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How Much Could You Have if Social Security Was YOUR Money?
By JLP | May 16, 2008
Imagine you were 22 when you started working back in 1978. Do you know how much money you would have if, instead of paying in the maximum Social Security tax over the last 30 years, you were allowed to keep it? It's probably more than you think. Take a look at the chart below, which shows a 30-year history of Social Security:
If you could have kept the maximum amount withheld for Social Security over the last 30 years and invested it at a 10% ROR it would have grown to over $418,000. Of course I used straight-line appreciation, so the actual amount would be quite different but this will work for comparison's sake.
According to my calculations, the amount subject to Social Security tax has had an average annual increase of 5.85% through 2007, while the maximum tax itself has increased 6.58% over the same time period. The difference between the two numbers is due to the increase in the tax rate over the years.
As I stated in the first sentence of this post, you were 22 when you started working 30 years ago, which would now make you 52 years old. If you continued to work and paid in the maximum amount into Social Security, how much could you have by the time you were 62? For 2008, the maximum Social Security tax is $6,324. If we increase that amount by the average annual increase of 6.58% for the following 9 years, it would look something like this:
The forward-looking numbers are adjusted for inflation and assume a more conservative 8% ROR minus a 3% inflation rate. So, IF the money were yours to do with as you please, you could have over $789,000 by age 62. A 4% withdrawal rate would give you a first-year income of over $31,584 or $2,632 per month. I haven't done enough research to know how that number would compare with a Social Security payout (that's the topic of a future post).
An Observation
I think the past 30 years of Social Security history is NOTHING compared to what the future will be. I can only see more and more income being subject to Social Security tax because of the fact that we have the Baby Boomer generation retiring and fewer numbers of current workers to support them. So, the amount that my generation and the following generations will have to pay into the system will most likely be greater than the benefits received at retirement. That's why I get so irritated everytime I see how much money is being sucked out of my paycheck to go into the blackhole we call Social Security. I know there's not a snowball's chance in hell that my wife and I will see the bulk of that money.
It's really sad when you think about it. The program could have been so much better had we used to provide a safety net rather than giving it to everyone. It should have been based on need. Instead, everyone got benefits whether they needed them or not. Politicians didn't care because there was an ample supply of Baby Boomers to fund current retirees' needs.
Eventually our politicians are going to have to make some tough decisions.
NOTE: As Jeremy mentioned below, I left out the employer's portion of the Social Security tax, which is equal to the amount the employee pays. When the employer's portion is factored in, it really makes Social Security security look bad. Thanks for the catch, Jeremy.
Topics: Social Security | 52 Comments »
52 Responses to "How Much Could You Have if Social Security Was YOUR Money?"
Jeremy Bettis Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
You understated the social security tax by 50%, since you only included the employee portion of the tax, not the company "matching" tax. If there never had been any SSI the company would have paid that money to your IRA instead in your hypothetical world.
JLP Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
That's a good point. I'll make a note of it in the post.
Valerie Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Amen, I wish the government would allow people to be responsible for themselves and save for their own retirement. I am sure a lot of the money is eaten up by administration cost. I know my brother worked for a university and he had the option to opt out of paying social security tax. Not sure why and maybe I have my facts wrong but I would be interested to know more about that.
Andy Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I think social security won't go away. The changes required to keep it solvent indefinitely are quite easy. For example, eliminating the income cap would do it. Or raising the retirement age (62 is way too early anyway).
But I agree that it should be based on need. I would only give it to people below the poverty line.
Dedicated Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
You know, you know this is true and happening and yet we ignore it. For the most part.
Right now, after your enlightened post, I just feel robbed!
Jeremy Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
For 2008, the maximum SS benefit at full retirement age is $2,185 per month. Just to give you a head start on your research for the upcoming post
Joe Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
"…It should have been based on need. Instead, everyone got benefits whether they needed them or not…"
Why should I not be entitled to future benefits if I am responsible and save for my own retirement? This is not a socialist country. Or is it?
Lord Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
You are making the mistake of assuming future returns will be like those of the past. This is unlikely to be the case. Returns are dependent on growth and slower population growth means lower growth and smaller future returns. This is what SS assumes. Investment expenses will also reduce it. SS also provides disability and survivor insurance so you would have to pay for those out of this as well. It also provides the lowest cost indexed annuity available. In addition, it provides a safety net for those with low incomes over their working lives. Would you be better off if it wasn't collected during their working life and you were taxed afterwards to pay for it since you would have the income? SS provides only a modest level of benefits and you are well able to supplement it, but you will have it even if the market collapses at your retirement or your account is lost. And while SS won't provide as much, it will still provide much.
Dave Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
My work history began in 1970, after graduate school, and ended in 2000, when I quit my job to become a missionary. Thus, it covers a 30 year term like your example. I started collecting Social Security benefits at age 62, and now, at age 65, my monthly payment is $1,494, while my wife's is $692. An inflation-adjusted annuity providing the same income streams would be worth $347,183 for me and $140,690 for my wife, for a total of about $488,000. That is reasonly in line with your example.
JLP Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Lord said:
"You are making the mistake of assuming future returns will be like those of the past."
If you read carefully, you'll notice that for the future I projected a real return of 5% (8% – 3% inflation), which is lower than the 7% real return we have gotten in the past.
Jim Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I've recently discussed the costs of fixed immediate annuities that would compare to SS retirement benefits (lifetime monthly payments with inflationary increase).
If you were to replace the social security retirement benefits with a fixed immediate annuity with inflation increases bought from Vanguard then you'd have to pay about $510k for an annuity to equate to the maximum SS payout of $2185/mo cited above.
Your analysis does not consider the value of social security disability insurance. I'm not sure how you'd go about determining what thats worth though.
Jim Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Your analysis does not consider the value of social security disability insurance or social security insurance. I'm not sure how you'd go about determining what thats worth though.
Jim Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Oops double post sorry.
Actually never mind about social security insurance (SSI), I just read that it apparently isn't funded by SS taxes. SS disability benefits ARE however a benefit of our SS taxes.
Lord Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Yes, I saw that, but even that may be too optimistic, especially with investment and other costs and poor money management most do. I have no doubt someone astute could do better, but also that the average will do worse, some much, much worse.
Debt Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
There a too many people in this country like my own mother who think the Social Security system is a good one, albeit not a perfect one. I've tried to explain to her, on more than one occasion, how we are being short changed by the system, but she responds with comments such as "the people in Great Britain think it's the best one in the world" I have yet to put a chart in front of her eyes with actual figures, such as the ones in your post, to demonstrate the fallacy to which she's subscribing, but that day isn't far off.
I have shown her results from other municipalities and countries where they allow you to actually keep and invest your own money, in your own account, that hey, you actually OWN. You can actually live on the income stream generated by your retirement in those areas. There could even be an approved fund list, if the powers that be so desired, as long as we could generate returns twice what we're getting now (like 5%).
The irony is that the socialism aspect of the program we are certainly getting, but the second half of the name, security, we're not.
Have a great weekend!
JLP Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Joe said,
"Why should I not be entitled to future benefits if I am responsible and save for my own retirement? This is not a socialist country. Or is it?"
I don't think I made myself clear. I meant that Social Security could have been much better had they stuck with just offering a "safety net" for retirees instead of providing benefits to everyone.
I would much rather pay a smaller percentage (say 1% to 2%) and have the program used on an "as needed" basis than to have them take 6.2% and then give it back to me later.
more Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
not a lot.
you would be bilked out of it by the banking and finance industry, a la typical boom-bomb-bankruptcy-bailout-$300 consolation check style.
JLP Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
It's gonna be tough for this country to move to personal accounts because we've built the system on current workers providing for retirees. It was all fine and dandy when you had the Baby Boomers in the workforce but now that they are starting to retire and the following generations are smaller, the program is going to falter unless changes are made.
lorax Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I could swear I read this post before.
Anyway, SS is two things 1) an annuity and 2) an insurance policy for survivors if you die early. It also diversifies risk from market risk to political risk.
There are inefficiencies, but overall I think it is a good plan, as the "safety net" of retirement.
Kirk Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
To Dave: Your projection assumes you will live to receive the full benefit. If you die tomorrow, which I hope doesn't happen, you would be shortchanged big time relative to the taxes paid. Secondly, you pass nothing to your heirs. Even if we only earned the equivalent of the current SS benefits in a private account, we would at least own the asset to do with it as we pleased.
For JLP: it would be tough to move to private accounts due to the dependence on working taxpayers, but it could be done if all parties involved realized a sacrifice. For instance, if we were able to put half of our tax into a private account, but we forfeit the right to receive Social Security. And, the current beneficiaries need to realize the benefit increases at a rate lower than inflation. Or, 100% of it is taxed as ordinary income. It can be done, but someone or everyone will have to sacrifice. Americans aren't good at sacrificing and politicians won't upset a big voting block. So I fear you are right.
Dave Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
To Kirk: No. I didn't project anything. I priced an inflation-adjusted annuity on the Vanguard website that would produce approximately the same income streams as our Social Security benefits. Mortality is figured into annuity pricing. My point was that with approximately the amount of money JLP figured ($418K) you could purchase our Social Security income stream, guaranteed for life. All without the market risk of the 30 accumulation years.
In your second point, with a private account, you are taking on the risk of running out of money if you live too long or the market underperforms, and balancing that against leaving an inheritance if you die too soon or the market overperforms. Which is more valuable to you: not running out of money or leaving an inheritance? Personally, I don't care if I leave my children anything.
Lord Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
It may not be yours to do with as you please (although it wouldn't be under any sound policy), but it also provides disability and survivorship. Those are particularly expensive young since they would last so long. Your spouse and children benefit from this and would benefit far more than any private account that early. Without it you would have to invest much more conservatively in retirement which would also reduce returns. It is actually the majority of income for some 60% of the retired so it is hardly lavish. Without it, most may save nothing in order to fall into the safety net.
EnoughWealth Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
You can't use the ROR rates you picked for a sensible comparison of social security to a "DIY" alternative. For someone in your example (who started paying SS 30 years ago and will soon start to claim benefits) the SS scheme is practically "risk free", hence a comparible ROR is more like 5%, not 10%. Try using that figure and see how much money you'd have if you'd kept the SS contributions and gone down the DIY path.
The other side of this same coin is that if people were allowed to keep the SS contribution money and invest it themselves, lots would invest very conservatively (think cash ROR), as is the case with our compulsory, but personal, superannuation account system in Australia. In that case the end benefits would be very low, and you'd need a publicly funded, means tested age pension in additional to the SS amount saved in personal accounts! This is what we have in Australia – people with insufficient retirement savings in their retirement accounts, and a means-tested aged pension that is in danged of becomming unaffordable due to shifting age demographics and lower worker:pensioner ratio.
Finally, if you resent paying into SS when you are unlikely to get you money back in SS payments, just think how much you'd really like it if you were paying the same SS contributions (via taxes) but NOT be entitled to ANY payout (under a means-tested aged pension style change to SS payments)!
Bozo Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
One thing most folks don't consider about Social Security is that it is guaranteed. There might be some political risk (means tests going forward, for example), but there is no solvency risk. When you buy an annuity in the marketplace, there is always the chance the insurance company might go under. I've never seriously considered an annuity (I do my own CD ladder, sort of a self-directed annuity, all FDIC/NCUA insured), but it would give me the willies thinking I handed over $500K to an insurance company which might go BK.
With no risk, you should expect a somewhat lower yield.
Anyway, it's a moot point, since the last I checked, nobody ever offered me the option to stop paying FICA.
Michael Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
In addition . . . If your gross paycheck was $1,000.00 you would pay $76.50 in social security taxes, yet the entire $1,000.00 would be subject to income taxes. When you retire, you would pay income tax on money that you did not get a tax deduction for. It will likely be subject to income tax when you receive it. Thats the injustice for a "silver hair" like me. The injustice for you young whipper snappers is that you won't receive any social security benefits at all. It will all be "needs" based at some point.
Wilson Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Let's rename social security to universal security, so that we can tax aliens in the galaxy…
Phil Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 4:41 am
This analysis is idiotic. Take any govt program, use 20/20 hindsight and you'll always come out better if the money had been yours. As posters have said before, SS comes with zero risk.
Here's a more realistic analysis: Take the average American and allow him keep what would have been the SS tax. After 30 years he would have: nothing since he would have blown it on crap he didn't need from Asia.
JLP Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Social Security DOES NOT come with zero risk! What about all the younger generations who are going to have to foot the bill for a much larger Boomer generation that is about to start taking benefits?
The fact that they can just raise our Social Security taxes by raising the income that's taxable, raising the tax rate, or both, makes Social Security VERY RISKY in my eyes.
Richard Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 11:37 am
This is a 2nd try to get this comment on. Excuse any duplication.
The thing that bothers me the most is that the FICA tax is not graduated and therefore a greater burden on lower income people. A better solution would be to eliminate the FICA tax and have the SS payments come out of the general revenue; in other words, financed from the income tax, which is graduated and designed (ostensibly)to increase as your income increases.
If we can't afford the system we have and it has to be means tested, so be it. A safety net is essential for those of us who somehow mess up by not having enough for our later years. These people would be on welfare anyway and that also would come out of the taxpayer, so it would probably be close to a wash as far as cost is concerned.
