this mornings preliminary Labor Department data. This dip brought industry's employment level down to 12.079 million. Yet the Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised last months Februarys results up from a 6,000 gain to a 19,000 gain, and Januarys gain from 6,000 to 8,000.
As a result, as a share of total U.S. employment, American industrial jobs remained below the levels they reached even during manufacturings absolute employment nadir in February, 2010.
American manufacturing has now recouped 626,000 of the 2.293 million jobs it lost from the last recessions onset in December, 2007 through its employment bottom in February, 2010.
By contrast, the total, the total non-farm sector of the economy the Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. employment universe has now regained 95.15 percent of the 8.695 million jobs it lost from December, 2007 through February, 2010. In other words, the total U.S. jobs recovery has been more than 3.48 times stronger than the manufacturing jobs recovery.
Its weak March performance also kept manufacturings share of total nonfarm employment at 8.76 percent well below even that reached at the sector's February, 2010 jobs trough (8.86 percent).
Manufacturings year-on-year jobs growth continues to fall as well. Between March, 2013 and March, 2014, the sector gained only 72,000 jobs. The comparable number for 2012-13 was 106,000 and for 2011-12, 226,000. Januarys 2013-14 manufacturing jobs increase was 79,000, and Februarys was 76,000.
Manufacturing's lagging hiring gains lately show that industrys jobs rebound earlier during the economic recovery was purely cyclical, not structural, and that contrary to President Obama and others, no structural domestic manufacturing renaissance is in sight.
Germany's Trade Surpluses Now Under Fire from...Germany's Own Government
Monday, March 24, 2014
Although it hasnt made the same kind of news (at least in the U.S.) as American complaints about Chinas persistent trade surpluses, Washington has been grousing about Germanys lopsided trade flows for several months. In fact, in its latest semi-annual report on foreign currency manipulation, the Obama Treasury Department arguably used harsher language criticizing Germanys trade imbalances than that employed to chide China.
Some analysts have even gone so far as to accuse Germany of engaging in stealth currency manipulation supporting monetary and other European Union economic policies that have conveniently kept the Euro much weaker than a German national currency would be if the euro was dropped.
Berlin has responded even less favorably to these charges than Beijing. At least China pays lip service to the idea of rebalancing its economy away from exports, and its surpluses as a share of the Chinese economy have fallen considerably because of the post-financial crisis slump in world growth and trade. (Germany's just rebounded to match its all-time record.) But Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted to the Treasury report specifically by accusing critics of export envy and absurdly asking Germany to reduce its competitiveness.
Now, however, it turns out some of those critics can be found in Merkels own government. In late February, Berlins State Secretary for Europe agreed that surplus countries like Germany have obligations to rebalance their economies and even said that "Through the growing low wages sector and increase in flimsy employment contracts we have created an unfair advantage compared to our partner countries [in the European Union]."
In early March, the German Minister for Economics and Energy promised that his government would respond to European Union calls for smaller surpluses with measures including increased employment, the introduction of a minimum wage, orientation of part-time and temporary work on their core purposes, appropriate conditions for a responsible wage policy and strengthening investment."
If anything, racking up trade surpluses is even more deeply ingrained in Germanys economic DNA than in Chinas. And promises by surplus countries to rebalance are a lot more common than meaningful follow-through. But one thing's certain: The next time Washington or anyone else urges Germany to mend its ways on trade, efforts by Berlin to scapegoat foreigners shouldn't even pass the laugh test.
Hot Topics
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The China, Japan, Korea Challenge: Creating World Economic Imbalances
Why Free Trade Agreements Dont Work for Americans
Foreign Takeovers of U.S. Assets: Why Ownership Matters
Intellectual Property Theft: How Foreigners Rip Off American Companies and Workers
U.S. Patent Reform: Get It Right or Lose Out
Country-of-Origin Labeling: Whats in Your Food, Drugs, Toys, Candy
The R&D Crisis: Declining U.S. Technological Competitiveness
The Immigration Crisis and U.S. Jobs/ Wages
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How Trade Impacts our Economy and National Security
Outsourcing Trends: Is Your Job Next?
The Retraining/Life-long Education Myth
Our Declining Manufacturing Base: Why Making Products Here Is Important
The Myth of U.S. Productivity: Why Gains Dont Mean Higher Wages for U.S. Workers
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Chinas Currency Cheating Destroys U.S. Factories and Jobs
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American Economic Alerts in your Mailbox
Alan Tonelson
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A Skeptical Front-Line View of That Manufacturing Renaissance
For Obama Investment Policy, Failure is the New Success
Obama's Orwellian Export Strategy Success
A Manufacturing Slump that Never Ended
Bigger Trade Deficit Woes Just Ahead?
