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Why did you choose this product?
This is a very handy appliance for a small kitchen. If you use it as the instructions tell you -- stacking dishes correctly, not allowing food bits to clog up the strainers or outlet hoses - you'll have clean dishes. I was really happy having had this when we had to move to a small temporary home for a year. Doing dishes by hand is fine - but sometimes you just want to put them all in the box and have it done while you tend to other matters. This was a fine purchase!...
SPT SD-2201W White Countertop Dishwasherby Sunpentown
ITEM#: 13515929Save space and keep your dishes clean and sanitized with this white countertop dishwasher. With a sleek compact design and an adapter that easily connects to your faucet, this dishwasher is perfect for efficiency apartments, office break rooms and kitchens with limited space.
User-friendly hand controls and an automated detergent and rinsing agent dispenser allow for ease of use, while the six place setting capacity and six separate wash cycles allow you to thoroughly clean multiple dishes and cookware items in a single session without needing to reload. This dishwasher features both a dish rack and silverware tray to keep your dishes and cutlery separated, while the built-to-last stainless steel interior ensures optimal durability.
- White countertop dishwasher with stainless steel construction and six wash cycles that include heavy, normal, light, speed and soak for cleaning versatility
- Dishwasher heats water up to 148 degrees for optimal cleaning temperature
- Dishwasher features a dish rack and silverware basket for easy separation
- User friendly controls and automated detergent dispenser allow for ease of use
- Included faucet adapter allows for convenient connection
- Dishwasher holds up to six place settings at a time, reducing the need for multiple loads
- Input voltage 120V / 60Hz; input /element of 680 watts / 600 watts
- Energy efficient dishwasher uses 220 kwh per year and consumes 14.5 liters/3.8 gallons of water per normal cycle
- Noise level is 55
- Dishwasher measures 17.24" H x 21.65"W x 19.69"D
- Dishwasher weighs 48.5 pounds
|Metal, Stainless Steel
|Control Location
|Front Panel
|Dishwasher Width
|Specialty Width
|Product Features
|Energy Star Compliant
|600-800 Watts
|See Details
|1 year Limited Manufacturer
|Model Number
|Country of Origin
Customer Reviews
Most Recent
You take care of it, it takes care of you
This is a very handy appliance for a small kitchen. If you use it as the instructions tell you -- stacking dishes correctly, not allowing food bits to clog up the strainers or outlet hoses - you'll have clean dishes. I was really happy having had this when we had to move to a small temporary home for a year. Doing dishes by hand is fine - but sometimes you just want to put them all in the box and have it done while you tend to other matters. This was a fine purchase!Read More
To small
Regular plates don't fit standing, very annoyingRead More
retightened hoses they leaked, worked great, the unit is a little pricyRead More
Cynthia H
Dishwasher is great. I love using it. Does a good job.Read More
Super Clean Dishes Now!
I delayed getting this dishwasher for quite some time, but wish I had done it long ago. I couldn't wait to load it up and try it out, but didn't have any dishwashing detergent, so I decided to see what would happen just using hot water. To my surprise, all the dishes (including one's with hardened cheese from my grandkids' quesadillas) came out spotless. I had built-in dishwashers in the past that never came close to getting my dishes this clean. The dishwasher was super easy to hook up, very quiet, easy to load, and held a surprising number of dishes. If you have been eyeing this dishwasher for your own kitchen, don't hesitate to purchase it.Read More
Most Helpful
Excellent washer, Great Value
When I purchased this unit, there were no reviews on Overstock or for that matter anywhere else. The main reason I purchased it was for the # of settings it could take at one time and the # of cycles available. I knew Overstock would never knowingly sell something that was Cr#p, so I gave it a shot and was predictably satisfied with the product. It came well packed, had ALL of the adapters and such. The manual was concise and easy to read (No Changlish). Unit is well built and quiet as a mid grade built-in. Solved my problem in my small kitchen that did not have space for a roll-around or built-in and took use of that awkward corner on the counter we all have and don't quite know what to do with it. Buy it, you wont regret it. CharlesRead More
Can't Believe I Suffered All These Years Without!
This product was 30 less than on a well-known competitors site, and that does not even take into account the free shipping to one's front door. Have used this SPT for months's now and I could not be happer! It is absolutely, hand's down, Perfect! Quiet, dependable, user-friendly and cleans spotlessly (with Sun gel and Finish rinse.) I was advised by my local utilities company, during a discussion with a supervisor, that dishwashers actually decreased total energy usage when compared to handwashing; I thought it to be the other way around. But, it appears thie units only use about 2-3 gallons of hot water and we all know how that hot water tank constantly heating can raise the electric bill, especially if it is an electric tank. Not to mention the sanitary aspect. I particularly ordered this countertop unit based on it holding a 6 place serving and the web reviews mentioned it was very quiet, which it is. (Originally, I had my eye on another model which reviewed as 'noisy.')' I could not be happier and credit myself with a wise decision. I Absolutely LOVE this unit and will never be without one again!Read More
Does a great job!
I bought this dishwasher as a gift for my sister, she does not have room for a full size dishwasher. She loves it! Her only complaint is that it does not load and unload itself. It does a great job getting the dishes clean.Read More
Portable Countertop Dishwasher
There was only one review also when I ordered this dishwasher. I did take a chance because no manufacturer was mentioned is the "specifications". Regardless, I am very pleased with my washer. It has been given a workout and functions quite well. I particularly like the "pre-wash" option. The only reason that I give this a 4 rating is because I've found that the items at the back of the washer are not as clean, e.g. glasses. A whitish film is left on the glasses; they feel as if they had be sandblasted ? Otherwise easy hookup, no leaks, most quiet washer I've ever had. I recommend this 6 place setting washer.Read More
Not Worth It
This thing is a decent dishwasher but unless you have a lot of space to spare and 2 faucets don't bother buying one of these. It takes about 1 1/2 hours for a wash cycle so your sink will be unusable for anything else while it is running. It is quite large and heavy so it is not good to move around on a regular basis, it is meant to stay in one place. I suppose you could put it on a wheeled cart but if you're going to do that you're probably better off getting one that has wheels built in. Overall it was not worth it for my needs. I returned it and I am just hand washing my dishes. I do not like manual washing of the dishes but it is faster and not all that bad.Read More
Questions & Answers
price and reveiws
small kitchen
good reviews
Good price and good ratings.
I do not have room for a conventional dishwasher.
Old one leaks
I live in a small place and have no room for regular size dishwasher and this product seems to be perfect for my small area.
Needed for smaller mobile home.
Can you confirm that this machine can accommodate dinner plates that are just over 10.5 inches in diameter? I've read different answers all over the place about this product.
Hello skee1080, yes, this will accommodate dishes up to 11.5 inches in diameter. Thanks for shopping with us!
How much room needs to be in front of the unit to allow the door to open completely?
Hi elliekravitz, after reviewing with our support staff, we found that the total depth of the unit with the door open is 34 inches. I hope this helps, thank you for shopping with us.
Can the adapter fit to any faucet?
Hello, brewbuddy92. The adapter will fit a majority of faucets. Thanks for shopping with us! l.b.
Does the faucet adapter include a fresh-water by-pass; I saw an advertisement for EdgeStar on YouTube; and the EdgeStar had one. One of the reviews for this item that I read suggests that there is no fresh water by-pass. Thanks. Mark
Hello marklawernce! This item does not include a fresh waster bypass. Thanks for shopping with us! -Amanda P
Can this dishwasher be used with hard water? Also, if it can, should I purchase salts for it? What brand of salts would work best? (sorry so many questions.)
Yes bluebird2139, this unit will work with hard water. Although hard water conditions may affect the washing performance of your dishwasher. We recommended to run the unit(empty) using 1 cup of white vinegar at least once a week. I hope this helps, thanks for shopping with us.
Can it be permantly mounted in a cabinet?
Hello esaw, This does not mount in a cabinet. It does not come with the hardware to be mounted. Thank you for shopping with us!
I don't see why you can't customize it to mount. Although it doesnt bring any hardware, a knowledgeable person can figure out a way to do it depending on the setup youre looking to do. If microwabves can be mounted, so can this.
I saw a few comments on Amazon that said yes, but the poster(s) had a plumber do it. I had considered it but realized that there is a board splitting my under-sink space and I'd never get the darned thing in there.
Can it wash pots and pans?
Yes, it can.
I haven't found that to be true, but it could be that my water just doesn't get hot enough.
Approximately how long are the wash cycles?
The unit has six cycles ranging from 30 minutes to 145 minutes.
depends on the cycle you chose. the strongest cycle takes about 1 hour.
There are different cycles. I usually use the one that takes about an hour.
