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Cartoon angers farmers in Janesville area
I've worked at The Gazette more than 26 years and have been Opinion Page editor for almost 11. In the past decade, I can only remember a few times when someone called to complain about an editorial cartoon. I don't recall more than one caller criticizing any specific cartoon—until last week, that is.
If you missed last Friday's cartoon about the farm bill, I'm reprinting it here. It was crafted by Phil Hands of the Wisconsin State Journal and ran in that Madison-based statewide newspaper first. We've been running Hands cartoons through syndication for several years, and he often does a great job of incorporating statewide issues into his colorful commentaries.
This cartoon jabbed farmers about the new farm bill that cleared Congress and President Obama just signed. In general, the farmers who called me suggested the cartoon was unfair because the large majority of the farm bill goes to food stamps. These callers complained that the cartoon suggests farmers don't work hard and, pardon the pun, live high off the hog.
The first caller lit into me, stating that because I was the person who chose to run the cartoon, I obviously never worked on a farm, nor do I understand how hard farmers work or how much they spend on tractors and other implements. I pointed out that most of my uncles were farmers and that I, in fact, had worked on one of those farms.
I know full well how hard farmers work and their massive investments. My uncle, I believe, went to his grave never taking time away from his dairy herd for a true vacation.
The first caller and another said we'd better enlighten people about how much of the farm bill goes to food stamps. I responded that I was sure we had already done that. We did so again Monday in a wire story that pointed out that only about 15 percent of the almost $100 billion-a-year outlay goes to farmers, while most of the rest goes to food stamps.
I asked this caller if he was trying to tell me that no farmers around here get government subsidies. He couldn't claim that but continued to rant. I repeatedly urged him to write a letter to the editor sharing his views. He suggested he might do that by getting other angered farmers to help him and then all could sign it before he sent it in.
He hung up before I got a chance to point out that we limit the number of signers on any letter to two.
Consider the cartoon for a moment. The farmer on the tractor says "I can't stand lazy people on welfare. I work hard for my handout." Is it really suggesting farmers don't work hard?
Hands told me he also faced quite a bit of anger from readers about the cartoon. I asked him to explain his thought process on this image and editorial cartooning in general.
A cartoon, he responded in an email to me, does not need to be fair.
"A cartoon is a visual representation of an opinion, and opinions aren't fair to all parties. I drew this cartoon in particular because in my opinion much of the agriculture industry is propped up with government subsidies and price controls, while many of the people that participate in the industry pride themselves on being self-made individuals.
"I think it's important to point out that doesn't imply that farmers are lazy. I have great respect for the hours they work and difficulty of the job. The farmer does in fact 'work hard' for his subsidy. But we live in a world where hard work does not always lead to profitability. Just ask someone working two jobs at minimum wage who still needs food stamps."
Maybe, Hands suggested, this explanation only will incense farmers even more.
"But from what I understand, most of them are pretty hardy and tough. They can probably handle a little criticism," he concluded.
The cartoon might suggest, as one ag industry professional told me, that farmers work hard but not smart if the government must provide subsidies. What everyone should keep in mind, he urged, is that a huge gap exists between what consumers pay for food and what farmers get to produce it. Milk is an obvious example.
All of us should appreciate what farmers here and across the country do. Without them, we'd be fighting to import most of our food like many countries do.
If you think that cartoon maligned farmers and you live in The Gazette's circulation area, send us a letter by email or regular mail, and we'd be happy to print it. The word limit is 250, and please include your name, phone number and address.
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or email@example.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.


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Wisconsin to meet Clowney, South Carolina
MADISON—Sunday brought the best possible scenario for Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen and his players, particularly the members of a senior class that have experienced bowl losses for three consecutive years.
Despite suffering a humbling loss in their regular-season finale, the 19th-ranked Badgers were given an opportunity to face a top-10 team that has beaten two teams headed to BCS bowls and hails from the Southeastern Conference.
"Anytime you look at the SEC for the past decade or so, they've been the measuring stick," said UW senior safety Dezmen Southward, who recently had a medical procedure on his left wrist to fix a nagging injury but will be ready to practice. "Obviously to play a team like South Carolina you get a chance to measure up and see what the big-time conferences are like against each other.
"I think that is something you have to be excited for."
The Gamecocks finished 6-2 in the SEC, good for second place behind Missouri in the East Division. Led by Spurrier, 76-39 in his nine seasons at the school, the Gamecocks have been ranked for a school-record 63 consecutive weeks in The Associated Press top 25.
"We're getting a good Wisconsin team," Spurrier said. "They had a 9-3 record and could have won all three of their losses."
South Carolina suffered a 41-30 loss at then-No. 11 Georgia in Week 2 and stumbled at Tennessee, 23-21, in Week 8, when quarterback Connor Shaw was sidelined by a knee injury late in the game.
The Gamecocks finished strong, however, by winning their final five games. That run included a 27-24 victory in two overtimes over host Missouri, which won the SEC East and lost to Auburn Saturday in the SEC title game. They have victories over two BCS teams—Clemson and Central Florida—and are trying to win 11 games for the third consecutive season.
"You play in the conference they play in and to get 10 wins at this point is something special," Andersen said. "I think we all strive at the beginning of the year and fight through the year to get a BCS game and that's very difficult to do. We've got nine wins and now we're going to go play a team with 10 wins. It's a tremendous matchup. Tremendous challenge for both teams, I believe.
"And they both have shown that they're very capable of playing at a very high level week in week out throughout the season. But it's a great bowl game for us for so many reasons."
South Carolina features playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Shaw has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,135 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has just one interception in 259 attempts. Shaw is also second on the team in rushing with 511 yards and five touchdowns. Tailback Mike Davis leads the team in rushing with 1,134 yards, a 5.8-yard average and 11 touchdowns.
South Carolina is tied for 20th nationally in scoring defense (20.0 ppg).
Although junior defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is the most recognizable player on the unit, he has not been the most productive player this season. Clowney has three sacks, eight hurries and 10� tackles for loss. By contrast, junior defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles has 9� sacks and 13� tackles for loss.
"They have more than just him," senior tight end Brian Wozniak said when asked about Clowney. "It will be a good challenge."
UW's challenge for the last three seasons was to win the Rose Bowl. Each time, UW left the field in defeat.
"We have a really talented senior class that's had a lot of wins over the past four, five years," said nose guard Beau Allen, a fifth-year senior. "But we've failed to get it done in the postseason. We know that. We want to go out on top."
Last updated: 11:23 pm Sunday, December 8, 2013


