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Certified financial planners from the Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound answered retirement-savings questions for free. Here is the second set of those answers.
Certified financial planners from the Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound answered retirement-savings questions for free. Here is the second set of those answers.
Advice given during the hotline is for educational purposes only and does not signify that those e-mailing engaged the services of a financial planner. It relies solely on the information provided by readers.
Health insurance coverage is a serious issue for those of us who might want to retire before age 65 and entitlement to Medicare. How much would it cost to fund health insurance coverage for someone who might want to retire at age 60, allowing for the real life annual increases of self purchased health insurance? How would you fund this? Any other options besides holding onto a job, full or part time, until age 65? Are there groups that one can join to purchase health insurance? — Redmond
FP: This is a difficult area that there is not easy answer. Health care for someone your age is very expensive. A ballpark number would run probably $600+ per month, this is assuming you are in good health. For many people the high cost of medical care will cause them to continue to work so they can get coverage through their employer until they reach age 65 and become eligible for Medicare.
If you want individual coverage I think you will have to start calling individual insurance companies like Group Health or Blue Cross/Shield. You also might contact an insurance broker they can shop the coverage for you.
I am 30, buying a first home with my wife this month. I am getting an 80-20 loan, and the 20 is tied to prime. Should I try to pay that down as fast as possible, even if it means reducing the $500 / check I put into my 401k? — Bellevue
FP: Congratulation on the purchase of your first home. You are getting in at the right time at the historical low interest rates. You need to ask yourself how long you plan on living in this house. If this is a starter house and you plan on moving at some point in the near future, say 5-7 years, then keeping the 20% tied to prime would probably work out fine. If you have a longer time horizons in this house then interest rate risk could be a major concern.
Contributing to your 401(k) plan is very important at your age because the more you put in early the greater the amount will be when you retire due to compound interest. I would try to keep from reducing your 401(k) contribution and continue to increase the contribution.
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A zillion articles and retirement planning models talk in vague terms of income but never say whether or not it is pre-tax or after tax; before savings (ie untaxed 401k comes out) or after. Have you ever heard that "you will need about 70% of your current income for retirement", for example? People out there think in terms of "making xx thousand a year" (pre-tax) and are multiplying that number by 70%.
Question 1: Is that right? Or is is the norm after tax? No one ever mentions that SS payments are taxed but exclude SS/Medicare taxes. This is a pretty big percentage not taken from SS payments.
Question 2: Are they or not?
Question 3: Do company pension payments require SS/Medicare taxes be paid? People need to know about the early Social Security retirement before age 65 added income rules up to the 13,000 per year allowance, and then the "earn $2 and refund $1 of social security payments" if over 13k before 65.
Question 4a: Is this correct?
Question 4b: Does this rule still apply when filing taxes jointly with a working spouse or are the tax rules independant of the SS rule.
And Question 5: Is there unlimitted allowance for added income after age 65 with no loss of SS payment dollars? Guess how many people think that when a spouse dies, the surviving spouse get's all (or half) of the dead spouse's SS payment plus their own. Or is it that the surviving spouse recieves the larger of the two ( ie theirs plus any amount the dead spouse's payment exceeds theirs).
Question 6: What are the basic rules for survivors assuming no other marriages are involved? The vague writers who tell us that we need a "Million Dollars to Retire" should have all their pens and keypads thrown away.
Question 7: Are there any books or Web Tables or web models that will show how many pre-tax dollars ( "pre-tax nest egg" ) are needed to produce a stream of X thousand pre-tax dollars a month for Y years with Z percenatge levels of confidence assuming P perentage inflation rate? — Issaquah
FP: Question 1: The ideal way to pinpoint your retirement spending is to track or outline your expenses now. While they are well meaning, don't rely on this overgeneralized figure of 70% of current spending or income. Examine your own spending and how it will change when you retire. Is there child-related spending now that won't be there in retirement? Should you add more for medical premium, expenses, do you have an adequate allowance for home repair and car replacement? Now, once you have your desire spending, then figure what taxable income (generally I use fully taxable income at the various tax brackets to see what tax might be payable given today's (taxable) rates. To be most accurate you might build in the non-taxable portion of social security you might receive. (Note that there is some risk these laws could change and that we might be taxed at 100% of social security received). Once you do all this projection/planning work, you can determine if owning tax-free bonds that produce non-taxable income is of any benefit.
Question 2: See above – don't use gross income to figure your retirement spending needs. Examine spending now.
Question 3/4: Certainly one should be aware that if one works between age 62 and 65 and earns more than $13,000, some social security benefits may be lost. I would consult a CPA or tax preparer regarding how the rules apply to spouse of different ages and earnings.
Question 5. Yes, after age 65, one can earn any amount and not have social security earnings reduced.
Question 6: The surviving spouse can take 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit I believe. Greater clarification can be obtained from the Social Security administration.
Regarding websites about projecting and showing what income can be drawn from an investment pool. Try financialengines.com to see if there are some links there, I also believe the National Association of Actuaries has one.
My husband and I are both 50 and work full time – he is self employed and I work for a bank. We make about $80,000 or so a year. We own our house and have about $180,000 in equity at this time. We have two kids – 12 and 15 and have invested some money in the GET program for tuition. We currently have about $275,000 in my 401 through work and about $25,000 in the pension portion. I contribute 9% of my salary monthly. About 75% of the funds are in stock mutual funds.
I've been wondering if we should also have a separate Roth IRA in addition to the 401 as I know the money is not taxed on withdrawals. I don't think we could fund it in addition to what I put into my work plan though, so I would probably have to reduce the 401 contributions somewhat to fund the Roth IRA. My company matches up to the first 5T of my contributions.
Any suggestions for us? Should we do anything different? — Shoreline
FP: There aren't necessarily hard/fast rules to answer your questions but here's an overview of some of the variables. The biggest issue is whether or not you benefit from the reduced taxable income by adding to your plan at work. Depending on deductions, etc.. how big an issue are taxes for you.
The benefit of the 401k is that you reduce your current taxable income by the amount you put in, plus in your case you get the company match (which you defnitely want to take advantage of), plus the tax deferred growth. The downside is that it is taxed as ordinary income when you take distributions and is generally not accessible without penalty before age 59 1/2 (there are some exceptions to this).
The Roth gives you no current tax benefit for contributing but is more easily accessible(after 5 years) and grows tax deferred and comes out tax free. The maximum Roth contribution for 2004 (which you can make up until April 15th) is $3000(plus $500 if you were over 50 in 2004). For 2005, it's $4000, with $500 for being 50 or over.
This week I placed my 89 yr. old step father in a retirement home. His home, in No. Seattle, is free and clear and he owns it. My question is this. Is there some way I can shelter his home from cost of living payments were he to be placed in a nursing home. Can he qualify for Medicaid assistance without giving up his home? If so, how do I go about qualifying him for this. — Renton
FP: The issues involving Medicaid and nursing home care are complex and require more in-depth discussion than can be covered in an email. I would suggest you contact a financial planner with specialized expertise in elder care issues. You can get information on resources in your area thru the Financial Planning Association local website www.fpapugetsound.org. You may also go to the Medicare website for a link to Medicaid information: www.medicare.gov.
I have CD and savings accounts totaling $285,000 drawing 3%+ interest now, have 401k worth $26,000 at 5% now, and IRA worth $68,000 at 3.2% now. I am 54.5, my wife is 53 and plan on retiring in 1.5yrs. What is the best. I plan on using the liquid savings until age 59.5. What should be my strategy as far as using funds from the IRA/401k part? We plan on using only the interest earned or should I actually make principal withdrawals and not take interest earned on them? Or doesn't it matter as the withdrawals would be classified the same. I know you have to start taking monies out of IRA/401k by 70.5 correct? Advise on these and any other strategy you think smart. — Mount Vernon
FP: You must have some other income sources somewhere other than what your listed or you are planning to work part-time. With these assets I'm not sure how you can sustain your standard of living in retirement. The rule of thumb is to withdraw tax deferred account first (IRA & 401(k)). I am not sure how you can sustain your income with only interest off of your investment because the rate of return you are receiving is pretty low.
I would suggest you contact a financial planner for additional help through the following sources – You can obtain a list of planners in your area by contacting the CFP Board at www.cfp.net or the Financial Planning Association at 800-322-4237 or www.fpanet.org.
I have 401K (company matches 4%), I contribute 5% of my income, my total amount is currently $10,400.00. My husband have something through his work, King County and his balance is somewhere around $6000. We are both 30. What else should we be doing in order to save for a comfortable retirement? — Shoreline
FP: In order to answer your question in an meaningful way, there are a number of blanks that need to be filled in. You didn't indicate what percentage your husband contributes to his plan? When do you want to retire? How do you define "comfortable"? What other assets to you have? What other financial resposibilities do you want to fund (college??) to name a few.