What is the largest diameter a plate could be and still fit in the dishwasher?
The largest diameter this unit can accommodate is 11.5 inches.
Can I place this unit below sink level and still have the water pumped out?
. The unit can be placed below counter - as long as the drain tube (which is 5 feet) can remain a smooth connection.
Has this dishwasher been UL or NSF approved?
No, but it does have CSA approval.
How load is this dishwasher?
Fits up to 6 standard place settings.
What is the sound like on this machine? \
The noise level on this dishwasher is 55 decibels.
How long is the hose for this dishwasher? Thanks
This model has two hoses, one for water-in and the other is for draining. Both hoses are 5 feet long.
What the the actual dimensions on this dishwasher? Can you direct me to installation info as well. Thank you
The dimensions are 21.65 inches wide by 19.69 inches deep by 17.24 inches high. Installation information will be included with the item when it arrives.
Shopping Tips & Inspiration
How to Hook Up a Portable Dishwasher
How to Hook Up a Portable Dishwasher from Overstock.com. Our guides provide customers with information about how to hook up a portable dishwasher.
Top 10 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Home Chef
If you have a passionate home cook on your shopping list, you're looking for the perfect kitchen gadget gift. We've made finding that gift easy-peasy with this list of top kitchen tools.
Top Kitchen Appliances for Christmas
Looking for a gift that's thoughtful and useful? Surprise that special someone this Christmas with one of these top appliances.
5 Best Kitchen Appliances for Parties
5 Best Kitchen Appliances for Parties from Overstock.com. Our guides provide customers with information about the best kitchen appliances for parties.
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Kitchen Appliance Wish List for Newlyweds
Kitchen Appliance Wish List for Newlyweds from Overstock.com. This guide will help you create your own registry or choose the best appliance to give the new couple.
3 Essential Kitchen Appliances for Basement Kitchenettes
3 Essential Kitchen Appliances for Basement Kitchenettes from Overstock.com. Our guides provide customers with information about essential kitchen appliances for basement kitchenettes.
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Best Kitchen Appliances for Newlyweds from Overstock.com. Setting up a household is expensive! Help the newlyweds out by giving them one of these small appliances.
Kitchen Appliances Buying Guide
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Top 10 Small Appliances
Top 10 Small Appliances from Overstock.com. Our guides provide customers with information about the top 10 small appliances.
Urban Farmhouse Kitchen
Evoke a sense of warmth and comfort combined with decorative elements in this jesGORDON farmhouse kitchen.
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** Most Oversize orders are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Some orders may take 6 weeks to be delivered.


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- Departments
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Understanding Aging
Aged human bodies are a surprising mix of old and new.
Liver cells are renewed and replaced every few days, while the neurons that encode our memories and behavioral patterns survive as long as we do. As one of the longest-lived animals, that can be more than 100 years.
Even the proteins that make up tiny, intricate intra-cellular mechanisms, such as the pores that enable proteins to pass through the nuclear membrane, may be a mix of the very old and the very new. Some components of this sophisticated machine last a lifetime, while others need to be constantly replaced with new spare parts.
The same genes that promote growth and differentiation as the body develops often play contrasting, but equally crucial roles in keeping the body functioning during aging.
The biological machines responsible for maintaining the complex systems required for life face a series of daunting challenges over the lifespan of a human, and understanding why some bodies age gracefully and remain healthy and productive deep into old age is both a compelling scientific problem and a pressing societal concern.
In fact, as more Americans age and suffer from declining health, the costs to society continue to rise, according to Bruce Yankner, professor of genetics and neurology at HMS and Boston Children's Hospital.
One age-related illness, dementia, has recently risen to become the most expensive illness in the United States. By 2015, dementia will cost the U.S. health care system $200 billion, according to an April 2013 RAND report.
"This trend could quickly bankrupt Medicare," said Yankner, also co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging at HMS. "The biology of aging, and particularly that of the brain, has become a national priority."
On June 17, researchers came together at the annual Harvard/Paul F. Glenn Symposium on Aging, organized by the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging with support from the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, to share their latest findings and to foster collaborations that may help increase understanding of the aging process, and may possibly accelerate the development of therapies that can slow or reverse the pathologies of old age.
New research on aging
David Sinclair, co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging and HMS professor of genetics, together with Jeffrey S. Flier, HMS dean; and Mark Collins, president of the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, opened the symposium where researchers reported on new findings that are providing insight into the mechanisms of aging, including recent experiments that have reversed age-related pathologies in animal models.
Amy Wagers, HMS and Harvard University professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and a member of the laboratories, for example, reported on the discovery of agents in circulating blood of young mice that reduce the size of enlarged hearts in aged mice. Her findings were published in the journal Cell in May.
Wagers, also an early career scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, along with collaborator Richard Lee, HMS professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, discovered that a protein—GDF-11—can reverse some effects of aging in old mice, including repairing heart damage that is similar to damage that commonly causes heart failure in older humans.
Lee and Wagers are working to move their discoveries toward clinical trials to test the effectiveness of GDF-11 on people with diastolic heart failure.
"What we'd really like to understand is if, when you really get down to the mechanism by which aging impacts on tissue function, we might be able to prevent or even reverse that pathology," Wagers said.
Martin Hetzer, of the Salk Institute, discussed the complex biology of long-lived proteins, while other researchers revealed new multi-disciplinary techniques and perspectives that combine deep whole genome sequencing, computational biology and other tools that ellucidate aging at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organism and population levels.
Stay informed via email on the latest news, research, and
media from Harvard Medical School.

subset: commoncrawl


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Requiem and Funeral Service of Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim13. November 2012 - 11:59
On the occasion of the death of His Holiness Kyr Maxim, Bulgarian Patriarch and upon the invitation of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Kyr Irinej, Serbian Patriarch with the members of his escort participated in the requiem to Bulgarian Patriarch of blessed repose, on Friday, 9 November 2012, at the Cathedral Church of Alexander Nevsky in Sofia.
Metropolitan Hilarion Meets Head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America7. November 2012 - 16:13
On 1 November 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion, the DECR chairman, currently on a working visit to the USA with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, visited the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and met with its head, Archbishop Demetrios of America.
Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim reposed in the Lord6. November 2012 - 13:31
The Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim reposed in the Lord on 6 November 2012, as reported by Bulgarian national television. The head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church had been in hospital in Sophia in the past weeks. On October 28th he celebrated his 98th birthday. Today, on Tuesday, the Holy Synod of Bishops will meet in order to elect the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal throne until the election of the new Patriarch.
Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Mr. Vuk Jeremić, president of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly4. November 2012 - 18:27
On 23 October 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, met with Mr. Vuk Jeremić.
President of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He meeting was held in the format of working lunch.
DECR chairman thanked Mr. Jeremić for constructive cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church when he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of Serbia and wished the diplomat success in his new high post.
Metropolitan Hilarion and Mr. Jeremić discussed a wide range of problems of mutual interest.
Third Episcopal Assembly оf Oceania Communique26. October 2012 - 13:04
The members of the 3rd Episcopal Assembly of the canonical Orthodox Bishops of Oceania welcomed once again the opportunity to meet in Sydney from October 14-15, 2012, under the chairmanship ex officio of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia. The Assembly commenced with prayer at the Central Offices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Redfern.