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Digital Divide Open Lab Hour | |
Event Type: Digital Literacy Computer Class Date: 3/10/2013 Start Time: 1:15 PM End Time: 2:15 PM Description: Every Sunday an open lab hour is available for those who wish to learn computer skills in an informal setting, those who wish to review recently attained computer skills, those who just want to brush up on computer skills, or those anywhere in between. All are welcome, registration is kindly requested, and walk-ins are welcome. Open lab hours funded by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Location: Computer Learning Center (Main Floor) Other Information: By participating in this program, I give permission to the Waukegan Public Library to use any photos or videos made of me and/or my minor child(ren) for use in promotional materials about library programs, services, and collections.
Contact: David VillalobosContact Number: 847-623-2041 x 234 Status: Closed |


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I like V/M ' s SD at this competition! D/W's SD has been my favorite but now I like both.
I like V/M ' s SD at this competition! D/W's SD has been my favorite but now I like both.
I miss Bates/Samuelson and can't get into C/B so I agree there is some truth to this idea. That said for me, he just really left a bad tast in my mouth with how he split up with Samuelson and I frankly think he is a bad person who doesn't deserve success. This prevents me from enjoying him like I should. I realize this is not fair (at least not entirely) but it is what it is.
For the sake of argument, what do we know about how teams get together/split, right? Just saying, maybe things are not the way they seem. But anyway, my main issue with this pairing is that I don't like having dance teams that look like pairs teams. Regardless of chemistry, etc. I love to watch two people "fit together" as they dance, and that's directly linked to proportion and lines. Of course, if the approach is lift focused as opposed to dance geared...
Thanks! I really appreciate that! No hard feelings!
I like Chock but I don't think Bates is up to snuff with her. The skill and maturity level seems disproportionate between them. I liked C/B's free dance last year but I don't really like either of their programs this year. I think they're solid enough to be the #2 US team but it's a very large gap from them to D/W.
Happy Valentine's Day to you, unchristine -- and to all!
I have had this reaction too, and I agree that it is only human nature.
A happier perspective on these feelings is that if someone seems to be a good person off the ice, then I am predisposed to become a supporter of his/her skating.
I sometimes am completely unfamiliar with someone's skating, but start getting the sense from social media, interviews, etc., that he/she has a warm personality, a great sense of humor, and strong friendships with other skaters whom I "know" and like. Positive characteristics like those can motivate me to take an interest in the unfamiliar person's skating.
Is Evan Bates better than Greg Zuerlein?
Yes, but Greg choose to retire. There is no evidence whatsoever that he was in any way shuffled off to Buffalo.
After Greg retired, I am told that Madison had her pick of several partners. She reported at the time that she picked Evan because he was kind.
IIRC Evan was one of the four musketeers that roomed together at th University if Michigan, along with Charlie White, Alex Shibutani, and pairs skater (with Andrea Best ) Trevor Young
He was. And they must still be good friends, because it was obvious that Charlie was thrilled when Evan and Madison made the podium at U.S. Nationals this year.
After reading back through the sequence of posts above, I feel the need to add that I was agreeing only with the general notion that off-ice impressions can influence appreciation of someone's skating.
IMHO, the non-exhaustive body of public knowledge about the demise of the Samuelson/Bates partnership suggests that he did not exactly cover himself with glory. YMMV. OTOH, I have long recognized that the affection of men of honor such as White and Shibutani does speak well for Bates, making it harder for me to believe that he was motivated by "bad" or "mean" intentions. [Edited to clarify my meaning.]
Yes, and other photos showed Davis/White sharing good times with Chock/Bates as they all traveled home from Four Continents.
Last edited by golden411; 02-17-2013 at 09:49 AM.
The exact details are not known.
But what is known is Madison is a lot smaller than Emily, both shorter, and lighter. I would suggest there is no nice way in public to say, since I have had an injury, I can't lift you well any more because you are too large, and I am not strong enough any more. There is also no nice way to say it in private.
The whole situation with Emily was sad; such a nice girl, and a beautiful girl, and such nice toe point, too. But how could Evan know if couldn't lift her any more until he tried?
I am just leaving the whole thing in the "things I probably don't need to know" locker, and just like both skaters, and am sad Emily hasn't found a good partner.
Breaking up is hard to do.
Samuelson and Bates had a lot of difficulties after they made the Olympic team in 2010 (and did pretty well, finishing 11th). They left the coaching team that had guided them since they were intermediates and moved to Canton. But they never got a chance to compete under Zoueva and Shpilband because of Evan's injury, which wiped out the entire next season for them. No further details were forthcoming, but they announced before the 2011-12 season that they were seeking new partners.
