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Working hard for their money: Business pays employees for helping out
Jenny Pearson is no exception.
But when Pearson cries about her employer, they�re happy, grateful tears.
Pearson works at Sanford Business-To-Business as a machine operator.
�It�s not often that you get to work at a place where the company and the employees are so wonderful to people,� Pearson said Thursday.
Pearson�s story started June 12.
On that day, Pearson and her long-time fianc� John Powers were evacuated from their home at 1903 Joseph St., Janesville, because of flooding.
Their home, located in Janesville�s Mole & Sadler�s subdivision, was across the street from the Rock River. By the time the flood crested, the first floor of the little two-story home was filled with 18-inches of water.
That was bad.
Then things got worse.
In July, Powers had part of his foot amputated because of an infection related to flooding in his Milton home in 2003.
Then, one day, when Pearson was walking her little dogs and her son�s golden retriever, the big dog spotted a squirrel and took off, launching Pearson into the air. She came down face-first on the sidewalk, ending up with a giant knot on her forehead and a shoulder broken in two places.
By that time, the floodwaters had receded, and the couple was faced with the task of removing the flood-damaged items from their sodden and moldy home.
Neither of them was in any shape to do the work.
That�s when Sanford Business-To-Business stepped in.
�So many people came to me and said, �Is there anything I can do?� and �Let me know if you want me to come and help,�� Pearson said. �I think it kind of snowballed.�
The company�s Community Awareness Team got involved, and soon management decided to set up two days when employees could help Pearson�on the clock.
That�s right, on the clock, as in paid time.
�They told people to come to work and clock in and then come over here,� Powers said. �I get choked up thinking about. Clock in and then come work here.�
On Thursday, about 10 Sanford employees donned masks and gloves and hauled everything out of the house into massive Dumpsters.
Sanford provided lunch.
Workers did such a good job that the second shift, originally planned for today, won�t be needed.
This isn�t the first time the company has extended itself to its workers and their communities. The Community Awareness Team has donated money to a variety of local organizations including Rotary Botanical Gardens and the Hedberg Public Library. They�ve also helped with scholarships for employees� children.
�They�ve done so many wonderful things,� said Pearson, who has also served on the team.
Now she�s one of those �wonderful things.�
�I�m proud to work there, and I�m proud of the people I work with,� she said.
Last updated: 10:00 pm Thursday, December 13, 2012


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2006 BMW M6 by Conor Twomey (5/21/2006)
A bit too much for the real world.
There's a reason why the Wisconsin countryside is as lush as it is, and that reason is falling from the sky in copious quantities today. Even in the downpour, our white Z4 M Coupe looks fantastic, all swag lines and creases and pent-up aggression.
Say what you want about Bangle's influence elsewhere in the BMW range, to me the Z4 Coupe is a triumph of modern design. The rear end is more sophisticated yet more attractive than that of any BMW currently on sale and is easily the best angle to view it from, although it looks rather good in profile also with that long hood, crazy flame-surface bodywork and wonderfully well-executed roofline. Come to think of it, the front end is growing on me too, and with the new M-spec front bumper and sexy 18-inch wheels it certainly has a lot of presence and purpose for such a wee automobile.
Inside, more reasons to rejoice. The steering wheel is so massively thick it's more like you're holding one of the tires, while the seats with their one-piece backrests are low on adjustments but still high on comfort and support. The pedals, gear lever, and basic controls are all perfectly placed and simple to use and because it's unencumbered by iDrive, the Z4 M Coupe takes only a few moments to feel perfectly at home in.
It's not as cramped as you might think either, thanks to its trendy double-bubble roof and low seating position, while visibility and storage space are more than acceptable, as long as you keep in mind this is a sports car after all. Even the trunk is a reasonable size and is accessible via a wide-opening hatch, which means you can bring more than just a change of well-folded underpants with you when you zip off for the weekend.
The Z4 M's power output, at 330 hp, is definitely what one might call healthy, comfortably outstripping the likes of the 300-hp Nissan 350Z and the 295-hp Porsche Cayman, although it does weigh a not insubstantial 3230 pounds — slightly lighter than the husky 350Z but well over 200 pounds heavier than the lithe Cayman.
JD Power button
JD Power button
As a consequence, the BMW's performance is closer to the Porsche's: 0-60 mph takes just 4.9 seconds compared to the Cayman's 5.2 seconds, while the pudgy 350Z takes a whole 5.6 seconds for the benchmark sprint. The Nissan, like the BMW, is limited to 155 mph whereas the Cayman is free to run all the way to 170 mph, although this is really an academic figure unless you own your own three-mile stretch of asphalt.
The Z4 M's engines is the sophisticated 3.2-liter from the M3 coupe, with variable valve timing on both camshafts and six individual throttle bodies to help it achieve its phenomenal 100-plus hp per naturally aspirated liter. It doesn't offer up its full 330 horses until the needle passes 7900 rpm and its 262 lb-ft of peak torque isn't available until 4900 rpm, so it's an engine you really have to thrash mercilessly to get the most from it.
Slight communication problem
Where the Z4 M Coupe really excels is in terms of chassis balance, hardly surprising given so much of the suspension hardware is borrowed from the BMW M3. The Z4 M Coupe is a car that you feel instantly at home in, a car that talks to you all the time and encourages you to play with the rear end whenever conditions allow. The ride is superb; compliant yet informative with all unwanted road-chatter filtered out long before it reaches your tender rump.
Unfortunately, while the steering is machete-sharp and exceptionally well weighted, a little too much of the conversation between the tires and the road has been bleeped out in the name of refinement. There's still a lot of the Roadster's damping in the system, methinks, but now that a roof is attached and torsional rigidity is up the slightly strangled steering feel is irksome. The Cayman and the 350Z relate marginally more about how road and car are getting along, and are a smidge more intimate to drive as a consequence, though neither car can match the Z4 M's astonishing composite and cross-drilled brakes, which can devour kinetic energy with alarming efficiency.
Character welcome
Despite my minor gripes, the Z4 M Coupe remains a hugely engaging and charismatic car as well as being incredibly exploitable and faithful, too.
Even on the scary, high-speed, four-mile-long Road America racetrack, the Z4 M was much easier to thrash than the big, bad M6. It could be held in minutely adjustable four-wheel slides all the way through the treacherously slick corners, putting a huge grin on your face while it squirms around naughtily. It's arguably the best-handling car BMW currently makes, which is saying something, and that alone makes it worth the $50,000 price of admission.
The considerably cheaper Nissan 350Z might be every bit impressive as the Z4 M to drive, but it's not as fast, not as prestigious, and doesn't have the pedigree of the little M Coupe. The Porsche Cayman still has the slightest of edges in terms of driver involvement, but the Z4 M Coupe counters by being more playful and more thrashable, and it's quite a bit cheaper. I also think it looks a lot better than the Porsche, though I'm sure I'll regret saying that when I open my inbox tomorrow.
What can't be argued is that the hardtop Z4 M has easily the most character of the three, feeling raw and racecar-ish when it's wound out, but remaining relaxed and composed when you're not in the mood. It puts a smile on my face every time I look at it, every time I sit in it, and every time I fire up that engine and send the tachometer swinging into the red.
It's a car you simply get or you don't get and for those that do, there's no better small sports coupe.
2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe
price: $49,900
Engine: 3.2-liter in-line six, 330 hp/262 lb-ft
Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel
Length x width x height: 161.9 x 70.1 x 50.7 in
Wheelbase: 98.3 in
Curb weight: 3230 lb
Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 16/24 mpg
Safety equipment: Dual front and side airbags; anti-lock brakes with composite rotors and brake drying; stability control; xenon headlamps
Major standard equipment: Automatic climate control; power windows/locks/mirrors; ten-speaker audio system; sport leather seats; 18-inch alloy wheels
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
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text:
Rap "music" and the Grammys.
Expand Messages
On February 08, 2001, Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, wrote:
Eminem's "Marshall Mathers LP" ... had been nominated for four Grammy awards, including album of the year. Even though I loathe the album for its violently misogynist and homophobic lyrics, I found myself on the defensive from callers who not only hate Eminem but rap music in general ... Caller after caller to the radio show questioned my sanity. "How can you even use the words 'rap' and 'music' in the same sentence?" one caller railed.
Last week, a similar note of outraged indignation was struck by an opinion piece that appeared in The New York Times. It was written by Bob Herbert, a member of the paper's editorial board, who not only castigated Eminem's Grammy nomination - "Only a lunatic could think this was the finest album of the year" - but also condemned rap as a whole. "My problem with rap," he wrote, "especially in its most grotesque forms, is that it has so thoroughly broken faith with the surpassingly great, centuries-long tradition of black music in America. With rap, both the music and the poetry have vanished. In their place, we get, for the most part, infantile rhymes, and sometimes not even rhymes - just gibberish." Then, referring to the way Eminem has exploited this bankrupt tradition to the fullest, he concludes, "A steady diet of this ugliness is poisonous, the equivalent of developing one's self-image by looking in a toilet."
... it has now become a mainstream marketing formula with outlandishly explicit tales of drugs, guns and prostitutes. Just as the movie industry continues to churn out plot-starved, caricature-riddled action films high on mayhem and low on creative ambition, the most commercially successfully hip-hop panders to young suburban males with wisecracking pathology and shallow shock lyrics.
Eminem is the twisted poster child for this movement, and his stunning success is what alarms serious-thinking adults such as the Times' Herbert. "The Marshall Mathers LP" has sold more than 7 million copies and heavily edited versions of explicit songs such as "The Real Slim Shady" have been played as much as 70 times a week on major commercial pop stations. This ubiquity has led Herbert to conclude that rap has lost whatever moral compass it might have had.
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text:
Business Centre
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An excellent option for those specifically looking for a wireless tablet. The extra cost over a Graphire 4, however, probably won't justify it for those not interested in using the Bluetooth technology to its full potential.
Specification-wise, Wacom's Graphire Bluetooth CTE-630BT is akin to their wired Graphire 4 range. With similar sensitivity and resolution levels, we found that the performance of the Bluetooth version was comparable with that of the CTE-640, the flagship of the Graphire 4 series. Nevertheless, the CTE-630BT delivered an entirely different experience, based largely on its wireless status.
Physically, the tablet is quite well designed. It's thin, light weight, with a very simplistic and convenient button arrangement. A large, 200mm x 150mm active area sits in the centre, surrounded by an adequately wide bezel. We did find that there wasn't enough room for our hands when trying to fill in details on the far edges of the active area, but on the whole, the balance between size and comfort seems to have been well optimised. A clip on the top edge of the tablet provides a resting place for the stylus; a little inconvenient when the tablet is sitting on a desk, but fine when carrying the tablet around.
The freedom of movement was something we really enjoyed when using this tablet. Without the restriction of cables, we were able to move around while using the tablet or even just simply sit back with it resting easily in our lap. The applications of the wireless technology go further than this however. Imagine a teacher being able to walk around a classroom, writing onto a projected 'blackboard'. The same technology could easily be used in business presentations, allowing for diagrams and images to be created in real time, easily and on-the-fly. The breadth of possibilities opened up by unshackling the tablet from its cabling really adds to this tablet's versatility, in a way that beefed up specifications and pressure levels just can't.
This is not to say that the tablet itself is in any way deficient in its performance, only that it distinguishes itself through other means. The specifications are not at a professional level, but they nevertheless are of an incredibly high caliber. With 512 levels of pressure sensitivity and 2032 lines per inch of resolution, we found that we were able to achieve impressive results, creating detailed and precise drawings. Response times were reasonable, although there was a slight lag, only a few hundred milliseconds at most. One of the best facets of the tablet however was the strength of its signal. In an office jam packed with almost every wireless and Bluetooth device available, we were still able to achieve a strong, clear signal through multiple doors, and it took a very thick, concrete wall before the tablet dropped out completely.
Users who aren't positive that they'd really take advantage of the wireless nature of this tablet probably won't get the best value from it. It is quite expensive, and almost matches the professional Intuos 3 series for pricing. Professionals and casual home users probably won't get the most from this tablet, but those with a keen eye on its wireless applications will find it to be a powerful tool.
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Sharp PN-40TC1 Huddle Board
Brainstorming, innovation, problem solving, and negotiation have all become much more productive and valuable if people can easily collaborate in real time with minimal friction.
Brother QL-820NWB Professional Label Printer
The print quality also does not disappoint, it's clear, bold, doesn't smudge and the text is perfectly sized.
Sharp PN-40TC1 Huddle Board
The Huddle Board's built in program; Sharp Touch Viewing software allows us to easily manipulate and edit our documents (jpegs and PDFs) all at the same time on the dashboard.
Sharp PN-40TC1 Huddle Board
The biggest perks for me would be that it comes with easy to use and comprehensive programs that make the collaboration process a whole lot more intuitive and organic
Brother PocketJet PJ-773 A4 Portable Thermal Printer
I rate the printer as a 5 out of 5 stars as it has been able to fit seamlessly into my busy and mobile lifestyle.
Brother PocketJet PJ-773 A4 Portable Thermal Printer
It's perfect for mobile workers. Just take it out — it's small enough to sit anywhere — turn it on, load a sheet of paper, and start printing.


