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D.C. Has A Serious Rat Problem. What Can The City Do?
The number of people living in D.C. is booming, and so too is the number of rats. Kojo talks about how D.C.'s rodent problem is affecting the city and what's being done to fight off the pests.
We Americans love our cheap on-street parking, but it may not be good for us — hunting for spaces can create both pollution and congestion. Some cities — including Washington — are testing a program that adjusts parking meter fees to manage demand. We explore what that means if you're looking for a parking place in D.C.
PROF. DONALD SHOUPFrom WAMU 88.5 at American University in Washington, welcome to "The Kojo Nnamdi Show," connecting your neighborhood with the world. In the car culture we live in, most of us take free or cheap on-street parking for granted. But in some cities, 30 percent of traffic congestion comes from people driving around the block, looking for a parking pace -- parking place, that is. To combat this parking crunch, a few places, including Washington, are experimenting with a new system that adjusts parking meter fees to control demand. The theory is that if street parking is expensive enough, only those people who really want it will use it, and the rest will go to a garage.
MR. KOJO NNAMDIIt also means those people who park at the curb to do their errands probably won't stay as long because of the higher cost, which creates more customer turnover for local businesses. Here in Washington, pilot programs near the Nationals' ballpark and in Columbia Heights are testing the public's reaction to demand base pricing at the parking meter. And joining us now from a studio at UCLA to discuss this is Donald Shoup. He's a professor of Urban Planning at UCLA and author of "The High Cost of Free Parking." Donald Shoup, thank you for joining us.
SHOUPWell, hello and thank you for inviting me.
NNAMDIMost Americans love free parking, but you think it's actually a bad idea, one that's contributing to traffic congestion, pollution and bad land-use decisions. Why?
SHOUPWell, I think free parking is a bad idea in dense areas where there's a shortage of parking that -- of curb parking, especially, as in Washington, that if all the curb spaces were free in Washington, there would be even more cars driving around, hunting for parking. But I guess I wouldn't say that performance pricing, as they call it in Washington, D.C., beats higher prices always. Sometimes it would mean lower prices. Well, I looked at a survey of occupancy at the meters in the area where you do performance pricing. I'd say that the prices should be lower, that the idea is to get the price of parking right, and by right, I mean one or two vacant spaces on every block.
SHOUPIf there are one or two vacant spaces, then the space -- the curb spaces will be well used, meaning most of those spaces are occupied but readily available, so that anybody coming to the area will see a vacant space. So it's sort of like the Goldilocks principle of parking prices. They shouldn't be too high or too low. And I think in many cases, they are too high.
NNAMDIHow does a lack of available curb parking affect traffic congestion?
SHOUPWell, a lot of people say, it took me 10 minutes to find the space or 20 minutes to find a space. And if it took you 10 minutes to find a curb space, it probably takes everybody else. So they're -- everybody who is hunting for a space has been driving for 10 minutes, hunting for one that leads us to a lot of unnecessary traffic. Traffic -- it's driving that people don't want to do. We did a study of this in a 15-block area in Los Angeles, drove ourself 240 times to the area and found out how long it took to park, and the average was only about three minutes. But that's about a half a mile of driving. And when you add it up for the whole year in these 15 blocks, it adds up to almost 1 million vehicle miles of travel, hunting for car parking.
SHOUPThat's four trips to the moon. And that is -- adds to congestion, and the drivers don't pay so much attention to the pedestrians or the bicyclists or wasting fuel. And now we realize they're emitting carbon dioxide that may even have problems all over the Earth.
NNAMDICue to my favorite Henny Youngman joke. I solved the problem of driving around, looking for parking in New York -- I bought a parked car. Donald Shoup, you've estimated that as a nation, we spend about as much money on parking as we spend on Medicare or national defense. How does free parking actually subsidize cars and drivers?
SHOUPWell, just because the driver doesn't pay for parking it doesn't mean the cost goes away. Somebody else has to pay for it, and that somebody is everybody. It wasn't my estimate that the cost of providing this parking that drivers don't pay for is about what we pay for Medicare. It was another researcher. But when you think of all the land and the capital and the -- that is everywhere, all these garages that you see around, who is paying for them, all the parking lots at supermarkets.
SHOUPYou don't pay for it when you drive through a supermarket, but the parking wasn't free. Somebody has to pay for it, and that somebody is everybody who shops there. Even if they're too poor to own a car, they have to pay for the parking for people who do drive.
NNAMDIWhy do you think cities should adjust parking meter prices to control demand? And how do higher prices for curbside parking affect driving behavior?
SHOUPWell, I think the real reason for -- to get the price of curb parking right is the -- all the bad things that happen when you get the prices wrong. If the price is too high, then there are a lot of vacant spaces and stores lose customers. If the price is too low, well then there are no vacant spaces, and you feel you have to drive around hoping to see a space being vacated. So I think that the main effect of getting the price of curb parking right is it'll take a lot of cars out of traffic. But it doesn't mean people won't be traveling.
SHOUPIt just means that they won't have to add 10 or 15 minutes at the end of their trip hunting for curb parking. And this will -- by getting a lot of cars out of traffic, it will make it easier for buses to travel, for everybody who's driving to travel, be easier for pedestrians and bicyclists. I think that the main way that getting the price of curb parking right will affect driving behavior is it'll cut out that 10 or 15 minutes of hunting for parking at the end of your trip.
NNAMDIBy your calculations, Donald Shoup, the ideal scenario is to set parking meter prices so that in every block, there are always one or two open spaces and the rest are full. Why is that a good ratio, and how can we achieve it?
SHOUPWell, I think one vacant space would be the ideal. You know, some people think they have good parking karma, that wherever they go, they find an -- a space open, they get up right where they wanna be. And I think getting the price of curb parking right will give everybody good parking karma, that wherever you go, you won't -- you can't say that there's a shortage of parking because as you drive around the block, you see one to two vacant spaces on every block.
SHOUPAnd there's no reason to drive around, hunting for parking. You'll probably, you know, park in front of the -- a store, you'll go in, you'll buy something, and then you'll leave so that somebody else can use the space. So I think there will be probably faster turnover because the longer you stay, the more you'll pay. So I think the spaces will be used a lot better. I think Tommy Wells, who's the councilmember...
NNAMDIWard 6 councilmember here in Washington, D.C.
SHOUPThat's right. He is the -- really the leader in this field, and he calls it performance pricing. And I think you can call it performance pricing for three reasons. One, the curb parking will perform better. As I said, it's well used but readily available. And then, the traffic system will perform better because there won't be a lot of cars congesting traffic while they hunt for parking. And that the whole economy will perform better because the stores will have a steady stream of customers who won't linger in the neighborhood after they've, you know, bought whatever they're buying or gone to whatever restaurants theretofore. And then, they'll make the spaces available for somebody else.
NNAMDICouncilmember Tommy Wells said he would have loved to join us, but he says he's in a budget hearing in the council this morning. And I turned to Council Channel 13 to make sure and, yes, he is in that budget hearing, so he probably won't be joining us. Donald Shoup is a professor of urban planning at UCLA and author of "The High Cost of Free Parking." He joins us from a studio at UCLA. You can join us by calling 800-433-8850 if you'd like to participate in the conversation.
NNAMDIHow do you feel about adjusting parking prices to control demand? 800-433-8850. Or go to our website, kojoshow.org, and ask a question or make a comment there. Joining us now in studio is Karina Ricks, associate director for planning, policy and sustainability with the District of Columbia Department of Transportation. Karina, thank you for joining us.
MS. KARINA RICKSIt's a pleasure to be here.
NNAMDIAlso with us is Michael Perkins, who writes about parking and Metro for the blog Greater Greater Washington. Michael, good to see you again.
MR. MICHAEL PERKINSThank you for having me.
NNAMDIKarina, in 2008, the District of Columbia started a pilot program based, in part, on Professor Shoup's theories of parking dynamics. It's in place in two neighborhoods: the area near the Nationals' ballpark, and the commercial corridor in Columbia Heights. How is the city's so-called performance parking program designed to balance the needs of residents, businesses and customers?
RICKSWell, I think it's important to note that we coupled our performance parking for the metered spaces together with management in the residential parking areas around those areas. Columbia Heights is, of course, a densely populated residential community as well as being now a major retail and entertainment destination. And so, the strategy there in Columbia Heights was to invite patrons to those retail and economic development destinations while, at the same time, protecting the neighborhood residential.
RICKSWe implemented enhanced residential parking in the nearby streets and then sought to manage demand, as Dr. Shoup has advocated, on the metered areas through both pricing and time limit -- limitations on the curbside space.
NNAMDICould you be more specific about how the performance parking program works in the areas, say, near the Nationals' ballpark? What does it cost to park on a meter on game days and non-game days? I gave an exaggerated estimate of that by saying the first hour costs $4 and it's $12 an hour after that, but that was mainly to attract attention.
RICKS(laugh) Well, you're not necessarily so far off.
RICKSThe -- in the metered streets on game day, it's $2 for the first hour, but then $8 for the second hour, $8 again for the third hour. And then it decreases to $2 for the second hour -- sorry, for the fourth hour again. So, if you're to stay for a whole game, you would be paying about $20 for the on-street space, and that's competitive with what the off-street lots are also offering.
NNAMDIOh, yeah, I've paid that $20 in the off-street lots on many (laugh) -- on occasion. The other section of the city with a performance parking pilot program is Columbia Heights. How are parking meter rates set there?
RICKSParking meter rates in Columbia Heights are $1 -- I'm sorry, $2 an hour in Columbia Heights. But we're looking to adjust those now as we've gotten new reports on the performance in that area that indicate that we're not meeting the 85 percent occupancy work seating it. So nearly all metered spaces in Columbia Heights are typically occupied, and that would indicate that perhaps the market can bear a higher parking rate so that we can achieve that small number of vacant spaces to decrease the circling, looking for parking to increase accessibility to the businesses there. And so we are looking to change the metered prices in Columbia Heights to increase those parking rates.
NNAMDIMichael Perkins, how have Washingtonians responded to these two pilot parking programs? Is there a lot of support for this new performance parking system? My own experience seems to be that people have two general kinds of responses, A, I don't like paying more for parking flat, B, but I do like having more access to parking.
PERKINSI think that the response has been, at least in the comments that we have on the blog...
PERKINS...is that a lot of people have said that they don't like paying more for parking, but that there are a lot of people on the blog comments that say that they like having the ability to drive and find a space. And the other thing is that the revenue, at least a portion of it, is devoted to the local neighborhood to fund improvements. And so they like that aspect of it. DDOT has had some community meetings to discuss the performance parking. So I think that the comments that were at those meetings -- I can ask Karina to respond if you were there or you know any of the reports from those meetings.
NNAMDIWell, Karina, how do you decide when to raise or lower parking fees in performance parking zones? And what have you learned from your reviews of the program?
RICKSWell, it's a data-driven process. And so we adjust the parking rates based on the information that we get on their occupancy. And I think Dr. Shoup can talk a bit more about some of the innovations that are happening in San Francisco to have real-time occupancy data reported in that city. We are not to that level yet. We do annual assessments of what the occupancy is. We do get data throughout the year on what the occupancy is, and then make adjustments based on that data that we're receiving.
NNAMDIGot to take a short break. When we come back, we'll continue this conversation on setting the price of D.C.'s parking meters, and inviting your calls, 800-433-8850. If you live or shop in Columbia Heights, are you aware of the performance parking program there? And how do you think it's working? Have you parked at the meter to go to a Nationals baseball game? How do you feel about the performance parking system there? 800-433-8850. If you've already called, stay on the line. If the lines are busy -- and they're filling up fast -- you can go to our website, kojoshow.org. Send us a tweet, @kojoshow, or send us an email to email@example.com. I'm Kojo Nnamdi.
NNAMDIWelcome back to our conversation about setting the price at D.C.'s parking meters, something that is being called performance parking. And we're inviting your calls at 800-433-8850. We're talking with Karina Ricks, who's associate director for Planning, Policy and Sustainability with the District of Columbia Department of Transportation. Donald Shoup is a professor of urban planning at UCLA and author of "The High Cost of Free Parking." And Michael Perkins writes about parking in Metro for the blog Greater Greater Washington. Michael, you've raised some concerns about the city being too slow to collect new data about the parking program and to adjust meter rates accordingly.
PERKINSWell, that's right. The program started -- I think it was authorized in 2007. And it didn't really get rolling until 2008. And it took a year before their report -- their first report on the occupancy levels came out. And from that report, DDOT reported some of the levels of parking that were outside of the, you know, the band that you're supposed to be in. And they made a, sort of, a comment that they were gonna be adjusting the prices for the blocks that were listed in a certain table. And then a lot of time went by, and none of the adjustments that they had mentioned were actually going through.
PERKINSAnd so, now, we got a new draft report in March. And they improved the report a lot by stating, you know, which particular blocks were gonna be adjusted. But it's been, you know, 3 1/2 years since the performance parking idea was officially approved. And I'm not sure that we've done -- we've actually done any adjustments that were based on measured demand.
NNAMDIThis is, after all, a pilot program. Karina Ricks, do you think that you need to be looking at data and making changes more rapidly?
RICKSWe definitely need to be looking at data. And that's, as I said, a really important part of this whole program. I think the other thing to keep in mind is that the ballpark area is a highly dynamic neighborhood. It's -- from month to month, there's new tenants, new occupants, more housing units coming on line. The context is changing very, very rapidly in that neighborhood.
NNAMDISo that's more difficult than Columbia Heights because the businesses...
NNAMDI...are still moving in and things are changing all the time, whereas in Columbia Heights, you've got the USA Mall there and all of the businesses there, so you kind of know what's going on there. Donald Shoup, to make these market-driven parking fees politically feasible, you recommend that cities spend the parking meter revenue on improvements to the blocks with the meters and you cite Old Pasadena in California as an example. Could you explain?
SHOUPYes. Michael did mention the fact that the meter money does go -- 75 percent of the meter money does go back to the metered blocks. I think that's very, very important. You said that Tommy Wells was in a budget hearing. Well, this money is part of the budget. And I think it helps justify the performance pricing if the city can show the neighborhoods, well, here is what your money paid for. Here's a cleaner sidewalk. Here are new street furniture, new street trees, new bicycle racks, new bus shelters. So that when people get out of their cars, they see a much better neighborhood.
SHOUPAnd I think another aspect of the budget is that when they did this annual survey last year, they found that more than half of the cars in the pilot area were from out of D.C. That is that more than half of the revenue comes from -- mainly from people from Virginia or Maryland who are visiting the District. So I think that's a great source of revenue. Monty Python said that the ideal source of revenue comes from taxing foreigners living abroad. And this is sort of what the performance prices do, if most of your -- more than half of your visitors come from outside the District.
SHOUPBut when I look at neighborhoods that do benefit from these services paid for by the meters, most people think that's the biggest benefit of performance pricing, is these physical improvements that people can see and touch. They can't really see a lot of transportation improvements. They don't know how much of the traffic is cruising, but they can see that these meters paid for something that they really wanted, maybe cleaning up their alleys or having extra police protection.
SHOUPCalifornia turned an area in old town Pasadena from what had been a commercial skid row into one of the most popular tourist destinations in California when they put in meters and spent all of the revenue to completely fix up the public infrastructure of the neighborhood.
NNAMDIAnd we have a number of calls. I'll start with Cameron in Frederick, Md. Cameron, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.
CAMERONThank you, Kojo. I completely agree with the economic arguments, and I understand the benefit of having more parking and more turnover for people who can pay for it. But with every economic decision, there are winners and losers. And the winners are upper class and upper-middle class people who have discretionary income. The losers are people who, you know, paying an extra five or $10 for parking or whatever it may be, is a real financial burden. This decision serves people who have money and it hurts people who don't, and that should be clear.
CAMERONAnd if you wish to make that decision, probably you'll make more money for the city, but you'll hurt people's, I guess, freedom of movement who might not have that discretionary income. And that -- I'll take my -- the response off the air. Thank you, Kojo.
NNAMDIOK. Here is Karina Ricks.
RICKSWell, that's really not the case. In the District of Columbia, over 35 percent of our households have no access to an automobile at all, so these populations are transit dependent, they're walk dependent, they're bicycle dependent. And access, of course, to the amenities of the region and the jobs are not only through auto-mobility. And the performance parking, as Dr. Shoup indicated, really helps all modes. When there is a overburden demand on the curbside, real estate, what happens is it causes people to park in loading zones, park in bus zones, double park in bicycle lanes, park in crosswalks. And this really hinders the ability of all modes to move safely and efficiently into access those goods and the opportunities of the region.
NNAMDIThank you very much for your call, Cameron. Care to comment on that at all, Michael?
PERKINSNo, other than the idea that a lot of the meter money does get devoted to improving non-automobile transportation that can be used by people who, you know, can't afford a car or choose not to use their car.
NNAMDIThe District of Columbia has collected almost $1 million from the performance parking meters near the National Ballpark. It is my understanding $50,000 from the ones in Columbia Heights. Is that correct, Karina?
RICKSThat's correct.
NNAMDIAnd that money is being used in those neighborhoods?
RICKSThat's correct.
NNAMDIOnto the telephones. Again, Cameron, thank you for your call. Here is Allison in Hyattsville, Md. Allison, your turn.
ALLISONHi. Yes. Thank you, Kojo. It seems like this idea could be a very good idea if done well. My concern is that the real time adjustments (unintelligible) suggested the area by the ballpark or tourism in the summer, I'm thinking down by the Verizon Center, you know, after a game, and I'm wondering how the rates could be regulated in real time, even seasonally. And I also wondered if there was, you know, some kind of online or an app for a phone, I'm not sure, a way for drivers to check the rates before traveling.
ALLISONI know if I showed up and was expected to pay $12 for a parking for an hour, that would be quite a shock, but if I could plan my trip, then maybe we could all get on board. It seems like it could work if it's done well. I'll take my answer off the air. Thank you.
NNAMDIAllison, you're exactly on the right track. First, here is Michael Perkins.
PERKINSIn the San Francisco system, which is the most advanced performance parking system that's currently being run, they have limits that are set by policymakers on the size of the adjustments that can be made and on the frequency of the adjustments that can be made. So we're not really talking about real-time computers reading data and then instantly adjusting the prices so that you have no idea when you get there. The prices, San Francisco puts them online on a Web page, and they also have apps for your smartphone that you can look at to see what the price will be on curbs that you're planning on visiting.