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In the current economic environment, liquidity management is a key function for multinational corporations. Many multinationals operate some form of group treasury structure, such as centralized or regional treasury centers; in-house banks; foreign exchange (FX) centers; and payment factories, which are central units that execute payments on behalf of one or more subsidiaries. Through these various treasury structures, multinationals undertake activities like centralized lending, payment management, risk management, and FX hedging.
For short-term cash management, cash pooling is often the most effective way to optimize both excess and deficit cash positions within a group of companies. By allocating internal funds, rather than depending entirely on external sources, a large business can minimize its interest costs overall. Moreover, cash pooling can lead to significant savings when the group marshals its combined market power in dealing with external banks and through centralization of cash management, which may lead to economies of scale.
But when a cash pooling system straddles multiple countries and currencies, it gives rise to a range of tax issues. One of the more complicated issues is transfer pricing, which evaluates the intercompany payments and allocation of benefits that are inherent in a cash pooling structure. Tax authorities around the world are keenly interested in transfer pricing, as many are focusing increasing attention on protecting their tax base. Although cross-border cash pools have proliferated since the introduction of the euro, we are far from reaching consensus on the proper transfer pricing treatment of these arrangements. In some cases, different countries have taken inconsistent approaches to transfer pricing, increasing the challenges for multinational corporations' treasury functions.
Complications of Cross-Border Cash Pooling
In a rudimentary cash pooling arrangement, also known as a "zero-balancing" cash pool, funds are transferred on a daily basis to or from a cash pool leader (CPL). The CPL is the group entity that manages the pool; it's usually a centralized treasury operation or a separate function within the parent company. In contrast, with a "notional" cash pooling system, the debit and credit balances of all cash pooling participants are offset virtually and directly by a third-party bank, but the pooling involves no actual funds transfers.
Although they're quite different in practice, zero-balancing and notional cash pooling structures have similar transfer pricing implications. For simplicity's sake, we'll focus this article primarily on the activities and ramifications of a zero-balancing cash pool.
Cross-border cash pooling systems have important transfer pricing implications in both the nation where the cash pool leader is located and the countries where the cash pool members are established. In all affected regimes, the revenues and costs related to the cash pool should be allocated in alignment with the "arm's-length principle." This means that the terms and conditions relating to the cash pooling arrangement—as for any intercompany financial transaction between related parties—should correspond to the terms and conditions that third parties would have agreed to.
Determining arm's-length terms and conditions can be challenging, since we generally cannot observe cash pooling systems among unrelated parties. Nonetheless, that is the standard by which multinationals must evaluate their internal transactions. The primary issues around which a multinational needs to hold its transfer pricing at arm's length are:
Interest rates paid to cash pooling participants for credit balances (i.e., deposits). A cash pooling participant that deposits excess cash will earn an interest return on that cash, either through the CPL or directly from a third-party bank. If the participant and the related CPL are in different tax jurisdictions, this interest rate becomes a transfer pricing issue. When a third-party bank is involved, the deposit rate offered by the bank usually reflects a premium because of the combined size of all of the multinational's deposits—i.e., because of the size of the cash pool's net credit position. This means any single participant earns a higher interest rate on its credit balances than it likely would have received on its own. Should excess earnings on individual deposits be paid to the CPL if the global network is responsible for the premium? In practice, the structure of the cash pool arrangement is decisive for the allocation of the excess earnings between the CPL and the other cash pool members.
Interest rates paid by participants for debit balances (loans). Similar issues apply to the interest rates paid by participants who borrow from the cash pool, whether the participant is borrowing internal funds (i.e., borrowing from the deposits of other participants in the company's cash pool) or borrowing bank funds, which happens if the pool is in a net debit position. If the loan is financed entirely by internal, related-party deposits, does the borrower need to pay any interest? Alternatively, if the pool is in a net debit position, should the borrower pay the group rate charged by the bank? If the entity pays a lower rate than it would pay if it borrowed on its own, then the transaction would appear to not meet the arm's-length criterion. The solution may lie in factoring in the role of the CPL or parent company in securing the group benefits of the cash pool.
Netting and volume benefits resulting from participation in the pool. Typically, a third-party bank earns the spread between credit and debit interest rates, but a cash pool can eliminate this spread within the group. This is the so-called "netting" benefit. "Volume" benefits result when a multinational group can negotiate better rates with banks than cash pooling participants could get on their own. Although these distinct benefits can theoretically be unraveled, it is not always possible to do so in practice since the two are highly interrelated. Therefore, netting and volume benefits are often considered in tandem and are allocated among all pool participants and the CPL based on the structure of the cash pool arrangement.
The impact of any guarantees on the overall pricing and capital structure of the cash pool. Participants that borrow from a multinational corporation's cash pool generally benefit from a low interest rate, which is appropriate to the credit rating of the group overall. Thus, the CPL and/or parent company is guaranteeing, whether explicitly or implicitly, the ability of the borrowing entities to repay the loans. Consequently, from a transfer pricing perspective, the borrower owes a guarantee fee to the CPL. This fee could be calculated based on the difference in borrowing rates, on a stand-alone basis, between the CPL/parent company and the relevant cash pool participant.
Alternatively, the CPL may be covering the net shortfall in the pool with its own funds from other sources, which means that any related entity in a debit position is, in effect, borrowing from the CPL. In that case, transfer pricing rules would require that cash pooling participants pay an arm's-length interest rate, which is to say a rate commensurate with the borrower's credit quality on its own. In practice, such an interest rate may be roughly equivalent to the combination of a group rate paid to the external bank and a corresponding guarantee fee to the CPL.
Note that while guarantees usually come from the CPL or the parent company, there could also be a system of cross-guarantees throughout the group of participants in the cash pool. In such a situation, companies with stronger balance sheets support those with weaker ones, which leads to the proliferation of cross-border issues.
Compensation for administration of the cash pool. Aside from questions about interest rates and guarantee payments to the CPL, cash pooling participants might need to compensate the CPL for the administrative functions it performs in managing the cash pool. This is typically done by reimbursing the costs incurred, adding a profit markup.
How to Allocate Cash Pooling Benefits
In practice, netting and volume benefits are often considered in tandem as "total cash-pool profits." For transfer pricing purposes, these benefits have to be allocated among all participants in the cash pool, including the CPL and/or parent company, in a way that reflects each entity's contributions in terms of function, assets, and risks. If the CPL is responsible for the entire risk related to the cash pool, by way of an overall guarantee agreement, it is entitled to a larger part of the netting and volume benefits than it would be if it were operating only as an administrative service provider (as it may in the case of a notional cash pool, particularly if individual participants receive and pay close to market-level interest rates in their dealings).
The share of overall netting and volume benefits allocated to individual participants in the cash pool should depend on whether each entity is in an overdraft or deposit cash position; the size of its balances; and the differences between the deposit and lending rates offered by the third-party bank, compared with the corresponding rates credited or debited by the CPL. The closer CPL rates are to external rates, the larger the share of the cash pooling profits that should go to the participants—with each participant's portion corresponding to the relative size of its deposit or loan.
One means of allocating cash pool profits is a "residual profit split" transfer pricing methodology that remunerates more routine functions first. For example, a company could remunerate the administrative function of the CPL with a fee that covers costs and includes a profit markup. A routine remuneration could also be provided for the capital that the CPL puts at risk under a guarantee agreement; this could be a risk-rated return. Then the remaining cash pool benefit could be allocated to all cash pool members on the basis of certain allocation keys, such as the size of different entities' balances. Conversely, if the CPL is performing more than routine administrative functions—acting more like a bank, with all the pertinent functions and risks—then it may be part of the profit-split allocation and may be able to earn more-than-routine returns.
Global Inconsistencies
Cross-border cash pooling arrangements present unique transfer pricing exposures and opportunities. There is little agreement among tax authorities around the world as to how the related-party payments and interactions inherent in such arrangements should be analyzed or priced. For example, some tax authorities may not make a distinction between cash pooling systems and more traditional centralized treasury operations when evaluating transfer pricing issues.
To ensure that it's complying with the appropriate transfer pricing tax rules, a company needs to understand how it's allocating the total profits from its cash pool among the CPL and the cash pool members, and why it's using that allocation methodology. Further, given the uncertainty about how global tax authorities will view the same issues, multinationals that operate internal cash pools would be well-advised to proactively consider and document their responses to all the transfer pricing issues we've discussed. Not only is a careful examination of allocation of cash pooling benefits likely to help a business optimize its savings (both tax and non-tax), but it will also provide cover should the company have to defend itself under audit by tax authorities in one of the jurisdictions in which it operates.
Sherif Assef is a managing director in the New York office of Duff & Phelps. He has extensive experience advising clients on all types of transfer pricing matters, specializing in the financial services industry. Sherif has assisted clients in analyzing a variety of related party transactions—including the global trading of financial instruments, asset management services, brokerage services, the sharing of banking fees, insurance and re-insurance transactions, loans, guarantees, management services, and administrative services.
Dick de Boer is a director in the Amsterdam office of Duff & Phelps. With a broad range of experience in international tax consulting, Dick has performed transfer pricing services such as IP (re)structuring, policy design and documentation (also for financial transactions), valuations, and dispute resolution. He has particular expertise working with tax authorities in relation to transfer pricing tax audits, APAs, and horizontal monitoring.
For questions, please email firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Dog Trainer comes up with Anti-evolution idiocy
Discussion of everything related to the Theory of Evolution.
Moderator: BioTeam
Dog Trainer comes up with Anti-evolution idiocy
http://naturaldogtraining.com/blog/natu ... mment-6345
Re: Dog Trainer comes up with Anti-evolution idiocy
No this misrepresents my position. I'm pro-evolution, I just don't believe it happens by way of RANDOM mutation. Mutation as in genes that change according to environmental/emotional parameters, but not at random. Perhaps you've heard of epigenetics. Hope this clarifies.
Yep it makes it clear that you do not understand anything about modern evolution theory. Epigenetics might have a role in evolution, but it not driving it.
Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without
any proof. (Ashley Montague)
You are assuming that things evolve separately from each other, whereas my reading of animal behavior indicates that all things evolve as one whole entity. I never said epigenetics is driving evolution. My point is that epigentics is a powerful indication of evolution as one whole process in that the environment and emotional context can turn an individual's genes on and off, and the timing of genes is proving to be more and more critical in the physical expression of genes. Also, I'm not conflating the mechanism of evolution with the reason for evolution as you are with the notion that random mutations are both the mechanics and the cause of evolution. For example, I don't know why the universe is expanding as one whole unit, I just know that it is expanding. You're stuck in an old paradigm that if evolution isn't caused by random mutations, it therefore must be directed.
Where did I say any of this?
I have a problem with your assertions from here and the post linked in the OP that seem to assume that evolution comes is driven/explained by an energetic network interconnecting all life forms.
Nope. Evolution acts only on individuals and is genetic (and epigenetic too, to a degree that is not completely evaluated). Mutations and horizontal genetic transfer, and in some degree epigenetic modifications of the sexual cells content, are what allows evolution, in a sense that they generate the diversity that will be selected from by the natural selection, i.e the ability to survive and to pass on genes to next generations.
Your emphasis on energy is the really weird part.
Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without
any proof. (Ashley Montague)
Re: Dog Trainer comes up with Anti-evolution idiocy
I see it as interconnected because all animals have a universal operating code of consciousness, which shouldn't be possible if a gene is the smallest unit of information and since species can't interbreed. My premise is that there is a more fundamental kind of information. In my "article" quoted above about deer I'm making the point that over millions of years deer haven't evolved the capacity to look up for danger, which is why bow hunters climb into tree stands every fall. Surely there must be a mutation inching in that direction and that would have conferred some adaptive advantage to such a fortuitous deer since that very mechanism is touted as the source of all evolved adaptations, and yet it's never happened. In my reading of animal behavior nature is not a realm of limited resources whereby natural selection cuts like a scythe as one individual competes against another. In my view, when animals communicate via their common code (this behavioral platform is most vivid in the behavior of dogs and this is a conclusion I believe modern research will ultimately arrive at since modern science is beginning to understand that there is something unique about dogs)then they progress in the sense of adaptive success to the challenge of life on earth. This is how I believe natural selection actually works. I'm not arguing against evolution, simply that all living things evolve as a whole, not as individuals. By way of example, the on/line industry evolves as a whole in terms of the Internet as its universal operating system. The businesses didn't evolve to form an internet, the internet as a network protocol and medium came first, and then the niche players filled the various slots now made available.
Okay. I will admit that the OP put a wrong title on the topic, you are not anti-evolutionist, but your theory is at least deep in the realm of the weird and way away from any respectable scientific understanding of evolution.
What the hell is that ?
As for your deer example it simply shows that the cost of evolving the ability to look up in deers (maybe changing the neck articulation or the location of the eyes, I am not a specialist of deer anatomy) is higher than the chance of being attacked by predators in trees. If you imagine the possibility of mutations as a landscape with peaks and valley, and the higher the peak, the higher the fitness in the particular environment. The deers might very well be stuck (wrt to this particular characteristic) on a small peak that is far from the overall optimal, but if a higher peak can only be attained by multiples mutations that will put then for a long time in valleys even worse than their local optimal, the overall maximum will never be reached, and the deers will be stuck with a suboptimal local maximum.
And yes nature is
I witness that everyday when I grow my bacteria and they lose the abilities that I have tried to breed in them because the modification make them considerably less fit than any other bacteria that would lose or deactivate my favourite gene
Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without
any proof. (Ashley Montague)
I developed my theory on dogs, although deer are encompassed, and so I'm simply saying in regards to this one specific point that it seems hard to believe that if survival advantage is to be held as a prime mover in evolution, that deer wouldn't evolve the means to search high for danger given that all manner of predator have dropped down from above over millions of years. In contrast, I believe that what determines adaptive value is in terms of the organism's contribution to the "network," the whole, rather than in terms of individual survival or reproductive advantage. This is why there is no network value in deer evolving to look up. Sometimes the two run in parallel, especially in more primitive organisms, but in dogs we can see the more fundamental network principle to which I'm alluding most vividly and that it trumps survival and reproductive mandates.
A universal code of consciousness is emotion, and this means that there is a basic template organizing any and all animal interactions and which makes it possible for animals of different species to not only communicate but to connect. So for example, when two dogs meet, they aren't establishing dominance or competing for resources, or even being "friendly," they are in fact achieving the basic emotional states of prey relative to predator, as these are the primal traits of temperament. These complementary traits of differentiation make advanced sociability possible by facilitating the development of complex personality traits as the interaction proceeds and possibly has the chance to develop over the long term.
At any rate, my theory may not interest you however I appreciate the acknowledgment that I'm not arguing against the notion of evolution, just the mechanics of it.
Re: Dog Trainer comes up with Anti-evolution idiocy
Your arguments are reminiscent of creationist that questions why evolution hasn't come up with a cheetah that runs 1000 mph? It's the silly notion that there is a drive toward optimization. A serious misunderstanding of the science.
There is nothing unique about dogs, or at least not unique in away that other animals aren't also unique.
So running 1000 mph is the same as asking why there isn't a deer that looks a 1/8 millimeter higher, then another one a 1/8th millimeter higher yet, given that variability is supposedly at random in the deer genome, and given that so many animals do look upward for danger, i.e. big horn sheep, so that an effective upward gaze evolves over a million years in response to their major predator? Hardly asking deer to see to the moon. And if other animals were capable of running 999 mph, then yes we would have to wonder why cheetahs can't run 1000mph.
Dogs are "unique" in that they are the most vivid manifestation of what all animals have in common. They go more by feel (as opposed to instinct) than other animals which is why they are able to live among mankind and adapt so fully.
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According to Standard & Poor's (S&P), corporate issuance of new bonds this year is likely to exceed 2012 levels. Corporations around the world issued more than $3 trillion in bonds from January through November 2013.
Much of the growth in borrowing is being driven by companies that are below investment grade. S&P expects global corporate speculative-grade bond issuance—that is, issuance by companies rated BB+ or lower—to account for more than 15 percent of the total issuance this year. Not only that, but S&P projects that this year's corporate speculative-grade bond issuance will exceed $500 billion, which would be a record.
"With relatively few alternatives to improve yield, investors were eager to lend even to entities with lower credit quality," says Diane Vazza, head of Standard & Poor's Global Fixed Income Research. These investments appear to be fairly sound, even as more companies at the low end of the ratings spectrum were able to issue bonds. S&P reports that only 2.2 percent of speculative-grade corporate borrowers defaulted from November 2012 through October 2013, compared with 2.5 percent for all of 2012.