I know it sounds attractive to think that if the money we put into FICA could have been given to us for private investment, that we could have done much better with it. But don't be so sure. Some of the rates of return we hear about sound nice, but are not always easy to obtain. Investing isn't without its pitfalls, and the economy is fickle. And many people don't have a clue how to invest anyway. Social Security is the only sure thing we have to fall back on.
Richard Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 11:45 am
The risk we're talking about is the safety net that SS provides. It may eventually be means tested to be affordable, but no congress is ever going to eliminate the safety net aspect of SS. They would be thrown out in an instant. Yes, there is a risk we might have to pay more to get this benefit, but I think you worry needlessly that the benefit itself will somehow disappear.
Harry O Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
You want you own SS money.
Hmm ok after 3 years of having you own money
and getting your great interest for you future,
you get injuryed and can't work, divide your
"money" over the next 60 years and live of that.
BradfordL Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
\" Today, we have a national retirement program called Social Security that forces Americans to pay 12.4 percent of theirincome into a \"system\" that gives total control of their earnings to 535 politicians.
We have no legal right to the money, we cannot leave it to our loved ones; and what we get back is entirely up
to those politicians. Where is the respect for the dignity of human life in such a system ? \"
— Edward H. Crane
David Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I agree that the system went awry when it opened the gates to the middle- and upper-middle classes in the form of generous pensions. Social Security at that point departed from its original mission as a safety net. Entrenched interests (AARP and the vast portion of Americans in the mid-to upper-middle classes) will preserve the current payout philosophy until we can actually see blood pouring from the coffers.
One suggested solution for solvency would be to establish a needs test at a moderate level (freeze payouts at the rate earned by say $50k). I feel uncomfortable with SS paying for cruises of higher-income folks. They couldn't tolerate the needed hefty increases in FICA, and to appease them we opened the spigot. The blood isn't running yet, but it will be. I think it was a good system before the comfortable-income people prevailed. In my opinion SS should be a safety net. Decreasing its outlays might over time enhance the system's solvency to the point where FICA taxes could be reduced. This might take a generation, e.g., once the boomers have swallowed their last sip of prune juice.
clear1 Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
All I kept thinking was "Obama (and the rest of the democrat party) will never let citizens have control of OUR money". We should all keep this in mind as we vote in November…it is not just about style/personality/skin color…vote for a socialist and watch the caps come off the social security withholding limit taking more of our "contributions" into a government black hole.
Richard Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Sorry clear1, but you guys had near total control of the government for the last 8 years. I did not see any concern for OUR money except to borrow and spend it as fast as possible. Not only was OUR money spent like water, but that of our kids and grandchildren as well. The resulting debt will be THEIR debt, so I guess that gets US off the hook. Truly, accusing the democrats of mismanagement of government spending was meant to be a joke, right.
Don Says:
May 18th, 2008 at 8:35 am
@Lord: thank you for reminding people that SS includes disability insurance. That has made a huge difference to my family, after my wife became disabled at 35 years of age. Naturally it was unexpected; no one expects to be disabled at 35.
I have disability through work, but she was only working part time and had nothing similar, except for SS disability.
It's stuff like this that make me realize that insurance-through-work is kind of nuts. Why should I have a harder time getting health insurance when I'm between jobs, for example?
I could possibly retire early, 16 years from now, if I've saved enough. But that will not be possible if I don't have health insurance and I won't be old enough for medicare. Why should affordable health insurance be tied to working a job?
Lord Says:
May 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I hope those who think SS is generous don't bother to save anything so they can find out for themselves. The problem with means testing is it is so pointless. It would raise next to nothing and disincentivize more from saving than already don't. Currently, everyone will recover what they paid in, it is only the return that is in doubt. Under low cost, there is no problem at all. If there are problems, it is far too early to tell. If there is a problem, private accounts wouldn't help because the economy would be doing badly. We already have private accounts and they are better than anything that can be proposed. They are retirement accounts.
JimmyDaGeek Says:
May 20th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Don't forget that SSA also pays for long-term, any occupation disability, SSI (welfare), and survivors (life insurance) claims. You need to factor in the costs for these insurance programs, if you wanted to replace them for yourself.
BradfordL Says:
May 20th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
"A government with the policy to rob Peter to pay Paul can be assured of the support of Paul"
(– George Bernard Shaw)
Jimbo Says:
May 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Giving SS to everyone is equivalent to government subsidized home loan interest. Every only pays down the principal. The government would pay the interest. There is no limit on how much you could borrow. It would be based on your ability to repay the principal. The analogy is that government now pays no interest on your SS contributions. The new plan would be a turnabout.
Kevin Says:
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Valerie Says: "Amen, I wish the government would allow people to be responsible for themselves and save for their own retirement."
Then your wish has been granted! The government does allow people to save for their own retirement! They even allow some people to claim tax deductions for current constributions (IRAs/401ks/etc) or (at the moment) no tax at redemption for earnings (Roth IRAs).
Jimbo Says:
May 24th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Kevin says:
Then your wish has been granted! The government does allow people to save for their own retirement! They even allow some people to claim tax deductions for current constributions (IRAs/401ks/etc) or (at the moment) no tax at redemption for earnings (Roth IRAs).
True, But I'm sure that Valeries point is: What does a 12% tax on an individual's income, expressly for the retirement of others, have to do with one being responsible for his personal retirement?
Linda from Deerfield Says:
May 27th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
This is something I've been meaning to do for a long time. Thanks, it looks like an honest attempt. There are some points that tend to be overlooked, though, and I'll try to speak to them with similar honesty.
The 10% Rate of Return figure is commonly used — it assumes that one is always invested 100% in the entire U.S. stock market, and that the market achieves the average return that is calculated from many decades of performance data. It does not allow for conservative allocation between stocks and bonds, and it does not allow for forays into riskier approaches.
At the risk of choosing a source that might seem biased, I will leave it to the reader to find any of multiple, credible sources that calculate a lower average return for the timeframe you've chosen, closer to 7.5% than to 10%.
I am glad that you assumed a lower return for the last years, because failure to back away from the stock market as retirement draws near can leave the individual drawing down assets that are already in freefall. For example, in an EZine article by Ouida Vincent, the
Linda from Deerfield Says:
May 27th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
(sorry, I hit return accidentally) CIO of the Yale Endowment, David F. Swensen, is quoted as saying in his book, Unconventional Success, that from the market peak in 1929, it took 21 years and 3 months for stock investors to match returns achieved by bond investors. The same author points out that bond investors have outperformed stock investors for the last 7 years. Other sources say that the stock market lost 50% (!) in just 2 years in the mid/late 1970's. I'm just saying that it takes enduring a lot of risk and stamina to get that 7.5% return. I need not mention the current state of residential real estate as a retirement investment.
I also want to point out that careers and wages carry their own risk. Many people lose some salary throughout the years, but Social Security forgives that. Also note that very, very few people achieve that max SS wage year in and year out. There was not supposed to be a shortfall, but I've seen numbers that show it is actually the falling of real wages that got the system into trouble (not as many people hitting the max as predicted).
Even though I spent my career believing that SS might not be there for me, I'm old enough now that most politicians are not threatening to change the rules on me at the last minute. When I defend Social Security, it is not myself I'm thinking of, it is all younger people. It is insurance to cover for bad moves and bad luck and bad times. Incredibly, it even promises a cost of living adjustment. I have read enough criticism of annuities that I personally would not put my trust in one. I recognize that for the average stock market return to be 10%, or 7.5% (or even less by some calculations), then half the investors made less than that, and I do not care to put half the people in that position.
It is even possible that the subconscious effect of knowing that Social Security is there has enabled investors to take the risks that have kept the market robust (no way to prove, I realize).
Sorry for the lengthy comment, thanks for bearing with me.
Linda from Deerfield Says:
May 27th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Sorry, I misspelled the Yale Endowment guy's name — it is David F. Swenson, not Swensen.
Jimbo Says:
May 30th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Message to Linda:
My spouse has worked for 1/4 the time for 1/8 the total wages, and receives 2/3 the payout from SS. Your argument is: This is good!!!???
Again, this is robbing hubby to pay spouse. Some people who are in business for themselves write large dividend checks to themselves (no SS tax)at the end of the year, because they know they will get the benefit, whether or not they pay in. When the incremental rate was 90% for income tax, many shop workers took off for six months.
Andrew Biggs Says:
June 27th, 2008 at 8:09 am
These comparisons of rates of return (or how much you could get by investing your Social Security taxes privately) are common, but flawed. Let's say that Social Security has a return of around 1.5% above inflation while stocks have a (geometric mean) return of around 7% above inflation. Obviously, if you compound 12.4% of your wages at these different rates you're going to get VERY different end balances. But what accounts for the difference?
Two things: First, Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system, which essentially transfers taxes from workers to retirees (while in a funded system workers put aside money which compounds until they become retirees). A paygo transfer system's internal rate of return is essentially equal to the growth rate of the wage base, i.e., labor force growth plus real wage growth. That's projected to equal around 1.5% going forward. This makes the system appear to be a bad deal, but you have to remember that a paygo system can (and did) begin paying benefits immediately, while in a funded system you have to wait a generation before retirement benefits start being paid. So the total benefits paid by both systems are the same, except that the paygo system pays an extra generation of benefits up front but pays relatively lower benefits to each succeeding generation. That may or may not be good policy, but since that first generation of benefits has already been paid there isn't anything we can do about it. Put another way, you can't pull your Social Security money out to invest on your own without cutting Grandma's check. If you factor in the costs of supporting Grandma while investing on your own, the rate of return is lowered a lot.
And second, Social Security is a far lower risk "investment" than stocks are. People don't say stocks are a better deal than bonds simply because they have a higher average return; the risk matters as well. To the marginal investor, who has access to both, the "deal" offered by stocks and bonds is the same.
So, the first paygo issue basically accounts for the difference in return between Social Security and a low-risk investment like government bonds, while the second issue accounts for the difference in return between bonds and stocks. Put them together and you can understand why Social Security's return is so much lower than stocks, but that there isn't really a ton we can do about it.
GeorgeM Says:
August 28th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Social Security is meant to be secure, what would you tell retirees who are ready to retire in days like this when their portfolios may be down 20% in just a short year. Over the past 8 years the stock market has essentially had no gains. We have retirement options such as 401Ks which I max out each year but as a nation we still hardly fund our 401Ks. And keep in mind over the last several years we have been "borrowing" hundreds of billions of dollars from Social Security to pay for the recent increases in government spending. That money has to be paid back. There is a reason that something like 97% of people over 50 want to preserve social security. When you start staring retirement in the eye I'm sure the guarantee of that monthly income becomes crucial.
Alan Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
JLP, nice writeup, but let me try a simpler analysis. Someone retiring today, making $80k/year, and collecting SS at age 65 would get a monthly SS payment of $1,677. Or (using the SSA online calculator) a 25 year old making $80k today, and retiring at 65 would get a monthly payment of about $1,900 in today's dollars, so the two numbers aren't far off. I'll use the 25 year old, starting out today.
Take the 12.4% tax (individual and company contributions), and let it compound over 40 years. At a reasonable 5% above inflation, you have a total savings of about $1.26M, which could give you a monthly payment of $5,250 – assuming the same 5% return, and not even touching the principal (all this done in today's dollars). If you want to be very conservative, 3% interest gives a payout of $1,925/mo, again not touching the principal – that matches the SSA monthly payment, but of course you have over a million in principle to spend as well (or pass on to your heirs).
What's interesting is if you drop the income to $40k, the SS payment doesn't drop linearly, but goes to $1,314/mo at retirement. I had not realized that the payment schedule was so progressive (meaning that it already has some means-adjusted income factor built in).
Any way you look at it, SS is not going to change in any dramatic way from what it is now. The inertia is simply too large. But it is useful I think to help the average American understand what it is costing him/her. In all honesty, it is probably a good program for the average worker, who might not otherwise save properly for retirement. For anyone who wants to take personal responsibility for their own retirement savings, however, it holds no advantages.
One of the negatives often cited about the US economy is the lack of savings. When you're already "saving" 12% of your income in the form of FICA payments, is it any wonder most people don't save much more?
Billy Young Says:
November 27th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Valerie, on May 16th,wrote she would like to have the people be allowed to take care of their own SS investment. I'll only point out that down here in Australia the process, called the self-managed Superannuation program, does just that … and due to the present global financial crises nearly everyone's investment has lost on average half. Think how your SSI would be faring right now if Bush's earlier plan to make SS a self-managed program had been adopted. Ugh!
The original thought behind SS was only to supplement people's retirement, not become anyone' entire income after reaching 65 … but then Congress in its wisdom saw it as a fund they could 'borrow' from at will … and since then it's been a fight for that same body to attempt to pump it back up to sustainable levels. Ah, so it goes…
julie Says:
December 15th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
hey my name is julie sosa and i wantedto know ho and when can i use my social security money now that am 25 years old i have two kids and am not working right now
Jimbo Says:
December 15th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Social Security has always been a sore point for me, even though it's now a good portion of my income. For Alan: But even though a person saves 1.24 million over his working years, the 5% drawdown is not really fair. The benevolent fathers in charge don't allow anything for heirs. They work with annuities. If one takes the same $1.24 million, and lives his life for the average 12 years after retirement, in an annuity he should get about $11,000/ month, and not the benefit's $1990/month. (3.5% return) The bottom line is that Social Security has robbed everyone of up to 80% of their wealth. That fact that the government would go belly up without this 80% of funding could be a blessing.