PERKINSSo I wouldn't be a very strong advocate of a system that would adjust the prices so quickly that they would be unpredictable. I would look for, you know, the prices to be adjusted regularly and in small increments so that they reach an equilibrium.
NNAMDIKarina Ricks, is that where we're headed?
RICKSWe certainly hope so. Technology is going to be a major component of having performance parking that can adjust in real time. The District has rolled out a number of parking meter pilots over the last year. And we've now invested in smarter meters that have the ability to network together and tell us what the occupancy are. Where we go from here is similar to where San Francisco is in having sensors that could tell us when a vehicle is occupying a space and upload that to a real-time database to inform consumers of where parking spaces are located and what the pricing would be.
NNAMDIIndeed, Donald Shoup, San Francisco has just started testing their program on a much bigger scale than we, here, in the District of Columbia at roughly one-fifth of the city's parking meters. We just heard about some of the initiative, but how is it doing as far as you know?
SHOUPWell, they just started it two weeks ago. But the sensors are in every curb space and it tells the city, in real time, what the occupancy rate is on each block. But they intend to adjust the prices only once a month. They'll look at what happened in the previous month and they know what hours they will nudge the price up or down. And there'll be different prices at different times of the day. I mean, that's one of the main things is that it isn't in the same price all day long.
SHOUPAnd they already have telephone apps and computer display showing what is the price of -- and time limits for curb parking in every block. And with your app, you can look at the occupancy rate. But they're really aiming to have the occupancy rate about 85 percent. So you won't really worry about the occupancy. You'll simply worry about the price. And I think a lot of people will see that it's cheaper five blocks away from their destination, they'll park farther way and walk to save money. So I think people who are short of money will benefit greatly from this.
SHOUPI think -- getting back to the point made by the caller from Frederick -- I'm not saying that he's doing what I'm going to say, but I think the people who don't like paying for parking often push poor people out in front of them like human shield, saying, you know, don't charge for parking because it'll hurt the poor when none of us wants to pay for parking, including me. But I don't think we should object to what Washington is doing on the grounds that it will hurt the poor.
SHOUPAs Karina said, the 35 percent of the people don't have cars. You can bet that most of those people are too poor to own a car, but they're stuck in -- they're riding buses, stuck in traffic, congested by people who were driving around, looking for free parking or underpriced free parking, so -- underpriced parking. So I think that this new system in the District will help low-income people in two ways. One, it'll speed up the public transit. And second, it'll improve neighborhoods where people live. The sidewalks will be cleaner. The street furniture will be better. The safety will be greater.
SHOUPSo I think that it's not true that this will hurt poor people. I think that the higher-income people will be paying for parking, and the money will be spent to help neighborhoods and to improve public transit.
NNAMDIHow do you feel about adjusting parking prices to control demand? Call us at 800-433-8850. What neighborhoods or business districts in our region do you think would benefit from a performance parking system? 800-433-8850. Send us a tweet, @kojoshow, email to email@example.com, or just go to our website, kojoshow.org, and join the conversation there. Here is Sam in Washington, D.C. Sam, hi. You're on the air.
SAMHi. As the prices for parking, like any other monetary value, is an association of allocation of resources between goods and services, people and resources. Do you think that the parking prices represent a general hike in all oil-related based things that consumers now have to pay more to support?
NNAMDIDonald Shoup.
SAMWell, if the price of...
NNAMDINo, go ahead, Donald Shoup.
SHOUPI'm not sure exactly what the question was. But people pay for gasoline, they pay for their tires, insurance and everything else. And they don't expect somebody else to pay for these costs of driving. So I think that the caller is exactly right, that the price of parking is priced like for anything else in the economy. And if you get the price right, you'll get the supply and demand right. And that's how things work. I think our parking problems stem from the fact that we have not got the price of parking right in the past.
SHOUPAnd we're used to prices that vary at other kinds of transportation like airplane fares, depend on the -- how far you're going and the time you're going or -- bus fares. Transit fares now in Washington, I think, are higher at the peak hours. I think that we should just bring parking more into line with the rest of the economy.
NNAMDIMichael Perkins.
PERKINSThe other thing that I'd point out is that the parking meter money doesn't just disappear into a black hole, that the money that you put into the meter goes into the city's revenue and can displace the money that they would spend on other things, including possibly reducing your taxes or reducing the pressure to increase taxes. So while it's more money coming out of the consumers' pocket when they pay for parking, the money doesn't disappear and it is used for things that help out that consumer as well as other people who live in the District.
NNAMDIOn now to Conrad in Silver Spring, Md. Conrad, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.
CONRADHi. I have no objection whatsoever to paying for the space that I use. What I can't stand is getting tickets. I've been using the new meters over near the convention center. And I think the system works really well. But twice in two days, the same time of day, I've gotten a ticket from the same officer. But then the company is offering to take care of the ticket in terms of fighting it because I have a receipt for the time I paid for. So I think the system works well, but it has these little kinks in it. But I'd much rather give the money to the city than to a private parking contractor.
NNAMDISo you're saying that you were wrongfully ticketed?
CONRADYeah, I can prove that I paid for the space. Somebody perhaps doesn't know how to read a machine or something. But the company -- I think it's called Pay by Phone -- is looking into it for me. And so I'm just hoping they take care of it and I don't get booted.
NNAMDIDepartment of Traffic Adjudication? Is that where he needs to be going, Karina Ricks?
RICKSYeah, he can contact adjudication.
NNAMDIYes, if you wanna challenge a ticket. I just challenged one during the course of this past week myself, as a matter of fact. That's where you write to, the Department of Traffic Adjudication. We've got to take a short break. When we come back, we'll continue this conversation on setting the price at D.C.'s parking meters known as performance parking. And taking your calls at 800-433-8850. How much money are you willing to pay to park right outside your destination? At what price would you decide to head to a nearby garage instead of parking on the street? 800-433-8850. I'm Kojo Nnamdi.
NNAMDIWelcome back. We're discussing adjusting parking meter fees on the basis of demand known in the District of Columbia as performance parking. And joining us to have that conversation is Donald Shoup. He is a professor of urban planning at UCLA. Karina Ricks is associate director for planning, policy and sustainability with the District of Columbia Department of Transportation. And Michael Perkins writes about parking at Metro for the blog Greater Greater Washington. Karina, adjustable parking fees require high-tech parking meters. What are you using here in the District?
RICKSWe have several different meters that we use in these areas. We have our multi-space meters, where it's a single meter that will actually service a number of different spots on the street. We also have new solar-powered, single-space meters that are able to network back to a central location. They take credit cards, so you don't have to carry around a bag of quarters. And we've also launched and are expanding our Pay by Phone service, which...
NNAMDIWhere people can pay by cell phone. How does that work?
RICKSI think it works spectacularly. I'm a mother of two small children, and it's wonderful to be able to go to a meter, be able to call on your cell phone and tell the system exactly where you are, which block, how long you would like to pay. And fabulous services, that it does call you back to ask you if you'd like to feed more money into it but not exceed the time limit.
NNAMDIWhere is that system in place?
RICKSThe Pay by Cell is something that we are -- have piloted in several neighborhoods, the DuPont Circle and other neighborhoods across the city, and now are actually taking to roll out generally city-wide over the next month or two.
NNAMDIWhat do you think about paying by cell, Michael Perkins?
PERKINSPaying by cell is really convenient and with apps on your smart phone. But it also allows people to not worry so much about when the meter is gonna expire. You know, if you're sitting down at dinner and you wanna think about dessert, you don't wanna go, oh, man, the meter is gonna be up in 10 minutes, so we really have to go. And it's good for the restaurant, too, because that gives you the time that you need. You can order dessert.
NNAMDIOn to the telephones. Here is Sam in Adams Morgan. Sam, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.
SAMHey, Kojo. Thank you for having me. My question for the panel has to do more with the role that parking garages play in all this. You know, I think that it's great to price parking so people can go in and out quickly. But I do know that the District is looking to raise taxes on the -- on parking garages. I know most of the garages in the District are private anyway. But for people that wanna, say, go to a movie or aren't just running in to get something from a store, you know, what role do parking garages play in the -- in managing parking and congestion down in the city? Thanks so much.
RICKSWell, that's a great question. And we have about -- by our estimates, we have about 45,000 off-street parking spaces in the central business district of the District of Columbia compared to 17,000 metered spaces city-wide. So the main stock of parking is in these off-street garages and where we prefer to see the curbside space turned over on a regular basis because that provides more access to more customers. The better place for storing vehicles is in the off-street garages if you are going to be at your job all day long or if you're going to come to a movie and dinner in the District.
RICKSAnd, indeed, there have been conversations about increasing the parking tax in these off-street garages. In general, we tend to believe that the market is probably still somewhat low for the true price of parking and the true price of driving in the city. And so we don't anticipate that that increase in parking tax is going to substantially affect the use of these garages or the accessibility of them to the patrons that wish to come to the District.
NNAMDISam, thank you very much for your call. We move on to Ifty (sp?) in Woodbridge, Va. Ifty, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.
IFTYYes, Kojo. Thank you for taking my call. This -- I'm -- my comment is specifically about the National Mall area, 2nd Street, Independence Avenue and the side streets. Until about two years ago, there was no meter parking required for the weekends -- that is, Saturday and Sunday. So about two years ago, they started the meter parking for Saturday, first until 6:30 p.m., and now until 10:00 p.m., which really is ridiculous because there -- this area, if you know about this area, there is nobody there that would like to park there after 10 -- after, like, 5 p.m. when the galleries and museums close.
IFTYBut my comment is this one, that as a result of this change, if you go there now on Saturday during daytime, like about, like, when the museums and galleries are open, that there is no -- you cannot find a parking. But soon after -- as soon as the museums, they close, everybody wants to leave because they don't want to keep on paying parking and inconvenienced and while they are having dinner. So most of the people are leaving and, instead of going to a movie, are going to theater or dinner. And I think, in the long run, the city is going to lose that revenue. People don't want to stay too long. You have to go there and see your...
NNAMDIWell, let me place the question this way to Karina Ricks. Are there other areas of the city -- such as the one our caller just referred to -- in which the city is considering performance parking as opposed to simply extending the hours when parking meters are in operation?
RICKSYeah. We are operating these to districts as pilots. I think that we've seen enough promising signs from the pilot that we would like to consider this in other areas. Primarily, this would work best in commercial districts, the neighborhood Main Street-type areas, where there are limited parking spaces, and we really want to increase the access to those areas. So we are considering them before those Main Street areas, such as H Street, perhaps Georgetown and some other communities.
NNAMDIOK. Thank you very much for your call. We move onto Susanne in Kensington, Md. Susanne, your turn.
SUSANNEThanks, Kojo. One of the things I -- now, I haven't heard the entire show so you talked about this, but why are there not more public parking garages in Washington real estate? But, you know, and you're saying it's so affordable. It's $20 to park in the private garages, and it's really your only choice if, like me, you go see -- for, say, a doctor's appointment, and the limit is two hours. It takes a lot longer than two hours. You end up paying $45 for a ticket because you could run out. You can't, you know, re-up your time.
NNAMDISo you're talking about public parking garages the kind people see a lot of them in places like Silver Spring and in Bethesda.
RICKSMunicipal parking garages require a substantial public subsidy, especially in a very high real estate market like the District of Columbia. If we were to invest in a municipal parking garage in the downtown, the cost of the land alone would be incredibly expensive, and so the District has generally invested our transportation subsidies in mass transit and other more accessible modes and allow the private sector to fill the parking, off-street parking demand.
NNAMDIMichael Perkins?
PERKINSTo the caller's point about a two-hour time limit on a meter not being enough to handle the business, one of the things that is sometimes associated with performance parking is a reduction or an elimination of those time limits. San Francisco had a large array of time limits for all of their meters, and as part of their change, they -- all of the meters now are four-hour time limit, and some of them don't have any time limits. So as long as you're willing to continue, you know, paying, they'll let you park as long as you want.
NNAMDIAnd that's where sometimes the garage becomes more appealing alternative even though it might be a few blocks away. Donald Shoup, you point out that a single parking space has an economic value that can exceed the price of the car parked in it. How has your system of land use regulations -- how has our system of land use regulations developed in a way that so heavily favors cars and low-priced parking rather than letting market forces dictate how the land is used?
SHOUPWell, I think the answer to that question is minimal parking requirements in zoning ordinances and don't let anything be built unless it has a lot of parking spaces and without regard to how much these spaces cost. And you're quite right that most parking spaces and structures cost more per space than the vehicles parked in them. But I'd like to get back to that interesting point that the caller made about the National Mall. Well, I think this would be a terrific opportunity for the -- for Washington, especially for -- to serve tourists. That -- I think that the time limit on the meters on the mall should be, you know, six or four or six hours, not two hours or maybe even no time limit.
SHOUPSo that when people do want to stay for the evening, they can stay in the same space, but the interesting thing about the mall is that most of the parking is free on the mall, on the streets that go along the length of the mall, and it's -- so, of course, it's almost impossible to find a space, and the -- a lot of the traffic on those avenues along the mall are hunting for parking. I think it would be a terrific idea to put performance parking meters with no time limits on -- in -- along the mall and use all of that money to fix up the mall, which has gotten quite ragged in many parts. I think the idea of having free parking on the mall on some of this extraordinarily valuable land and then stepping out onto a degraded mall is a bad idea.
SHOUPYou know, I think it's -- to have free parking and poor public services is not the right priority. So I think it would be a lot better for people who are visiting the art -- the galleries, which are free. They ought to be. That you should -- people who arrive by car should pay the performance price, the right price for parking and be able to park for as long as they want, and I think that you'll get a lot of money to pay for public services along the mall, and a lot of it will be paid for by tourists from certainly outside Washington.
NNAMDIHere is Carla in Washington D.C. Carla, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.
CARLAHi. Thank you, Kojo, for taking my call. I wanted to tell you about and your panel about another version of the kiosks that I've experienced. I spend a quite bit of time in Montreal, and the way their downtown parking system works is when you park your car on the sidewalk, there's a space number, and then so when you go to the kiosks, you pay for that space number. But let's say you've walked a couple of blocks, and like we were talking before, you're having dinner, don't want to be disturbed or your travels take you further out, you can go to any kiosks, punch in your number and pay at that kiosk as long as you know your space number, which you can get a printed copy from, you know, the local kiosk. It's the same idea, I guess, as this whole cell phone, but this is just another practical use of the whole kiosk system.
NNAMDIAnything similar here, Karina?
RICKSWe had piloted among those pilots that I've talked about over the summer, which she's referring to is referred to as pay by space.
RICKSTypically, our meters that we have now, the multi-space meters, are pay and display, so you'll get the ticket, put it in your windshield. These are the pay by space. And indeed, we've also looked at them and found great success in it, so we'll be having more of those in the District as well.
NNAMDIAnd you know of any other jurisdictions in this area that are either looking at or implementing performance parking?
RICKSOh, I think that performance parking has garnered a lot of interest from the area as we are a very congested region, and so we are seeing Arlington and Alexandria and Silver Spring and some of the other adjacent jurisdictions looking at options for performance parking there as well.
NNAMDIMichael, you were going to say something. Did I interrupt you? Oh, good.
PERKINSThank you.
NNAMDIHere is Alfred in Ashburn, Va. Alfred, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.
ALFREDHello. Thank you for taking my call. One of the problems I have when I park in D.C. is the first thing I need to do is feed the meter, and I never have enough coins, so I have to go to the nearby shop, buy something. And then they already are well aware of the need for coins, and they have a limit on maybe a couple of dollars. And if that doesn't do you -- so I was wondering is there any plan to perhaps have change machines or -- I know that you have the cell phone approach for the future, but in the meantime?
RICKSNo plans for change machines, though that's an interesting thought. We are looking just to modernize the meters throughout the city, and so that we are investing more and more in the solar-powered meters that do take credit cards to help alleviate the need to have pockets full of quarters as you travel around the city.
NNAMDIAfraid we're just about out of time, Donald Shoup, but quickly, high occupancy toll lanes whose tolls rise as the lanes become more congested are a variation it seems of the same economic principle to set the price to control the use. Is this an economic strategy that's catching on among transportation planners generally?
SHOUPWell, not just transportation planners but among cities and states. We have several of these toll lanes in California now, and they've been very popular once people get used to them because it takes some people out of their free lanes, several drivers who pay their way into the toll lanes, so it's better for people who are in the free lanes, and it brings in money to -- in California, they use the extra money to pay for added public transit along the routes.
NNAMDIAnd I'm afraid that's all time we have. Donald Shoup is a professor of urban planning at UCLA, author of "The High Cost of Free Parking." Donald Shoup, thank you for joining us.
SHOUPWell, thank you for inviting me.
NNAMDIKarina Ricks is associate director for planning, policy and sustainability with the District of Columbia Department of Transportation. Karina, thank you for joining us.
RICKSThank you.
NNAMDIAnd Michael Perkins writes about parking and Metro for the blog "Greater Greater Washington." Michael, good to see you.
PERKINSGood to see. Thanks for having me.
NNAMDIThank you all for listening. I'm Kojo Nnamdi.
The number of people living in D.C. is booming, and so too is the number of rats. Kojo talks about how D.C.'s rodent problem is affecting the city and what's being done to fight off the pests.
The federal court judge who ruled that Maryland's public universities were unlawfully segregated rejected solutions proposed by the state's Higher Education Commission and a group representing a coalition of Maryland Historically Black Colleges and Universities for redressing that segregation. We get an update on the case.
A new book, "Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation's Capital," presents a sweeping view of how race impacted Washington, D.C. for the past four centuries.
Developers and new residents are eying Reston, Virginia, and Fairfax County officials want to change zoning rules to allow them to move in. But in a trend that is playing out across the region, many long-time residents say their community is becoming too urban too fast.


