text:
Hello, !
Manage Subscriptions
Log Out
You are not currently logged in
Log In
Dying technologies aren't the only unnecessary drain on our wallets. MarketWatch lists the following 10 items to avoid buying in 2014:
10. Digital cameras
Demand for point-and-shoot digital cameras is sunsetting. Consumers who want high-quality photos are opting for the larger, DSLR cameras. Others prefer to stick with one gadget, like their smartphone, to take pictures.
9. Credit cards with points or miles programs
Many of these cards are devaluing their rewards programs by requiring cardholders to spend more to get the same "free award" they could have gotten with fewer points previously. Many also come with annual fees. Consider a card with a "cash-back" program instead.
8. Extra legroom in economy
It's become common for airlines to charge extra for roomier seats in coach. But for a similar $100 or $200, travelers can get upgraded to business class where the seats are more comfortable and the service better.
7. Laptop and desktop computers
Sales data shows that PCs are starting to fall out of favor worldwide. Tablets perform many of the same functions and are made to use while on the go. They're also usually cheaper.
6. Two-year phone contracts
Two-year phone contracts are starting to be more hassle than they're worth. No-contract providers sell phones at full price, but with much lower monthly payments. Most wireless providers offer this option, as do MetroPCS, Best Buy and Walmart.
5. Hotel rooms
As demand for hotel rooms rise, so do the prices. A cheaper alternative are rental homes or apartments, some of which even offer free airport pickups and drop-offs.
4. DVD and Blu-ray players
DVD sales and rentals are down, as are sales of DVD and Blu-ray players. Instead, experts say consumers are increasingly turning to movies from streaming services like Hulu and Netflix.
3. GPS unit
Demand for these gadgets is plummeting with the rise of free map apps on most smartphones. Many new cars also come with built-in navigation systems.
2. Landline phone services
Roughly 90 million adults -- or 38 percent of the U.S. population -- are now wireless-only, compared to 21 percent in the first half of 2009. The landline is going the way of the dinosaur, and ditching it also allows households to shed a monthly bill.
1. Cable TV
The heyday of cable TV is over, with many consumers opting for lower-cost streaming services like Hulu and Netflix, MarketWatch says.
There ought to be a better way to pay for college, says former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.
No email address was supplied by
To complete your registration on this site, please supply an address.
Please confirm or modify the email address to which you will have subscription offers sent.
For a more personalized experience, please supply the following optional information.


text: I have a 7 month old baby girl. She is of normal weight, but when I was breastfeeding alone she wanted to eat every hour, so my doctor thought maybe I was not producing enough milk. I started solids at 5 months and she loves solids. She will eat up to 1 cup of prepared oatmeal cereal 2 times a day and about 4oz of jarred food as well. She still breastfeeds in the morning, 2 naps, and at night, but only for about 7 minutes on one breast. Her heatlh is my main concern and I am worried that she may not be getting enough breastmilk in her diet, but I also dont have the time to still be breastfeeding her every hour like before. Does anyone know how many breast feedings a 7month old baby should have while also having solids 3 times a day?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Friday Night Lights Don't Quit On Me Ringer T-Shirt
Slip into a Friday Night Lights t-shirt - Don't Quit On Me Ringer and express your adoration for the hit show about a team of memorable players trying to make it in the tough world of Texas high school football. The show was near cancellation but fans like you saved it and turned it into one of the most critically-lauded and talked about dramas in recent years, so what better way to express your joy for the show than slipping on a heather grey shirt with black-ringed collar and sleeves? This 100% cotton Friday Night Lights TV show shirt - Don't Quit On Me comes in sizes small to XXL.
Read MoreLess
More Details
- Color: Grey
3.53.5(2 reviews)See all 2 reviews
Reviewed by 2 customers
Sort by
- Comfortable
- Great Design
- Design fades after 1 wash
Best Uses
- Casual Wear
Comments about this product:
Great looking shirt! Be careful when you wash it. I would suggest you wash in the delicate cycle, and hang to dry. Hopefully the lettering will last longer.
- Sizing:
- Feels true to size
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
- Comfortable
- Figure Flattering
- Great Color
- Wears Out Quickly
Best Uses
- Casual Wear
- Going Out
- Outdoor Activities
Comments about this product:
Nice shirt!
- Sizing:
- Feels true to size
- Was this a gift?:
- No


text:
"Police virus" spearheads malicious ransomware:
We are currently seeing a proliferation of malware which locks the PCs of European users and demands a ransom. People who write viruses are constantly looking for new ways to get money from their victims. At the same time ordinary, legitimate websites have begun to pose a significant risk of infection.
May 2013: Many European PC users have been affected by a new wave of what is known as the "Police virus" of late. The message displayed claimed to have been sent by the police. It locks your PC and says that the police have found illegal material on the computer, such as illegal films and music, pornography or viruses. You are then asked to pay a fine in order to regain control of your PC.
This is one of a number of recent examples of what is known as "ransomware", which poses a growing threat to European PC users. The virus can be spread in a variety of ways; via websites, in e-mails and by file sharing.
Once the PC has been infected and locked, getting rid of the virus is difficult. Many people may experience a sense of desperation when they are unable to use their PCs and lose access to all the data they had stored there. Norman has created a solution for removal of the virus that will help affected users to resolve the problem (link), but the best thing to do is be proactive and make sure your security software is updated, thereby avoiding the problem altogether.
And above all – do not pay. This will not resolve the problem.
"Secure websites" no longer secure
We are also seeing a growing problem whereby ordinary, legitimate websites are becoming an important source of malware infection. It is no longer enough for users just to surf safely and avoid dodgy websites.
Malware can be spread via known websites by using advertisements to gain access, or if the sites are hacked. Automated advertising networks, whereby it is harder for websites to maintain control over what is served to users, are becoming more and more common.
This means that unsuspecting users can be infected by ransomware or other viruses and malware from sites that they think are safe.
Awareness and protection
It is important for users always to be aware of the threats, and for them to be suspicious of dubious websites, mail, attachments and permission requests from unknown software. But as hackers become ever more devious, it is becoming harder and harder to tell threats apart from legitimate content.
"Bad English and local language are not always enough to identify hackers. Users are now being presented with well designed content, good language, and genuine logos, often with local adaptations. They also use the news feeds cynically in order to trick Internet users, such as by playing on the terrorist bombs in Boston. You have to have a good security solution in place to deal with such threats," says Uppheim.
Norman itself receives between 100 000 and 130 000 new instances of malicious code every day.
The complexity of the solutions we surround ourselves with every day, not least on our mobiles and PCs, is much, much greater than it was even a few years ago. Malware has gradually become cynical big business. Old threats do not stop being threats, either. They never go out of date, but continue to live online. Most importantly, users must have a solution that protects them as effectively as possible. Make sure your security software has not expired. And that Windows and all your software have been updated.
For more information, please contact:
Arne Uppheim, Product Director, Norman
Tel.: 481 88 095
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
For the second year in a row, unprecedented numbers of extreme weather events have occurred across the globe. However, more of 2011's impacts occurred in the United States. From the drought in Texas to the floods in the Midwest and Northeast, this past year underscored the huge economic costs associated with extreme weather. While specific weather events are not solely caused by climate change, the risks of droughts, floods, extreme precipitation events, and heat waves are already climbing as a result of climate change. This year reminded us of our vulnerability to those events.
The most persistent weather event of 2011 has been the drought in Texas [2]. The 12 month period from September 2010 to August 2011 was the driest on record in Texas, worse than historical Texas droughts that occurred in the 1950s and the 1930s Dust Bowl. The drought was accompanied by extreme heat and very poor conditions for growing crops or raising livestock. Although some much needed rain fell during the fall, drought conditions are ongoing. Total direct losses to crops, livestock, and timber are estimated at $10 billion and will continue to rise until the drought abates.
The historic dryness combined with extreme heat to make 2011 the worst wildfire season ever in Texas. Major wildfires also broke out in New Mexico and Arizona. All three states recorded their largest wildfire ever with Texas losing 3 million acres and over 1,500 homes. Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon estimates [3] that global warming contributed some portion of the excess heat that has made this drought more intense than any drought in the past 120 years.
While Texas was suffering from a lack of rain, other parts of the country were suffering from too much of it. Spring floods affecting the Souris, Missouri and Mississippi rivers inundated parts of the Midwest. Rainfall in the Ohio Valley was 300 percent above normal. Levees were breached along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers drowning farmland and flooding thousands of homes. Many rivers crested at record highs, causing losses in excess of $5 billion.
Flooding was also an issue through large parts of the Northeast, the result of drenching rains from Hurricane Irene. Although wind damage from Irene was not as severe as feared, flood damage was more severe across New Jersey, New York, and Vermont with hundreds of bridges and roads washing out and extensive flooding in many towns. Although Irene only made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, it was one of the most expensive storms on record in the United States, causing damages in excess of $7 billion.
These events represent only three of the 12 weather disasters estimated to cost more than $1 billion each that struck the United States this year, according to official government estimates. [4] Overall, these 12 major events set a new record, doubling the previous records from 2009 and 2006. Even excluding the six billion-dollar disasters that were tornado related—where the connection to climate change is still uncertain—the remaining six still set a new record for the most non-tornado related disasters in a single year. This record number of disasters, excluding tornadoes, should remind us of our vulnerability to extreme weather as the risk of such events continues to rise. This increase in risk is directly tied to the continued growth in greenhouse gas emissions above preindustrial levels. There is little sign of a slowdown, as emissions increased by a record amount in 2010 [5].
The extreme weather of 2011 serves as a reminder of our vulnerabilities and that our failure to adequately limit greenhouse gas emissions comes with a cost. While mitigation and adaptation actions both will be necessary and require resources, not acting exposes us to far greater costs as evidenced by the recent impacts of extreme weather.
Dan Huber is a Science & Policy Fellow at C2ES.