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By any measure, Google Google Glass will go down in history as the most anticipated – and banned – consumer product ever released.
Today Google has by most reports no more than 2,000 devices out in the wild, in the hands of carefully selected partners, customers, and reviewers. Which is my way of saying the large majority of the people who are concerned about the device haven't even seen them or used them. What they are afraid of is the concept of Google Glass and all of the things that connected consumers will mean.
So, let's first take a look at the scope of the Bans that are rapidly being announced and enforced, and then we'll dig in to the actual impact of Glass itself and the Bans as they've been announced.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has moved to ban the wearable computer, telling 12 Casinos in Atlantic City to ban customers from wearing the device. David Rebuck, the director of the Gaming Commission said "If these eyeglasses were worn during a poker game, they could be used to broadcast a patron's hand to a confederate or otherwise be used in a collusive manner." Customers who refuse to take them off can be forced to leave the property. As Rebuck explains it -"Even if the glasses had not been used for cheating, their presence at a gaming table would lead to the perception that something untoward could be occurring, thereby undermining public confidence in the integrity of gaming."
Now that you think about it – anyone wearing a hidden camera can cheat. Hmm… sounds like the Spy Shop better stop selling al those pen-cams and bow-tie cams. Almost instantly, gamblers are thinking – we may have a problem here – with or without Google Glass. And they'd be right.
Hospitals are worried about privacy impact of Google Glass.
Jim Mandler of Continuum Health Partners, which runs NY Hospitals including Beth Israel Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital, told Fast Company: "I would venture to say that we will probably have some kind of policy in place that would ban the use of these glasses until we learned more about them and their use, because it could impend on patient privacy."
Movie Theaters, Sports Arena's, even College Classrooms are finding themselves having to think about the complex line that Google Glass brings into focus, as users who are already tweeting, photographing, and video taping with their mobile phones become portable live video transmission studios – bringing a world of ultimate transparency to otherwise private or controlled environments.
Arizona State Senator Steve Farley sees danger on the roads – and says he'll move to ban Google Glass in moving motor vehicles. But here Google is pushing back, saying that Glass may have a 'tremendous potential to improve safety on our roads and reduce accidents.' The West Virginia legislature has proposed a ban on drivers from wearing Glass. The ban, according to Wired, will make it against the law for people to be "using a wearable computer with head mounted display."
And the pre-launch panic about Google Glass isn't limited to big institutions and state governments. The 5 Point Cafe in Seattle, Wash. announced a ban on Google Glass, prompting author and commentator Jeff Jarvis called the ban "technopanic" and launching the phrase "Glassholes" into the public vernacular.
But hold on a minute – all this banning and fear-mongering totally misses the point.
We're moving rapidly to a world of total transparency. We'll soon be recorded, broadcast, face-recognised, and socially connected by a wide array of devices. Google Glass was the starting gun for a new World Made of Glass. Transparent and Fragile at the same time. Governments and organizations can ban all they want – wearable computing is coming. No, strike that -it's already here. If you want to record a movie you've got your iPhone in your pocket. But the new form factors that will be lead by Glass but surely followed by Apple Apple, Samsung, HTC HTC and a raft of others aren't going to be stopped by fearful institutions. They'll have to evolve, or be eclipsed. One NBA team owner told me he sees no problem with Google Glass – in fact he thinks low quality POV headwear images will make the high quality area created sports coverage all the more appealing. In a world of noisy images and video, people are hungry for quality.
Mark Hurst, the founder of the forward thinking consulting company Creative Good, blogged about it this way: "The experience of being a citizen, in public, is about to change." His vision of a dystopian future turns every Google Glass wearing user into a potentially unwitting surveillance system of the general public. A dark view for sure, but not entirely impossible. I'm enough of an optimist to believe that we'll create some social and legal rules before Google Glass starts wholesale gathering of our private thoughts. And frankly, I think Google is smart enough to draw those lines as well. But one thing Mark and I do agree on – this change in being a citizen is coming – and will give each of us the power of data, and the new complex pressures of a transparent and fragile world. No law is going to change that.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Today, Carey was at the Toronto International Film Festival for the press conference for Never Let Me Go following on from Saturday's premiere. She also attended a quick portrait session – pictures are up in the gallery now! Also, below the cut are a number of interviews/clips that Carey has done recently regarding Never Let Me Go – huge thanks to Ale, Olivia, Carey and Mika for those! 😀