text:
Written on: 22/06/2013 by Weddingbeau2b (1 review written)
Dress lovely but not the size specified on the website, miles too big for my maid of honour, couldn't order another as it wouldn't get to me in time for my wedding. When asking for the returns policy and making them aware of the problem I got emails back saying it was 'my fault' and they wanted 'proof'! I do not have time a week before my wedding to send proof by going to my maid of honours home to sort it out!
Naughty being a .co.uk address when their from china also!
Disgusting customer service, DO NOT USE THEM!
I now have a dress that overall cost me £130 that is just sitting in my wardrobe!
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text: DENVER (AP) In the end, Brittney Griner and undefeated Baylor proved to be too tall a task for surging Stanford.So once again, the Cardinal will head home without that elusive national title.Stanford just can't seem to get over the hump, losing to the Lady Bears 59-47 on Sunday night in the NCAA semifinals. This was the Cardinal's fifth straight trip to the Final Four and they have yet to cut down the nets in two decades.Stanford was on a roll, too, reeling off a school-record 32 consecutive wins. The Cardinal's only loss this season came at Connecticut in early November.And yet few gave Stanford (35-2) much of a chance to win against favored Baylor (39-0), which will face Notre Dame for the championship on Tuesday night.


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St. John Bosco had a girls volleyball tournament on Oct. 6 and one of its own came away with a championship. The seventh-grade squad won the 20-team tournament, while the other two squads fared well.
The sixth-grade team finished second and the eighth-grade team placed third.
The tournament had both Catholic and public schools with plans to make it an annual event.


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Why Work For SAP SSC (Ireland) Ltd
Why Work For Us
Want to work for one of the largest software companies in the world?
SAP is the enterprise application software market leader, helping companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device, SAP helps people and organizations work together efficiently and use business insight effectively to stay ahead of the competition.
More than 232,000 customers around the world rely on SAP. From large global organizations to educational institutions, governments, SMEs, and subsidiaries – our customers come in all shapes and sizes. Headquartered in Walldorf, Germany SAP has 75 locations around the world, over 65,000 employees, and delivers products and services for more than 190,000 customers in more than 120 countries.
At SAP, we believe in the power of collaboration. In fact, more than 65,000 of us flourish in an environment that encourages open, free expression of ideas. Which means you work alongside creative thinkers who share your interests, while turning big ideas into reality for our customers. And with innovative job training, mentors to help you grow, and the flexibility to balance your work and personal life, you get more out of your career too!
What our candidates have in common is a drive to succeed, a commitment to teamwork, and a passion for learning. Our focus on people development, our high-potential program, and the many possibilities we provide for you to move into new roles within the company – even internationally – make SAP a great place to work.
Finding the right balance between your personal and professional life can be tricky, that's why SAP offers a range of flexible options. In addition to attractive salaries and benefits, you can share directly in SAP's business success through performance and reward management programs. Enjoy a complimentary 3 course lunch every day in our onsite canteens, free tea and coffee in our coffee corners, or avail of many onsite services including massages, laundry service, wellbeing sessions, and the option to join our sports and social club. On top of this we also have work-life-balance options including flexi-time, teleworking options, and comprehensive health plans.
After all, it's your life. We believe you should have the opportunity to live it in the way you please!
SAP has four office locations in Ireland, employing over 1,300 people in Dublin and Galway. In Dublin our teams are responsible for service and support for our large customer base, sales, financial shared services, IT support and quality engineering for application and technology releases. Dublin is also home to SAP Business Objects' Research and Development Centre, which develops software applications for business analytics in our newly established AppHaus - a fast paced, agile, innovative space created for our engineers to promote collaboration, foster creativity, and to provide the flexibility to adjust to changing needs of technology.
SAP's operation in Galway is a multilingual service and support centre for SAP's SME and Multinational enterprise sectors. It also has teams responsible for Support, Cloud Services, IT Support, Technical Writing, E-Learning, Translations, License Auditing and Partner Services. It covers 29 languages and has colleagues from 39 nationalities.


text: Amoss - Bleed It VIP Feat MCJC (HZNX014A) by Horizons music published on 2014-04-21T11:21:31Z Vinyl shipping now exclusively from horizons store. http://www.horizonsmusic.co.uk/shop/bleed-it-vip-vinyl Amoss step into lively territories with their 2014 return to Horizons Music. This single sees a VIP rework of their 2013 collaboration with MCJC, Bleed It, originally featured on the Dreamthief 4 LP. This rework brings a complete change in groove and mood to the table, incorporating a more syncopated beat with a much deeper bass presence. Calokan is a throwback to the duo's early Horizons Music releases, but with an added twist. The dramatic and textural intro paired with an array of odd field recordings makes for an intense atmosphere whilst maintaining a heavy underlying sub laden roll. Those that are familiar with Amoss will know all too well that the second drop always has something special in store, in this case a straight, two step beat smashes through the breakdown, adding a huge switch up to the overall energy of this track. Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmossMusic Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/amoss Twitter: twitter.com/Amoss__ Genre Drum & Bass Comment by Andromeda <3 2016/07/02 11:52:31 +0000 Comment by JAKOTA diirty 2014/08/22 20:00:24 +0000 Comment by Vip Audi yea 2014/08/21 16:24:27 +0000 Comment by PzYcho WICKED 2014/05/18 17:15:47 +0000 Comment by Zdra dope 2014/05/18 11:07:19 +0000 Comment by AdJam filth :) 2014/05/09 19:13:18 +0000 Comment by Seekle Great! 2014/04/30 20:36:00 +0000 Comment by ® Young:G Big! 2014/04/24 03:56:57 +0000 Comment by Apply Sound Sub bass is incredible! 2014/04/22 13:22:45 +0000 Comment by Mandu perc on the second snares so nice. 2014/04/22 08:32:52 +0000 Comment by Rune+Kaiza are INSTINKT ok ok 2014/04/22 06:19:35 +0000 Comment by deft.movement yeyee 2014/04/22 03:09:06 +0000 Comment by DetroitRaver So goddamn grimy! \o/ 2014/04/21 19:55:10 +0000 Comment by Dovydas Feigelovičius oh man this is beautiful 2014/04/21 19:40:57 +0000 Comment by Motorik (DK) Rudeboy tune 2014/04/21 19:35:20 +0000 Comment by Shedao aaaaw yes gooooodmode! 2014/04/21 17:40:06 +0000 Comment by Shedao yeah good stuff 2014/04/21 17:38:22 +0000 Comment by Matt B DNB no you didnt just go there... 2014/04/21 16:53:44 +0000 Comment by The_Surgeon bad man!!! 2014/04/21 16:53:36 +0000 Comment by Matt B DNB yeah man! those are some wicked vocals 2014/04/21 16:52:17 +0000 Comment by CORTEKS YESSS! 2014/04/21 16:47:47 +0000 Comment by DON-LOGAN258 uuuuurgh! oh my god! 2014/04/21 16:12:45 +0000


