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Teenage SleepoversPosted Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at 11:30 AM
After careful consideration and many discussions later with an esteemed acquaintance of ours, we have decided to disallow our teens to attend sleepovers. Much of this thinking has come from training that our friend received based on the Boys Town model as follows:
1. It puts your child in a possible situation without an out.
2. The supervision at one home is not always what you would want.
3. As they say, "nothing good happens after midnight."
4. Structure is very important to the development of teens.
5. "It's not fun to drink alone." Using alcohol and drugs is less likely when you have no one else to party with.
6. You really want to stay at someone's house just to sleep?
7. How often does your child come home refreshed and ready to participate in a family function?
Some helpful thoughts:
1. Compromise: if there is a group sleepover, let them stay out an hour later than normal curfew. Then go and pick them up.
2. Don't let a sleepover happen at your home. You don't want to be a hypocrite.
3. Let your child know that you are looking out for them, because it is your job. That you don't want them to be in a situation where they would fall to peer pressure.
4. You can't be with them 24 hours a day, but you can control how many hours they are away from you.
5. Use common sense, not guilt when making decisions for your child.
With that being said, we have instituted this in our own home with our child who is 16 and it will go into effect with our next one who will be 13 this summer. We have two older sons, who would have benefited from this and maybe it would've prevented them from making some of the poor decisions that they did make. So far it works. I wonder how some of our behavior issues in Spencer would be rectified if more parents agreed to do the same. Maybe some of the behavior issues would be alleviated if parents in our community were united in something such as this. I'd like to see it happen and I'd like to see the results. What do you think?
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When I first read this post I agreed with you. I thought of the things my friends and I did during sleepovers - and yes we did get in to some mischief.. Sometimes a lot of mischief, more than I'm sure our parents would like to know about. But then on second thought, I remembered most of those times we got caught - by our parents and had to deal with results of our poor decisions and resulted in a learning expereince. But I do think back, and those are highlights of my high school years - not the mischief part - but the fact that those sleepovers helped me forge lasting and deep friendships with girlfriends that I am still best friends with to this day. We confided so much in each other that we couldn't and wouldn't want to tell our parents at that time - and most of the time we gave and received sound advice - believe it or not. I remember all of the laughing we did, all of the adventures we had - at one sleepover we had a bat make its way into my room - and laughed as my father tried to shoo it out of the window with a broom! Almost 15 years later that story always makes its way into our conversation when visiting each other. While there are a lot of negative things that could happen at a sleepover, you'd be fooled to think all the worse offenses are in the cover of night. I assure you they are not! Sleepovers are unique; they prepare students for college life - staying up at all hours with friends - but also allow parents to keep a close eye on them while they are under an adult's roof. It helps create social situations in which students do not get in school, which also allows learning and growing experiences. That being said, I think sleepovers should be limited as special occasions, and it should be every parent's responsibility to call the other person's parents and discuss what they expect for rules for their child while under that parent's roof. If you don't think another parent is making your child abide by rules you enforce at home, maybe that particular home will be banned from the sleepover, but to ban all sleepovers is doing a disservice to children, and just making the parents look like dictators and we all know that road will lead to rebellion sooner or later.
-- Posted by Vanessa on Wed, May 4, 2011, at 12:52 PM
I agree with Vanessa. Taking a social activity away just because you do not trust other kids parents is just ignorant. Maybe your kids shouldn't be hanging around the other kids to begin with (a bad influence maybe?)
-- Posted by Mike Lewis on Wed, May 4, 2011, at 3:51 PM
I've had some nervous moments when my daughter went to sleepovers in situations where I did not know how much supervision would take place. It turns out my instincts were right -- there weren't substances or boys involved (as far as I know, but my children still do have issues keeping secrets from me for long).
There were apparently 3 am trips from the friend's home to Wal-Mart in which no one knew they were gone, which I found out about over a year later.
This friend, who has since moved, lived apart from her mother, visiting her on the east coast in the summer, and her father worked a lot and spent free time with his significant other. I was always very willing to have her over to our house because her home lacked guidance and supervision. There were a few times her father wanted or needed to go out of town and simply dropped the daughter off at our house -- no permission, no phone call, nothing. He also would ask his children (there was a boy a couple of years younger) to please, please find a sleepover so he could have a night off.
One could take the position that we need to have a talk with this parent and set some ground rules. On the other hand, could we not issue some grace to this single dad and realize it's probably not coming from a place of lack of love and caring, but just lack of emotional resources to deal with the situation he's been dealt?
My personal belief is that we're not mandated to avoid all temptation by shutting out the realities of the world and of other people's lives who may not share our value system. I believe our values -- even those of our minor children -- can be shaped by seeing the world and its people as they are and not as we wish them to be.
My children do have an out -- they can call me any time of day or night from any location and they will be picked up and brought home. Any questioning and consequence will wait until the next day. This is whether they just don't feel comfortable at a sleepover or party, or they've extricated themselves from a date situation gone bad, or they find themselves drunk as a skunk on a county road (none of these has come up but I throw them out as examples). There WILL be questions and there WILL be appropriate consequences, but they know the first priority is just having them home safe.
That's just my $0.02. For what it's worth, my parents were counselors/psychologists and it was the same deal for me -- anywhere, anytime of day or night, I could call and they would come get me.
-- Posted by AmyPeterson on Thu, May 5, 2011, at 6:56 AM
One more point after reading responses...is there any long lasting harm in no sleepovers vs. the potential for harm in allowing them?
-- Posted by Leah Cauthron on Thu, May 5, 2011, at 10:12 AM
How about picking up the phone and contacting the hosting parents and check to see if there will be supervision? What is the harm doing that to begin with... Especially before you say absolutely not!!!
-- Posted by Mike Lewis on Thu, May 5, 2011, at 4:09 PM
Personally, I think either way (sleepovers or not) there could be long term consequences good and bad. I think it's all in the way you define things and how you come to the resolution of sleepovers or not. You want to involve your kids in the decisions and make them feel they are contributing to it - and really let them contribute to the discussion - don't just fake it. In this way they have a sense of ownership in the decision. I think that is the main issue. Children want to feel they have a say, and that they are being heard - not unlike many of us. But what's good for your kids may not be good for mine. Best option, listen to your kids, set boundaries and rules, but be willing to negotiate so that everyone feels good about the final decision and that you come together as a family. (And, obviously one that is non-negotiable is drugs and alcohol.)
@Amy - that is funny you mention your daughter doing that - as that was about as much mischief as we would get into. We would sneak out and end up at another friend's house sitting around... doing the same thing we were doing at the sleepover - talking and laughing or sometimes we'd "scoop the loop" and park up town to hang out with other kids our age. Of course as a parent now, the thought of my son doing that when he is older scares the you-know-what out of me - but at the time as a teen it seemed fun and daring. Point is with things like that they always get caught and it's always a way of opening up a dialog with our kids to teach them why we care so much about them! :) Plus they learn about the consequences of their actions - and building a set of skills for when really tough choices come during college and the after high school years when we won't be around to shield them.
-- Posted by Vanessa on Thu, May 5, 2011, at 5:27 PM
I will say I'm never thrilled with attitude for the remainder of the weekend after a sleepover. They rarely happen on a Saturday night of a regular weekend as the sleep interruption and resulting fatigue last into the next week.
I also admit that my usual response to "Gertrude wants to know if we can have a sleepover!" is a stifled (or not so stifled) sigh.
-- Posted by AmyPeterson on Thu, May 5, 2011, at 11:52 PM
What is wrong with parents knowing the parents of thier kids friends and making decisions based on the parents? KISS-use your heads.
