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Household debt in the U.S. climbed 0.3% in the fourth quarter as student and auto loans rose along with credit-card balances, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey.
Consumer indebtedness rose by $31 billion to $11.34 trillion, according to a quarterly report on household debt and credit released today by the Fed district bank. Non-housing borrowing increased 1.4% to $2.75 trillion, the third straight quarterly advance.
"The report shows some clear signs of healing in consumer debt markets," James McAndrews, executive vice president and director of research at the New York Fed, said in the text of prepared remarks delivered today in New York. "While it is too soon to conclude that a trend has been established in which households are beginning to increase their debts again, there are signs that the four-year long contraction is slowing."
The U.S. economy expanded at a 0.1% annual rate during the fourth quarter, according to revised figures released by the Commerce Department today, as stronger consumer spending and a rebound in residential real estate blunted the impact from cuts in military outlays running at a 22% annual pace.
The "recent improvement" in the housing market has been accompanied by the increase in consumer borrowing, and household delinquency rates are continuing to "slowly recover," McAndrews said. As of year-end, 8.6% of debt was in "some stage of delinquency," down from 8.9% in the third quarter, the New York Fed's survey showed.
Student Loans
Auto loans climbed by $15 billion, outstanding student loans increased $10 billion and credit-card balances were up by $5 billion, according to the report. Americans have cut debt from a peak of $12.68 trillion in the third quarter of 2008, according to the New York Fed's data.
McAndrews said that while he sees "signs of reduced headwinds and possibly greater monetary policy traction," he remains "cautious about the outlook."
The tax increases that took effect at the beginning of the year "reduces disposable incomes significantly for many households" and will probably result in consumer spending that will "weaken some" this quarter, McAndrews said. There also are "several vexing fiscal policy issues on the immediate horizon" that may damage growth, he said.
'Major Plus'
A "major plus for the economy" has been the housing market, which may give a boost to growth of 0.5 percentage point in 2013, McAndrews said, citing improvements in housing starts, home sales and prices. In addition, manufacturing has "begun to look a bit brighter as well" and consumer spending has "clearly strengthened," he said.
"Of course the quickening pace of auto, home, and capital goods sales and orders, all interest-sensitive goods, is consistent with the highly accommodative stance of monetary policy, which not only lowers interest rates but enhances credit availability as well," McAndrews said.
New mortgage originations rose to $553 billion in the fourth quarter, and have been climbing since the third quarter of 2011, the New York Fed said in its report. About 210,000 consumers showed new foreclosures on their credit reports during the last three months of 2012, down 13.3% from the prior quarter.
"The data provides early evidence that consumers may be reaching the end of the four year deleveraging cycle, though we'll need to see if this is sustained in upcoming quarters," Andrew Haughwout, vice president and economist at the New York Fed, said in a statement released by the district bank.
The New York Fed said the report is based on data compiled by the bank's Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative random sample from Equifax Inc. credit-report data.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Illustrated by Daniel Koppich.
Even the tightest budgets are rarely air-tight. Maybe you don't overspend on groceries or entertainment, but you do end up paying for fees you were never expecting. Consumers are dinged with hidden fees almost everywhere they turn — from bank fees you almost never notice in your monthly statement to unexpected travel fees. In 2012, Americans spent $18 billion on credit card late fees alone, and while late fees aren't necessarily disguised, they are part of the unbudgeted dues we pay for every month.
Just because these extra fees are often "hidden" doesn't mean you should act like they don't exist. In fact, by looking closely at what you're paying on a regular basis and taking action to cut them down (or cut them out altogether), you could save yourself a bundle. Here's a look at six common areas where you may be paying fees and siphoning money out of your budget without even realizing it.
One percent of bank profits from consumer checking accounts come from overdraft and insufficient funds fees, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. These fees are prompted when customers withdraw, make a debit card payment or make or attempt to make another type of payment for more than what is available in their accounts. But, overdraft fees aren't the only extra fees consumers are paying to banks: The Great Recession signaled the end of many "free checking" accounts, so plenty of us pay a monthly fee for our checking accounts (either if you fall below a minimum balance or period). And, because most banks charge fees when non-customers use their ATMs, you may pay your own bank and the other bank if you make a withdrawal from an outside ATM.
Simple fees for having a checking or savings account can range from $15 to $25 per month, says Cristina Briboneria, CFP, vice president of Atlanta-based oXYGen Financial, Inc. No one should pay an extra $180 to $300 a year just to hold your money, she says.
In most cases, you can avoid paying fees for your checking and savings accounts by using your debit card monthly, linking your credit card for overdraft protection, carrying a minimum balance, or setting up direct deposits to your account. You may also avoid such fees by opening an account with a small regional bank or credit union, which can also give better interest rates on loans because they don't have high overhead costs, Briboneria says.
If you need to make a withdrawal, try to use your own bank's ATM to avoid fees. If that's not possible, "head to a store like CVS that offers cash back for free and pick up a small item like gum," says consumer and money saving expert Andrea Woroch. And, if you overdraw your account, as long as it's not a habit, call your bank's customer service hotline and ask if they can waive the fee. For customers who don't abuse the privilege, many banks will reverse those charges.
Illustrated by Daniel Koppich.
Cell Phone Fees
Using a mobile phone has become a necessity for many people, but the price of a cell phone contract is rarely as low as expected. Every month's bill will include extra fees such as an access recovery charge, charge for network access, universal connectivity fees, Federal Communications Commission charges, and federal excise taxes.
The best way to lower your cell phone bill is to determine your actual usage. "Sometimes people are paying for a higher data plan than they really need," Briboneria says. "For example, if a person has a 6GB data plan but they're only using 3.5GB monthly, it might make sense to lower the data package."
If you're still using a phone number you had when you lived in a different state or county, find out if you're paying more for keeping that number. "Sometimes you might still be paying an additional tax for 'roaming' if you live in a new state or county," Briboneria says.
Before signing a new cell phone contract, ask what the total charges will be each month, including fees, and compare the total price among competitors. Each month, review your bill carefully. "Since many consumers opt for auto pay and paperless billing, it's easy to overlook hidden charges or incorrect charges," Woroch says.
Also, make it a regular habit to ask the customer service representatives about promotions on cell phone bills to help lower additional fees. Maybe the company is offering a discount for customers who choose paperless billing or who pay automatically.
Shipping Fees
Shopping online adds convenience but can also result in high fees for shipping. Those fees can add up, especially if you often return merchandise bought online, because then you pay for return shipping, too. The most common complaint consumers have about returning online merchandise is having to pay for return shipping, according to a report from ComScore and UPS.
Rather than watching your shipping costs add up, shop with online retailers that offer free shipping both ways. If you're willing to wait a little longer to get your shoes, Zappos offers free shipping all the time (on returns too). Amazon also offers free shipping with some products, and for Amazon Prime members, two-day shipping is always free. According to the ComScore/UPS report, 73% of consumers say free shipping options are the most important information or options at checkout. Before paying unnecessary fees, always look for free shipping coupons from sites like FreeShipping.org, says Woroch.
You can also choose to make online purchases from retailers that have a local brick-and-mortar store nearby that offers in-store returns if you aren't happy with your purchase.
Illustrated by Daniel Koppich.
Medical Fees
More than 80% of medical bills contain errors, according to the Medical Billing Advocates of America. Those errors may be simple mistakes, double billings, or in some cases, abusive charging practices. But, whatever the reason for the charges, you want to be sure you're not paying more than you owe.
"Always check your bill from your doctor versus the Explanation of Benefits received from the insurance company," says Mary F. Drueke-Collins, vice president of employee benefits at Swartzbaugh-Farber, a United Benefit Advisors partner firm. "Make sure all of the charges line up and that the doctor actually performed all those services." If you find an error — maybe you are being charged for a test or scan you don't remember having, or you see charges for a date when you didn't go to the doctor — call your insurance company or the medical office's billing department. It can be a hassle to find the right person to speak to and talk through the bill, but taking the time may pay off.
If you use "out of network" providers — doctors, facilities or other healthcare professionals that are not on your insurance company's preferred provider list — you'll also incur extra charges. "Preferred provider networks help reduce the charges when an in-network doctor is used," Drueke-Collins says. "The insurance company reimburses out-of-network doctors according to a schedule or a percentage of the usual and customary amount. Often, the doctor's charge is more than that reimbursement they receive from the insurance company. The doctor can then ask the individual to pay the balance, or the difference between what the insurance company reimburses them and their charges. If you use out of network providers, not only will you be responsible for your deductible, coinsurance, and copayments, but you may also be responsible for this 'balance billing.'"
If you can pay in cash for doctor or dentist visits, rather than filing the visit with your insurance company, you can often negotiate a discount of 10% or more. A number of concierge medical practices now exist where patients pay a monthly fee of $199 or less and receive access to affordable medical care they need from a variety of doctors.
RELATED: You Can And Will Pay Off Your Loans
Travel Fees
Every time you travel, you're likely to incur extra charges above and beyond the initial sticker price. After purchasing an airline ticket, you may have to pay extra for purchasing it online, through a third-party vendor or to check a bag at the gate. When you get to your hotel, you may encounter additional local lodging taxes, mini-bar fees, and charges for using Wi-Fi in your room.
Woroch recommends always asking about the total charges, including all the fees, before making a decision about where to travel. In some cases, you can avoid additional fees or get a discount by working with a travel agent. "Stick with airlines that include the extras in the price of the ticket already," Woroch says. "For instance, Jetblue offers movies and a free checked bag. Southwest offers free snacks and two free checked bags, which is ideal for families traveling with lots of luggage."
If you travel regularly and are loyal to one airline, consider applying for the airline's credit card, Briboneria suggests. It may waive baggage fees or give you 10% to 20% discounts on in-air purchases. If there is a possibility you will change your travel plans, you can save money on change fees by booking your flight directly on the airline's site rather than through a third-party provider like Travelocity or Priceline. "If you book your flight from a third-party website and you have to change your flight, you can incur an additional rebooking fee from that website, in addition to the airlines' change fee," Briboneria says. "Those fees can be an additional $100 to $200 in addition to the $50 to $150 change fees the airline charges."
When staying in a hotel, avoid the convenience (and the charges) of the mini-bar in your room by bringing your own snacks and drinks along. Also, if wireless Internet access isn't provided in your room, try to use it in the hotel lobby or other public spaces, where it's often available for free, rather than paying extra to use the Internet in your room.