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Route Grade Votings
Total votes cast 3
Adjacent Routes
73m. From below the headwall, climb up the L slanting groove. This leads to the left hand end of a large snowslope. Move easily up L to the chimney gully at the top left of the snow slope. Climb steep ice for 10m and exit onto snow leading to the top.
Probably climbed before


text:
DGCR Aces 2013!!!
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Valley of the sun- Tempe
Years Playing: 13.8
Courses Played: 24
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Today I got my second ace of this year, and my second ace. I was playing at Los Olivos, which is a local 9 holer. While I was playing I noticed this kinda ghetto looking black guy watching me play on hole 7. As we were walking to hole 9, the guy starts asking us questions and wants to throw one. Hole 9 is about 275 or so. the other 2 people I am playing with have already thrown. I show him the proper mechanics of throwing backhand. I tell him to watch me throw and copy what I do. I throw my teebird, and I start thinking to myself that is a good ace run. The disc hits the chains and stays in. The guys face was priceless. Its always exciting to get an ace, but in that situation, it was even more so.
Beast mode- Nice ace with a condor. I had just ordered a condor a few days ago on a whim myself.
Smitty- I know the feeling. I've been playing on and off for a long time(I got semi serious and started playing multiple rounds in 2003) and finally got my first ace on a fluke shot this year after years of metal and chain hits. Congrats.
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text:
Austen Chamberlain, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, screwed his eyeglass more firmly into his eye and left the Foreign Office to journey to Rome.
At Paris, a capital with which he was well acquainted, the British Foreign Minister stopped off for a chat with Edouard Herriot.
Behind the gray walls of the Quai d'Orsay the two statesmen conducted an unusual conference. There were no witnesses, and none was needed; not even an interpreter, for Mr. Chamberlain speaks French almost as well as M. Herriot. But the walls of the Quai d'Orsay are not so...
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La manta de Franklin
|Average rating
|Based on 108 Ratings and 13 Reviews
Book Description
Franklin's favorite blanket is missing. He searches everywhere because he can't sleep without it.
Book Information
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|Paperback (3 editions)
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|# of Pages
|Publication Date
The Creators
Paulette Bourgeois (Author) : Paulette Bourgeois (July 20, 1951) is a Canadian children's writer and creator of the children's literary character, Franklin the Turtle. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she graduated from the University... more
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Brenda Clark (Illustrator) : Brenda Clark Born in Toronto, Ontario Birth date: February 10, 1955 Married to Robert Courtice with one child. Home: Port Hope, Ontario An honours graduate from Sheridan College's Illustration Program... more
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About Alejandra Lopez Varela (Translator) : Alejandra Lopez Varela is a published author and a translator of children's books. Some of the published credits of Alejandra Lopez Varela include El Club Secrteo De Franklin/Franklin's Secret Club (F... more
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164 February 2, 1982 FREEING AMERICA'S RESOURCES: REVISING FEDERAL LEASING POLICY INTRODUCTION Among'the most important issues facing t he new administra tion when it took office was the question of.access to public lands. At present, the federal government owns or controls some 775 million acres. These holdings roughly equal the size of all states.east of the Mississippi River and compri se about one-third of the total on-shore area of the United States ately following the Revolutionary War. Prior to that, a number of states had made competing claims on the western territories.
Conflicts over these claims erupted as the new nation struggle d to organize a government in the period shortly after winning independence. some former Colonies such as Virginia and North Carolina claimed extensive holdings in the west. Others, such as Maryland, bitter ly opposed them. To resolve the problem, drafter s of the Articles persuaded the states to cede these lands to the Confederation government. With this cession was born the public domain, "to be disposed of for the common benefit of the United States." In the years following, it served this purpose well T h e public domain was first established in the years immedil As the Articles of Confederation were being drafted Public lands provided the farmland for settlers pushing westward. Construction of the first transcontinental railroad was spurred by grants from the publi'c domain. Land grants also provided sites for many colleges in the midwest and.west and served as the basis for a system of national parks probably unsurpassed in the world. Perhaps the most important contribution of the public domain was its ro le in fueling the American indus trial revolution.
The public domain continues to be critical to American economic well-being. Just as the virgin farmland available to 2 early settlers made the untapped'energy could well serve as possible the American agricultural miracle, and mineral resources of our public lands a catalyst for future economic growth THE ISSUE Accomplishing thi s goal requires rethinking the public lands policy which evolved over the last decade the guiding principle was the concept of multiple-use, which simply holds that a variety of activities can take place on a tract of land without conflicting with one anot h er. Examples of the multiple-use concept are found in the National Parks these areas are kept in a relatively undeveloped state, activities .such as camping, hunting, and fishing are allowed. Roads, camp sites, and some buildings are constructed. Under cl o sely super vised circumstances, timber cutting and limited resource extraction are even allowed Prior to that time Although In contrast to the multiple-use designation, there also are a number of restrictive classifications for lands in the public domain. Among the most restrictive is the I1Wildernessl1 designa- tion. This category originally was intended for a limited number of highly sensitive or unique 'lecosystems which were to be kept in their pristine state. Road-building, use of motorized vehicles a nd even fire-fighting are prohibited in such areas, as is all development. This, in turn, severely limits access to wilderness areas, essentially restricting it to those willing and physically able to enter on foot.
As long as the use of highly restrictive land classifica tions,was limited to a relatively small percentage of our public lands, there were few problems. Since the early 1970s, though restrictions have been applied to vast new areas, many of which hold great promise as sources of strategically c ritical minerals and energy resources public domain has also been increasingly limited by restrictive statutes, rules, and regulations. Even where access is permitted Washington often imposes such a formidable barrier of red tape that mineral or energy de v elopment becomes economically infeasi- ble At the same time, reasonable access to the Where the federal government does not directly obstruct res- ource development, special interest groups often do. Ignoring the broader consequences of their actions, the y frequently mani- pulate statutes and regulations intended for other purposes and impose delays on firms seeking access to public lands. of these delays and the legal fees generated in overcoming them are often so high that firms find they must ultimately abandon their efforts at development. As such situations have become more common, they have eroded dramatically America's ability to achieve energy-self sufficiency The costs 3 The Reagan Administration has signalled its intention to Interior Secretary Ja mes Watt long has His early actions in office indicate revise land use policy advocated multiple-use that it may again become the core of Interior Department policy, recognizing that true conservation means the judicious use not curtailment of resources.
W att has begun to review, streamline, and improve the federal leasing process. He has expanded the amount of acreage available for lease and has initiated an in-house analysis of existing statutes, rules, and regulations to pinpoint delays. He also has beg u n to review actions by previous administrations which placed vast tracts of land in highly restrictive categories. focus of this view will be on whether re-classification of these tracts into some less restrictive category would better serve the public in terest.
Much more, however, remains to be done. Leasing federal lands is a highly complex question, touching on a variety of concerns, interests, and competing needs. This was recently illustrated by the controversy over expansion of the acreage made avail able for lease on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Some of the opposition to Watt's action ironically comes from oil companies who were already active in offshore oil and gas exploration: decision. According to some industry observers, these criticisms were i n part the result of a failure initially to understand the new policy, due to erroneous press reports. In some instances, though, the criticisms seemed motivated by a fear of the additional competition the Secretary's action would spark A major the very i nterests which wo-uld benefit from his THE LEASING PROCESS There are sixty-eight federal agencies with authority of some kind over the disposition of land in the public domain.
Exercising primary authority are the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wild life Service and Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, the Department of Defense's Army Corps of Engineers and five other agencie's. The current dispersion of authority is a major cause of leasing delays. A lease appli c ant commonly requires dozens of permit approvals, certifications and permissions before operations can begin. Inter-agency conflicts are enormous, but are only the tip of. the iceberg. An analysis of leasing policy, therefore, should begin with analysis o f the leasing process.
THE LEASING PROCESS At the heart of the'issue is the manner in which many agencies exercise their authority. essentially negative, seeking reasons often trivial for They often act as though their role is 4 denying"a permit. In some c ases, an agency with primary responsi bility will grant a lease and then be reversed by another agency which has, at best, a peripheral interest in the matter. In many instances, agencies feel that their mandated role in the leasing process requires detai led reviews of every application, even if such reviews do not really make a material contribution to protect ing the public interest. This, in turn, leads to still more delay.
Since the most trivial objection normally receives the same consideration as the most substantial, documents must be prepared hearings held, and great amounts of legal, technical, and account ing manpower committed financial burden for the applicant, but also adds uncertainty which discourages companies from developing resources on f e deral lands This not only creates an increased Designating a Illead" agency could solve many of these pro This system blems all other agencies would delegate authority to it. could be established, at least in part, though a letter of under standing betwee n the agencies involved or through an Executive Order.
Numerous precedents exist, including a variety of personnel sharing arrangements between agencies, and a number of inter- agency task forces Such an agency would oversee the entire leasing process Immediate congressional action would thus not be required.
Because some agencies, especially the Environmental Protec- tion Agency, have clear legal responsibilities to exercise author ity in certain areas, it is likely that revisions of existing law ultimate ly will be required responsibilities might be partly resolved by allowing the other agencies to act in a consulting role to that taking the' lead, there will remain instances where such an accomodation will remain inadequate which must be obtained by firm s discharging certain pollutants.
Up to the present, Congress has made it clear that it intends EPA to continue to exercise this authority even if the area for which the permit is sought falls in the public domain. It is unclear, therefore, whether a lette r of understanding or Executive Order transferring responsibility for issuing these permits will suffice. Allowing EPA to retain a consultative role, however, might meet the requirements of.the law. The best approach to this and some other environmental i s sues might be to proceed under a letter of understanding or Executive Order while seeking a simultaneous legislative clarification of the lines of authority bring about the one action which could provide a long-term solu tion to the problems stemming from the present fragmented authori ty over federal lands: concentrating them within a single agency. Preferably, the agency selected for this role would be the Interior Although the question of legal For example, EPA currently has authority over the permits O ne advantage of the legislative approach is that it could 5 Department. domain and has a large staff of highly qualified personnel thorough ly familiar with the issues relating to these areas.
Interior would give lease applicants a single place to go for d ecisions, eliminate much of the potential for inter-agency conflict, and ensure that all aspects of federal lands. policy are integrated It traditionally has been responsible for the public Selecting CONSOLIDATED PERMITS AND STREAMLINED HEARINGS While 'it is unclear whether it would be possible, or even desirable, to consolidate all permits, many could be combined.
This would reduce the burden on the applicant, the amount of paperwork reviewed by federal agencies, and the large number of hearings something about which applicants bitterly complain.
Under the present multiple permit system, hearings generally take place in serial fashion. Issues exhaustively examined once and resolved are raised again and again. While it is argued t his insures that all issues are fully explored, the costs of delay far exceed the marginal bene.fit to the public. Mare important is the uncertainty the system creates by the open-ended opportunity to continually recall previously resolved issues for yet another examination. companies never know when a permit is going to be denied or even revoked.
This makes effective planning nearly impossible A consolidated permit along with a streamlined hearing process would lim.it the ability of outside groups to issu e spe cious challenges to projects. Yet it would still provide a public forum for expressing legitimate concerns over the impact on the envirgnment, health or safety. It would also provide a means for addressing another bottleneck which has worsened in re cent years: duplication of hearings in the states.
Since the hearing process would be consolidatgd at the federal level, it would make sense for state regulatory agencies to hold their hearings at the same time as.federa1 hearings All interested authoritie s could then come together at the beginning of the process and identify possible areas of conflict. This would help avoid situations in which companies invest large amounts of capital in a project on the strength of federal appro vals only to find themsel ves blocked by the state.
Numerous examples of this exist. In California, both the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant and the Santa Ynez Oil Field experi- enced severe delays as a result of state regulatory actions taking place after all federal approvals had bee n acquired. New Hampshire blocked construction of a refinery, while several states have intervened to stop federal leasing of the Georges Bank. 6 Consolidating hearings would also give the Administration an opportunity to delegate more authority to the st a tes and ensure that they are a party to any federal action which materially affects their interests. This, of course, would be in keeping with President Reagan's stated policy of placing a greater emphasis on the role of the states I DECISION DEADLINES AN D DATA COLLECTION In addition to consolidating the hearings and permit-granting process, setting deadlines for decisions would also expedite consideration of lease applications. Some experts fear, however that deadlines could only hasten negative decisions . Although this might ocassionally occur, most experts feel that a large number of negative findings, without any clear justification would trigger some sort of legislative remedy another agency be unable or unwilling to reach a decision, the lead agency w ould make it for them. This would create an incenL tive for the consulting agencies to act in an expeditious and responsible manner A lead agency, of course, could enforce deadlines. Should There currently is extensive duplication in collecting data.
For e xample, costly archeological surveys often are mandated in regions examined previously and found to have little or no archeo hgical value In one instance, the only artifacts retrieved after an expenditure of several hundreds of thousands of dollars were b e er cans areas which previously hav.e undergone exhaustive environmental reviews. These documents take months or even years to compile and often cost millions of dollars. Rather than require that they be conducted for each individual tract within a given a rea offered for lease, they could be conducted on an area-wide basis.