-- Posted by dareesa on Mon, May 9, 2011, at 9:22 AM
I'm sure your the memories that you had where great and the fun was awesome, but as a parent you have a fundamental duty in preparing your child for success. staying up all night in high school will not help you stay up all night in college. The unfortunate issue is when parents put social events ahead of common sense parenting. The popularity of your child is not as important, as helping them make sound decisions. As parents, it is up to us to educate our children by observing positive and negative behaviors. When your child is not whithin your view, this is hard to accomplish. Sleep overs are great for grade schoolers, where they are learning independance. When your child reaches their teenage years, the parent needs to guide, educate and help them put themselves in situations to succeed. Finally, the more parenting you do , the closer you and your child will be. If you can't be the parent, they will find that emotional need somewhere else and you may not like where they find it.
-- Posted by Coach Bob on Mon, May 9, 2011, at 5:21 PM
I have to be totally honest with you that when I first read the heading, you had my interest. As I read your article, I kept in mind that everyone parents differently, however, (you knew that was coming, didn't you), I don't agree.
I have a 15 year old, and we have had a multitude of very successful sleepovers. The first thing we do is agree on who is invited. Once that's established, she invites the girls, and my husband and/or I call the parents, letting them know our child is having a party, how they will get to our house, as well as what time they can pick their child up, or when we will drop them off. We had some trial and error sleepovers, but nothing major. My husband and/or I are there the whole time, and as can be backed up, I am generally up most the night, baking, cleaning, or on the computer. Do I know what's going on in my child's room? Pretty much, as I make several trips up there, and the door is kept open.
Our daughter has been allowed to go to sleepovers, and there are a couple places she is not allowed to go because of parenting issues/lifestyles, which my child told me about. I feel very fortunate she does this, because we instilled in her that telling the truth up front, is better than having it come out later.
I am puzzled over the drinking and drugs, because they are simply not allowed in our house, and if you are in touch with your child's and who they associate with, then you would be aware of something like that. It's really about being an informed parent.
Sleepovers aren't just for sleeping, they talk, sing, dance, watch movies, laugh, and just hang out.
If we have a family function, she isn't allowed to go if we leave early, or is picked up at an appropriate time to allot that she's in a mood to participate. School and school related activities can leave them, tired, out of sorts, and in a non-participating mode, and we don't ban our children from those, so why ban them from socializing in a controlled environment?
I encourage parents to get facebook if their child has it, as it can be a wealth of information. I also encourage you to have an open line of communication with your child's parents to talk to each other, it's amazing how you can learn by doing so.
I just want to say I am NOT a perfect parent, but I want my child to get the most that is possible out of life. There's a time when you need to trust your child, and if you if that trust betrayed - then you bring in the "big guns", and the Boys Town rules ... my child isn't a criminal, and neither are the friends, so I feel that instilling Boys Town rules, is a bit of overkill. Just my opinion, which doesn't make it right, and it doesn't make it wrong.
In closing, you have to do what YOU feel is right for your child, and his or her well-being. Unfortunately, we don't get to go back and redo. Have a good one!!
-- Posted by granny58 on Thu, May 12, 2011, at 12:29 PM
All you need is an open line with the parents on both ends. Kids that want to get in trouble wont have a problem finding it. I think we have become a hovering parent society, children can grow and learn without you holding their hands all the time. If you talk to your children and they know what YOU expect from them and you have set boundries and consequenses they will be less likely to get into trouble and will make resonable choices. Let your kids talk honest and openly with you. Raise them to be future adults.
-- Posted by spencer lover on Fri, Jun 3, 2011, at 2:34 PM
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My name is Leah Cauthron. I was born and raised on a farm near Cushing, Iowa. My parents still live there. I am a conservative Catholic. I have been married to Randy for 22 years and we have six children. I received my degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Wyoming College and as a mother of six and a daycare mom, I have used probable cause, reasonable doubt, search and seizure, Miranda rights, submission, arrest and interrogation technique as a part of my daily life. I can also shoot a .357 magnum with deadly accuracy. I have lots of opinions on lots of things. I am not an expert on anything but I read a lot and will gladly share that information if I find it accurate. I have a sarcastic nature and for the most part I have pretty thick skin and most things don't bother me for long. I don't like mudslinging or name calling so keep negativity of the personal nature to yourself. Enjoy and welcome to my opinion.
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Dreamy male Japanese singer with deep operatic voice, often with wild vibrato. Former singer of "Pride of Mind" and "Malice Mizer", Klaha has chosen to pursue a solo career and has released his first album Nostal Lab and a single titled Marchen.
Idiot: Klaha tries to be like Gackt hyuk-hyuk
автор: tan 3 октября 2004
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Opera singer with a big chin gone poppy pop. Formerly of the Japanese Visual band Malice Mizer.
Xio: "Dude, Klaha's got one hell of a chin."
Tak: "I know."
Tak: "I know."
автор: xio 7 сентября 2004
A gorgeous, former member of the Japanese band Malice Mizer. He sadly became former when he committed suicide. (WHY!)
Klaha is so gorgeous! (and was in the best band!)
автор: Rose 30 апреля 2004
A no-talent hack who replaced Gackt as lead singer of the Japanese band Malice Mizer once Gackt went solo. Unfortunately and largely due to teh fact that Klaha could not sing without computers to enhance his voice (he used to be a backround singer who was occasionally used by the band) and also due to the fact that in comparison to Gackt, the former singer, Klaha was a toad in the looks department (a bad thing, considering a lot of their audience were horny fangirls) the band has broken up.
"Why did MM break up?? They were so amazing!!!"
"Klaha came along..."
"Klaha came along..."
автор: unseen7394 16 августа 2005

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Ingrid Daubechies on the IMU blog and journals
This will probably be the last entry of the blog in this format, as the IMU is working to open a more general IMU blog site, at which it hopes members of the mathematical community will still bring up issues of wider concern that they encounter in their interaction with mathematical journals.
This first paragraph was also the last one, in this blog entry, in the official voice of the President of the IMU -- everything that follows will be my own personal opinion, as one mathematician deeply concerned with the present and future of our journals. In particular, the opinions below are not vetted by the IMU's Executive Committee, and should not be construed as an official point of view of the IMU, despite my present service as the sitting President of the IMU.
The stated goal of this blog at its start was to collect opinions from the mathematical community about a proposal that the IMU and ICIAM start a committee that would produce a rating of mathematical research journals. It has fulfilled that goal; as reported in the July issue of the IMU-Net Newsletter, the IMU has decided not to go forward with the creation of such a committee. Very soon after the opening of this blog, it became a forum where mathematicians also formulated suggestions for possible IMU roles related to various other important issues concerning mathematical journals. The early discussion here led to several prominent members of our community articulating their frustration with the present situation of scholarly publishing in mathematics, and in particular with pricing policies making it very hard for all but the most prominent and wealthy universities to keep up with the cost of subscriptions. This public discussion probably played a role in the later development of thecostofknowledge.com site, where, following Tim Gowers' lead, many of us very publicly and firmly stated our opposition to these pricing policies. The protest took the form of a boycott of one particular publisher, Elsevier, and was (as of Oct 16, 2012) signed by over 12,801 scientists (the policies we were protesting are not limited to mathematics), including 2,189 mathematicians.
As was our intention, this protest elicited many reactions, albeit not all positive. Young researchers felt that, not having tenure yet, or otherwise dependent on evaluations of their record, they could not join a boycott that would cut them off from a considerable number of well regarded journals in their area. Many mathematicians were reluctant to join the movement because they felt a boycott was not an effective or attractive protest tool. Others pointed out that Elsevier, although having a large impact on mathematical library budgets as one of the largest for-profit publishers of mathematical journals (as a result of its having acquired many other publishing companies in the mathematical arena in the last 10 or 15 years), was not the only nor even the most egregious one in practicing the pricing policies that we were protesting, and decided not to join the movement for this reason. That nevertheless so many mathematicians did sign enthusiastically indicates the extent to which many in our community are deeply disturbed by the present situation in mathematical publishing.