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Auto Lending Rates Rule the Road
More dealership alliances, better marketing, lower rates or a combination of all three?
These may be among the factors that have helped some of the industry's largest credit unions, notably those in the billion-dollar asset range, to become frontrunners in the auto lending sector.
The data clearly shows which cooperatives are leading the pack. According to CUNA Mutual Group's March "Credit Union Trends Report," credit unions with assets ranging from $404 million to $52.4 billion accounted for 80% of vehicle loan growth in 2012.
Forty-nine percent of credit unions reported positive vehicle loan growth and the 510 largest credit unions by asset size accounted for 80% of 2012's gain, the report's data showed. The 197 billion-dollar credit unions also accounted for 57.9% of that growth. On the other end, a total of 145 credit unions in the 510 large credit union category group reported declines in their auto loan portfolios.
Among the factors that have led to strong auto loan activity are the robust sales of stronger, new light vehicles, less generous financing incentives from captives and lower rates at credit unions, noted the report, which tracked data through January.
"The nation's credit unions are helping consumers and members lead the recovery. Record mortgage refinances improved member household cash flow and falling vehicle loan rates helped make vehicle replacement more affordable," said Dave Colby, CUNA Mutual chief economist.
Another sign that consumers may be more willing to shop again can be seen in new vehicle loan originations. The $6 billion gain in new vehicle loans accounted for 22% of all credit union loan growth during 2012, according to the trends report. Indeed, new vehicle loan rates were down almost 0.5% over the past year to 3.41%. The 8.9% gain in used vehicle loans is the best performance since early 2004, the report noted.
Meanwhile, there's more evidence that larger credit unions are bringing in the bulk of auto loans.
Competing with some of the nation's biggest banks, five of them recently made the list for the 25 largest auto lenders among depository institutions in the United States.
According to SNL Financial, the $15 billion Pentagon Federal Credit Union, which ranked 22nd, posted the highest quarterly growth rate in auto loans among the top 25 for the fourth quarter in 2012. The Alexandria, Va.-based cooperative grew its portfolio by 10.9% during that period by pricing its loans very competitively, the data showed.
"Not including any current rate specials, Pentagon Fed's average rate on a 60-month new car loan was 2.74% as of SNL's most recent rate collection date, significantly below the national average rate of 4.24%," according to Charlottesville, Va.-based data and analytic firm SNL Financial.
Other credit unions that made the top 25 auto lender list were the $52 billion Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Va., which ranked 14th, $6 billion Security Service Federal Credit Union in San Antonio, (No. 17), $5 billion Alaska USA Federal Credit Union in Anchorage, Alaska (No. 23) and the $5 billion America First Federal Credit Union in Riverdale, Utah (No. 25).
Auto loans amassed during the fourth quarter were $691 million at Navy Federal, $520 million at Security Service FCU, $271 million at Pentagon FCU, $224 million at Alaska USA FCU and $170 million at America First FCU.
According to SNL Financial, Ally Financial Inc. in Detroit ranked first in its top 25 list of the top auto lenders followed by Wells Fargo & Co. in San Francisco, JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York, Capital One Financial Corp. in McClean, Va., and Bank of America Corp. in Charlotte, N.C.
Regardless of the asset size or whether the financial institution was a credit union, bank or other lender, lower interest rates and longer loan terms made it easier for consumers to finance a vehicle in fourth-quarter 2012, according to Experian Automotive. Average loan terms for a new vehicle during those three months jumped to an all-time high of 65 months, up from 63 months in fourth-quarter 2011.
Experian's fourth-quarter state of the automotive finance market report also showed that the average loan amount for a new vehicle was $26,691 in fourth-quarter 2012, up $272 from the same quarter in 2011, while the average used vehicle loan was $17,629 in 2012, up $239 from 2011, both in the fourth quarter of those years.
While consumers are taking out larger loans, lower interest rates and longer loan terms for new vehicles helped bring down the average monthly payments. Experian said the average monthly payment for a new vehicle dropped in the fourth-quarters, from $468 in 2011 to $460 in 2012.
The average interest rate for a new vehicle loan in 2012 dropped to 4.36%, from 4.52% in 2011. The average interest rate for a used vehicle loan dropped to 8.48%, from 8.67% during the same period.
"Lower interest rates and longer loan terms made it easier for consumers to finance a vehicle while keeping their payments affordable," said Melinda Zabritski, director of automotive credit for Experian Automotive. "This, combined with the fact that more vehicle loans went to consumers with credit outside of prime, portends a vital and healthy automotive market."