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Korey Stringer
News about Korey Stringer, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
Players' Summer Health Receives Year-Round Attention in the N.F.L.
Since the death of the N.F.L. player Korey Stringer from heatstroke, players at all levels are being educated on the dangers of not being heat acclimatized.
July 28, 2013, Sunday
Stringer's Widow Settles Lawsuit With N.F.L.
The widow of Minnesota Vikings lineman Korey Stringer reached a settlement with the N.F.L. regarding his death from heatstroke during training camp in 2001.
January 27, 2009, Tuesday
Stringer Estate Must Repay Vikings
The estate of Korey Stringer, the offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings who collapsed and died two years ago from the heat during a training camp practice, must repay the team and other defendants about $47,000 in legal expenses, Hennepin Cou...
December 13, 2003, Saturday
Unusual Woman Presses Her Unusual Crusade
Kelci Stringer tells the story for the first time, and it tells much about her. During a long, spirited conversation this summer with Gene Upshaw, executive director of the National Football League players' union, Stringer said she asked Upsha...
September 26, 2003, Friday
Widow Plans to Intensify Her Battle With the N.F.L.
The widow of Korey Stringer, the Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman who died of complications from heatstroke two years ago at training camp, has decided to intensify what has been a long and bitter legal battle with the National Football League....
July 27, 2003, Sunday
Awareness Is Raised About Heatstroke
Minnesota opens training camp on July 26 in Mankato, Minn. The 31 other N.F.L. teams open camp as early as July 20 (San Francisco and Houston) and no later than July 28 (Tampa Bay and Indianapolis). The Vikings, however, will draw plenty of att...
July 7, 2002, Sunday
Stringer Family Files Suit Against the Vikings
Korey Stringer's family filed a lawsuit today alleging that the Minnesota Vikings forced the 335-pound Stringer, a lineman, to practice the day after he fell ill and failed to treat him fast enough when he was fatally stricken. Stringer, 27, di...
January 16, 2002, Wednesday
Officials and Players Wary of Heat Illness
In the training room where Doug Spreen treats tennis players, he has had to address football matters this year, especially these three questions: ''How did it happen?'' ''Why did it happen?'' ''What have you heard?'' The death of Minnesota Vik...
September 2, 2001, Sunday
Players Take Back Their Bodies
Pro football players have always known that their sport is dangerous, that the game's violent collisions can naturally lead to torn muscles and broken bones, to concussions and paralysis. And paralysis was considered the worst fate.
August 15, 2001, Wednesday
Even the Commissioner Does Two-a-Days
Paul Tagliabue is at 13,000 feet, in a slick Hawker 800 corporate jet traveling 500 miles an hour. His seat is comfortable leather and there is enough room, barely, for his 6-foot-5 frame to stretch out. Tagliabue should be relaxed but there is co...
August 12, 2001, Sunday
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subset: commoncrawl