You may find the following websites helpful as they have retirement planning calculators (www.mymoney.gov, www.vanguard.com, www.tiaacref.com) The advantage you have is that, at 30, you have time on your side for compounding growth over decades; but in general I encourage clients to shoot for a 10% deferral rate (this obviously varies by individual circumstances). If 10% seems daunting, a good strategy is to increase you deferral 1% annually or to increase it whenever you get a raise (before you get used to the extra cash flow!) Hope this helps.
My portfolio is well balanced, but I want to put money into an IRA for both 2004 and 2005. Would a Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund be a good choice? — Bellevue
FP: Thanks for emailing. There is no way to answer you question from the information given. Whether that fund is a good choice or not, depends an many other variables: what else to you own, what is your time horizon, what is your risk tolerance, what are you trying to accomplish with the funds, what is your asset allcoation? The answers to those questions will help you accurately evaluate the specific fund to determine if it enhances your portfolio.
What options are available for medical coverage during retirement and how much should be put aside for this expense. (Assuming no major health problems going into retirement). — Sammamish
FP: At age 65 Medicare is available. In addition individuals also usually purchase some sort of medicare supplement plan. As to preparing for this expense, make sure when you are estimating your spending needs in retirement, that you give yourself liberal allowances for dental care,non-covered expenses, vision and any medical premium that you may be paying between retirement and age 65 if retiring early. As for dollar amounts, you might plan for $250 as an average (in today's dollars) for a medical supplement plan, somewhere between $200 and $350 for miscellaneous non-covered medical/pharmacy – taking your individual health issues into account. If there is a span of a few years when you leave employment and have to carry an individual plan for a few years to age 65, we often use monthly premiums of $300 to $400 per person. -A daunting expense!
I am 59 years old- have approx $750,000 in 401- Iras- and Annuities. Have a rental that generates $1000 month. I expect approx $1000 month income from inheritance farm lease income. I have made max soc security deposits for some years.I should also get a cash buyout from sale of my half of a business in the neighborhood of $450,000 probably over 10year period.My question is if I retire at 62-63 should I live off my own income until 66.5 or start drawing it at 62. — Poulsbo
FP: I assume your are talking about starting social security at age 62, was not sure? There is a cross over point if you live long enough that the income from starting social security early will exceed the greater monthly payment for those that retire later and start drawing social security. I think studys show that if your life expectancy is in your early 80s you would benefit by taking your social security payment earlier.
You also have to consider the tax consequences of starting social security early. If you have earned income above a certain level you will have to give back some of your social security payment until you reach your full retirement age which is 66. Once you reach full retirement age there is no earnings test.
I want to invest some money in Vanguard and am debating whether to choose a few varied index funds with that mutual fund company or just to choose a "one-stop" fund, such as one of its four LifeStrategy funds, which range from growth to income. I understand that the latter run at 0.28 percent a year. Which do you think would be preferable? — Seattle
FP: I'm not certain what you are referencing when you talk about "run at .28 percent a year". I'm assuming you mean expenses, which are only one piece of the puzzle. How much of a hands-on investor are you? The life strategy funds provide a built-in asset allocation targeted to specific risk tolerances. You may be able to build a more customized model on your own; but it will require more on-going management. In either case, you should put some work into which funds you are choosing.
"A few varied index funds" needs to be proactively selected for their contributions to your overall portfolio and asset allocation model. It shouldn't be random. Vanguard has some useful resources on their website (www.vanguard.com).
I will reach age 55 in 14 months. i wish to avoid the 10 per cent penalty for withdrawing from my 401k. i want to use the exemption that i will be working until the year in which i turn 55. does this mean that i only have to work until jan 15 , or do i have to be employed by my current employer until after my birthtday? — Lynnwood
FP: I assume this means that you are eligible to retire at age 55. You really need to contact your human resources department to answer this question. I would have to look at your plan document to understand what the language says.
We have a daughter with developmental delays and will probably qualify for SSI. She will turn 18 yrs old in December. When can we access funds? Does she have to pass some kind of test to qualify under the new rules? How much money can she earn without jeopardizing her monthly SSI income? — Bellingham
FP: SSI issues are complex. The best resource is probably through the social security website (www.socialsecurity.gov).
I am still working at 57, my wife is retired and 55. We both have pensions available from a previous employer that we have not opted to start collecting on. Should we wait until my planned retirement at 60 to start drawing on this previous pensions or should we be drawing on them now? — Sammamish
FP: This a question that requires more information. The couple of issues to consider are:
(1) What is your tax bracket now? Will starting up your pension now result in having it taxed at a higher bracket then if you wait? If so, this issue may suggest you wait and draw pensions when you retire.
(2) Are you aware of the reduction that would occur if you take a pension at 55 versus waiting to age 60? A financial planner or CPA can help you determine if it is wiser to wait and take the higher amount. (For example, I've found in my calculations that if a person can afford to wait until age 65 before drawing on social security versus age 62, they may end up collecting more money if they live past age 75). This is by no means the sole consideration.
(3) One question for your employer plans: Does the survivor benefit work differently if one of should die before taking the pension, versus taking it now and electing a survivor option?
Armed with this additional information, plus your desirde spending in retirement and other lifestyle choices might help you explore this in more depth with a Certifed Financial Planner. For additional information about CFPs and how to interview them to find someone with whom you will work well with contact: www.CFP.net, or www.pfanet.org, (1-800-322-4237).
I am currently making an extra payment of $200/month to the principal on our mortgage (we have a 15yr loan at 5.25%). My idea with the extra payment on principal was to have the mortgage paid off at about the same time the kids are entering college. Would it make more sense to forego this additional payment and instead add $200 monthly to my 401k contribution? (Note, my company does not make any kind of match to the 401k, but does have a pension. My wife and I are both in our early 40's and have about $160K in retirement savings, but not much savings for our children's college education). — Seattle
FP: I commend you for wishing to pay off your mortgage early but you would probably be better off in the long run to take the $200 and add it to the 401(k) at work. Your interest rate is very low and the tax laws are written as such to carry a mortgage. The only caveat is if you feel comfortage carrying the debt. If you are then I would add the extra money for your retirement.
I'VE BEEN SEARCHING, WITH NO LUCK, FOR A DOCUMENT THAT SPELLS OUT WHAT KINDS OF INVESTMENTS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE A ROTH IRA. IS THERE ANY INFO WRITTEN IN LAY TERMS THAT I CAN PUT MY HANDS ON ? — Mountlake Terrace
FP: The answer to your question may actually vary depending on who your custodian is. The best way to get a specific list is to go to your custodian and ask them to provide a list of acceptable assets. In general you can own most things in a Roth that you can own outside it. Standard exceptions include options (excluding covered calls), art, collectibles, etc. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds are all commonly held investments.
My husband retired recently from 35 years of Civil Service employment. He also fulfilled the quarter requirements for Social Security. He was told that since he is a Civil Service retiree he will only receive 40% of his montly Social Security benefit, not the full amount. His friend also retired from Civil Service (pension,) was an officer in the Navy (monthly retirement) BUT he is receiving FULL Social Security. What gives? — Bainbridge Island
FP: You may want to start by verifying that your assumptions are all correct. Assuming that they are, it is a true statement that there are different retirement rules for different departments and also for different time frames (yes, it is confusing). The best place for definitive information is to contact Social Security directly (www.socialsecurity.gov).
I like to invest in mutual funds with low expense ratio for my retirement. So you can understand the majoritity of my money is in various Vanguard funds. But I know some funds with low expenses don't give the best returns among their peers. My first question is what are the pros and cons with investing only in one fund family such as the Vanguand family funds? If not, what is your recommendation? I would like to retire in 12 yr. My second question is what a typical portfolio should be like now (% in domestic large, small cap stocks, forien stock and bond)? — Bellevue
FP: Pro: Ease of administering accounts
Con: One fund family, one philosophy, is my opinion.
I like diversification for diversification's sake.
Re your 2nd question, your risk tolerance will help determine your blend of fund allocations. Vanguard might have tools to help you determine this for you.
My wife and I are US citizens that would like to work overseas and travel in our retirement. How many months do we need to live in the US (minimum) and what is the current maximum amount of foreign income that would be non-taxable in the US? — Bellingham
FP: The best resource for answering your question is the IRS website. If you go to www.irs.gov and type in "foreign income" for a search, it will give you a wealth of details that should answer these questions, as well as other related information that you may find helpful.
My wife and I are both retired (ages-63) We have 44000 in pension & ss income also 8400 per year for 5 years in unsecured loan income… ($ lent to kids). We have 490,000 in ira's and 250,000 equity in a 450,000 house..we owe 23000 on a home equity loan, with no other consumer debt. We figure we will need 55000 to 60000 per year to live the way we are used to…Question is….are we on track. — Seattle