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This group of moths includes more than 21,000 described species, with many more yet to be named. The Noctuidae are today often classified as Erebidae, the largest family in the Lepidoptera.
Sometimes referred to as owlet moths or cut-worm moths, Noctuidae are usually are cryptically coloured in shades of grey and brown, but some can be brightly coloured.
Thysania agrippina, White Witch moth
Noctuidae includes one of the world's largest moths Thysania agrippina, the White Witch, with a wingspan in the region of 300mm.
The group also contains some of the smallest moths, with wingspans down to 6 mm in the case of Micronoctua karsholti.


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Eva Gilbert, 86, of Southside, passed away on September 6, 2012, at Abbyshire Place in Gallipolis, Ohio. She was born April 14, 1926, in Oak Hill, W.Va., a daughter to the late John P. Scarbro and Nellie Payne Scarbro. She was a homemaker.
She is preceded in death, besides her parents, by her husband, Ernest Gilbert; son, William Lawrence "Billy" Jones; and brothers, Clarence and Luther Scarbro.
She is survived by her sons, Robert "Rob" and (Cherrell) Gilbert of Southside, Tommy and (De) Jones of Sissonville, Eddie and (Debbie) Jones of Cross Lanes; as well brother and sisters, Nellie Scarbro, Loretta Pennock, and Johnny Scarbro, all of Oak Hill, W.Va.; and several grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, September 10, 2012, at the Deal Funeral Home in Point Pleasant, with Rev. Jack Mayes officiating. Burial will follow in Tyler Mountain Memorial Gardens in Cross Lanes. Friends may visit the family from 10 a.m. to noon, prior to the service.