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With David Beckham not named in the British Olympic team, Sir Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington are among the favourites to carry the flag at the opening ceremony
Letters: Any government that thought abusive tax avoidance on this scale was 'morally repugnant' should now pass a general anti-avoidance principle bill
Olympic cyclist denies he avoided tax and says his arrangements are 'transparent and in the public domain'
Olympic gold-winning cyclist received £325,000 in arrangement but agent rejects claims of 'disguised remuneration'
Let us summon up the spirit of David WilkieKevin McKennaKevin McKenna: The SNP can go stew. Give your support to all the members of Team GB at the Olympics
Team GB's impressive performance in Melbourne has raised several selection issues for performance director Dave Brailsford
British Cylcling's policy to contest wide range of medals at the World Track Championships has proved to be an Olympic morale-booster
Sir Chris Hoy has won his fourth world keirin title in six years to take Great Britain's gold medal tally to six in Melbourne
The official London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Team GB kit, designed by Stella McCartney and created by Adidas, has been launched. Hadley Freeman casts an expert eye over the outfits
Dave Brailsford said Great Britain's track cyclists have gained vital momentum on the road to the Olympics
Sir Chris Hoy added sprint gold to his keirin success at the World Cup meeting as Britain won four of the 10 Olympic events contested
The best images from the final day of cycling at the Track World Cup in London
Sir Chris Hoy picked up on energy from the crowd and won gold at the Olympic test event in Stratford
Chris Hoy has acknowledged that he needs to improve his tactical awareness in the match sprint if he is to secure the single sprint place at London Olympics Games
Jason Kenny beat Chris Hoy in the latest instalment of the battle for the single match-sprint place in the Great Britain Olympic track cycling team
Our guide to avoid confusing the champion cyclist and the referee
Sir Chris Hoy has revealed he had to tell Tottenham fans to leave him alone on Twitter after they mistook him for the Premier League referee Chris Foy
Sir Chris Hoy has overcome the disappointment of silver in Saturday's keirin to take the sprint gold on the last day of the World Cup in Kazakhstan
Four-times Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy won his second medal of the track cycling world cup in Kazakhstan by taking gold in the sprint
Victoria Pendleton and Jason Kenny finished out of the medals on the second day of then European Track Championships, after Sir Chris Hoy pulled out with flu
Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton suffered disappointments at the European Track Cycling Championships
Sir Chris Hoy's preparations for the London Olympics have suffered a setback after he withdrew from the European championships in Holland
Great Britain's track cyclists won three of the opening four events at the European Track Championships in the Netherlands
- Cycling
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- Olympic Games 2012
- Olympics 2012: cycling
- Jason Kenny
- Victoria Pendleton
- Track World Championships 2012
- Team GB
- Tax and spending
- Rebecca Adlington
- Jimmy Carr
- Andy Murray
- Tax avoidance
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Olympics 2012: athletics
- Jessica Ennis-Hill
- Christine Ohuruogu
- Ben Ainslie
- Olympics 2012: sailing


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Even though we ARE Nikon lovers,we are NOT affiliated with Nikon Corp. in any way.
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"RE: D3200 Controls"
PhillipWhat are your settings shutter speed etcHow high is your ISO settingsJpeg only or are you shooting raw If jpeg where do you have camera controls setSharpning - contrast - ect.Are you sharpening in what solft ware. I have found the higher the camera pixel count The better your shooting skills must beSo hand holding never less than 125 or 200 secondAlso if your using VR wait till it settles down After you have achieved focus has your subject moved out of critical focusI think you said your using 18/105 lens If so don't shoot that any lower than about F8 I do think sweet is F5.6 to F8 Meet shooting and enjoy your Nikons Jeff
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
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- Conference date: 30 April–3 May 2012
- Location: New Mexico, USA
We study numerically the propagation of an ultrashort laser pulse (sub-100 fs) ionizing a dielectric material (e.g. fused silica). Helmholtz equation for the electric field is integrated in time, coupled to a plasma model taking into account basic processes in the conduction band like nonlinear photoionization, impact ionization, self-trapped exciton relaxation, electron collisions in the conduction band and inverse bremsstrahlung. A detailed model of the critical surface ( ) reflecting a high intensity laser pulse is crucial for understanding the excitation of the material, and thus the absorption of the radiation, potentially leading to optical breakdown. Finally, we link our results to recent experimental findings about ultrafast ablation of fused silica in order to optimize the energy deposition for micromachining processes.
Key Topics
- Conduction bands
- 2.0
- Laser impact
- 2.0
- Plasma ionization
- 2.0
- Silica
- 2.0
- Surface dynamics
- 2.0
Probing Inflation with CMB PolarizationDaniel Baumann, Mark G. Jackson, Peter Adshead, Alexandre Amblard, Amjad Ashoorioon, Nicola Bartolo, Rachel Bean, Maria Beltrán, Francesco de Bernardis, Simeon Bird, Xingang Chen, Daniel J. H. Chung, Loris Colombo, Asantha Cooray, Paolo Creminelli, Scott Dodelson, Joanna Dunkley, Cora Dvorkin, Richard Easther, Fabio Finelli, Raphael Flauger, Mark P. Hertzberg, Katherine Jones‐Smith, Shamit Kachru, Kenji Kadota, Justin Khoury, William H. Kinney, Eiichiro Komatsu, Lawrence M. Krauss, Julien Lesgourgues, Andrew Liddle, Michele Liguori, Eugene Lim, Andrei Linde, Sabino Matarrese, Harsh Mathur, Liam McAllister, Alessandro Melchiorri, Alberto Nicolis, Luca Pagano, Hiranya V. Peiris, Marco Peloso, Levon Pogosian, Elena Pierpaoli, Antonio Riotto, Uroš Seljak, Leonardo Senatore, Sarah Shandera, Eva Silverstein, Tristan Smith, Pascal Vaudrevange, Licia Verde, Ben Wandelt, David Wands, Scott Watson, Mark Wyman, Amit Yadav, Wessel Valkenburg and Matias Zaldarriaga
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Unions & Labor Policy
Paycheck Protection Primer
Paycheck protection ends the use of public resources to collect government unions' political money.
Under current law, state and local governments (including school districts) take both union dues—a portion of which is used for politics—and campaign contributions out of workers' paycheck and send the funds directly to union leaders.
Paycheck protection will benefit union members, protect taxpayers, and has bipartisan support.
Understanding Your School District's Labor Contract
CF reviewed labor contracts in each of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts and uncovered several interesting findings. These contracts, known as collective bargaining agreements, are negotiated behind closed doors between local teachers' unions and school boards. They include routine information about salaries and benefits, but the contracts also outline maintenance of membership clauses, fair share fees, and ghost teacher arrangements.
Click here for a searchable database of labor contract provisions for each district.
Most notably:
- Teachers in 62 percent of districts are trapped in their unions by maintenance of membership clauses, which stipulate teachers may only exit a union during a specific time period—often just days—near the expiration of a contract.
- Nearly 4 in 5 school districts require non-union members to pay fair share fees to the union. These teachers are forced to pay more than 80 percent of traditional dues to the union, even though they have chosen not to be members.
- More than 9 in 10 labor contracts include release time language, allowing school employees to attend union conventions, serve as union delegates, or conduct union business. Release time also establishes the basis for ghost teachers, whereby school employees accrue seniority, receive taxpayer-funded salary, and amass pension benefits, all while conducting full-time work for the union, a private organization. Read more about ghost teachers.
These provisions tilt the playing field toward teachers' unions at the expense of students, teachers, and taxpayers alike.
Read our policy brief for an overview of surprising provisions in collective bargaining agreements, and check out this searchable database to learn about your school district's labor contract.
posted by JAMES PAUL, JESSICA BARNETT | 09:00 AM | Comments
Union Demands vs. Fiscal Realities
One government union's insatiable appetite for more tax dollars has hit a brick wall.
The Wolf Administration is in the process of negotiating a contract with the state's largest union—the American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Council 13 (AFCSME). The current contract expires at midnight, and it's highly unlikely a deal will be reached before then.
AFSCME agreed to postpone negotiations because the sides could not reach an agreement. According to AFSCME, the Wolf Administration would not sign off on proposed wage increase and wants members to contribute more to their health benefits. The administration is making these requests in light of the state's precarious fiscal position.
The costs of public employee compensation is exploding. Benefits are particularly out of control. They've risen by more than 71 percent over the last 10 years. Benefits for AFSCME members make up about 44 percent of their total compensation (see page 21). In the private sector, the average is 34 percent.
The growing costs of pensions factor into the dramatic rise in compensation, but health care costs are part of the picture as well. According to the Office of Administration, public employees pay 11.7 percent for their healthcare. The private sector average is 20 percent. To their credit, the Wolf Administration wants to reduce this inequality by requiring employees to pay more for their coverage.
The governor should continue to stand firm and protect taxpayers—especially as the legislature debates a bloated budget that will probably require tax hikes. Capitulating to AFSCME now will only compound this problem.
Fortunately, the public will have an opportunity to review the labor contract before the deal is approved.
PA's Long Tradition of Faux Pension Reform
Pennsylvania's pension problem is nothing new. Over the years, lawmakers have tried to salvage the fundamentally broken system instead of creating a system that works. The latest attempt, SB 1071, passed the state House this week.
Like Act 120 of 2010 and Act 40 of 2003, this legislation makes cosmetic changes and promises modest savings that will never materialize.
Pennsylvania's pension plan for teachers and state workers is failing because defined benefit pension plans are vulnerable to swings in the stock market and political whims, leaving taxpayers with a huge bill. In the past six years, our unfunded pension liability has grown from less than $30 billion to $63 billion.
Instead of addressing the retirement systems' exposure to politics and stock market swings, SB 1071 leaves a defined benefit plan in place until a worker reaches $50,000 in salary or 25 years of service. Stacked on top of the defined benefit plan is a defined contribution plan (similar to a 401k), but the $50,000 threshold increases by three percent each year.
Public labor unions could easily accelerate this threshold in the future, lobby to defer payments or increase the multiplier. After all, the original proposal called for a 1% yearly increase.