FP: Let's review how each piece of your financial resources will serve your income needs over time. Of Course, the social security and pension income is the one chair of the stool providing income for life. However, it is not quite high enough to meet your expenses along with federal income tax. The balance can be met by your IRAs of $490,000. Very generally speaking academicians in our profession suggest that to minimize the risk of outliving your investment assets you should draw no more than about 4% from your starting investment balance if you plan to draw on it for 30 years. This calculation assumes that you will need to increase this draw every year with inflation. $490,000 x 4% = $19,000 per year. $19,000 plus the $44,000 equals $63,000. Make sure you account for federal income tax in reducing the gross income that is available for spending. Maybe you should set aside the 5 years of unsecured loan income for car replacement and a home improvement fund? Finally, I look at home equity as an asset that could support your needs at age 90 – 95. Did you know that there is something like a 25% likelihood of living past age 88?
What about the risk of one spouse needing long term health care? If one spouse needed home health care of institutional care for say, seven years at $4,500 per month, would this deplete assets too much for the remaining spouse.
On balance it sounds like you are on track, but you should be aware of how long term care expenses (not much covered by medicare) might impact the resources. I would embark on a plan in which you keep your spending plus federal income tax within the $63,000 level. I would also try to account for car replacement in this monthly spending.
I will turn 65 next month and plan on working full time at least a few more years. I receive full medical insurance through my employer. There are over 20 people employed by my organization I cannot decide if it would be best for me to sign up for Medicare (Part A only) at this time or wait until I am ready to retire. Any recommendations? — Bellevue
FP: Medicare Part "A" is automatic assuming you have worked at least 40 quarters. It does not cost anything since you have already paid for it through your Medicare taxes. You might be confusing this with Medicare part "B". This does cost you a monthly amount (around $80 now) you would not want to do this until your actually retire. Just make sure you do it 3 months before retirement.
I withdrew money from a defined retirement plan when I left an employer – I had 11 years of service credit (I never thought I would return to that public sector employer – but circumstances changed!) I now work for the same employer, and it would cost $40,000 for me to buy back that service credit. I am 46, and a single mother. I have one year to decide whether to buy it back – I would have to borrow the money, probably as a second mortgage. Should I consider doing this? — Redmond
FP: Unfortunately I don't have enough information to adequately answer your question. I would gather some information together (1) how much credit (monthly income) would you buy buying with the $40,000? (2) Can you adequately pay back the 2nd mortgage?- (3) discuss the scenario of rising interest rates on this second mortgage. (4) Are there better alternatives than buying back the service credit. (5) what are your other important goals, children's education, etc? This is a specific planning issue that may best be answered with a planner.
I am 31 years old and have $25,000 in my 401k. I am married, and our combined annual income is about $125,000. I also will be eligible for a pension when I retire. My question is, if I want to retire at 65 and live on about $70,000 a year, how much should I be setting aside each year? Also, my 401k is 100 percent stocks because I have time to weather the ups and downs of the stock market. Should I diversify a bit? — Seattle
FP: To really answer the "how much" questions there are more input variables than can be covered in your email. You may want to check out the following websites for retirement planning calculators (www.mymoney.gov, www.tiaacref.com, www.vanguard.com). You did not specify what percentage of your current income you are currently saving. A good guideline is to defer 10% annually. 100% in stocks is an aggressive portfolio. It may or may not be the best for you. It depends a great deal on what else you own and on how realistic you are on your tolerance for risk. It's harder to feel that you have time when the market cuts your account value in half or more. Even if you decide that the 100% equity allocation is appropriate, you should evaluate your options to diversify across different stock classes within your plan.
I will receive approx 500k from a Trust that will disolve next year when I turn 35. Am I better off purchasing a home outright & investing monthly what I would be paying for a mortgage, or keeping a mortgage and investing the funds? — Seattle
FP: This is a nice decision to look forward to. It is difficult to answer this without knowing more about you. You need to ask yourself some question like; Are you bothered with going into debt, what is your risk tolerance and expertise when it comes to investing. I think in the long run, given the low interest rate environment, that carrying a mortgage and investing the difference might suit you better for the long run. The tax laws are written to help those that are homeowners that carry mortgages.
I am retired (no earned income) and would like to deposit extra cash from SSI and IRA (taxes paid) income into a Roth Acct. Can this be done? If not, why not? — Kirkland
FP: You need to have earned income to be able to contribute to a Roth IRA.
The laws were set up to encourage savings during your working years.
My husband and I are in our early 60's. We purchased long-term-care insurance five years ago. The premiums have gone up 50% since we purchased it, and I am concerned about being able to pay them when we are retired (which we plan to do in one year). The premiums are a total of $3,600 a year. We own our home free and clear (worth about $500,000). Would it be safe for us to drop the LTC insurance, with the idea of getting a reverse mortgage, if we should need extended care? We do not anticipant needing the assets from our home to provide income (we have approximately $800,000 in IRA and non-IRA accounts, from which we plan to withdraw 3% a year). — Sammamish
FP: I would determine whether you have sufficient assets to pay for long term care as well as whether your goal is to leave assets for your heirs.
The first step would be to determine the estimated future cost of long term care for you and your husband. Then one would determine whether you have sufficient assets to provide for those costs, for the living costs of the surviving spouse as well as for your heirs.
I am a widower 61 years old and plan to retire at 62. My wife passed away 4 years ago at age 53. I qualify to collect on her social security of $1186 since I am over 60. If I collect on her social security for the next 5 years, can I leave my social security alone and collect at the age 66 rate without penalty or does the SSA penalize me because I collected on my late wife's social security benefit? — Olympia
FP: My understanding is that the survivor benefit will be separate from your individual benefit and there should be no penalty. Please contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov for a more definitive answer.
What is the current thought on paying off a mortgage? I'm a retired teacher, 64, divorced, and have a 403B fund that has enough money in it to pay off the house mortgage. (I'm presently helping my daughter with childcare, while she completes her Medical School training at UW. The house is in California and is presently being leased out for the cost of the mortgage payment plus $500 per month. I bought the house in 1970, so the house is under Prop 13, which froze the taxes at $600 per year. I would appreciate your thoughts on whether I should pay the house off, and keep it for investment purposes…or keep the mortgage. I have no other income other than my teacher's retirement check per month. Long-term, keeping it would mean I would continue to rent it out and I would probably continue to rent an apartment here in Washington, to be near my grandchildren… so what would be the best decision?
A second part of this questions is this…I lived in my home for 30 years and then decided to help my daughter, which meant moving. I have now lost my $250,000 Capital Gains allowance, as I haven't been in the house two of the last five years. If I were to decide to sell the house, would my 'situation' qualify for an exception or will I need to move back in the house for two of the next five years, should I decide to sell? — Woodinville
FP: This question requires a bit of analysis. For instance, what rate of return are you receiving from renting vs. what rate of return are you receiving from your 403(b).
You'd also need to take your monthly income needs into account and see if you'd ever need your 403(b)for income in the future.
I'd suggest contacting fpapugetsound.org to ask for a referral to a financial planner that can help you analyze and assess the situation.
WE are a married couple, both working with good salaries. I make 80,000 and my husband owns a small business and makes about 150,000.00. we have two small children and i worry about their education. i recently started putting away money monthly towards some sort of education savings. I am interested in the GET program. Buying college credits at today's prices for later on. My children are 8 and 3. Also I have a 401k that I contribute 400.00 month with no matching. I am in my late 40's and I would like to retire comfortable (whatever that means) in my 60's. My husband is in his early 60's and show no signs of stopping. I feel we have money but we spend alot and I feel that now is the time to save when I am making the maximum amount of money. I know I am jumping all over but where do we start and how much should we be saving? My husband has a penison plan with his business and he has about 150,000. in it now. My 401 k has 45,000.oo thanks for you help. — Seattle
FP: First off, you would be a candidate for help from a financial planner. Your situation is a little complicated to put together a well thought out answer in a few minutes I have here.
There are a number of options for saving for children's educations including 529 plans that allow much more flexibility then buying credit where one can investment much more money tax deferred.
You can obtain a list of planners in your area by contacting the CFP Board or the Financial Planning Association.
I have CD and savings accounts totaling $285,000 drawing 3%+ interest now, have 401k worth $26,000 at 5% now, and IRA worth $68,000 at 3.2% now. I am 54.5, my wife is 53 and plan on retiring in 1.5yrs. What is the best. I plan on using the liquid savings until age 59.5. What should be my strategy as far as using funds from the IRA/401k part? We plan on using only the interest earned or should I actually make principal withdrawals and not take interest earned on them? Or doesn't it matter as the withdrawals would be classified the same. I know you have to start taking monies out of IRA/401k by 70.5 correct? Advise on these and any other strategy you think smart. — Mount Vernon
FP: You must have some other income sources somewhere other than what your listed or you are planning to work part-time. With these assets I'm not sure how you can sustain your standard of living in retirement. The rule of thumb is to withdraw tax deferred account first (IRA & 401(k)). I am not sure how you can sustain your income with only interest off of your investment because the rate of return you are receiving is pretty low.
I would suggest you contact a financial planner for additional help through the following sources – You can obtain a list of planners in your area by contacting the CFP Board at www.cfp.net or the Financial Planning Association at 800-322-4237 or www.fpanet.org.