[1] http://www.c2es.org/blog/huberd
[2] http://www.c2es.org/blog/huberd/global-warming-contributing-texas-drought
[3] http://blog.chron.com/climateabyss/2011/09/texas-drought-and-global-warming/
[4] http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/billionz.html
[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/science/earth/record-jump-in-emissions-in-2010-study-finds.html?
[6] http://www.c2es.org/category/topic/economics
[7] http://www.c2es.org/category/topic/federal
[8] http://www.c2es.org/category/topic/science
[9] http://www.c2es.org/category/topic/us-states-regions
[10] http://www.c2es.org/category/keywords/extreme-weather


text:
Company Phone Number: (800) 245-4595
December 13, 2000
Release # 01-053a
View Recall #01-053b
PRODUCT: Stuffed Toys - Pier 1 Imports, of Fort Worth, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 600 stuffed snowmen and 1,300 stuffed reindeer toys. The snowman is about 10-inches high with a black hat, red scarf, two buttons attached to the body and an orange nose. The reindeer is brown, about 8-inches high with a red scarf and a set of fabric- covered wire antlers. The label on the snowman reads "Pier 1 Imports" and "SKU#1840236." The label on the reindeer reads "Pier 1 Imports" and "SKU#1840249." Pier 1 Imports stores nationwide sold these toys from August 2000 through October 2000 for about $6.PROBLEM: The toys have small parts, which could come loose, posing a possible choking hazard to young children.INCIDENTS/INJURIES: None reported.WHAT TO DO: Consumers should take these toys away from young children immediately. Return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund or exchange. For more information, call Pier 1 Imports at (800) 245-4595 between 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. CT Saturday, and 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Sunday.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of
thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the
nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or
mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household
chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at
301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing
to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Times: 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800
View CPSC contacts for specific areas of expertise
We are still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product.
Report a Product on SaferProducts.gov
The link you selected is for a destination outside of the Federal Government. CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours. Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees.
Click Ok if you wish to continue to the website; otherwise, click Cancel to return to our site.


text:
Spotlight Article:
Do Savings Come Out in the Wash?
A Large-Scale Study of Residential Laundry Systems
Keep Reading
Superefficient Clothes Dryers to the Rescue!
premium CONTENT
Clothes dryers account for 6% of residential electricity consumption in the United States. Approximately 85% of U.S. households have a clothes dryer, and 6–7 million new dryers are sold every year. Clothes dryers consume as much ... [continue reading]
Do Savings Come Out in the Wash?
premium CONTENT
A Large-Scale Study of Residential Laundry Systems [continue reading]
Cold Water Works
premium CONTENT
Business-minded people eagerly await the latest issue of Fortune magazine, and the more literary among us look forward to reading the latest fiction in the New Yorker or Atlantic Monthly. Here at Home Energy, some ... [continue reading]
Saving Water Indoors
premium CONTENT
In most U.S. cities, single-family homes make up the single largest source of demand for water. [continue reading]
Dryer Venting
premium CONTENT
When was the last time you checked a dryer's vent hose? [continue reading]
Audio/Visual Goes 1-Watt
archive CONTENT
Audio equipment and Digital Video Disks (DVDs) must now reduce the watts they use when turned off to receive Energy Star labels. [continue reading]
Town Awash in H-Axis Machines
archive CONTENT
Last year, scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) conducted a unique field evaluation of high-efficiency horizontal-axis (h-axis) washers. [continue reading]
Energy Efficiency in the European Union
archive CONTENT
Domotechnica is primarily a trade fair for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of small and large domestic appliances. However, it's also a unique occasion for those concerned with energy conservation and environmental protection to gauge how their activities have influenced the industry. [continue reading]
Andrew deLaski
DOE Completes New Consensus-Based Air Conditioner Standards
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published new minimum energy efficiency standards for residential central air conditioners and heat ...
Tom Herron
The National Fenestration Rating Council Welcomes Newly-Elected Board Members
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is pleased to announce the four newly-elected members of the 2017 Board of Directors.


text:
|Federal Work-Study
The Purpose of FWS
The purpose of Federal Work-Study is to provide part-time employment to students needing financial assistance and to encourage recipients to participate in community service activities. Additionally, by providing a wide range of employment opportunities, the Federal Work-Study helps students gain work experience that complements and reinforces their educational and career objectives.
Currently, 75 percent of the funding is allocated by the federal government, with the remaining 25 percent provided by the eligible institution. Federal Work-Study is administered in accordance with the laws, regulations, and other such instructions as may be issued by, or on behalf of, the Secretary of Education.
How Do I Qualify?
You must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You must also meet the general eligibility requirements and demonstrate financial need. FEDERAL WORK-STUDY FUNDS ARE LIMITED. TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FAFSA BY THE PRIORITY DEADLINE: MARCH 1ST OF THE AWARD YEAR.
How Much Will I Receive?
Federal Work-Study awards range from $500 to $1,000 per semester and are paid once per month at a rate of $7.25 per hour. All recipients are required to complete a timesheet electronically in order to be paid. Payroll dates are listed on the electronic timesheet.
Where Will I Work?
Federal Work-Study recipients generally work on campus. However, off-campus employment is also available for students assigned to community service jobs.
You are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week and you CANNOT WORK DURING ANY SCHEDULED CLASS TIME, even if the class does not meet or dismisses early.
All students awarded Federal Work-Study must attend the mandatory work-study seminars held each semester and complete the required documents before reporting to their assigned work location.
If you have questions regarding Federal Work-Study, please contact:
Hortense Lockett
Federal Work Study Forms
There are several forms that must be completed before a student can begin work-study. The forms are distributed during the mandatory work-study seminars held each semester.


text:
@smithster11: I have to agree. Guys like this are a dime a dozen. He looks no different then at least half of the gay community that are obsessed with their looks. I'm guessing he is very much in love with himself and his own body. He probably has no room for anyone else unless they love his body as much as he does. Oh, and the hairless look is so yesterday.
Well, I think he looks great. He's handsome, super fit and as for his lack of body hair, its perfectly natural. I guess he could paste some on, but as someone with absolutely zero upper body hair myself, I would not recommend it.
Cute and fit….some much jealous gay hate on here…..put down the plastic fork and step away from the food court now!…..
It's not hate, it's just that I'm not into the whole metrosexual thang. I like a guy that looks like he just got done working in the cornfield next door and didn't spend an hour in the spray tan booth.
Gorgeous, but, again, why is he shaven like a Siamese cat? Men with real fur are attractive!
Pretty good actor had quiet a run on Days of our lives soap


text:
Over $88 million is already being doled out to seven players and a few option clauses in 2012. Presently, Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phillies decision-makers have more pressing needs with guys like Jayson Werth and possibly finding a new home for Raul Ibanez for 2011. The calendar still reads 2010, which matters not because the Phillies could have a decision to make on Jimmy Rollins soon.
Rollins' 2011 option was exercised in advance of the 2010 season, which was basically a formality. Everyone knew Rollins would be back at a relatively friendly $8.5 million in '10. What no one is sure of is if he'll be back beyond next year.
Should the Phillies pay their superstar shortstop and franchise face now, locking him up a long-term deal, or wait it out until after this season to see whether or not he's worth it? Ruben Amaro stated last week that they would not seek an extension with him for now. Here are the pros and cons of signing Rollins long-term this offseason when he turns 32 rather than wait until age 33.
-His defensive metrics are still off the charts. As you witnessed in the postseason, even with one healthy leg and one not-so healthy leg, his arm is still 100 percent. Rollins has a cannon arm and continually made great plays to either side of the infield, routinely gunning out runners on close plays at first base.
-J-Roll's UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) was 6.9, good for seventh in the majors with a minimum of 700 innings played. It was the third highest UZR of his career.
-When healthy, he's still a demon on the basepaths. Rollins stole 17 bases in just 88 games. That's a considerable amount of steals when you take into account the end of the season when Rollins was unable to run at full strength and therefore his numbers suffered.
-Not sure if this is a pro or a con, but Rollins did walk more times than he struck out (40 BB/32 K). This could fall into either category as we know J-Roll often swings early in the count.
-Rollins has the talent to turn things around instantly. The past two years have been sub-par by his standards, but everyone knows he can be one of the best shortstops in all of baseball. The question is, does he want to be the guy he was in 2007?
-The 2012 free agent list is slim pickin's at the shortstop position. Clint Barmes, Jason Bartlett, Yuniesky Betancourt, Rafael Furcal, JJ Hardy, Marco Scutaro, and Jack Wilson are the better names on that list. None of them scream marquis defender and game-changing bat when healthy. They all whisper overrated and overpriced. Rollins is head and shoulders above the rest for '12.
-His leadership abilities aren't lacking. In my first season on "the beat", J-Roll would usually speak whether or not he did well or not. Sometimes he would hide from accountability, but other than Brad Lidge or Shane Victorino, few Phillies were available everyday. Still, his loose demeanor and quiet confidence seems to soothe his teammates and the fans even in the worst of times.
-It assures the Phillies will have a viable shortstop option for several more years as the farm system lacks a guy who can step in for Rollins in the near future.
-Locking him up now would fit into the "cost certainty" category that Amaro routinely mentions when it comes to the payroll.
-First pitch swinging. It's going to send Philadelphians and those who follow the team to an early grave. So often, Rollins will roll a first pitch over to second base or pop it up to the shortstop, leaving him with an awful plate appearance. As his skills slowly deteriorate on the wrong side of 30, he'll have to be more patient at the plate and that starts with working counts in his favor. This should be near the top of his to-do list for '11.
-His conditioning was clearly an issue at the end of the season following his leg injuries. He looked slower and heavier and that was brought on by the fact that his most prized possessions failed him. Rollins must come into spring training next year in the best shape of his life.
-Is adding another long-term contract a positive for this team? Depending on what happens with Werth – his commands are in the $100 million range, presumably – then a Rollins extension expands the thick waistband the Phillies have grown recently.