If that's not a red flag, the cost of the plan should have you scratching your head. The PERC actuarial note claims $5 billion in savings over 30 years, but the savings amounts to just $1 billion in present value terms. A drop in the bucket.
In fact, SB 1071's insignificant savings were wiped out after PSERS announced they are reducing their assumed investment rate of return from 7.5% to 7.25%. This change instantly adds upwards of $2.5 billion to taxpayers' tab.
It's clear SB 1071 is not a step in the right direction. Rather, it's the latest in a long line of pension reform efforts that sweep Pennsylvania's pension problems under the rug.
The next step for SB 1071 is consideration in the state Senate. However, the Senate seems less than keen to advance the bill in its current form. Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman noted, "I'm not going to pat myself on the back and say, 'I did pension reform' and end up accomplishing nothing."
Senator Camera Bartolotta expressed her reservations as well, saying, "We need to put some more teeth into it, we really do."
There's no easy way to fix our pension system, but going back on our promises to state workers or saddling future generations with debt isn't an option.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 02:18 PM | Comments
Ghost Teaching Put to Rest?
Are ghost teachers about to be put to rest?
Ghost teachers in Pennsylvania would be strictly limited under legislation approved by the state House Education Committee today. HB 2125 restricts teachers unions' ability to pluck teachers from the classroom to work full-time for the union while remaining on the public payroll.
In Allentown, taxpayers have paid more than $1.3 million to fund the salary and benefits of the Allentown Education Association (AEA) president—using money meant for educating students. That practice is being challenged in a lawsuit by local taxpayer Steven Ramos and former school board member Scott Armstrong.
Another lawsuit is pending in Philadelphia, where last year, 16 ghost teachers earned $1.5 million while working for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
HB 2125 ends ghost teaching with two exceptions:
- Statewide teachers' unions (like the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Education Association) could have three officials on leave for up to six years, and
- School district employees may be on leave for 15 total days each school year but no more than three consecutive days.
Most importantly the bill requires teachers unions to reimburse every cent associated with school employee leave. CF's James Paul explains:
Year-in and year-out, Pennsylvanians are asked to contribute more and more of their hard-earned dollars to public education. The least state government can do is ensure this funding is used in the classroom and not tapped to staff private organizations. HB 2125 strictly limits ghost teaching and is a victory for Pennsylvanians.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 04:41 PM | Comments
Pennsylvania's Pension Funds Still on a Collision Course
If Pennsylvania were a ship, say the Titanic, then the iceberg that ship is bearing down on is the commonwealth's public pension funds.
At a combined $63.2 billion in debt, the two funds threaten to sink Pennsylvania's finances, according to a new policy memo authored by CF senior fellow Richard Dreyfuss.
Dreyfuss warned about the unsustainability of the state's pension systems back in 2006. In his paper, Beneath the Surface, he outlined the problems with the pension funds and called on Harrisburg to act before the retirements of hardworking public employees were put in jeopardy:
The long-term commitments and liabilities made by policymakers on behalf of taxpayers are unsustainable, particularly given the difficult economic environment facing both the public and private sectors in Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, public employee unions like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) denied the realities of the pension systems' structural problems. Here's what AFSCME wrote in 2006: "Pennsylvanians should rest assured that Pennsylvania is not the Titanic, and there are no icebergs in our pension fund's future."
Since that statement, the unfunded pension liabilities have grown by 730 percent while the market value of assets has fallen by 10 percent. In 2010, the legislature did attempt to stop the bleeding by passing act 120. The law limited reform efforts to new hires and deferred state contributions to the pension systems. That proved to be an imprudent decision.
"Letting Act 120 work" is no longer an option. The commonwealth must rise to the occasion and change our ship's bearings. Harrisburg must reform pensions by moving all employees to a 401k style plan and fully fund all of our pension obligations without further burdening taxpayers.
posted by HUNTER L. AHRENS | 11:01 AM | Comments
Restoring Teachers' Rights
Teacher Linda Misja is a religious objector to unionism, and as such, can donate the equivalent of her fair share fee--otherwise owed to the union--to charity. But four years ago, the Pennsylvania State Education Association rejected Linda's charity of choice and instead has been holding her money in a union-controlled escrow account.
Today, the House State Government Committee voted in favor of HB 267 to protect religious objectors, like Linda, by eliminating a legal loophole that lets union leaders roadblock employees' charitable contributions.
Under current law, public employees who object to union membership on religious grounds must donate the equivalent of their "fair share" fee, otherwise owed the union, to a non-religious charity they and the union agree upon. The PSEA, however, has repeatedly rejected teachers' charities of choice simply because they don't support the union's political ideology.
Yet, a list of charities pre-approved by the union spent $27 million on political activity, according to the Fairness Center, which has filed lawsuits against the PSEA on behalf of Linda and two other Pennsylvania teachers.
Unfortunately, the law gives no clear instructions in the event that a union refuses to accept the employee's charity of choice. If a dispute ensues, the money may be placed in a union-controlled escrow account indefinitely.
HB 267, sponsored by Rep. John Lawrence, would protect the right of religious objectors to give their money to a recognized 501(c)3 of their choosing--even if it doesn't align with the ideology of the PSEA.
CF President and CEO Matt Brouillette explains the treatment of religious objectors is just one more instance of teacher unions putting their interest before the interests of teachers:
Government unions already enjoy the perk of using taxpayer funded payroll systems to collect their union dues, which they then use for political purposes. And unions already trap their members, letting them leave the union only during short windows of time. As if this weren't enough, union leaders also want to control nonmembers' paychecks.
Today's vote is an important first step in protecting the constitutional rights of Pennsylvania's public employees.
posted by GINA DIORIO | 00:39 PM | Comments
Senate Protects Excellent Teachers, Sends Bill to Wolf
In a crucial victory for both students and teachers, the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act passed the Senate this afternoon with a vote of 26 to 22.
HB 805, championed by Rep. Stephen Bloom, provides that public school teachers are retained based on effectiveness in the classroom—not merely seniority—in the unfortunate event of furloughs. Today's passage ensures Pennsylvania's best teachers remain in the classroom, helping every child reach their maximum potential.
Reform to rigid seniority mandates is long overdue in the commonwealth. A strict, seniority-based system punishes young, effective teachers who excel in the classroom but have not racked up sufficient service time. This is plainly unfair. Every teacher should be evaluated based on their talents as educators, not just their years of service.
That's why HB 805 is so important. The legislation now moves to Gov. Tom Wolf, whose options are clear: Side with the teachers' unions which oppose the bill, or side with public school students and excellent teachers—both of whom stand to gain tremendously from the governor's signature.
Sounds like a no-brainer.
posted by JAMES PAUL | 01:56 PM | Comments
Pension Debt Grows by Another Billion
Last week the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) announced its total unfunded liability increased from $18.44 billion in 2015 to $18.79 billion.
In truth, SERS' unfunded liability grew by about $1 billion this year due to artificially low employer payments. A more accurate calculation comes from the SERS actuary, The Hay Group. They estimate an unfunded liability of $19.45 billion as of December 2015.
Artificially low employer payments aren't the only reason the unfunded liability has grown. SERS assumes a 7.5 percent rate of return for investments, but the actual rate of return has been far less, only 0.4 percent in 2016.
Keep in mind that SERS liabilities represent less than half of the overall pension liability taxpayers will pay. The larger Public School Employees' Retirement System is carrying a $37 billion liability for a total of $56 billion.
Clearly, letting Act 120 work means more debt for taxpayers. Giving state workers greater control over their retirement is the only way to boost worker security and stop the flood of red ink.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 00:32 PM | Comments
Historic Victory for Transparency
Gov. Tom Wolf just signed Senate Bill 644, empowering the Independent Fiscal Office to estimate the cost of government union contracts before they are finalized.
Matthew Brouillette, president and CEO of CF responded:
For years, the government has negotiated billions of dollars in contracts with public sector unions, many of which donate heavily to the very politicians they're negotiating with. As a result of this legislation, costs negotiated in secret will come to light before, not after, contracts are ratified. We commend Sen. Folmer and members of the state Legislature for championing this critical reform.
Gov. Wolf has been a vocal advocate for transparency reform. He should be applauded for walking the transparency talk and putting people before public union interests.
Brouillette continued,
We hope the governor applies this accountability measure to contracts he is currently negotiating, even if they are resolved before the law goes into effect in 60 days. Such action would resonate by providing greater transparency to all Pennsylvanians.
The contracts under negotiation could add significant costs to the 2016-17 budget, putting more pressure on state lawmakers to raise taxes.
Meanwhile, there are two more contract transparency reforms making their way through the legislature.