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Review: 'Freakonomics' tales explore causality
Published 4:00 am, Friday, October 1, 2010
Documentary. Directed by Alex Gibney et al. (PG-13. 85 minutes. At Bay Area theaters.)
When "Freakonomics" landed on bookshelves in 2005, it promised to demonstrate "the hidden side of everything." In this pursuit, it used neither magical powers nor X-ray vision but something both simpler and shrewder: facts. By looking at the data with a clear eye and a willingness to assume the worst of human nature, economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner devised new theories to explain inexplicable behaviors.
Five years later, the film adaptation arrives. Directed by a small posse of documentarians, "Freakonomics" is four distinct short movies - with a smattering of transitional material that adds up to a fifth. Some of these installments, based on chapters in the book, are more effective than others; the best of the bunch is Alex Gibney's ("Taxi to the Dark Side") absorbing look at deep-seated corruption in Japan's sumo wrestling establishment. But the movie as a whole is a mixed bag, offering up stiff shots of skepticism and a few provocative thoughts on correlation and causality.
Likeliest to cause a flap, the way it did when the book was published, is a chapter linking the dwindling crime rate with Roe vs. Wade, which (the logic goes) led to fewer children being born after January 1973 and fewer thugs hitting the streets two decades later. Eugene Jarecki ("Why We Fight") takes this explosive notion and turns it into a graphics-crazy muddle that doesn't make a persuasive argument for anything, other than minimalism.
Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me") manages better in his share of the movie, a humorous piece tracking the possible social and financial benefits of having the right name - and the apparent drawbacks of having the wrong one. The man-on-the-street clips are amusing, but he overdoes the cute in little fictionalized skits acted out with cloying self-awareness. He also skirts close to classism and racism, especially when he illustrates variations on the name Unique with a split-screen cavalcade of funky black girls.
Much more engaging is a portrait of two Chicago ninth-graders who take part in an experimental program offering monthly payouts to kids who do well - or well enough - in school. Writer-directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady ("Jesus Camp") score several revealing moments with their young subjects, one of them a gloomy skater with motivation problems, the other a small, bouncy charmer who pops with insight.
-- Advisory: Elements of violence, sexuality/nudity, drugs and brief strong language.