-Why do it now if you don't have to? The Phillies have the wiggle room to wait it out and see where this season leads Rollins. If it's on a downhill slope, they can choose to look elsewhere via free agency or trade. If J-Roll fins that sweet stroke again and proves to be healthy, they may lose the upper hand they have right now.
68 Comments
I suggest you take a look at Rollins' actual numbers when he swings on the first pitch. You might be surprised.
Richard, I dont have to take a look at his numbers to know that even if they might be OK, it's still ridiculous to think that a leadoff guy should take one pitch. He should know how to work a count in his favor, using up pitches, making the guy work, then make his move.
After all, if he's a professional hitter, he should be able to slap a single on a 2-1 count just as easily as he could 0-0…right?
Don't tell me you think he should go up there hacking first pitch all the time, because we both know that's not the way it goes.
The 3rd and 5th cons don't really seem like cons to me.
Does anyone believe J-Roll should get a contract extension now or later? Anyone? Anyone…
Wrong side of 30 hogwash..its freaking 31 years old…Geez….
I believe that Rollins WILL bounce back in a big way from last season. He's not happy with his performance….injury aside. He's THE heart and soul of this team…on the field and in the clubhouse.
Sign him now.
I do think Rollins deserves an extension for sure. He is the leader of this team much in the same way Jeter is the leader of the Yankees. He did have a horrendous year that was sabotaged by some serious injuries for any athlete. What was encouraging was that he began to steal some bases and hit some key hits in the postseason and he began using his backhand again to field the ball. The ability to play SS at a high level without being able to use your backhand is a true sign he will be OK.
Look Jeter in 2008 was considered "done" and he rebounded for a solid year last year (this year numbers are down but he has the ability to play at a high level). And Ripken at age 30 was considered on the downside and all he did at 31 was win the MVP. There is no doubt that Rollins will be productive again and deserves a 3yr extension. At the very least he will be like Valdez in 3 years time and many people want to see Valdez now which is ludicrious.
I don't think Rollins should get a extension.His numbers have gone down every year.He is getting hurt more and doesn't take care of himself.The Phils need to get younger,Valdez has a great arm and will improve with more playing time.
Rollins is an enigma. He has really never learned to work a count to his favor. He is a great fielder. He does not bunt or has a good on-base-percentage. I believe that Rollins is addicted to "the fantastic," "the highlight film", "the hero role." I would not sign him to an extension unless he has a strong year and a healthy year, playing at least 140 games. And that extension would only be for two years, if I did sign him. Despite being exciting, Rollins' salad days are coming to an end.
Rollins is far, far from being in the same class as Derek Jeter, in my opinion. Jeter is a first-ballad Hall-of-Fame player. Rollins will not even be considered for the Hall. He has a number of shortstops who are much better all around.
No way, do NOT extend him now. I'd say that the probability of him bouncing back and snapping a 4-year downhill trend is lower than the probability of another bad season with a bat.
The only sensible thing to do with J-roll is what Pat mentions in his last paragraph:
"Why do it now if you don't have to? The Phillies have the wiggle room to wait it out and see where this season leads Rollins. If it's on a downhill slope, they can choose to look elsewhere via free agency or trade. If J-Roll fins that sweet stroke again and proves to be healthy, they may lose the upper hand they have right now."
If he suddenly has a great 2011 and his value goes up, we're just gonna have to deal with it. It's better to be prudent and wait and see how he performs, especially after an injury-riddled season.
Manny, the question is though, whats the alternative? They have no viable options in the minors and unless they make a trade, there isn't much on the free agent market. Even a J-Roll at this stage is better than any of those names.
Jimmy will be 32 in a few weeks, which means we're talking about an extension that will start when he's 33 (the 2012 season). I'd guess he'd be looking for at least a three year deal, which would take him through age 35. It seems like the common consensus here is that everything will be business as usual as this core reaches it's mid 30s. I tend to disagree with that premise. Sooner or later, the team needs to let some of these guys go. I'd probably let Rollins walk (no pun intended) and look for a low cost guy that can field his position. They can use the money elsewhere (pitching, leftfield, thirdbase) and get by with a light hitting shortstop.
I'm Ted Bell.
How can you offer a contract extension now? After 2007, there has been a series of injuries sandwhiching a very mediocre season (by Jroll's standards).
NP with just waiting and seeing how he fares. If say 2/3 of the season has passed and he looks to be on the same upward path of improvement that he showed from 04 until his MVP season of 07. In 08 he missed 20-25 games and hit .277. 09 he played in 155 games, led the league in official at bats but hit .250, had an OBP of less than .300 and did not steal a lot of bases. And of course 2010 which was a wash.
An average Jimmy Rollins (.280, 40 SB's, 100-120 runs, 20 or so Hrs and 40 doubles – which he averaged the last 7 years) would help to make this team a contender – add his average year with those of Chase, Vic & Ryan – we are winning the East again.
But, patience. Wait and see what happens. 32 is not old but if he gets injured again or stays sub .270 for most of the year – let him move on.
How many shortstops were still good at 35 though? I haven't done any research on this but I'm sure the list is extensive. My money is on him to bounce back.
Sign him.
Not a chance; I wouldn't give him an extension right now. Jimmy has to learn that his body is different at 33 from the way it was when he was 22. He needs to train in the off-season accordingly. If he earns it this season, then the money will be there.
I'm pretty sure you don't extend him now. Why would you do that when he is clearly a huge question mark? He is my favorite Phillie of all time, but that doesn't mean we should throw money at him.
I don't like the first pitch comment. The first pitch is often the best pitch that a batter sees in an AB. He just needs to be less predictable at swinging on the first pitch.
More importantly, he needs to get in shape. His wife worked (works?) at a gym in Mt. Airy. MRS. ROLLINS, PLEASE HELP YOUR HUSBAND GET BACK TO FORM SO HE STOPS STRAINING HIMSELF!!!
I'd love to extend Jimmy. But the amount of the extension would have to be a little "friendlier" than $8.5m. Throw some incentives in there. How about 3y/20m with some incentives?
The Dipsy
Chuck, I don't remember what game it was – Jimmy was back from his first stint on the DL and as one of the last batters, he did not drive in the winning run (it happens). Anyway, tough loss for the Phils and the cameras showed quite the reflective Jimmy Rollins just sitting in the dugout, alone and staring. I don't begin to even guess what was going through his head at the time but, after his second stint this year on the DL – he was never quite the same. Does that mean anything? I don't know, I had never seen that from the usually positive JROLL.
Signing him; I'm not saying don't sign him I'm just advocating waiting for a good bit of the season to transpire then assess.
Chuck, I'm not sure where the extensive list of 35 year old shortstops performing at a high level would be. This year, I only see three starting shortstops over 34 – the majority of teams actually have shortstops under 30. It's a demanding position that requires a lot of athletism.
I think we're starting to adopt the "Yankee mentality" of thinking it's necessary to field an All-Star at every position. If the 2010 season proves anything, it's that you don't need to field a roster of premium position players to win a championship. Pitching is almost always the key component of winning. The Giants are one win away from proving that.
I'm Ted Bell.
Pat, that's a very good point… but 1) things change a lot in one year (Hamilton was obsolete in March, now he's one of the very best; Chase Utley was a top 5-10 draft pick in fantasy, next year that won't even be remotely close to the truth; Prince Fielder was going to hit 50 bombs, that didn't happen; I could go on and on)…Point is: the market can change in a heartbeat; just ask the soon to be WS Champions Giants 2) Jimmy's injuries this year were too notable and frequent to not wait and see how he responds in 2011…
… and 3) I think this one is interesting: what about Freddy Galvis? He's been described as a "wizard" with the glove… he could be a very good replacement for J-roll defensively–which honestly, that should be the major reason we would want to keep him in the first place–for his glove. If Galvis can hit .240 at the major league level, is that too much of a dropoff from an aging Jimmy ('2012 and beyond' version) who has been hitting around .250 the past two seasons?? And consider that whoever would replace Jimmy would bat way down in the order.
Chuck, there is basically no advantage to signing him now. If he continues to perform as he is, he will get less money offered. If performs at a better level, I don't think that he gets more money than he gets now. He probably needs a smaller contract anyway. The only way signing him now could work is if he returns to MVP form and commands a big price.
I think that there is an advantage of signing him now. If you think he is going to bounce back, then you are going to have to sign him to "bounce back" money in the middle of the season. If he can stay on the field, his glove alone is worth 6m a year. Add to it 13/65/.270/25 and you still have yourself one of the best shortstops in the game. If he will sign for market value based on his last two years now, then why not do it?
The Dipsy
This is a silly discussion. No matter what anyone may think about the pros and cons of inking Rollins now, the front office has already said they aren't going to do that. Might as well be discussing whether the Phils will make this year's World Series.
Re-sign him but at less money than he makes currently.
Extend him now. That's just based on – one less thing to worry about. I agree with Nick when he says that even if he bounces back – who is going to pay him more than $8.5 in 2012 and beyond. However, having a happyJ-Roll in 2012 will pay major dividends. My gut tells me that he's going to do what it takes to get in shape for 2011 – he just seems to have too much pride.
But, BUT………can Cholly continue to bat him leadoff. Getting him to take a few pitches comes under the heading of trying to teach an old dog new tricks. The problem is – Vic isn't a leadoff guy either.
Hey – we don't really have a leadoff guy!!!!!!!! case can be made that we haven't had one for years.
Rumor Central:
I picked something up that RAJ was looking at Francoeur to platoon with D-Brown next year. Please, if there is a god in heaven please say it ain't so. beyond the Francoeur issue – D has to learn to hit lefties. Platooning him would be a mistake IMHO
I would be all for giving Jimmy a modest extension now… buy low, sell high… if he has a great year, we won't be able to bring him back. I wouldn't give him anything extravagant or lengthy but 3 years would give us enough time to figure out whether Galvis is going to be able to be an every day major league shortstop.
I like Galvis… he's still young (20 y/o in AA- he was the youngest player on the team). He has the glove… he needs to develop the bat.