What is it we find so disturbing?
Dissemination of new ideas, as they develop, is the lifeblood of our research community. For a long time, print journals have been a major channel through which this dissemination took place. They have evolved to become the place of record, where new results, or new takes on old results, are put forward, after having been vetted carefully by reviewers and editors. As a result, publication of their work in journals of good reputation is a goal for most mathematicians active in research; their success in achieving this goal is one way to measure their standing within the mathematical research community. At many stages in our careers, we are asked to produce the list of our publications in scholarly journals, and these lists figure prominently in professional evaluations. Good research journals are thus central pillars for our community. This is why we willingly invest our time and effort in them, be it as editors or as reviewers.
The publishing landscape has however changed drastically in the last few decades, and continues to do so, in many ways. Two big changes stand out. The internet has made electronic publication possible; most researchers now use the internet to search for, find and retrieve papers of interest to them. And second, journal subscription cost to academic institutions has increased out of proportion with other costs, and is causing serious budget trouble for libraries.
This latter evolution is what caused the frustration that led to the creation of thecostofknowledge website. Why?
The community of mathematicians provides the source material (as authors of the papers), the quality control (as referees and editors of the journals) and the readership for our journals. To an extent that is greater in mathematics than in other scientific fields, mathematicians provide their reviewing and editorial services to journals almost exclusively on a voluntary basis, with no expectation of remuneration. [Most of us are surprised when offered payment (as occasionally happens) to review for a journal outside the "mathematical core"!] We provide our services for free, even though these tasks take up valuable time and energy, because we are proud of the quality of our journals, and we perceive this service as one given (gladly) to our community. Papers in mathematics have a much longer "life" than in many other fields -- it is not uncommon to reference even non-famous papers that were published many decades earlier, or even well over a century. As a result, we have, as a community, much more intellectual capital "vested" in our journals than most other fields.
Many of us feel that we, the mathematical community, "own" these journals to which we contribute (almost) everything that makes them worthwhile to us. From a practical, legal or financial point of view, this is not the case, however -- the majority of mathematical research journals are the legal property of commercial publishers. Some of these have a longstanding association with mathematical researchers; for others, the connection is much more recent, the result (for instance) of the acquisition of small publishers with a larger presence in the mathematics literature by a larger house with much less prior mathematics exposure. That journals are legally owned by publishers is not new, of course; few mathematical researchers have an appetite for getting involved with the practical aspects of publishing, and for many very distinguished and well established journals published by a commercial house, a de facto symbiosis had developed between the (possibly specialized) mathematical community serviced by the journal and its publisher. [There are journals that are owned and published by societies that have their own publication branch, such as AMS, SIAM, EMS or ASA; others that are owned by societies that contract with a publishing house, commercial or not, to ensure publication, such as Foundations of Computational Mathematics. These are not the topic of this blog entry.] Mathematicians provided their services to the journals; publishing houses ensured that the successive (printed) issues of the journal appeared on a regular schedule, were of consistent physical quality, and took care of the distribution to its subscribers, mostly libraries in research institutions. The subscription revenue covered the price of publication and provided a modest profit to publishing houses. [In other fields, subscriptions often provided only part of the revenue. In the other natural sciences, for instance, it was common for research grants to have a budget item that covered publication costs, including page charges; many journals did ask such page charge contributions from authors of papers accepted for publication. In some journals the page charges were mandatory. Others would waive these charges at the request of authors who had no grant source from which to pay them; a slightly slower publications schedule could be adopted for papers benefiting from such a waiver. This was the policy followed by some journals at the interface between mathematics and other fields, such as the Journal of Mathematical Physics. Journals that were squarely within mathematics, whether pure or applied, typically did not request page charges from authors or authors' institutions.]
The situation started changing in the 1970s and 80s. Journals, with their steady subscriber base, provided a much more secure source of funding for publishers than books. (Very few advanced mathematics books become really profitable.) Increasingly aware of this, many publishers aggressively started new journals -- the number of such new starts is in itself an indication that journal publication was increasingly viewed as a lucrative business. A steady policy of raising journal prices, including guaranteed annual percentage increases that far exceed academic budget increases, made journals (or bundles of journals) increasingly expensive. [It is ironic that simultaneously mathematical authors were taking over tasks that used to be the responsibility of the publishers (e.g. mathematical typesetting); this did not lead to a decrease in prices, however.] By now, matters have gone so far that even distinguished departments decide wholesale cancellations of journals from particular publishers rather than cutting even more academic positions to keep their journal subscriptions intact (see http://www.ma.tum.de/Mathematik/BibliothekElsevier).
Electronic publishing is potentially a great game changer.
Many speculations have been made as to how the scientific publication world will be radically different 5 or 10 years from now. For those among us who view the most important function of a trusted, respected journal as bringing together papers that are more or less focused in a special subfield, carefully checked and processed through a rigorous reviewing system, a new incarnation journal could be as simple as a list of paper+version numbers from the ArXiv or some other permanent repository, periodically posted on a website. Others suggest that a return to a word-of-mouth system will prevail, albeit in a more modern, electronic version, in which established mathematicians spread the word, via their web postings, comments and pointers, about interesting new results they have learned about. Many other models are being proposed, discussed, tried out. Publishing houses have themselves been very active in working on electronic versions of their journals. It is not my goal here to propose yet another model, or to discuss which model I think is best or most suitable for our community. I expect that different journals may opt for variations of these models; in addition my age and limited information-technological fluency make my instincts in this matter less than trustworthy.
But whatever happens, it is clear that great change can lead to great upsets. Our whole community would benefit from orderly transitions for our journals to the new publication model(s). The best possible transition will happen if there is broad community support for the journals. With present pricing policies, publishing companies are undermining the possibility of a truly community-wide support. I personally know of several editorial boards of high profile journals where many members are torn: on the one hand, they agree with many of the issues raised by the statement of purpose at thecostofknowledge.com, on the other hand they don't want to cause mayhem for the excellent journals to which they have devoted considerable amounts of energy and time, in service to their mathematical communities. I have also been asked for advice by young people who are offered positions on Editorial Boards, and are tempted by this recognition of their rising status in their community, but who resonate as well with the Statement of Purpose of thecostofknowledge.com .
Let me formulate here a very simple proposal that, if implemented, would not upset the identity of the existing journals, that would enable commercial publishing houses to continue to make a living while servicing the publication needs of the mathematical community, but that nevertheless would make a real difference to the mathematical community:
EMANCIPATION of our journals : set our journals free!
In other words, I propose that from their present disenfranchised situation, our existing journals be allowed to incorporate, and become independent societies. Most journals already function as a small society: they have a Board (of Editors), with (in a well-run journal) a mechanism of regular replacement of the members, in a way that represents well the interests of its community (e.g. paying attention to emergence of new subfields, or subsiding of others); there is a Managing or Chief Editor and possibly a small board of core Editors that functions like an Executive Committee. Having official society status would not change the effective functioning of the journals. (There could be some small changes: for instance, it would be natural to have an Executive Committee for the journal that appoints the editorial board and managing editors, and also handles publishing, legal and other issues related to the journal, but of which not all members need be Editors themselves.) For the administrative duties, marketing and distribution, each journal society would have a contract with a publishing house, which would, to begin with, be most naturally the present publisher. But the journals would be able to review this contract on a regular basis, starting a few years after emancipation. [Such contracts would also govern the changing nature of journal content over time: truly electronic publishing will involve much more beyond just digitizing the traditional journal: it will include nonlinear formats, different platforms (iPhone, iPad, etc.), active hyperlinks both internally and externally, video, audio, manipulable graphs, runnable code, crowdsourcing, etc. All this and more (that we can't imagine yet) will probably play a major role in future electronic publishing -- but that is for the interaction between journals and publishing houses to figure out, in the future, and not the subject of this blog entry.]
