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Range Description
Habitat and Ecology
- Terrestrial
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Pan troglodytes troglodytes
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
There are 16 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.
Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.
See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
-- end --
Download FASTA File
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Pan troglodytes troglodytes
Public Records: 16
Specimens with Barcodes: 16
Species With Barcodes: 1
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Year Assessed
- 2007Endangered (EN)
- 2000Endangered (EN)
- 2000Endangered (EN)
- 1996Endangered (EN)
- 1988Vulnerable (V)
Population Trend
Conservation Actions
Central chimpanzee
The central chimpanzee or Tschego (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) is a subspecies of the common chimpanzee (one of the closest living relatives to humans, along with the bonobo). It occurs mainly in Gabon, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo, but also, to a lesser extent, in other regions.
Pan is derived from the Greek god of fields, groves, and wooded glens, Pan. Troglodytes is Greek for 'cave-dweller', and was coined by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach in his Handbuch der Naturgeschichte (Handbook of Natural History) published in 1779.
Distribution and habitat[edit]
The central chimpanzee occurs in Central Africa, mainly in Gabon, Cameroon, and Republic of the Congo, but also in the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, the Cabinda exclave of Angola, south-east Nigeria, and (possibly) the coastal extension of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range extends north to the Sanaga River in Cameroon, east to the Ubangi River that defines the border between the two Congos, and south to the Congo River, which defines a large part of the same border.[2][3]
Chimpanzees are found predominantly in tropical moist forests and wet savanna woodlands, as well as the forest-savanna mosaics where these two biomes meet, from sea level to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).[4] They tend to have larger ranges in the forest-savanna mosaics.[2] The average range is 12.5 km2 (4.8 sq mi), but can vary from 5 km2 (1.9 sq mi) to 400 km2 (150 sq mi).[2]
The 2007 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species classifies the central chimpanzee as Endangered.[2] In 1988 they were considered "Vulnerable", but have been considered "Endangered" since at least 1996.[2] The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates there are as many as 115,000 individuals alive,[1] but that the number is more likely between 47,000 and 78,000[4] The Central Chimpanzee only has large, robust populations where large amounts of forest are left undisturbed; smaller, isolated populations also remain.[3] According to the IUCN, decline in the central chimpanzee population is expected to continue for another 30 to 40 years.[2]
Major threats to central chimpanzee populations include Ebola virus disease, poaching for bushmeat, and habitat destruction.[1][2][4] The IUCN attributes this to increasing human presence (agriculture, de-forestation, development) and political instability.[2]
Due to their close genetic relationship to humans, chimpanzees are vulnerable to viruses that afflict humans, such as Ebola, the common cold, influenza, pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, measles, yellow fever, HIV and may contract other parasitological diseases such as schistosomiasis, filariasis, giardiasis, and salmonellosis.[4]
Link with HIV-1[edit]
Two types of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infect humans: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the more virulent and easily transmitted, and is the source of the majority of HIV infections throughout the world; HIV-2 is largely confined to west Africa.[5] Both types originated in west and central Africa, jumping from primates to humans. HIV-1 has evolved from a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIVcpz) found in the central chimpanzee.[6][7] Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has the greatest genetic diversity of HIV-1 so far discovered, suggesting that the virus has been there longer than anywhere else. HIV-2 crossed species from a different strain of SIV, found in the Sooty Mangabey, monkeys in Guinea-Bissau.[5]
- ^ a b c World Wildlife Fund: Central chimpanzee. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Tutin, C.E.G., Baillie, J.E.M., Dupain, J., Gatti, S., Maisels, F., Stokes, E.J., Morgan, D.B. & Walsh, P.D. (2008). Pan troglodytes ssp. troglodytes. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
- ^ a b WWF: Central chimpanzee – Population & Distribution. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
- ^ a b c d WWF: Chimpanzee facts and issues. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
- ^ a b Reeves JD, Doms RW (June 2002). "Human immunodeficiency virus type 2". J. Gen. Virol. 83 (Pt 6): 1253–65. doi:10.1099/vir.0.18253-0. PMID 12029140.
- ^ Keele BF, Van Heuverswyn F, Li Y, et al. (July 2006). "Chimpanzee reservoirs of pandemic and nonpandemic HIV-1". Science 313 (5786): 523–6. doi:10.1126/science.1126531. PMC 2442710. PMID 16728595.
- ^ Gao F, Bailes E, Robertson DL, et al. (February 1999). "Origin of HIV-1 in the chimpanzee Pan troglodytes troglodytes". Nature 397 (6718): 436–41. doi:10.1038/17130. PMID 9989410.
kingdom: Animalia phylum: Chordata class: Mammalia order: Primates family: Hominidae genus: Pan Scientific Name: Pan troglodttes
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Fishsticks Designs offers sewing patterns for unique and modern clothing that is always practical for you and your family. Fishsticks Designs was born from my desire to not only sew clothing for my ...
Fishsticks Designs offers sewing patterns for unique and modern clothing that is always practical for you and your family. Fishsticks Designs was born from my desire to not only sew clothing for my own children but also to teach other moms (and grandmas, and aunts, and maybe even a few dads) to do the same. Each of my patterns includes step-by-step instructions with words and pictures so that you can read and see what to do next. It's almost like sitting in my sewing room with me. It's at least the closest that I can get without you stopping by for a visit.
I'm blessed to be mom to six children, two girls and four boys. Because my youngest three are boys and they're the ones I sew for the most, I tend to focus my designing on patterns that work great for boys. I also enjoy creating patterns with an incredible amount of versatility so that you can become comfortable with a pattern and go back to it again and again without your end products looking exactly the same. I want you to be able to build a whole wardrobe for your child from just a few patterns.
I begin each pattern with a hand-drawn design and work to get the fit just right for my little ones. Then I transfer my hand-drawn design the computer and create a digital design which is then graded up and down to each of the sizes included with the pattern. Once the pattern is ready, I call on my skilled testers to test out the pattern, instructions and sizing.
My end goal is to give you a great-fitting, easy-to-follow pattern each time!
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Proverbs 31:28
THIS IS AN ECO-FRIENDLY, NO-PATTERN-PIECE PATTERN. All pieces are measured and cut according to the included measurements.
The Let's Go, Baby! Diaper Clutch is the perfect grab-and-go bag for mom and baby! Unroll the clutch to reveal a padded changing mat and pockets for diapers and wipes. Roll it up and fasten the tab for a stylish bag. The finished mat measures 12" x 27". The folded clutch measures 8" x 12".
Fabrics & Notions:
Cotton Woven Fabrics (quilters cotton or bottomweights)
2? of 1/2? hook & loop (Velcro)
(Fabrics are cut across the grain. Choose nondirectional fabrics for the best results)
Fabric A (outer & pocket) - 7/8 yard
Fabric B (inner, tab & handle) - 3/4 yard
Fusible fleece - 1/2 yard
The Let's Go, Baby! Diaper Clutch is part of the Go Fish Pattern Series by Fishsticks Designs. These "instant gratification" projects are designed with the busy sewist in mind. Each project is simple and straightforward and can be finished in just a few hours. All of the Go Fish patterns are sewn with basic rectangles that are cut with your quilting mat and rotary cutter using the included measurements.

subset: commoncrawl


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Russian architects Asya Baranova and Nikolay Pokorsky have transformed a Soviet-era furniture store in St Petersburg into a vegetarian cafe, featuring raw materials and an assortment of plants (+ slideshow). More »
Tag: St Petersburg
Naturalist exhibition in Russia features products that reconnect city dwellers with nature
Stools made from woven birch bark and plant pots that double as bird feeders featured in an exhibition that brought together 15 Russian designers (+ slideshow). More »
Grimshaw completes St Petersburg airport
with folded golden ceilings
Yandex Saint Petersburg Office II
by Za Bor Architects
New Holland Island
by WORKac
Zoological Park of St Petersburg by TN Plus
and Beckmann-N'Thépé
Paris landscape designers TN Plus and architects Beckmann N'Thépe have won a competition to design a zoological park on a series of artificial islands for the outskirts of St Petersburg. More »
Moika Krukov by Erick van Egeraat
This residential building for the riverbank in St. Petersburg by Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat has been approved for construction. More »
Dance Palace by UNStudio
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Policy & Enforcement Briefing: McCarthy Ads, Biofuel Approvals
American Sustainable Business Council Action Fund has spent in the mid-six figures to launch an ad campaign urging support for the embattled EPA administrator nominee Gina McCarthy. The Sierra Club is running a similar campaign, trying to get key GOP senators to push through confirmation for McCarthy, the Hill reports.