subset: commoncrawl


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Software & Services » Security
What is ZuSHOP? Consider it the largest instant-access information eBook & Software library on the web. Every product on ZuSHOP is available for download immediately after purchase so there is no waiting, and, best of all, no hidden shipping & handling fees! Also, all 51323 listed products have a 6 week satisfaction guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, all you have to do is send an email for a full refund. How's that for a guarantee?!


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|Scottsdale, Ariz.
|High School:
|Seton Catholic Prep
2011 (Freshman):
Putting together one of the best freshman season's in program history, Rodriguez took home multiple postseason honors as she was named the Big West's Freshman Player of the Year along with earning First Team All-Big West honors as well as Second Team All-Pacific Region honors. Kelsey's selection to the all-region team made her just the third Tiger freshman to ever earn the honor as she joined all-time greats Gina Carbonatto and Jennifer Curtier on the distinguished list. Putting together an epic inaugural campaign, Rodriguez led the Big West in batting after posting a .395 average through the regular season while finishing the year at .381. Even better when facing conference foes, Rodriguez posted a .406 average in the Tigers 21 Big West games. Despite playing 10 less games than most of the other regulars in the Big West, Rodriguez still managed to post 51 hits on the year, a total which ranked No. 8 among all hitters in the conference. In addition, the freshman added 25 RBI and 24 runs on the year while picking up 16 of those RBIs in Big West games, second most on the team. Her .381 average placed her No. 7 on the Tigers' single-season record list while ranking as the third highest batting average for a freshman in program history. For her play, Kelsey earned one Big West Player of the Week award after earning the honor on May 9 after leading the Tigers' to a home sweep of UC Santa Barbara.
High School:
A 2010 graduate of Seton Catholic High School, in Chandler, Ariz., Rodriguez came to Pacific after four very successful seasons catching for the Sentinel. A First Team All-Arizona State player as a junior, Rodriguez proved to be one of the toughest outs in Arizona High School softball after she posted a team-high .518 batting average in 30 contests. Of her 43 hits, 13 were extra-base hits including posting six doubles, four triples and three home runs while also finishing a perfect 14-for-14 in stolen bases. For the season, Rodriguez drove in a league-best 41 RBI while also scoring 35 runs as she led the Sentinels to a perfect 14-0 league record and the 4A East Sky title. Additionally, Rodriguez and the Sentinels went on to win the 4A-II Arizona State championship, defeating Greenway High School, 9-0, behind two Rodriguez RBI in the championship game. In 2008, the Sentinels were knocked out of the state tournament in the semifinals by Greenway HS. Rodriguez was voted 2010 Scholar Athlete and Offensive Player of the Year, along with First Team All-Region and All-State honors.
Kelsey Rodriguez was born in Mission Viejo, Calif., but grew up in Arizona. She is the daughter of Lisa and Adam Rodriguez and has two siblings, Courtney and Ryan. In her second year at Pacific, Rodriguez plans to major in Psychology and hopes to become a child psychologist.


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Reading glasses, a portable and rechargeable booklight and an e-reader and book stand. These are tools from the Reading collection designed to complete the kit for the modern-day nomad who loves to travelling, writing and reading.
With a black or transparent frame, Moleskine reading glasses have a unique feature: they have no right side; because of the symmetry of their design, they can be worn either way up. Rectangular with rounded corners, they hold reading lenses for far-sighted wearers and come in different strengths, from +1 to +3. Made to measure and sold separately is the black case with elastic closure which can also be used to hold pens, pencils and other small objects.
Rechargeable with a USB connector, the Moleskine LED booklight is designed for reading in all low-light conditions. With its flexible material and clip-on design, it adapts to any hard surface including books, journals and notebooks.
Designed as a stand for e-readers and books, the Reading stand can be set in different positions for reading, taking notes, skimming through images or watching a video.
The Reading Collection is available at the Moleskine Store and in select shops around the world.


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That is the Romney campaign's theme for this week, and it is a powerful one–as we have noted many times, the Obama administration has used the stimulus bill, its "green" energy initiatives and other programs to enrich its campaign donors and political allies. The Romney campaign released this ad, "Political Payoffs and Middle Class Layoffs," today:
The theme is an important one, but the execution, in my opinion, needs improvement. The problem with the ad, to some degree inherent because it is only 30 seconds long, is that it lacks specifics. It therefore won't be very persuasive to voters who are not already familiar with the Obama administration's record of cronyism. One hopes that the Romney campaign will build on the theme and become more specific as the week goes on.
This morning on Fox and Friends, Romney had this to say:
FOX NEWS' STEVE DOOCY: I read in the Washington Post this morning that you want to draw attention to Obama's political payoffs versus the middle class layoffs where you say, if you are a donor to the Obama camp you are going to do just fine. However if you are in the middle class Governor, your camp says, you got to worry about your job.
ROMNEY: There is no question but that when billions upon billions of dollars are given by the Obama Administration to the businesses of campaign contributors, that is a real problem particularly at a time when the middle class is really suffering in this country. I don't know whether you watched over the weekend, the report that was in The New York Times about families really struggling particularly those that are single parents that are just having a hard time making ends meet. This is a tough time for the people of America. But if you are a campaign contributor to Barack Obama, your business may stand to get billions of dollars or hundreds of millions of dollars in cash from the government. I think it's wrong. I think it stinks to high heaven and I think the administration has to explain how it is they would consider giving money to campaign contributors' businesses.
UPDATE: You can follow the Twitter commentary at #Political Payoffs and Middle Class Layoffs.


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2012 Dodge Durango Values
Select a 2012 Dodge Durango trim level
2012 model year changes
Following a redesign in 2011, the 2012 only gets trim shuffle. Last year's Express is now the SXT and the "Heat" trim does not return for 2012. The 5.7L Hemi engine now comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Citadel trim now comes with 20-inch chrome wheels and leather heated/ventilated seats as well as remote start.
Competitive comparison
Upscale appearance; Hemi 5.7L V8 available; seating for 7; strong towing capabilities; all-wheel drive availability
Special features for 2012
Since its 2011 redesign, the Durango is better than ever. It's got a 3.6L V6 capable of 290 horsepower and a very capable "Hemi" V8 available. All-wheel drive models are available for just over $31,000, and properly equipped, the Durango can tow up to 7,600 lbs. Standard 3-row seating holds up to 7 occupants and even the base Durango comes with 18-inch aluminum wheels, fog lamps, satellite radio, remote keyless entry, rear air conditioning, front/side/curtain airbags and electronic stability control.
Fresh off last year's redesign, the 2012 Dodge Durango comes equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission, that produces 290 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Drivetrain options consist of RWD and AWD. Fuel mileage for the base Durango is an EPA estimated 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. For increased performance Dodge offers the R/T which upgrades the engine to a 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 engine, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, that produces 360 hp while managing to achieve 20 mpg highway. Available features include tri-zone temperature control, power liftgate, rear back up camera, rear park assist, 20-inch wheels, HID headlamps, sport suspension, heated front seats, heated second-row seats, leather-trimmed interior, and power sunroof. Safety is comprised of anti-lock braking, front/rear/third row head airbags, dual front side-mounted airbags, emergency braking assist, engine immobilizer, stability control, traction control, electronic brake distribution, tire pressure monitoring, and brake drying. The Durango is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.