I have been told this is a very naive proposal. Maybe. But I think it is less naive than might seem at first glance. One isolated editorial board might not be able to obtain its enfranchisement if it asked its publisher, however nicely. But if the editorial boards of several journals acted in concert, the chances of success would be higher. Moreover, if some publishing house, truly providing a service to its journals as excellent as it claims, and thus risking very little in emancipating its journals, were to set the example, what a coup this would be with respect to other publishers -- what recognition among the community! And others might well have to file suit ...
Emancipation of the math journals would not solve the challenge of identifying the best model for electronic publication for each journal. It would keep publishing houses involved in the publication of journals they now publish. But it would, in one fell swoop, put the mathematical community and the publication channels on a footing of partners, seeking sustainable solutions in a changing environment, together.
Messires Publishers, wouldn't you prefer dealing with us, members of the mathematical community, as partners rather than spending all this energy on trying to convince us (not very successfully) that we are much better off in our present disenfranchised situation?
Ingrid Daubechies
Views: 4949
More reasons to support the Elsevier boycott
Tim Gowers's excellent blog posting focused the long-standing discontent of the research community with Elsevier and nucleated a boycott which may prove to be a historic moment in scholarly publishing. I urge others to join the thousands of researchers who have signed on at the website Tyler Neylon created at thecostofknowledge.com. Recent articles in publications like Forbes and The Economist indicate that Elsevier and the rest of the business community are taking note.
The arguments Gowers laid out focus on Elsevier's high prices, their bundling arrangements and subscription agreements, and their support for new laws that seem aimed at increasing publishers' profits at the expense of wide dissemination of scholarly research. These are all very convincing reasons for the boycott. The fundamental mechanism of capitalism, that prices are contained by consumers' choices not to pay high prices for what is available elsewhere more cheaply, is augmented in this case by the fact that the consumers—researchers and their institutions—also freely donate the most crucial ingredients in Elsevier's products, that is, papers, referees, and editors.
However, there is another reason for researchers to disassociate from Elsevier, which I find even more compelling: their many lapses in ethical and quality publishing practices. Here are some examples:
The Elsevier journal Chaos, Solitons and Fractals published more than 300 papers by the journal's Editor-In-Chief (58 in a single year). That these papers were not subject to peer review was later confirmed by the EIC's declaration that "senior people are above this childish, vain practice of peer review." Although the copious self-publication had begun nearly 20 years earlier, the EIC's retirement from the journal occurred only in 2009.
Elsevier journals have repeatedly published plagiarized work and duplicate publications. A search turns up over thirty papers in Elsevier mathematics journals published in the last decade which have had to be formally retracted, mostly for these reasons. On more than one occasion, the same paper has been published in two different volumes of the same Elsevier journal (presumably by accident).
Elsevier math journals have published a number of papers that make me doubt that they were subject to any peer-review whatever. An egregious example is the 2-page paper "A computer application in mathematics" in Computers and Mathematics with Applications, vol. 59 (2010) pp. 296-297, which purports to prove the parallel postulate (!) with no formulas, no references to other published works except for two papers by the same authors, and, as best as I can tell, no meaningful content whatever. This paper remains unretracted and available for sale on the Elsevier web site.
On several occasions, entire editorial boards have collectively resigned from Elsevier, usually citing discontent with their pricing. In 1999, the entire 50 person editorial board of the Journal of Logic Programming resigned after 16 months of unsuccessful negotiations with Elsevier over pricing, and created a new journal with a different publisher. In 2003, the entire board of Journal of Algorithms did likewise. A well known-case is that of the journal Topology, whose distinguished editorial board resigned en masse in 2006, again to found a different, less expensive, journal. Elsevier has continued to publish Topology since then, even though the web page for the journal gives no indication of its editorial board or even that the journal has an editorial board!
From 2000 to 2005 Elsevier published six phony biomedical journals, with titles such as the Australasian Journal of Cardiology, in return for an undisclosed sum from a large pharmaceutical company. The journals' contents were provided by the pharmaceutical company and published without further review, mostly reporting data favorable to their products. In 2009, after the practice came to light in a law suit against the pharmaceutical company and was reported in the press, Elsevier admitted that they had "published a series of sponsored article compilation publications, on behalf of pharmaceutical clients, that were made to look like journals and lacked the proper disclosure" and expressed regret.
In 1998, the Elsevier journal Lancet published one of the most significant examples of fraudulent scientific research in recent times, in which evidence was fabricated to link autism to measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, thereby setting off a health scare that led to deaths and severe injuries and which continues to this day. Brian Deer, the award-winning investigative reporter whose articles in the Times of London and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) exposed the fraud and led to the inquiry by the UK General Medical Council which struck Wakefield from the UK medical register, also published a detailed and damning article in BMJ about the response of the Lancet editorial staff when confronted with the evidence of fraud. Deer describes how the Lancet responded to his carefully documented accusations, not with a formal investigation, but rather with a "5000 word avalanche of denials" and "a scramble to discredit my claims". Lancet's retraction of the paper did not come until 2010, 12 years after the original publication and for reasons that a British Medical Journal editorial describes as "far narrower misconduct than is now apparent."
Of course, Elsevier produces many journals. Without a doubt they publish good articles, as well as bad, and include excellent scientists in their editorial boards, as well as others. But the number and the nature of the incidents like those listed, cause me to doubt their commitment to and/or ability to achieve the quality and ethical standards that I believe crucial. There are many other publishers, including especially scholarly society publishers and university presses, but also some commercial publishers, that have earned my confidence and respect. I will happily dedicate my efforts of authorship and editorial work to them and not to Elsevier.
Doug Arnold
Views: 45197
Views: 9130
What might be done about high prices of journals?
Following the suggestions from Richard Taylor and from Teresa Krick, we would like to gather your statements pertaining to pricing for mathematical journals.
Quoting Richard, "Maybe instead the IMU could consider what if anything it can do about the unreasonable prices of some mathematics journals that are taking badly needed money from our universities? And, Teresa Krick wonders "how to fight against the outrageous rates publishing houses are charging the scientific communities, for a job the scientific community does for them from the beginning to the end."
This topic has been discussed at great length in librarian circles, and also written about in professional math periodicals. Purchasing journals is nowadays done mostly at the national license level: bigger deals, larger aggregations of content. Are mathematicians having any say on prioritization, or usage of funds in this way? Where will this all lead as time goes on? Please comment on this issue. ?
Views: 17945
BLOG on Mathematical Journals
Mathematical journals are an important and precious resource for our community. They embody, to some extent, our joint "intellectual property". They provide a way for mathematical researchers to distribute the results of their work. The peer reviewing process, when it works well, gives some guarantee to readers that the published papers are worthwhile and (most likely) correct.
Views: 25585


text:
Jim and Peggy Stimely celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Dec. 31, 2012.
They have two sons, Jim Stimely and his wife, Dreama, of Virginia; and Jeffrey Stimely, of Newport News, Va.
They have six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Article Photos
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Stimely ... now
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Stimely ... then
James worked for 28 years in the insurance business with Washington National Insurance Co. He spent four years as a district manager in Harrisburg, and 17 years as district manager in the Lewistown district office.