If they were having a rough patch it's not hard to imagine that the sudden availability of potential star Madison Chock played a role, especially since Bates and Chock announced their new partnership less than a month later. But I think the break was a year or more in the making.
I'm sure that's true, that the break was a year in the making.
Agree with Doris that none of us are privy to complete knowledge of what transpired.
But the likelihood of "a year or more in the making" (my emphasis), as mentioned by Mathman, has been part of what makes me feel that Samuelson deserved better than what happened to her - after waiting basically a full season for Bates to recover from his terrible Achilles injury.
Thank goodness that she seems like a great person who will have success in all areas of her life. I will leave it there -- with my best wishes to her.
Last edited by golden411; 02-17-2013 at 03:51 PM.


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A's look to gain ground in AL West behind Milone
Oakland lefty trying to stay in rotation; Verlander starts for Tigers
The teams' mindsets can be interpreted from their tinkering. While both the A's and Tigers have postseason aspirations, Oakland's appearance for the second straight season after falling in the American League Division Series to Detroit last fall is far less certain.
Oakland sits 2 1/2 games back in the AL West behind the Rangers, while the Tigers are much more comfortable with their 5 1/2-game lead in the AL Central.
The A's starting rotation is in flux, as evidenced by the tentative use of many key cogs. Consider Tommy Milone auditioning for the same job he lost to Sonny Gray earlier this month when he takes the mound Tuesday for the second game of a four-game series at Comerica Park.
The southpaw currently figures to be the odd man out upon the return of Bartolo Colon from the disabled list. The club could potentially opt to try out Milone in the bullpen, or they could simply send him back down again.
"You know what? I really can't afford to think like that," Milone said. "I just have to go out there and take it one game at a time, and hopefully they stick with me. I'm going to try to prepare for each start just like I would normally.
"I feel like this is the type of pitcher I am, minus not being able to go late in the game. The biggest thing as a starting pitcher is to keep your team in the game, and I feel like I was able to do that, and I felt good on top of that, so that was a plus."
Toeing the rubber opposite Milone is Justin Verlander -- a mainstay in Detroit's rotation for years who has uncharacteristically struggled this season. Verlander allowed six runs on 10 hits in seven innings while striking out six against the Twins during his last outing. Otherwise, he's pitched well this month, and he has won his last four starts against Oakland. It's been an up-and-down season for Verlander, one he describes as frustrating.
"It's been quite the grind for me all year, a real battle. All in all, you look at the numbers and it could be a whole lot worse. I wouldn't call it good, I'd call it frustrating. When you're able to go out there and give your team a chance to win, I guess that's a positive you can take away from it."
A's will likely use Anderson in the bullpen
A's lefty Brett Anderson is expected to be activated within the next three days in Detroit, but he won't be returning to the same role when that happens.
Manager Bob Melvin said Monday that Anderson is likely to be used out of the bullpen when lifted off the disabled list, going so far as to say he's not even an option for Thursday's start should Colon not be able to go, which was before considered a possibility.
"I think we're going to have a tough time starting Brett at this point, based on him being out four months, making just two rehab starts, throwing only 3 1/3 his last time out," Melvin said. "Whether we're able to get him in a role where we can stretch him out some, we can potentially do that, but we also feel he has the potential to be a nice option out of the bullpen for us, in whatever role that might be."
If Miggy powers up, Triple Crown will be his again
The path for another Triple Crown for Miguel Cabrera appears to finally be clearing. If he can have another power-hitting September like he did last year, he could well run away with it.
Cabrera's 1-for-4 night with a two-run home run in Monday's series opener against the A's and his 7-for-13, two-homer, five-RBI series against the Mets pushed his average to .359, 29 points ahead of his nearest AL competitor in the batting race, Mike Trout, after Monday. He also moved 12 RBIs up on Chris Davis for the AL lead (130). The only category left is home runs, and Cabrera (43) moved within three of Davis on Monday.
Cabrera is obliterating many of the numbers that won him a Triple Crown last year, and his final month was arguably his strongest power month last season with 11 homers after Sept. 1. That year, though, was outside his norm; his .308 average, .390 on-base percentage, .535 slugging percentage and .925 OPS for his career in September and October are his lowest of any month.
Worth noting
• The A's placed Josh Reddick on the disabled list Monday and have now used the DL four times in the last 33 days after a 77-day streak without placing a player on the DL
• Omar Infante is batting .370 with seven runs scored and five RBIs in 13 games since returning from the disabled list.