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Account Management
If project management is about day-to-day effectiveness, account management is where we take a long-term view of our partnership. Account managers serve as customer advocates within your organization. They understand and share your business goals and help ensure that everyone, from the president of a business unit to the frontline forklift operator, knows what's important to you and your customers.
DHL achieves this by designing a clear contact hierarchy, so your needs are addressed quickly and consistently. We provide open lines of communication with smart, seasoned experts in all the key areas. We leverage thorough industry knowledge to take advantage of best practices and emerging trends.
We make sure you receive a straight answer from someone who can provide it, or knows how to get it quickly. Someone you can count on, to be there every step of the way, backed up by readily accessible experts in key subjects, who can address specific needs or questions.
There are four main account management roles:
This senior-level member of the DHL management team has the ultimate ownership of a customer account. Their role includes assignment and management of operational, account development, and specialty resources.
The day-to-day resource for the decision-makers within a customer's organization, the account manager manages the overall strategy for a customer. He or she manages contracts, new service pricing, and ensures DHL's solution aligns with the customer's overall business goals.
Whether a program launch or continuous improvement process, the project manager is responsible for outlining project scope, goals and tracking progress, to completion. They are experts in issue resolution and communication, internally and with the customer.
Making sure the customer achieves their target financial and operational results is the responsibility of the operations owner/manager. He or she manages the staffing, project implementation, and day-to-day activities for the account.
DHL is the world's number one contract logistics provider. We have a major presence in all regions of the world.
- International expertise across industry sectors
- A commitment to deliver consistently excellent operations in every geography
- Common processes for project management and continuous improvement


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Frank, you philistine!
You have to admit, it's a beautiful weight and very rare.
I've seen more interesting Chinese weights
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Event: Producer Bonny Duggal hosted a party to celebrate director Priyadarshan's success in Bollywood. Jackie Shroff, Aditya Panbcholi, Javed Jaffrey, Rituparna Sengupta and other Bollywood celebs attended the bash.
Guest List: Rituparna Sengupta, Devshi Khanduri, Vinita Menon, Jackie Shroff, Priyadarshan, Bonny Duggal, Rahul Rawail, Akbar Khan, Saawan Kumar, Shruti Ulfat, Harish, Zulfi Syed, Aditya Pancholi, Shawar Ali, Javed Jaffrey, Naved Jaffrey, Aditya Raj Kapoor
Bollywood celeb Aamir Khan along with wife Kiran Rao were spotted at PVR.
Bollywood producers-directors Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Krishan Kumar, Ravi Bahl, Divya Khosla Kumar, Sajid Nadiadwala, Wardha Nadiadwala celebrate diwali with Bhushan Kumar
Bollywood celebs Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora, Sonali Bendre, Nimrat Kaur among others were snapped by paparazzi.Bebo looked super cool in a casual look. She wore a white t-shirt with yoga pants...
Bollywood actress Shama Sikander celebrated Diwali festival at her residence.
Bollywood celebs Aamir Khan, Zaira Wasim, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Anil Kapoor, Nitesh Tiwari, Aparshakti Khurrana, Bhushan Kumar, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Sachin Tendulkar, Rajkumar Hir...


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Shop our selection of Yu-Gi-Oh! Crimson Crisis at low prices!
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Specialized Fitness/Recreation Shoes
Chances are, you spend more time off the bike as you do on it. So why would you want a slippy pair of carbon shoes that spell disaster the moment you enter a grocery store? We didn't think so. That's why we've created a line of shoes that are equally suited to walking around as they are to riding. Plenty of traction, passable style, and all of the performance features you need—they're the total package for your day-to-day life in the saddle.


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Bio Info
Sam Kass offers fresh and informative insights as he explores the latest developments in health, wellness, and the future of consumption. A tech entrepreneur, food expert and former senior policy advisor for the White House, Kass brings a wealth of expertise and experiences to redefine and inspire the way consumers and corporations approach these evolving markets.
Topics: Business Growth/Strategy/Trends, Change: Managing/Leading It, Corporate Culture, Corporate Governance, Creativity, Culinary, Diet, Fitness & Wellness, Global Health, Health Care Economics and News, Health Care Policy, Health Care Science, Human Resource Issues, Innovation, Leadership, Motivation, Negotiation, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Peak Performance, Personal Growth
U.S. House of Representatives (1995-2011); Co-Founder, One Mind for Research and Founder, The Kennedy Forum on Community Mental Health
Types: Male
Bio Info
As one of the world's leading mental health advocates, Rep. Kennedy speaks on topics such as eliminating the stigma of mental illness, brain research, the impact of public policy on our healthcare system, and many other mental health and substance abuse issues.
Editor-at-Large, Vox; Columnist, Bloomberg News and Policy Analyst/Contributor, MSNBC
Bio Info
Using his razor-sharp focus and wit, Ezra Klein gives audiences an unvarnished look at the intersection of today's domestic and economic policy-making coupled with a political system that has major impacts from Wall Street to Main Street and around the world.
Topics: American Politics, Asia, Business Growth/Strategy/Trends, China, Consumer Trends, Corporate Culture, Creativity, Economic Forecast, Election Forecast/Analysis, Fiscal Policy, Global Economy, Government Regulation, Health Care Economics and News, Health Care Policy, Information Technology, Innovation, Jewish Interests, Media and Journalism, Middle East, Social Media/New Media
Award-Winning Healthcare Journalist and Senior Policy Correspondent, Vox.com
Bio Info
Using her expertise in health policy, Sarah Kliff gives audiences an inside look at the complex and constantly-changing battle over the Affordable Care Act — and what that means for the future of the American health care system.
Contributing Editor, Roll Call and Commentator, FOX News
Bio Info
As contributing editor of Roll Call, Capitol Hill's feisty, independent newspaper, Morton Kondracke has covered all phases of American politics and foreign policy as both a print and broadcast journalist.