The Stimelys have lived at their present address for 42 years.
Peggy worked at the Montgomery Ward Store in her early life.
They enjoy taking rides in the country and eating out.
They are members of the First Methodist Church, Lewistown.


text:
Top 10 new products at World Ag Expo
Submitted by admin on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 14:47
Hoard's Dairyman:
Top 10 new products at World Ag Expo
Date:Thu, 02/10/2011
1. Yuma Rugged Tablet Computer
This handy hand-held tablet computer is farming-friendly. Its thick case prevents breakage from drops or falls. We loved that it is waterproof (and manureproof) and protects your tablet in extreme temperatures...even in 20 below!
2. Trimble Connected Farm
This GPS-driven technology allows farmers to remotely control tractor-mounted GPS units and update fertilizer prescriptions from the farm house without calling the the tractor.
3. Ag Flag
The Ag Flag uses a simple paper tether to connect a flourescent flag to a stake. When the paper breaks because of ample irrigation, you know to turn the irrigation off. This saves trips out to the field.
4. T-Hexx Dragonhyde HBC
This new footbath solution doesn't contain formaldehyde or copper sulfate, yet apparently is just as effective. It includes a deep green pigment so you can see how well it is covering hooves.
5. NOx Blue Diesel Exhaust Fluid
The best way for us to describe this product is simply: cleaner diesel.
6. EZY-Lift Hydraulic Lift System
Being able to lift over 3,000 pounds, this lift system was shown to lift heavy objects like propane tanks and even generators right into your truck bed.
7. UdderTech jacket with thumb hole sleeve
No more wrist rashes or wet wrists during milking when worn with your milking gloves.
8. Amsoil Biodegradable Hydraulic Oil
If hydraulic fluid spills are a concern of yours, you should see this environmentally friendly lubricant.
9. Push Away Grapple
This adjustable hydraulic claw mounts on top of skid loader buckets to create the ultimate feed grabber for faster mixer loading.
10. Air Filter Blaster
A simple, fast way to blast dust and muck from air filters using a mount and shop vac.


text:
Chicago burns, Don Larsen is perfection in the World Series, Jerry Lee Lewis records his biggest hit, and Martha Stewart reports to prison, all on this day.
2003: The drama "Mystic River," starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden and Laura Linney, and directed by Clint Eastwood, opens in limited release. The movie would be nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, with Penn winning for Best Actor and Robbins winning Best Supporting Actor.


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What is the first word that comes to your mind when you hear 'luxury'? Glamour, champagne, sophisticated parties bathed in a golden glow…in short another world altogether.
For me, it is a lot of sun, sweat and hard work.
And no, I don't travel in long, swanky cars like my industry colleagues. It's only when I manage to borrow one from my successful entrepreneur father that my feet get some relief. Hell! I can't even wear smart heels - which are absolutely essential when you are in a luxury business - since I have to use public transport.
It all started when I took up a job in a media group which published print luxury magazines. After lot of work, late nights, unwarranted screaming by the top boss and massive pay cuts for stupid reasons, I decided it's not worth it anymore. "If I can do it for them, then why not for myself?" I thought.
Realising that there is no online luxury magazine in India, the seeds of creating LuxuryFacts (www.luxuryfacts.com) were sown into my mind quickly. The idea enveloped my mind through all waking (and sleeping) hours. And then one fight triggered my resignation from the company and refusal to serve any notice period. I was free! Free to do whatever I wanted…
A two month sabbatical to relax my aching bones (yes, it was a taxing job!) helped me outline my plan and business idea further. I spent a considerable amount of time thinking that is it the right time? I am too young. I don't have enough capital. I just had savings of Rs 50,000. Will people even take me seriously?
I had a quick chat with my parents. They only asked me, "You think there is a market for an online luxury magazine in India?" When I replied in the affirmative, they said, "Then go ahead with it. Don't think about money, and who will say what, and your age. All those things can be worked out as you go forward. Just start putting things into motion."
So without a business plan, a future plan or a goal chart, I jumped into it. And what a heady journey it turned out to be! From looking for an affordable good web designer to writing to my old professional acquaintances to going for press conferences and writing articles, I was the CEO and the peon of my new baby company.
The most complex thing about being in the luxury and online sector is that luxury is exclusive while online is considered mass. A lot of brands initially were apprehensive of including online blogs and websites in their PR/marketing campaigns because they felt their brand will get a 'mass image'. It took a lot of education from my side to convince people that online is not mass. Audience can be filtered in online medium too!
My current hurdle is that though luxury brands now accept that blogs and online magazines are very important for visibility, they are still apprehensive of including them in their advertising budgets. They feel safer with regular print magazines and hardly want to experiment. So the second level of education includes telling brands that how online is much better for them in terms of larger visibility, multimedia avenues of telling their brand stories and larger shelf life.
Initially, I was extra sensitive. People would come, steal ideas, and try to leverage the popularity of LuxuryFacts to fulfill their own purpose. And I would rage and rant for long. Many would discuss ways of collaborations and advertising and then disappear. Once, a popular mall wanted to do an event with us. Promising us commissions, we started working on it as the contract was getting readied side by side. But the contract was never made because, actually, I figured that they didn't want to pay any money for our hard work! So, well, I pulled out, and sulked for a week…
I soon learnt that having a thick skin is more beneficial than wasting time and energy on every Tom, Dick & Harry. While every email, every call, and every knock on the door may give a tempting opportunity, it is important to weed out the leeches. I am better at dealing with people now.
Today, 2 years and 9 months later, LuxuryFacts is considered a credible force in the Indian luxury industry. Readers come to our site and gulp down all the content we can give them. Even a single line of appreciation from a reader makes our day! I have co-edited my own book called 'The Luxury Market in India: Maharajas to Masses' which was published and released by Palgrave Macmillan in September 2012. We are quoted in quite a few media stories about the luxury industry, and people listen to what we say! I get many resumes, off-the-cuff, from young to experienced people, to work with us.
I am still mostly broke, travel in metros and autos, and I still haven't come to the stage of carrying a luxury bag bought from my own money. But I have got opportunities and recognition which I might not have got in any job. Being an entrepreneur in the nascent Indian luxury industry and the relatively young online media scenario is tough, but wonderful and challenging all the same! I wouldn't exchange this life for anything else…
Views: 3659
dear soumya,
my wish for this new year is that every young entrepreneur has an incredible story like yours to share here. not just because it it enriches the content here - but because it is so so INSPIRING!
when i read your story - i feel so proud of you, of every young person who wants to do something on their own.
i loved each word and each part. it's straight from the heart. i feel like i've travelled your amazing journey with you and can see how you've grown and matured as an entrepreneur!
many many congrats on all that you have achieved in such a short while! i applaud you!
p.s: you possess much more than any luxury bag!!!
Hi Asha
Thank you so much! It really means a lot. :) I will feel I have actually done something in life if my story can get more people to follow their dreams... :) Thanks again for so much support!
Respect is the word for you Soumya !!
Keep up the good work !! I am planning to buy a luxury item for my wife will consider your site before buying
Thank you Ashish! Really appreciate the encouragement!
Do let me know if I can guide or help you in buying the luxury item. :)
One more added to the list of people who inspired me :)...Keep on doing good work.
Thanks Saurabh! Glad I could make a difference :)
One more feather on the cap of rodinhooders... lovely to be among you guys and I pray for success for all you guys... And wish we all be creative creators, risk takers and the game changers :)
And Soumya... keep rocking... keep inspiring.... :)
Amen! Completely second your wish. And thank you for the motivation Khizar! :)
Simply Superb Soumya....