French president Francois Hollande fired environment and energy minister Delphine Batho and replaced her with Philippe Martin, after she publicly criticized the budget set for her department. The departure comes at a critical time as the country debates its future energy mix, Bloomberg reports. Hollande has pledged to lower the country's dependence on nuclear from 75 to 50 percent of output.
Raising the safety culture in Japanese nuclear plants to international standards will "take a long time," the country's Nuclear Regulation Authority said yesterday, just days before new safety rules are due to take effect there. The regulator said awareness of nuclear dangers was weak before the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The EPA has approved giant reed and napier grass for use as biofuel to be mixed with gasoline, under the renewable fuel standard, over environmentalist objections that the crops are invasive species that could harm native plants. But the agency added restrictions aimed at containing the plants' spread, the Hill reports.
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Energy Manager News
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- Massachusetts Aims for Critical Care Resiliency
- State of Michigan and MISO Propose Retail Capacity Charge
- Breaking the Ice with Thermal Energy Storage
- Ameresco to Upgrade Federal Prison in Butner, NC
- Alpen Introduces Window Package Rated at R10 Insulation


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Training in the four basic skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. This course, the first of the two-part elementary Italian sequence, quickly takes students from knowing no Italian at all to the point where they can understand and enjoy the language. In addition to using the textbook and its online components, students also learn about Italy's culture through innovative activities in class. Oral drills, written exercises, 3 hours per week. Text: Avanti!, 2nd ed. with online component.
Continued training in the four basic skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Building upon what they learned in 110, students in this class are exposed to all principal grammar points that remain. Added emphasis on communication skills and on developing the ability to complete a wide range of linguistic tasks as well as on acquiring familiarity with Italian culture. Text: Avanti!, 2nd ed. with online component. Prerequisite: ITAL 110.
Lecture with student participation. Acquisition of the four language skills: speaking, reading, speaking and listening. For students with no previous study of Italian. Course covers the same material as one year of Elementary Italian (110 and 120). Successful completion of ITAL 126 followed by ITAL 246 allows student to satisfy CAS language requirement in one year. Especially recommended for students intending to participate in the Siena Program.
This course will teach the basics of English grammar to students of foreign languages. It seeks to provide native English speakers with a foundation in their own language, which will aid in the acquisition and understanding of French and Italian grammatical structures. This course is intended especially for students beginning their foreign language study, but is offered as a review for all students who would like to improve their knowledge of basic English grammar.
Readings, discussion, revision of grammar and exercises. Review of first-year grammar and further development of the four acquisitional skills: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Prerequisites: ITAL 120, 126 or instructor's permission.
Reading and discussion, selective grammar review and conversation. Development of reading skills, introduction to modern Italian literary texts which will serve as basis for class discussion and writing assignments. Grammar review and reinforcement will respond to student needs. Selected readings from the works of contemporary Italian authors: short stories, poetry, film and/or theater. Prerequisite: ITAL 120 or 126 or permission of instructor.
Thatcher House, by arrangement. First Year Programs feature small classes or discussion sections of lecture classes taught in the residence halls. In order to participate, students must register for at least two residentially based courses in each of their first two semesters at the University. Honors Colloquium (ITAL 280 H01) available. 1 cr.
This course bridges the gap between introductory language courses and upper-level literature and culture classes. Students will complete a variety of written assignments and participate in classroom discussions based on two contemporary Italian films, excerpts from blogs and newspapers, and readings of literary works included in the primary text. Students will review basic grammar and learn advanced grammatical constructions. Themes include, but are not limited to, the changing role and composition of the Italian family and the evolving gender roles in Italian society. Prerequisite: ITAL 240 or 246 or permission of instructor.
Is there an Italian Superman? Do Italians love Mickey Mouse even more than Americans do? Are Italians as obsessed with zombies as we are? What are the newest, most interesting Italian graphic novels and what do they tell us about Italian culture, society and history? This course will explore the history of Italian fumetti and graphic novels (in English) beginning with comics journals of the early 1900s and ending with contemporary comic books, strips and graphic novels. Students will learn how to read and interpret the hybrid language of comics, using an appropriate vocabulary for the medium. We will study a number of important historical moments in Italian history, including the ventennio of Fascism, the 1960s and 1970s, and the creation of the EU, connecting them to the history of publication of Italian comics and graphic novels. With this newly-acquired historical knowledge, students will engage in critical analysis of the texts and will explore how these texts both reflect and engage with Italian society at the time of their production. Ultimately, students will acquire a general knowledge of contemporary Italian history and the ability to read and analyze the medium of comics. In addition, they will develop the skills necessary for critically engaging with pop culture and connecting art to socio-cultural history. Prerequisite: ITAL 240 or 246 or permission of instructor.
This course is a historical overview of how the most modern form of visual and narrative art responded to Italian culture, i.e. one of the richest traditions in painting, mosaic and theater. From silent movies to current productions, the history of Italian film parallels and documents also the history of a modern nation, from a pre-industrial to a post-industrial economy.
This course will approach the rich Mediterranean tapestry by focusing on connections among the various cultures of the Mediterranean basin. Emphases on art/architecture, literature, environmental practices, commerce and food, from a historical perspective. Examples will be taken chiefly from Sicily and Southern Italy, North Africa, Venice, Turkey (Constantinople) and the Middle East, Spain and France; from the medieval period to more recent colonial occupations and contemporary migrations. This course fulfills the IE requirement for Italian majors.
Course crosslisted at the 400 and 500 levels, with different course requirements for graduate and undergraduate students. The course will present an overview of the many aspects of Italian literary culture during and around the years of the fascist regime: from the hi-brow poetry of Eugenio Montale and Umberto Saba to the cultural debate on pro-fascist and antifascist periodicals, to the bestsellers of the time such as the novels of fascist propaganda, those meant for educating the large public of female readers, the so called "erotic" literature and many other aspects of Italian culture under the regime. Strong emphasis will be placed on the social and historic circumstances of which each text examined was an expression, thus providing an accurate account of the many aspects of fascism in Italy in relation with the larger European context. Requirements: Two formal assignments, midterm, presentations and final paper. Prerequisite: Italian 240 or 246.


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Green Bay's WS Packaging Group names new CEO
WS Packaging Group Inc., of Green Bay, has appointed Fred Tinsey as chief executive officer, effective Monday.
He replaces Rex Lane, who has left WS Packaging to pursue a personal business opportunity, the company said.
Tinsey, a former WS Packaging director, joins the company from OE Quality Friction Corp., of Mississauga, Ontario, where he is chairman and previously served as CEO.
With more than 45 years of experience, WS Packaging Group says it is one of the largest printing and label converting operations in North America. It operates 21 manufacturing plants and produces packaging products for high-volume manufacturers and consumer products companies.
WS Packaging Group is majority owned by J.W. Childs Associates LP, a private equity firm based in Boston that invests in middle-market growth companies.
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Recent national business updates from the Associated Press


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A Special Pre-Yom Kippur Jewish Ethics Seminar
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The Institute for Jewish Ethics will present "Bankruptcy Ethics: Debt Resolution and Bankruptcy: Comparing the U.S. and Talmudic Legal Systems."
Speakers will be Rabbi Eliezer Hirsch of Congregation Mekor Habracha and attorney David Offen.
The seminar is approved for 1 hour Ethics CLE credit.
A kosher lunch will be served. Cost: $25 with CLE, $15 without.
Register at: ijethics.org/store/p48/Bankruptcy.html.