On the Minor League front… Jon Singleton has impressed the brass with his work ethic (they are evaluating him in the OF). He should begin the year in Clearwater as a LF.
OC – Galvis can't hit. Period.
The Dipsy
I totally skipped your pros and cons section because this question is common sense. YOU DO NOT GIVE AN AGING PLAYER WHO JUST HAD A DOWN YEAR FULL OF INJURIES AN EXTENSION IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO. The club needs to wait and see what kind of shape Jimmy is in when he shows up to camp and how he performs for the first few months of the season. If he's healthy and back to the old Jimmy that we know and love, you start discussing extensions around the All Star Break and not a day sooner. It's called an "Evaluation Year" and it's what the team should have done with Donovan McHoward before breaking the bank on his new deal. Hopefully the Phils learned from that massive mistake.
When healthy, Jimmy Rollins is one of the most exciting players to watch, a great combination of speed, power, and defense. While not a hall of famer, he is certainly a Phillies Wall of Fame player. I've enjoyed watching him for the past 10 seasons.
Now it's time to come to reality – he's breaking down. A lot of the younger guys don't remember pre steroid baseball. While off season conditioning, diet, and surgery have improved considerably, a 10 year career as a starting position player is beating the odds. All but a few lose crucial bat speed between 31-33. Some, who had great power, didn't have to hit the ball square to get by, made it a few more years. Others, who had a superior eye, still had good enough selectivity to continue. Jimmy has neither, he makes excitement with his legs. His legs are going. Like Griffey, he may squeeze in a good year or 2, but his best years are behind him, and is as likely to be on the dl as on the starting roster.
Like Werth, Rollins is worth a lot to some teams (could probably get a 4 yr/40M contract easily), but I hope the Phils don't do it. Finish up his contract, then get a Valdez type to fill the gap until you develop another ss (Phils did pretty well without Rollins this year).
Our team is getting old. The leadership thing is overplayed (and with an experienced team, is unnecessary). We're saddled with Howard's contract, and the golden boy will probably be extended at some point. Left, 3rd, and SS need to turn over in the next 2 seasons to remain competitive.
A three year deal at $20-25 MM is definitely worth it. Think about it…Rollins with his glove and hitting just .250 is worth that….
….and I really think he bounces back….maybe not to MVP form but somewhere in the .275 range.
bfo- Nobody, but nobody, pays Jimmy 4/40m.
The Dipsy
Jimmy Rollins hit .273 with 11 HR as a 20 y/o in AA. Galvis hit 5 HR and .233… Galvis has to focus on making contact and the rest will fall into place. He's got the wheels and the glove- he just needs to put his bat on the ball and fill out a little bit. He is one of the only teenagers to ever play in Reading… the Phillies obviously feel like he's going to find it, in due time. They haven't been afraid to promote him and if defense is the top priority at SS, you have to think that they're going to consider him and maybe that's why they're not going to press the issue with Rollins (and an extension).
I say they should try to get him locked up now. With him coming off a down year, they should be able to get him cheaper than they will if he has a good 2011. The other upside of this is that when you look at the pro's versus the con's, the con's are all things that are fixable. He can get back in shape, and he can work on his plate discipline, it's just a matter of whether or not he will. Knowing the competitor he is, I'd have to guess he'll be back next year. Also, look at the pile of junk we have as other options. J-Roll is miles above the rest of those guys, even after a bad year.
Anything over the league minimum is too much. Wilson Valdez is every bit as good or better. Rollins problem isn't age it's his brain. He is baseball stupid.
Terry – We don't even know who "those guys" are yet. Sure, we can look at a projected free agent list, but free agency is not the only way to acquire players. There are always trade options, both on the major and minor league levels. Maybe RAJ trades a prospect who is "blocked" in the Phillies organization (perhaps a firstbaseman) for a shortstop prospect who is "blocked" in another organization.
I'm Ted Bell.
"Anything over the league minimum is too much. Wilson Valdez is every bit as good or better. Rollins problem isn't age it's his brain. He is baseball stupid."
Most moronic comment I've seen in ages. Rollins is a very smart baseball player, and he's so much better than Valdez it's not worth discussing.
My point about the first-pitch swinging idea was that Rollins is enormously successful when swinging at the first pitch. We tend to remember the pop-ups and weak grounders, but on balance he does very well. Now, I'm not going to argue that there aren't times when he goes up hacking first pitch and probably should have waited a bit, worked the count. Obviously he does and it's frustrating (though Victorino strikes me as worse at this). (It's funny, I recognize he has success swinging first pitch, but I also want him to draw more walks.)
But if you're asking whether we think Rollins should be extended, I'd think our opinion would be based on whether we think he can be his old self, or reasonably close to it, not whether he will finally stop doing this one thing everyone says he should stop doing.
Overall, I'm of two minds. I think extending him would be savvy, because I believe he will feel he has a lot to prove and will have a strong 2011. But I can't say the front office would be wrong to take a wait and see approach, when it comes to the health of his legs. So they're kind of in a bind.
and you're just PLAIN stupid.
Giving a 10 year veteran, a former MVP, a force on a perennial postseason team, basically the heart and soul of the roster…..giving him the league minimum is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
bfo… what Rollins has going for him is his glove/arm. Ask Omar Vizquel what a Gold Glove reputation can do to extend a career (still playing at age 43 despite his offensive inadequacy).
Jimmy is arguably the best defensive shortstop in baseball…
@Rich – Most moronic comment I've seen in ages. Rollins is a very smart baseball player, and he's so much better than Valdez it's not worth discussing.
No sorry he's an idiot.
that link is perfect for Jimmy
@Chuck – Giving a 10 year veteran, a former MVP, a force on a perennial postseason team, basically the heart and soul of the roster…..giving him the league minimum is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
No paying washed up talent money that should be used on younger talent is what we should do. I could give to sh.ts about his MVP year. What does that have to do with now. He will never have a year close to that. Right now he is a bottom of the line up hitter. That is all.
Lets start that I really like JRoll and think he has brought great things to this team and this city. I do think you have to resign him in the off season, but if he can stay healthy and play close to good Jimmy through June then you can give him 2 or 3 years, Depending on how far off the FO thinks Glavis is from being able to at least hit the ball like around .260ish in the big leagues. I do not think you can say the can not hit period as a 20 in AA. I am not saying this kid is Ozzie Smith, but he could not hit until he was 30. But by no means do you extend JRoll now.
Also if you can get a good lead off guy somewhere in this line up and move JRoll down to 7 or 8th then to pay one of the best defending SS in the league for 7 or 8 million is not a bad idea, if you have the offense from other areas, and even if he only hits .250 I think he would still get a couple of big hits during the year and post season
Jimmy is his own worst enemy at the plate. He hit a nice .292 with the count even and a respectable .259 when behind in the count. Were he messes up by trying to do too much is when he's ahead inthe count. A pathetic .197 when ahead in the count. It's purely mental with Jimmy.
I'd sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal, but not for big bucks.
Only one team has more money committed to players for 2011 and that is the Yankees for only $1 million more than the Phillies. Having too many players on long-term contracts limits the organization's ability to adjust. As we saw this year, the team was not much different with Rollins or Valdez. I will admit this may be because of Rollin's injuries but the dollar difference is dramatic.
Phils should not extend because Rollins is not improving. If they can get a friendly contract I am not opposed but having room for some new players, even if not yet identified gives Amaro some flexibility. As Ted Bell say we have a great first baseman coming up in the organization. He is blocked by Howard. Now, if another team has a great SS in their system there could be a trade.
The key here is not to be limited by what exists within the organization now but to think outside the box by what we could attract. Rollins is replaceable so why sign him?
We need some young guys!
Is this clown, mtuske, for REAL??
He can't be. There is no way Valdez is better than Jimmy. Yes, he's a nice back up, but he is not an every day player. Has anyone ever seen him really drive the ball? ever? Someone above mentioned that Jimmy is his own worst enemy, which I agree with, but at least Jimmy can come up big when he needs to. Try putting Valdez up there against Broxton in the NLCS, are ripping that shot off the top of the wall in this year's NLCS. Wilson Valdez, with all due respect, will never be Jimmy Rollins.
@Chuck – Yes I'm for real. Are you? You don't pay people for what they did in the past but for what you think they can do in the future. Rollins has been a great asset to this team in the past. He is now an over paid gold glover. Sorry that's my opinion.
For everything he brings to the table, he is not at all overpaid. And I don't want to hear another word about J Roll being too old, and it being time to go to Valdez. He's no spring chicken either, he's actually older than Jimmy.
You didn't really just try to prove your point with a "Major League" clip did you?
I thought I was dumb for using yahoo stats! (actually I was dumb for using yahoo stats, but that's not the point)
Sign Jimmy- No more than 3 years/25m- Do it now.
Now another link showing us what Pat already said in the original posting. Sheeesh
@Lefty – You didn't really just try to prove your point with a "Major League" clip did you?
I've been dying to use that soundbite for weeks. I enjoyed it.
Sign Jimmy- No more Do it now.
mtuske, even if we use your argument that he's an "overpaid gold glover"…you still don't give him the major league minimum. Do you know ANYTHING about the business of baseball?….or are you just try to stir sh*t up online?
This place is a gas. Freaks, geeks, sharpies, dimwhits all in one place.
Wow – mtuske – did you just say to Sign Jimmy after you said he's not worth a penny over the league minimum and Valdez is better and smarter player than him? Now we should sign him? Jeez mtuske, I was ready to become a devoted follower of your wisdom but it sounds like you already jumped off the proverbial cliff. Need help bud?
Terri made a pretty good point, if the Phils extend an offer to him now it probably would be low since the last 3 years have been a dissappointment. So, by waiting (like I suggested earlier) and if he has even an average season (.280, 40 sb's, 110 + runs scored, 40 plus doubles) – his value would then increase.
Hard call.
@Brooks – I said sign Jimmy no more. Meaning don't sign him.
@Terry – Not trying to stir anything. I just don't think Rollins is that guy anymore. Yeah he's funny and has that Strahan gappy thing going on but he just doesn't have it anymore. It's not age maybe it's contentment.