Futher study of a specific site would be required only if there are concerns unique to its location Environmental impact statements frequently are required in Whenever possible, surveys and data collected to meet one agency's requirements should be accepted as meeting similar requirements of another agency. Studies performed for state agencies should fulfill federal requirements in the absence of any compelling reason to the contrary A p o licy in which studies compiled for one agency could be used to meet the data requirements of another, of course, would mean that agencies would have to cooperate in standardizing the type of information they ask for and the format in which it is reported. Still, the savings realized through eliminating dupli cation would surely be more than worth the effort. 7 THE ROLE OF STATES It may be necessary to provide incentives for the states to consolidate their leasing and permitting processes with those of the f ederal government. Washington, for example, could underwrite state programs which regulate the environment or process lease applications. In a consolidated format, the' cost to the federal government probably would be small; all that would be involved wou ld be printing extra copies of documents and making space available for state officials to participate at the joint hearings.
Given the growth of state regulatory activities, elimination of conflicts through consolidation would save sizable sums ON-SHORE O IL AND GAS LEASING ISSUES With the federal government owning or controlling some 775 million acres, resolving the problems regarding on-shore oil and gas leasing could be an important step towards facilitating the development of American energy sources. I s sues involving federal on-shore areas are regulatory, legislative, and administrative in nature. Many difficulties arise, for example, from the manner in which regulations are interpreted rather than from their substance. Of particular concern are the wid e ly d.iffering interpretations various field offices choose to give 'regulations governing the issuing of permits, ranging from extremely strict to relatively moderate. This adds yet another element of uncertainty to-an already uncertain process WILDLIFE R EE'UGES Among the substantive regulatory problems involving on-shore leasing is the prohibition of oil and gas leases in areas designa ted Wildlife Refuges. designation contain highly promising oil and gas prospects.
While the concern for preserving wildli fe in their natural habitat which prompted these restrictive rules generally has been well intentioned, experience demonstrates that the dangers are vastly exaggerated. It-is now clear that oil and gas development need not cause irreparable harm to the en v ironment. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to keep such restrictive regulations in effect Many areas which currently carry this Secretary Watt has moved to ease access to wildlife refuges in Alaska. states He should also remove them in the lower forty - eight DREDGE AND FILL PERMITS In need of attention too are the regulations governing dredge and fill permits designed.to implement Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This ixovision.urants the Army Cortx of Enuineers 8 authority to regulate activities tak i ng place in navigable water ways and wetlands where any discharge or other disturbance is involved. The problem is that the courts have defined Ilwetlands so broadly that they now include many areas which historically have not been considered "navigable w aterways.Il Louisiana bayou, for example, are now included in this definition.
A major improvement in the leasing process would be to restrict the definition to what it historically has been Both tundra and Re-defining requires action by the Congress.
No congressional action is needed to allow the Corps to issue general permits on a variety of activities. At present firms must obtain individual permits for each activity in a wetland area even if all are part of a single, larger project.
This requires unnecessary duplication and increases costs. In most cases, a general p-ermit would do just as well.
Finally, clear guidelines should be established for the mediation of inter-agency disputes arising from the review of dredge and fill permits now must approve applications for these permits and disputes between them often are another cause of delay.
There are a number of agencies which LEASE STIPULATIONS A third concern relates to lease stipulations or condi- tions amendments to a lease which impose some limit ation or special requirements on the firm operating it. A particularly .troublesome condition, for instance, is the Ifno surface occupancy semi-permanent structure on the lease in question. It effectively precludes almost any sort of development Though im p osing highly restrictive stipulations may not violate the letter of the Wilderness Act of 1964, it seems to violate the spirit. The Act clearly states that all leases shall contain such reasonable stipulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Agri c ulture for protecting the wilderness character of the areas concerned. It is. inconsistent with the purpose of the Act, however, to impose stipulations so restrictive that they preclude the Ilpurpose for which the lands were leased, permitted or licensed. stipulation. This prohibits the erection of any permanent or To. prevent this, guidelines could be drafted to prohibit stipulations that effectively proscribe the activity for which the lease was originally granted. This would avoid misunderstand ing abou t the intent of the law or about how it should be inter preted.
LAND WITHDRAWALS Among the most contentious issues related to leasing on-shore federal lands is the extent and nature of land withdrawals. In 9 recent years, millions of acres have been closed to oil and gas development through arbitrary withdrawals under such authorities as the Antiquities Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act strategic mineral resources.
Many areas withdrawn are thought to contain vast ener gy and Although the administration has signaled its intent to exercise greater moderation in land withdrawals.than its predeces sor, problems remain. One relates to the land designation "Area of Critical Environmental Concern or ACEC. At present, any citi z en can petition the Bureau of Land Management to have a tract of land classified under this designation. If the Bureau grants the classification, it can then prohibit oil and gas leases for the tract. The ease with which tracts can be nominated for this r e strictive category offers an opportunity for those whose only aim is to stop development--even though no environmental issues are involved. Although the Department of the Interior has drafted guidelines governing the granting of the ACEC designa tion, the re remains a possibility for abuse.
One reform which might prevent this would be to require broad public notice before ACEC designation could be assigned to tracts of over 5,000 acres. This would insure that all interested parties would be aware of the pot ential withdrawal of large areas; they then would have an opportunity to voice their views.
At the same time, small but environmentally sensitive areas, such as bird sanctuaries or nesting grounds and the like, could be withdrawn rapidly if it were necess ary to protect them. This reform would provide the flexibility to move quickly to protect threatened areas while still ensuring that large areas are not locked away forever without adequate opportunity for public comment.
RESOURCE ASSESSMENTS Resource ass essments are a valuable tool for ensuring that deposits of strategic minerals or energy resources lying on federal lands are not inadvertently locked away. New technologies now make it possible to conduct assessments without disrupting the environment in t he area. Much of the geophysical work can now be done, for instance, by low flying aircraft employing Synthetic.Aperture Radar, aeromagnetic survey equipment, airborne gravitometers and similar new technology. The data these devices collect, when processe d by computers, give a fairly good idea of whether'or not further land-based geophysical work is justified.
Much data also can be gathered on site without drilling or using explosives methods which characterized seismic work in the past.
Although drilling a resource is present Moreover, contemporary irreparably damage the is the only way to be absolutely sure that remote techniques can limit the drilling techniques for exploratory wells need not environment. Using these techniques for a 10 resource assess m ent would not materially affect the ability to maintain an.area in a relatively pristine condition for later classification if it proves that no resources are present At the same. time, however, conducting the survey would ensure that the existence of res ources would be known so that decisions could be made on the basis of full information and the resources developed if desired.
APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS TO DRILL The rate at which applications for permits to drill (APDs are processed presents a major proble m. In many instances, there are unnecessary delays; in some cases, applications have been lost. With drilling activity now at its highest level in three decades and drilling equipment and rigs in short supply, the disruptions caused by delays in permit pr ocessing have an impact far beyond the specific site for which the application is made.
This is especially true regarding the scheduling of drilling rigs a delay can disrupt operations on leases next in line to use the rig A major cause of the delays appea rs to be the disparity in the manner in which local offices of the U.S. Geological Survey interpret regulations. the rules governing their issuance. A clari.fication memorandum from the Secretary of the Interior outlining exactly the procedure to be follo w ed and mandating a time frame within which APDs must be issued would substantially reduce the delays There seems no standard application of THE WILDERNESS DESIGNATION Some problems with leasing policy can only be solved by congressional action. One of the most serious of these involves the Wilderness Act of 19
64. The Act, in Section 4(d)(3 sets a December 31, 1983, deadline for oil and gas exploration in wilder ness areas. If the deadline is allowed to remain in effect, vast tracts of potentially resource -rich public lands will be permanent ly closed to exploration. Congress should either repeal or extend the deadline.
Section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act also presents a problem that only Congress can solve. Under this section, Congre ss must review all tracts which the Bureau of Land Management has designated "Wilderness Study Areas." This includes areas which the Bureau has found to be unsuitable for classifica tion in the wilderness category. The result of this provision is that all of these lands must be managed as if they were wilderness until Congress acts. Areas found unsuitablethus are under the same severe limitations as those designated as wilderness. This makes little sense; Congress should therefore amend section 603 to allo w the release of areas found unsuitable for classifications as wilderness to other uses. 11 There is a broader problem in the overuse of the wilderness designation. During the Carter Administration, this became a favorite tool for limiting growth. Congress never intended that vast areas of the U.S. be permanently closed to virtually any activity when it created the wilderness category. It was intended rather, for use in a limited number of instances to protect unique or especially sensitive habitats or envi ronments.
The best solution may be relatively simple: an absolute limitation on the number of acres designated as wilderness. Once the limitation is reached, the addition of any area to the list of those in the wilderness category must be offset by the rem oval of a like amount of acreage TRACT SIZE IN ALASKA The state of Alaska is one of America's most promising areas for oil and gas exploration. Much of the state is relatively unexplored, though known to contain the geologic formations normally associated with oil and gas deposits, and there is great hope that large new fields will be discovered. While holding great promise, however, Alaska also presents a unique set of problems.
For instance, since much of the state is unexplored, maps are incomplete. Cli matic conditions there are the harshest of any potential petroleum province 'in the U.S These conditions reduce the drilling season to a few months each year. Even during those precious months, special care must be taken to ensure that the environment is p rotected These factors raiie the risks, costs, and uncertainties in Alaskan oil and gas operations. As a result, companies find it necessary to lease large tracts in order to make their operations financially feasible. A second effect of the unique condit ions found in Alaska has been the evolution of a few companies with particular expertise in Arctic operations. But the law limits the amount of acreage that a company can hold in any state.
Acreage limitations were imposed in the lower forty-eight states to guard against a'single company monopolizing a resource; since the size of a tract a company had to lease in order to be financi ally viable was fairly small, the limitation posed no probl em..
The Alaskan situation is quite different; large tracts are essen tial to a company's ability to explore for minerals. Many compa nies active in Alaska in the past, moreover, and who therefore have the experience and specialized equipment necessary for successful Arctic operations already are at or near the acreage limitation. This means that as new areas open to exploration the most qualified firms could be barred from participating in the search for oil. At best, they would have to sell part of their existing holdings and thereby forgo some of the rewards they earned by taking early risks and counter-productive.
This would be both inequitable 12 A far better solution would be to exempt Alaska from the limitations on both the amount of acreage a firm c ould hold and on the size of any given tract offered for lease. It would also be helpful to extend the time a company is allowed to engage in exploration before initiating production; this would compensate for the Arctic's short drilling season THE VISIBI L ITY STANDARD Under the Amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1977, regula tions were issued to implement what is termed "the Prevention of Significant Deterioration This phrase refers to certain areas many in the public domain, where the levels of air pollut i on are below the minimums set under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The regulations are intended to keep the air in such areas from becoming more polluted, even though the air is already cleaner than the law requires. While serving an admirabl e goal the regulations drafted to achieve it seem excessively strict and in some cases, may be impossible to enforce. A prime example is the so-called visibility standard.
Visibility regulations affect 156 large federal parks and wilderness areas. The purp ose is to protect visibilty from these areas to insure that the view looking out from park or wilder ness remains unimpaired by air pollution. The trouble is that there are no objective scientific means of measuring visibility.
As a result, any test would be purely subjective and might prove impossible to enforce. This is particularly true of decisions regarding "buffer zones These are simply areas in which no new facility can be built. The assumption is that the only way of being absolutely sure that vis i bility is not impaired is to prohibit anything from being built near the park or wilderness area being protected. Many buffer zones, however are drawn with unnecessarily large borders, in some cases extending 100 miles from the boundary of the park. Since the decision on how large the buffer zone must be to ensure visibility is.subjective, it is difficult to marshal1 scientific evidence proving that the zone should be smaller. What must be done, perhaps, is eliminate the unenforceable standard itself.
CONC LUSION Although much remains to be done to improve the leasing process, it is critical to recognize that the Secretary of the Interior is making a serious attempt to accomplish this task. Although his policies have met with heavy criticism, such dissatis faction stems much from his willingness to strike out in a radi cally different direction from his predecessors It is essential, however, that he persist on the course he is taking.
Reforming the manner in which the U.S. leases lands in the public domain is a vital step towards freeing the nation from its 13 dangerous dependence on imported petroleum and strategic minerals.
On two occasions in the last decade, Americans have witnessed just how vulnerable this dependence makes them To continue to allow this vulnerability to exist in a nation which enjoys one of the world's richest energy endowments is inconsistent with the responsible exercise of government. Preventing the full use of the resources found within the public domain has been a major factor cont ributing to our dependence. It is time that this circumstance be reversed.
Milton R. Copulos Policy Analyst