• Tigers starting pitchers have recorded a quality start in 30 of the last 40 games dating back to July 12 against Texas, posting a 22-8 record and a 2.73 ERA during the stretch.
Jeff Kirshman is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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In my lightboxes:
Farm Land
Re: Diving With The Sea TurtlesPosted on Friday 24 April, 2015 by Alena Nicholas.Here's a shot taken from underneath a sea turtle Nathan, that I thought you might like. I took it at Honolua Bay on Maui. A wonderful area to photograph! |
Re: Green River OverlookPosted on Friday 24 April, 2015 by Alena Nicholas.Beautiful capture of the Canyonlands Laura! Thought I recognized a few of your Southwest images here the last couple of days! |
Re: Honu RisingPosted on Friday 24 April, 2015 by Alena Nicholas.Wonderful capture and story Nathan! Really love diving/photographing the turtles and Monk Seals when there in Hawaii! |
Re: Through The LensPosted on Thursday 23 April, 2015 by Robert Underwood Iv.Beautiful image! Next time I'd almost like to see it shot without your feet in the shot, but overall I love the idea of the old school camera and framing! Cheers! Robert |
Re: Fuzzy Butt FallsPosted on Thursday 23 April, 2015 by Shelley Crombie.How hard of a hike is it to get to theses falls? Thank you! Shelley |
Get 11 Issues of Outdoor Photographer for only $14.97!
That's 77% off the cover price!
That's 77% off the cover price!


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Parkland College - Indiana State University
Partnership Information
Related Links
The University has partnered with Parkland College to formalize transfer plans for particular majors. These plans enable students to complete specific Parkland associate degrees and receive credit towards specific ISU bachelor degrees.
Each plan details the Parkland courses accepted for credit at ISU; the ISU courses needed to complete the bachelor degree, and any other guidelines that apply. Credit transfer is possible for credit or degrees not listed, or credit earned from institutions other than Parkland College.
Browse these plans IF you are entering Parkland College and planning to transfer an associate degree to an ISU bachelor degree. If you are (or soon will be) finished with your studies at Parkland, refer to transfer guidelines for helpful information and transfer evaluation tools.
Note: ISU General Education requirements are revised as of fall 2010. All current transfer plans and courses detailed below are still in effect and will apply to degree requirements at ISU. Transfer plans will be updated and posted shortly.
Last updated April 25, 2014


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Hello Kitty is super cute and so sweet she could send you straight to the dentist! Grab some sugary goodness and show off your Auburn pride wherever you go with this Hello Kitty iPhone 4/4s hardshell case. It features Hello Kitty wearing a darling Tigers outfit and displays the team logo in the background. As if that isn't too adorable to handle, this case also boasts the Auburn wordmark in the top right corner to add another scoop of team pride.
- Easy access to all ports and features
- Fits iPhone 4/4S
- Imported
- Made of rigid polycarbonate
- Officially licensed collegiate product
- Rubberized finish provides comfortable grip
- Slim design adds style, not bulk
- Team logo and colors
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game
or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are
received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items
are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite
number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


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New York Jets Gear
New York Jets Ladies
New York Jets Ladies Accessories
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Product ID: 694478
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This item ships within one business day.
Order as many items as you like with our $4.99 flat rate shipping.
Need it faster?
When cheering your Jets to victory, there's no better way to stay toasty and warm in the ice rink than with this Vintage NFL scarf from Mitchell & Ness! With embroidered throwback team logos, and a woven team name on one side and Mitchell & Ness branding on the other, this fringed scarf goes with everything from your NY game day jersey to a winter jacket!
- 100% Acrylic
- Approximately 60" x 7.5"
- Fully reversible
- Hand wash or dry clean only
- Imported
- Officially licensed NFL product
- Quality embroidery
- Scarf with fringes at both ends
- Woven graphics
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received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items
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Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite
number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


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Thanks for your efforts oibaf.
I also want to thank you Couldn't use 12.04 because a bug somehwere in the radeon stack kept locking my PC up randomly[1]. Using your updated packages gave me a stable system
[1]: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ux/+bug/986524
I switched from a hd4770 to a hd3850 and now my KDE turn into black screen with a running mouse (strg+alt+f1 console also works).
only the KDE-save-mode runs.. maybe the desktop 3D kwin are broken for hd3850 ? and with a hd4770 it works..
I like that it defaults to LLVMpipe instead of swrast.
Last edited by Leon55ia; 10-09-2012 at 10:06 PM.
Also see my previous post about disabling LLVM.