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Hundreds of unique traditional and contemporary Star of David necklaces by top Israeli artists. Makes the perfect gift for a wedding, birthday, Bat Mitzvah, or any special occasion.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the most important archaeological treasures ever found in the Holy Land.
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This gorgeous wall hanging features the Biblical verse from King David's wisdom, Im eshkachech Yerushalayim, tishkach yemini ("If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget itself.") (Psalms 137:5). A beautiful prayer for our times, and a wonderful gift for anybody.
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Covered in highly embossed leatherette, with the page edges painted in gold leaf, the book is a beautiful as it is practical. This book, intended for the entire family, features an array of blessings, dedications, prayers, and hymns for the Sabbath and holidays.
This new treasury of Sabbath favourites will earn an honored place in your home.
The incredible story of Israel's rebirth - this landmark series is the masterpiece of Israeli documentaries and the crowning achievement of Israeli television.
Show your support for the strong alliance of America and Israel, who share the role as the world leading representatives of the values of freedom, democracy and human rights.
This is one of the most unforgettable tastes of Israel. Turkish coffee, popularly and affectionately called "mud" in Israel, is the strong (usually sweet) drink served at coffee houses throughout the Middle East.
Castel Grand Vin - Castel's premium red wine. It is made from a selection of the best vineyards. It is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
This beautiful seven-branched menorah is modeled after the golden menorah that once stood in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.
The centerpiece of the Passover Seder, the Seder plate holds various ritual Seder items. Choose from a wide variety of elegant traditional designs, including historical replicas, or go for a more modern design by one of Israel's top contemporary artisans. An instant conversation starter!
This wonderful gift set comes beautifully packaged with four special treatments for the body and senses from AHAVA Dead Sea cosmetics!
The written treasures of one of the most literate countries in the world are now open to you! Whether you're looking for Israeli literature or books about Israeli or Jewish history, wars, the Israeli-Arab conflict, Israel maps and guides, or kosher cookbooks, our selection is second to none! And don't forget our extensive collection of Hebrew books and classic Jewish books. Enjoy!
To always continue learning and growing is an essential Jewish value. The Judaica Webstore carries a large selection of books and software about every aspect of Jewish existence, from beautiful editions of sacred texts, to scholarly commentary, to books on the history of the Holy Land, to volumes dealing with contemporary Israel and the Jewish-Arab conflict.
Our collection of texts on the Torah include various editions of the sacred texts themselves, including ones in large print or ones with a handsome handcrafted brown leather binding. There are also books of commentary from famous rabbis and scholars. We carry a large selection of books on other matters of Judaism from Haggadah and Jewish prayer books to books on Jewish law and Jewish Philosophy. There are also publications that bring Jewish faith to contemporary practical issues like parenting and Jewish womanhood.
There are several cookbooks available, ranging from compilations of traditional kosher recipes to collections of contemporary Israeli cuisine. There are also cookbooks that feature Diasporic recipes and explore the parallels between international cuisine and Jewish cooking.
Perhaps you're planning a trip to Israel. We carry road atlases of Israel, maps of various cities within Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as well easy travel guides. There are also atlases of Bible history to help make the past come alive, as well as field guides for such popular sites as Masada, Qumran and Ein Gedi.
If you're traveling to Israel, of course you'll want to brush up on your Hebrew! We offer great interactive Hebrew language instruction software for both PC and Mac. Programs for Biblical Hebrew and Modern Hebrew are available. You can also order a year's subscription to a Hebrew Newspaper whose language is specially graded for language learners. Also available are instructional DVDs, CDs, workbooks and dictionaries.
Of course there are also texts on the Israeli-Arab conflict, including collections of political and social commentary, books that detail the history of the conflict on both sides, and volumes that tackle the issue of living day to day despite fear.
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Oh come on guys, you don't think you can love 'em and squeeze 'em until they want to cut a cow or do a sliding stop or jump a line flawlessly? If only it were that easy.
I shall hug him and squeeze him and call him Squishy, and he shall be mine!


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By his own estimate, Michael Steinhardt gives away $20 million a year. "I hope I'm courageous and smart enough to die broke," he says. Below, a few of his causes, over the years:
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden: The Steinhardt Conservatory (above) was dedicated one year to the day after the 1987 market crash. Steinhardt's $3 million gift lifted him out of a post-crash funk–at the time the largest gift ever given to a Brooklyn institution.
The Israel Museum: A once reluctant art collector, in 2001 Steinhardt donated Rembrandt's "Apostle Peter Kneeling" to the Jerusalem landmark. Steinhardt personally has a valuable art collection, including Judaica focusing on tzedakah (charity) boxes.
Birthright Israel: Founded with $9 million from Steinhardt in 1999, the organization has sent more than 350,000 young Jews to visit Israel.
The Democratic Leadership Council: In the mid-1980s Steinhardt became involved with the DLC, which aimed to make the party more moderate and helped elect Bill Clinton. Although he has since disavowed politics, Steinhardt was once the DLC's largest donor, handing over $250,000 annually for a decade.
The Steinhardt School: Steinhardt and his wife have donated $20 million to New York University's school of culture, education and human development, which is now named after them.
See also: For $5 A Peek Into The Private Gardens Of The Rich


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He's a gavon (Urban dictionary) that was clear from day one. Like all the Jersey idiots he posed as another jersey mob wannabe instead of the pizza cook he really is and not even good at that. Back on topic other articles are saying he was in the bushes and got taped calling his wife not just the "B" word but the big one, the "C" word. So can we expect the golf club window shattering divorce soon?
Let's hope all the podunk towns in Bergen County get the message. Let's see. Every police chief gone $200,000. Superior officers, $150,00--$200,000. Cars, wasted unused equipment, excess police dogs station room lock-ups etc. CAA-CHING! No brainer, like money in the bank.
Sad thing is I always had the highest opinion of NJ State Police. Now given the stories of drunken behavior and leading idiot caravans at triple digit speeds I respect the goo that clings to the soles of my shoes more. Sad. Very sad. They had what every cop always wants, respect from the public.
Ac is doomed. Get used to it. People fled AC in droves when the casinos got greedy beyond the normal casino mentality. Now with so many options nearby, only The Peoples Republik of New Jersey clings to the dream that was Atlantic City. It's just old people who lost their SS check sitting around waiting for the bus home.
But in The Peoples Republik of New Jersey it's 9.6% thanks to King Christie.
So if they removed them from the "filthy, flea infested conditions" were they driven to Bergen County?
Gotta wonder if anyone ever even goes into Newark. I would be surprised only if the number of crack houses went down, not the fact that Booker lied about the area around Pru being safe. For about forty years we have heard and read about the Newark comeback. Yet here it is another crack house right in downtown Newark. Simple. Park the city car. Leave the armed guards and police behind. Take a walking tour of the city and see first hand how many abandoned homes are tagged by Bloods, Crypts and Latin Kings. Feel brave? Go inside one. The doors are always open.
Hot blah, blah, blah. Cold and snow in winter, blah, blah, blah. That's weather. Deal with it.
A couple of weeks ago driving up from Florida the outside temperature went to 107 degrees at the Georgia border and stayed pinned there through Virgina. It's called air conditioning. Get it.
Really SL. I like the face eating stories a lot better. Yum.
No mention of the 9.6% unemployment in The Peoples Republik of New Jersey, King Christie in charge?
Better start ramping up random drug testing. NJSP are in disarray and clearly out of control. Seems everyday we have another negative story about out of control troopers.
So it's a hot summer and two years ago we had record snows. That's weather, not global warming.
Can the rhetoric and spin. What's there is billions of mispent tax dollars rusting away with NO tenants, on land with serious environmental questions. The area can't handle the Sunday traffic now without adding any more drunks and losers. BULLDOZE THE MESS.
Wahhh! Of course it couldn't be that they're a pack of drunks and losers? Stand in a booth and make change for $80K? Then whine and complain? Fire 'em all and go all EZPass.
NJTP tolls are too da** high. Never mind the trucks, the tolls are killing travel and business within The Peoples Republik of New Jersey. Just back from a Florida trip and after 2,500 miles the biggest tolls were on the NJTP. $25 bucks just to leave and return! Are you nuts????
Phelps is an amazing athlete. Good for him.
Gator hunt. Good excuse to get drunk, AGAIN.
He wants to do for the state what he did for Newark. More gangs, guns, drugs and crime. Yippee!
In Palm Coast Florida, the red light cameras are everywhere. People start slowing down, almost to a stop anticipating a red light creating the greater danger of chain reaction rear end accidents. Just like in Thge Peoples Republik of New Jersey the cameras don't stop the stolen cars blowing through or drunk drivers missing a red competely. For better safety at busy dangerous intersections you need a good cop in a patrol car. Period.
The trouble is the general public has never experienced being passed by cars doing in excess of 100-150mph. I had this happen tree times. Once on the GSP sb in Parkridge, the lead car was a 12 cylinder Ferrari, next a Bentley and then a Mustang. I read that it was a street race to Florida. Two other times it was on 17n in the Catskills and the cars I believe were heading to a track, all Lambo's, Ferrarai, Viper etc. Easily doing 150MPH. The second time NY troopers had road blocks ready and stopped the nonsense. Trust me, 3000 pounds of steel doing 150+ on a public road passing traffic doing 55 is dangerous. Prosecute all the idiots involved.
In the case of Obama, he has bee President for 3+ years. Why now? Why didn't he think gun safety was an issue yesterday? Or months ago? A lot of people might still be alive. Sorry Obama and Bloomberg aren't "courageous" just publicity seeking grandstanders.