The Kind of Experience u have been.. Keeps us inspiring . Thanks for Sharing.. Way to Go... All the Best.
Thank you Dinesh! Really appreciate the encouragement :)
It is interesting that you mention having a 'thick skin'. In my own entrepreneurial journey, I have found that initially every good news used to give me a big high, and every bad news used to give me a huge low.
After a few months of running my first startup, I started noticing and realising this trend, more than than that I started accepting that this will be a journey with daily highs and lows, unlike a regular job. And this is what makes this such a fun ride.
Keep up the good work. And enjoy the ride.
Hi Abhinav, it is a fun ride indeed. But I realised that the amount of time I ended up wasting on the leeches, I could have spent that on exploring better avenues. But in any case, even a bad incident is an experience. You learn something from everything. And through my bad experiences, I learned how to recognise who is professional and who's not. :) Thank you for wishes! And hope you have a wonderful journey too! :)


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Top Definition
Triple T K A means TTTKA which means Time to totally kick ass =)
Omg she's given me evils AGAIN it's Triple T K A
Por Luru the Guru 24 de enero de 2006
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
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Time To Totally Kick Ass. Watch WHITE CHICKS(and See Phrasonym).
"Triple T.K.A." said Marcus.
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"Time to Totally Kick Ass," chorused both Marcus and Kevin.
Por GerbilJiM 15 de marzo de 2005


text:
Good for them. You can't win em all though and I'd rather be this hot in the playoffs than the start of the season. Of course if I was a Chi fan I would be stoked but this means nothing at this point in the season.
Blackhawks set new point streak record
Posted 23 February 2013 - 10:20 PM
Posted 26 February 2013 - 12:17 AM
Wishful thinking; I'm sure Columbus will beat them this week...
- St. Michael (the Red Wing) likes this
Posted 26 February 2013 - 12:21 AM
The Wings and Hawks play on Sunday. I wouldn't complain if their streak extended into this game and the Wings hand them their first loss on national TV.
Wishful thinking; I'm sure Columbus will beat them this week...
I wouldn't mind that either.
Posted 26 February 2013 - 08:46 AM
The Wings and Hawks play on Sunday. I wouldn't complain if their streak extended into this game and the Wings hand them their first loss on national TV.
Wishful thinking; I'm sure Columbus will beat them this week...
It depends which Wings team shows up Sunday...the one that destroyed Nashville and Vancouver, or the one that has issues with Columbus and Calgary?
I like this team.
Posted 26 February 2013 - 09:29 AM
Is the Sunday game on NBC? I fricking hope not, I am not ready to hear all the sucking coming from the TV booth...
Hey Chicago fans, congrats on the record, let me remind of a couple of things that we are familiar with 1995 Detroit was the best in the NHL shortened season...70 points in 48 games, no Cup....1995-96 NHL record 62 wins, 2 points shy of record 133 points, No Cup... 6 Presidents Trophies in the 26 years they have been awarding it, no other team has won it more than twice....
regular season records are great and they are fun to gloat about...but it's the playoffs that count, trust us, we know! Good luck, if not us, then I'd rather have you win it than St. Louis, Colorado or s***sburgh....but records are nothing, we have plenty, but not nearly enough Cups for all those records!
If You Need Roster Help or Predictions, Don't Hesitate To Ask!
The Red Wings Need Pugnaciousness...
Posted 26 February 2013 - 10:19 AM
As a general hockey fan, this is awesome for the fans. They went through some things no fan of any sport should have to go through.
As a Wings fan, ***** *** ******* ******** ***** **** **** ******* **** ****.
- haroldsnepsts and BottleOfSmoke like this
Can't wait to read the "Phoenix: I still think it's a hockey market" chapter of Gary Bettman's autobiography. I'm guessing it's going to be chapter 11.
- mjlegend 3/9/2011
Posted 26 February 2013 - 10:50 AM
So, I think the record they've set it pretty impressive, but just to play devil's advocate a bit...whcih I think is okay because this isn't a Blackhawks board, does anyone think the record is a bit inflated?
- They aren't playing against the whole league....because of shortened schedule, more games are played against a smaller number of teams. Say what you will about whether the Western conference is stronger than the Eastern (which I agree with when looking top to bottom), they are avoiding playing against some of the other strong teams in the league.
- of the 19 games they've played this year, only 6 have been against teams that currently have more wins than they do losses (I'm simpflying it to W and L and avoiding OT and shootouts for a minute).
- Of the games they've played against teams with more W than L (LA (9-8), they are 2-0, STL (10-8), they are 1-0, VAN (10-8), they are 1-1, ANA (13-4), they are 0-1).
Impressive regardless of how you look at it, but I think one could take a view as above as well.
The other thing not mentioned about the short season is that you could look at it as being that much more impressive as well because with so many games in such a shor time, you are bound to come out flat every now and then (they've avoided that so far in terms of it not resulting in a regulation loss).
Posted 26 February 2013 - 10:59 AM
Other teams have weak schedules, too. I don't think it takes away from their record at all. A shortened season affects everyone the same. Most teams are struggling, but they're not. Maybe their schedule does help a little, but the point is, they are beating teams they should beat. You can't dismiss them because of that. Look at the Wings, we beat the good teams but routinely lose to bottom feeders.
New e-book: The Spanish-American War: A Brief History. Relatively short, introductory read for casual history buffs and people who want to learn more about a forgotten war that changed America. Available at BN.com, Smashwords, Kobo, and Diesel E-Books right now. Same link as above.
Posted 26 February 2013 - 11:56 AM
Good for the Hawks. A truly impressive feat, especially considering all of the road games they've played.
I haven't considered them a rival though since the 60s. In fact, the only team that I've thought of as a rival is the Avs and that ended years ago. I don't really think we have one now.
From now on, Patrick Roy will be rolled out to and from the Avs' bench like Hannibal Lecter. - BottleOfSmoke
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Developers of DTC Genetic Testing Are...
Wall Street Decline Takes Its Toll...
Quadruple Helices Appear To Have Role...
As Immunotherapy Revolutionizes the Cancer Treatment...
Scientists in recent years have grown impatient with the conventional model of macrophage activation. According to this model, macrophages—the scavenger cells that engulf and cellular debris and pathogens—are divided into two groups: "classical macrophages," which spur on inflammatory processes, and "alternative macrophages" which shut down inflammation. And yet macrophages, in respond to environmental cues, are capable of altering their physiology, giving rise to different populations of cells with distinct functions. Functionally, macrophages even seem to display mixed types, as though their activation pathways were as varied as the colors of an artist's palette.
Still, the old model prevailed. It proved too useful to alter, especially since new information about macrophage activation was emerging slowly and seemed more suggestive than definitive. Phenotypic analysis, for example, did little to induce change. And even microarray-based gene expression profiling fell short, despite linking macrophage plasticity to changes in transcriptional regulation. With this technique, it was possible to collect evidence of transcriptional reprogramming, but it was still a challenge to sort through the molecular mechanisms that might be at work.
Undeterred, researchers began studying macrophage activation more systematically. In particular, a group of researchers at the University of Bonn recently expressed an interest in undertaking an integrative analysis of epigenomic and transcriptomic data to better understand how macrophages respond to environmental cues. The researchers' ultimate goal was to identify specific transcription factor combinations responsible for cellular macrophage programs.
Considerable progress toward this goal was reported February 13 in Immunity, in a paper entitled "Transcriptome-Based Network Analysis Reveals a Spectrum Model of Human Macrophage Activation." The paper's authors include scientists from the University of Bonn, as well as colleagues from the University of Massachusetts and the University of Edinburgh. In their paper, they go so far as to propose a "refined, activation-independent core signature for human and murine macrophages."