I'm using xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99+git1206080959.588837~gd~o in Mythbuntu 12.04 with a VisionTek Radeon HD2600 Pro AGP, a Soltek SL-65KVB motherboard and a 1 GHz Pentium 3. OpenGL and VDPAU output is capped to 10 fps, as if the vertical refresh rate is 10 Hz. However, it is actually 60 Hz, and xrandr properly outputs that.
Glxgears runs at 10 fps unless I have a vblank_mode=0 environment variable or I set the same thing via .drirc. (Driconf does not change anything unless ~/.drirc it creates is edited to change driver at the top to "dri2".) When I make that change, it runs at close to 200 FPS. Mplayer OpenGL output also runs at 10 fps unless I use "-vo gl:swapinterval=0". Interestingly, I don't see any tearing after changing those options.
VDPAU is useless because it is always capped to 10 fps and I don't know how to change that.
When MythTV is outputting video via XVideo at 30 fps, there is severe judder. Smooth pans have a very regular pattern of slowing down and speeding up. This problem goes away if I select one of the 2x deinterlacers and output at 60 fps. This is not exactly a 10 fps cap, but it may have something to do with this issue.
None of these problems are present in the driver that comes with 12.04.


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3rd November 2009, 06:18 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 421
JP Supersport vs. SB Futura
Hi all,
Two boards I'm also considering at the moment are the JP Supersport 91 and the Futura 93. Has anyone tried both these boards and can make comparisons? This would be my medium wind, bft 5-6ish, board and I'm only 55kg. The board would be sailed in choppy conditions, with very unstable and gusty wind. Thanks.
JP Super-X 106l, North F8 Ram: 5.8m, 175cm, 54kg |
3rd November 2009, 07:50 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Greece
Posts: 105
Hi buddy,
I have the Futura 93 and wouldn't change the board for anything. But I'm 66-68 kg and I love it cause it is 61.5cm wide and the board goes through lulls better than most equivalent freeride boards I know. It is also fast. Very fast. I would say just under iSonic performance and in rough chop that could be debatable. But for your size for 5-6 bft I would go as small as possible. You are light enough to go through lulls so as much as I love the Futura I think the JP would be best for you. |
3rd November 2009, 08:47 PM | #3 | |
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 421
JP Super-X 106l, North F8 Ram: 5.8m, 175cm, 54kg |
4th November 2009, 03:18 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 164
I've sailed both. The F93 was a wood and the SS91 was a carbon. Much preferred the wood through the chop. I'd go the F93, I beleive SB has a couple of years refinement over JP IMHO. The F93 has a lower and more controlled ride.
4th November 2009, 04:10 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 421
Interesting... Have you used the Futura 93 in highwind? (bft 6 or more)?
JP Super-X 106l, North F8 Ram: 5.8m, 175cm, 54kg |
4th November 2009, 07:41 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Greece
Posts: 105
Hi agrelon
If you want my opinion, at your weight if I was looking to buy a board for 5-6 bft I would look for a board with the least volume. If you are not interested in jumping and interested in just going fast I would go with a small slalom board say iSonic 86 or 81 of JP slalom 81. If you are interested in jumping then your original choice of jp ss or sb futura is the only one. But remember at 55 kgs you are very light and although the freeride boards are very user friendly and easy to ride I personally think you should look at the smaller slalom boards with the least volume so you don't get bounced around when overpowered. Also bear in mind that the new generation slaloms are quite user freindly and very controllable compared to what we were used to in the past. They are just damn fast and less friendly than the freerides. Are you up for them? And remember no other board performs better in unstable conditions than the slaloms cause they plane earlier and hold their plane longer than any freeride board. As long as you use them in flat to max choppy conditions you'll be fine. |
4th November 2009, 09:28 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 421
Yeah, when it gets windy here it's choppy so I want to jump too. I need to try a 70l ish board to see if I can handle it. I can waterstart no problem on both tacks so it should be fine to sail, I just want to see how hard tacking/jibing will be.
Are you saying the SS and Futura are good boards for jumping? Thanks.
JP Super-X 106l, North F8 Ram: 5.8m, 175cm, 54kg |
5th November 2009, 02:40 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Greece
Posts: 105
Yes for high speed jumps of good chop they are great. I jump my Futura all the time. That why I prefer it to an iSonic.
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macys day parade is a song that billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day's front man) wrote about thanks giving day, how macys supported it, and now turned it into a commercial!
its on their album warning
its on their album warning
"todays a macys day parade, the night of the living dead is on its way, with the credit report of duty calls. it's a life time guarrentee stuffed in a coffin 10% more free, red light specials at the mussolium, whats the concelation pirze? economy sized dreams of hope
etc etc etc
etc etc etc
додав Tunny
3 Червень 2006