I really like the game of baseball, and having likable players makes it all that much more fun to watch. It wasn't always easy cheering for the Pat the Bat, Juan Samuel, Von Hayes, or even Mike Schmidt, but I wanted Rollins to succeed because it was him almost as much as the benefit to the team. With that said, it is always better to let someone go with another year or 2 still left, vs holding on too long.
On no planet is Valdez equal to Rollins, but Rollins is no longer worth the premium. If you are keeping Rollins for his glove, from all reports, Galvis is almost there, and has another year to refine a Bowa type slap contact hitting style, and will be at the league minimum. Let Rollins play the year out, then let him go. Potential is for a 25 year old, not a 32 year old.
Offer him an extension, nothing ridiculous, but his actual value.
And bat him 7th.
I'm with you, biz. I would definitely move him down in the order and bat Vic lead off (a craft he needs to work on a ton as well). Whether his numbers come back or not, if he could hit .260 and keep hitting the ball hard, with his speed, he's a hell of a 7-hole hitter.
NO WAY. You could not trade him for a pair of socks. He has declined to the point of no return. He is always hurt. The running game is gone. He swings at the first pitch. There is no power. Defense is still good but not great. Get rid of him. Tired of his mouth anyway. Goodbye Jimmy. Thanks for the memories. PS..TAKE HOWIE WITH YOU.
Hold the phone. I really hate when people talk about having won awards.
Jimmy Rollins is my favorite Phillie of all-time. You know what that means too? NOTHING. Awards like MVPs and Cy Youngs in the grand scheme of things mean nothing because they are based upon past events and are really nothing more than populatity contests. The next time an MVP adds .150 to the player's next year OBP or a Cy Young shaves 0.100 off of the pitcher's WHIP, please let me know. Otherwise, let's just make sure we keep these awards in the context of what they are – awards, not predictors of the future.
Long story short, you don't dare sign Rollins to anything more than an absurdly low deal. You wait and see how he is. If he can get himself in order, then reward him. If he doesn't, then we aren't going to be strangling ourselves with more albatrosses than we know what to do with.
Jeff's right. We need to get rid of Howard. Take us back to the days of Travis Lee and Rico Brogna. We need a real 1st baseman.
PS Jeff's an idiot.
Not to get away from responding to this PN post but do many of you posters and fans feel that this current World Series is boring? There may be only five or six Texas players that I am familiar with.
Mike, I'm still not watching.
Betsy Ross indeed –
hello jim, really have nice article. thank you for this…


text:
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy are back in some already-loved episodes and the fabulous Minnie's Masquerade…by far a favorite. I've had to make 4 recreations of the fun mask that came in the packaging already- the kids LOVE it!! They also thought being able to decorate and design their own DVD sleeve was about the coolest thing ever…
My 5 year old wants me to tell you she likes this DVD because she can use the Mickey Mote with it. AND Minnie wears a pink dress to the masquerade. My 3 year old likes the Mickey Mote but he loves the dancing part, and has already decided he wants to be a knight like Pluto for Halloween.
We've had a lot of fun with the Mickey Mote- my 3 year old uses the easier level and my 5 year old the harder one, so we've gotten a chance to see how it really works. We have used it with 3 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVDs and one Handy Manny so far and it is definitely a hit! Lots of fun and so simple to use (especially if you read the directions first which I didn't because…well, I didn't.)
Parents and their preschoolers are invited to join in the ultimate masquerade party with Minnie, Mickey and pals in a fun-filled collection of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse latest episodes that celebrate themes of friendship, teamwork, sharing and problem solving. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Masquerade is the perfect gift to dress-up your Valentine's Day, available on Disney DVD February 8 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
This latest release features four playful Minnie-themed adventures previously seen on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse TV show, a never-before-seen episode, and a free paper mask with festive embellishments that kids can personalize. And as a special option for consumers, Disney has packaged a version of the DVD to include the exclusive Mickey Mote – a child-friendly handheld remote control, shaped like Mickey ears, that takes children's viewing experience to a whole new level of play. The DVD + Mickey Mote Play Set is the ultimate value for moms and equally fun and engaging for kids! The Mickey Mote uses infrared wireless technology and may not be compatible with all devices.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Masquerade starring Disney's Fab Five — Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Daisy – takes viewers on an all new adventure as they dress-up in their favorite costumes for Minnie's Masquerade Ball. In this episode, Minnie needs some help getting everything ready for her party including making royal crowns for their costumes, searching for Sir Goofalot's lost shoe, stringing up paper lanterns and much, much more. At the ball, Professor Von Drake hosts the great Clubhouse Costume Show and gives out prize ribbons to all the friends who have dressed up in some funny and fancy costumes. All it takes is a heaping helping of imagination…and the right Mouseketools.
About Disney's Exclusive Mickey Mote:
Disney's Mickey Mote works with any Disney Preschool DVD that includes the Discovery Mode™ feature – an interactive "Watch & Play" feature on the DVD. All parents have to do is program the remote control – there's an easy and quick set-up guide in each DVD- and select the Discovery Mode feature on the menu screen. Within minutes, kids will be easily responding to questions, throughout the story, about scenes they just watched by pressing one of four color-coded buttons on the device — a yellow star, green circle, orange triangle or blue square – to click in their responses. Discovery Mode features include two levels of play, which provides more challenging questions as the child grows. The Mickey Mote can be used with any Disney Preschool DVD that includes the Discovery Mode feature. To date there are more than 11 titles that can be used with the remote control, just take a look at the back of the package to make sure.
One of my readers will win a copy of Minnie's Masquerade with Mickey Mote!!!
Mandatory Entry: Who's your favorite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse friend? Please leave your email in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.
Extra Entries:
Follow me publicly via GFC
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me via email subscription, or Twitter (1 entry each)
Share this giveaway on any Social Networking site (leave URL of your post/comment/status)
"Enter to #win #MinniesMasquerade #MickeyMouseClubhouse DVD w Mickey Mote from @mamatomjr http://goo.gl/FnT3h" 2x/day
Enter any of my other giveaways- 1 entry/giveaway (up to 5 extra entries allowed!)
Leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway post (+1 entry/post)
This giveaway will end on February 27, 2010 at midnight, EST. One entry per household. Winners to be chosen using random.org. US only. Winner has 48 hours from my initial contact to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!!


text:
Bond Strategies for Those Fearful of Inflation
by Stan Richelson and Hildy Richelson
The media warns investors not to buy bonds because inflation is coming, interest rates will rise and the value of bonds will fall.
The brokerage houses "mark to market" your bond portfolio every day, creating an awareness of portfolio valuation in the hopes that you will trade to take gains and sell losses. Depending upon a number of factors, including the frequency with which a particular bond has recently traded, these valuations may be more or less accurate.
In the trading process, you incur substantial costs and the brokers make money. You may or may not make any money. In fact, there have been numerous studies showing that if you trade, you lose money. Daniel Kahneman, the 2002 winner of the Nobel Prize for economics, states in his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011) that "Many individual investors lose consistently by trading, an achievement that a dart-throwing chimp could not match."
From our perspective, cash flow, not trading gains and losses, is the key consideration for individual investors. However, focusing on cash flow instead of gains and losses requires concentration, because it is a different gauge of success than those normally employed. Cash flow will not start an exciting conversation at a party. When you use cash flow as a measure, sitting in cash waiting for interest rates to go up is not a sensible strategy unless you can correctly forecast that interest rates will go up very soon. If your prognostication is incorrect, you will lose a great deal of cash flow investing at near-zero interest rates in short-term or money market instruments in today's market.
Inflation Is the Upside Case
This is how we think about inflation—and we think about it a lot. For people with bond ladders of individual bonds currently in place, inflation resulting in rising interest rates is the upside case because you can reinvest your maturing bonds and interest payments at a higher rate of return. We ask, "Would you rather reinvest your interest payments and principal at 4% or 6%?" You increase your return by 50% if interest rates were to rise from 4% to 6% over time. If you have a bond ladder in place, then the maturity of your entire bond portfolio shortens every day by one day. As you may have noticed, that adds up!
If interest rates are rising, will the market value of your bonds decline? Yes, they will. However, if you can hold them to maturity, then your bonds will pay off at their face value. And remember, you are buying the bonds for cash flow, not trading when interest rates go up or down. Your cash flow from your portfolio of individual bonds doesn't change when interest rates fluctuate.
The Case for Premium Bonds
If you purchase premium bonds (bonds purchased at a price above their face value), they hold their value better in a rising interest rate scenario. The higher coupon rate that is the essence of premium bonds means that you receive a return of a portion of your principal with each interest payment. In this way, an investor in premium bonds will recoup the amount they paid in excess of par via the higher coupon payments. The technical term for this is amortization, the return of both principal and interest at the same time. This higher cash flow will enable you to reinvest more money at a higher interest rate if interest rates rise.
Investors who are seeking a pure interest stream to provide a cash flow in lieu of a paycheck tend not to like premium bonds if they want to protect their principal. It may be difficult to figure out how much is a return of principal and how much is interest, though you can make a rough guess by multiplying your average yield to maturity times the face value of the bonds. So, for example, if your yield-to-worst call is 3% and your face value is $1 million, then you can assume that your interest payment total is $30,000, though the cash flow might be much higher if you purchased premium bonds. If you consume some of the principal along with the interest, then the bond functions more like an annuity. In an annuity, you are provided with a higher income stream because you are consuming some of your principal and making the insurance company your heir for the remainder of your unconsumed assets.
One of the advantages of premium bonds in a declining interest rate environment is that the bonds rapidly appreciate. This is especially so if the issuer pre-refunds the bonds by setting aside funds in an escrow account to pay all interest and principal until the first call date. In effect, the bonds will now be redeemed on that first call date. This can result in significant and immediate appreciation—and the possibility of a capital gain if you decide to sell.