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and a simple christmas tree are the inspiration for today.
Firstly this delightful pixi stamp can be used in so many ways. Last time we showed a very simple but effective card using this stamp. Today Gayle has used acetate to make a more complex card.
Buttons are a favorite at the moment and most of us have loads in our stash. Here is a simple way to make a very effective christmas card.
On a personal note, thank you to everyone who has sent their best wishes to karen. She is on the mend and we hope to have her back in the shop soon. (Especially me as I need my beauty sleep). Hope you're better soon lovey. We all miss you.
I'm hanging Up My Scissors….
10 months ago


text: Arkansas Starts Fast, Hands No. 2 Florida First SEC Loss From CBSSports.com Feb 5, 2013 Share Tweet Next ARTICLE » Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories Wesley Hitt/Getty Images 49 Reads 0 Comments Arkansas' Rickey Scott walked to the sideline, gasping for air before lying down in an attempt to catch his breath. Continue Reading on CBSSports.com »


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Love the new look and love the ability to download episodes in the background.
Really disappointed to lose continuous play from within a subscription.
Adds up to 20 additional steps manually adding episodes to Up Next to play my daily commute subscription.
Sincerely hope this option returns in a future update!
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text: Help AHRQ Shape New Tools for Shared Decisionmaking Electronic Newsletter, Issue 386 AHRQ's Electronic Newsletter summarizes Agency research and programmatic activities. July 2, 2013AHRQ StatsNearly two-thirds of the 39 million hospital stays in the United States in 2010 were for patients who had one or more procedures done. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #149, Most Frequent Procedures Performed in U.S. Hospitals, 2010.)Today's HeadlinesHelp AHRQ Shape New Tools for Shared Decisionmaking.More Research Needed to Compare Effectiveness of MRSA Screening Strategies in Health Care Settings.Register Now for Free July 10 AHRQ TeamSTEPPS® Webinar on Use of Simulation.July 31 Deadline to Apply for Funding to Help Close the Gap in Health Care Disparities.School, Community-Based Intervention Programs Can Prevent Childhood Obesity: AHRQ Report.Evidence on Effectiveness of Oral Contraceptive Use for Prevention of Ovarian Cancer Is Inconclusive, AHRQ-CDC Evidence Shows.AHRQ in the professional literature.1. Help AHRQ Shape New Tools for Shared DecisionmakingAHRQ's Effective Health Care Program invites clinicians to participate in an online survey about their needs and preferences for tools to educate patients about their treatment options. The results will inform the development of new tools and a workshop that will help clinicians use comparative effectiveness researching findings in shared decisionmaking with patients and caregivers. Your survey participation will help ensure that AHRQ provides resources that bring the most value to patients, caregivers, and health care professionals. Select to access the survey. 2. More Research Needed to Compare Effectiveness of MRSA Screening Strategies in Health Care SettingsA new AHRQ research review found that there is not enough evidence in the available literature to compare the effectiveness of screening strategies for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in select patient populations. The review found that there is low strength of evidence that screening all hospitalized patients (universal screening) for MRSA bacteria decreases hospital-acquired MRSA infections compared with no screening. However, there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of universal MRSA screening strategies on other outcomes, including the risk of death and other potential harms. After the completion of this EHC report, an AHRQ-funded project on different approaches to reduce MRSA infection was published in the May 30 online issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. In that study, researchers achieved a 44 percent reduction in all-cause bloodstream infections and significantly reduced the presence of MRSA when they decolonized every patient who entered the ICU, regardless of MRSA status. Ultimately, the research review underscores the need for additional well-designed studies that take into account factors that may complicate results. Select to access the research review, Screening for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).3. Register Now for Free July 10 AHRQ TeamSTEPPS® Webinar on Use of SimulationAHRQ will host a free 1-hour Web conference on the use of the Agency's teamwork training program, TeamSTEPPS® and medical simulation on July 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. James Korndorffer, M.D., Medical Director at the Tulane Center for Advanced Medical Simulation and a TeamSTEPPS master trainer, will discuss Tulane's approach to implementing TeamSTEPPS with the use of simulation and how high-fidelity simulation training can reduce medical errors and increase patient safety. Select to register for the webinar.4. July 31 Deadline to Apply for Funding to Help Close the Gap in Health Care DisparitiesA reminder from AHRQ that July 31 is the deadline for institutions to submit Research Demonstration Cooperative Agreement applications to establish and engage relationships with relevant and diverse stakeholders. The goal is to identify effective strategies to reduce racial/ethnic health care disparities through shared decisionmaking and through the translation, dissemination, and implementation of Patient Centered Outcomes Research findings. This funding opportunity focuses on racial/ethnic minorities in under resourced settings.5. School, Community-Based Intervention Programs Can Prevent Childhood Obesity: AHRQ ReportCombining diet and physical activity interventions showed benefit in reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children when used in a variety of home, school, and community settings, according to a new review by AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program. Approximately 17 percent of U.S. children and adolescents (ages 2-19 years) are obese, and approximately 30 percent are either overweight or obese, according to data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. More research is needed to test interventions in other settings, such as those testing policy, environmental, and consumer health informatics strategies. Select to access the full review, Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs: A Comparative Effectiveness Review and Meta-Analysis.6. Evidence on Effectiveness of Oral Contraceptive Use for Prevention of Ovarian Cancer Is Inconclusive, AHRQ-CDC Evidence ShowsInsufficient evidence exists to recommend for or against the use of oral contraceptives solely for the prevention of ovarian cancer, according to findings of a new review from AHRQ and CDC. Oral contraceptives may increase life expectancy by one month when other medical benefits are included (e.g., reduced deaths from ovarian, colorectal, and endometrial cancers). However, the harm/benefit ratio of oral contraceptives for ovarian cancer prevention alone is uncertain when factored in with the increased risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and cardiovascular events associated with their use. More well-designed research studies are needed to determine whether using oral contraceptives solely to prevent ovarian cancer can be recommended in light of the demonstrated risks. Select to access the research review, Oral Contraceptive Use for the Primary Prevention of Ovarian Cancer.7. AHRQ in the Professional LiteratureWessell AM, Ornstein SM, Jenkins RG, et al. Medication safety in primary care practice: results from a PPRNet quality improvement intervention. Am J Med Qual 2013 Jan-Feb; 28(1):16-24. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.O'Leary KJ, Devisetty VK, Patel AR, Malkenson D, Sama P, Thompson WK, Landler MP, Barnard C, Williams MV. Comparison of traditional trigger tool to data warehouse based screening for identifying hospital adverse events. BMJ Qual Saf 2013 Feb; 22(2):130-8. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.Miller DC, Ye Z, Gust C, et al. Anticipating the effects of accountable care organizations for inpatient surgery. JAMA Surg 2013 Feb 20. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.Brady PW, Muething S, Kotagal U, et al. Improving situation awareness to reduce unrecognized clinical deterioration and serious safety events. Pediatrics 2013 Jan; 131(1):e298-e308. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.Berkowitz SA, Aragon K, Hines J, Seligman H, Lee S, Sarkar U. Do clinical standards for diabetes care address excess risk for hypoglycemia in vulnerable patients? A systematic review. Health Serv Res 2013 Feb 28. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.Day HR, Perencevich EN, Harris AD, Gruber-Baldini AL, Himelhoch SS, Brown CH, Morgan DJ. Depression, anxiety, and moods of hospitalized patients under contact precautions. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2013 Mar; 34(3):251-8. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.Dimick JB, Nicholas LH, Ryan AM, et al. Bariatric surgery complications before vs after implementation of a national policy restricting coverage to centers of excellence. JAMA 2013 Feb 27; 309(8):792-9. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.Murphy CR, Hudson LO, Spratt BG, et al. Predicting high prevalence of community methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in nursing homes. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2013 Mar; 34(3):325-6. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.Contact InformationPlease address comments and questions about the AHRQ Electronic Newsletter to Linwood Norman at: firstname.lastname@example.com or (301) 427-1248.Update your subscriptions, modify your password or Email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your Email address to log in.If you have any questions or problems with the subscription service, Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. For other inquiries, Contact Us.This service is provided to you at no charge by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality AHRQ). Page last reviewed July 2013 Internet Citation: Help AHRQ Shape New Tools for Shared Decisionmaking: Electronic Newsletter, Issue 386. July 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/e-newsletter/386.html