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The West's Mistakes and Shortcomings
Five years after the end of the Taliban regime, the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, has just voted to extend its armed forces mandate in Afghanistan. Withdrawal, which was called for by a few parliamentarians, was not under serious discussion. On the contrary, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will also strengthen its presence in the eastern part of the country during the coming months. Nevertheless, demands for a change in strategy are legitimate.
Since July, the NATO-ISAF troops in the south have set out on a course that could prove to be disastrous: the mixing of military missions. The strict division between the mandate of the US-led coalition forces, which are hunting for the Taliban and alleged terrorists, and the ISAF mission, which professes to be doing something else, is rapidly blurring. The ISAF is thus becoming more American.
The NATO troops stationed in southern Afghanistan recently declared part one of their offensive against the Taliban to be successfully completed. Now ISAF is supposed to accelerate the progress of the "civil military" reconstruction in the appropriate regions of the country.
Lieutenant General David Richards, NATO Commander in Afghanistan, says about the race against time, "Our troops have six months to win. Otherwise we could lose the support of the population." What has long been looming appears to have happened.
The people, especially in the southern provinces, see considerably less reconstruction than in Kabul or in the north. At the same time, they are victimized by the regular police and the Taliban. Tom Koenigs, the German UN Special Representative, speaks of a "popular uprising."
Democratization from the top down
The increasing dissatisfaction among the population is directed against both vanishing aid money and President Karzai's failure to act and his willingness to compromise when it comes to politicians and players who have blood on their hands or are corrupt. His popularity is at an all-time low.
Meanwhile, it has become apparent that presidential and parliamentary elections are largely regarded as democratization from the top down. Disillusionment set in long ago, because incriminated and corrupt Mujahideen and militia leaders call the tune in the People's Assembly.
At the grassroots level, in the villages, the new political orientation conflicts with traditional moral concepts. Existing shuras, or village councils, which have proved their worth for decades, are being hastily pushed aside in the framework of various programs to make way for gender-balanced committees. In the process, the moral concepts of the local population clash with the guidelines of impatient development aid policies.
An infiltration of foreign influences
Critics also refer to Afghanistan as a vast reeducation camp. Virtually all the moral concepts of the people have been up for discussion or questioned for five years. Identity and sense of self-esteem suffer as a result. Many Afghans say that in their view an infiltration of foreign influences is threatening.
Segments of the population in Kabul regard "democracy" as a dirty word, since, in addition to development funds, alcohol and prostitution have also found their way into the city landscape. The conflict between rich and poor intensifies every day.
The struggle to advance women's rights is also being emphasized too much, in the opinion of experts. Increased attacks on newly built girls' schools recently could also be a reaction to this attempt.
Protectorate of the USA
In reality, during the past five years Afghanistan has become a protectorate of the USA, the United Nations, and large financial organizations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Over two-thirds of the Afghan budget comes from foreign sources.
The Afghan government has an influence on the allocation of only 25 percent of the subsidies. That causes frustration up to the highest levels of the administration. More codetermination would give the Afghan government and parliament more credibility in the eyes of the people. The fact that the donor countries maintain control of the aid money is cited as the reason for the widespread corruption in Afghanistan.
This is, in fact, one of the greatest problems. Fraud, mismanagement, and shoddy work can also be found among the international players, however. The expressway between Kabul and Kandahar, a model project, is already in need of repair again after two years. It was built with the cheapest tar mixtures possible. Here, as in other construction projects, large sums of money were misused by US consulting firms for salaries for top personnel and luxury housing.
In the opinion of the Kabul-based organization Integrity Watch Afghanistan, the West has been ignoring the subject of combating corruption for a long time. In order to regain lost confidence, the international Afghanistan Conference held in London at the end of January 2006 formulated a plan called the "Afghanistan Compact."
Among other things, it is intended to help fight corruption and achieve more transparency. Thus far, this agreement has produced no significant results. The Afghan government contends that many aid projects did not take the priorities of the population into consideration. It is up to the donor countries to refute this accusation.
Only a small portion of the 80 million euros in funding provided annually by the German government to governmental development aid organizations, such as German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and to nongovernmental organizations, both international and Afghan, actually goes to the people in Afghanistan.
Salaries, administrative costs, and expenditures for materials and supplies swallow up large sums. At best, 30 percent, around 25 million euros, remains. By comparison, the German armed forces operation at the Hindu Kush costs 314 million euros annually, almost one million euros a day. If it is true that the Taliban cannot be defeated militarily, then the proportions must be changed to provide more funds for civil reconstruction.
Storms of outrage
For the anti-drug policy, 2006 was once again a year without far-reaching success. The West has made mistakes. The forcible destruction of fields without equivalent alternative sources of income has reaped only storms of outrage. Every radical approach drives the farmers into the arms of the enemy. It will take years until alternative livelihoods offset the loss of income from poppy cultivation. Nevertheless, development of the manufacturing industry has not been stepped up as necessary.
The US Coca-Cola company did start production of Coke, Sprite, and Fanta in a $25 million plant in Kabul this month, providing jobs for 350 people. Yet just outside Kabul, a region of productive fruit plantations, no factories have been opened thus far to produce for the local market and for export.
German development aid is currently funding projects such as the reconstruction of the country's largest sugar factory in the province of Baghlan and the sugar beet production there. However, even the most productive alternatives to poppy cultivation achieve at most one-third of the income it generates.
Martin Gerner
© Qantara.de 2006
Translated from the German by Phyllis Anderson
Interview with Mohammad Ehsan Zia
"Afghanistan Must Sit in the Driver's Seat"
Observers agree that the drugs economy contributes to insecurity in Afghanistan, especially in the south of the country. So far, efforts to reduce opium poppy cultivation and to promote alternative crops have hardly borne fruit. Mohammad Ehsan Zia, Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Afghanistan, elaborates on how to improve the situation.
The Release of Abdul Rahman
Afghan Legal Principles under Examination
After having been threatened with a death sentence as a punishment for his conversion from Islam to Christianity, Abdul Rahman has been set free. Peter Philipp argues that the case continues to raise fundamental questions about the "Afghanistan Project"
Taking Stock of Four Years of Reconstruction
The goals of the Petersberg Agreement in December 2001 have largely been met: an emergency and constituent Loya Jirga was convened and presidential and parliamentary elections were held. But the country is still in hot water, writes Martin Gerner


text: During an interview, candidates only have a short amount of time to portray their fit for an organization. This 30- 40 minute workshop introduces students to the most common interview styles, how to answer interview questions, and follow up afterwards. This workshop also provides students with an array of resources available to them at The Career Center to help them prepare.


text:
MABTON - Mabton police coverage and police department finances proved to be a hot topic at a packed regularly scheduled city council meeting last night, Tuesday.
Discussion began during study session when Councilman Angel Reyna questioned Police Chief Robert Perales's Oct. 15 paycheck.
Council met on Oct. 14 and made the decision to stick to the city's wage-setting ordinance, which establishes Perales's pay at $1,875 a month, as opposed to the $4,000 a month Mayor Velva Herrera had set in July.
Reyna questioned why Perales's pay for the day of Oct. 15 wasn't reflecting a pro-rated amount. Perales was to get paid half of $4,000 for 14 days and a pro-rated amount for the 15th day.
City Clerk Kitty Zavala told council that she initially issued a check reflecting a pro-rated 15th day of work, but Herrera told her to issue a check for half of the $4,000, which Zavala did.
That's when things got heated. When council members began to question Herrera, she responded, "What's one day, people?".
Councilman Mario Martinez countered, "Rules are rules."
Council moved to have Perales reimburse the city.
Reyna then said he wanted to state for the record that he "totally disagrees" with Perales informing citizens and media the times that police officers are not on duty in the city.
Councilwoman Vera Zavala said, "I understand the chief's frustrations but I think it needs to be private."
Martinez said, "I would really hope we're not trying to operate out of fear, to play on fear to get what you want. I don't think that's the proper route to go."
He then said the constitution gives citizens the right to bear arms and that's a good place to start in terms of protecting one's home.
Citizen Mark Gorneau disagreed. "(Criminals) aren't scared of us. If we have guns, we have guns. But they are afraid of officers. In a sense, it is better to have an officer out there."
Martinez then questioned why the budget information council received last night reflects overspending in the police department to the tune of roughly $63,000.
"How is that going to affect us in the upcoming budget," he asked. "We're digging deep holes already."
Citizen Sophie Sotelo said, "If we've overspent by that much, it needs to be accounted for."
Perales said that last night's meeting was the first he has heard that his department has overspent.
Gorneau directed his comment to Martinez and said, "Months ago you said that (the police department overspent and was) $60,000 in the hole." Councilwoman Zavala said, "That was last year. This time, (we're) talking about this year."
She added that between last year and so far this year, the police budget is overspent by $160,000.
"This is the first I'm hearing about it," said Perales. "I strongly think that total is false."
Perales said that the 2008 police department expenditure report council received is not correct because the figures are those of 2007 and that they are mislabeled on the sheet.
He added after the meeting that line items are being misapplied, like the student resource officer. He said SRO wages and benefits are being factored into the police department budget when its not supposed to be.
He said 2007 figures are off, too, adding that the state paid for officer overtime that year while one officer was on vacation.
Zavala, the city clerk, said the 2008 expenditures presented to council are correct and up to date. After the meeting, she said that in terms of SRO funding, that would be factored into revenues and it would be "a wash." She said that as long as the assistant clerk is receiving revenues, it's being reflected in the revenue report.
Citizen comment, which was already out of hand and order, began to get even more heated.
Reyna said that he strongly disagrees with Perales serving as SRO and chief and that he checked with the city's municipal research consultant, who said that Perales working both positions is incompatible.
Martinez said, "I don't feel comfortable paying this money when (the research company) is questioning it."
Herrera said, "I feel there's not a problem with it."
Citizen Maria Rose began to argue about the council sticking to its wage setting ordinance, stating that she asked if the mayor had broken any laws by giving Perales the unauthorized raise, and the city attorney said no. Martinez said that it was later learned that she had, Rose just wasn't aware of it.
Rose then began to argue about the city's decision to fix streets, but not give Perales a raise or let him work full time.
Martinez explained that money for each come out of different funds and he also clarified that the only expense the city has for the streets is the $1,050 needed to revamp manholes that were discovered during the work.
"It's not true to say that's the same money (as police chief pay)," Martinez said.
Gorneau jumped into the fray and clarified that the city doesn't pay for Perales to work as SRO, the school district does.
Gorneau said, "So you're just going to leave the schools unattended."
Zavala responded, "We just want to make sure it's legal."
As of the end of the meeting, no action was taken to pull Perales as SRO. But city staff was directed to investigate whether or not it's legal.
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text:
Sleepy Eye Public School hosted both Cedar Mountain/Comfrey and Mountain Lake on April 26 in which the Indians won by 10 in both games.
Game 1: Sleepy Eye Public 10, Cedar Mountain/Comfrey 0; Game 2: Sleepy Eye Public 12, Mountain Lake 2
Sleepy Eye Public School hosted both Cedar Mountain/Comfrey and Mountain Lake on April 26 in which the Indians won by 10 in both games.
The first major lead in the first game for Sleepy Eye was in the fourth inning. CMC only made two errors in the game but they struggled in their pitching which allowed the Indians to get six easy runs.
Key players include junior Jordyn Domeier, who went 2-2 at bat, had one double, and scored three runs. Sophomore McKayla Ahlrich led the way in pitching with eight strikeouts, and only allowed one hit.
Pitching: McKayla Ahlrich 8 SO, 2 BB, 1 H.
Other: Sammy Villanueva 1-4, 2 R;
Jordyn Domeier 2-2, 3 R, 1 2B;
Jamie Wells 1-1, 2 R, 1 RBI;
Jamie Fischer 1-3, 1 R, 2 RBI;
Kalyn Haas 1-3, 2 RBI.
Sleepy Eye played against Mountain Lake in the second game. The Wolverines had a good start by scoring two runs in the top of the first.
But Sleepy Eye answered with three runs over the course of the first three innings. A base hit by senior Samantha Krebsbach allowed a run to make it 3-2 in the bottom of the third.
The Indians pulled away in the bottom of the fourth after multiple base hits and a double by Krebsbach which made the score 6-2. Sleepy Eye finished the game with six more runs in the fifth inning.
Krebsbach had seven RBI, along with a double and a triple. She said it was nice to finally be outside in the warm weather.
"It was pretty great," Krebsbach said. "It's just good to get out and play."
Sleepy Eye head coach Tim Hoffmann said it was a successful couple of games.
"I was really pleased with how we played today," Hoffmann said. "The girls were just excited about the weather, they were excited to step on the field, and now the fact that it's Friday and we get two wins, that's even more exciting."
Pitching: Carly Jensen 6 SO, 2 BB, 3 H, 2 R.
Other: Samantha Krebsbach 3-4, 1 2B, 1 3B, 7 RBI;
Jamie Wells 2-4, 3 R, 1 RBI;
Jamie Fischer 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI;
McKayla Ahlrich 1-1, 1 R, 1 RBI
Record: 3-2.