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Get to know more about the IT-BPM industry, our products and services by downloading our White papers for your reference.
An analysis of the Philippines English proficiency vis a vis the global standards.
Lean more on how Versant® can be an integral tool to improve English proficiency in the academe.
An analysis of both the student and educator's English proficiency can be efficiently assessed and thus paving the way for a pin point improvement in the curriculum.
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The Versant tests have helped corporations, government agencies, universities, and schools measure communication proficiency for screening, placement, and training purposes.
Read more about the feasibility study on the promising Healthcare sector of the IT-BPM Industry.


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LockLizard Solves Zero Footprint PDF Security Problem
LockLizard delivers the first portable, zero footprint PDF DRM USB security product
Nov 15, 2012, 06:18 ET from LockLizard
AYR, Scotland, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The first truly zero installation PDF DRM system is now here - NO: downloads; plug-ins; JavaScript or Flash risks; self-extracting exes; or applications to install. Everything is pre-installed and ready to go from a USB device - users can use DRM protected PDFs without installing any software or activating any licenses.
Safeguard PDF Portable offers publishers and users novel and significant flexibility in distributing and using DRM controlled documents and ebooks. Publishers protect their PDFs with Safeguard PDF Security and publish them to USB devices. The publishing process copies across the protected PDF files, the Secure Viewer software, and keystore license rights.
Trevor Mathews, LockLizard's Chairman stated "Document owners constantly seek the Nirvana of document security - a zero footprint solution that is secure. LockLizard achieves this with a Viewer that users do not have to install, enforcing DRM controls. Users can view protected documents without an Internet connection, and in environments where computers are shared."Benefits:
- USB devices may be pre-loaded with authorized documents or just the Viewer software;
- USB devices may be pre-loaded with whole libraries but contents licensed piecemeal;
- Possession of the USB device is the grant of rights, so it may be lent or re-sold just like an ordinary book;
- Documents can be controlled in both online and offline modes;
- Additional documents may be added to USB devices online;
- Nothing is installed on the recipient PC - there are no firewall issues or Internet connections to worry about;
- Users may use protected PDF documents on any PC they plug the USB device into;
- Users may password protect access to the USB device to prevent others from using it.
For further information see Safeguard PDF Portable USB Security.
About LockLizard
LockLizard is a DRM (Digital Rights Management) company that produces document security, flash security, PDF security, ebook security, copy protection, and web content encryption software that use DRM technology to protect information from intellectual property theft. OurDRM software
prevents copying, printing, screen grabbing, and sharing of information without the use of insecure passwords, plug-ins, or JavaScript.
Website: www.locklizard.com
This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.
SOURCE LockLizard