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Public Information Notice: IMF Concludes 2003 Article IV Consultation with Korea
February 25, 2004
|Public Information Notices (PINs) are issued, (i) at the request of a member country, following the conclusion of the Article IV consultation for countries seeking to make known the views of the IMF to the public. This action is intended to strengthen IMF surveillance over the economic policies of member countries by increasing the transparency of the IMF's assessment of these policies; and (ii) following policy discussions in the Executive Board at the decision of the Board. The staff report (use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this pdf file) for the 2003 Article IV consultation with Korea is also available.
On February, 20, 2004, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Korea.1
For most of the period after the Asian financial crisis Korea's economy has grown rapidly, the result of favorable cyclical developments and deep structural reforms. But in 2003, this ascent was interrupted. The economy contracted during the first half of the year, after a household credit boom came to an end and some long-standing structural problems re-emerged. Although growth has now resumed, the recovery relies heavily on surging exports, while domestic demand remains subdued.
For 2003 as a whole, economic growth fell to an estimated 2.9 percent from 6.3 percent in 2002. The main factor was a decline in domestic demand. Private consumption fell, as a sharp rise in credit card delinquencies forced financial institutions to rein in household credit. Meanwhile, an increase in labor tensions and a corporate governance scandal (SK Global) took a toll on bond markets and investment, including foreign direct investment intentions, which declined by 29 percent.
As growth slowed, the authorities used macroeconomic policies to support the economy. Monetary policy was eased, with the policy rate being cut to an historic low of 3.75 percent, facilitated by a reduction in inflation below the 3 percent mid-point of the authorities' target band. The fiscal stance was also relaxed, by front-loading expenditures and adopting two supplementary budgets, thereby avoiding the traditional underspending of the budget, which would have imparted a significant contractionary impulse.
In addition, the authorities resisted pressures for an exchange rate appreciation. With portfolio inflows exceptionally large, they stepped up their foreign exchange purchases, contributing to a US$34 billion increase in reserves to US$155 billion. These actions limited the won's appreciation against a weakening dollar, keeping the average nominal effective exchange rate for the year essentially unchanged.
At the same time, the authorities were able to advance their structural reform agenda. To spur further improvements in corporate governance, new accounting and auditing bills were passed, which will increase the amount of information provided to investors and help ensure that this information is accurate. At the same time, to ensure that investors can enforce their legal rights in cases where the information does prove misleading, class action lawsuits were legalized in cases of securities violations.
Further progress was also made during 2003 in financial sector privatization. The government sold stakes in three large banks, leaving its 87 percent stake in the Woori Group as its sole sizeable holding remaining—and even in this case, it initiated procedures to sell down its shares. The government also arranged to sell the largest investment trust company, Hyundai ITC, to a foreign securities firm, facilitated by a large injection of public funds.
As for 2004, the IMF is expecting a moderate recovery, with growth of around 5½ percent, propelled by a continued rapid growth in exports. There is even some upside potential to this forecast, as the export performance may flow through rapidly into domestic demand. But there are also downside risks, especially since consumption could continue to be weighed down by heavy household indebtedness, while investment could be dampened if firms continue to take a "wait and see" attitude, pending improvements in the labor situation or April's National Assembly elections.
Executive Board Assessment
Executive Directors commended the authorities for Korea's impressive recovery from the Asian crisis. During most of the past six years economic growth has been rapid, raising output far above its pre-crisis level, while economic resiliency has also improved. Korea today is a prosperous economy, with strong medium-term prospects, based on its well-educated workforce and expertise in advanced technology. This remarkable achievement is a tribute to deep structural reforms, which have created a more competitive and transparent economic system, guided predominantly by market signals.
Notwithstanding this considerable progress, Directors noted that the structural reform agenda remains unfinished. The end of a credit card boom has left households saddled with high levels of debt and loan delinquencies, and the credit card companies themselves in financial difficulties. Other nonbank financial institutions also suffer weaknesses, corporate governance practices should still be further improved, and the labor market remains dualistic. In 2003, these problems combined to derail the economic expansion. While a recovery is now underway, propelled by surging exports, domestic demand remains weak. Directors therefore agreed that decisive action will be needed to strengthen the foundations for broad-based and sustained rapid growth, in line with the authorities' long-term objective of doubling Korea's per capita income. Accordingly, they were encouraged by the authorities' continued readiness to learn from experience, and their plans to address the remaining structural weaknesses.
Against the backdrop of a still uneven recovery, Directors encouraged the authorities to continue to ensure that macroeconomic policies in 2004 remain supportive. They welcomed the steps towards maintaining a broadly neutral fiscal stance, including the plans to front-load spending and adopt a supplementary budget if necessary. As the recovery takes hold, it will, however, be important to restore fiscal balance to prepare for the budgetary challenges of an aging population and uncertainties related to North Korea.
Directors endorsed the continuation of a supportive monetary policy given the subdued level of inflation and the remaining output gap. The rise in housing prices in certain areas of the country will require continued vigilant monitoring, suggesting that the authorities should continue to pursue targeted measures, which are better suited to deal with this issue than monetary policy actions.
Directors observed that Korea's flexible exchange rate policy, adopted in the wake of the Asian crisis, has served the country well, supporting financial market development, while maintaining external competitiveness. To preserve these gains, they urged the authorities to allow the exchange rate to be determined essentially by market forces by scaling back their foreign exchange purchases, which should be limited to smoothing excessive volatility. Going forward, and with surging exports, Directors considered that greater exchange rate flexibility would help achieve more balanced growth domestically, while also contributing to cooperative efforts towards an orderly adjustment of global current account imbalances.
Directors were encouraged by the authorities' plans to address the remaining structural problems in the financial sector, corporate governance, and the labor market. The most pressing priority will be to strengthen the credit card companies. Directors emphasized the importance of making it clear that the rescue of LG Card was an exceptional case, and that other card companies will be required to recapitalize at an early date. It will also be important to sell LG Card quickly to investors with strong financial and managerial credentials. To prevent similar problems in the banking system, Directors recommended that the authorities tighten household lending standards and strengthen the supervisory framework by shifting toward a more risk-based approach, as recommended in the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP).
In the asset management sector, Directors welcomed plans to sell the remaining two government-controlled investment trust companies to financially strong and capable buyers. They also welcomed the authorities' declaration that the planned Korean Investment Corporation will be independent and will not be used as a vehicle for intervention in financial markets, and their intention to enshrine these principles in the agency's law. To ensure a high level of transparency, the agency's accounts should be disclosed fully and on a regular basis.
In the bond market, Directors urged the authorities to dispel notions that large companies are "too big to fail". To encourage investors to sharpen their risk assessments, they supported the plan to improve the accuracy of bond ratings. They also looked forward to an early approval of the unified bankruptcy bill currently before the National Assembly.
Directors strongly encouraged the authorities to press ahead with measures to further improve corporate governance. They supported the authorities' three-year roadmap for corporate reform, aimed at easing regulations on chaebol that improve their governance. Also welcome are the new accounting and auditing reforms, which will contribute to more accurate and timely information to investors. As a further step, Directors encouraged the authorities to explore the scope for further enhancements. They suggested requiring firms to comply with the Code of Best Practices in Corporate Governance, or, at least, explain why they are not doing so. They welcomed the new law allowing class action lawsuits for securities violations, and encouraged further steps to improve investors' legal protection.
Directors underscored the importance of a sustained effort to reform Korea's labor market, especially since greater employment flexibility will be needed to help face the challenges of an economy increasingly specialized in high technology and services. Directors consequently welcomed the plans to ease employment protection, while at the same time expanding the coverage of the social safety net, and encouraged the authorities to continue to build the required consensus to move forward in this area. Since even with these reforms the share of nonregular workers may continue to rise, Directors encouraged the authorities to envisage further efforts to increase flexibility in the regular labor market, noting that Korea could draw useful lessons from the experiences of other OECD countries in this area.
Directors welcomed the recent approval by the Korean parliament of a free trade agreement with Chile, and looked forward to further trade opening steps, including in the agricultural sector.
Directors recognized that implementing this ambitious reform agenda will be challenging. They were, nevertheless, confident that the authorities will find the way forward, building on their demonstrated capacity to implement difficult reforms and the widespread awareness that tackling the remaining challenges will be key to substantially lift per capita incomes.
Sources: Data provided by the Korean authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.
1/ Contribution to GDP growth.
2/ Excluding privatization receipts.
3/ Latest available data for 2003.
1 Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country's authorities.
|Public Affairs
|Media Relations