text:
The Graphitek Difference
Our people are the difference. Were a versatile team of innovative professionals with a passion for effective graphic design, and were focused on quality execution in the marketplace every day. The goal is to exceed your expectations for quality and service.
Clients testimonials
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for yet another amazing job! We love the banner & window clings! Now we can shine for track season & beyond! I have been giving out your name as you are an amazing company!
Lorraine Murphy – Bettie's Cakes


text:
Tasty We don't see a lot of food photography on LuLa. The DP2 would be well suited.
Michael what is the acceptable size ? I have been having the opposite problem posting too small and losing resolution.
That would be good thing, right?I mean, I've never seen so much high-res crap as in this thread. High time to post images based on their photographic merit (other than resolution). After gazillion examples of high-res orgy, we got a pretty good idea what the camera can resolve. Now shows what you can do with it.
What sourpusses! The Newbie who asked about image size for posting didn't deserve the discouraging response he got. A major strength of this thread has been the number and variety of images posted. I think that is to be encouraged. Have you noticed the number of views on this thread? Obviously something good is going on. --Barbara
... Newbie who has very politely and reasonably asked a question about procedure for posting...
And I provided a specific answer to that, didn't I? The rest of my post was my general comment about the thread, not about the newbie. To which I am entitled as much as you are. Another general comment: too many posters simply repost already ginormous previous posts by quoting it. Bad netiquette.
I like seeing them all together as examples of what is being done with this camera...
I started this thread in August last year with the intention that all things DP2M would be dealt with together (I included photos with that first message), and I hope that is the way it stays.


text:
Mini Mushrooms Make Me Merry Dress
Added Mar 25, 2013
by aur0ra
Nashville , Tenn...
I made this dress using material I bought at a thrift store for less than $1. It appeared to have been cut away from a longer curtain of some sort. The top was clearly cut by pinking shears. It had a hem on the bottom with weights at the corners, and each edge was finished. I had to take apart the hem and sides to get some extra inches of width and length.
I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't match up the mushrooms in a chevron in the front and back of the skirt, but I just didn't have enough material. I squeezed this dress out of less than three yards of 33″ wide material. Plus, the material was seamed in the middle and the rows on the two pieces didn't match up.
I used the same pattern I used to make my Daydreamer Dress last year, but I made some tweaks. The biggest changes I made were eliminating the need for elastic at the top of the bodice, making the vertical bodice darts into tucks, and opting for regular rather than crisscross straps.
There are more changes that I need to make to this pattern for future makes, but you can see the list of those on my blog post. Also, if you are interested in more details and/or pictures, please see this post.
5 Comments Sign in to add a post
Apr 1, 2013, 03.23 PMby aur0ra
Thank you, all! queenieslearnin2sew… I might have something in the works for later this year with regards to a pattern. :)
1 Reply
Apr 5, 2013, 12.23 AMby queenieslearnin2sew
That would be awesome! :)
Mar 27, 2013, 06.56 PMby Caoilinn Byrne
The dress is darling! Suits you well! :)
Mar 26, 2013, 09.28 AMby lentretemps
I love this dress, very cute !
Mar 26, 2013, 08.25 AMby chililietje
That is one cute dress!
Mar 26, 2013, 12.41 AMby queenieslearnin2sewOMG Super cute!!! I would love to be able to make it in a plus size for myself.
Add to Favorites 8 people added it


text:
Pro Tech Electronics Repair Tool Kit
The Handyman can!
- Industry standard for small tech repairs
- Tools based on thousands of guides
- Great for all mainstream laptops and cellphones
Everyone loves a handy(wo)man and if you're sussing out a potential spouse, you know that at least one of you needs that skill set. When it comes to fixing light bulbs, leaky faucets, or the vastly more complicated death ray, most people do just fine. But, in a decade defined by technology, that light bulb isn't the only thing that gets screwed if you're incapable of making basic tech repairs.
With almost all the information in the world readily available at our fingertips, attaining the repair advice and solutions necessary to perform tech fixes is easy. It's the actual equipment needed to perform said repairs that becomes an issue. With the Pro Tech Electronics Repair Tool Kit, you're household is set with tools for repairing small electronics, soft plastics, and any devices or appliances that have electrical currents.
Product Specifications
- The industry standard for computer repair technicians
- Tools were selected based on data from thousands of repair guides
- Capable of opening, repairing, and putting back together all mainstream laptops and cellphones
- Includes:
- 54 Bit Driver Kit - all the bits needed for repairs on small electronics
- 2x Plastic Opening Tools - soft plastic prying tools
- Precision Tweezers Set - assortment of ESD safe precision tweezers
- Metal Grabber - metal tool for holding tight to small components
- Anti-Static Wrist Strap - protection for circuits against static electricity
- Small Suction Cup - suction cup for holding onto things lacking handles
- Spudger - handy tool for poking, prying, flipping, and opening
- Metal Spudger Set - assortment of metal poking and prying tools
- 6 Inch Metal Ruler - steel ruler for easily measuring parts
- Pro Tech Tool Roll - cloth roll designed to hold the Pro Tech Toolkit