Take, for example, Ohio State Water Development bonds for clean drinking water. They have a 5% coupon and had a final maturity of 2026 until they were pre-refunded to their first call date in 2018. In April 2012, the bonds' price was 123.074, or $1,230.74 for each $1,000 of face value. If the bonds were sold at that price, the yield to maturity would be 1.089%. This means that if you did not own this bond but were to buy it currently at this price, the yield to maturity that you would earn would be 1.089%.
On first look, it appeared that selling these bonds and taking the gain was the best course of action. On second thought, there were other considerations. First, the bonds were paying a cash flow of 5%, not easy to reproduce in today's market. Second, we may be at an interest rate bottom. We don't know what will happen, but if we were to reinvest the gains in new bonds, the maturity date would have to be around 20 years to get an adequate return. Interest rates might rise in the next six years when the bonds were to mature.
We decided we would rather have the higher cash flow and the principal back from the bonds for reinvestment at the hoped-for higher rates than have a current gain. We felt that long-term rates were not sufficiently attractive for this trade (selling the bonds) because the yield curve is not steep enough: Long-term rates need to be around 300 basis points more than the selling yield (in this case 1.089%) to make the trade sensible after taking into account the tax payable on the gain.
We did take the opportunity to sell less-credit-worthy bonds. Due to their high coupons and the market hunger for high yields, their prices were also up. We sold Buckeye Tobacco Settlement Financing bonds, rated B3 by Moody's and B– by Standard & Poor's, for $755 per bond. Considering that the bonds might pay $0.20 on the dollar if they defaulted, we were very pleased not to have to take that risk. This is an ideal time to sell low-rated junk bonds at a good price and to protect your capital.
The Cost of Waiting
Keep in mind that there is a cost associated with waiting to invest that should be factored into your investment process.
Five years ago, advisers who believed that interest rates had nowhere to go but up kept their clients' funds in one-year to five-year bond ladders. Five years later, they are still waiting for inflation and rising interest rates to bail them out. Instead of having cash flow between 4% and 5%, which was available to them in bonds at the time, they had to accept a very low rate of return while they were waiting. The money invested earned less than 1% for five years. It will be many years, if ever, before those lost cash flow payments are recouped.
We discuss this subject in our article "The Short-Term Route to Long-Term Failure" (published by AdvisorPerspectives, an e-publication for advisers) that is posted on our website at www.allbondportfolios.com.
Building a Ladder in a Low- Interest-Rate Environment
If you don't have a bond ladder and you wish to start one, you may, at first, be discouraged by the low yields on bonds coming due within 10 years. After all, advisers recommend ladders that are usually five to 10 years in length. That means that your longest maturity would be in the year 2022, and your average yield would be about 1%. Because most advisers are afraid of rising interest rates, this is what they would recommend. Then they would suggest market timing and selling to move assets from short or intermediate to longer-term bonds as rates rise.
Instead, we recommend that you first think about when you will need access to your cash. You want to be sure that you have resources when you need them without having to sell into unknown market conditions.
Then, we suggest that if you can lock in 3% to 4%, you are 2% to 3% ahead of the game. You can do that by purchasing longer-term bonds. While we prefer a ladder that targets years when you may need your funds (for college for example) or a ladder that has bonds maturing in every year, we have to deal with our current reality. Longer-term bonds pay substantially more both to the call and to maturity. They provide you with a higher cash flow to reinvest at higher rates if and when higher rates appear and more funds to live on if that is what you need. We hope that you will always have interest that you can reinvest at higher rates if and when they appear.
Also, the yield curve is not fixed but rather fluid, so short-term and intermediate-term bond yields can rise when the Federal Reserve decides to raise interest rates, while long-term yields may fall. As the yield curve changes shape, you will have the opportunity to purchase shorter-maturity bonds at higher rates, while the life span of your longer-maturity bonds will decline with each passing year. No one has a crystal ball telling them when rates are going to rise. It is an unknown.
When you read that interest rates have nowhere to go but up, remember that the stock market and real estate prices were inflated in Japan between 1986 and 1991, followed by a deflation of those markets and very low interest rates for a decade. Though the markets gained some strength after 2003, they were once again pummeled by the collapse of our own real estate and stock markets. The benchmark interest rate in Japan in 1999 was 0.0% and in 2012 it is again in the same place. The average interest rate in Japan from 1972 to 2010 was 3.5%, with a high of 9.0% in 1973, according to data published by Trading Economics. The Bank of Japan notes that "Overseas economies on the whole still have not emerged from a deceleration phase," and, in particular, that the Japanese economy "faces the critical challenge of overcoming deflation and returning to a sustainable growth path with price stability."
The Possibility of Deflation
Few commentators take into account the possibility of deflation. We are in an unwinding of the leverage that has engorged our economic system. The jobs report on May 4, 2012, stated that 115,000 new jobs were added in March 2012, far lower than the 165,000 the market was expecting. One reason for the poor jobs report is this unwinding of leverage. For example, states and municipalities must shed jobs and bring down costs in order to put their economic houses in order. In particular, they must reduce pension and health care costs, which will dip into the pockets of many American workers. This is going to unfold slowly and will be a big damper on inflation.
At the end of 2012, after our national elections, the U.S. Congress will have to decide whether to allow the expiration of a host of tax cuts and other measures, creating a fiscal drag on the economy. Retaining the tax cuts will result in a further ballooning of the national debt and pressure to once again raise the debt ceiling. There are also planned spending cuts that are supposed to kick in around that time. Both higher taxes and already programmed spending cuts will result in a huge fiscal drag on the economy "of 3.5% to 5%," according to David Reilly of The Wall Street Journal (April 9, 2012). Spending cuts at the state and local levels "would add an additional 0.5% hit."
The European economy is in shambles: Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Greece and even France all have enormous debt. Surges in Spanish and Italian bond yields rock the U.S. stock market. The European banks must increase their capital requirements as outlined in the Basel III accord. If the requirements of that summit had been in place in June 2011, more than 20% of Europe's biggest banks would have failed to meet the Tier-1 capital requirements, according the European Banking Authority per Bloomberg. Instead, these requirements will be phased in over a number of years. All in all, leverage and debt must be curtailed as these economies retrench.
While there may be inflation in our future, it may not surface any time soon. There is a cost to waiting, and the loss of cash flow while waiting may be substantial.
Bond Mutual Fund and ETF Strategies
While we recommend purchasing individual bonds to build a bond ladder that will produce cash flow and a return of principal, many investors prefer to purchase bond mutual funds and exchange-traded funds ETFs. These funds are quasi-stock investments because, though they own bonds, the funds never come due. The funds must maintain the average maturity range described by their charters. The funds trade bonds and buy new ones. They pay out dividends, composed of both capital gains and interest. There are fees, costs and taxes associated with the funds or ETFs. Bond fund managers may purchase lower-rated bonds in order to boost their yield, so that the fund will be more attractive than its competitors. It is hard to know exactly what the quoted yields mean or if they are comparable to one another.
Also, a significant current risk is that "hot money" is ready to jump out of the funds as soon as inflation rears its head, or on any other provocation. At the end of 2010, bond funds held $240 billion, according to The Bond Buyer. The financial newspaper further observed that with predictions of widespread municipal bond defaults, $50 billion gushed out of muni bond funds in early 2011, only to seep back to $210 billion by March 2011 when it appeared that the predictions were overblown. Then, contrary to the pundits' predictions that interest rates could only go up and muni prices down, municipal bond prices rose along with those of Treasury bonds, achieving a 10.7% total return. This attracted even more money to muni bonds because investors like to go with winning portfolios, even though it is often the losing portfolios that are poised to gain when the tide changes. Institutional investors are closely tracking the ebb and flow of municipal bond mutual funds, while you as an individual investor will get that information only after the fact.
Moves such as these can result in losses and/or short- or long-term capital gains taxes. In order to meet redemptions, the funds must sell their best bonds to get the best prices. That can reduce the credit quality of the funds if they must sell quickly. The individual investor notoriously mistimes buys and sells, as we said at the outset.
With ETFs specifically, there are additional concerns. It is not easy for a bond exchange-traded fund to replicate a bond index because some bonds do not trade at all and others are thinly traded. Since an ETF cannot purchase all the bonds in the index it tracks, the ETF must resort to 'sampling' the bonds held in the index. As a result, it may not accurately track the index, if there is one at all. Hence, there may be tracking errors. Tracking errors have been reported to be as wide as 3% on some funds, while Morningstar has reported tracking errors of between 1% and 2%. Another problem is that most ETFs use a market-cap weighting method, "which means that companies that issue the most debt are the largest parts of the index," according to Jason Kephart of InvestmentNews. Having the most debt does not mean that you are likely to have the best credit reports.
Our Personal Investment Strategy
We are buying individual tax-free municipal bonds for our personal accounts as our cash flow becomes available. We are not sitting on cash to earn less than 1%. With each investment, we have been making a minimum of +3% if the bonds are called at their first call date and +4% if the bonds are not called. Can interest rates move lower? We are sure that they can.
We will not lose any principal through bad timing, because we intend to hold our bonds until their maturity date. Every year, our bonds are one year closer to maturity. Our longer-maturity bonds gradually become intermediate bonds, and the intermediate-term ones become short-term. Unlike bond funds, which must keep their bonds within a specified maturity range, individual bonds shift their place in the yield curve.
We will not pay any federal income taxes on our tax-free municipal bonds during the period the bonds are outstanding. We will not worry about default, because all of our bonds are high-quality bonds. We will reinvest the cash flow at the current market rates. We will track our cash flow and continue to add to it.
This is what we recommend to our clients. This simple strategy will result in the growth of bond portfolios as a result of compounding of interest and the preservation of principal. It may even result in financial independence.
Be Wary of Esoteric Securitized Bonds
Which would you rather have, a promise to pay or cash in hand? In 1997 David Bowie decided that he would rather have the cash in hand than wait for the royalties from his record sales. He sold his intellectual property. Unfortunately for bondholders, the record business went into a slump and the value of his bonds was downgraded, but his investors got their money back.