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Flower Names for Girls
Poppy, unlike most floral names which are sweet and feminine, has a lot of spunk; Poppy makes an especially good choice for a redhead. Jamie Oliver -- the British "Naked Chef" -- used Poppy for... Read More
Posey is fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is rarely heard here. A possible alternative to Rosy or short form for Josephine. Posey (or Posy)... Read More
Still found in quaint British novels, and until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms, some adventurous namers are suddenly beginning to see Primrose as an attractive... Read More
Rose, one of the old-time sweet-smelling flower names, has had a remarkable revival—first of all as a middle name—with parents (e.g., Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck, Jon Stewart, Eric Clapton, Ewan... Read More
Senna is a flowering bush common in the tropics, with bright yellow flowers. In herbal medicine, Senna has gained some notice as the active ingredient in so-called "dieter's teas," which works... Read More
One of the most unusual flower names, Tulip is cute but tough to pull off as a first. It has some celebrity cred via Charlie Tamara Tulip, twin daughter of Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell. Read More
Recent User Lists
- Cowboy / Western Names (BOYS)
- Skyrim Girl Names
- Boys Names that Sound Both Strong and Smart
- Classic, but Uncommon Names
- my top Hyphen girl Names
Violet is soft and sweet but far from shrinking. The Victorian Violet, one of the prettiest of the color and flower names, was chosen by high-profile parents Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck,... Read More
Xochitl is a Nahuatl -- or Aztec -- floral name used in southern Mexico and pronounced so-chat-l. Internet entrepreneur Xochi Birch is probably the best-known bearer in the US -- except for the... Read More
Zahara, a delicate but strong multicultural name, came into the spotlight when Angelina Jolie bestowed it on her Ethiopian-born daughter, and we predict other parents will adopt it as well. If you... Read More
Zinnia is an unusual floral choice with a bit more edge and energy than most and beginning to find its way onto namers' wish lists of botanical possibilities. Named after an eighteenth German... Read More
You might also like these lists:
- Cool Girl Names from Ancient Cultures Includes: Aurelia
- Baby Names That Mean Luck Includes: Asher
- Space Baby Names Includes: Aurora
- Italian Word Names Includes: Aurora
- Names Girls Love Having Includes: Ariel
- 1900s Baby Names Includes: Arthur
- Belles of the Ball Includes: Annabel, Arabella
- Unisex Baby Names Includes: Avery
- Antique Baby Names Ready for Restoration Includes: Adeline, Amos, Atticus
- Literary Names for Girls Includes: Arabella, Aurora


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Skip to comments.Latin King Gang Member Shot While Tagging Garage Near Fairmount Park
Posted on 12/17/2009 4:58:55 PM PST by Red in Blue PA
A southwestern Illinois man claims he shot in self defense when a 17-year-old gang-banger attempted to break into the home where he was staying Tuesday night.
Law officers, however, tell another story. They say the 38-year-old shooter fired at the teen from a distance of 75 to 100 feet away. And -- they say -- the teen wasn't trying to break into the house. He was shot while spray painting graffiti on the garage in the backyard.
The incident occurred unincorporated Collinsville just down the street from the Fairmount Park race track. The teen was found a few blocks away near the intersection of Collinsville Road and Black Lane and rushed to a St. Louis hospital with a wound to his chest and back.
According to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, the teen is a member of the Latin King street gang and a resident of St. Louis who's known to frequent St. Clair County. The sheriff's department says the teen purchased three cans of spray paint earlier that day in Collinsville. He's currently listed in stable condition at the hospital.
Sheriff deputies have arrested the 38-year-old man who fired the shot on charges of aggravated battery with a firearm. They say he is not the owner of the residence, but rather friend of the homeowner who was staying at the home.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.riverfronttimes.com ...
IMO, it should be open season on any gang member involved in gang activity.
The guy was shot for taking out the trash
Meant to say:
The guy was Arrested taking out the trash
And the problem with shooting a tagger is?
That's one way of looking at it. Another way would be to say he was arrested for being stupid. when you shoot from that distance, it's kinda hard to claim self defense afterwards.
ON THE INTERNET - LATIN KINGS (Gang):
Another case of the police aiding and abetting criminal activity. Shame on all of them for siding with the useless human waste gangbanger instead of someone who really did not want to be bothered with graffiti cleanup.
When I lived out in the country, I came to the conclusion that I should be able to shoot poachers. Didn't act on it, though.
Surely, he heard the banging on the door first and that's when he got his gun and went outside.
It was only one.
Silencers are your friend.
Further indications would be that the bullet didn't properly expand and expend it's energy. He needs to accept recommendations from his local gun shop for different ammunition for that caliber.
Vandalism is not a capital offense.........
LOL—So friendly, in fact, that they will give you a free ticket to federal prison.
> And the problem with shooting a tagger is?
This year in New Zealand a homeowner chased, stabbed and killed a tagger for tagging his property in South Auckland. The homeowner went to gaol.
The case split public opinion neatly in two.
Gangs are a cancer on this nation. Until people wake up to this fact and ACCEPT things like this shooting (meaning no jail), the problem will only get worse.
What real disincentive do gang members have in this country to partake in their activities?
And the problem with shooting a tagger is?
Vandalism is not a capital offense.........
Yes, but a gang-banger getting shot while commiting a crime should simply be looked at as an occupational hazard.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
> Vandalism is not a capital offense.........
Spot on!
I think it is cases like this that give Armed Homeowners a hard rap for Credibility. Nobody ought to die for vandalism, and it can't be seriously argued that they should.
Vandalism should be punished by hard labor. Lots of it. A few years on a chain gang cleaning up graffiti and vandalism should do the trick nicely.
In this case the right move would have been for the homeowner's friend to hold the perp at gunpoint for the cops and, if local laws permit, perform a citizen's arrest. Then, if the perp counter-attacked, that's a different matter — self-defense comes into play. If counter-attacked with a weapon, all bets are off, fill him full of lead.
I expect the jury to bring in a Guilty Verdict for murder, and for the Judge to impose a fairly lengthy sentence of imprisonment.
Which is how it should be.
murder == aggravated battery with a firearm or attempted murder. The scroat didn't die.
Oh please! Get off your damn soapbox.........
Approving the killing of a kid, no matter what his affiliations are, over spray painting a building shows just how ignorant you are and stereotypical of everything the leftists accuse us of being..........
You're not only a joke and a disgrace to all Christian conservatives but you're just plain sick!
I am not on a soapbox of any kind. You are clueless my friend, if you do not see the threat gangs post to this nation.
My advice is to educate yourself.....watch A&E's specials on Gangs. It's a wake up call for this nation!
That sounds bad........
> How many people die each year because they wonder into places where the area is tagged as a gangs?
Then surely these gangs are performing a public service by advertising their presence by tagging? Would it be better if they didn't tag and you could stumble into their neighborhoods and get killed without any warning at all?
Make no mistake: I am opposed to tagging and I do not like gangs or the crime that comes along with them. Tagging is a part of the intimidation that gangs perpetrate on neighborhoods. It's all part of their "package".
That said, Tags are a fantastically convenient sign that a neighborhood has a crime problem. In my view, gangs would be much smarter not to advertise their presence in this fashion.
Oh well, it makes my task much, much easier.
> That sounds bad........
It is difficult to do something bad enough to go to gaol in New Zealand, but if one is willing to invest the time and effort and really try hard, our courts will oblige.
Gaols here are almost medieval.
It will be either Paremoremo or Mt Eden (think "Sing Sing" or "Alcatraz" but right in the middle of a posh suburb), and he will probably be in protective custody throughout his sentence.
He has received death threats and a promise that he will not be released alive. And, I have heard, there is a sizable bounty issued to help ensure that outcome.
It's a really tragic story: he was a family man, middle management, and he won't see his kids while they grow up.
One less POS to worry about.
Tagger = vandal
Dead tagger = dead vandal
In reality, the guy has probably saved countless lives by his actions.
Was sort of a business vacation....
Loved it...but want to go back.
Thanks for the education.....
Reality is that he is most likely going to jail.
> In reality, the guy has probably saved countless lives by his actions.
> Dead tagger = dead vandal
Dead tagger = dead petty criminal
No, you just have to fill out the paperwork to get tax stamp for a suppressor, unless your state gov has completely negated the 2nd amendment so bad that you can't get a class 3 device.
Also looks like this guy just lives in the wrong state, it used to be that if someone was damaging your property, no one cared if you defended it, it was called property rights. Now leftist and statists have so eroded all our rights including the sovreignity of our own property that this is not so in all states.
Are you aware of the rampant gang problem in the USA? From the sound of it, I don't think you have a clue, no offense intended.
Gangs rules parts of every major city. Until we as a nation undertake the dirty job of taking this country back, all is lost.
The chaos on the Mexico border is not far behind if we cannot control gangs.