According to these researchers, macrophages are capable of processing diverse stimuli, which activate specific transcriptional programs. Further, these programs drive macrophages to fates more varied than the two in the traditional macrophage activation model. In fact, macrophages may assume at least nine different forms which use their weapons to optimally fight intruders in different ways.
To uncover these results, the researchers stimulated human macrophages with diverse activation signals, acquiring a data set of 299 macrophage transcriptomes. Analyzing this data, the researchers determined that NFKB1, JUNB, and CREB1 are central transcription factors of macrophage activation. In addition, they found that TNF, PGE2, and P3C activates a STAT4-associated transcriptional program.
Essentially, they identified central transcriptional regulators associated with all macrophage activation complemented by regulators related to stimulus-specific programs. "With complex bioinformatic analyses, we obtained a type of fingerprint for each macrophage which showed us which genes in the cell were directly active," said Prof. Dr. med. Joachim L. Schultze from the Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute of the University of Bonn. Using this genetic fingerprint, the scientists were able to deduce which combination of stimuli led to the macrophage developing in a particular direction.
Applying their newfound knowledge, the researchers examined how transcriptional processes differ between alveolar macrophages from smokers and those from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Curiously, the researchers found a loss of inflammatory signatures in COPD patients.
Prof. Schultze said, "We have to step away from the simple classification of macrophages and investigate them more closely in respective connections with diseases." Once scientists "depart from the conventional pattern, fully new concepts [will] open up."
"This is the dawn of new therapy options," added Prof. Schultze, noting that macrophages play a role in many widespread diseases such as arteriosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer.
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Sustainable Fisheries Partnership
Over the last 4 years, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) has been building a global fisheries online database –
. Our goals have been to get actionable fisheries information in front of major seafood buyers and to build a network of contributors to share and update that information as they also use use the database for their research. SFP is achieving the former with increasing success. In order to improve the latter, we are dividing
into two separate websites.
– Our industry-facing site, specific to SFP. Our vision for FishSource remains the same: to provide major seafood buyers with up-to-date, impartial, actionable information on the status of fisheries and improvements needed to become sustainable. By assembling the essential data and making it freely available, FishSource lowers the key barrier to entry for companies to engage in sustainable sourcing. Companies thus save time and resources by accessing FishSource for sustainability information and fisheries status.
– A new site, devoted to the research needs of the science and policy communities. Our goal for FisheriesWiki is that it will serve as a global commons encyclopedia of fisheries, providing current and accurate information on global aquaculture and marine capture fisheries, created through the contributions of experts around the world. With this in mind, SFP is establishing an Advisory Committee to oversee the further development, operations, and adaptive management of FisheriesWiki. With over 300 fishery profiles already on the site, we hope you will make use of this important resource and become a contributor.
©Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Foundation 2016


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Authorities say one person is dead and two others injured following a pair of shootings in rural Alachua County.
Investigators said one person is in custody after the triple shooting. Brandon Scott, 22, faces a host of charges.
Alachua County Sheriff's spokesman Todd Kelly says the man is a suspect in the earlier shooting.
Deputies found two people had been shot in the rural neighborhood following the initial 911 call. A man had been shot in the abdomen and a woman was shot in the left arm and the bullet then went into her abdomen. There were six people at the house.
Authorities said the shooting happened after some kind of argument.
The identities of the shooting victims have not been released.


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quote: You couldn't be further from the truth. Dominance battles are common among animals of most species...and quite often, the loser of such contests is driven off, maimed, or even killed.
quote: Next, I suppose you'll say that "animals never kill for pleasure"?
quote: Men literally do fight and kill each other over stupid ass reasons, like who has more girth.
quote: Elitist huh, go figure... That what your "religion" teach you. Do what makes you happy, and screw everyone else. Screw the consequences. You a scientologist?


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Top Definition
cheap alcoholic beverage, that pack a punch.
yo' man hitme up with some a that wild irish rose!
από patchoulli 26 Σεπτέμβριος 2003
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Cheap bum wine that gets you drunk off your ass.
Lets go get some Wild Irish Rose (Wild I) and get fucked up!
από tally ho22 1 Ιανουάριος 2009
Petechea or bruising around eyes that result from vomiting
I through up so much that I got the wild irish roses.
από Billy Geo 14 Μάρτιος 2010


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The news wasn't easy to miss, but in case you did, two interesting things happened to Ford (NYSE: F ) on Tuesday.
First, the Blue Oval reported its fourth-quarter earnings, and they were good. Ford earned $0.31 a share, well ahead of the $0.26 Wall Street estimate.
Good stuff, right? Maybe not, because here's what happened next: The stock fell almost 5%, as investors reacted to a pessimistic shift in Ford's near-term outlook for Europe.
So is Ford still a buy?
I think so. Here's why.
Why Ford's plans should have big credibility
Ponder this background: A few years ago – in early 2009, to be exact – Ford was essentially left for dead by investors in the midst of the economic crisis. There were good reasons for that, starting with the fact that it was pretty clear that both of its hometown rivals, General Motors (NYSE: GM ) and Chrysler, were headed for some heavy court-assisted restructuring, or worse.
Now, to casual observers at least, Ford looked to be in similarly rough shape at the time. Its debt load was titanic. U.S. auto sales at that moment were at lows not seen in decades. Ford's stock was widely viewed as essentially an option on the idea that the company might somehow survive – and a risky one at that.
But some investors, including quite a few Fools, saw something else. Ford had a plan, a good one, and just enough cash in the bank to pull it off. In fact, the plan was already under way – had been since 2006 -- and the company's newest models gave good reasons to believe it was working.
That plan is called "One Ford," and we know now how the story turned out here in Ford's home region of North America. Ford's quality and competitiveness went way up, its costs went way down, that debt load got paid down years ahead of schedule, and – most importantly – Ford has posted quarter after quarter of solid profits.
Ford's cars and trucks are now seen as class leaders. Ford's debt is investment-grade. And – and this is big – Ford's operating margins in North America are among the best in the business, because its costs are low and because its products are now good enough to sell on their own merits, without fat discounts.
So now investors are worried because the company has problems in Europe?
Well, guess what Ford's turnaround plan for Europe looks like.
The plan for Europe: exporting "One Ford"
To Americans, Ford looks like a pretty polished product. But the truth is, the company's overhaul isn't done. Its European operation has been losing big money, thanks to rough economic forces that have driven car sales to lows not seen in many years – and thanks to a business structure that is ripe for the same kind of overhaul that transformed Ford's U.S. operation.
Ford's factories in the U.S. now run at, on average, over 100% of what Ford considers to be "full capacity," which is two full shifts. That means some are working around the clock – a big profit generator. The industry rule of thumb is that a car factory breaks even at about 80% of capacity.
Ford's European factories have been running at more like 60% of capacity. See the opportunity? Ford does: It's closing three factories, and it has signaled that it will close more if necessary. That will lower costs, making each of Ford's sales more profitable – even if the overall market stays stagnant.
There's more. In recent years, Ford's product lineup in Europe has been a small one, composed mostly of locally designed offerings that were somewhat expensive to produce. But now, Ford has a powerhouse global vehicle lineup to tap – and it's able to add a bunch of new vehicles to its European lineup quickly, and at low cost. That right there should increase Ford's sales and market share -- even if the overall market stays stagnant.
Put simply, Ford is taking the lessons of its U.S. turnaround and applying them to fix Europe, where it has said it expects to return to break-even by mid-decade. And we as investors should give that approach a high probability of success, because it has already worked once.