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MELBOURNE Heart coach John Aloisi said Friday night's 2-0 win over Adelaide United proved his team was capable of ruffling anyone's feathers in the A-League.
But the familiar tale of Fred's injury woes has repeated, with the captain to have scans on a quad injury that forced him off in the 56th minute.
Heart rose to fifth courtesy of Josip Tadic and Richard Garcia goals for its sixth win of the campaign.
"It was a good performance considering what happened last week,'' Aloisi said. "The players were down, a lot of questions were asked about fitness, concentration and whether we're good enough.
"I think the boys showed tonight against the second team, two points off the lead, that we can beat anyone.
"The next 10 games we have to show that we can keep playing like this and be solid, but we'll always be dangerous going forward."
A week after hobbling off with hamstring cramp Fred succumbed to a quad injury.
Fred's performances have gradually improved in recent weeks and Aloisi admits the new injury is a concern.
"He's still very upset. Not sure if it's a tear or not, but we'll have to see the extent of it after he has scans,'' he said. "But it's disappointing because we saw the old Fred come back last week.
"He didn't feel anything at half time, he didn't say he was tight or fatigued, I don't know what happened.''
United Coach John Kosmina said turnovers cost Adelaide.
"We played well in patches but gave two cheap goals away and that's what killed us, especially the second one,'' Kosmina said. "We should've defended it better and kept the ball better.
"Heart are a hard team to play against, especially at home. They're organised, Sime (Colosimo) and Patrick Gerhardt are solid at the back and the keeper (Andrew Redmayne) is starting to settle, he made some good interceptions. They're a decent team.''
MELBOURNE HEART 2 (Josip Tadic 5m, Richard Garcia 49m) bt ADELAIDE UNITED 0 at AAMI Park. Crowd: 7,181. Referee: Lucien Laverdue
Originally published as Heart thumps Reds and moves up