No, you just have to fill out the paperwork to get tax stamp for a suppressor, unless your state gov has completely negated the 2nd amendment so bad that you can't get a class 3 device, but, this is Illinois in the story so....there you go.
Also looks like this guy just lives in the wrong state, it used to be that if someone was damaging your property, no one cared if you defended it, it was called property rights. Now leftist and statists have so eroded all our rights including the sovreignity of our own property that
this is not so in all states.
No, you just have to fill out the paperwork to get tax stamp for a suppressor, unless your state gov has completely negated the 2nd amendment so bad that you can't get a class 3 device, but, this is Illinois in the story so....there you go.
Also looks like this guy just lives in the wrong state, it used to be that if someone was damaging your property, no one cared if you defended it, it was called property rights. Now leftist and statists have so eroded all our rights including the sovreignity of our own property that
this is not so in all states.
My understanding of the law of trespass is that it entitles you to restitution for damages, and it's a doctrine that dates pretty much back to the Norman Conquest.
Heck, even in Texas the guy has to steal something before you can shoot him.
The shooter made the cardinal mistake of opening his mouth to the cops.
If he'd popped a cap in his ass and kept his yap shut he wouldn't be having these problems.
If committing a minor "crime" such as trespassing or tagging a garage is grounds for execution without trial, I wonder how many of the people here all hot to see someone gunned down for the same would have would be dead as a result of a minor stupidity committed in their teens - I certainly would be.
The Latin Kingss are some of the worst of the worst. Read about them. leanr.
THEN come back and talk.
The Latin Kings rose to be one of the most feared and revered gangs inside and outside the penal system in the state of Illinois. The Latin Kings ordered "hits" against correctional officers, killed disobedient members and did not hesitate to commit violence against rival gang members. Latin King gang members would follow orders and vowed to lay down their lives for their "Nation". Unfortunately, this also meant extreme internal discipline and organized fear. One such story goes as follows:
In 1983, an inmate by the name of Carlos Robles was considered an escapee two days before he was scheduled to be released from the Illinois Department of Corrections. Years later, a high-ranking Latin King, who turned informant, gave the FBI critical information about the location of Carlos' skull and the bloody tale of how the Latin Kings butchered him and fed him to the Stateville Prison inmate population for dinner.
Oops, sorry about the triple post.
A totally agree with that. I find myself surprised to say. You're right.
"Get off my lawn!" comes to mind.
We've got our own sources for tracking them down, which we do, and then we bring the heat.
Their houses are watched constantly and the PD is notified of the smallest infractions. I've literally seen gang bangers arrested for spitting on the street.
We photograph and video their activities and we don't back down. They're made VERY aware that a significant portion of the homes on the block have external video cameras which record their every move.
We track down the owners of the (almost always)Section 8 properties and send them by registered mail copies of my towns Nuisance Property Ordinance. That gets the landlords attention.
In short we take no shit from these people. As a result they don't last long in my little corner of the world.
None of these things was what this individual was doing at the time - he was tagging a garage, and could easily have been a "wanna-be" or a peripheral gang members - that's for example the case with most of the teens caught tagging garages in my neighborhood with "gang-related" stuff.
Now, tagging is a real PITA - it can cost hundreds of dollars to repaint a garage, and the city is Johnny on the spot with a fine if I don't immediately remove graffiti - and I'm right there with the poster who suggested that anyone caught tagging should spend a month or two removing other people's tagging.
But tagging is not a capital offense - and as to the gang angle, the individual who shot this tagger had no way of knowing if he was actually was a gang member or not.
The guy was arrested for interferrring with police union job security.
Certainly is too; you have any idea how much capital it wastes?
> In short we take no shit from these people. As a result they don't last long in my little corner of the world.
Your neighborhood is the sort of place I wouldn't mind living in. I bet you even keep track of their marks, maybe even digitally. Using smarts against thugs is a winning strategy.
As Mister Punch says "THATssss the way to DO IT!"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Gold prospectors take advantage of Calif. drought
AUBURN, Calif. -- As California's drought persists and water levels dip to historically low levels, gold prospectors are taking to Northern California rivers hoping to spot something shiny.
The Sacramento Bee reports that calling it a gold rush might be a stretch, but unusually low rivers are opening up areas of Placer County that haven't been touched by man in decades. Flakes -- possibly even nuggets -- that normally would be submerged might be available.
-- Associated Press


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When USAID first arrived in Egypt in the late 1970s, poor water quality, pollution, and over-extended sanitation facilities had become a serious public health hazard – particularly in urban areas where diseases such as eye infections, diarrhea, fever, and rheumatism linked to daily contact with sewage were rampant. Over the next 35 years, USAID invested more than $3.5 billion to help bring potable water and sanitation services to over 25 million Egyptians, directly improving their health and environmental conditions.
USAID initially targeted construction and rehabilitation of wastewater systems in Cairo, Alexandria, and the three Suez Canal Cities. In Cairo, USAID funded a $727 million project from 1984-2006 to improve wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal on the West Bank of Cairo. A high level of saline and contaminated groundwater, due to leaking sewers and the regional influence of irrigation practices on the water table, threatened the structural integrity of several buildings and historic momunents in this area. After lowering the groundwater table to safe levels, USAID installed new and improved sewerage services that benefit hundreds of thousands of citizens in some of the poorest and most densely populated areas of central Cairo – and allowed commerce to grow.
USAID funded the installation of an entire piped sewage collection network in Alexandria that eliminated untreated sewage from Alexandria's streets and Mediterranean Sea beaches. As a result, infant mortality rates and waterborne diseases dropped by 80 percent. Built in the late 1980s, the construction and rehabilitation of seven pump stations and the two major wastewater treatment plants in Alexandria anticipated projected population growth until 2010 – these plants continue to function, but increased population has put a strain on these facilities.
In the early 1990s, USAID focused on smaller cities in the Delta, South Sinai, and Upper Egypt. Construction of over 30 water treatment and wastewater facilities in Fayoum, Beni Suef, and Minya governorates were constructed to benefit more than three million people. However, given the downward trend in fertility rates at the time, the systems did not anticipate such rapid population growth – there are now nearly 11 million people living in those three governorates.
USAID shifted focus in the late 1990s from water construction activities to institutional and policy reforms, with cost recovery efforts as the centerpiece. In 2004, USAID helped the Government of Egypt establish the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW), a national umbrella organization to standardize and govern local water utilitity companies, as well as the Egyptian Water Regulatory Authority. USAID also launched a program to strengthen the policy, legal, and regulatory framework for water distribution and access. By 2011, eleven of HCWW's 24 subsidiaries have been able to achieve cost recovery for operations and maintenance and the others have made great strides toward sustainability and self-sufficiency – as well as improving operating efficiencies, billing, and collection systems. Recently, in a major breakthrough supported by USAID, Egypt's Cabinet approved a tariff structure for the water sector that will allow HCWW to achieve operations and maintenance cost recovery in less than five years, and full cost recovery and sustainability in ten.
With reforms in place, USAID is focusing again on increasing access to clean water and sanitation services in underserved rural areas. These residents suffer from unreliable and sometimes low quality potable water service and lack of wastewater connections and treatment. Water pollution in canals and drains still represents the greatest threat to public health in these villages, as wastewater is discharged without treatment to agricultural drains and canals and carries the risk of waterborne disease. Further, population growth has led to an expansion of settlements over the heavily polluted, unsanitary waterways, putting villagers further at risk.
USAID efforts will improve access to services for 650,000 residents in these areas – services that are essential to the health of the residents and the economy of Upper Egypt. Not only do better water and wastewater services and facilities contribute to improvements in tourism, trade, and investment, but they also create thousands of job opportunities for day laborers to construct facilities. For instance, in the Baheeg community in Assiut Governorate, USAID worked directly with the local municipal water and wastewater holding company to construct a $2.6 million slow sand filter treatment plant with the capacity to supply 10,000 households (50,000 persons) with potable water. An additional $150,000 was used to fund the installation of a distribution pipeline to tie the Baheeg community to the plant using local unskilled labor and provided 1,700 person-days of local employment.
- Over 25 million Egyptians have access to clean water and sanitation thanks to USAID-funded water systems and wastewater treatment plants.
- USAID recently funded construction of 45,000 new or improved water connections in homes and over 850 km of pipelines that provide water to surrounding villages. Combined, these improvements serve more than 1.8 million Egyptians – many of whom received potable water and sanitation for the first time.