Why Ford is still a buy
I haven't even touched on Ford's ambitious plan for Asia , where the company is making huge investments to be a big player by mid-decade. There are already signs that its push will be successful – but right now, the region is just breaking even, because of those huge investments.
So here's why Ford's a buy: That Asia push, and Ford's plan to fix Europe, mean that there's considerable upside from here – upside that will appear over the next few years.
Ford made $8 billion before taxes in 2012. If Europe had simply broken even, that number would have been almost $10 billion.
Now think about a profit in Europe. And add another couple billion from Asia.
That's where Ford is planning to be in two or three years. I don't know about you, but I plan to be along for that ride.
Ford has been performing incredibly well as a company over the past few years -- it's making good vehicles, is consistently profitable, recently reinstated its dividend, and has done a remarkable job paying down its debt. The stock has recently moved up, and it appears investors have started to notice what Ford is doing right. Does this create an incredible buying opportunity, or are there hidden risks with the stock that investors need to know about? To answer that, one of our top equity analysts has compiled a premium research report with in-depth analysis on whether Ford is a buy right now, and why. Simply click here to get instant access to this premium report.


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Check out gameday special events and other theme nights coming up at Miller Park.
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You aren't reading what I am saying.
I think Weber should be suspended for a game. A message should be sent.
I never said he shouldn't be punished because there wasn't an injury. I said you can't compare the Bertuzzi-Moore play to the Weber-Zetterberg play because what Bertuzzi did was far more severe.
The Franzen punch was a sucker punch and was waaaay more violent than the Weber head shove. It was so hard and so fast that it may as well have been a blindside punch. There was no time to react...he really couldn't defend himself.
This thread is about Weber's shot at Zetterberg, not the Franzen love tap. Please don't derail the thread.


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Under control
DCNR proceeds with 'Q&A' session on drilling
April 5, 2013
DUSHORE — The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources went ahead with a closed-door meeting with invited "stakeholders" Thursday at its district offices here about proposed natural ga......
Subsurface rights supersede surface rights. It becomes a "right of way" issue.
0 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Got this at 8:30 this morning from Garth Everett's office.The difference for the Trenton Black River lease sales hearings and the situation DCNR is dealing with now is that the Loyalsock State Forest development ( Clarence Moore Lands) is not a lease sale decision as TBR was. DCNR is not deciding whether or not to lease. DCNR is negotiating with a private entity that already owns the right to develop and that is DCNR's job. The Secretary stated that this is a very unique situation with many legal complexities and that he does not feel that public hearings are appropriate or will help resolve it. Tha Secretary's and DCNR"s job is to deal with this complex issue and reach a solution with the developer that minimizes the impact of the development in what everyone acknowledges is a valuable resource. I guess that answers some questions. Let's see if the DCNR legal department decides that DCNR has the power to exercise their exclusive surface rights and if Sec. Allen will follow thru.
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
"" i'm just wondering, when thw dust settles,how many of the invited guests are going to make a bundle of money ? ""
It won't be the one's that say [ NO ]to the big energy companies.
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I say i won't be getting anything and i get 6 disagrees!! ****. Maybe you ppl know more about me then i do? Had a great weekend in pine creek. don't know what all the crying is about. Its a beautiful place!
1 Agrees | 5 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Wow!!! 2 for the gas-holers;24 for KEEP IT WILD !!! This land is your land not Anadarko's land; this land was made for you and me.~~~~~
9 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
0 Agrees | 6 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Since your soo concerned acrman, I won't be making anything. :-)
1 Agrees | 7 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
i'm just wondering, when thw dust settles,how many of the invited guests are going to make a bundle of money ?
6 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
what is it they need to keep secret from the public ?
9 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Loyaltothesock, thanks for getting back to us about the meeting, I heard the same thing from some of my friends who attended.
rick, I wonder WHO called you a terrorist, pay them no attention life goes on.
10 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Hey Steven how goes it? Hope you can post more up here. Over the years the comments have shifted. When I first started there were only a few of us who were concerned. I was even called a terrorist at one point. But, as you can see, things have and are continuing to change. The beginning was the money and jobs, neither of which panned out as of yet, in fact it went the other way. The industry PR certainly has improved but for the most part they seem to be in damage control mode. Good to hear from you.
11 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
At the meeting Allen said DCNR is NOT negotiating with Anadarko, But press sec.Novak said they were.Have to find out which!Also Allen said DCNR does Not hold public meetings and I didn't get the chance to ask him about the 21 meetings held in 2002 concerning leasing in the Trenton Black River deep gas reserve.Everett, Mirabito and Vitali asked for real open public meetings.Bottom line--DCNR is conducting a legal review to see what happens next,awaiting Anadarko's move.
12 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Pathetic! Our elected officials and their appointed help are giving away things that do not belong to them and getting benefits in return. Gene Yaw is a blazing example of this. And they do so with an arrogance that defies logic. This whole thing should be an easy decision. It is state land, owned by the people. Leave it alone. Better yet, give the people that own the land a say, but no, they might say things that our public servants don't like. Can't have that, can we?
11 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Dear Sec Allen:
My name is Steve Todd. I am not 'local' to our Loyalsock State Forest. I do, nonetheless, have a a direct interest into this tract of land: I am as much an owner of it as you are. Anadarko does not own a stake in OUR State Forest, nor do they have any interest in protecting our 25,000 acres of highly sensitive environmental areas. Please hold OPEN public meetings before you lease our land to any of these non-constituents. Thank you.
11 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
our state reps were there rember this when voting polls open ,i hope there is a none of the above choice this year
11 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
11 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
No violation accured it was a Q&A session and they invited important people like the snowmobile club, im sure they are 15 members strong and the trout club, which probably has another 5-6 members. Nothing good comes from inviting the public cause the only people that show up are the cry baby hippie tree hugging people that love to complain and have no vested direct intrest in the area. I hope anadarko paid all these people off in the closed door meeting, it will give us something to complain about later when we find out.
2 Agrees | 17 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
CarlHiller and BornHere are right a violation has occurred against the people of our State. This needs to be investigated.
14 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Now you know why I sold my house.
10 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Hey Bornhere, I went up 87 to Farragut to go home and what a mess.
9 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I believe this meeting was a direct violation of PA Sunshine Act. There are only certain items that may be discussed in closed door meetings. "Section 702. Legislative findings and declaration
(a) Findings. The General Assembly finds that the right of the public to be present at all meetings of agencies and to witness the deliberation, policy formulation and decisionmaking of agencies is vital to the enhancement and proper functioning of the democratic process and that secrecy in public affairs undermines the faith of the public in government and the public's effectiveness in fulfilling its role in a democratic society." There are only 3 exclusions to open meetings and this one does not fit.
17 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
By picking and choosing who may attend this meeting is nothing more than a violation of the Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act.
The people of this State had the right to know what was being said and had the right to record the meeting.
18 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Tedeaux there is a PDF on line somewhere that explained all this, I believe it was a legal document. Also the RDA has a document on line that explains it. Can't post the link but it is there. Kind of crazy but it happens a lot. Buy land with no mineral rights and you are pretty much screwed. Truthfully I am not sure what they can do here. This statement says a lot; "Novak said that DCNR continues to be in discussions with Anadarko to develop its mineral rights within the Loyalsock State Forest"
11 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
we the people need to read up on the sunshine act before any meetings go on behind closed doors
11 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
It is right to keep the outside groups away while everyone locally involved takes each other's temperature.
It is far better to see if a local consensus can be reached first. If so, then they can invite outside input.
This is unfortunate, but many of these outside groups have no interest in listening to anyone.
3 Agrees | 23 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
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