subset: commoncrawl


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Yes, it's already happened. I planned something and it didn't work out! I'd better get used to this. :) I thought we would be starting school a couple weeks ago but life intervened. Here's what we've been up to!
Making "clay" with clay rocks we found in a creek while camping:
(And that little hunk of orange is actually sap from a cherry tree that isn't sticky at all – it's in the beginning stages of becoming amber! Thought that was so cool.)
Hanging out in the woods and outside, exploring.
(Can you tell they were having more fun exploring than posing? ;)
My parents came for a visit and they enjoyed bonding time together.
My parents have two beautiful collies and Emma spent a lot of time with this one, Telah.
I attacked the clutter in my house!
It was bad, guys. Have you ever felt like you were in a sinking ship and there was so much water you had no idea where to start bailing? That's how I felt about my house. Thanks to my awesome mom, we were able to take care of a couple of the biggest problem areas, and I found a lot of inspiration on some organizing blogs (especially this one). Below you can see the after pictures… I'd rather not post before, thank you very much. ;-)
But it wasn't pretty.
(No, those aren't all my school supplies, that's just the current curriculum shelf.)
The biggest changes were that I took out the huge braided rugs that would never stay clean and replaced them with smaller rag rugs from Ross (love that place, the rugs were so affordable!), took out my husband's catch-all desk and replaced it with a cabinet with doors (hiding anything clutter-ish). I also bought a LOT of bins and started sorting, putting most of my craft supplies in the shed on shelves rather than keeping it all in the house when I don't have room for it anyway. The "cute ottoman" (haha) came from Joann's and is a place for me to put controllers and drinks while doubling as storage. I have small $1 bins that I want to use to make Isaac some weekly themed busy boxes while I'm schooling Emma.
I think the decluttering and reorganizing I've done is going to make starting school MUCH easier than it would have been. Already, keeping up the house has been easier. I should mention that most of my kids' toys are up high on a shelf in their room, and that helps a lot as well.
The new plan is to start school next week. :)
3 Responses to Why We Haven't Started School Yet :-)
The woods and family trump "school" any day! ; ) There is something refreshing about sorting and organizing too and I agree it does make the whole process of school a lot more enjoyable (and actually easier) ~ Anything with doors is a plus too!! You might not want to see behind those doors, but on the outside it looks nice and tidy :)
I totally understand that sinking ship feeling when it comes to house cleaning. Even worse than not knowing where to start is when you manage to clean a part up and it "magically" gets messy again a day or two later. It can make you lose hope of ever winning against the clutter and can make you want to stop trying. I try to cling to even the smallest of victories over the clutter. If I string enough small victories together, I might just beat the mess one day.
The important thing is to enjoy every moment with your kids. There are no do-overs.


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External Content Duplication - Done Right
Over the past few month's I've come across many a site with this issue, and the website owner always always says the same thing ... (and its right to an extent) ... we are the brand leader, bringing something new to the market and want to be seen for x, y and z ... and to emphasise this we want it over 3 or 4 websites or sub-domains ... but we want the content to be pretty much the same... but content duplication isn't allowed by the search engines. Well ok it is true the you can be penalised for content duplication over one or more websites seen to be related, mainly via an IP address or similar domain or as a sub domain (which Google is known to treat as a different domain) ... So I here you ask how can I be saying you can do it right ... how can you legitimately duplicate content over websites and domains ... well it is fairly easy :)
The answer is "cross domain canonical tagging"
By now we should all be using the meta tag canonical - aka telling the browsers and search engines the content originates at this websites and location ... it is all your content and not taken from else where. (if not take a quick look on Google for it).
Now to use content from one site on another you need to show that you accept the origins of the content as not being on your site and being from another URL. This can be done on any element using the tag rel="canonical" - so links, images, block quotes, data tables anything with any attribute (including a full DIV) can use this tag and search engines will pick it up.
Still have questions? Please do ask them below or twitter me @andykinsey


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The next morning, I was asked to practice for the next day's event at school and at home by myself. The situation in my house is different, where I could only correct myself while practicing. As per the author's view; the story had an interesting climax wherein the protagonist turns over the teacher to the authorities. It was moralistic but personally, I was not in line with the climax.
Friday night, after the practice I went to bed as usual dreaming about how I would perform the next day. It was a district level event in which every school in the district would participate. Our school A.V.Rm.V is a renowned school in the district. Now we had a chance of pulling off something.
Saturday morning was a special day for a few of us participating in the event. We gathered at school and got to know that Gomathy Vasagam, one of the participants was down with a high heavy and would not be joining us. Shocking news for us, indeed! He was a contestant who would win without much ado. Jenil, my best pal was the next option to replace Gomathy and he was taken along.
We reached the venue. It was an auditorium that was located in the basement of the hotel "Sagunthala International". The place was milling with crowds and we were all fired up about our performance and eagerly waited for the turn. Just then, it was announced that the mono-skit competition would take place around 3.30 p.m. I recall that Jenil's event would be held parallel to mine (Jenil can correct me if I'm wrong).
Ms. Fathima, Ms. Kamala and Mr. Kasimariyappan were all accompanying us.
Some of our seniors were there too - to compete in other events. Among the three of us, Shanmugapriya had her event first where she sang an English song and did it pretty well. Tension was mounting gradually with the passage of time. We were sitting in a corner of the balcony and biting our nails. I skipped my meal that day thinking we would have our dinner soon. When Shanmugapriya came back from the stage she was confident that she had done it. In fact I too agree that she did pulled off quite a sterling performance and the audience's applause was a testimony to the same. But it seemed it wasn't good enough for the prize evaded her. I remember Rosemary's
Now what happened next and what did I do...coming up soon…..