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ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A new ethics complaint has been filed against Sarah Palin, accusing the Alaska governor of abusing her power by charging the state when her children traveled with her.
The complaint alleges that the Republican vice presidential nominee used her official position as governor for personal gain, violating a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. It follows a report by The Associated Press last week that Palin charged the state more than $21,000 for her three daughters' commercial flights, including events where they weren't invited, and later ordered their expense forms amended to specify official state business.
In some cases, Palin also has charged the state for hotel rooms for the girls.
The complaint released Wednesday says Palin charged the travel costs for events her children were not invited to and where they served in no legitimate state purpose or business.
"Governor Palin intentionally secured unwarranted benefits for family members, improperly used state property to benefit her personal and financial interests, and illegally altered documents that were the subject of a Public Records request," the complaint states.
Earlier this month, a legislative report found Palin violated state ethics laws when she fired her public safety commissioner. The state's Personnel Board also has hired an independent counsel for a similar investigation. Under Alaska law, it is up to the Personnel Board to decide whether Palin violated state law.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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Contact: Lisa Merkl
University of Houston
HOUSTON, March 27, 2014 – From exploring the physics of rollercoasters to networking with astronauts, three camps at the University of Houston (UH) offer a variety of opportunities this summer for students in grades five through eight.
With a shared mission of encouraging young people to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the camps are open for registration and filling up fast. All affiliated with UH's teachHOUSTON math and science teacher preparation program, the camps provide opportunities for hands-on experimentation, networking with STEM professionals, field trips and exposure to college life.
A returning favorite for its 14th year at UH is the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp. The camp seeks budding scientists and engineers interested in sharpening their skills alongside STEM professionals and former astronaut Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., the first African-American to walk in space and camp founder. Harris created the all-expenses-paid, two-week camp to offer a dynamic summertime learning experience to underserved youth that explores how science impacts daily life.
Throughout the camp, students live on campus and participate in interactive, inquiry-based classes taught by university faculty, secondary teachers and other professionals. Campers also have the opportunity to explore local museums, nature centers and ecosystems, discovering science at work in their communities. From building models of bridges to designing robots and creating spacesuits, students will see firsthand how STEM can come alive through real-world applications.
Held June 15-27, the camp will accept 54 students to attend. To be eligible, students must be entering sixth, seventh or eighth grades in fall 2014; have received median-to-superior scores on standardized math and science tests; and submit two teacher recommendations. The application deadline is April 4. Students can find application information at http://theharrisfoundation.org/sitecontent/663/university-of-houston/category/466/embhssc-universities.aspx.
One of two new additions for 2014 is The Bonnie J. Dunbar STEM Academy at teachHOUSTON. Named for retired astronaut and director of the UH STEM Center, the academy curriculum incorporates STEM design projects and engaging hands-on lessons that encourage innovative thinking. Open to students entering sixth, seventh or eighth grades in fall 2014, the non-residential camp takes place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the weeks of July 14-18 and July 21-25. Students have the option of attending the academy one or both weeks. The cost is $350 per week, which includes tuition, fees, supplies, meals and an academy shirt.
The academy aims to increase students' STEM skills and introduce them to college life, stimulating their interest in science, technology, engineering and math as potential career paths. Each day, students will attend rigorous courses and go on campus excursions to foster and develop their problem-solving, research and communication skills in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental sciences, earth sciences, math, engineering and design. The academy curriculum will provide opportunities for students to work in a collaborative environment that delves deeply into STEM topics, teaching them to design projects such as energy-efficient dwellings, bridges, towers, robots and rollercoasters. Campers also will be exposed to such technology applications as computer programming, probeware, software and electronic data collection.
Accepting 200 students, the selection committee will look at an applicant's interest in STEM, involvement in academic clubs and extracurricular activities, and teacher recommendations. The application deadline is April 25. Students can find application information at http://nsm.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2014/0310-stem-academy.php.
Another new offering at UH this year is the Cougar STEM Camp, a four-week camp where children entering fifth, sixth or seventh grades can get out of their desks and into the action. Campers' imaginations will focus on exploring alternative energy sources, crime scene investigations, creation of action movies and roller coaster physics.
Each week will feature a specific theme. Putting on their detective hats, campers will dive into forensic science by looking at the mysteries of crime scenes, collecting, analyzing and examining evidence such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers and DNA to solve crimes. They also will have an opportunity to become environmentally responsible citizens by exploring alternative energy resources by creating their own inventions, finding sustainable energy sources and examining a greener lifestyle to lessen their impact on the environment. Another adventure will be to discover the world of physics through demonstrations and hands-on activities, learning about the physical laws that govern the world and being given a chance to develop tools to design an apparatus capable of death-defying feats. Finally, campers will explore the math and science behind the Hollywood stunts, explosions and costumes that bring movies to life.
Two sessions will be offered 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily June 9 through July 3 or July 9 through August 1. The cost is $699 per session. There is not a registration deadline, but registrations will be closed once the camp reaches capacity. Students can find application information at http://cougarstemcamp.weebly.com/registration.html.
By providing students with access to these fun learning opportunities, inspirational role models and gifted teachers, the camp organizers not only hope to cultivate interest in STEM, but also encourage Houston-area youth to pursue higher education and become the next generation of innovative problem solvers.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country. For more information about UH, visit the university's newsroom at http://www.uh.edu/news-events/.
For additional news alerts about UH, follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UHNewsEvents and Twitter at http://twitter.com/UH_News.


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Does your DH…
Posted by + Show Post
Wear his wedding ring?
Replies (41-50):
No, he needs to get it resized. His fingers get so swelled from work.
by Member on Apr. 25, 2013 at 1:37 PM
yes, he hasn't taken it off since our wedding day, March 12, 2004. Even when we've hit rough patches and are questioning our marriage he kept it on. I took mine off a few months ago to prove a point to him and make him realize I was serious about fixing a problem we've had for years. It worked, we're stronger than ever and planninga vow renewal this august. I can't wait to put it back on, I hate it not being on my finger, it feels wrong
by Bronze Member on Apr. 25, 2013 at 1:48 PM
He did the first few years we are on year 6. He can not wear to work....but I am just as bad I don't wear mine
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Waldoboro Fire Department seek historic material for anniversary booklet
Waldoboro — In order to create an illustrated history of the Waldoboro Fire Department for the 175th anniversary celebration in August, local author Jean Lawrence and Waldoboro Fire Department historian Bill Maxwell, who have been researching materials for the past nine months, are requesting that Waldoboro residents share any significant photographs that they may have of events in which department members took part over the years.
Of particular interest would be a photo of the old Glidden Street Fire Department Headquarters (pre-1950), the old hose cart, and any photos of firemen's musters, some of which were held at the cistern/reservoir beside the Baptist church on Dog Lane in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Care will be taken with any loaned material and it will be returned to the owner as soon as it can be scanned into the computer. Recognition of all firemen who have served in the department from its inception in 1838 to the present will be included in a special section in the history.
Since many early records have been lost, Maxwell and Lawrence urge any families whose relatives served in the department contact Maxwell at 631-7208 or the fire office at 832-2161 in order to add names to the list, by Feb. 6.
It is expected that the illustrated history/program booklet will become a collector's item, so it is imperative that its contents be as complete as possible. Maxwell and Lawrence will be happy to include any other special photos or listen to special recollections that might help flesh out a more complete history of this very special organization.


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When you adopt a new cat, be sure to ask for its health records. Then schedule a general checkup with a veterinarian to ensure your kitty has a clean bill of health.read more
Name: Pumpkin
Age: 1 Year
Owner: Glady
Hometown: new castle, PA
Likes: being spoiled
Dislikes: company
Glady says:
My husband & I had never had a cat before, we we're long time dog owners, until our beloved dog passed. I knew I wanted a pet, but we're too busy to care for another dog, hence, Pumpkin. We rescued him from what could have been a bad situation, & have loved him ever since!
Cats reach full skeletal development when they are this old:


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Mon, Jun 25 11:00AMM 06
Seeking Predictable Subject Characteristics That Influence Clinical Trial Discontinuation.
This study evaluated the influence of socio-demographics age, gender, race, employment, level of education on the risk of subject discontinuation. Standardized fields for the collection of demographic data are suggested to allow more definitive analysis of factors influencing patient discontinuation.
Jai Shankar Kishore Babu YadlapalliMS,Doctoral Candidate,University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesUnited States


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There are tons of various playthings for young kids out these days. However when your little one is of sufficient age to toddle about why not buy them among the many children's ride-on-toys and games, you are certain to locate one which will satisfaction them and provide them years of enjoyment. bigi
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- Razor USA is probably the greatest manufacturers of ride on toys and games..
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Curler skate or curler blade together
Most of the ride on playthings also provide other stuff included, so that the kid has numerous different alternatives in ways which to amuse on their own, another advantage to this is the fact they can build their motor capabilities as well as reinforce various areas of their own bodies to enable them alleviate to participate in activities other youngsters may possibly have trouble with. A lot of toys you might have seen will not be created using the durability of these from when we had been more youthful that have been often passed on down to young siblings, but because of security regulations you can rest assured that as long as they bring the safety tag ideal for your land they will be safe adequate to be used by a couple of youngster and are able to stand up to the tough and tumble your kids will use it by way of, but still be an excellent playtime stuffed toy for an additional child once the authentic operator has outgrown it.
Are you searching for some battery pack managed motorbike drive on toys for your little ones that are 10 or more mature? From this grow older most kids have developed some hobbies and passions that will probably stay with them for years. If they've reveal that they really like the excitement of speed on two tires then this motor bike will probably be excellent for them. children's toy horses
Toy giddy up
Motorcycles can be very noisy and expensive. The battery motorbike journey on games are excellent simply because they aren't that expensive overall. Their first price isn't that great so you won't have to bother about the expense of gasoline that comes with other trips. Becoming battery pack driven ensures that the sound degree is going to be lower. In other words, you won't blast from the eardrums listening to them.
Can be very
Razor United states of america is one of the largest producers of trip on toys and games. They're a somewhat new company who have existed given that June 2000. This good quality company generates this sort of timeless classics as press scooters, electric scooters, along with the ever popular motorbike.
Somewhat new company who have
The Motocross model is perfect for these kids who enjoy to trip the tough areas or lessons. This chain pushed electric motor, knobby car tires, and style-hold throttle control simulate a real motocross bike. The Rocket variation includes a great torque generator and is quite sleek is appearance and layout. animal rides mall
Animal rides for kids zippy animal
The motorbike ride on toys are perfect for the kids who enjoy a bit velocity. You won't break the bank with both of these wonderful trips and your children will acquire lots of independence.
Motorbike ride on toys are perfect for
- The Motocross edition is perfect for those kids who enjoy to journey the.
- used rides for sale.
- Razor USA is amongst the greatest makers of trip on toys. They're a.
- There are many advantages to trip on toys.