- From 2012-2014, USAID created employment opportunities for thousands of day laborers in constructing water facilities, providing 460,000 days of labor.
Current Activities
North Sinai Initiative: This project increases access to potable water and improves sanitation for residents in the restive North Sinai area, where access to clean water and sanitation services is scarce. Water access and infrastructure is improved through the drilling of deep wells; construction of desalination plants, potable water transmission and distribution lines, and water reservoirs; as well as procurement of water distribution trucks. Implementing Partner: HCWW; Life of Project: October 1, 2014-September 30, 2017; Total USAID Funding: $50 million; Bilateral Agreement: North Sinai Initiative.
Egypt Utilities Management: Similar to the North Sinai Initiative, this program improves access to water and sanitation in underserved communities of rural Upper Egypt, including Beni Suef, Assiut, Sohag, Luxor, and Aswan, by providing access to safe water, constructing wastewater facilities for basic sanitation, and supporting water and sanitation policy and governance. Implementing Partner: HCWW; Life of Project: October 1, 2014-June 30, 2018; Total USAID Funding: $30 million; Bilateral Agreement: Egypt Utilities Management.
Last updated: September 20, 2016


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Rise to the challenge - and get ready for the ride of your life! The Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway Ride promises to be a great cycling experience, attracting close to 3,000 cyclists from across the country. Pedal along some of the most beautiful scenery Missouri has to offer, while you enjoy a fully supported, fun and truly inspirational experience. The 40, 75, or 100-mile scenic loop each day of the Bike MS: Gateway Getaway Ride which begins and ends at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia, MO, features miles of beautiful scenery, complete with rest stops approximately every 10-15 miles, support & gear vehicles and first-aid stations. Register today at http://gatewaymsbikeride.org!
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Homicide Detectives Probe 24-Year-Old Woman's Death In La PuenteThe woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Woman Accused Of Driving Over Her Boyfriend, Killing HimSharon Kay Hood has been charged in connection with the murder of her longtime boyfriend Randolph Morales.
Crews Extinguish Fire At Strip Mall In La PuenteAround 8:45 p.m. Sunday, crews were sent to a strip mall located in the 17300 block of Valley Boulevard near Hurley Street for report of a fire burning in a unit, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Shooting Outside Bassett Restaurant Leaves 1 Dead, 1 WoundedWitnesses told police they heard about 15 gunshots.
School Principal Gets Paul McCartney's Autograph Tattooed On Her BackA day after being invited onstage during a Paul McCartney concert, a woman from La Puente had his name tattooed on her back.
Big Storms End With Big CleanupsCrews spent the day cleaning up messes left by the storms including removing a giant tree that toppled in the middle of a street in La Puente.
Deputy Performs CPR To Save 7-Month-Old Child's Life In La PuenteAuthorities acknowledged the actions of an Industry Station deputy Monday who saved a 7-month-old child's life in the City of La Puente.
Homicide Detectives Investigate Deadly Deputy-Involved Shooting In Valinda Homicide detectives investigated the circumstances surrounding a deputy-involved shooting in Valinda on Friday.
Homicide Detectives Investigate Death Of Man In La PuenteUpon their arrival, an adult man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Barricade Situation In La Puente Apartment Complex Ends After 12-Hour Stand-OffDeputies were responded to the 900 block of Willow Avenue following a report of a male adult wanted for domestic assault who was believed to be armed.
2 Killed In Possible Street Racing Crash In La PuenteA two-vehicle crash killed two people and sent a third to the hospital with major injuries, authorities said.
La Puente Woman, 38, Missing For Nearly 3 WeeksAuthorities need the public's help Friday to find a 38-year-old woman who has been missing for nearly three weeks.


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This report is a data-centric business intelligence offering of Company in the residential building construction sector. It details market size, future growth, drivers, and trends across key segments in residential building construction. A detailed segmentation provides a comprehensive understanding of the residential building construction market by value, volume, construction markets (Single Family and Multi Family), location (Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3), price point (Luxury, Midscale, and Affordable housing), and construction type (new construction, re-development, and maintenance & repair). In addition, it details macro-economic fundamentals and benchmarks the residential building construction industry in Bahrain with key global markets along with risk assessment through proprietary Company Construction Industry Attractiveness and Risk Index, which gives unique investment insights.
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Dear Friends,
Imagine a world where young people have no access to the dramatic arts and where students' test scores are the only measure of a child's success. In many parts of the country, this is the reality as schools continue to cut drama programs and families cannot afford to go to the theatre.
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Free Trade Discourse- Time to Shift Emphasis Towards More Meaningful Initiatives
Prediction Eight of or 2016 Predictions for Industry and Global Supply Chains (Available for Complimentary Downloading in our Research Center) anticipates developments surrounding global trade will occupy the attention of many industry and regional global supply chain organizations in 2016 and beyond.
The most prominent trade development is turning out to be the ratification process involving the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). In early October, ministers of the 12 TPP countries announced conclusion of their negotiations regarding trade among what is estimated to represent 40 percent of current global GDP, which is rather significant, especially from a global supply chain context. The countries to be included in TPP are: Australia, Brunei, Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States and Vietnam. In early February, ministers from the 12 countries signed-off on the overall agreement paving the way for the individual member country ratification process that must be completed in two years.
Supply Chain Matters highlighted some of component sections within TPP in a two-part commentary series in November.
As we near the completion of Q1, the TPP ratification process among member countries has involved much political discourse. It now appears that a building political tide among developed countries will delay or possibly derail TPP.
Our original feeling was that as TPP details emerged, industry supply chains would begin to uncover certain strategic and tactical opportunities and impacts related to current global sourcing strategies. Some of these impacts will relate to specific industries and include either current or potential future global value-chain strategies that exist in China, Vietnam, the Eurozone or other countries. Among the goals of TPP was lower trade barriers and increased export opportunities for developed countries in their efforts to market and sell more products in the emerging markets of Asia.
However, as the ratification process continues to unfold, lots of concerns are being raised regarding the true benefits of open global trade as well as the protection of jobs in developed countries.
While business trade groups and associations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have endorsed TPP, other industry factions as seeking either additional concessions or added protections. For instance, pharmaceutical firms are seeking broader provisions for intellectual property protection while the apparel industry remains concerned that TPP could disrupt efforts in fast fashion sourcing, where regional designs are sourced and produced in the consumption region just as the Eurozone of the U.S. in order to accelerate time-to-market turnaround.
Yesterday, a front page article appearing in The Wall Street Journal provided added awareness to the notion that free trade policies are not at all resonating with the electorate in the United States and other developed nations. Resentment toward free trade and indeed building frustrations around government policies more influenced by lobbyists and big business appears to occupy the minds of voters, and consequently, legislators.
In the ongoing U.S. Presidential primary voting process, candidates for both the Democratic and Republican parties have each declared opposition to TPP. What's even more interesting is to observe primary elections held in U.S. states that would seem to have significantly benefitted or were harmed from free trade. For instance South Carolina, which has become a hub for automotive manufacturing and exporting for a variety of foreign based manufacturers, had voters electing to favor candidates openly opposing TPP adoption in its current form. A state such as Michigan which remains the hub of automotive supply chain manufacturers with unionized workers opted for candidates such as Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders who threaten to blow-up existing trade deals that take away from U.S. jobs. It's interesting to hear Mr. Trump rail on a company such as Apple that favors a supply chain sourcing strategy where upwards of a million contract manufacturing assembly jobs exist across China. Perhaps Mr. Trump's staff have read some of our Supply Chain Matters related to Apple.
In yesterday's report, the WSJ cites a survey of 1200 people conducted by Caddell Associates, indicating that among Republican voters, by a margin of 59 percent to 4 percent, and among Democratic voters by a margin of 35 percent to 4 percent, many believe that trade deals benefitted other countries rather than the United States.
Thus, political support for TPP ratification among both U.S. political parties has indeed faltered making any ratification this year somewhat unlikely. Similar opposition is building in other developed countries such as Australia, Canada and Japan. Meanwhile, countries such as Vietnam are embracing the potential benefits that TPP will provide to that country's economy.
Perhaps lost in all of the current discourse are broader tenets provided by TPP in areas such as intellectual property protection, stricter social responsibility and labor collective bargaining requirements along with broader and more impactful supply chain sustainability standards.