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Barcelona's Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain were the spearhead of the Uruguay squad called up on Wednesday by coach Oscar Tabarez for friendlies with Costa Rica and Chile in November.
Suarez is currently serving a nine-match ban from official international matches after biting Giorgio Chiellini in the World Cup clash with Italy in June, but is able to appear in friendlies.
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray/TUR), Martin Silva (Vasco Da Gama/BRA), Rodrigo Munoz (Libertad/PAR), Martin Campana (Defensor Sporting)
Defenders: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Emiliano Velazquez (Getafe/ESP), Gaston Silva (Torino/ITA), Martin Caceres (Juventus/ITA), Maxi Pereira (Benfica/POR), Alvaro Pereira (San Pablo/BRA), Matias Aguirregaray (Estudiantes/ARG)
Midfielders: Egidio Arevalo Rios (Tigres UANL/MEX), Mathias Corujo (Universidad de Chile/CHI), Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio/ITA), Diego Arismendi (Nacional), Camilo Mayada (Danubio/URU), Nicolas Lodeiro (Corinthians/BRA), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Defensor Sporting), Gaston Ramirez (Hull City/ENG), Guzman Pereira (Universidad de Chile/CHI), Carlos Sanchez (River Plate/ARG)
Strikers: Christian Stuani (Espanyol/ESP), Diego Rolan (Bordeaux/FRA), Jonathan Rodriguez (Penarol), Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Abel Hernandez (Hull City/ENG), Luis Suarez (Barcelona/ESP)


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"We are bringing to market this ultra high-end Zetta experience, as a mixture of Asian attention to fine detail, European chic, and the American can-do attitude," says Geoffery Cassidy, managing director of Zetta Jet. In less than 15 months, Zetta Jet has grown to be one of the fastest-growing charter companies in the world with its owned and operated Bombardier fleet, featuring the latest Global 6000 and Global 5000 with ultra-long range intercontinental capabilities across the Pacific Rim.
Dedicated to delivering the ultimate in bespoke luxury experiences to a discerning clientele, Zetta Jet ensures that the passenger's journey is a delight from the time they book a charter till they disembark. "We believe that no desire is too extravagant and no request too difficult to satisfy," said Cassidy.
Boasting Egyptian cotton linens, Christofle tableware, and a carefully curated wine list from a renowned sommelier, no detail is overlooked. Zetta Jet tailors all aspects of every flight to the preferences and needs of each client, creating unique experiences for different passenger groups from business groups to individuals and families. A wide choice of menus, including catered meals from Michelin-starred restaurants, and a vast library of current and classic onboard entertainment options ensure the most eclectic tastes are sated.
"Our flight attendants are selected from the world's finest aviation, hospitality and service organization, representing some 20 nationalities. We pair passengers with an attendant who is intimately familiar with their culture and language, even down to their service preferences." Its fleet also features the fastest in-flight KuBand and KA Band Wi-Fi, allowing its passengers to make calls, text and surf the web anywhere in the world. "We're putting the best system available in every airplane," said Cassidy. "Thirteen hours without good, consistent connectivity is no longer an option for our customers."
Unlike the aircraft in other charter fleets, Zetta Jet offers passengers a mix of cabin configurations and varying interiors with their fleet to cater for their customers' needs, whether it's for a business meeting setting or a relaxed bedroom setting with double divans. "By design, we're taking delivery of different cabin configurations, different color schemes, different everything," said Matthew Walter, Director of Sales, Zetta Jet. "People like choice. Some customers want a double divan in the back; some want a huge bed."
Adding the icing to the cake is the unique Zetta Jet experience which is a fusion of true attentiveness found only within Asian service philosophies, coupled with an American can-do attitude – all delivered within a 'European Chic' aesthetic that pervades the cabin. "It is our unique blend of reliability, quality of service, superior product offering and top-of-the-range equipment that sets us apart from other charter companies."
Operating on a floating fleet model where the aircraft have no home base, Zetta Jet offers its clients with a choice between block hour programs and on-demand charter including one-way trans-Pacific charters. Zetta Jet is also the first and only Part 135 operator authorized by the FAA to conduct polar flights, allowing Zetta Jet to fly nonstop to many destinations that most other providers require refueling to reach. "Our operations are flexible, fast acting and able to react to the ever-changing environment in which we operate. Linking key cities across the globe, from Moscow to Los Angeles, and New York to Beijing, makes Zetta Jet a first for North American Business Aviation," said James Seagrim, Director of Operations, Zetta Jet.
Zetta Jet is also dedicated to upholding its history of excellence in all areas related to safety, security, and privacy, maintaining ARG/US Platinum and Wyvern Wingman safety ratings, and Air Charter Safety Foundation and International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) memberships. Staff and crew are committed to continuous education and re-certification by all relevant safety and regulatory bodies worldwide and goes through ongoing culinary and service training. Zetta Jet – the world's first truly personalized private airline.
Contact the concierge desk at 888.995.7908 or +65 6483 8870 or email [email protected]
For more information, please visit www.zettajet.com


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Shortest Man In The World
February 28, 2012 by staff
Shortest Man In The World, Home to Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, Nepal has added another heightrelated superlative – of having the world's shortest man.
A Guinness World Records team measured Chandra Bahadur Dangi at 54.60 centimetres (21.5 inches), declaring the 72-year-old even shorter the previous title holder, Junrey Balawing, from the Philippines, who stood at 23.5 inches at the age of 18 last year.
From a poor and uneducated family in a remote part of Nepal, Dangi said he had never heard of Mount Everest and was unaware of the world record title before a timber merchant visited his remote village last month and decided to measure him.
Please feel free to send if you have any questions regarding this post , you can contact on
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are that of the authors and not necessarily that of U.S.S.POST.