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So I hear you East-coasters had a little earthquake. I grew up near volcanoes, so I'm not too impressed, but OK, a little shakeup is interesting, and fortunately it sounds like no one was hurt.
But wouldn't you know it, the crack team of cranks who have my email address reacted promptly with an explanation.
these earthquakes are a result of us sucking the oil from the earth, oil is supposed to be used as a lubricant for the earth not to fill our cars, I imagine these things will get worse and more common
There you go. It's all everyone's fault for driving around in cars and flying in airplanes.


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|Exportizer Users' Guide
Action File
An action file is a text file which contains a set of Exportizer command line parameters, one parameter per line. Lines with a semicolon at the beginning are ignored as comments. Blank lines are allowed. Such files can have any extension.
Action files offer an alternative way to pass parameters to the program using command line. They allow to shorten the command line and thus make it easier to read and work with. For example, the command line
can be rewritten using an action file:
Here, the contents of ExportAction22.txt file should be like the following:
Action files can be created either manually in any text editor using command line specification or automatically from Exportizer GUI by clicking Generate command line button and selecting Short format option on the final step.
Action files can be executed either from command line or from Exportizer GUI by clicking Select a data source button and moving to Action File tab.
|Copyright (C) 2017 Vitaliy Levchenko Software. All rights reserved.


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Bonfi Natural Oil Free Wig Shine 4oz | Bonfi Natural | CARE | Hair Care | lace care product | FULL/HALF WIGS CARE | STYLING | Sistawigs.com
Bonfi natural oil free wig shine contains a unique light complex of ingredients formulated and designed to impart the highest shine possible on human and synthetic hair wigs. penetrates quickly so that the hair retains freedom of movement without the heavy greasy feel. decreases inner fiber friction to ease combing and minimize breakage during dry stages.
Sexy, sparkling, shimmering shine
No heavy greasy feel
UV protector and Vitamin E
For dull, dry human and synthetic hair
Hold bottle 6-8 inches from your head and spray onto hair evenly. Scrunch hair with fingers or brush and style. This formula is light enough to use daily or often as needed to refresh..
bonfi 98274


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Medium Roast: Paradise Mountain Mountain organic coffee beans are roasted to a full medium roast to produce a sweet, slightly dry cup with a pleasant flowery aroma. Well-balanced with a delicate body, this medium offers an exceptionally vibrant beginning with a honey like, dry finish. It is an alluring yet easy drinking cup of coffee to enjoy anytime of the day.
At 800-1,500 feet above sea level, located in the Northern Chiang Mai Region of Thailand, Paradise Mountain Farm (PMF) lies within the virgin forest. Thousands of indigenous trees create a canopy of shade for young coffee plants and a resting and nesting habitat for local and migratory birds. Today, if you were to view this farm from above, you would never suspect a farm growing world class organic Arabica coffee.
Using a method known as "rustic traditional coffee farming", this coffee is cultivated without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Neighboring rain forest and small scale tea growers are also free of any pesticides and chemicals so no cross contamination occurs on or around this farm. This coffee is not only shade grown but also all of the foliage and mulch is put back into the soil to be used as a natural fertilizer. Since the very beginning, PMF has been planting coffee plants always leaving the surrounding forest undisturbed. This wild crafted method of planting is slow and difficult but it fits PMF's vision of a good farm.
All strains of coffee are planted on GPS coordinated plots in correspondence with the plantation area in order to identify and separate the various types of coffee grown. After months of care and preparation the coffee is harvested but left in its final parchment stage in order to provide a natural barrier and preserve freshness. Just prior to export, the coffee is hulled and the green beans shipped to the Rocky Mountains in Canada to be roasted exclusively by an experienced team of roasters.
How to brew a "perfect" cup: a general guideline is 1-2 Tbsp of ground coffee for every 6 oz of water. For ideal freshness, always grind your beans just before brewing. Both water quality (non fluoridated) as well as temperature and duration of brewing are important factors influencing final taste. The brewing temperature of the water should be as close to 205 F (96 C) as possible. Never use boiling water (212 F - 100 C) as it will burn the coffee and temperatures less than 195 F (91 C) will result in flat, under-extracted coffee. In a drip system, the contact time should be approximately 5 minutes and when using a plunger pot about 2-4 minutes. Espresso has an especially brief brew time where the coffee is in contact with the water for only 20-30 seconds.
Experimentation will lead you to your own personal brewing and drinking ratio preferences. It is always wiser to brew your coffee on the strong side and then "cut" it to taste with water. Enjoy it black or be creative and try frothing your coffee in a blender, add some spices or nutrition boosters (https://www.omfoods.com/superfoods/), a sweetener, a bit of coconut oil...
Storage: store beans in an airtight container away from moisture, direct light and heat. Do not freeze or refrigerate.
Disclaimer: this information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA or CFIA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This product has been packaged in the same facility as peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, and other potential allergens.
- A10m-1


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Governor Palin Goes On the Record; Fired Up About President Obama's Libya Lies
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Governor Palin talked to Greta on On the Record last night. She gave perhaps one of the most passionate interviews I've seen her give. With the information that has come to light about this administration's dishonesty with the American people concerning Libya, there's no surprise that she's fired up, as every one of us should be. Having a son risking his life in a war zone makes her especially disgusted with the Commander in Chief's willingness to mislead us concerning terrorism.
The first video (h/t Stacy Drake) begins with a few minutes of lead-in--very good clips of campaign coverage, including an interesting comment from Barbara Walters on The View. The actual interview begins at about 3:07. If you want to see only the interview, (courtesy of SarahNET), watch the second clip below:


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ROME, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- A 4.6-magnitude earthquake rumbled in the Strait of Messina Wednesday between mainland Italy and Sicily, officials said.
Civil protection officials said the earthquake was felt on both sides of the strait, including Reggio Calabria on the mainland, and Scilla, Villa San Giovanni and Campo Calabro on the Sicilian island, ANSA reported.
Officials said they received no reports of injuries or damage.


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The Riverhouse, at 1 River Terrace in Battery Park city , is among the greenest luxury condo buildings in Manhattan, but there is more to this remarkable Manhattan luxury condo than LEED Gold supportability.Few NYC luxury condos can compare to The Riverhouse's pace-setting mixture of class and potency, and the uninterrupted mix of LEED Gold efficiency and traditional Manhattan luxury has made The Riverhouse one of the hottest luxury condo lists in Battery Park city . The residences for sale at The Riverhouse offer everything New Yorkers expect from a Manhattan new luxury condominium, from roomy floor plans to striking River perspectives, from up-to-the-minute appliances and finishes to luxurious amenities. What sets The Riverhouse aside from other Manhattan luxury condo listings is that it offers all that alongside a bunch of energy-saving potency features. The Riverhouse's unique amenities, which range all the way from a children's playroom to an ultra-modern fitness facility to a residents-only treehouse ( actually ), stand as further evidence that, at The Riverhouse, living sustainably does not need to mean sacrificing luxury.The luxury condos for sale at The Riverhouse list among the most sublime apartments in lower Manhattan even before their numerous viable features are factured in. Respected designer David Rockwell consulted on the planning of The Riverhouse's luxury condos for sale, and his steady touch and awareness of detail is clear in every aspect. Kitchens feature sustainably sourced teak cabinetry and state-of-the-art appliances, from Sub-Zero fridges and Thermador ranges to Energy Star Miele dishwashers and washer / dryers. Energy efficient windows offer surprising city perspectives, while The Riverhouse's building-wide air purifying system and a bunch of built in efficiencies in each unit make sure that the luxury condominiums for sale at The Riverhouse are as green as NYC luxury condos get. What makes the living experience at The Riverhouse so outstanding, though , is that this luxury luxury condominium building is equally as lush as it is viable. The predicted full-service amenities are all in place, including on-site parking and twenty four hour concierge and doorman, but The Riverhouse also offers amenities that go over and above even what NYC dwellers expect from a luxury luxury condominium in Battery Park city . These include a children's playroom, landscaped roof terrace, media cafeteria, fitness center with indoor pool, pleasant Yoga studio, round the clock access to an "eco-luxury vehicle service," dog spa, and that previously mentioned treehouse.
The Riverhouse has outwardly thought of everything and missed nothing, and its mix of supportability and full-service luxury makes these flats for sale some of the most desirable luxury condominium lists in lower Manhattan. On site parking available.
Monday, January 31, 2011
2 River Terrace, New York, NY 10282
*Click on prices to inquire
*Click on prices to inquire


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Batman... On Fire
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Rated 5 / 5 stars
I've seen a lot of your stuff and ur turning into a fuckin beast man love it you are gettin really good ur goin places
Hey man, thank you for that. I really appreciate it!
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Without a doubt your skill has been improving with time.
Thank you man, I'm glad you can see improvement in my skills. I appreciate ya still checkin in every now and then. :)
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Now that's some freaking conving smoke you got there. Wow. I love the little lights the embers all over Batman produce. Comparing with your older version, I think you did a great job improving an already good image and I also prefer this classic Batman design you used now. He looks a bit stronger with the more "stout" head.
What else can I say? This Batman is just hot.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind review. :)
Rated 5 / 5 stars


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2. The Lion King
3. Beauty and the Beast
4. Alice in Wonderland
5. Robin Hood
6. Finding Nemo
7. Tangled
8. Lilo and Stitch
9. Mary Poppins
10. Cars
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If you look at this poster and don't hear the opening credits to Mad Men, you seriously need to catch up on some necessary TV.
I'm instantly transported to a land of amazing aprons, casseroles, chain smoking, martinis at noon, and pillbox hats. Why, if you hold your breath Jackie O will pop out of a porthole, just you wait.
Maybe it's just my love of the 50s and 60s, but this poster does more for me as far as atmosphere is concerned than a stately Cassandre. All I hear there is the ooooo-waaaaah of the smoke stack — here, I hear quiet conversations, the tinkling of the ivories, champagne being poured, Bossa Nova mixed with Sinatra. Oh, to have money back then. Le sigh.
As a complete sidenote, does anyone else think that Bluefly totally ripped off this advertising campaign last year? Ah, the trajectory — we've come full poster-circle. See, some advertising styles never get old.