Obviously, in order for TPP to gain ratification, much more education and informed discourse will be required. Those companies that favor TPP will have to shift their energies from one of political influence to that of public education and open discourse. Other trade initiatives such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) could be bogged down by the same political discourse.
Rather than be muddled by ongoing uncertainties as to trade and manufacturing sourcing environments, we are now of the view that energies are better focused on efforts directed at insuring long-term supply chain sustainability and greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies. This is an area where, despite political rhetoric, there is a building populace consensus that our planet is in jeopardy from the effects of global climate change. Those effects include risks to strategic supply continuity and longer-term impacts to markets served.
By influencing value-chain sourcing strategies towards strategies that insure supply chain sustainability you risk not getting de-railed by an uncertain political tide directed at the perceived value of free trade agreements. While business executives can rail on too much regulation and regulatory complexity, they should readily understand that climate change poses a far greater strategic threat.
We would certainly value reader comments on this topic.
© 2016 The Ferrari Consulting and Research Group and the Supply Chain Matters® blog. All rights reserved.
Supply Chain Matters 2016 Predictions for Industry and Global Supply Chains In Detail- Part Five
With this posting, we will wrap-up our Supply Chain Matters series outlining in more detail, 2016 Predictions for Industry and Global Supply Chains. These predictions are provided in the spirit of assisting industry supply chain teams in setting management objectives for the year ahead as well as helping our readers and clients to prepare supply chain management and line-of-business teams in establishing meaningful programs, initiatives and educational agendas.
The context for these predictions includes a broad cross-functional umbrella of supply chain strategy, planning, execution, product lifecycle management, procurement, manufacturing, transportation, logistics and service management.
Our predictions series includes a re-look at all that occurred in the current year, a reflection of future implications, and soliciting input from clients and other supply chain and blogosphere observers. Unlike others, we incorporate a lot of thought and perspective into our annual predictions and take the time to actually scorecard our annual predictions at the end of the year.
Readers are welcomed to review our complete listing of all ten 2016 predictions for industry and global supply chains.
In our Part One posting, we dived into Prediction One that addressed what industry supply chains should anticipate in global chain activity and Prediction Two, what to expect for inbound commodity and component costs as well as unique challenges for sourcing and procurement teams in the coming year.
Part Two of our in-detail predictions explored Prediction Three, turbulence and continued change in global transportation / logistics, and Prediction Four, the growing supply chain talent and skills gap requiring organizations to be more innovative and resourceful.
Part Three reviewed our prediction of certain industry-specific challenges occurring in 2016.
Part Four dived into Prediction Six, S&OP processes morphing into broader forms of integrated business planning, and Prediction Seven, how Internet of Things initiatives will dive further into line-of-business deployment realities.
In this posting, we further explore into our final three predictions.
2016 Prediction Eight: Geopolitical Developments Centered on Global Trade Agreements Will Present New Concerns and Challenges for Specific Industry Supply Chains.
Major developments surrounding global trade will occupy the attention of many industry and regional geographic supply chain organizations in 2016. They will impact current tactical and to some extent, strategic plans related to the import and export of goods. The most prominent will be the ratification process involving the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), China's potentially competing One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) and the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) directive. All of these combined will require industry supply chain teams to allocate dedicated management attention to each, along with implications and/or conflicting strategies implied by each.
Details of the recently adopted Trans-Pacific Partnership will continue to unfold in 2016 while individual sponsoring countries undertake the process of ratification. Supply Chain Matters published a first look at TPP elements in November. As TPP details continue to emerge, industry supply chains will begin to uncover certain strategic and tactical impacts related to current global sourcing strategies. Some of these impacts will relate to specific industries and include either current or potential future global value-chain strategies that exist in China, Vietnam, Japan, the Eurozone or other countries. China will continue to drive and influence its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative placing additional political and specific industry pressures on certain TPP participants. Industry supply chain teams will thus be caught in the middle of geopolitical pressures and forces in relation to pending strategic sourcing or value-chain design strategies.
The original COOL legislation had good intent, requiring meat products sold in supermarkets and grocery stores to specifically indicate where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered. Reports indicate that the original law was prompted by the lobbying of U.S. ranchers who compete with the Canadian cattle industry, and later garnered the interest of consumer watchdog interests. In 2015, the World Trade Organization ruled that the U.S. efforts was anti-competitive to Canadian and Mexican animal ranchers. This issue will need resolution in 2016 along with potentially conflicting standards coming from The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP). T-TIP is a trade agreement among the 28 European Union member countries and the United States. It addresses increased access to both member markets for goods and services but it comes with certain definitions as to product branding and country of origin. For instance, parmesan cheese can only originate from certain regions of Italy, and other products of a similar nature have to be labeled or termed differently. The measure further calls for singular approval processes for products, standardized customs and border forms and fees.
Global trade advisory firms such as Livingston International and others are advising industry supply chains to prepare for a number of potential scenarios involving the ongoing trade dispute process invoked by COOL. We certainly concur. While industry supply chain teams might perceive that legislation affecting packaging disclosure of meat products has little to do with service parts, chocolates and wine, it indeed does.
All of these global trade issues will percolate in the coming year and they well may get complex and confusing to sort out.
2016 Prediction Nine: Alibaba and Amazon Will Expand Their Presence in Customer Logistics Fulfillment.
There are stronger indications that online giants Alibaba and Amazon will expand their presence in last-mile customer fulfillment. Increasing transportation rates and surcharges from both FedEx and UPS in 2015, and in the coming year, along with building frustrations over service arrangements make this prediction more viable for the most influential online retailers as well as more evidence pointing to such capabilities.
In late 2015, social media including Supply Chain Matters picked-up a report indicating that an undisclosed major retailer was piloting its own chartered air freight services. An initial report of Amazon's involvement in secretive air freight services came from a posting by Motherboard which referred to operation "Aerosmith" launched in September from an unknown corporation and run by Ohio-based aviation services provider Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). The report indicated that the unnamed company had leased four Boeing 767 air freight aircraft and was operating out of the Wilmington Air Park near Columbus Ohio, a former DHL air freight hub. As we went to press with these predictions in the middle of December 2015, The Seattle Times reported, citing cargo industry executives that Amazon was separately negotiating to lease 20 Boeing 767 air cargo jets for its own air-delivery service. Similarly, The Wall Street Journal, citing more than a dozen current and former executives from both Amazon and UPS, literally confirmed that the online retailer is taking steps to move closer to last mile delivery. The reason, Amazon's shipping costs were reported as being 11.7 percent of total revenues, up from 10.7 percent a year ago. According to the WSJ report, Amazon's spending with UPS exceeds $1 billion alone.
Another data point was Amazon itself which at a holiday focused shipping event, disclosed that it has acquired and deployed thousands of its own Amazon Prime branded fleet of tractor-trailers for transportation needs among its various customer fulfillment and logistics sorting centers.
These three separate but related developments, dedicated surface and air freight capabilities, coupled with well-timed holiday announcements on advanced drone delivery vehicles all lead to our prediction that all of these capabilities will unveil themselves in a more end-to-end contiguous customer fulfillment and premium last-mile delivery capability for Amazon Prime members in 2016.
Similarly in 2015, Alibaba conducted one of the largest online shopping events to-date. According to China based Alibaba, this year's Singles Day online event recorded a record 91.2 billion yuan ($14.3 billion) in one-day gross sales. Volume was reported as surpassing last year's $9.3 billion in sales after 12 hours. For the sake of comparison, 2014 and 2015 online Black Friday and Cyber Monday volumes do not come close to that of this year's Singles Day event for the Chinese online retailer and its other associated online sites. Because of the last-mile delivery challenges within China, Alibaba continues to invest in its own last-mile customer delivery capabilities, and in 2015, came reports of expanding relationships with other global parcel delivery entities such as the U.S. Postal Service.
Amazon and Alibaba will continue to move upstream in last-mile parcel delivery capabilities and this will serve as a wake-up call for remaining online retailers with dependence on higher customer fulfillment and logistics costs. Free Shipping policies have consistently attracted online consumers in buying decisions and offsetting costs will remain the determinant of profitability of online orders in the months to come. Consequently, existing parcel delivery service providers will experience more shipper pushback regarding rate structures.
Needless to state, the industry dynamics of B2C online last mile customer fulfillment are about to change in 2016.