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Green power takes center stage
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Energy conservation has become a major focus for electronic products no matter where they are to be sold around the world. Legislation and customer pressure are both working to ensure greener operation.
In the European Union, for example, under the EcoDesign Directive, manufacturers of energy-related products need to be able to demonstrate they have taken environmental factors into account. The European Commission has introduced a number of implementing measures that specify the kinds of actions that manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment need to put in place to improve their environmental performance.
The first implementing measure to be put in place focused on standby power consumption. The first move was to cut power consumption when devices are switched off to 1 W or less and to 2 W for systems running in standby mode. From the start of next year, these limits are halved to 0.5 W and 1 W, respectively. Other legislation focuses on power-factor correction (PFC) to ensure that electronic devices and lighting systems do not adversely affect the electricity supply.
Power Integrations has developed a range of components to target the increasingly stringent requirements for standby power and PFC. The companys SENZero and LinkZero devices provide the building blocks needed to cut standby and off-mode power dramatically. For better PFC performance, Power Integrations has developed the Qspeed advanced diodes. These diodes combine an extremely low reverse recovery charge (QRR) with a very soft recovery waveform. By replacing existing ultra-fast diodes with the Qspeed devices, manufacturers can improve the efficiency of PFC circuits and switching power supplies by a significant factor and run cooler by more than 50 percent.
Typical application using SENZero
Typical application using LinkZero-LP


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At John Cutter Investigations, our private investigators in Saratoga County, New York bring experience from the public and private sectors. John Cutter, founder of JCI, served in the public sector as an NYPD officer for over 25 years; his last position was Deputy Chief of the Criminal Intelligence Section. Our full-service investigations agency also employs several private investigators with decades of combined experience in the private sector, who are familiar with the most cutting-edge technology and practices used in the investigative industry today.
No Investigation Is the Same for Our Saratoga County, NY Private Investigators
We do not have a one size fits all approach when taking on a clients case, because our client base is very diverse. Our private investigators in Saratoga County, NY serve private individuals, businesses, attorneys and law firms, insurance carriers and public entities. Therefore, we understand that it is critical to look at each clients needs on a case-by-case basis in order to achieve the best possible outcome. Another reason we focus on each clients unique needs is because we employ private detectives licensed in three states New York (ALDONYS member), Connecticut (CALPI member) and New Jersey (NJLPIA member), which have different laws regulating how investigations can be conducted. During your free initial consultation, our private detectives in Saratoga County, New York will learn about your case and inform you about the laws and regulations that pertain to private investigations in New York State.
John Cutter Investigations Offers a Variety of Investigative Services
You may have already spoken with a private investigator in Saratoga County, New York, and he or she may have informed you that they cannot assist you with your case. The difference with John Cutter Investigations is that there is a high probability that we offer just what you need.
Below are some common investigative services that we provide to Saratoga County clients:
How to Get Started Today
Your first step should be to contact our office to speak with an Saratoga County, NY private investigator. Remember, the initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us today. Below you will find our offices phone numbers choose the appropriate one based upon your state. If this is the first time you are contacting a private investigator in Saratoga County, NY, and would feel more comfortable communicating via email, feel free to fill out our contact form below.


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Franklin Police "Treat" Heard County Kids
Franklin Police Department, Heard County Emergency Services and the Cabe Family provided trick-or-treaters with candy on Saturday and Sunday night in front of Franklin City Hall.
After learning that the annual Community Carnival had been canceled, these individual decided to gather at Franklin City Hall to pass out candy to the many trick-or-treaters. The Franklin Police Department positioned an officer at the intersection of Georgia Highway 34 and Main Street to ensure pedestrians safely crossed the roadway to proceed to the residential community.
"We would like to thank the Heard County Emergency Services and the Cabe family for assisting us with this event. In addition, we would also like to thank the citizens who approached us requesting to donate candy to be distributed to the trick-or-treaters. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed socializing with the community we serve", stated Chief Kevin Hannah.


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Delavan business translates into success
DELAVAN--Language isn't exact science.
A word in French might not translate exactly into English.
An idea or concept in Somalian or Mixe, a language spoken by indigenous Mexican Indians, might not exist in the North American culture.
That's why the work at a Delavan business is so important.
Since 2002, the Southern Wisconsin Interpretation and Translation Services, or SWITS, as it is commonly called, has been providing courts, hospitals, businesses and others with a clear connection to their non-English and limited-English speaking customers and clients.
The most common languages the company works with are Spanish and American Sign Language.� But SWITS also has interpreters and translators for Somalian, Hmong, Russian, Polish and dozen of other common and lesser-known world languages.
Translating refers to anything written. Interpreting refers to spoken language or American Sign Language, said Saul Arteaga, SWITS director.
It's an important distinction.
"Being bilingual encompasses many skill sets," Arteaga said. "Interpreters are transferring a message, not necessarily the exact words."
For example, a doctor might ask a patient if the pain she is experiencing is sharp or dull. A translation of those exact words might not convey the same meaning in a different language, Arteaga said.
The interpreter's job is to interpret the message in a way the patient understands.
Interpreters must retain the memory of what the English-speaker said while simultaneously thinking of the correct way to relay that message.
In addition, they must understand regionalisms and changes in the language.
"Think about the word 'tablet,'" Arteaga said. "That used to be a pill. Now, it could mean something else."
The company has 33 full-time employees, more than 50 part-time employees and a list of more than 100 people who can work when needed.
SWITS services are available 24 hours a day, and they work on site and over the telephone.
This spring, the company expanded its reach, installing a call center with computer monitors and cameras that will allow interpreters to work from Delavan with clients all over the country.
The company is encouraging all of its interpreters who work in hospitals to become nationally certified medical interpreters. The certification, which is new, involves written and oral exams, and is expected to become an industry standard.


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Uploaded: Thursday, March 02nd 2017 02:35:45 AM by Marcia Ferrari.
Filetype : image/jpg.
Dimension : 1280x960 pixels.
Resolution: High Resolution.
Category : Kitchen Lighting Fixtures.
Total : 88 Photography. Kitchen Lighting Fixtures Plans.
Also known as railing lighting systems, this type of kitchen lighting fixture has a wide range of design flexibility. The track can be long or short, curved or straight. Spotlights, pendants, or other kitchen lighting fixtures can be hung from the track at different points, directions and heights to provide accent, task or general lighting. Also known as can lights, this type of kitchen lighting fixture is located within the ceiling instead of being attached to or hanging from the ceiling. This type of kitchen fixture is a perfect choice for those who prefer unobtrusive to decorative lighting. Recessed lighting can provide task, accent, or general kitchen lighting.
Wall lights are a type of kitchen lighting fixtures that are typically mounted to the wall. They can take the form of scones matching a pendant, ceiling fixture or a chandelier. They can either deliver task, accent or general lighting. Some of the common locations where wall lights are used include on either sides of a piece of art, a decorative back-splash, or used to create a focal point of a hutch.
Pendant kitchen lighting fixtures are decorative fixtures. They typically suspend from the ceiling and offer general as well as task lighting. Most kitchen designers prefer placing them over counter areas or over islands where dining, conversation, baking as well as food preparation occurs. A good example of pendant lighting fixtures is the mini-pendant, which is usually used for small kitchen spaces and is approximately 12 inches or less. Another example is the island light or multi-light pendant, which works well bigger spaces that require more lighting.
While using this site, you agree to have read and accepted our terms of use, cookie and privacy policy. Copyright © 2016–2017 Pomauto.


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Exterior Painters Leeds UT 84746
Painting the exterior of your house in Leeds, UT is a large task – even if your house is not that big! To do the job properly, you will need an assortment of equipment that ranges from scrapers to brushes to extension ladders, a large block of time, skill and balance – remember the ladders? – and then hope for cooperative weather.
But what if you could have a great looking exterior paint job, but not have to give up a weekend, nor invest in tools and equipment? The simple answer, you can. Hiring professional exterior painters is a great way to get the job done and still have time for leisure activities.
What to Look for in Exterior House Painters in Leeds
The exterior of your home is often a reflection of the home's interior. So if you are planning on painting the home because you will soon be selling it, then it is more important than ever to ensure that the paint job is above reproach. Consequently, you want to choose exterior house painters who have a good reputation, many years of experience and guarantees on their work. You don't want to choose the company that promises fast and cheap, but rather one that guarantees you will be pleased with their work and at a price that is comparable to other companies. Take the time to interview potential companies and check their references, before carefully reading the contract. Be sure the contract contains no surprises. If it does, ask for clarification.
Keep in mind, it is up to you to be sure that you provide specific needs and requirements for the job. Walk around your home with each potential exterior house painter and discuss what you expect to see when the job is complete. Remember, they are exterior house painters, not mind readers!
Don't give up your free time to paint your home's exterior. Call in a professional exterior painting company from Leeds, UT and let them do it for you. They will have the tools and experience to give your home a much needed facelift. Of course, they can't control the weather, but they can ensure your home looks awesome. Blue Ribbon Paint and Stain of Utah have the experience and equipment needed to ensure your home looks great. Give them a call and get ready to enjoy your weekend – no paintbrush necessary!
Make sure that the exterior painting service providers are licensed and endorsed by organizations like TrustMark, a non-profit organization that is licensed by the government. Verify their standing with TrustMark to make sure that they are indeed reputable tradesmen for home improvement projects in Leeds. Look for an exterior painter that has a Dulux select decorator status, and make sure they are accredited for safety on the job.
One of the most important things that you can do for the highest curb appeal of your home is the exterior painting in Leeds. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring a contractor, make sure you keep the following dos and dont's in mind for the best job.
Do Paint in the Right Season in Utah
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when painting the exterior of your home is the weather. When you are looking ahead to your project, think about whether it is likely to rain or snow while you are painting. You want to make sure that you are painting on a day that the paint will dry quickly and you won't have the job compromised by Mother Nature.
Don't Default to Lowest Price
Whether you are hiring a contractor to complete the paint job for you, or if you are buying the material yourself for a DIY job, make sure you are considering quality ahead of all else. Getting the lowest price is not the most important factor in an exterior painting job as it may not result in a great finished product. Make sure you have hired a high quality contractor and that you are using the highest quality material, even if you have to pay a little more.
You don't have to be an expert painter to get a good exterior paint job done on your house. You just need to know some of the factors that will ultimately affect the quality of work you get. Talk to a contractor experienced with exterior painting in Leeds for the best results.
More nearby cities we paint in Utah:


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The world's major industrial nations sought to soothe mounting fears of a currency war with a pledge to avoid devaluing their exchange rates in the pursuit of stronger economic growth.
"We reaffirm that our fiscal and monetary policies have been and will remain oriented towards meeting our respective domestic objectives using domestic instruments, and that we will not target exchange rates," the Group of Seven's finance ministers and central bank governors said in a statement released today in London.
The stance is tougher than the G-7's last joint comment on exchange rates in 2011 and marks an effort to avoid a 1930s-style spiral of retaliatory devaluations in which weak economies try to boost exports by driving currencies down. It follows an outbreak of concern that Japan's new campaign to beat deflation is an outright attempt to weaken the yen, an allegation its government again denied today.
The yen pared gains versus the dollar after the statement's release and as Finance Minister Taro Aso said the G-7 acknowledged Japan is not chasing a weaker yen and that its monetary policy is aimed at reversing a decline in prices. The yen traded at 94.33 per dollar at 10:25 a.m. in London after strengthening as much as 0.5 percent.
"The G-7 doesn't put any additional pressure on Japan so the downward trend in the yen will reassert itself," Adam Cole, head of global foreign-exchange strategy at Royal Bank of Canada in London, said in a telephone interview. "There is nothing here really to stop the yen falling."
The G-7 also reiterated its traditional stance that members are committed to "market-determined" exchange rates and that "excessive volatility and disorderly movements" can hurt "economic and financial stability."
The statement was released three days before finance chiefs from the Group of 20 hold talks in Moscow, and with the yen having fallen about 14 percent against the dollar since mid- November to its lowest since 2010. The G-7 may have acted today to smooth the G-20 talks where the yen's decline could have drawn complaints from China which is often attacked for massaging the yuan's value.
"They may be trying to dictate the discussion on foreign exchange and reduce the likelihood that Japan's current tactics become a divisive point when crafting the G-20 communique," said Daragh Maher, a strategist in London at HSBC Holdings Plc.
Driving the yen's slide is a post-election push by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for easier monetary policy to propel the world's third-largest economy from 15 years of deflation and repeated recessions. That strategy has drawn words of warning from Canada to Germany as policy makers fret Abe is actively trying to weaken the yen, threatening their own exporters.
"Each nation understands that Japan's policies to tackle deflation are not aimed at influencing foreign exchange rates," Aso told reporters in Tokyo today. "This was discussed by everyone. We didn't urge" the G-7 to issue the statement.
The ability of G-7 nations to criticise Japan for introducing monetary stimulus is weakened by the reliance on it of other economies such as the U.S, said Chris Turner, head of foreign exchange strategy at ING Group NV. The U.S. dollar has fallen about 14 percent in trade-weighted terms since early 2009 as the Federal Reserve cut interest rates and bought assets.
"Today's statement is primarily aimed at Japan and discourages Tokyo from talking the yen lower," said Turner. "We very much doubt this G-7 agreement has any bearing on Tokyo's domestic policy."
U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Lael Brainard told reporters in Washington yesterday that the U.S. supported Japan's attempt to "reinvigorate growth," while cautioning all countries against competitive devaluations. The topic of exchange rates may also come up tomorrow when Jack Lew testifies before lawmakers as part of his confirmation process to become Treasury secretary.
Swiss National Bank President Thomas Jordan, who caps the Swiss Franc against the euro, said he doesn't see a currency war brewing as "central banks' monetary policies are internal programs."
Those comments, made today, were more supportive of Japan's approach than others made elsewhere in the past month. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty are among those to have raised questions about Japan's strategy.
French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici today repeated his call for a "coordinated, intelligent exchange-rate strategy" at the global level.
The G-7 may become more critical if the yen keeps falling, said Hiroaki Muto, a senior economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management in Tokyo.
"The tone indicates that the current weakness in the yen may be OK, but further depreciation won't be overlooked," said Muto.
Bloomberg News


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No measures over abuse inaction
No council employees will face disciplinary action in a town where 1,400 children suffered sexual exploitation in a 16-year period, the local authority's chief executive has said.
Rotherham Council leader Roger Stone resigned today following the publication of a shocking report which detailed gang rapes, grooming, trafficking and other sexual exploitation on a wide scale in the South Yorkshire town.
But council chief executive Martin Kimber said he did not have the evidence to discipline any individuals working for the council despite the report saying there had been "blatant" collective failures by its leadership at the time.
Roger Stone has stepped down as leader of Rotherham Council
There were also calls for South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright to consider his position tonight.
Mr Wright is a former Rotherham Labour councillor and was cabinet member for Children Services between 2005 and 2010.
Professor Alexis Jay, who wrote the report, said she found "utterly appaling" examples of "children who had been doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made to witness brutally-violent rapes and threatened they would be next if they told anyone".
She said: "They were raped by multiple perpetrators, trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, abducted, beaten and intimidated."
She said she found that girls as young as 11 had been raped by large numbers of men.
A spokesman for Number 10 said: "The failings of local agencies exposed by this inquiry are appalling."
Mr Stone resigned his post within minutes of the report being published.
He said in a statement: "I believe it is only right that I, as leader, take responsibility on behalf of the council for the historic failings that are described so clearly in the report and it is my intention to do so."
Mr Kimber was repeatedly asked to justify the decision to bring no disciplinary actions to anyone at the council at a press conference in the town.
He said there was not evidence to discipline anyone still employed at the authority suggested the current employers of senior managers who have worked for Rotherham Council in the past should study the report carefully.
The spotlight first fell on Rotherham in 2010 when five men were given lengthy jail terms after they were found guilty of grooming teenage girls for sex.
The prosecution was the first of a series of high-profile cases in the last four years that have revealed the exploitation of young girls in towns and cities including Rochdale, Derby and Oxford.
Following the 2010 case, The Times claimed that details from 200 restricted-access documents showed how police and child protection agencies in the South Yorkshire town had extensive knowledge of these activities for a decade, yet a string of offences went unprosecuted.
The allegations led to a range of official investigations, including one by the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Today's report - commissioned by the council - said failures of the political and officer leadership of Rotherham Council between 1997 and 2009 were "blatant" as the seriousness of the problem was underplayed by senior managers and was not seen as a priority by South Yorkshire Police.
Prof Jay said police "regarded many child victims with contempt".
These failures happened despite three reports between 2002 and 2006 "which could not have been clearer in the description of the situation in Rotherham".
She said one of these reports was "effectively suppressed" and the others were ignored.
The reports also said that "several staff described their nervousness about identifying the ethnic origins of perpetrators for fear of being thought racist" as most of the perpetrators were described by the victims as Asian.
Prof Jay concluded in her report: "No one knows the true scale of the child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rotherham over the years.
"Our conservative estimate is that approximately 1,400 children were sexually exploited over the full inquiry period, from 1997 to 2013."
Rotherham district police commander Chief Superintendent Jason Harwin said: "Firstly I'd like to start by offering an unreserved apology to the victims of Child Sexual Exploitation who did not receive the level of service they should be able to expect from their local police force. We fully acknowledge our previous failings."
The officer said that in the last 12 months in Rotherham 15 people have been prosecuted or charged with CSE-related offences and his officers are currently dealing with 32 live investigations
John Cameron, head of NSPCC helpline at the NSPCC, said: "It appears there was at a senior level a collective blindness over many years to the suffering of children who endured almost incomprehensible levels of violence and intimidation."
Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive of Victim Support said: "Time and again we see the same pattern repeated. Until those in authority focus on the sexual abuse and not the symptoms of that abuse, the lives of vulnerable young people like the victims in Rotherham will go on being ruined."
Barnardo's chief executive Javed Khan said: "The horrific nature of the child sexual exploitation which took place in Rotherham is truly shocking. These vicious sexual predators should never have been allowed to put these children through such hell for so long."
Professor Alexis Jay's report found that around 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham
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Journal Article
MAGIC (Including:). (2010) Association analyses of 249,796 individuals reveal 18 new loci associated with body mass index. Nature Genetics, Vol.42 (No.11). pp. 937-948. ISSN 1061-4036


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Spring 2014 Election
Elkhorn City Council President Brian Olson elected mayor
ELKHORN—The first item on the list of things to do as mayor is fix the roads, Brian Olson said after being elected mayor Tuesday.
Olson was with family and friends at his home when he heard the news.
"We're going to move Elkhorn forward with our plans to build parks and take care of our roads," Olson said.
Olson, elected alderman in 2012 and president of the city council in 2013, ran against Gary L. Payson Sr., a veteran councilman and former city council president.
Howie Reynolds did not seek re-election after serving two terms as mayor.
Olson had 77 more votes than Payson.
As mayor, Olson plans to draw upon his council experience to help improve parks, roads and businesses.
Olson wants to attract jobs, businesses and new residents by changing Elkhorn's zoning ordinances, which have not been altered for 12 years, he said. Olson wants ordinances adjusted to welcome new businesses.
One way to achieve that, he said, is to use the group of area business owners he formed to go through ordinances and identify what is and isn't working.
Among his plans is to create a marketing program directed toward businesses.
As for spending, the city has not spent unnecessarily, and he wants to keep taxes at a minimum. In the past two years, the city has reduced taxes, Olson said. But he does think the city can plan better for "big ticket items," such as the city's water treatment plant, firehouse and City Hall.
Olson also wants to address a utility issue. Groundwater is leaking into wastewater sewer lines, meaning more water than necessary is being sent for treatment, increasing utility rates, Olson said. He wants to fix that.