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"Indians need Persian language because a part of our historical identity is related to this language," Persian language and literature professor at the Islamic National University of New Delhi Mehdi Bagherkhan said.
"Persian language belongs to the entire Indian subcontinent and has been the official language of India for more than 800 years in a way that works in Urdu and Hindi seen much of it yet," he added.
"Persian language is taught in 40 universities in India and can be developed more," the professor emphasized.
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Atwitter In The Summer; A Star-Spangled Web Page 2
Readers Mike Zale and Dave Erickson created this unique photoblog. Every two weeks or so they assign themselves a theme and select one of the other's images to display along with some brief caption information. This idea is so cool that I wish they would expand the captions, giving viewers more information on their thought processes and techniques. Zale and Erickson also have a guest photographer show up from time to time to display images made using random ideas. The blog lets you view each photographer's images separately or together and the images range from fun to extraordinary.
While both gentlemen clearly have talent, as seen by the assignments, bop on over to their dedicated websites for a wider view of their skills. Erickson's site (http://lightboximages.net) shows he likes to photograph people and sports, in addition to photographing the cityscapes and urban scenes hinted at on the 3Cameras site. You don't get to see many rowing photographs (at least I don't) and Erickson attacks it with a long lens and an interesting sense of composition. There's also a link to his images at the Pentax Image Gallery (www.pentaxphotogallery.com). Zale's site (www.wix.com/mzeyes/Zale) was created via Wix.com and his photographs are arranged by "Color," "Black and White," and "Colorize," but his strengths clearly lie in the crisply focused monochrome landscape images. What I liked most about this collection of sites is how two friends use the power of the Internet to not only display their images but also create a forum that encourages and challenges them to improve.
Daniel Milchev is a Vail, Colorado-based shooter who specializes in photographing action, sports, and lifestyle photography. He told me that he "got into photography about a year and a half ago" but you would never know that from the images on his website. His portfolio contains images collected in "Action," "Lifestyle," and "Scenic" galleries. In "Action" Milchev shows he has that whole winter sport thing under control with dramatically composed, dynamic wide-angle images of flying snowboarders balanced against long lens shots of powdered skiers. He doesn't just shoot in the snow, and the Vail Valley can be a delightful place to be in the summer as seen by his extreme mountain biking and skateboarding shots, one of which, shot at night using flash, is a standout.
Milchev's site design includes the ability to pan as well as zoom in and out on these already large images so you can appreciate the crispness and overall design of his exciting photographs. But when the action slows down, Milchev's talent doesn't, as can be seen in the carefully crafted and composed photographs of people in the "Lifestyle" section, proving that not only can he work with people but he's not just a one-note sports shooter. The "Scenic" collection contains a potpourri of images that some might consider "scenic" but is really a collection of non-sport, non-people images that doesn't easily fit in his other categories. Milchev tells me that he has "been studying like crazy." I can't wait to see what the future holds for this talented young man.
- Check Out These Zany Photo "Fixes" from Photoshop Wizard and Humorist James Fridman
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- Wildlife Tips: Learn How to Make Stunning Photos of Birds in Flight with Top Pro Sam Rowley (VIDEO)
- Portrait Tutorial: A Small Shift in Vantage Point Can Make a BIG Difference in Your Photos (VIDEO)