This began the process of securitization, whereby the banks sold bonds backed by revenues from movie deals, drugs, real estate time shares and franchises. Though some of the names may be familiar to the average consumer, the bonds may be considered junk bonds by the rating agencies. In a low-interest-rate environment, where 10-year bonds yield 2% and 30-year bonds only 3.15%, yields on securitized paper can top 5% on bonds backed by pizza that you eat and movies that you watch. And familiarity can lead to trouble.
Recently, the bottom fell out of the mortgage market. The banks figured out that they could package mortgages they had on their books and sell them. As we found out, this was very advantageous because they were able to write mortgages without too much concern. The mortgages became other people's problems, and the banks suffered as well because they forgot the junk they put in and ate their own cooking. For example, if a bank sells a mortgage for $100,000, and does the same for 10,000 people, they have now lent $1 billion. That is bundled up and sold, and they will get a mixture of principal and interest back over the next 25 years, unless some of the mortgages are not paid and there is less cash to flow through to the bondholders.
As one commentator for The Wall Street Journal said: Fool me once, shame on Wall Street. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Bond Strategies for 401(k) Plans
Those of you participating in 401(k) plans, unfortunately, cannot invest in individual bonds in your account. You are given the alternative of investing in bond funds, which are really quasi-stock investments because the bond funds never come due. Having a fixed maturity date is the key feature of an individual bond because you know that on that date the principal will be returned and you will get back the face value of the bond. Bond funds can only return to you the price of the day, which may be more or less than you initially invested. The bonds in the funds do pay interest regularly, which cushions the movement of the price fluctuations.
Bond funds have benefited from declining interest rates, which have pushed bond interest rates down. To give you an idea of how low rates currently are, the average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer municipal bond index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, was 4.48% in the second week of May 2012. The newspaper says its index, which began in July 1984, has never posted a lower weekly average for the yield to maturity. The falling yields and rising prices of funds have attracted large cash inflows from individual investors.
Bond funds have been avid purchasers of premium bonds, which enhances their dividend payouts, along with bond sales that might generate capital gains. Since short-term bond yields are so low, funds have been flowing into intermediate- and long-term bond funds. At the end of 2011, the 10-year AAA municipal bond yielded 1.83% and overall bond mutual funds were up 10.7%, according to The Bond Buyer. Assets continue to flood into bond funds.
While you might expect an increase in price of individual municipal bonds to be reflected in the prices of the funds, this is not always the case. In the second week of May 2012, the 30-year tax-exempt yield hit a new low, and the 10-year yield approached its low. The Bond Buyer observed on May 15, 2012, "iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (MUB) fell 0.88% on Monday, as well as the SPDR Nuveen Barclays Capital Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (SHM), which fell 0.08%" in the same time frame. So the advice to bond fund buyers is that you must "look under the hood" of the municipal bond fund to find out what kinds of bonds it is holding, the names of those bonds and what the credit quality is. Are there any other features of the fund, like fees of any sort, of which you need to be aware? Is the price just a function of the value of the bonds in the fund or is it partially a reflection of the demand for the particular fund?
We believe that individual bonds are better investments than bond funds for many reasons. However, for those investors who can't buy individual bonds in their retirement accounts, here is a way to think about which bond funds to consider:
- Are you concerned about interest rates rising? If so, consider only short-term or intermediate-term bond funds.
- Are you concerned about credit quality? If so, only buy high-quality bond funds, and don't buy junk bond funds, high-yield funds, or emerging market or foreign bond funds denominated in foreign currencies. Look at the portfolio of bonds held by the fund and the ratings of the bonds in the fund.
- Are you concerned about high volatility? If so, don't buy funds that hold bonds denominated in a foreign currency. The foreign currency may produce big gains or big losses. Consider bond index funds to provide wide diversification.
- Are you concerned about high fees? Consider funds managed by Vanguard and Fidelity. They have no loads and reasonable fees.
- Do you want big-name managers with good records who manage for total return? Consider Pimco funds headed by Bill Gross and DoubleLine funds headed by Jeffrey Gundlach.
Whatever you decide, realize that when interest rates rise, the value of your bond fund will decline and that bond funds will never come due. Like any other fund, there is no guarantee that your investment will be intact just because you chose to invest in a bond fund. It will fluctuate in value daily, and at some point may become quite volatile.
Hildy Richelson is president of Scarsdale Investment Group, a registered investment adviser based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, that specializes in fixed-income investments. Hildy and Stan Richelson are co-authors of several books on bonds, including "Bonds: The Unbeaten Path to Secure Investment Growth," Second Edition (Bloomberg Press, 2011).
rbasili from FL posted over 4 years ago:
I prefer investing in yanguard corporate bond funds withdiferent durations in my IRA hiyield,GNMA,ShTInvGrade etc. over many,many years. Keeps cost low in contrast to buying individual Bonds which are dificult for even the professonal to evaluate and where you are paying hefty brokerage which is generally hidden. I get diversification, good return, and if I hold through up and down interest cycles ive found cycles even out nicely. And i can now time my required MR withdrawls and even tweek the allocations.
Jonathon from IN posted over 4 years ago:
As a new investor I know the initial attraction of bond funds verses individual bonds is the fact that I'm not comfortable screening bonds to make sure I have high quality bonds. US Treasury bonds are easy, but other than Treasuries the fear of purchasing a low quality bond can drive new investors to bond funds (or stick with Treasuries and accept a very low Yield). Do you have articles that you recommend for a new investor on bond screening and the best way for us to purchase individual bonds (like muni bonds)? It would be wonderful to find information about a recommended broker, how to screen for a bond, and how to "shop" for the best price for that bond. Also, recommendations on waiting for a new issue, verses purchasing secondary bonds, and how to "monitor" the bond portfolio to make sure the portfolio doesn't have new default risks (assuming I'm purchasing and holding to maturity).
Stephen from NY posted over 4 years ago:
Seems like a self-serving article. The authors prefer that you do not buy bond funds because they don't make money on them.
I have owned solid bond funds for years, have reinvested the proceeds and sleep well at night knowing that I am well diversified within the fund and the manager (which I choose through Morningstar) is watching over it.
Ronald from IL posted over 4 years ago:
I think Renzo,Jonathon and Stephen make more sense to me than the authors of this article!
Robert from OR posted over 4 years ago:
What do you invest in if and when you are 80-years old?
Allen from PA posted over 4 years ago:
It is possible to own individual bonds in 401(k) accounts, which is contrary to what the author says. Some brokerage companies also provide and manage 401(k) accounts and as such offer brokerage services and products like stock, bonds, etc. within those qualified type accounts.
Bobby from TN posted over 4 years ago:
I have never talked to a broker who could show me how to buy an individual bond, period. I prefer bond funds and gladly pay the small fees to have Vanguard manage those for me.
Norman from NY posted over 4 years ago:
I am a bit confused. I can understand how you invest the cash at a higher rate in a rising interest rate environment when the bond matures.
How do you invest the cash flow from the coupons at a higher rate?
Charles from IL posted over 4 years ago:
Norman-You use the coupon payments from your bond holdings to purchase new bonds. As yields rise, you will be reinvesting the proceeds from your coupons into bonds with higher yields.
Marcus from NC posted over 4 years ago:
Name your poison it sounds like-- I wonder how Bill Gross would answer . JAFIX fund; 7% with a std. dev. of 2.8; 5-star exp of .71%
Roger from SC posted over 4 years ago:
Well written article that even I could understand. The 800 lb. gorilla seems to be the interest rates kept artificialy low to make easy money available to those in need. Those of us that have saved did not think we would have to take "nothing" for "safe interest" and extremely high risk on other investments. I guess these are good times for the poor as we continue to put in more socialistic systems by our goverment.
Hildy from Pennsylvania posted over 3 years ago:
Bond funds are a quasi-stock investment because the funds must keep a constant maturity range. The bonds outside the range must be sold. They never come due. When rising interest rates materialize, bond fund owners are at risk because bonds will have to be sold into a rising interest rate market. This is a disadvantage of bond funds.
Morningstar is a good guide, but the data they are presenting is not always what it seems. John Bogle states that all funds revert to the mean, which means that those with five stars will eventually become lower rated funds. Funds with many stars must be taking added risks to be earning better than average returns. It is important to look beyond the ratings to find out what is in the small percentage of the holdings that is driving the difference.
When you are 80, it is advantageous to purchase high quality bonds with a full coupon (4% or more) and call protection. In this interest rate environment, you need to purchase longer term bonds maturing between 15 and 20 years. This is where the yield is. Hopefully they will be short term bonds, or the principal will be reinvested, when your heirs inherit.
Risks are relative. Longer term bonds still return about 3.5% on tax-free municipal bonds, which is the tax-equivalent return of between 5% and 6% taxable depending upon your tax bracket.
HOWARD from CA posted about 1 year ago:
Alessandro Martelli from CA posted 11 months ago:
Don't forget a different alternative to both bond funds and individual bonds: defined-maturity bond funds. AAII covered them in detail in http://www.aaii.com/journal/article/defined-maturity-funds-a-bond-alternative-with-compromises.touch , pinpointing both advantages and disadvantages.


text:
Madlib vs Tame Impala
Posted 09 October 2012 - 07:02 AM
[from the "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" 7", featuring remixes from Memory Tapes and Madlib and a cover from Young Dreams; out 11/16/12 in Australia, 11/19/12 in UK/Europe, and 11/20/12 in the U.S. via Modular]
Tame Impala remixed by Madlib sounds nice! Did anyone else on the boards know about this?
Posted 09 October 2012 - 12:59 PM
Posted 20 October 2012 - 11:33 PM
Posted 21 October 2012 - 05:54 AM
Edit. I see the links. I want to see the YouTube. My lazy Sunday morning ass says.
Posted 06 February 2013 - 04:16 PM
Posted 06 February 2013 - 05:13 PM
Hey where the hell is this record?