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Now you can spend more time with your little one, get in the workout you need and show them how much fun a healthy lifestyle can be and without the sticker shock.
Because at InSTEP® they pride ourselves on Joggers and Trailers that not only measure up to your expectations of comfort, performance and convenience, but do it at an outstanding value price. More features. More function. Plus great style and sharp colors youll be proud to roll out on the town with hey, becoming a parent doesnt have to mean surrendering all sense of taste.


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Your Views: Entire Fourth Ward mourns loss of Sterk
The Fourth Ward lost another great one with the passing of Mike Sterk last week. He was a longtime member of the Fourth Ward Committee. He had an intense dislike for bad landlords and drug dealers. He worked diligently to remove them from our neighborhood. Mike was a major supporter of the Janesville police and displayed his support for them on his front door.
Mike was always up front with you. You never had to wonder what he was thinking. He told you! He also was a generous man who helped his neighbors and friends when they fell on hard times. He would take them to the grocery store and buy a carload of groceries.
He never wanted recognition for what he did. Knowing he'd contributed to restoring the Fourth Ward or helping someone was reward enough for him.
Mike often wondered, while sitting on his porch, why people he didn't know would wave to him as they drove by. He wasn't aware that new residents already knew who Mike Sterk was.
The loss of Mike Sterk leaves a void in his family, his friends and his neighborhood. But he left us with a message of how important it is to help others and contribute to making our society a better place in which to live.


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The GOP Variety Theatre Münster, part of the GOP Entertainment Group empire, opened its doors in September 2005. Since then, GOP's trademark mix of premium live entertainment and exquisite cuisine has given hours of laughter and happiness to thousands of people every year in this historic city. A new jewel in the crown of one of Germany's loveliest cities, the theatre offers visitors to Münster the chance to combine a mini-break with some very special nights out.
The GOP Variety Theatre Münster's programme is, as you'd expect, full of variety. Every two months a new show takes to the stage featuring a brilliant line-up of top acrobats, jugglers, magicians, comedians and mime artists from all over the world. Audiences can also watch new talents put a modern spin on skills learned at legendary circus schools in Montreal, Kiev, Paris and Berlin. This eclectic offering is woven together with great panache by the theatre's creative directors to produce night after night of trademark entertainment. The venue itself has plenty of atmosphere, its modern design complemented by warm, red tones and elegant wood finishes. Different seating levels ensure that everyone has a perfect view of the stage and the artists' performances are enhanced by the latest in stage, light and sound technology. The philosophy at GOP Variety Theatre Münster in a nutshell? Combining breathtaking variety shows with fine dining, friendly service and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. And of course, a drink or two at one of the theatre's bars to round off an enjoyable evening.
Próximas datas:
25.10.2017 - 31.12.2017
Local do evento
GOP Varieté Münster
Bahnhofstraße 20
48143 Münster
Fon: +49 (0)251 490 90 90
Todas as informações sobre preços, datas e horários de abertura estão sujeitas a alteração.


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Brewers face roster decisions
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Somebody has to go.
As the Milwaukee Brewers' brain trust mulls the various ways to fill the 25-man roster before opening day, one thing is evident. There are not enough spots to accommodate the number of players vying to make the club.
That doesn't qualify as groundbreaking news, because each spring there are more candidates than job openings. But the Brewers face a series of difficult and intriguing decisions in figuring out the best ways to fill their bench.
A big part of the dilemma is how best to configure the right side of the infield. Making those decisions more difficult is the fact neither Rickie Weeks nor Scooter Gennett plays a position other than second base.
Assuming the Brewers go with a 12-man pitching staff and a five-man bench, as has been the case in recent years, keeping two second base-only players would leave them short at other spots. If Weeks continues to tear it up in exhibition play and Gennett continues to struggle, that puzzle could be solved by returning Weeks to everyday status and sending Gennett to Class AAA Nashville to play regularly.
But Gennett played very well after Weeks was lost for the final two months of the 2013 season with a torn hamstring tendon, leaving one with the impression the Brewers were prepared to move forward with the young prospect. Weeks, who has been in a steep two-year decline offensively, has one year remaining on his contract at $11 million.
Weeks also has a club option for $11.5 million for 2015 that vests if he has 600 plate appearances this year or 1,200 PAs combined in 2013 and 2014. His hamstring injury limited him to 399 PAs last season, so the only way that option would vest is with 600 PAs this year.
The Brewers have no desire to commit another $11.5 million to Weeks, not with Gennett knocking on the big-league door. A better option would be for another club to show enough interest this spring to work out a trade for Weeks, even if the Brewers have to absorb some of his salary. That would allow the club to move forward with Gennett, who wouldn't be making big money for years.
Just as it would be difficult to keep both Weeks and Gennett, it's almost impossible to imagine a scenario in which first-base candidates Mark Reynolds, Lyle Overbay and Juan Francisco all make the roster. It certainly would compromise the bench to keep two second basemen and at least two first basemen.
Reynolds and Francisco would provide coverage at third base behind aging Aramis Ramirez, so that helps their case. Overbay is 37 and Francisco is 26, with huge power potential, and both are left-handed hitters. The Brewers could opt for the offensive upside of Francisco and pass on Overbay, the most accomplished defender at first base.
Beyond backup at third base, the Brewers must have someone behind shortstop Jean Segura, who despite his young age (he turns 24 on March 17) can't be expected to play every inning of every game. The top candidates are holdover Jeff Bianchi and newcomer Elian Herrera, who could prove to be the perfect bench player as a switch-hitter who plays second base, short and third as well as all three outfield spots if needed.
Bianchi and Francisco are out of minor-league options, which adds another interesting element to the situation. Martin Maldonado and Logan Schafer are guaranteed bench spots as the backup catcher and fourth outfielder, respectively (Schafer being valuable in that he can play all three outfield spots without compromising defense).
Francisco already has been jettisoned by two teams—the Reds and the Braves—and the Brewers could decide to move him also despite being piqued by his offensive upside. Francisco's high strikeout totals and defensive shortcomings are other factors to consider.
If the Brewers keep Bianchi and Francisco, it would leave just one bench spot after adding Maldonado and Schafer to the mix. The best fifth reserve would be Herrera because of his ability to also serve as a fifth outfielder.
But that would mean you couldn't keep both Weeks and Gennett at second base, or both Reynolds and Overbay at first base. Which brings us back full circle to the decisions that must be made on the right side of the infield to make the pieces to this puzzle fit.
"It's going to be pretty competitive for a couple of bench spots," acknowledged general manager Doug Melvin. "It's probably a little unusual but, I don't think it's dramatic because we think our third baseman and shortstop are going to be out there 150 games. A lot of teams don't have that.
"It depends on whether we have two first basemen. In the past (before the injury-riddled 2013 season), we've only had one guy playing first base. We might have to have two first basemen this year. We don't know that yet."
Keeping two second basemen would be just as difficult, if not more so. That's why it's hard to imagine both Weeks and Gennett heading north with the club at the end of spring training.


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Kilbourn Park
3501 N. Kilbourn Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60641
(773) 685-3351
Fee: Free
Age Range: Any
Latino Film Festival Selection
Enjoy a selection from the Latino Film Festival, presented by the International Latino Cultural Center.
Presented by Charter One, with additional support from RCN.
Underwritten by International Latino Cultural Center
Movies in the Parks is presented by:
With additional support from:


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Bella Tin Ceiling Tiles
$4.74 / sq. ft. $18.95 / tile (4 sq. ft.)
Ships free!
Need samples? Call us at 1-800-557-0654.
Need samples? Call us at 1-800-557-0654.
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|2 ft. x 2 ft.
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This product is temporarily in limited stock and may delay your order up to 0 weeks.
Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 PM, Pacific
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Bella Tin Ceiling Tiles allow you to create a classic Greek Revival ceiling effortlessly. Their faux tin finish provides the look of a historic metal ceiling.
- 2' x 2'
- Tin
- Can be mounted directly to your ceiling using adhesive, installed in both standard 1" and slimline 9/16" drop ceiling grid, or placed beneath existing tiles to reface your outdated ceiling
- Made from laminated, 0.030" thick rigid vinyl plastic
- Lightweight and flexible for easy installation
How much will these cost?
Well, that depends! Our ceiling tile prices are based on the total number of items (tiles and accessories) in your cart. The more you buy, the cheaper they get!
How many do I need?
Use our nifty (and easy to use) ceiling tile and accessories calculator to find out!