2016 Prediction Ten: A High Visibility Supply Chain Snafu or Event with Business Implications
This is a prediction that we are obviously reluctant to publish for readers and clients. However, our observation of industry supply chains being whiplashed with unprecedented business change and growing global chain risks leads us to this prediction.
The potential for supply chain disruption, whether from natural disasters, political or other unforeseen or unexpected events has greatly increased. The significant explosions and fire that occurred in the proximity to the logistics complex at the Port of Tiajin in 2015 were the latest reminder. Some firms are dealing with the financial and business effects of that event.
Continued pressures to reduce overall supply chain costs in 2016 leads us to conclude that there may well be one or more high visibility supply chain or key supplier breakdowns in the coming year. Industry supply chains that have already undergone multiple years of cost or staffing reductions are likely candidates. Also are industries with highly extended value-chains without adequate risk mitigation. Significantly reduced resources, capacity or product quality assurance and monitoring will likely be casual factors, although public statements will indicate otherwise.
Suppliers will continue to experience pressures to reduce costs but at the same time provide more agility and responsiveness to changing needs. As we approach 2016, there is already an uptick in product recall incidents along with certain supplier quality shortfalls. We believe that the wide scale adoption of zero-based budgeting techniques increases the overall supply chain risk profile.
As to what industries such a snafu will occur, consumer product goods, food, retail, high tech consumer electronics and perhaps medical equipment are likely profiles. We hesitate to add commercial aerospace to this prediction, but that could be possible.
This concludes our series of deep-dives into all ten of Supply Chain Matters 2016 predictions.
All of the content presented in this series along with added detailed perspectives will be incorporated in a comprehensive research report available for complimentary downloading in early January in our Supply Chain Matters Research Center. Look for an upcoming announcement as to availability.
In the meantime, share your own predictions over and above those that we have outlined. Utilize the Comments section associated with this posting or email us directly with your predictions at: feedback <at> supply-chain-matters <dot> com. We have already received other insightful predictions and look forward to accumulating others.
We will share all contributed predictions in a supplemental predictions commentary at the end of December.
We take this opportunity to thank all of our readers and designated sponsors for their loyal following throughout 2015. Please take the opportunity to review the capabilities of each of our sponsors.
We extend a Happy Holidays wish to all and best wishes for the coming New Year.
Rest-up, renew and re-generate during the holidays and let's collectively tackle various industry and global supply chain challenges throughout 2016.
Bob Ferrari, Founder and Executive Editor
©2015 The Ferrari Consulting and Research Group and the Supply Chain Matters® blog.
Content appearing on Supply Chain Matters® may not be used by any third party without written permission of the author and our parent, The Ferrari Consulting and Research Group.
Supply Chain Matters 2016 Predictions for Industry and Global Supply Chains
Once a year, just before the start of the New Year, our parent, the Ferrari Consulting and Research Group along with Supply Chain Matters provide a series of predictions for the coming year. These predictions are provided in the spirit of assisting industry supply chain teams in setting management objectives for the year ahead as well as helping our readers and clients to prepare supply chain management and line-of-business teams in establishing meaningful programs, initiatives and educational agendas.
The context for these predictions includes a broad cross-functional umbrella of supply chain strategy, planning, execution, product lifecycle management, procurement, manufacturing, transportation, logistics and service management.
Our process includes a re-look at all that occurred in the current year, a reflection of future implications, and soliciting input from clients and other supply chain and blogosphere observers. Unlike others, we incorporate a lot of thought and perspective into our annual predictions and take the time to actually scorecard our annual predictions at the end of the year. Readers are welcomed to review our scorecard series of our 2015 predictions that occurred in late November.
In this initial posting, we will unveil our complete listing of our ten predictions for the coming year with summary descriptors. In subsequent postings spanning the remaining weeks of December we will dive further into each of our predictions. In early January, we will publish the complete Ferrari Consulting and Research Group research report, 2016 Predictions for Industry and Global Supply Chains that will incorporate all of our predictions along with even more details and supporting data related to each prediction. This report will be made available to all of our consulting clients and will further be made available for no-cost complimentary downloading in the Research Center of Supply Chain Matters. Anticipate general availability in mid-January with an announcement on this blog.
Let's therefore begin the process with the unveiling our ten 2016 predictions.
2016 Prediction One: A Year of Uncertainty and Continuous Challenges Related to Global Supply Chain Activity
Our first prediction related to global activity is that industry and global supply chains should anticipate another year of uncertainty in planning product demand and supply needs on an individual geographic region or country basis. From our lens, there will be a need for lots of contingency and various scenario planning options, and sales and operations planning will be very engaged and challenged throughout the year to meet expected business outcomes. Even more production overcapacity across China's industry sectors will add to downward global pricing pressures affecting specific industry supply chains.
2016 Prediction Two: Favorable Outlook for Inbound Component and Commodity Costs but Procurement Teams Need to Step-up Supplier Management
Global commodity prices, the raw-material of industry supply chains, declined sharply during 2015. The World Bank's Commodity Markets Outlook published in October 2015 generally called for slightly higher non-energy commodity prices in 2016 including categories of Agriculture, Raw Materials, Fertilizers Metals and Minerals. We believe that may be too optimistic and that continued overcapacity will drive inbound prices generally lower. The most significant commodity price trend remains that of oil, as the price of crude oil has reached seven year lows amidst of global glut of supply and little demand growth.
Due to the uncertainty and the heightened supply risks expected in 2016, procurement teams will need to re-double their efforts focused on supplier assessment and monitoring.
2016 Prediction Three: Turbulence and Continued Change Surrounds Global Transportation and Logistics
As we enter 2016 we are once again compelled to predict another year of turbulence and continued change surrounding global transportation and logistics with particular emphasis in the third-party/fourth-party logistics, global ocean container and air freight segments. We are predicting more consolidation and mergers to occur among ocean container shipping lines and one North America based rail merger to occur in 2016.
2016 Prediction Four: Widening of Supply Chain Talent and Skill Gaps Will Require Organizations to be More Innovative and Purposeful in Recruitment, Career Planning and Training Efforts
We predict that the existing widening skill gaps will compel industry supply chain executives to be more creative and purposeful in recruitment and training. That includes facing the realities of competitive compensation and purposeful career planning for individuals. We expect organizations and recruiters to more broadly define supply chain related jobs in skill dimensions and in expected performance parameters for both current and future organizational needs. Individuals who possess required cross-functional hard and soft skills, including in-depth technology prowess will continue to experience a seller's advantage.
2016 Prediction Five: Noted Supply Chain Industry-Specific Challenges
In 2016, challenges will remain in B2C Online Retail, Commercial Aerospace, Consumer Product Goods (CPG) and Automotive industry sectors. We have added a further 2016 industry challenge, that being current efforts to deploy more sustainable and health conscious agriculture and food based supply chains.
2016 Prediction Six: Certain Industry S&OP Processes Will Morph to Broader Forms of Integrated Business Planning and Product Management.
The term integrated business planning is often depicted as a specific technology vendor term but in reality, it is a desire that all functions of a firm are aligned at a single set of financial, business, supply chain and operational outcomes. As multi-industry business challenges continue in speed and complexity, S&OP processes will need to foster more agility to effectively deal with change. In 2016 we anticipate that certain S&OP teams, those experiencing high levels of value-chain complexity and business change, will begin to morph S&OP process and decision-making with broader information and contextual decision-making components and begin to identify and address obstacles for incorporating key information integration from product management and financial systems.
2016 Prediction Seven: Internet of Things (IoT) Initiatives Continue to Dive into Realities of Line of Business Strategy and Deployment
In 2016, we anticipate that B2B focused manufacturers and services providers will broaden their perspectives on connected devices and services, especially in the notions of the realities for being a software-driven vs. a hardware-driven enterprise. That includes leveraging intellectual property and software knowledge into more innovative products and services that result in new revenue streams. Thus, the value of products will increasingly be defined by the embedded sensors, software and consequent added services that products provide for customers.
2016 Prediction Eight: Geopolitical Developments Centered on Global Trade Agreements Will Present New Concerns and Challenges for Specific Industry Supply Chains.
Details of the recently adopted Trans-Pacific Partnership will continue to unfold in 2016 while individual sponsoring countries undertake the process of ratification. As TPP details emerge, industry supply chains will begin to uncover certain strategic and tactical impacts related to current global sourcing strategies. China will continue to drive and influence its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative placing additional political and specific industry pressures on certain TPP participants. Industry supply chain teams will thus be caught in the middle of geopolitical pressures and forces in relation to pending strategic sourcing or value-chain design strategies.