text:
QPR tell Newcastle: Remy's price keeps on rising
HARRY REDKNAPP has told Newcastle that their dithering over Loic Remy is only driving the striker's price up as he continues to enjoy good form in the Premier League.
The French striker, on loan from Championship QPR, has impressed this year and Redknapp doesn't understand why Newcastle haven't moved to make the deal permanent.
But he is sure that the longer they take, the more his value will rise and QPR are clearly keen to cash in.
Remy joined Rangers for £8million from Marseille a year ago and because he has proven his worth in the Premier League Redknapp believes the striker is worth double now.
QPR pipped the Toon to his signature at the time but following the London club's relegation from the top flight Remy moved to St James' Park on loan at the start of this season.
"For what we got him for, he's probably worth double that now"Harry Redknapp
And he's been in good form finding the net 10 times in the Premier League so far.
Redknapp said: "I don't know what the deal is.
"You would think they would want to snap him up wouldn't you?
"If they don't then someone else will.
"For what we got him for, he's probably worth double that now. He's scored goals in the Premier League again this year."


text:
(L to R) Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden, Tribal Council Speaker Tina Glory-Jordan, Cherokee County Sheriff Norman Fisher, Principal Chief Bill John Baker and Tribal Councilors Joe Byrd and David Walkingstick.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation donated nearly $60,000 to law enforcement agencies in Cherokee County on Wednesday.
The Cherokee County Sheriff's Department received a $33,000 donation. Tahlequah Police Department and Hulbert Police Department each received $12,526. The donation comes from revenue generated by the Cherokee Nation's motor vehicle tax.
"Ensuring our local law enforcement agencies are adequately funded and equipped for safety is critically important for the Cherokee Nation," said Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor David Walkingstick. "Local law enforcement agencies selflessly put themselves in harm's way to make certain citizens know their community is safe. Cherokee Nation money helps these agencies protect and serve our communities to the fullest extent."
The Tahlequah Police Department plans to use the funds to establish another K-9 unit.
"The Cherokee Nation donation to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department is extremely helpful, and we are very thankful," said Cherokee County Sheriff Norman Fisher. "The partnership with the Cherokee Nation means a lot to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department, not only because of donated funding but also the partnership with the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, which nearly doubles or triples our law enforcement in Cherokee County."
Revenue from the Cherokee Nation's motor vehicle tax is used to fund law enforcement, road and bridge construction, and schools within the Cherokee Nation. Millions of dollars are distributed annually to each of those programs.
© Cherokee Nation - All Rights Reserved


text:
Play free online games!
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Bubble Shooter: Archibald the Pirate
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Bubble Shooter: Archibald the Pirate
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DescriptionArchibald the pirate has found a treasure map. X marks the spot and the X is on this island. First we have to break through all these bubbles, in order to get to the treasure. Can you make combinations of three? Be sure, not to waste the bubbles. Good luck Archibald.