text:
Nothing earth-shattering here, I was just helping out a colleague with this so I thought I'd post up the example I gave him.
-- sample table:
create table People
Person varchar(1) primary key,
City varchar(10),
Age int
-- with some sample data:
insert into People
select 'A','Boston',23 union all -- odd #
select 'B','Boston',43 union all
select 'C','Boston',29 union all
select 'D','Chicago',15 union all -- single #
select 'E','NY',12 union all -- even #
select 'F','NY',55 union all
select 'G','NY',57 union all
select 'H','NY',61
-- here's our query, showing median age per city:
select city,
AVG(age) as MedianAge
select City, Person, Age,
ROW_NUMBER() over (partition by City order by Age...
posted @ Monday, August 30, 2010 12:00 AM | Feedback (1) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
Everyone seems to want to "pivot" or "cross tab" data, but knowing how to do the opposite is equally important. In fact, I would argue that the skill of "unpivoting" data is more useful and more important and more relevant to a SQL programmer, since pivoting results in denormalized data, while unpivoting can transform non-normalized data into a normalized result set. We all know that there's lots of bad databases designs out there, so this can be a handy technique to know.
Of course, even a well designed, fully normalized database can still benefit from "unpivoting" from time to time,...
posted @ Wednesday, April 23, 2008 10:33 AM | Feedback (17) |
Filed Under [
CrossTabs / Pivoting Data
SQL Server 2005
Report Writing
SQL Server 2008
Here's a good question in the feedback from my post about using the T-SQL 2005 features to return the Top N per Group of a result set:
Sani writes:
What about Top n Percent per Group??? I would greatly appreciate an input on that as well.
That's a good question, and also easily solvable. One way to do this that I thought of was by using a combination of rank() and a count(*) partitioned aggregate function, which is also a new SQL Server 2005 feature.
Simply calculate the rank() of each row in the group, and also the count(*) of all rows in the...
posted @ Thursday, February 21, 2008 1:05 PM | Feedback (6) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
I have a new article up at SQLTeam:
Implementing Table Inheritance with Sql Server
It discusses the situation where you have multiple entities that are distinct, yet they have many attributes or relations in common. There is an easy way to simplify your database design and your code if you use the concept of a "base table" for that common data, which is very similar to the concept of Inheritance in Object-Oriented programming.
I recently had to do this for a client that tracks Contributions to their foundation; there is a base set of data that all Contributions have, such as who donated,...
posted @ Thursday, February 21, 2008 11:05 AM | Feedback (6) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
Database Design
In this post, I showed a simple way to create simple but useful Date and Time user-defined data types in SQL Server 2000. Here's how to do it in SQL Server 2005, without the need for CLR types or anything fancy.
First, we must create two user defined data types:
create type Date from dateTime
create type Time from dateTime
So, internally (and externally to our clients), these types are really just DateTime. But, we will apply some rules to these types so that the Date data type will always be constrained to a time exactly at midnight, and the the Time data type...
posted @ Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:13 AM | Feedback (16) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
DateTime Data
Applying a Sub-Query, Joining a Derived Table ...
I think the easiest way to think of CROSS APPLY is that it is like doing a CROSS JOIN with a correlated sub-query instead of a derived table. Let's see if I can explain that .... A derived table is "self-contained", in that all tables and columns in the parent SELECT are not accessible (though variables and parameters can be referenced). For example, consider:
select A.*, b.X
from A
cross join (select B.X from B where B.Val=A.Val) b
That is not legal because A.Val is out of scope within the derived table; this is because the derived...
posted @ Thursday, October 18, 2007 5:01 PM | Feedback (10) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
There's two interesting posts over at the MSDN blogs from Craig Freedman about the new PIVOT operator in SQL 2005. First, he gives a nice overview of the operator and how to use it, and then he follows it up with a performance analysis as well. A good read, check it out.
posted @ Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:24 AM | Feedback (2) |
Filed Under [
CrossTabs / Pivoting Data
SQL Server 2005
SQL Server User-Defined Functions (UDFs) can return either a single value or virtual tables. However, sometimes we might like for a User-Defined Function to simply return more than 1 piece of information, but an entire table is more than what we need.
posted @ Tuesday, June 12, 2007 8:52 AM | Feedback (3) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
Did you know that a new feature in SQL Server 2005 allows you to specify an OVER partition for aggregate functions in your SELECT statements?
read more...
posted @ Monday, May 21, 2007 2:52 PM | Feedback (7) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
Previously, I had written that UNION ALL (combined with a GROUP BY) is a really quick and easy way to compare two tables. Well, now in SQL 2005, we have another option: using EXCEPT and INTERSECT. And these are even easier!
read more...
posted @ Wednesday, May 02, 2007 2:47 PM | Feedback (26) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
I had to do some data clean up the other day, and really needed some regular expression replacements to do the job. Since .NET has a great RegularExpressions namespace, and since SQL 2005 allows you to integrate .NET CLR functions in your T-SQL code, I thought I'd go ahead and experiment with creating a RegExReplace() function. read more...
posted @ Friday, April 27, 2007 4:20 PM | Feedback (13) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
Code Library - C# / VB.NET
I wrote about a few of the new features in SQL 2005 and how they can be used to solve some old "classic" SQL problems very easily, and I thought I'd briefly discuss a few more. Also, if you enjoy baseball, read on!
read more...
posted @ Friday, March 30, 2007 9:21 AM | Feedback (31) |
Filed Under [
Paging Data
SQL Server 2005
The RANK and PARTITION features in 2005 are simply amazing. They make so many "classic" SQL problems very easy to solve.
read more...
posted @ Wednesday, March 28, 2007 2:18 PM | Feedback (34) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
Have you visited the SQL Server 2005 Express Downloads page lately?
read more...
posted @ Thursday, April 27, 2006 10:07 AM | Feedback (2) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
Most of these are really basic. Some are my take on established ideas and standards, and may be controversial. Agree or disagree? All feedback is welcome! (well ... mostly the "I agree, you're a genius" feedback is welcome ... but I'll accept all of it, I suppose)read more...
posted @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:42 PM | Feedback (33) |
Filed Under [
SQL Server 2005
Powered by:
Copyright © Jeff Smith


text: Ill admit it; we've been slacking on the BGR flashback series. But to pick things up again, this weeks BGR flashback is the Iomega zip drive. Come on, you so know you had about 100 of these things in your home and office! Released in 1994, but made extremely popular a little while later, the zip drive used a 100MB removable disk. The drives actually jumped up to 250MB, but that required a new reader. The new 250MB reader was backwards-compatible with the 100MB disks, though, otherwise all hell would have broken loose. Iomega later introduced the Jaz drive which used 1GB and 2GB disks, but it was never the same after that. CD-Rs and CD-RWs were quickly made famous for a bunch of reasons, and out went the zip drive. How many of you used to use the zip drives? What did you say? It's a has-been? It's a classic damn it!


text:
Attachment 317991Attachment 318001
A good example of Carrier 19 Seer Heat Pumps, 2 stage
is that lady short or that unit tall/
It`s better to be silent and thought the fool; than speak and remove all doubt.
Those are big units more coil more efficient
They are pretty tall. Those are the old ones. I much prefer them over the newer style ones. Alot easier to work on those. That said the first 2 are too damn close together from a service point of view.
of course the guy on the right's happy, he's got a beer in his hand!
The woman looks way to happy.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Join http://scopeny.org/ Shooters Committee on Political Education
The world is full of sheep,try not to join the flock.
Support the Skilled Trades, Don't DIY
Them units are taller than my wife lol and she is only 4'11
how much tons?
Forum Rules


text:
THC Toronto Hemp Company - Smoke Shop, Hemp Products, Garden Supplies, Glass! - New & Cool / Coming Soon / Back In Stock!
We have TONS more in-store, and are constantly adding to this new and expanding web-store! Call or visit THC!
View this Product Collection with items listed in order of Date: New to Old