2016 Prediction Nine: Alibaba and Amazon Will Expand Their Presence in Customer Logistics Fulfillment.
There are stronger indications that online giants Alibaba and Amazon will expand their presence in last-mile customer fulfillment. Increasing transportation rates and surcharges from both FedEx and UPS in 2015, and in the coming year, make this prediction more viable for the most influential online retailers as well as more evidence pointing to such capabilities.
2016 Prediction Ten: A High Visibility Supply Chain Snafu or Event with Business Implications
This is a prediction that we are obviously reluctant to publish for readers and clients. However, our observation of industry supply chains being whiplashed with unprecedented business change and growing global chain risks leads us to this prediction.
Keep your browser pointed to Supply Chain Matters as we dive into each of the above 2016 predictions in more detail. In the meantime, share your own predictions over and above those that we have outlined. Utilize the Comments section associated with this posting or email us directly with your predictions at: feedback <at> supply-chain-matters <dot> com. We will share all contributed predictions in a final predictions of this 2016 series.
Bob Ferrari, Founder and Executive Editor
©2015 The Ferrari Consulting and Research Group and the Supply Chain Matters® blog.
Content appearing on Supply Chain Matters® may not be used by any third party without written permission of the author and our parent, The Ferrari Consulting and Research Group.
A Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement Implies Impacts to Some Industry Global Sourcing Strategies
Over the past month, business and general media has been reporting on leaked and other types of information stemming from the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks currently underway concerning a proposed trade agreement among 12 nations including several Pacific Rim countries and the United States. The stated goals of the TPP are to "enhance trade and investment among the TPP partner countries, to promote innovation, economic growth and development, and to support the creation and retention of jobs." The latter portion of job creation is the most political and most impactful to industry global sourcing strategy.
The latest round of negotiations that occurred in Hawaii at the end of August ended without any sense of major agreement and the ongoing process remains politically charged among potential partner countries. What has been capturing the interest of Supply Chain Matters is the consideration and weighting that has been placed on global supply sourcing for certain key industries.
Automotive Supply Chain Impacts
Much of traditional business media reporting has been concentrated on the implications to the automotive industry. Major automotive OEM's do not want this agreement to upend existing global sourcing strategies for component supply. Both Bloomberg Businessweek and The Wall Street Journal have recently reported that Mexico's primary automotive industry group, which has been booming from continued new sourcing of production announcements from various global auto producers, has thrown a wrench into the current talks.
Mexico overtook Japan to become the second-largest exporter of vehicles to the U.S., primarily because existing free-trade agreements have attracted new plant investments from various global brands. In essence, the country wants to protect its interests in the definition of "rules of origin" and what would be classified as duty-free imports to the U.S. Under the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 62.5 percent of component sourcing must come from within the NAFTA free-trade area to qualify as duty-free. Bloomberg reports that Washington tentatively agreed that Japan based automotive producers should be allowed to ship vehicles duty-free to the U.S., even if upwards of 50 percent of component sourcing comes from non-TPP countries. Component suppliers from both Mexico and Canada are reportedly lobbying for negotiators to stand pat with NAFTA guidelines. Meanwhile, autoworkers in all three NAFTA countries are voicing the need for fairer standards, and not allowing Asia-Pac car companies to game the system in favor of more job creation among lower cost manufacturing regions.
U.S. based automotive OEM's have been similarly vocal as well, declaring that they rely on global supply chains to be able to competitively manufacture vehicles in the U.S. Nations such as Malaysia and Vietnam anticipate that the TPP will provide an incentive for each of these countries to increase their presence in supply of automotive supply chains, but Thailand is now an important component sourcing hub for Japan based OEM's.
Dairy Industry Exports
Another area of dispute is that of dairy based imports, which are the basis of supply for other food related producers. New Zealand's economy is dependent on exports of dairy products, which is prompting that country to lobby for broader access to markets of TPP member countries including Canada. Dairy imports into Canada currently invoke a tariff in excess of 200 percent, and that country's politicians fear a backlash in the upcoming federal elections in October if they dare agree to cutback current tariffs that protect Canadian dairy farmers. New Zealand reportedly is holding firm that the country will not sign any new trade agreement that does not open new dairy related markets.
Apparel and Textile Sourcing
For the apparel and textile industry, only clothing that is wholly sourced and produced within TPP nations qualify for duty-free sales. A recent report from Time points out that Vietnam, currently the second-largest exporter of apparel to the United States, is only able to produce a fifth of the fabric it needs to supply finished apparel to global markets. Vietnam currently imports nearly $5 billion of fabric from China, a non-TPP country, and that scale of fabric sourcing must shift. However, current U.S. tariffs of Vietnam sourced apparel which are currently 32 percent would be eliminated, perhaps adding some impetus for finding new TPP-centric sources of fabric.
High Tech Sourcing
Similarly, high tech and consumer electronics producers have a current high sourcing content dependency on China and Taiwan, and to some extent, the Philippines and Thailand for component supply. Some high tech companies have initiated their own political lobbying to insure any TPP agreement does not impose a competitive or cost disadvantage for their products. Consider how much of the value-chain components of an iPhone or iPad are sourced from non TPP regions.
Clock is Ticking
The clock is ticking on whether a final agreement on TPP can be reached soon. The U.S. Presidential sweepstakes is well underway, and member nations have their own political events that will hold legislators to task. In the end, it would appear that any TPP agreement will have some direct and probably indirect impacts on global component sourcing strategies for multiple industries.
WTO Moves Closer to Tariff-Free Classification of IT Products: Supply Chain Opportunities and Impacts
Late last week, the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached a landmark $1.3 trillion deal that addresses the categorization of 201 information technology products that will be freed from import tariffs. Among the products covered in this agreement are new-generation semi-conductors, GPS navigation systems, medical products which include magnetic resonance imaging machines, machine tools for manufacturing printed circuits, telecommunications satellites and touch screens. Once approved, the agreement will update an Information Technology Agreement that has not been updated for the past 18 years.
According to the WTO, the tentative accord reached by 54 of its members was confirmed as the basis for implementation work to begin. Ministers from the participating members will now work to conclude their implementation plans in time for the WTO's 10th Ministerial Conference which will be held in Nairobi this December. Five of the total number of countries needed for final signoff has thus-far not signed up. Those countries include Colombia, Mauritius, Taiwan, Turkey and Thailand. The Director of WTO has indicated to news sources that approval from the remaining countries is due to process delays, and expects the required additional countries to sign-up soon.
This latest categorization is being billed as the first global tariff-cutting in 18 years with the implication that globally-based consumers should eventually benefit in purchases of computers, game consoles, touch-screen devices and other consumer electronics products. All 161 WTO members are expected to benefit from this agreement, as they will all enjoy duty-free market access in the markets of those members who are eliminating tariffs on these high tech products. According to the WTO, the terms of the agreement will be formally circulated to the full membership at a meeting of the WTO General Council on 28 July.
A published Reuters report indicates that high-tech manufacturers General Electric, Intel, Microsoft, Nintendo and Texas Instruments are among those firms expected to benefit from the free-up tariffs. A U.S. trade representative indicated to Reuters that more than $100 billion in U.S. exports alone would be covered by the updated agreement.
The implication to hi-tech and consumer electronics industry supply chains is significant.
A considerable amount of new products and product categories have been added since these tariffs were originally created 18 years ago, and with over 200 products designated to be free of import tariffs and duty-free trade, the industry as a whole stands to benefit by increased global market access and more streamlined, direct flows to end markets. The notions of offshore and near-shore production as well as new opportunities for push-pull customer fulfillment strategies can well benefit from this development of tariff-free components and products. On the other hand, the competitive landscape of regional brands competing with global brands will magnify.
By our Supply Chain Matters lens, the agreement will have implications to current manufacturing sourcing of high-tech and consumer electronics products since the assumptions concerning added tariff costs will obviously change. Supply chain strategy teams should therefore plan on a refresh supply chain network design models in light of these tariff-free assumptions to uncover any new opportunities for more efficient or enhanced customer fulfillment focused manufacturing and sourcing of end-products.
Bob Ferrari