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If you grew up in the '80s or early '90s, then you probably remember watching the animated films produced by legendary artist Don Bluth — even if you didn't know it at the time. All those years ago, when the silver screen was dominated by Disney, Bluth introduced unique and dramatic stories that broke all conventions for traditional children's films at the time, such as The Land Before Time, A Troll in Central Park and Anastasia.
Edgy and dark, his various projects contain surprisingly mature storylines and dark imagery (which has stuck in the minds of fans even to this day), but it is his cast of charming characters that also make his projects so memorable. Although Bluth's name is no longer associated with present-day productions, his fans still support his magnificent works, from iconic movies like The Secret of N.I.M.H. and An American Tail to the arcade game Dragon's Lair. Regardless of their financial success, Bluth's movies retain a nostalgic charm and refinement that is absolutely contagious.
And now, after all these years, one artist has succeeded in bringing back the magic of Don Bluth's iconic style in a way that is unique, creative and inspiring.
Who Is This Bluth-Inspired Artist?
A seven-year member of DeviantArt, Kosperry (also known as Kosmo) is an artist who defines herself as a nostalgic individual forever stuck in the '80s, and she considers her talent as nothing less than a blessing. As she said in a recent DeviantArt conversation:
What I am able to do is a gift. What makes me very happy is that I can bring others joy with my artwork as well! I want to express a little nostalgic feeling with my art that takes people back to a simple time that somehow they can connect and remember fun memories. My goal is to bring happiness and laughter to people. It's something we need little more of each and every day!
And she has clearly achieved this goal through her ever-growing collection of works, which are nothing less than remarkable. From personal creations to inventive fan art, Kosperry has revived the nostalgic feeling of Don Bluth movies, just as they were meant to be portrayed: the medium of traditional animation.
Let's take a look at her works and see what makes them so awesome!
Flashback Fever: Saga Of The Seven Stevens
In all truth, Kosperry's original series Saga of the Seven Stevens is one of the most inventive and entertaining independent works I have viewed to date.
Set at the height of the 1980s, this hip story relates the adventures of the titular Stevens family, made up of PD (a loving father) and his six sons: Steven, Ray, Stanley, Edward, Freddy (twin to Edward) and Evan. While struggling through the typical hardships of life, this unconventional family unit also faces threats from sinister villains including the diabolical Daray Pyrera (PD's half-brother) and his vicious sons Cap, Dep, and Fin. Fueled by hate, Pyrera and his brood attempt to overthrow the balance of the Stevens family, which results in wild and zany adventures with magic, mystery, and mayhem.
'Saga Of The Seven Stevens' will make you laugh, cry, and just may move you a little as you take a look into their unpredictable and exciting world! — Kosperry
What especially makes this story so charming is, of course, the characters. Given unique designs emulating classic comedies like Seinfeld and Family Ties, Seven Stevens is supported by the wacky and colorful lineup of brothers and their adoring father. From the dashing Steve to the kindhearted Evan, and from the gangly Ray to the temperamental Freddy, all of the Stevens are charming, witty, and memorable in their own way.
Additionally, the sinister Pyrera is a ton of fun. Dashing and hateful, he exudes all the charm and sleaziness of a James Bond villain as he constantly berates his sons for failing miserably at their jobs. I especially like the design choices Kosperry made for this guy. He is physically imposing and possesses a serpentine dignity and grace, contrasting with the goofy and brutish nature of Cap, Dep, and Fin. Villains are the best part of any story, and Pyrera certainly doesn't disappoint.
Overall, I am definitely looking forward to more Saga of the Seven Stevens stories in the future. If the artwork is any indicator of its success, then we are in for one awesome ride.
But that's not all. Kosperry also boasts some great crossover fan art. Take a look at some of her best below!
Five Nights At Freddy's
If you are a video gamer, then you are probably familiar with Five Nights at Freddy's, an independent horror franchise that continues to take the Internet by storm. Developed by Scott Cawthon, the series tells separate tales of individuals who must survive five nights alone with demonic animatronic characters who wander about (via a power-conservation mode) the hallways of a dark building. Another excellent addition to the survival-horror game genre, Five Nights at Freddy's emulates classic tales of terror like Evil Dead and Child's Play. A perfect match for child audiences, right?
Oddly enough, Kosperry has actually found a way to make the game's terrifying story and bloodthirsty characters child friendly. And what better way to bring a dark tale to life than through the magic of Don Bluth?
In fact, when you really pay attention to the story for Five Nights at Freddy's, you start to notice two things. One, the charmingly creepy title alone sounds like a name Bluth would choose for one of his dark masterpieces. Second, the story itself combines playful comedy with suspense and terror, something Bluth has perfectly executed in Secret of N.I.M.H. and his other works. So Five Nights at Freddy's seems an ideal match for the Don Bluth art style. And if you need proof, look no further than Kosperry's lineup of fan art and animation for the game.
"Ye' cant make me!"
"You can't...What about the children?"
"It's late, it's late! Wind the box, don't you wait!"
Aside from Saga of the Seven Stevens and Five Nights at Freddy's, Kosperry also has additional collections of beautiful fan art and deviant commissions on her page.
"I'll bring all your dreams alive for you."
"This better work!"
How does this compare to the original?
Super Mario Bros.
"Those no-good koopalings, I tell ya!"
Back To The Future
"What did I tell you?! 88mph!"
With the expansion of 3D animation in recent years, I have yet to see another 2D animated film produced on the big screen, which is a very sad truth. Traditional works from our childhood laid the framework for the box office successes released by Disney and DreamWorks, and sometimes it is important to take a step back and appreciate the simpler things in life. If anything, Kosperry has proven that it is never too late to revive classics, and her thousands of followers have shown that the world is still craving that little touch of nostalgic charm.
And that is very satisfying to know.
Be sure to visit her DeviantArt page and support her fine work. And don't forget to tell us what you think in the comments section below.


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Pupil Accommodation Reviews - 2016 – Kipling CI, Richview CI, and Scarlett Heights EA
Scarlett Heights' student entrepreneurs turned their popular semi-annual Student Venture Day into a Winter Wonderland this week. Students in grade 9 and 11 Business Studies showcased their creative ventures as part of their business studies course.
images by Benjamin Priebe courtesy Etobicoke Guardian
Details in InsideToronto.com


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|Vallarta Sunset
- JFK – MEX on an Aeromexico 787 in Business Class
MEX – OAX on Aeromexico E170 regional jet in Business Class
= 30,000 Delta miles + US$45 for these two flights, per person
- OAX – MEX – PVR on Aeromexico regional jets in Business Class
= US$250 per person
- PVR – EWR on a United 737 in Business Class
= US$662 per person
We love the 787, and Aeromexico flies an internationally-configured 787 with lie-flat seats between JFK and Mexico City. Since there's no direct service to Oaxaca from New York, connecting with this 787 flight was a no-brainer. It was pricing out around $1000, so we redeemed Delta miles around 3.3¢ each. About half of those points came from flying Delta domestically and the other half came from an Amex point transfer. My Amex points come from a mix of spending for my business and from purchasing groceries and airfare (Amex bonus categories).
This cleaned me out of Amex points, so the flight from Oaxaca to Vallarta (sadly, no direct service) via Mexico City was US$250 cash in Business Class.
|Aeromexico 787 with international lie-flat seats
This cleaned me out of Amex points, so the flight from Oaxaca to Vallarta (sadly, no direct service) via Mexico City was US$250 cash in Business Class.
As for getting home, United and Delta are well aware of the limited options for direct flights between Vallarta and New York, and they price things accordingly. They're also very stingy about releasing reward seats. Since I really didn't want to pay $1200+ per person for a one-way flight, I poked and poked and eventually found a much better deal by booking through a Mexican travel agent.
Other links
My Puerto Vallarta guide on Medium


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Tagged: menu items, nested
This is probably not really a flashlight question and probably a wordpress question but…
I am creating a series of nested menu items – i.e. with a hierarchy. I am wondering if it is possible for a root menu item (which other menu items 'branch off') not to be clickable, so I don't have to worry about putting any content on its page.
Don't worry – think I found the solution. Using a Custom Link with a URL of # as the parent menu item seems to work…
sorry – should have searched for the answer myself before pasting this on the forum….
The topic 'Any way to make menu item not clickable?' is closed to new replies.