- SB 645, sponsored by Sen. Patrick Stefano, requires public sector collective bargaining agreements to be posted on state, school district, or local government websites two weeks prior to signing.
- SB 643, sponsored by Sen. Ryan Aument, requires public notice and open meetings when public sector collective bargaining agreements are negotiated.
posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 03:33 PM | Comments
Transparency Bill Awaits Governor's Signature
Last month, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his "Government that Works" plan to reform contracting practices and increase transparency in government. Now, the state Legislature has given Wolf a chance to back up his rhetoric with action.
Today, the Senate passed Senate Bill 644, which would empower the Independent Fiscal Office to put a price tag on government union contracts before their ratification. The bill now awaits the governor's signature.
"We congratulate SB 644 sponsor Sen. Mike Folmer for championing this vital transparency reform," commented Matthew Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation. "Governor Wolf now has the opportunity to walk the walk on government transparency and accountability reforms."
Wolf is negotiating contracts worth a combined $3.6 billion with 18 government unions, several of which donated millions of dollars to his election campaign. These contracts cover salary and benefits for state workers as well as special union privileges like release time and automatic payroll deduction for campaign contributions.
"If the governor is serious about ending conflicts of interest and fostering 'government that works,' he'll sign this bill and shine light on contract costs," Brouillette said.
Last year, taxpayers learned about $23 million in additional costs in a one-year contract with AFSCME only after the contract was finalized. Since 2000, average government worker benefit costs tripled from $12,732 to nearly $39,000. Total compensation per employee reached an average of nearly $93,000 in 2014-15.
If you would like to see how your senator voted on contract transparency, you can view the roll call here.
posted by JOHN BOUDER | 01:13 PM | Comments
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Arizona Wildcats
Cat Tracks: Wildcats stave off Southern Miss to stay undefeated
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won't tell you everything that happened in a football game. So, we give you 'Cat Tracks', providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from Arizona's December 4 win over Southern Miss. Final score: Arizona 63, Southern Miss 55.
The Good:
The No. 8 Wildcats improved to 6-0 and are off to their best start since the 1999-2000 season, overcoming a sloppy first half.
Nick Johnson led the offensive charge for the Wildcats with 23 points in Tuesday night's win over Southern Miss.
Kevin Parrom added 14 points, 13 of which came in the crucial second half.
The Wildcats' defense stepped up huge after the half, forcing 17 Southern Miss turnovers.
The Bad:
Sean Miller's squad had trouble with Southern Mississippi's pressure zone defense, especially in the first half.
Arizona turned the ball over a season-high and uncharacteristic 27 times, despite holding on for the win.
• Southern Miss and Arizona combined for a staggering 50 turnovers.
• The 'Cats were ranked fifth in the nation shooting at 52.3 percent and sixth in scoring at 85.2 points per game entering Tuesday night's contest.
Coming Up Next:
The Wildcats will look to stay undefeated when they travel to Clemson on Saturday. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 6:00 p.m. local time.
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Wildcats Audio
Rich Rodriguez, UA football head coach
Monday August 29
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University of Arizona Basketball Commit Alex Barcello
Saturday August 27
Alex Barcello talks about choosing to play his college basketball at U of A.
Rich Rodriguez, UA football head coach
Wednesday August 3
Rich Rodriguez discusses the upcoming season and whether the Pac-12 conference has a playoff caliber
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Wednesday August 3
Off the Edge previews the Jacksonville Jaguars
Greg Byrne, University of Arizona Athletic Director
Monday June 27
Byrne talks about UA's unlikely run to the College World Series championship game.


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Bernie Sanders on Corporations
Socialist Jr Senator; previously Representative (VT-At-Large)
CLINTON: Everybody should. I want to be the president for the striving and the successful. I want to make sure the wealthy pay their fair share,
Q: Will corporate America love a President Sanders?
SANDERS: No, I think they won't. So Hillary and I have a difference. The CEOs of large multinationals may like Hillary. They ain't going to like me and Wall Street is going to like me even less. We need an economy that works for the middle class, not just a handful of billionaires, and I will fight and lead to make that happen.
CLINTON: There are currently two hedge fund billionaires running ads against me here in N.H. Now, why are they running ads against me? And the answer is: Because they know I will go right after them.
CLINTON: You can look at what I did in the Senate. I've laid out a very aggressive plan to rein in Wall Street-- not just the big banks. We have to go after what is called the shadow banking industry. Those hedge funds. I want to look at the whole problem; my proposal is much more comprehensive than anything else that's been put forth.
Q: Sen. Sanders, you said that the donations to Secretary Clinton are compromising. So what did you think of her answer?
SANDERS: Not good enough. Let's not be naive about it. Over her political career has Wall Street been the major campaign contributor to Hillary Clinton? You know, maybe they're dumb and they don't know what they're going to get, but I don't think so. If Teddy Roosevelt, a good Republican, were alive today, you know what he'd say? "Break them up." Reestablish Glass-Steagall. And Teddy Roosevelt is right.
SANDERS: With all due respect to the secretary, Wall Street play by the rules? Who are we kidding? The business model of Wall Street is fraud. That's what it is. Let me make this promise. Whether it's Republican administrations or Democratic administrations, we have seen Wall Street and Goldman Sachs dominate administrations. Here's my promise: Wall Street representatives will not be in my cabinet.
CLINTON: I represented Wall Street and I worked closely with New Yorkers after 9/11 to rebuild.
SANDERS: Many of us supported you in trying to rebuild that devastation. But at the end of the day, Wall Street today has enormous economic and political power. Their business model is greed and fraud. And for the sake of our economy, the major banks must be broken up.
SANDERS: Every other major country providing health care to all people as a right, except the United States. You see every other major country saying we are going to have medical and family paid leave. I think we should look to countries like Denmark and learn from what they have accomplished for their working people. Do I consider myself part of the casino capitalist process by which so few have so much and so many have so little by which Wall Street's greed and recklessness wrecked this economy? No, I don't. I believe in a society where all people do well. Not just a handful of billionaires.
CLINTON: What Senator Sanders is saying certainly makes sense in the terms of the inequality that we have. But we are not Denmark. We are the United States of America.
SANDERS: People do not understand why the middle class of this country is collapsing at the same time as almost all of the new income and wealth is going to the top 1%. People do not like the idea that, as a result of Citizens United, our campaign finance system has become corrupt and politicians are dependent upon super PACs and billionaires for money. People want us to deal with climate change, make college affordable. Those are the issues I have been talking about.
Q: You also talk about taking on the billionaire class. Give us some specifics.
SANDERS: I think that the business model of Wall Street is fraud. And I think these guys drove us into the worst economic downturn into the modern history of America. I think they're at it again. I believe that, when you have so few banks with so much power, you have to not only reestablish Glass-Steagall, but you have got to break them up.
SANDERS: I think what the pope has been saying in a very profound and deep way is that casino-type capitalism is causing devastating problems not only in terms of our climate but in terms of income and wealth inequality. The pope is saying there's something wrong internationally where almost all of the new wealth in this world is going to people on the top and so many other people are falling by the wayside. So, yes, I think that Pope Francis has played an extraordinary role; he has been a voice of conscience all over the world, speaking out for those people who don't have a voice, those people who are suffering. And what are you saying, enough is enough. Money cannot be the God of life. We have got to look at our kids, look at those people who are hurting; we've got to come together to create a new world and not a world in which a handful of people have so much wealth and so many other people are suffering.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and I don't agree on much, but I thought he did a great job of describing the Fed and the bank bailouts as: "A clear case of socialism for the rich; and rugged-you're-on-your-own-individualism for everyone else."
The Fed, with unlimited ability to print money, now prints that money to lobby against Congressional oversight. It is a disgrace and every citizen in the land should rise up and say: We the people are in charge and we demand an audit!
SANDERS: I know that the middle class in this country is collapsing. I know that the gap between the very, very rich and everybody else is growing wider. I know there is profound anger at the greed on Wall Street and corporate America. Anger at the political establishments. Anger at the media establishment.
Q: But if Hillary Clinton were speaking more robustly on these issues...
SANDERS: The issue is not Hillary. The question is: At a time when so many people have seen a decline in their standard of living, when the wealthiest people and largest corporations are doing phenomenally well, the American people want change. So, let Hillary speak for herself. I know where I'm coming from.
During the 1980s, the top 1% of wealth holders in this country enjoyed 2/3 of all increases in financial wealth. The bottom 80% ended up with less real financial wealth in 1989 than in 1983--and that trend continues. Today, tragically, the US has the most unfair distribution of wealth and income in the entire industrialized world.