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Relax, it's FedEx. But that slogan doesn't work as well for the company's legal team, who is now fighting a $235 million lawsuit from New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman over untaxed cigarette shipments.
In a lawsuit filed on March 30, Schneiderman's office claims that FedEx violated state and federal law by delivering over 400,000 cartons of cheap and untaxed cigarettes across the state to consumers. According to the lawsuit, this practice directly contradicts a 2006 agreement FedEx signed with the state to attempt to stop the practice.
"FedEx's blatant disregard for its long-standing agreement with New York, as well as federal and state law, enabled tens of millions of cheap, untaxed cigarettes to be shipped to New Yorkers," said Schneiderman.
The majority cigarettes in question came from the Shinnecock Smoke Shop on the Shinnecock reservation on Long Island. The store has been sued numerous times for untaxed cigarette sales, and New York City similarly sued FedEx over these shipments in 2013. In addition, FedEx is charged with making thousands of untaxed deliveries for a Kentucky company named "Cigarettes Direct to You."
The shipments in question amount to a "direct tax loss" of more than $10 million, according to Schneiderman. He said that his office is also investigating other shipping companies to see whether they also violated state and federal law.
The suit seeks $70 million in damages, $163,435,000 in penalties, and a court-appointed monitor to oversee the company's compliance, since, as the lawsuit said, FedEx has been "unable or unwilling to cease conduct that injures the health and safety of a considerable number of persons."
FedEx has not directly responded to Schneiderman's suit. Following the similar New York City suit in 2013, a company spokesman said that FedEx "prohibits the shipment of direct to consumers and believes the claims made by the city are overstated and not founded in law."
For more high-profile lawsuits, check out these InsideCounsel stories:
Bank of America settles with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for $9.3 billion
Credit Suisse reaches settlement with FHFA
California governor sued over homeowner relief fund reallocation
Google fields class action lawsuit for failing to prevent in-app purchases


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Baume et Mercier Classima Executives 8790
This Baume et Mercier has undergone a thorough inspection of water resistance, accuracy, functionality and condition to determine the level of reconditioning required to meet our strict standards. It has also been referenced against technical documents and manufacturer records where available to ensure authenticity and a clean history.
Product Description
|Approx. 5 years
|Product code
|Case size
|Case material
|Yellow Gold
|Bracelet material
|Alligator - Black
|Dial type
|Silver Baton
|Water resistance
|30 metres
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Saddle Bag
Color: please select a color
Size: please select a size
Style # CAMBR30341
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This scaled-down Cambridge Satchel saddle bag is crafted in pebbled leather. Unlined interior. Adjustable shoulder strap. Dust bag included.
Leather: Cowhide.
Weight: 10oz / 0.28kg.
Made in United Kingdom.
Height: 7.25in / 18.5cm
Length: 7.5in / 19cm
Depth: 2.75in / 7cm
Strap drop: 19.75in / 50cm
Leather: Cowhide.
Weight: 10oz / 0.28kg.
Made in United Kingdom.
Height: 7.25in / 18.5cm
Length: 7.5in / 19cm
Depth: 2.75in / 7cm
Strap drop: 19.75in / 50cm
Shipping & Returns
Free Shipping Worldwide: No matter where you are sending your order, we offer free express shipping across the globe. Shipping Details
Easy Returns: Because we understand that not every purchase is exactly right, we've made returns easy. With the return form and return shipping label included with every order, customer service calls aren't necessary. And if you're in the USA, returns are free. Return Details
Shipping Available: Shipping Within USA Only: For Amazon Prime members, free two-day shipping is available for all Shopbop & East Dane products.
About the Designer
British label Cambridge Satchel was born of necessity in 2008, when mother-daughter duo Freda Thomas and Julie Deane were searching for a way to raise money for school. Inspired by vintage Oxford and Cambridge school satchels and the bags in the Harry Potter films, they created a messenger that was both traditional and eclectic. The cross-body bag became a hit with fashion bloggers and the company now offers a range of sizes, styles, and wild colors. Cambridge Satchel bags define classic, with a twist.


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Seeking a slice of agritourism pie
As ranching margins shrink, some see new trend as an option
Hare Ranch stretches out across 400 acres of irrigated pasture, aspen groves and forest east of Pagosa Springs. It's a property that Ken Hare and his 11 family members never could imagine selling.
"We want to figure out how to make our ranching operation be self-sustaining to keep it in family," Hare said.
One of the options he's looking at is agritourism.
"I think agritourism makes sense for smaller family ranches," he said. "We want to let it be passed on (to younger generations) without being developed."
Several local ranchers also are looking at the burgeoning agritourism industry to boost their bottom line and diversify their business, many so they can keep their ranches around for the next generation.
The word 'agritourism' covers a broad range of activities, but generally is understood as the practice of inviting people onto a farm, ranch or other agricultural operation to experience how that food (or drink) is produced. The focus is on local, fresh and unique products and authentic cultural experiences.
For his ranch, Hare is considering catering to visitors who would stay on the ranch for a week or two and experience activities including branding, fixing fences and irrigating. He also has thought of opening the property to hunters and fisherman or hosting wedding parties at the ranch's historic dairy barn.
Many local cattle ranches won't support huge numbers of cattle, so they have to find other ways to supplement their income, Hare said.
Betty Shahan is looking at agritourism for the same reason. Shahan, who is close to 76 years old, had to hire helpers because of a recent back injury. It's a cost she said is hard to keep paying.
"We're just trying to keep our head above water," Shahan said. "Ranching is really, really hard."
She would like to bring in people to fish, hike, bird watch and snowmobile on the land. She said she is drawn to agritourism as a source of revenue that doesn't create the kind of degradation on her land that previous drilling operations did.
Lois Higgins, a rancher west of Pagosa Springs, already has received requests from people who want to visit.
"You don't think of yourself as being a novelty, but for folks coming in from the city, I guess we are," said Higgins, who co-owns GrassRoots Meats.
She likes the idea of diversifying the company's offerings through agritourism events.
"I think it would just take the business to another level and give us greater exposure to our customer base," she said.
James Ranch, north of Durango, has become a model of successful agritourism locally, and while the James' motivation wasn't profit-oriented, business certainly has benefited from their endeavors, said Cynthia James Stewart. Stewart owns the Harvest Grill and Greens at James Ranch, which is one of several ventures, including garden tours and an on-site market, that aim to attract visitors to the ranch.
"It started with a motive to bring people here and educate them about the way we farm," Stewart said. "But once they come to the land and see what we're doing, they get excited and want to participate in buying the product."
"I can't say that it isn't helping us, by any means," she said. "It benefits everyone as a whole."
But starting up an agritourism venture on top of a business that consumes much more than 40 hours a week is a daunting task, local ranchers said. Especially when the initial work is still speculative.
"Most all of us are in a position where we can't jump out and hire people for something we don't know is going to be successful," Higgins said. "But we don't really have the time to start it ourselves."
Marketing these experiences also is a challenge, especially for small farmers who don't have that expertise, she said.
The Internet makes everything "extremely competitive," Hare said.
Before he goes much further, Hare said he plans to visit the small business development center to create a business plan and determine if he could make agritourism a viable enterprise.
Several pockets in Colorado are standing out as leaders and models in the agritourism industry, said Judy Walden, president of Walden Mills Group, which is helping the state's agritourism program craft a strategic plan.
Steamboat Springs has an agricultural alliance that works on a variety of initiatives, including tours of local ranches, and the city of Boulder organizes Saturday tours of local farms. Ranchers in southeast Colorado have found opportunities in hosting bird-watchers on their ranches while Delta County has built up a diverse network of local farmers and artists who open their doors to tourists almost year-round.
Colorado started its agritourism program in 2009, and it is the only state that has a dedicated funding stream for such a program, Walden said.
"We're being pulled by consumers who want to know where their food comes from," she said. "Three times a day you have a chance to connect with a place through the taste of the food."
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald


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Your result...
I NEW U HAD A TEACHER WIT U! u dirty littl liar! i m ashamed! VERY ashamed! jk! i funny lik dat!Retake Quiz
tells you how hot the ladies think you are
to see who you alike in the villain world
This quiz tells you what colour your personality matches.
This Quiz Will Rate How Good You Are In The EA's Up Coming Game, NHL 18
This quiz tells you what you will look like and be like when your 16 +.
Have You Played Sports Before?
Who could it be I wonder, Find out.
Find out the first letter of the person who is truly in love with you. Is it your best friend? Or the freak who sits behind you in Algebra? (GIRLS ONLY) :)
Who are you most like? COME FIND OUT!


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Bartelme, Mary Park
115 S. Sangamon St. Chicago, Illinois 60607
(312) 746-5494
Fee: Free
Age Range: Any
Ferris Bueller's Day OffFerris is a street-wise kid who knows all the tricks. Today he decides to take the day off school. When Ferris takes the day off, so must his best friends, Cameron and Sloane. Cameron is reluctantly persuaded to borrow his father's Ferrari, and together they hatch a plan to get Sloane out of class. It's Ferris' day off, he's out to enjoy himself, and he does!
Rated PG-13 | 103 Minutes | 1986
Presented by Charter One, with additional support from RCN.
Underwritten by Sperry Van Ness


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DeforaOS Surfer is a portable Web browser, supporting tabbed browsing on a number of platforms, including embedded environments. It notably supports either XULRunner (Mozilla), WebKit, libGtkHtml, or its own lightweight implementation as the actual rendering engine to display pages.
Synovel Collabsuite provides email, calendaring, and instant messaging solution for enterprises. It consists of a Linux email server with calendar and IM, a Web-based administration panel, a desktop client suite that runs on Windows and Linux, and AJAX-based Web mail access. It uses open standards for communications: IMAP, POP, and SMTP for email, CalDav for calendaring, and Jabber for IM.
P2P-Fusion is a software system that supports audiovisual creative activities and makes it easy for anyone to create, reuse, and share audio and video productions over the Internet legally, without costly servers and complicated system management. Fusion binds together a peer-to-peer network, a distributed semantic database, social enrichment features, support for embedded licenses, and a social media application toolkit into an integrated easy-to-use solution.
SiteFusion allows object-oriented PHP applications to operate as OS-native applications through a XULRunner-based thin client. The client connects to the SiteFusion daemon through an ordinary Web server, and applications run in separate continuous processes. Two-way communication is enabled, without the need for additional Web server configurations. The implementation of the XUL framework in a PHP class structure includes an implementation of the Mozilla tree view optimized for very large trees, supporting drag-and-drop, editable cells, and sorting.
Kiwix is an offline reader for Web content. It was designed for use with Wikipedia, but is potentially suitable for all HTML content. It supports the ZIM format, a highly compressed open format with additional meta-data. It is intended for use in schools, universities, and libraries which can't afford broadband Internet access. It features a full text search engine, bookmarks and notes, an HTTP server, PDF/HTML export, a user interface in more than 80 languages, tabbed navigation, and an integrated content manager and downloader.
A PHP class to authorize and access APIs using OAuth 1.0, 1.0a, and OAuth 2.0.
Complex special functions, numerical linear algebra, and statistics in JavaScript.