The only reliable things in life are Madlib delays. For everything else, there's MasterCard.
- Mr Teeth, rupert pupkin, gEEchieDan and 1 other like this
Posted 08 February 2013 - 07:23 PM
Posted 22 June 2013 - 08:55 AM
Posted 23 June 2013 - 08:29 AM
both the original and Memory Tapes remix are two of my favorite songs though
Posted 24 June 2013 - 09:25 AM
I got in contact with the label a few months ago and they said Madlib never turned anything in and it didn't work out so no point on waiting
both the original and Memory Tapes remix are two of my favorite songs though
damn. thanks for heads up tho my dude
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
INGREDIENTS:12 cups warm water 1 cup yeast ½ cup sugar 18 cups bread flour 18 cups high gluten flour ½ cup salt ½ cup vegetable oil 2 egg whites 4 cups California Ripe Olives, chopped 1 cup olive oil 2 Tbsp. chopped rosemaryDIRECTIONS:Combine water, yeast and sugar in a bowl and set aside for 5-10 minutes until yeast has dissolved and bubbles begin to appear. In a large mixer, combine bread flour, gluten flour, salt, vegetable oil, egg whites and olives. Add yeast mixture to flour mixture ...
Register to view this article
Why Register for FREE?
Registering for Premium Content on Restaurant Hospitality will give you INSTANT access to invaluable articles and media content that industry professionals rely on. You will have access to our special reports, feature articles, and industry analysis. It's FREE, easy and quick.


text:
May 25, 2011 —
SCCC has another go at the windmills
LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — SUNY Sullivan has introduced a Wind Turbine Technology Program set to begin with the Fall 2011 semester. The two-year associate's degree program will include hands-on learning with a 2.5 kilowatt wind turbine, as well as turbine simulator and classroom study. As part of the program, students will gain a working knowledge of both residential and industrial wind turbines, and AC and DC electrical systems failures. They will learn to read electrical schematics, and develop their knowledge of power distribution systems.
SUNY Sullivan's own experience with wind power has been troubled. It lost $2 million on a proposed traditional windmill that was never built, and an experimental vertical axis windmill which was built at the college was recently determined to be ineffective, and will be taken down starting on June 1. Visit www.sunysullivan.edu/prostudies/ [1]
Job corps training for locals
MONTICELLO, NY — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), the Monticello Interfaith Council, Sullivan Renaissance and the Village of Monticello will host a workshop on Saturday, June 4, to provide information on free employment and education training programs available through the Delaware Valley Job Corps (DVJC). The presentation will occur from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Ted Stroebel Neighborhood Center located at 2 Jefferson Street.
"The education, career training and job placement services offered by the Delaware Valley Job Corps can be life changing for young people who take advantage of this essential program," said Hinchey. "Even though Job Corps has a campus in Callicoon, very few residents of Sullivan County are fully aware of all the advantages the program has to offer. That's why I am delighted to host this event—to ensure that those who live in the area have the information and assistance they need to successfully apply for and participate in this no-cost program, which has already benefited so many young adults."
Participants in the program live on campus in Callicoon while receiving training in trade fields including advanced manufacturing, business technologies, carpentry, culinary arts, medical office support and more. Visit delawarevalley.jobcorps.gov or call 845/344-3211.
Sales tax revenue edges up
MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County's sales tax revenues have increased somewhat from the last couple of years, though have still not recovered to 2008 levels, according to Sullivan County Treasurer Ira Cohen.
The county has received sales tax payments from the state of about $8.32 million so far this year, compared to payments of $8.26 million received in 2009 and $7.96 million last year. Payments for the equivalent period in 2008 were $8.98 million.
North Branch church reopens
NORTH BRANCH, NY — Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of North Branch, which was forced to close by the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America due to rising debt and falling membership last year, has been reinstated.
The Synod voted last week to reinstate the church at its assembly following an appeal to the body by the president of the North Branch church, Meta Sorge. Sorge's parents were the first couple to be wed in the 75-year-old church.
Keesler likely winner in Damascus
DAMASCUS, PA — Dolores Keesler will probably be on the ballot this year as a Democratic candidate for supervisor in Damascus Township. Keesler, who was removed from her seat as the township representative on the Upper Delaware Council, received a combined total of about 97 write-in votes at polling on May 17 in the two polling places.
Township supervisor Joe Canfield, a Republican, received about 35 write-ins on the Democratic ballot. The final write-in totals won't be released until May 28, after officials have a chance to go over the votes to ensure that they were correctly tallied.
Keesler said she also received about 82 write-in votes on the Republican ballot.
Most-wanted man nabbed in Sullivan
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, NY — Kerry Costello, 45, was arrested by state and federal officers at a house in White Sulphur Springs on Thursday, May 19. Costello is on Massachusetts' most-wanted list for six armed robberies and an incident in which he rammed his car into a police car in order to escape.
Costello was at the residence of a relative at the time of his arrest by the state police's Violent Felony Warrant Squad, U.S. marshalls and state police investigators from the Liberty barracks. He is being held in Sullivan County Jail pending extradition to Massachusetts.


text:
Venue news: Blackstock and NV Nightclub
The new logo for Blackstock, the venue formerly known as The Valarium
Big doings going on in the music scene around here.
Yesterday afternoon, got an email from Andrea Kerns, the EDM go-to lady in the Knoxville scene and one of the organizers of the "Midnight Voyage Live" series of shows. Her email promotes "the return of the Blue Cats sound to Knoxville's Old City," and it signals the expansion of NV Nightclub — 125 E. Jackson Ave., where Blue Cats functioned as a live music venue from 2002-2007 — into more than just a shake-yer-booty destination.
According to the email, NV "will continue to host a wide variety of local, regional, and national and international talent spanning all genres," and "in addition to the NV room, Carleo Entertainment (owned by Duane Carleo, who runs a number of Old City properties) will be hosting live music events at several other properties, including:
• The Bowery (directly adjacent to NV, formerly Tonic)
• Southbound / 90 Proof (106 S. Central)
• Old City Courtyard (outdoor stage located in the courtyard behind Southbound)
• New Amsterdam on the Cumberland Avenue "Strip"
Kerns goes on to say that "Large events are in the works for Old City Courtyard, including festival-type productions which will utilize several of the aforementioned rooms." In addition to continuing events like "Midnight Voyage," Carleo Entertainment will soon be opening Wagon Wheel, "a country-style bar/lounge on South Central Street, next to Carleo's, scheduled for opening late February."
Here's a list of upcoming Carleo events:
- Tonight (Feb. 1): "Midnight Voyage Live" presents Spankalicious with Bitch Please, IRell and Moniker, 9 p.m. at NV Nightclub, $5 advance/$8 at the door
- Tonight (Feb. 1): Metal, featuring A Soul Disowned with Serene Scream, Scent Of Remains and Rot Iron, 8 p.m. at 90 Proof, $7
- Feb. 8: "Midnight Voyage Live" presents Wick-It The Instigator with Archnemesis and The Floozies, 9 p.m. at NV Nightclub, $7 advance/$12 at the door
- Feb. 8: Rock, featuring Mobility Chief with Appalachian Fury, Pyramid Asylum and Coalition Of Benevolence, 8:30 p.m. at 90 Proof, $5
- Feb. 9: Konkrete Jungle Knoxville presents Squake with Shadow Cartel, 9 p.m. at 90 Proof, $5
- Feb. 11: Rock, featuring Pathway with East Old Topside, A Body Divided, Awake The Suffering and Ark Of Covenant, 7 p.m. at 90 Proof, $7
- Feb. 14: Rapture Productions presents "BassFace 20," featuring Megalodon, Veltix, iRell and MSTR RPTR, 9 p.m. at NV Nightclub, $7 advance/$10 at the door
- Feb. 15: "Midnight Voyage Live" presents MartyParty, 9 p.m. at NV Nightclub, $10 advance/$15 at the door
- Feb. 15: Rock, featuring Lines Taking Shape with Sin, Crumbsnatchers, Yak Strangler and Smooth Operationz, 8:30 p.m. at 90 Proof, $6
- Feb. 21: "Midnight Voyage Live" presents FIGURE with Spooky Jones and Paerbaer,9 p.m. at NV Nightclub, $12 advance/$15 at the door
- Feb. 22: Midnight Voyage Live" presents Arpetrio with Magmablood and Dialectic Sines, 9 p.m. at NV Nightclub, $7 advance/$10 at the door
- March 8:Rock, featuring Ten Foot Grave with Afterlife, Shallowpoint and Annandale, 8 p.m. at 90 Proof, $7
- March 9: Konkrete Jungle Knoxville presents DJ Odi with Sarah Burns, 9 p.m. at 90 Proof, $7/$10 ages 18-20
In other venue news, shortly after it was announced that The Valarium (formerly the Electric Ballroom) was shutting down, it was also announced that Ooga Mooga Tiki Tavern/former 4620 Jazz Club owner Daniel Leal had bought the establishment and was keeping it open as a live music venue. At first, it seemed like the transition would be seamless, but an early January show by local death metal heroes Whitechapel was moved to NV Nightclub, and ever since Leal has been mum about when his establishment, rumored to be called Blackstock Auditorium, would open.
It seems that's going to happen sooner rather than later. Leal went live with a Facebook page for (just) Blackstock last night, and there's also a website. It's sparse, but we're hoping details will fill in quickly. There are already a couple of events out there slated for Blackstock: EOTO with Crizzly on March 1, and Excision with Paper Diamond and Vaski.


text:
Unsupported Browser Detected
The Lenovo Support website supports
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10+,
Mozilla Firefox 29+,
Chrome 34+
and any other modern web browser.
Note: Do the FRU replacement or other actions in the sequence shown in the column headed "FRU or action, in sequence." If replacing a FRU does not solve the problem, put the original part back in the computer. Do not replace a nondefective FRU.
LCD assembly.
Your feedback helps to improve this site.
How can we improve it?
Select your product:
Lenovo is committed to environmental leadership from operations to product design and recycling solutions.