Now, a $91 million bonus for executives who were laying off 17,000 workers is obscene enough. Fully 1/3 of that money, $31 million, was to come from the Pentagon as "restructuring costs." As soon as I learned about this outrageous federal giveaway, I drafted an amendment to prevent the Pentagon from paying the bonus. Imagine: workers thrown out of their jobs paying taxes so that the bastards who fired them could stuff their pockets. We termed the legislation the "payoffs for layoffs" amendment. The amendment passed by voice vote.
OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: Requires any national of the United States that employs more than 20 persons in a foreign country, either directly or through subsidiaries or licensees, to take the necessary steps to implement a Corporate Code of Conduct with respect to the employment of those persons.
LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to House Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade; never came to a vote.
Whether you own a business, represent one, lead a corporate office, or manage an association, the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of AmericaSM provides you with a voice of experience and influence in Washington, D.C., and around the globe.
Our members include businesses of all sizes and sectors�from large Fortune 500 companies to home-based, one-person operations. In fact, 96% of our membership encompasses businesses with fewer than 100 employees.
"To advance human progress through an economic, political and social system based on individual freedom, incentive, initiative, opportunity, and responsibility."The ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Congressional Summary:
Supporter's Comments: (by CUNA, a pro-credit union organization)
America's small businesses are the engine of growth of our nation's economy. The effects of the financial crisis of the past few years have spread to all types of lending, resulting in a reduction in the availability of business credit. At a time when banks are withdrawing credit from America's small businesses, credit unions have actually been expanding credit to small businesses, but with more credit unions approaching the cap, this growth is threatened. Congress should enact legislation which increases the credit union member business lending cap from 12.25% of assets to 27.5% for well-capitalized credit unions
Opponent's Comments: (by the Independent Community Banks of America, Nov. 15, 2012)
The tax-subsidized credit union industry is pressing for doubling the statutory cap Congress placed on member business loans. Shifting assets from tax-paying banks to tax-exempt credit unions would reduce tax revenue to the government; the CBO estimates the revenue impact at $354 million over 10 years. We believe that banks are currently meeting the needs of credit-worthy businesses, as substantiated by numerous business surveys.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is North America's Neighborhood Union--1.3 million members with UFCW locals in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Our members work in supermarkets, drug stores, retail stores, meatpacking and meat processing plants, food processing plants, and manufacturing workers who make everything from fertilizer to shoes. We number over 60,000 strong with 25,000 workers in chemical production and 20,000 who work in garment and textile industries.
Constitutional Amendment
Opponents recommend voting NO because:[Supreme Court majority opinion in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, for which the Constitutional Amendment is proposed as a remedy. The FEC had ruled that the movie "Hillary", released in 2008 to persuade voters against Hillary Clinton, was illegal because it was a disguised campaign contribution made by a corporation. The Supreme Court overruled the FEC]:
Modern day movies might portray public officials in unflattering ways. Yet if a covered transmission [is broadcast] during the blackout period, a felony occurs solely because a corporation, [instead of a candidate or donors, paid] in order to engage in political speech. Speech would be suppressed in the realm where its necessity is most evident: in the public dialogue preceding a real election. Governments are often hostile to speech, but it seems stranger than fiction for our Government to make this political speech a crime. Some members of the public might consider Hillary to be insightful and instructive; some might find it to be [unfair]; those assessments, however, are not for the Government to make.
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Facebook or Twitter? Your Preference Says a Lot About You
There are people who love Facebook and people who love Twitter — and now scientists think they've discovered why those preferences exist, and what they say about the people who hold them.
There are people who love Facebook and people who love Twitter — and now scientists think they've discovered why those preferences exist, and what they say about the people who hold them.
President Barack Obama is set to hold his first Twitter town hall on Wednesday.
The president will answer questions submitted by using the #AskObama hashtag via a live webcast at 2 p.m. ET at askobama.twitter.com.
The French government is notorious for banning the use of English words as a way of maintaining French language and culture.
However, a recent ruling by the French government, which now makes it illegal to speak the words "Facebook" or "Twitter" on television or radio newscasts, isn't as shocking as you might think.
As May 21, the day a loosely organized ministry predicts to be Judgment Day, approaches, comedians and the every-day Tweeter took to the Internet to poke fun at the idea of a rapture occurring this weekend.
Below are some of the funniest tweets about the rapture. Today's top tweets includes quips from Jason Santa Maria, Craig Phillips, Dan Cronin, Jill Kushner, Damien Fahey, Amber Tozer, Adam Hammer, Bethamphetamine, Sean O'Connor and Jeff Klinger.
The Arizona shootings have ignited a national discussion about whether an inflammatory image on Sarah Palin's website inspired killer Jared Lee Loughner. There's no evidence that supports the allegation, but the Twittersphere decided to make Palin the scapegoat for just about everything else and the hashtag #blamepalin was everywhere.
Below, some of our favorite #blamepalin tweets:
Stupid social media trends are the chain letters of the 2010s. Here's the latest one. It's called the Number Game, and, sadly, your friends may REALLY try to suck you in...


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A World to Win is the seventh book of the epic historical narrative in Upton Sinclair's World's End Lanny Budd series. This spellbinding book covers the period or 1940-1942 following the Nazi partial occupation of France and the formation of the Vichy government. Lanny Budd, the protagonist in this classic series is the debonair, suave and wealthy American peace lover. He is intimately connected to every powerful political and military figure on the European continent and the corridors of power in the United States. As a renowned art expert as his camouflage, he is secretly Presidential Agent 103 for President Roosevelt. The story opens with Lanny meeting with the French leaders, politically and militarily, following the German occupation of Paris. He flies to London and meets with his closest friend Rick, a left wing journalist, and finds himself in the middle of the horrendous bombing of London by the German Luftwaffe. Winston Churchill is now the undisputed leader of the British Empire and determined to defeat the Nazi's, after years of appeasement by the ruling aristocrats and politicians in Britain. Lanny is "in the loop" as Rudolph Hess is tricked by British intelligence services into descending into Scotland in a misguided attempt to prevent an all out German-British war. Lanny is captured by French underground patriots who believe he is a Nazi agent and has a harrowing escape. Ironically, he is attempting to give money to this underground resistance movement when he is captured. By itself this part of the story is compelling and clearly illustrates Lanny's cleverness, ingenuity and persuasiveness in the face of grave personal danger. In his most dangerous mission as a presidential agent, Lanny is briefed on the development of the Atomic Bomb project headed by Albert Einstein himself. On his mission to Germany to ferret out German advancements in developing the bomb, Lanny's plane crashes in the arctic waters off the coast of Newfoundland and he is severely injured. A long recuperation follows. A fabulous around the world cruise follows Lanny's long hospitalization. The cruise aboard the yacht Oriole is owned by a wealthy Baltimore man who wants Lanny to marry his daughter Lizbeth. Lizbeth, her father and Lanny are startled to learn at the last minute before the yacht sails that her cousin, Laurel Creston will be joining the cruise. The reader will remember Laurel as the anti-Nazi journalist whom Lanny ingeniously help to escape the Gestapo in Dragon's Harvest. On December 7, 1941 the Oriole is anchored off the coast of Hong Kong as the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. As I mentioned in my review of Dragon's Harvest, you the reader were going to meet the future Mrs. Lanny Budd. Read how the astrological warning by a Rumanian living in Germany predicted several years earlier that Lanny would die in Hong Kong almost comes about. It almost comes true but Lanny and Laurel narrowly escape a besieged Hong Kong with a laborious journey through China, war-torn Yenan to find themselves guests of Stalin in friendly Russia. This book concludes with a lengthy interview between Stalin and Lanny. Follow all of the characters that make for Lanny's extended families. From Beauty Budd and her wonderful husband, Parsifal Dingle, Robbie Budd, Rick and Nina, Rosemary, Irma and "Ceddy" and the rest of the rich cast of wonderful characters we have grown to love from the very beginning with World's End. A World to Win captures that period in world's history that is must reading. No one can describe the times like Upton Sinclair has done with these classics. The best is yet to come with Presidential Mission, One Clear Call, O' Shepherd Speak! and The Return of Lanny Budd. Please visit our website coming soon at: www.uptonsinclair-lannybudd-completehardboundseries.com. There you can order any or all of the Lanny Budd series books at 20%, 25% and 30% off with free shipping.
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Welsh triumph in welfare awareness award
Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Bill Payments, Local Government, Universal Credit
Your benefits are changing
A national campaign to increase awareness of welfare changes in Wales has scooped the top prize in a national award run by payment specialists allpay in association with 24housing magazine.
RCT Homes, Wales' largest social landlord, teamed up with the membership body for social landlords across Wales, Community Housing Cymru (CHC), to deliver the campaign which has seen more than 50 other organisations across the country adopt the branding and message.