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Posted at: 04/30/2013 6:08 AM
Updated at: 04/30/2013 11:19 PM
By: Berkeley Brean
Did you know that Monroe County gave away more than $20 million in tax breaks to businesses in one year to either entice that business to Monroe County or just keep it here?
The agency that does this is the County of Monroe's Industrial Development Agency, or COMIDA.
Why do they exempt the taxes? COMIDA says it's to be competitive with counties, states and countries and it says the average return on investment is five to one. So that $20 million turns into $100 million.
Larry Doud, CEO of RDC, said, "Home healthcare dealers and pharmacies that do that business."
RDC is a drug co-op in the county that distributes across the entire northeast. About 10 years ago, it got a deal from COMIDA to build an office and warehouse in Chili and paid only a fraction of what its real taxes were.
News10NBC's Berkeley Brean said, "If you didn't get the COMIDA project, what would have happened?"
Doud said, "We would have probably leaned more to moving out of state."
RDC is paying full taxes now. The contract ended a couple of years ago. With the jobs it created, this is considered a COMIDA success story.
Judy Seil is the executive director of COMIDA. The board is made up of seven people, appointed by the county executive. In 2010, COMIDA approved more than 30 projects (33) resulting in more than $12 million in tax breaks over a decade, but creating or maintaining an estimated $5,500 (5,560) jobs in the county. COMIDA has the final say on these tax breaks, not the county executive or the county legislature.
So who does COMIDA answer to?
Judy Seil, Director, Monroe Co. Planning, Development, said, "I would say they answer to the taxpayers at the end of the day."
Paul Haney is a democratic county legislator. He doesn't think there's a real check on COMIDA at all. It's certainly not the average taxpayer.
Paul Haney, (D) Monroe Co. Legislator, said, "If you and I went out on the sidewalk right now in front of the county office building and I showed them a report that indicated the county gave away $20.5 million in net tax exemptions, I think people would be shocked."
So that's what we did.
Here are the facts that COMIDA puts out. Since 2004, it says it's approved 1,100 projects, investing almost $4 billion into the market, creating 16,000 jobs and retaining 7,500 jobs. That's why COMIDA says it makes these deals.
Seil said, "We need it as a tool. And it's not always that a company is threatening to leave. It's to ensure that they expand and create jobs in our community."
Haney said, "Yes, there are good situations. There's also wasteful situations."
I-Team 10 is putting together examples pointed out to us and we'll show them to you Wednesday on News10NBC at 11. You'll see the case where COMIDA was essentially accused of stealing jobs from Erie County to Monroe County through one of the tax breaks.
To read the state's review on COMIDA and other industrial agencies, click here.


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The "Celebration Mickey" that was previously on display in Disneyland is now available for a small little fee of $895,000 on Ebay.
From the auction: "As stated by Disneyland Resort®, this " 'Celebration Mickey' is the largest solid gold sculpture ever created in the United States, and is the ultimate Disney collectible." This one-of-a-kind sculpture stands two-feet high and weighs over 100 lbs. in SOLID 24-karat gold (.9999 fine). That is 1,501 troy ounces of 24-karat gold.
"Celebration Mickey...100 Years of Magic" was created in 2001 by Disney artist, Marc Delle, in celebration of Walt Disney's 100th birthday.
The very rare collectible comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Disneyland Resort® and was casted by "The Great Western Mint" in Orem, Utah, whom also certifies it's purity in solid 24-karat gold. This "Celebration Mickey" is an icon that will last forever, as one of the world's most cherished treasures!"
Now that's what I call a collectible!!


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This is a short insight into the work of Robin Abbey, a traditional hand signwriter living and working in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Filmed//Edited by Gavin White
Music - Wisconsin by Bon Iver. If you like the song please buy it from iTunes.
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Howard Kurtz observes that, once again, the mainstream media was stunned by a story they never saw coming. They never saw the Scott Brown wave building, he writes:
The mainstream media were lulled into complacency by Coakley's big lead in the polls and Massachusetts's reputation as the bluest of blue states.
"The national press, and frankly to some extent the local press, were taken by surprise," says Mark Jurkowitz, the Boston Globe's former media reporter. "The failure here was not to pick up on what was going on out there in the ether. A lot of journalists didn't know who Scott Brown was or failed to take him seriously because he was a Republican running in an overwhelmingly Democratic state," says Jurkowitz, now associate director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism.
One can understand that at the onset, the race seemed like a slam dunk for the Democrats. Martha Coakley was up 30 points in the polls. But as weeks passed and polls shifted, the mainstream media continued to snooze. The imbalance in crowd size and enthusiasm was evident, yet the media narrative didn't change. Martha Coakley's gaffes mounted, but the MSM plodded along. Conservative outlets and analysts who predicted a Brown win or even a close vote were derided as hopelessly out of touch.
This is nothing new. The mainstream media are usually surprised by stories unfavorable to the liberal narrative. For months in late 2007 and early 2008, they feigned ignorance of the Iraq surge's success, until candidate Barack Obama visited and there was a mad scramble to catch up to the story. The New York Times ignored the Reverend Wright story for weeks during the campaign. The Van Jones story also caught the liberal media unaware. The ACORN scandal did too. And the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial GOP victories seemed to come out of nowhere — but these could then be ignored, they hastened to add, since they weren't reflective of any national trend (until Scott Brown made it a trifecta). Then the tea party protest movement was ignored or mocked, as were the town hall protests. Notice how the ignored stories all share a common characteristic: bad news for the Left.
The media never seem to learn or improve. The pattern repeats because this is inevitably what comes from discounting facts adverse to one side and minimizing grassroots activism on the Right. When you deride and name-call citizen activists, you wind up missing entire political movements.
The media's "slice of reality" coverage, of course, only reinforces the predilection of this White House to ignore bad news. It's not real news, after all, if it's on Fox. Rasmussen isn't a real pollster. Gallup is like a 6-year-old with a crayon. And then you wake up only to find that the president's approval is below 50 percent, the filibuster-proof Senate is no more, ObamaCare is comatose, and the Right has forged an alliance between independents, populists, and mainstream conservatives. Funny how that happens when you're pretending not to notice the tea party protests outside your window or are attempting to delegitimize one of the few new outlets actually covering all this news you'd rather forget.


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Clocking In
You have clocked in to MySA.com's business news blog about San Antonio and South Texas businesses and business people.
Posts filtered on Tag
San Antonio places 13th on top meeting destination list
San Antonio outranked other Texas cities like Houston, Austin and Fort Worth as 13th in the nation on a Top 50 Meeting Destination list released Thursday by McLean, Va.-based Cvent, a meeting and event management technology company. Orlando, Fla. stole the top spot, while Dallas, the only Texas city to lead San Antonio, placed ninth. […] [Read More]


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Learn more about Royal M1059Z Metal Upright Commercial Vacuum:
Manufacturer: Royal
Mfg Part#: 1059Z
Sku: 219014698
Package Weight: 24.8 lbs
See more in Vacuum Cleaners
|Durable all-metal construction. Powerful 10 amp, direct air motor with double row ball bearing brush with stiffener for deep down cleaning power. 5 position height settings for all types of carpet. 18" cleaning path cleans more area in less time. High filtration outer bag system with HEPA-type paper bag traps 99.9% of dust and pollens as small as 1 micron, leaving only clean air behind. Dust bags are also available in Standard, Royal-Aire(R) and HEPA material. Commercial urethane wheels for easy maneuverability. 50' 3-wire power cord for cleaning large rooms or hallways. 2 year limited commercial. Lifetime warranty on nozzle, fancase and motor housing. Optional metal (M305G) attachment kit with: hose, hose connector adapter, upper and lower wands, crevice tool, round dusting brush, floor and wall brush and upholstery tool. Tools attach quickly and easily to the front of the nozzle.


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Posted at: 12/03/2012 4:19 PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Mars rover Curiosity has completed its first chemical test of soil from the red planet, and scientists say there are no surprises so far.
The spacecraft is on a mission to look for ingredients in Martian soil and rocks that could support life. But in the first scoop of soil analyzed, there were no definitive signs of the chemical building blocks of life.
Instead, the six-wheel rover detected water and a mix of other chemicals.
The findings were reported Monday at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
A comment by mission's chief scientist two weeks ago led to speculation that Curiosity had dug up carbon-based organics, considered an essential ingredient for life.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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The lowdown: If you haven't scoped out the crystal steam room at ESPA at Acqualina, then you're missing out on some good vibrations. Touted for their healing powers, a colossal crystal slab centers the spa's steam room allowing guests to get their aura aligned — and break a laborious sweat. The awaiting ice fountain (think Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine on steroids) is just the thing to cool down and tighten those open pores.
The hood: Nuzzled inside the chichi Acqualina Resort & Spa in Sunny Isles Beach, the spa is smack-dab on the ocean with eye-popping views to boot.
The vibe: Shimmery mosaics, twinkle light ceilings and subtle Asian accents ooze a come-take-me-away ambience. The sunny relaxation room, Finnish sauna, experience shower, pool, Jacuzzi, Roman waterfall and sun deck will have you opening up and saying, "ESPA-aaaaaah" in no time.
The highlights: Indulge in the newest addition to menu: the ESPA Refining Enzyme Facial ($235). Also novel? The Diamond Rewards Card. Consider it a loyalty program for South Florida residents and frequent Acqualina guests allowing spa guests to accumulate points each visit and then redeem the points for products, treatment upgrades or actual treatments and more. Another bonus? There's even a spacious event room perfect for pamper-me parties. You glow, girls.
The sweet deal: Mention this article and receive 30% off any treatment of an hour or more, free valet parking, full use of spa facility and pool and a refreshing Bellini upon check-in. If you would like to make it a full day, relish a spa lunch from the spa dining menu for $20 (regularly $45). Expires August 31, 2010.
ESPA at Acqualina
[1] http://www.miami.com/shopping-term
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[5] http://www.miami.com/suit-there-s-new-menswear-mecca-town-article
[6] http://www.miami.com/shopping/boutiques
[7] http://www.miami.com/miami-swim-week-2015-recap-article
[8] http://www.miami.com/lilly-pulitzer-opens-first-miami-store-article
[9] http://www.miami.com/trunk-show-standard-article
[10] http://www.miami.com/european-wax-center-and-wilhelmina-are-looking-summer-goddess-article
[11] http://www.miami.com/get-suited-success-article
[12] http://www.miami.com/swim-week-lives-article
[13] http://www.miami.com/sawgrass-mills-adds-new-stores-article
[14] http://www.miami.com/hampm-open-another-south-florida-store-summer-article
[15] http://www.miami.com/home-where-barre-article
[16] http://www.miami.com/history-meets-home-d-cor-bonnin-ashley-article