text:
|Numéro de publication
|Type de publication
|Numéro de demande
|Numéro PCT
|Date de publication
|21 janv. 2003
|Date de dépôt
|16 oct. 1997
|Date de priorité
|16 oct. 1996
|État de paiement des frais
|Autre référence de publication
|Numéro de publication
|Jens Hansson, Johan Kronstedt, William Holm
|Cessionnaire d'origine
|Mydata Automation Ab
|Exporter la citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Citations de brevets (10), Référencé par (10), Classifications (20), Événements juridiques (4)
|Liens externes: USPTO, Cession USPTO, Espacenet
The present invention relates to a device for placing small volumes of a material being in a liquid or fluid shape such as viscous media and liquid dispersions, in particular a viscous dispersion such as solder paste and different kinds of glues and adhesives, with a high speed on a substrate or base by ejecting drops of the material from a chamber through a nozzle.
When mounting electronic components on printed circuit boards and substrates it can be required that small isles or patches of solder paste are placed with a high speed and a high accuracy on such a base. Also, depositing varnishes and glues, in particular an electrically conductive adhesive, can be required. The high speed is required for the ever higher speed at which the electronic devices of today are produced.
In the published International patent application WO91/12106 a device is disclosed for depositing material, which comprises a rod, the length of which is changed when it is subjected to a suitable magnetic field. The end of the rod forms one wall of a chamber filled with the material. When the length of the rod is suddenly changed to become longer, the volume of the chamber is changed and the material is in the shape of a drop pressed out of a nozzle. In the published International patent application WO90/00852 instead the volume of the chamber is changed by making the chamber of a piezo-electrical material and subjecting it to an electric field.
In the European patent document EP-B1 0 517 767 a device is disclosed for depositing drops of a liquid material such as solder paste, glue and similar materials. The device comprises a rigid metal pipe through which material flows and which contains a nozzle in a wall of the pipe, and it further comprises a rod resting at the outside of the pipe conduit and made of an magnetostrictive material. By subjecting the rod to a magnetic field it will change its length to produce a blow on the outside of the pipe thereby locally increasing the pressure in the pipe, so that a drop of the material is ejected through the nozzle.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,250 a method is disclosed for rapid dispensing of small amounts of a viscous material. A chamber containing the material has a nozzle in a wall and another wall of the chamber has the shape of a flexible, elastic diaphragm. An impact mechanism such as an electrically actuated hammer hits against the outside of the diaphragm in order to produce a change of the volume of the chamber, so that a drop is pressed out of the nozzle.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device by means of which small amounts of a liquid or fluid material can be ejected from a chamber containing the material, so that one drop at a time can be ejected in an accurately defined volume or so that the liquid material is ejected in a finely divided shape.
Thus, in a device for dispensing small quantities or amounts of a material a chamber is provided having a nozzle aperture arranged in a first wall. The chamber has a second wall which is opposite and parallel to the first wall. A rod is movably mounted in or attached to the second wall in such a way that one end surface of the rod and a neighbouring portion of the envelope surface of the rod are located inside the chamber. This end surface is furthermore opposite the nozzle aperture. An actuating device is coupled to this rod in order to displace it through a short distance forwards and backwards or otherwise produce, e.g. by changing the length of the rod. Then the one end surface of the rod moves forwards and backwards inside the chamber, in the longitudinal direction of the rod, per pendicularly to the one end surface. The diameter or largest cross dimension of the rod is advantageously large compared to the diameter of the nozzle aperture. The length of stroke of the rod or equivalently the displacement of the end surface of the rod is small but the stroke movement is made with a high acceleration and a large force, so that a pressure wave is thereby formed and propagates in the viscous medium. When hitting the inlet of the nozzle channel, the pressure wave then ejects material through the nozzle. The ejection of the material is thus primarily produced by a pressure wave or a pressure shock which propagates in the material and not by a change of the volume of the chamber. Furthermore, in order that the pressure wave will efficiently act towards the nozzle aperture the end surface of the rod is advantageously located close thereto. Thus, the distance between the end surface of the rod and the inlet of the nozzle aperture is preferably small compared to the diameter of the end surface. Said diameter can be taken as equivalent to the largest dimension of the end surface as taken in a cross direction of the rod, i.e. from an edge of the end surface to an opposite edge thereof.
The displacement of the rod or its end surface can easily be produced maintaining a high accuracy of the movement without having it degraded because of wear or plays in bearings and similar reasons. Examples of suitable driving devices are electrostrictive, piezo-electrical, magnetostrictive actuators and memory metal actuators.
The invention will now be described by way of a non limiting embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a device for feeding or depositing material.
In FIG. 1 a chamber 1 made in a rigid metal block is shown, which through an opening 3 in a side surface is connected to a material container, not shown. The chamber 1 has the shape of a low cylinder having side surfaces and a top wall and a bottom wall. In the bottom wall there is a narrow outlet or nozzle aperture 7. The aperture 7 can be a channel in a nozzle 5 which is attached in a bore in the bottom wall by means of suitable cooperating threads. The nozzle 5 has a nozzle aperture 7 in the shape of a narrow channel. The inner end of the nozzle channel 7 which is located at the chamber is bevelled or shaped as a funnel. Opposite the inner end of the channel 7 a rod 9 is located. The rod 9 is slidably mounted in the wall opposite the wall in which the nozzle 5 is located, i.e. the rod is mounted in the top wall of the chamber 1. The lower end surface 11 of the rod 9 can move in directions towards and away from the nozzle 5 and the bottom wall by means of some suitable driving device or by the very construction of the rod together with a suitable actuator, not shown. For example the rod itself or its driving device, if all of the rod is to be displaced, can be based on electrostrictive, piezoelectrical or magnetostrictive materials. Some portions of the rod or driving mechanism can also be based on memory metals.
Then, if the lower end surface 11 of the rod 9 is given a sudden, very small movement downwards, towards the bottom wall and the nozzle 5, in particular towards the inner end of the channel 7, a localized pressure increase or pressure blow or shock is obtained in the material in the chamber 1 close to the lower end surface 11 of the rod 9. A shock wave is thus generated in the material in the chamber and it propagates therein away from the end surface 11, in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. This pressure increase or pressure wave then also affects, for a suitable dimensioning, that region of the chamber 1, at which the inner channel 7 of the nozzle 5 mouths in the chamber 1. Thereby a particulate quantity such as a drop of the material in the chamber 1 will be ejected from the nozzle channel 7 at its other, outer end. The particulate quantity of material will then move freely with a high velocity in air along a path substantially coinciding with the prolongation of the longitudinal axis of the straight channel 7. The quantity can hit and thus be applied to some substrate, not shown, for example a printed circuit board or some other substrate having electrical conductor parts. In order that the pressure increase or pressure wave will efficiently act towards the nozzle channel 7, the end surface 11 of the rod 9 can be located at only a small distance of the region in which the nozzle channel 7 starts inside the chamber 1, compared to the diameter of the rod or more particularly to the diameter of its end surface. Thus, the distance can be comprised within the range of 0.05-0.5 mm, the diameter of the end surface 11 for example being 1-4 mm. The diameter of the end surface 11 is also large in relation to the diameter of the narrowest portion of the nozzle channel, which can be comprised within the range of 0.1-0.5 mm. Furthermore, the length of stroke of the end surface 11 is small compared to the diameter thereof, for example at most 0.01-0.02 mm.
The nozzle 5 is in FIG. 1 made as a threaded bushing having a basically cylindrical shape. The inner side of the nozzle is substantially flat at the surface surrounding the centrally located, coaxial channel 7. A deep cylindrical, coaxial recess is in the opposite side of the cylindrical nozzle which faces away from the chamber 1. The nozzle channel 7 then extends only a short way through the inner portion of the nozzle 5, having its outer end surrounded by the walls of the recess. The nozzle channel 7 is thus located directly connected to the main space of the chamber 1 having its inner end located in the plane of the bottom wall, what results in that a pressure increase in the chamber 1 can easily be directed, so that it will efficiently affect the nozzle channel. Other detail solutions and attachment methods of the nozzle are naturally conceivable. The end surface 11 of the rod 9 is furthermore made as a substantially flat surface located perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rod and to the longitudinal axis of the channel 7 and in parallel to the inner surface of the nozzle 5 and the bottom wall and has its centre located straight above the nozzle channel 7. In particular those regions of the chamber wall which are located at and close to the inner end of the channel 7, these regions comprising the inner, upper surface of the nozzle 5, are substantially flat and have an extension at least corresponding to the extension of the end surface 11. These regions are also parallel to the end surface 11 of the rod 9. The longitudinal axes of the rod 9 and of the channel 7 can thus coincide. The end surface 11 of the rod can also be modified to comprise a concave, centrally located, shallow recess for producing an enhanced localisation of the pressure increase or a better definition of the direction of the pressure shock. Centrally in the recess in the end surface 11 a small and low, projection portion or boss 13 can be arranged, which can further increase the intensity of the pressure shock in the region centrally below the end surface 11 and thus close to the inner end of the nozzle channel.
|Brevet cité
|Date de dépôt
|Date de publication
|21 janv. 1970
|25 juil. 1972
|Cotton Inc
|Jet stream vibratory atomizing device
|21 mai 1975
|20 sept. 1977
|Eric Charles Cottell
|Combustion method comprising burning an intimate emulsion of fuel and water
|3 janv. 1989
|5 juin 1990
|Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation
|Confluent nozzle
|28 sept. 1989
|6 avr. 1993
|Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
|Fuel injection nozzle with controllable fuel jet characteristic
|8 mai 1992
|28 sept. 1993
|Dressler John L
|Liquid droplet generator
|14 nov. 1994
|24 sept. 1996
|Mydata Automation Ab
|Magnetostrictive pump for applying pastes and adhesives
|21 déc. 1995
|9 févr. 1999
|Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
|Ultrasonic liquid flow control apparatus and method
|22 sept. 1997
|9 févr. 1999
|Mpm Corporation
|Jet soldering system and method
|12 févr. 1991
|22 aoűt 1991
|Mydata Automation Ab
|Method and device for applying of pastes and adhesives
|27 févr. 1991
|5 sept. 1991
|Qenico Ab
|A device for applying a solder paste, a glue or the like in patches on a substrate
|Brevet citant
|Date de dépôt
|Date de publication
|18 mars 2003
|28 juin 2005
|Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
|Substrate processing apparatus and slit nozzle
|19 déc. 2002
|13 juin 2006
|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
|Method and apparatus of applying fluid
|20 sept. 2007
|15 nov. 2011
|Asm Assembly Automation Ltd
|Jet dispenser comprising magnetostrictive actuator
|6 mai 2011
|14 mars 2017
|Duerr Systems Gmbh
|Coating device comprising a jet of coating medium which is broken down into drops
|18 mars 2003
|2 oct. 2003
|Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
|Substrate processing apparatus and slit nozzle
|19 déc. 2002
|6 mai 2004
|Teruo Maruyama
|Method and apparatus of applying fluid
|6 mai 2011
|31 oct. 2013
|Duerr Systems Gmbh
|Coating device comprising a jet of coating medium which is broken down into drops
|14 aoűt 2014
|3 déc. 2014
|Workpiece spraying and drying integrated device
|14 aoűt 2014
|29 juin 2016
|14 juil. 2004
|3 févr. 2005
|Fachhochschule Heilbronn Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Technik
|Fluid discharging device
|Classification aux États-Unis
|118/300, 417/322, 239/4, 118/323, 137/827, 239/102.2
|Classification internationale
|Classification coopérative
|Classification européenne
|28 juin 1999
Owner name: MYDATA AUTOMATION AB, SWEDEN
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HANSSON, JENS;KRONSTEDT, JOHAN;HOLM, WILILAM;REEL/FRAME:010057/0193;SIGNING DATES FROM 19990420 TO 19990507
|28 juin 2006
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|21 juin 2010
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|24 juin 2014
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 12


text:
Call (253) 627-PETS (7387). You will be required to leave a message. An officer will return your call as soon as possible.
This is the official site of the City of Tacoma, 747 Market Street, Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 591-5000
People with hearing or speech impairments may contact us through Washington Relay Services (800) 833-6388 (TTY or ASCII) (800) 833-6386 (VCO) or (877) 833-6341 (STS)


text:
St. Louis Rams tackle Orlando Pace watcheson the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers in the first half in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004. (UPI Photo/Nell Redmond)
United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.
With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.


text: Everyones gotta stop hating on spongers and surfers and those who ride a different function then them..I paddled out today and a sponger and surfer were fighting cause the sponger is less "skilled" then the surfer. yanno unless its just me I paddle out to enjoy life and enjoy something natural that causes an amazing Euphoria. A bad day of surf is always better then a raise or awesome day at work. I wish more people would come to realize the ocean should be a place for relaxation and happiness and a sanctuary to make peace with.. Yea Im probably gonna be called a kook for this but at the end of the day Im the one enjoying every moment of life and living without regrets...peace to yall and go enjoy that surf :cool:


text:
Letter: It's sad to see shift to full-day pre-K
It's sad to see shift to full-day pre-K
Full-day pre-K – how sad. I guess I am one of the few who enjoyed being with my children. We did send them to pre-K twice a week for a couple of hours just for the social skills. We taught our children their ABC's, colors, etc. They were ready for school.
My first two were in a half-day kindergarten program, my third a full day. We were not happy about that. Back then the schools were so happy. It was thought that a full day would help our students become so much smarter. I guess that didn't work because they started half day pre-K and now full day.
I understand for moms who work during the day, this is great; no more paying for day care. I understand some people don't teach their kids anything; shame on them. These kids need school because they are behind. I worked opposite hours of my husband so one of us would be home with our children; a lot of people do this.
The point I am trying to make is that there are a lot of people who need to think about this program. It is not for everyone. If possible, stay home and enjoy your kids. I look back and smile because those were great times. Our children are gifts from God and we still enjoy them every day.
Sharon Zaluski


text:
MIAMI, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Dwyane Wade fired in 34 points Saturday and Miami pulled away late to register a 102-89 win over Brooklyn in a meeting of Eastern Conference leaders.
LeBron James finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Heat claimed sole possession of the conference top spot.
Miami broke open a close game by outscoring Brooklyn 52-30 in the second half and remained undefeated at home while downing the Nets for the 12th straight time.
Andray Blatche popped in 20 points and grabbed eight boards for Brooklyn, who were playing without injured center Brook Lopez.
Deron Williams provided a double-double of 10 points and 12 assists for the Nets.