The 'Your Benefits are Changing' campaign made a 10-strong shortlist – decided by a top panel of industry experts – before it clinched a public vote ahead of runner up Places for People. Both the winner and runner up will receive a day's free training in social media from the award's partners NS Design and Red Rocket Media.
Both entries will be awarded the prizes at a roundtable event at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) offices in London this month.
The other eight shortlisted entries, who allpay and 24housing would both like to thank for contributing to the strength of this year's award, were:
- City West Housing Trust
- New Charter Housing Trust Group
- Curo
- Halton Housing Trust
- London Borough of Lewisham
- Whg
- Soha
- St Vincent's Housing Association
The shortlisted entires and their strategies, which can be viewed here, attracted more than 2,000 votes.
Judge Nick Peplow, allpay's business development director, said RCT and CHC's entry had created something that was lacking across the rest of the UK – national brand awareness of the benefit changes. Places for People, he said, had recognised "the role of resident and regional champions" to cascade the welfare reform message.
Both Labour and Conservative MPs praised the award and the landlords who had made the shortlist.
Michael Meacher, Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton, said: "The awards are an excellent initiative, recognising as they do the outstanding work that many housing providers have undertaken in order to assist and inform their residents of the benefit changes currently taking place. This period of change will prove very difficult for both housing providers and tenants alike and it is important that tenants receive assistance to help them maintain their homes whilst losing benefit and managing change."
Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative MP for Elmet and Rothwell, said: "It is so encouraging to see the nominees making such progress with new technology which in turn is reaching out to housing association and local authority tenants as well as third sector organisations across the UK. Combined with the number of people who have taken the time to vote, it suggests that these innovative strategies are very welcome to people across society. At a time when welfare changes are being enacted and with the introduction of Universal Credit later this year an award like this couldn't have come at a better time."
The judges were: Nick Peplow, allpay; Deven Ghelani, Policy in Practice; Sam Lister, CIH; Michael Gelling, TAROE; Jon Land, 24housing; and Malen Davies, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion.
Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) director of policy and practice Gavin Smart said of the award: "Welfare reform is going to have a huge impact on both housing providers and tenants. Good communication will be crucial to ensure residents are fully aware of all the changes and the support on offer to help them adapt. This award has highlighted the most innovative and effective strategies housing providers have worked hard to develop and will enable other organisations to learn from them. The CIH is delighted to have been part of the judging process."
Council calls for residents' views on new homes
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- Report: #246507
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: KEY BANK
KEY BANKkey.com MENTOR, Ohio U.S.A.
KEY BANK UNETHICAL EXCESSIVE FEES BAD BUSINESS PRACTICE MENTOR Ohio
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I was getting ready to go out of town for about a week, so I had run my account balance pretty low so I could take as much cash as I could with me on the trip. My vacation was great, until I returned home to be bombarded with notices from Key Bank, stating my account had become overdrawn and I had incurred $180.00 in overdraft fees.
I started investigating, re-subtracting & re-adding to try and figure out what happened. It turns out, I had mis-calculated when subtracting a debit a couple weeks back and showed $10.00 more in my account then the bank had. Thus causing the $0.70 overdraft that s****. />
As I was told, "The System" charges a fee for an overdraft even if you are overdrawn a penny. This wasn't even the major part of my frustration. The way in which "The System" processes your transactions was. Allow me to elaborate...
If you SWIPE your card and at the time of the SWIPE (perhaps a few hours before a direct deposit hits your account, in my case) you do not have sufficient funds for the transaction, "The System" will charge you an overdraft fee just for the PENDING authorization. Sure, the transaction will of course POST to the account a few days later, after the direct deposit had been credited, but do they care? No. Because if you swiped your card a few MINUTES even before the direct deposit is credited to your account (which is 8 AM, so I'm told) and you are depending on that direct deposit, you will receive an overdraft fee anyway.
Oh and they have fee tiers. As if tier one fees weren't bad enough at $33.00 a piece, tier two fees are $38.00. Each. I don't know about anybody else, but $38.00? Thats a lot of money. Do I really deserve to be punished $180.00 for a $0.70 overdraft?
I called Key Bank's 1-800 Number and spoke to a girl by the name of Jean. She explained to me that it wasn't a "bank error" and the fees would not be waived. Did I mention this was all over $0.70?
After a few snide remarks and corporate drone rhetoric from Jean, I asked to speak with a supervisor. I eventually was connected to Melissa. Melissa said that it wasn't a bank error, and they would only be able to waive $33.00. She also mentioned that "The System" automatically charges a fee everytime your card is swiped and the money is not "available".
I know the bank receives notification that the direct deposit is incoming well before 8 am the day of the direct deposit, similarly as they receive notification that I swiped my debit card at 7:27:06 AM at whatever location I happen to be at. Why even allow the transaction to go through if the money isn't there? Well, I was told that it will allow me to do that in anticipation of a deposit being made... hypocrisy.
The point is the deposit should post first. I understand the bank is a business however, I have a hard time with paying a fee for a pending debit card transaction. If it hasn't posted to the account, why charge the fee?
Hope this information prevents another bank from robbing us blind.
"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. " -Thomas Paine
Cleveland, Ohio
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 05/02/2007 08:34 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/KEY-BANK/MENTOR-Ohio-44060/KEY-BANK-UNETHICAL-EXCESSIVE-FEES-BAD-BUSINESS-PRACTICE-MENTOR-Ohio-246507. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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There are a variety of reasons why companies make Wisconsin Dental Association communications a key part of their advertising strategy.
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Market size
The WDA has a member base of 3,000 dentists and dental hygienists. Our,communications also reach hundreds of other dental team members and Marquette University School of Dentistry students.
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Reach your target audience
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8 percent faculty
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With several new WDA member communications launching in 2016, there is no better time to strengthen your brand's awareness and share your message via print and digital formats.
Whatever segment of the dental profession you're targeting, we've got the right fit for your marketing strategy.
Review ShopWDA.org to learn about rates and deadlines for display and classified advertising.
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Maximize your impact with new ad bundles!
Combined print and digital advertising opportunities help you reach dental professionals at substantial, introductory savings.
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Buy ads online now or download 2016 display advertising contract.
Position your company in front of key decision makers, seasoned dental professionals, new dentists getting their careers started and students planning their dental futures by advertising in the WDA Journal and WDA Sourcebook.
Enjoy added value when you advertising in these publications which are published in print and posted online in PDF and digital-flip formats.
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In 2016, the WDA will launch WDAJ-Now, a quarterly, interactive, app-based publication, and the WDA Insider, a members-only blog with bimonthly e-blasts.
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Direct questions to WDA Foundation Executive Director Vicki Bohman at 414-755-4198 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
The appearance of advertising in any WDA publication or on its website and exhibits for any product or service is not a guarantee or endorsement by the Association of a product or service or the claims made by a producer or manufacturer.
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Advertising will not be permitted on the WDA's website home page or pages that pertain to the association's charitable 501(c)(3) programs (e.g., WDA Foundation, WDA Mission of Mercy).


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Old World & New World Wines: What's the Difference?
Style Differences
Figuratively the terms 'New World' and 'Old World' are widely used as descriptive terms to describe or infer a style of wine or winemaking practices.
• Old World wines are traditionally more 'terroir' and structure driven.
• In contrast, New World wines are typically more 'fruity'; modern, squeaky clean, fruit forward and in general more varietal driven.
Different Philosophies
Old World winemaking philosophies emanated from a sense of place, and the primordial role ascribed to 'terroir' as well as 'mother-nature' in determining wine quality.
In contrast, the New World philosophy generally placed less sanctity on the preeminence of 'terroir', and more on the preservation of varietal fruit character, believing that the appropriate harnessing of scientific and technological best practices in the vineyard and in the winery could iron out any 'terroir' imperfections.
That is the theory, and while retaining certain truisms, today the dividing line is more blurred, as New World wine producers discover 'terroir' and Old World producers discover 'fruit', adopting many of the technological advances developed in the New World.
What is true is that they are different. No matter how much the styles seem to converge, Old World wines tend to retain a more obvious minerality or savoriness, no matter how 'fruity' they become. Likewise, New World wines retain their more forward fruit, no matter how strongly they portray their a sense of 'place'.
High alcohol is a term often used to differentiate Old and New World wines, the latter typically being the higher alcohol culprit. While, true that many New World wines reach 16% abv and above, there are also many that lie between 13% and 14%. Moreover, as a consequence of warmer vintages and viticultural and winemaking improvements, many Old World wines are also hitting the 15% alcohol mark.
Regulatory Differences
Regulatory wise, a big difference between Old and New World wines lies in the laws governing how they are made. In the New World, very few restrictions exist, and winemakers are free to plant whatever grape varieties they wish and make the wine however they deem appropriate.