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"We're not out of the woods yet," Smith told council members, "but it's encouraging. Town water Superintendent Tom Tharp told me that in the last month the wells have risen two feet, their not overflowing by any means and we still have to be super careful about water usage, but we're in good shape for right now."
Clinton was the first Hunterdon County municipality to issue drought restrictions in February when it was becoming clear that the rain and snowfall had been minimal for the past six months.
On March 4, Gov. James McGreevey issued a statewide water emergency, stating that "Water is a shared blessing and a shared resource, but it is also a shared responsibility."
The Executive Order authorized New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell to develop mandatory water restrictions and conservation measures, tailored to the needs of each region of the state.
"New Jersey is suffering from the most unusually dry weather conditions since 1998," McGreevey said. "During the past 12 months, precipitation has been among the lowest on record."
Added Campbell, "The continued lack of precipitation has left our reservoirs and surface waters at record low levels. Our winter has been milder than usual, and with little rain or snow to replenish our water, we are counting on the entire state to help reduce water consumption."
On March 15, Campbell issued a water restriction mandate stating that every water supplier must perform a complete inventory of existing interconnections to determine the capability of the water supply infrastructure.
All public systems serving 10,000 people or more will submit an interconnection integrity report to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Temporarily, the DEP will not issue any new or modified water allocation permits or registrations. If usage peaks above recent average levels, the department must be given written notification.
The following are other state-imposed regulations on water usage:
* A newly constructed or installed swimming pool may be filled once using water from the municipal water source as long as the local water supplier approves it;
* A pool drained before March 11 can be refilled;
* A pool can be drained one time only to make repairs for structural integrity and then refilled. Topping of pools is permitted. Unnecessary discharges are prohibited for purposes other than adequate filtration;
* All open burning permits are suspended, except for outdoor barbecues and religious ceremonies. Recreational fire permits and other open burning permits will be restricted, administered and coordinated through the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
State DEP Drought Coordinator Dennis Hart has been given the authority to implement and clarify drought requirements.
"I urge everyone to think "water conservation' and to cut back on water usage," said Campbell. "One or two days of rainfall are not enough to bring our waterways up to normal levels." With the exception of the above provisions, the original restrictions will remain in effect.
For more information, call the DEP drought hotline at 1-800- 448-7379 or access the web page at www.njdrought.org.


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In a sarcastic rejoinder to the latest whining of political elites who do not want Donald Trump and his brand of outsider populist politics to be atop the Republican Party ticket, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has found a candidate who is above all criticism as a potential replacement.
Limbaugh spent part of his Friday program talking about comments on Politico from The Politico Caucus, a collection of political insiders, who want Trump to drop out.
The talk show host noted that the verdict of the political insiders keeps changing over time. Back in June when Democrat Hillary Clinton had an 11-point lead, he noted, the race was supposedly over. Then Trump erased that lead. Now Clinton is having a bump in the polls while Trump is in a campaign trough and President Barack Obama's approval ratings have spiked. Therefore, Limbaugh said with scorn, the race is once again supposedly over.
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Then Limbaugh tried to take a stab at whom GOP elites would want to replace Trump, and the sarcasm flowed in earnest.
"How about Khizr Khan as the replacement Republican nominee for Donald Trump?" Limbaugh said.
TRENDING: Dem Reads Trump's Tweets Out Loud During Hearing, That's When He Hears from Jeff Sessions
"I mean, how can Hillary even run against the father of a war hero? How could Hillary run against him? She couldn't say a word. She couldn't criticize him. That's what we've learned from the Democratic convention. You can't criticize Khizr Khan!" Limbaugh said.
He noted the different treatment given to families who lost sons at Benghazi.
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"Now you can criticize Pat Smith, but you couldn't put Pat Smith up there, and we couldn't put Robert Woods up there, because it's been established you can criticize them, even though they lost sons in battle," Limbaugh said.
"But Khizr Khan is above it. You can't criticize him! Not even Mrs. Clinton. He's a Muslim to boot. Double insurance against any criticism whatsoever," he added.
Limbaugh paited a picture of Khan as a candidate.
"He knows the Constitution! He understands that. I mean, he can wave that around, and there's no Republican … Can you imagine a Republican saying … 'No! No! We cannot have Khizr Khan. He's not even a Republican.' 'See? You are anti-Muslim! See, you are a bigot.' It's made-to-order."
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Passwords must be at least 6 characters in length.
Enter your password again for confirmation.
Please type the characters you see in the image.
What did your Mother or Father say to you to "make it all better?"


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Rethinking The Demand For Institutional Innovation Land Rights And Land Markets In The West African Sahel
In contrast to literature which focuses on the how collective action problems inhibit the supply of efficient institutions, this paper uses dynamic stochastic general equilibrium methods to study the demand for institutional innovation. Focusing on the innovation of alienabile land rights in the West African Sahel, this microeconomic approach offers several contributions to the theory of institutional innovation. First, in contrast to the representative agent or aggregate benefit-cost approaches used to derive the demand for institutional innovation in much of the literature, this paper explores the heterogeneity of demand across agents. Second, in contrast to prior studies of the evolution of land rights, this analysis shows that, in West Africa at least, the demand for private property rights in land is likely to rest on more than generalized land scarcity. Indeed, in terms of this paper's dynamic option value metric, the strongest demand for a land market emanates from the collapse of traditional risk management institutions and the desire of low wealth agents to use the market to buffer unmediated production risk. The demand for marketable rights, and indeed the appearance of some land transactions, may ultimately reflect a displaced demand for the innovation of contingency and other financial markets. In this second best environment, a policy of land privatization may be dominated by a policy that addresses those elements in the economic and institutional environment which create the sharp (displaced) demand for marketability rights.
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
|Date of creation:
|Aug 1996
|Contact details of provider:
| Postal: University of Wisconsin, Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 427 Lorch Street, Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-262-8966
Fax: 608-262-4376
Web page: http://www.aae.wisc.edu/
More information through EDIRC
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"Lies, my dear boy, can easily be recognized. There are two kinds of them: those with short legs, and those with long noses." – Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio
Pinocchio's Strings
Somewhere, out there, exists another universe that tells a better story of you and me. We are together. We rent a townhouse in Georgetown, one made of bricks and a cherry wine door. We drink birthday cake milkshakes out of mason jars in the summer, and take midnight walks on the first snow of winter. Life is warm and familiar.
Just A Dream
Swinging Stars
"I like the stars. It is the illusion of permanence, I think. They're always flaring up and caving in and going out. But from here, I can pretend – I can pretend things last. I can pretend that lives last longer than moments. Gods come, and gods go. Mortals flicker and flash and fade. Worlds don't last, and stars and galaxies are transient, fleeting things that twinkle like fireflies and vanish into cold and dust. But I can pretend…"