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Lancashire all-rounder retires
Lancashire all-rounder Kyle Hogg has been forced to retire from all forms of cricket due to a severe back injury, his county have announced.
The 31-year-old has taken 280 first-class wickets from 114 matches and scored 2,708 runs since making his Lancashire debut in 2001. His last appearance came in the Royal London One-Day Cup win over Derbyshire last month.
Hogg helped Lancashire win the LV= County Championship title in 2011 and was named as both the county's Player of the Year and Championship Player of the Year in 2013 after taking 60 wickets at an average of 18.41.
Lancashire's Kyle Hogg has been forced to retire from cricket with immediate effect
Hogg, who signed professional terms with Lancashire on the same day as England paceman James Anderson, said: "The news about the severity of my back condition came as a shock and I am faced with no alternative but to hang up my boots.
"I will always be a fan of Lancashire - it's in my blood - and I wish them every success for the future."
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Officials disagree how money should be spent to protect Delavan Lake
DELAVAN--How do you keep a lake healthy?
If any community should know, it's the town of Delavan.
Since the 1960s, town and city officials and local residents have been working to keep Delavan Lake healthy, both for homeowners and for the tourism trade that helps drive the local economy.
But in recent years, the philosophy of who should handle lake management issues—and how they should be handled—has changed. Those changes aren't linked to science but to how local officials think money should be spent.
Between 1989 and 1992, millions of dollars were sunk into the lake to eliminate rough fish and phosphorus-induced algae that made the lake muddy and green. Wetlands with retention ponds were developed north of the lake to help treat water and retain sediment.
The clean-up effort, which a Department of Natural Resources official once described as "probably the largest, most comprehensive lake rehabilitation project in the world," has been successful in many ways.
In the years since, the Delavan Lake inlet and Brown's Channel were dredged.
Here's what everybody agrees on now: The watershed is the key to the future health of the lake.
The watershed is all the fields, valleys, streams and rivers that flow into a lake.
Delavan Lake is about 2,072 acres, but its watershed is 26,000 acres—about twice the size of the watershed for Geneva Lake.
Size isn't the only thing that matters for Delavan Lake.
Unlike many other lakes in the area, Delavan Lake is not spring fed. Most of the water comes from surface runoff, and that makes the water susceptible to what's happening in the watershed.
In 2009, the Delavan Lake Sanitary District contacted the Kettle Moraine Land Trust to get help reducing pollutants in the lake.
The trust was started in 2000, when the Lauderdale Lakes Improvement Association wanted to continue preserving Island Woods. That led to other land preservation projects, and the group eventually renamed itself the Kettle Moraine Land Trust to better represent the area it covered.
The land trust was the kind of organization that could work across political boundaries because it had no vested interest in any special interest group or municipalities.
A short-term consultant was hired to help educate the land trust and the sanitary district board "on the science of all of this," said Jerry Petersen, board president for the land trust.
Together, they learned about strategies to improve the health of a watershed and other things they could do to improve lake health.
A five-year plan was drafted, including a list of concerns ranked in order of importance.� Those areas of concern were the properties within the watershed most likely to contribute pollutants to the lake.
In addition, a new non-profit, the Delavan Lake Watershed Initiative Network was formed.
The agreement with the Delavan Lake Sanitary District was that the Delavan Lake Watershed Initiative Network would be funded from year to year.
That was 2009.
In March 2010, the trust hired Maggie Zoellner to oversee the work of the watershed network and other trust projects. Within two months, she had written and received a $200,000 federal grant that was part of a larger project to protect the Mississippi River Basin.
In the next two years, the money was used for nine projects designed to keep run-off out of Delavan Lake. They ranged from stabilizing grades to developing nutrient management plans for farmers.
For Delavan Lake, the projects resulted in:
-- 1,122 fewer pounds of nitrogen per year.
-- 403 fewer pounds of phosphorus per year.
-- 163 fewer tons of sediment per year.
For Jackson Creek, the numbers were less dramatic but still significant. Consider, one pound of phosphorus can cause as much as 500 pounds of algae.
Before the results were published, the Delavan Lake Sanitary District had stopped funding the Watershed Initiative Network. In November 2011, elected officials in the town of Delavan began expressing concern over WIN's approach, Petersen said. The make-up of the sanitary district board had changed, too.�
Mary Knipper, current president of the Wisconsin Lakes Association and part-president of the Delavan Lake Improvement Association, said "things were going really well."
Those "things" included making connections between all of the stakeholders in the lake's future, including all the municipalities in the watershed, the UW Extension and other� government agencies connected with land and water resources; prioritizing the work that needed to be done in the watershed so they could do the most good, public information efforts to help people understand how the watershed impacts lake health and winning a highly competitive federal grant.
Only two locations in Wisconsin were able to secure a grant, and that was a coup for the organization, Knipper said.
Knipper, who is now vice president of the Kettle Moraine Land Trust Board, said a watershed plan is crucial to the health of the lake. Whatever efforts are being made in the lake must "run concurrently" with the watershed plan.
It appeared, at first, that local officials wanted to move away from those efforts.
Town of Delavan Chairman Ryan Simons, a real estate agent, was one of the officials who favored moving away from the land trust.
He said the land trust "spent $180,000 setting up WIN (Watershed Initiative Network)," and it hadn't done anything to improve the quality of the lake.
When asked about the report listing the reduction of chemicals and sediment in the lake, he said he'd want to see how those numbers were calculated. The report in question was prepared by the land trust report in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Services.
Simons is disappointed, too, that the money spent with the Kettle Moraine Land Trust meant funding was cut for lake monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey.
"We don't have data for those two years, and that's really a loss," Simons said.
Simons said his issue isn't with the watershed approach but how the money was spent and who made the decision to spend it. The money in question isn't the federal grant, but the $180,000 used to set up the watershed network.
Now, town officials are retaining Peter Berini, a specialist who has helped them in the past with projects to identify which areas of the watershed are the highest priority and which can give them "the biggest bang for their buck."
One of the many things that might help the lake are housing developments with properly placed and planned detention and retention ponds.
"We've been looking at conservation subdivisions," Simons said. "Those could be a huge benefit.
The Sho-deen Group's plans to build more than 600 homes on an estimated 285 acres northwest of the Delavan Lake Inlet is an example.� The subdivision would help the lake by taking farmland out of production, reducing the amount of sediment and chemicals flowing into the lake, Simons said.


text:
Underneath the Rainbow [LP] - VINYL
- Artist: Black Lips
- Release Date: 03/18/2014
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- Drive-By Buddy
- Smiling
- Make You Mine
- Funny
- Dorner Party
- Justice After All
- Boys in the Wood
- Waiting
- Do the Vibrate
- I Don't Wanna Go Home
- Dandelion Dust
- Dog Years
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Armagnac Domaine de Lasgraves
The Domaine de Lasgraves is situated in the heart of the Bas Armagnac region. This region's specific relief, soil and weather have all contributed in making it the cradle of the best Armagnacs.
The Armagnacs of the Domaine de Lasgraves have been produced by the same family for more than three generations and always following the same hand crafted method.
At the Domaine de Lasgraves the wine is always distilled at the beginning of winter because young wines make the finest armagnac. The traditional « armagnacaise » distillation is used. This method best protects the extraordinary range of aromas developed by this brandy.
After the distillation process, the Armagnac is transferred to new oak barrels where it will stay for between 10 and 30 years. During this time, each vintage develops its own personality.
The oak used to make the barrels comes from the Domaine de Lasgraves as well which is an exceptional and rare asset. The oak is naturally dried for 10 years before being transformed into barrels.
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Police: False cop-impersonator report leads to obstructing charge
JANESVILLE--A Janesville woman has been arrested after filing what investigators say was a� false report about a police impersonator.
Miranda M. Rivers, 23, 154 S. Franklin St., Janesville, was arrested Monday on a charge of obstructing, according to a news release from the Janesville Police Department.
Rivers is accused of telling police that at 11:30 p.m. Thursday she was pulled over by a vehicle she thought was a squad car. The incident took place in the area of Main and Racine streets, Janesville, according to the news release.
Rivers told police she was ordered out of her car at gunpoint and that her car was searched. She reported nothing was taken except some prescription medication from her trunk, according to the news release.
Rivers also posted her story on a "Mom-to-Mom" Facebook group, warning others about the incident.
Janesville police reviewed video footage from a nearby gas station and determined the incident could not have occurred as reported, according to the news release.