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I am a photographer and research scientist specializing in insects, especially ants, but also beetles, bees, wasps, and various other arthropods. My scientific background is in systematics, a broad field that includes the discovery, description, and classification of life and the inference of evolutionary relationships.
The word Myrmecos derives from ancient Greek for "ant" and reflects my fascination with the earth's most abundant social organisms. Myrmecos blog, online since 2007, is an exploration of these and other small animals.
Email contact: alwild [at] myrmecos.net
Photo galleries: alexanderwild.com
Want a full hour of Alex? Listen to the definitive Age of Discovery interview.
Ant Systematics
Ants have long been a passion of mine, and I am occupied with several projects related to ant taxonomy, evolution, and systematics.
My evolutionary research focuses on closely-related groups of ant species, as I use patterns of recent speciation to infer how evolutionary processes may function across diverse landscapes and ecological contexts. I have worked extensively on the neotropical genus Linepithema, a group best known for the pestiferous Argentine ant L. humile, and have produced a molecular phylogeny and a taxonomic revision of the roughly 20 species. Ongoing phylogenetic research includes studies in the genera Pheidole, Azteca, and Simopelta.
My taxonomic work addresses some of the many remaining gaps in neotropical ant systematics, tending to focus on groups that are commonly encountered but lack modern taxonomic resources. I have also focused on describing the ant fauna of Paraguay, a landlocked country that sits at a fascinating transition zone among surrounding tropical, temperate, xeric, and mesic biomes.
Smith, C. D. et al. 2011. Draft genome of the globally widespread and invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). PNAS doi:10.1073/pnas.1008617108
Wild, A. L. 2009. Evolution of the Neotropical Ant Genus Linepithema. Systematic Entomology 34:49-62. doi 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2008.00435.x
Wild, A. L. 2007. A Catalogue of the Ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 1622: 1–55.
Wild, A. L. 2007. Taxonomic revision of the ant genus Linepithema (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). University of California Publications in Entomology 126.
Wild, A. L., and F. Cuezzo. 2006. Rediscovery of a fossil dolichoderine ant lineage (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) and a description of a new genus from South America. Zootaxa 1142: 57-68.
Wild, A. L. 2005. Taxonomic revision of the Pachycondyla apicalis species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 834: 1–25.
Beetle Evolution
Coleoptera is the most diverse of the insect orders, yet the reasons behind their tremendous diversity are still poorly understood, in part because a strong phylogenetic foundation for the group is lacking. I am currently working on an NSF-funded "Assembling the Beetle Tree of Life" project in collaboration with researchers at the University of Arizona, Brigham Young University, CSIRO, Harvard University, and elsewhere to create the first comprehensive phylogeny of the major beetle lineages.
I am especially interested in generating new sources of genetic data for beetle phylogenetics, as previous efforts using mitochondrial genes and ribosomal genes have encountered difficulty resolving the ancient divergences at the base of the beetle tree. To that end, I developed protocols for several protein-coding nuclear genes previously unused in beetle systematics.
Wild, A. L., and D. R. Maddison. 2008. Evaluating nuclear protein-coding genes for phylogenetic utility in the Coleoptera. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48: 877–91.
Systematics of Costa Rican Heterospilus wasps
The hyperdiverse genus Heterospilus (Braconidae: Doryctinae) is among the most common wasp genera in neotropical forests. These small parasitic insects inhabit a broad range of habitats and generally attack stem-boring beetle larvae, but little is known about the biology of most species.
Costa Rica contains approximately 300 Heterospilus. Because these wasps are abundant in insect samples from the region, the lack of knowledge about the number, nature, and identify of species formed a significant taxonomic impediment. Working with braconid experts Paul Marsh and Jim Whitfield, we produced a monograph of the Costa Rican species, a molecular phylogeny, a study of character evolution, and an interactive key to species. Ongoing research extends the project's scope to other regions.
Marsh, P. M., Wild, A. L., and J. B. Whitfield. 2013. The Doryctinae (Braconidae) of Costa Rica: genera and species of the tribe Heterospilini. ZooKeys, 347: 1-474. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.347.6002
Wild, A. L., Marsh, P. M., and J. B. Whitfield. 2013. Fast-evolving homoplastic traits are best for species identification in a group of Neotropical wasps. PLoS ONE 8(9): e74837. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074837
Selected Photography Credits
- New York Times
- National Geographic
- Scientific American
- Popular Science
- Ranger Rick
- Smithsonian
- A&E Television Networks
- California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco)
- Audubon Insectarium (New Orleans)
- Uncle Milton Industries
- Nature
- Science
- McGraw-Hill
- Houghton-Mifflin


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In the teacher training program Fashions and Styles - Textile Arts, we focus on fashions, clothes and styles as well as on current topics of everyday, pop and youth culture. In view of the fact that this is a school subject, the topics and design processes will be adjusted to the environments and aesthetic practices of pupils. Study foci are artistic-creative design competences, fashion design and projects in the subjects Fashions and Styles, Science Fashion, and Fashions and Communication. At the same time, students learn about artistic, cultural and social theories. The close links to the other teacher training programs at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna offer students the ideal combination of study fields. Recently, the course also includes Pedagogy, Arts and Culture as part of a pedagogical training at the Institute for Education in the Arts.
Graduates of the teacher training program Fashions and Styles are qualified to teach at secondary schools but have also gained practical and reflective competence for projects or teaching assignments in the cultural sphere, in knowledge transfer and in othercreative contexts.


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Yesterday, a senior member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet said his government had succeeded in convincing the Obama administration to give up trying to "solve" the conflict with the Palestinians and instead concentrate on just "managing" it. If Vice Premier Moshe Ya'alon is right, that's a major achievement, because Washington's obsession with forcing Israel to make futile concessions to a Palestinian Authority that has no interest in negotiations or a final settlement of the conflict has caused unnecessary friction between the two nations.
There is some doubt about whether Ya'alon's boast is true, but even if it is, it comes a little late. With Hamas being welcomed in the Palestine Liberation Organization and the PA and with Fatah leaders now saying they will formally annul their Oslo Accord commitments, Israel and the U.S. must worry about the West Bank becoming another Gaza. Having spent the first three years of his presidency doing his best to egg the Palestinians on to be even more intransigent, the downward spiral of their political culture has created even more problems for the United States to manage.
The tough talk from the PA might be generously interpreted as mere posturing, but with Fatah now formally in bed with Hamas and with the PA's pragmatic Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on borrowed time, there is good reason for the West to fear that Palestinian unity will mean that the supposedly "moderate" Fatah has joined Hamas rather than the other way around.
In his remarks, Ya'alon, a former top Israeli general, rightly noted that it has taken a while for Obama's foreign policy team to understand that, contrary to the president's May speech about the 1967 lines, the conflict is not about borders but about the Palestinian intent to destroy Israel. Ya'alon may be a bit optimistic about Obama's Middle East learning curve as the administration has already drafted guidelines for the diplomatic quartet that seem infused with the same foolish focus on Israeli concessions. But the Hamas-Fatah pact is showing that the conflict may have gone to a different level, rendering the quartet's peace push irrelevant. The embrace of Hamas shows that PA leader Mahmoud Abbas has conclusively dropped even the pretense of seeking peace with Israel. What follows may not be so much a process to be managed as a powder keg that needs to be defused as Palestinians drift under the sway of the Islamist allies of the Muslim Brotherhood.


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Cast Aluminum Outdoor Lighting - Low Prices
Illuminate your home's exterior with corrosion resistant cast aluminum outdoor lighting. Cast aluminum lights are UL approved for damp or wet environments, and are available in a variety of styles and finishes. Select a new cast aluminum light fixture from leading brands such as Minka Lavery.