text:
With the presidential election now a distant memory, the nation is fully peering over the edge to its next big story — the fiscal cliff. As the clock ticks closer to expiring tax cuts, as well as Congress' self-imposed January deadline for sequestration, or across-the-board budget cuts, there is renewed hope that Washington will come together to find a way out of the looming morass.
Let us hope so.
We must protect our economy. And, we must protect our nation's investment in biomedical research. The health and wealth of our nation depends on it.
Under sequestration, public biomedical and research funding could be slashed by as much as 8 percent to 10 percent.
National Institutes of Health funding fuels world-leading research carried out at U.S. universities and research institutes. That research in turn enables our thriving commercial biomedical sector, which is the envy of other nations. But scientific progress requires decades to proceed from discovery to clinical utility, and any disruption of basic research funding will have a ripple effect far into the future.
Analysis from United for Medical Research shows that NIH investment directly supported 485,000 U.S. jobs in 2010. Our biomedical research hubs are not just home to academic scientists. They also attract large drug and device manufacturers and have broad impact on surrounding communities. The life sciences sector includes thousands of instrument and service providers, small businesses and innovative start-up companies. Restaurants, hotels, transportation services and many other types of local businesses benefit when research funding expands.
Countless lives have been saved thanks to NIH-funded research. Survival from a childhood blood cancer (acute lymphocytic leukemia) is now 90 percent; vaccines have almost completely eradicated once common diseases; and mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke have been cut by more than half. New treatment avenues have been discovered for once "orphan" genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy, which are particularly challenging to address.
We still have far to go. Many are waiting for more cures, and the rates of conditions such as Alzheimer's, autism and diabetes, are rising and sending health costs soaring. Meanwhile, because some pharmaceutical companies are backing away from in-house research, our university laboratories must conduct more of the science that will produce tomorrow's cures. It is often unanticipated discoveries that provide the next leap, so rewarding exploration and critical inquiry is vital.
The process utilized in awarding NIH grants is particularly important to promising young researchers who are just starting out. There are no earmarks given to whoever has culled favor. Each award is granted through one of the most competitive, peer-reviewed and merit-based systems in the world.
Why threaten a thriving system, especially when we are already facing so many economic headwinds?
NIH grants spur innovation and deliver some of the highest returns available for taxpayer dollars. A recent report in Health Affairs found that from 1988 to 2005, almost half of patents for new FDA-approved molecular entities cited either an NIH-funded publication or an NIH patent. A study by Battelle found that for every $1 the federal government invested in the Human Genome Project alone, $141 was generated in economic returns.
Innovation is already strained by recent declines in NIH funding. Jobs have been lost and promising young scientists are being discouraged. Analysis from UMR predicts the possible cuts to the NIH budget could cost us more than 33,000 jobs directly. Meanwhile, other nations are investing much more in their research enterprises, seeking to surpass us and attract more scientists and biomedical ventures to their shores.
Innovation is the lifeblood of our economy and we must maintain leadership in the biomedical sciences. Certainly, there are many good reasons to avoid the fiscal cliff. But among the most important is that we owe it to patients, our communities and the researchers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow to show our commitment to advancing science and clear the path for more scientific breakthroughs, more cures and more jobs.
Dr. Collins is Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Senior Vice President for Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts.


text:
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text:
Why Clement Greenberg Defaced David Smith's Sculptures
Artsy Editorial
Image rights: © The Estate of David Smith
Abstract Expressionist sculptor and painter David Smith worked as a riveter and welder at automotive factories before devoting himself to art. Interested in the painterly potential of sculpture, he built his works by welding together found objects, machine parts, and forged metal. His style evolved from early Surrealist and Expressionist tendencies (influenced by Pablo Picasso, Russian Constructivism, Piet Mondrian, and Alberto Giacometti's biomorphic forms) to late masterpieces of geometric abstraction. His last work, Cubi XXVII (1965), part of a series of towering stainless steel sculptures meant to be installed outdoors, broke the auction price record for postwar art at Sotheby's in 2005.
American, 1906-1965, Decatur, IN, United States, based in South Shaftsbury, VT, United States
Why Clement Greenberg Defaced David Smith's Sculptures
Artsy Editorial
20 Abstract Expressionists Who Made Sculptures and Ceramics
Artsy Editorial
Were David Smith and Eugene Martin separated at birth?
Eugene James Martin Estate


text:
Young musicians nuture their dreams at prestigious summer Boston University Tanglewood Institute.
Preparing for her first summer vacation away from home, Anastasia Sereda bought a desk lamp, some sheets and began learning the lyrics of Mozart's Requiem.
Starting today, the 17-year-old from Natick, nicknamed "Stasie,'' will be spending six weeks in the Berkshires with more than 300 teenagers from across the U.S. and around the world.
They won't be canoeing and toasting marshmallows at some ordinary summer camp.
Sereda is one of several local students accepted to attend the world-famous Boston University Tanglewood Institute where they can nurture their musical dreams with guidance from accomplished teachers and professionals.
"This is very, very exciting for me,'' said the aspiring opera singer with a soaring soprano voice. "When I was accepted, I was shocked and then excited.''
Established in 1966, BUTI provides workshops and longer programs for orchestra instruments, vocals, composition, wind ensembles, harps and pianos for students 14 to 19 years old, including recent high school graduates.
Students, who receive college credit, occupy five dormitories on a 64-acre campus in Lenox. Most faculty members are affiliated with Boston University, the Boston Symphony Orchestra or are professionals brought in as "master class guests.''
Administrative Director Shirley Leiphon said programs are designed to "immerse students in an educational environment that helps them understand what a career in music would be like.''
"We're a summer program with some camp elements. We're not a camp,'' she said. "Our faculty gives our students insights in what to expect. Summer after summer, students have found it to be an eye-opening experience.''
Sereda is likely to meet other area musicians excited – and maybe a little nervous – about studying with new teachers and friends away from home.
She'll certainly meet Bernard Khalil who's also considering a career in opera.
A 17-year-old who'll be a senior at Framingham High, he "fell in love'' with opera listening to Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G Minor on his iPod while on a flight to California.
Tall and curly-haired, Khalil sang in an FHS production of "Sweeney Todd'' and listens to Queen and a Tribe Called Quest in his spare time. As he considers his college plans, he described the time at Tanglewood as "very important.'' "It's almost like a solidification whether music is what I will focus on,'' said Khalil, who's been taking private voice lessons for several years. "I can imagine doing it as a career. Tanglewood will be like testing the waters.''
Also making her first trip to Lenox, Rochelle Heinze, 17, of Shrewsbury, said she's "pretty nervous'' but really "excited by the opportunity'' to study her beloved viola with her peers and professionals.
She's studied viola for 9 years, toured Austria, Germany and Hungary with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra and has won numerous awards. In addition to practicing, she enjoys reading J.D. Salinger novels, music by the indie band Iron and Wine and singing in an a cappella choir.
Approaching her senior year, Heinze, who's planning to major in music and biology in college, said BUTI will provide "great opportunities to be with people who really care about music.''
John and James Nydam, 16-year-old twins from Wellesley who attend the Rivers School in Weston, will be studying composition and vocals.
John, who began piano lessons at 4 and has studied clarinet and saxophone, is a hard-hitting outfielder for the school's baseball team. A baritone who's sung in school musicals, James thinks BUTI will be "intense and demanding.'' "Hard work paid off. We got in,'' he said. "It'll be fun to challenge ourselves.''
Returning for a second summer, Karen Zhang, a 17-year-old from Wayland, who will be studying the saxophone, recalled "really nice, down-to-earth teachers'' and "fun, interesting kids.''
"I think Tangelwood teaches diligence and hard work,'' said Zhang, a National Honor Society member who also enjoys playing the piano and watching "Jeopardy." "Everyone had a good time learning and playing music together.''
Though she attended a shorter music camp last year, Sereda has never been away from home "the whole summer'' and wonders if she'll get homesick for her sister Nikolya and their parents.
She's so immersed in opera, she said her friends tease her because she's never watched American Idol or The Voice. Instead, she reads Harry Potter novels, watches Dr. Who and enjoys walking her dogs, Honey and Harley to Tilly and Salvy's Bacon Street Farm.
Sereda thinks she acquired her love of music from her grandmother "who played operas constantly'' and plans to study vocal performance in college.
By midweek, she'd almost finished packing.
"I've never done anything like Tanglewood before,'' she said. "My biggest hope is to meet people who share my passion for opera.''