In contrast every designated Old World wine region (such as any French AOC, Italian DOC or DOCG, Spanish DO, etc.) has to adhere to a detailed set of rules that govern what can be planted, density of planting, training and pruning methods, minimum ripeness at harvest, maximum yields, winemaking techniques and use of oak. While these rules were established to ensure a minimum standard of quality, some producers complain that they are too restrictive today, advocating that changes in climate as well as viticulture and winemaking advances necessitate some liberalization of rules. But that is altogether another topic for another day's post.
• NEW WORLD: 2009 Awatere River Marlborough Single Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc, $21 – Paler in color, though technically older (as harvest happens down under six months earlier for the same vintage) than the Pouilly Fumé. Intensely aromatic on the nose, showing the classic, New Zealand gooseberry, grassy, Sauvignon Blanc pungency. Crisp and zesty flavors prevail on the palate. Nicely textured, smooth, showing some creaminess, complexity and mid-palate weight. The grape takes center stage and is almost a solo act – but an excellent soloist.
• OLD WORLD: 2009 Domaine Roger Pabiot, Coteaux des Girarmes, AC pouilly Fumé, $22 – More subtle aromas, combining savory minerality alongside the grassy, citrusy character of Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp attack, more savory, minerally notes hit first, followed by the more classic Sauvignon Blanc flavors that are fresh, well-defined and vibrant, but not the solo player. This wine displays a broader array of flavors on the palate. Not quite an orchestra, but not a soloist either.
I would really love to hear your views on Old World wines versus New World wines - an eternally debatable topic!
Mary Gorman-McAdams, DWS, is a New York based wine educator, freelance writer and consultant. She holds the Diploma in Wine & Spirits from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), and is a candidate in the Master of Wine Program.
Related: A Rosé-Tasting Party to Kickstart Summer
(Images: Mary Gorman)


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Note: This blog is a not a Houston Chronicle staff blog. The Houston Chronicle is not responsible for the content contained in this blog.
"Firefighters and other first responders do a great job and we are all in debt to them for protecting us. I think they got a good deal."
Mustafa Tameez is a senior media and public affairs consultant who combines his unique insights into media, politics, and business to advise clients of his firm, Outreach Strategists. Mustafa currently holds a seat on the Unity National Bank Board of Directors, is Chairman of the South Asian Chamber of Commerce and a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum. He is a regular contributor to the Texas Tribune and local FOX26. Texas Monthly named him one of five political players to watch.


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Star Tracks: Monday, May 16, 2016 42 years, 2,191 covers and 55,436 stories from PEOPLE magazine's history for you to enjoy
Latest News!
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- September 24, 2007
- Vol. 68
- No. 13
She Helps Battered Women Break Free—By Sheltering Their Pets
Director, Animal Safehouse Program
A DISTURBING DISCOVERY: When Hartline was a volunteer at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, Calif., in 2003, a woman came in with four kids, a dog, two cats and a turtle. She'd fled her abusive husband but had nowhere to harbor her pets—a fear Hartline later learned prevents many battered women from leaving their spouses. "Her fear and worry broke my heart," she recalls.
PROTECTING PETS: Over the next few years, Hartline spoke about the problem at community meetings, recruited volunteers and gradually built a network of "foster" families who take in pets of battered women for months at a time. She also houses a few such pets at the Rancho Coastal shelter (www.rchumanesociety.org). Hartline's efforts have helped more than 300 women and served as a model for dozens of similar programs across the country. "This service is invaluable," says Caity Riddle, director of the city's Community Resource Center.
A NEW CALLING: Hartline, who had worked as an eating-disorders specialist before she started volunteering, finds her greatest satisfaction in helping women like Yvonne—who found foster families for her dog and cat through Hartline when she left her abusive husband in 2005. "Christine was a godsend," says Yvonne, 32. Last year Hartline switched careers to become a full-time director of the Animal Safehouse Program. "When I started, I thought I'd take care of animals," she says. "I had no idea this other world would be opened to me."
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More than I expected
By Timmy Tunes
from Brookfield , Wi
About Me Budget Shopper
Comments about ClassicFlame Lakeland Infrared Media Console in Roasted Cherry - 28MM6307-C270:
Set this up below my wall TV. Holds all my stereo and TV stuff plus more. I love it!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Great Christmas Gift
By D&P
from Wisconsin
About Me Midrange Shopper
The quality of this fireplace was wonderful. Everyone was impressed by the looks and quality.
Great piece to buy
By Leon the lion
from Winnipeg
It matches our living room and the height is perfect for the 40" led tv so I did not have to hang the wall. It works great with a fire place . it makes the room very cozy.
Looks great!
By Batcat
from Omaha, Nebraska
Fantastic addition to our living room makeover! Everybody who has seen it is impressed!
Great purchase. Wife and I love it !
By Richard
from Boca Raton, FL
The remote makes it easy to use.
Perfect Media display
By Lorie - sales
from Florence, AL
The beautiful cherry cabinet is a great addition with any decor and meet all your media needs with great look of a real fireplace
This ClassicFlame product includes a 1 Year limited warranty. Click here for Warranty Details or to Register your product.


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Vendor News
Our Vendor News offers news and announcements about vendors in the Chemical Processing industry.
Economic Snapshot
Our Ecomonic Snapshot offers news about the world economic atomsphere and how it may affect your bottom line.
Industry News
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NSF Awards EPSCoR Research Grants
The National Science Foundations awards research grants to Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia and Guam through its Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.09/11/2015
HI Releases Rotodynamic Pump Guideline
The Hydraulic Institute publishes the Hydraulic Institute Guideline for Rotodynamic Pump Efficiency Prediction HI 20.3–2015.09/03/2015
Dow Pilots Ultrafiltration Modules
Dow Water & Process Solutions successfully pilots Dow Ultrafiltration Modules.08/17/2015
Cambridge EnTech Designs Traveling Water Screens
Cambridge EnTech designs and manufactures eight pairs of traveling water screens for new cooling tower systems for El Dorado Chemical.08/11/2015
Cashco Web Platform Features 3-D Product Imaging
The 3-D product drawings include a cut-away view of each valve, regulator or actuator.08/11/2015
EMPLI Seeks Pump System Data
The Hydraulic Institute (HI), working as part of the Extended Motor Product Label Initiative (EMPLI) consortium, is collaborating on "Designing a Program for Future Incentives for Energy Efficient Pumps and Pumping Systems," a new data collection effort.07/27/2015
GWT Announces Factory School Training Schedule
Goulds Water Technology (GWT) announces its 2015 third quarter Factory School schedule for in-person and online training.07/24/2015
Linde's Fronheiser Wins Golden Valve Judges' Choice Award
Bill Fronheiser, principal structural designer for Linde Engineering North America (LENA), received the Judges' Choice Award in the Engineering and Construction category at the Intergraph 2015 Golden Valve Awards event for his entry of a hydrogen plant 3-D rendering.07/22/2015
Flow-Cal Announces July Users Group Conference
Flow-Cal, Inc. will hold its 16th annual Flow-Cal Users Group Conference July 20-23 in Seattle.07/01/2015
Honeywell Design Challenge Rewards Brazilian Students
University of Sao Paulo project demonstrates how to remove toxic compounds from contaminated water.06/29/2015
Hydraulic Institute Issues Wastewater Treatment Pump Guide
The Hydraulic Institute publishes a guide on wastewater treatment plant pumps to assist in the understanding of the general layout, components and operation of a typical wastewater treatment plant.06/29/2015
Video Shows GE Chemistry In Use At AmSty
GE releases a video documenting the use of the company's chemistry, process inhibitors, cooling solutions and TrueSense continuous monitoring at the Americas Styrenics (AmSty) plant in Louisiana.06/16/2015
2015 WEFTEC Features Annual Operations Challenge
Conference is Sept. 26-30, 2015, at McCormick Place in Chicago.06/10/2015
Siemens Makes MCCs Standard Offering
Siemens' motor control centers are now available as a standard catalog offering, eliminating the need for a customized quote or negotiated lead times for new MCCs and units.05/20/2015
Dow Polyox Wins Edison Gold Award
The Edison Awards presents Dow with a Gold Award in the Protection & Safety category for Polyox Water-Soluble Polymers.05/14/2015
FSA Honors Matthews With Award Of Merit
The Award of Merit recognizes distinguished or exceptional service to the Fluid Sealing Association by an individual member.05/06/2015
ITT Observes Pump Appreciation Day
Annual event is designed to raise awareness of the value of pumps in modern manufacturing.04/29/2015
FSA Enters Environmental Compliance Arena
The association aims to be recognized as a technical leader to advocate and influence environmental compliance policies.04/27/2015