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England manager Roy Hodgson told UEFA.com that he was looking forward to the challenge of leading his country into UEFA EURO 2012 but conceded the lowered expectations surrounding the team may be justified given his late appointment and a spate of injuries.
The 64-year-old highlighted the importance of understanding players' individual mentalities in order to be successful at a major tournament and explained why Wayne Rooney could yet prove the difference should England progress to the latter stages.
UEFA.com: They call the England manager's job the 'impossible job'. What do you make of it so far?
Roy Hodgson: I've enjoyed it so far, it's been very good. It's been anything but impossible. It's not impossible to work with good players, it's not impossible to work in perfect conditions, it's not impossible to have everything that you possibly need as a football coach provided for you. Whether or not the job is going to be deemed impossible because England don't win a tournament is another matter, but certainly nothing seems to be impossible for me at the moment and I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead.
UEFA.com: Expectations are considerably lower for England heading into the tournament. Why do you think that is?
Hodgson: Several reasons. First of all, one of our best players, Wayne Rooney, is suspended for the first two matches. Secondly, we've lost a lot of players to injury – Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and now a younger, up-and-coming player in Gary Cahill. Also the fact that the FA didn't want to disrupt Premier League teams in their search for a manager. They wanted to leave the appointment as late as possible so that if they were going to a Premier League team, as they had to in my case, they were giving that team as good a chance as possible of finishing the season strongly, so I came into the picture very late. I don't think any other teams have a manager who's only been in the job three to four weeks. Maybe it's only right that expectations are lower because 1966 was the last time we actually won a tournament. It's even been a while since we reached a semi-final [EURO '96].
UEFA.com: On the pitch the signs have been promising. Is there anything you can take from the friendly wins against Norway and Belgium to suggest England can win this tournament?
Hodgson: I wouldn't like to do that. What I take from those two games is the fact that the players are committed to what we're trying to do to become a better team. There were some very encouraging signs in both games because we chose what I think were quite difficult matches for our warm-up friendlies. We went to Oslo, where Norway rarely lose, and took on Belgium who, at the moment, are a team with many players who are extremely highly rated all around Europe. We didn't give ourselves an easy send-off, so I was pleased with the resilience of the team, pleased with the way we could defend and make it hard for those two teams to score and, of course, more than happy that we actually came out winning.
UEFA.com: You've coached internationally several times before, perhaps most notably with Switzerland at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. What are the ingredients for a successful tournament?
Hodgson: First we need to be lucky with injuries, which we haven't been before the tournament, so let's hope that we're going to have some luck during it. You need to make sure that you're always very thorough in terms of preparation, particularly in terms of thinking about what the players need, how they're feeling, what would be best for them. I think sometimes we forget as coaches what pressures the players are under, both physically and mentally, so it's very important to focus on trying to put yourself into a player's shoes.
UEFA.com: How important a role can Wayne Rooney play when he does return?
Hodgson: He's a world-class player. He's a player that can make things happen and when you're talking about football at European Championship level it's often these players who are the important one because the games are often relatively tight. It's not simply a case of one team being clearly better than another. We're talking about 16 of the very best teams in Europe, possibly the world, so you know that the games are going to be tight, you know that the margins which are going to decide things are going to be small, and it's the players like Rooney that can decide the game. We're going to miss him for the first two games but when he comes back we'll be considerably stronger.
©UEFA.com 1998-2017. All rights reserved.


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Oscar Performance Seeks Third Grade 1 in Secretariat
Since he broke his maiden in August of 2016, Amerman Racing Stables' Oscar Performance has shown that when he gets firm ground to run on, he will fire.
Since he broke his maiden in August of 2016, Amerman Racing Stables' Oscar Performance has shown that when he gets firm ground to run on, he will fire.
Oscar Performance is entered for his 2017 debut in the Transylvania Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3T) April 7, in what will mark the first start for the Kitten's Joy ridgling since winning last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).
Amerman Racing Stables' Coffee Clique will attempt to become the second mare to score a repeat victory in $300,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Presented by Longines (gr. IIT) when she takes on 12 rivals May 2 at Churchill.
With Anna Napravnik aboard, Demarcation rallied from last and ran down Discreetly Mine inside the final furlong to win the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) by a head Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds.
Balance, the nation's leading 3-year-old filly last year before going off kilter, continued her ascent toward the top of the older female division on Saturday while overcoming obstacles to win Santa Anita's $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles.
With jockey Aaron Gryder aboard, Amerman Racing Stables homebred Sacred Light worked seven furlongs in 1:28 at Hollywood Park Wednesday as the 3-year-old colt continued to make progress toward a start in the May 6 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Adoration, who was getting ready to defend her Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) title at Lone Star Park Oct. 30, will instead be retired after injuring a front ankle.
Front-running Adoration tuned up for a possible defense of her Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) title with a convincing two-length win in the $150,000 Arlington Matron (gr. III).
Adoration, ridden with confidence by Victor Espinoza, shook off Roar Emotion in the stretch and held on for an impressive 1 1/4-length victory in the $439,200 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.
Spoken Fur, who developed into one of the year's top 3-year-old fillies for Amerman Racing Stables and trainer Bobby Frankel, has been retired from racing.
Spoken Fur and jockey Jerry Bailey turned in a dominating performance to easily capture the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Belmont Park Saturday, collecting the second jewel in New York's Triple Tiara for owner Amerman Racing Stables.
Spoken Fur, making her first start for owner Amerman Racing Stables and trainer Bobby Frankel, stepped into stakes company for the first time Saturday and registered a smashing victory in the prestigious $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.
Amerman Racing Stables' Lido Palace, a millionaire twice over and two-time champion colt in his native Chile, has been retired from racing due to a wrenched ankle that has not sufficiently responded to rest.
While Bobby Frankel will be at Churchill Downs on Saturday to saddle favored Empire Maker in the 129th Kentucky Derby, an assistant trainer will tend to likely favorite Blue Steller in Hollywood Park's $100,000 Inglewood Handicap (gr. IIIT) at 1 1/16 mile on turf.
A well-matched field of nine fillies and mares will meet on the turf Saturday in the $100,000 Brown Bess Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Golden Gate Fields.
Amerman racing Stables' Printemps, who had been chasing graded stakes competition without success in her last seven races, found the restricted Paseana Handicap to her liking at Santa Anita Wednesday.
Amerman Racing Stables' Lido Palace, a Chilean import who has ranked among the finest handicap horses in America over the past two seasons, and Joseph Vitello's Tenpins, a rising star bidding to establish a national reputation, head an accomplished field of 12 horses in Friday's 128th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.
Lido Palace and With Anticipation win the Woodward and Man o' War, respectively, for the second straight year.
Amerman Racing Stables' Lido Palace can join Sword Dancer, Kelso, Forego, Slew o' Gold and Cigar as the only horses to win consecutive Woodward Stakes (gr. I).
Adoration and favored Saint Bernadette dueled for the lead around the second turn before Adoration gained a short lead in the stretch and held on to win Saturday's $266,800 Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. II) by a length at Hollywood Park.
Amerman Racing's Adoration set moderate fractions while alone on the lead, then held 3-5 favorite High Society in the stretch to win Saturday's $107,300 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park.
Amerman Racing Stables' No Slip rallied from last place in a five-horse field to win Saturday's $155,000 Golden Gate Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Golden Gate Fields.
Happyanunoit, a champion in her native New Zealand before earning millionaire status in North America for John and Jerry Amerman's Amerman Racing Stable, is booked to European champion Giant's Causeway.
At Bay Meadows Sunday, Irish-bred Blue Steller closed from last to win the $100,000 Bay Meadows Derby Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths.
Favored Tranquility Lake received no respite from a pair of Bobby Frankel trainees in Saturday's $221,350 Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park. After Frankel-trained High Walden took the front-running Tranquility Lake out of her game early on, stablemate Happyanunoit rallied in the stretch to win by a head. The win marks the fifth time a Frankel-conditioned horse has won the Gamely Handicap.
Staying at home has its advantages. Short commute. Close to the family. Favorite restaurant around the corner. For jockey Chris McCarron, it was sweeping a pair of $150,000 stakes races at Hollywood Park on the weekend of May 5-6.