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Ten years after the great California recall election of 2003, it is sobering to look back and remember how excited many voters were about bouncing Gray Davis out of office and making Arnold Schwarzenegger governor — and to realize how little it really changed for state politics and the recall's Republican leaders.
But look back we must. In retrospect, the experience teaches Californians lessons that may be applied statewide again someday and are being applied in local cities this year.
There was a sense then that the Golden State was losing its optimistic luster. That the Capitol was dysfunctional, divided by partisanship, self-serving office holders and special interests. The budget was out of control. An energy crisis and the bursting of the dot-com bubble demanded leadership. And leadership was sorely lacking.
Some of this trouble was Gov. Davis' fault, and a lot wasn't. But all of it crashed down around his narrow shoulders. Less than a year after being elected to a second term by a narrow margin, the Democrat faced a historic recall election on Oct. 7, 2003.
It is telling that we remember the that election more for the circus atmosphere of the brief campaign, for the weird array of candidates, than for any substantive change it brought to Sacramento.
The 135 candidates to replace Davis included seasoned office holders — Cruz Bustamante, Tom McClintock. It included other people of substance — Peter Ueberroth, the L.A. Olympics chief, and Arianna Huffington, the future founder of The Huffington Post. But the top 10 vote-getters also included former sitcom actor Gary Coleman, porn star Mary Carey and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt.
It wasn't hard for Schwarzenegger, the great American success story, an Austrian immigrant who built himself up (literally) to success in bodybuilding, movies and business. And it certainly wasn't hard for Schwarzenegger to stand out from the bland Davis. The recall won big, and so did Schwarzenegger in the separate vote for Davis' replacement.
A moderate Republican unsullied by a long career in politics, Schwarzenegger was overwhelmingly popular in his early months and had every chance to make a difference. He would win re-election easily. But his results fell far short of what even his biggest boosters — and particularly his biggest Republican boosters — hoped for.
His biggest achievements were anything but conservative dreams: He signed Assembly Bill 32, landmark legislation authored by a Democrat to limit greenhouse-gas emissions. He pushed successfully for the election-reform ballot initiatives that produced open primaries and a citizen redistricting commission.
Meanwhile, the state budget problems that crushed Davis got worse. At the end of Schwarzenegger's seven years as governor, California government's fundamental problems remained. He exited with 23 percent approval.
Arnold's victory did not herald a Republican return to power. Democrats now hold all seven statewide offices and control of both houses of the Legislature. California politics, seen nationally as wild and crazy a decade ago, is back to being too predictable.
The awesome power to recall a duly elected public official for virtually any reason should never be limited by law. It is vital to maintaining the people's ultimate right to choose their leaders through majority votes, and to hold them accountable.
But that power should be constrained by collective wisdom and common sense. Recall elections are appropriate when they let voters consider removing office holders who broke the law or failed in their duty to responsibly manage public resources. Such is the case in the Nov. 5 election to possibly recall three city officials in bankrupt San Bernardino. Such was not the case when 7 percent of registered voters turned out in July to recall two Fontana school board members over what was essentially a personal dispute.
A recall is not a magic remedy. One borne of mere disagreement over policy, or vague disappointment with a man's or woman's leadership, is bound to do less good than its proponents imagine and citizens deserve.
Such, sad to say, is the case with the California gubernatorial recall a decade ago.


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Posted 10.1.2010
Office of University Marketing and Communication10900 Euclid Avenue • Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7017Phone 216.368.4440 • Fax 216.368.3546
Marv KropkoSenior Media Relations firstname.lastname@example.com
October 1, 2010 Cooperrider Connects AI Management Strategy to Drucker School StudentsSelection Recognizes Weatherhead School of Management Professor's Prominent Role Establishing and Enhancing Appreciative Inquiry
David L. Cooperrider, Case Western Reserve University's internationally renowned organizational behavior professor known for his strengths-focused Appreciative Inquiry (AI) strategy and research, is fulfilling his role as the third and current Peter F. Drucker Distinguished Fellow for the Peter F. Drucker & Masatoshi Ito School of Management, part of Claremont Graduate University.
The school in Claremont, Calif., bestowed the honor in April shortly after a lecture and program Cooperrider provided there on "The Discovery and Design of Positive Institutions." As distinguished fellow, Cooperrider is a valued resource for students, and he plans to teach a special graduate level seminar at the Drucker School on "Appreciative Inquiry and the Design of Positive Institutions" during the summer of 2011.
Recently, he advised six Drucker students who came to Cleveland to personally experience Mayor Frank Jackson's Summit 2010: The Global Engine, held Sept. 22-23. They took part in the one-year follow-up to 2009's three-day summit, Building an Economic Engine to Empower a Green City on a Blue Lake.
The goal of Sustainable Cleveland 2019 is to make Cleveland a model of sustainability and a leader in the emerging green economy over the next nine years. This effort is focused on using AI to support business growth, protect the environment, and create opportunities for prosperity.
Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005) had a career as a writer, consultant and teacher spanning more than six decades. Cooperrider is fond of discussions he recalls having with Drucker, whom he regards as one of the greatest thinkers of the past century. Cooperrider says Drucker advised him that the essence of leadership "is to create an alignment of strengths in ways that make a system's weaknesses irrelevant."
"Too often our shell-shocked bureaucracies and negative political systems drain our energy, deplete our resources, and focus our collective attention on the worst, not the best, in life," Cooperrider says. "But strengths-based organizations and societies are different — they've learned that human systems excel only through dedicated inquiry and positive public dialogue into our collective strengths, never by simply fixing weaknesses."
David Cooperrider, the Fairmount Minerals Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Case Western Reserve's Weatherhead School of Management, and Suresh Srivastva jointly wrote the 1987 classic Appreciative Inquiry Into Organizational Life. The research shifted management attention from "a problem to be solved" to the importance of innovation spawning a "universe of strengths." The end result is creation of new and sustainable value.
His book series Advances in Appreciative Inquiry (Emerald Publishers) and academic works such as The Organization Dimensions of Global Change have been drawn upon by scholars, executives, and leaders from all walks of life. Appreciative Inquiry is being called upon in the corporate world and in economics, public service, urban renewal, international development, and in faith-based institutions.
Cooperrider travels extensively to speak about positive change. His newest frontier, shared with professors Ron Fry of Case Western Reserve's Weatherhead School of Management and Peter Senge of MIT, is the application of AI and large scale strengths-based approaches for the creation of sustainable cities and green economic design.
"David Cooperrider is building on and extending the work of Peter Drucker in an exciting and highly beneficial way," said Vijay Sathe, a professor at the Drucker School. "Drucker said the best way to predict the future was to invent it. Cooperrider and his methods are helping businesses and people around the world to invent a better future for all sectors of society."
Cooperrider joins only two others who have been named as a Peter F. Drucker Distinguished Fellow: Ikujiro Nonaka, author of The Knowledge-Creating Company, was named in 2008 and Charles Handy, author of The Age of Unreason, was named in 2009.
Cooperrider servers as faculty chair for the Fowler Center for Sustainable Value at Weatherhead, where he created the Global Forum for Business as an Agent of World Benefit in collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact and the Academy of Management. He has taught and lectured at Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge and many other business schools and organizations worldwide.
Interested in learning more about Weatherhead programs? Request more information or apply now, or register for one of over 70 open enrollment courses through Executive Education.
Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University cultivates creativity, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership to design a better world.


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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
D.C. Law Firm Rescinded Job Offer to Pregnant Applicant, EEOC Charges
WASHINGTON – A Washington, D.C. law firm violated federal law when it refused to hire a job applicant because she was pregnant, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.
According to the EEOC's complaint, James E. Brown & Associates, PLLC rescinded its offer of employment to Zorayda J. Moreira-Smith when it learned that she was pregnant. The EEOC said Moreira-Smith interviewed for an associate attorney position at Brown & Associates around November 2010 and received a job offer in January 2011. Before Moreira-Smith accepted the job offer, on or around January 6, 2011, she e-mailed the Brown & Associates' business manager to inquire about the company's maternity leave policy, among other things. In the same e-mail, Moreira-Smith informed the business manager that she was six months' pregnant. Later that same day, Brown & Associates e-mailed Moreira-Smith and rescinded its job offer, the EEOC said. The company continued to advertise for the same position and, within three months, hired two associates who were not pregnant.
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The EEOC filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. James E. Brown & Associates, PLLC, Civil Action No. 1:12-cv-00262 ), after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement out of court. The suit seeks back pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages for Moreira-Smith, as well as injunctive and other non-monetary relief.
"Working women who choose to have children cannot be penalized or treated differently from other employees simply because they are pregnant,"said Lynette A. Barnes, regional attorney for the EEOC's Charlotte District Office, which has litigation authority in the District of Columbia. "Employers must remember that refusing to hire a woman because she is pregnant violates federal law, and the EEOC will enforce that law."
On Feb. 15, the EEOC held a meeting examining pregnancy discrimination and caregiving issues. In Fiscal Year 2011, the EEOC received 5,868 charges of pregnancy discrimination.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. Further information about the Commission is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.


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Coptic Orthodox Church in Japan
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Japan was first established by His Grace Bishop Daniel since 2002.[1]. H.G. Bishop Daniel is the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of the Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions, including Asia. H.G. Bishop Daniel appointed the first serving Coptic priest in Japan, who served St. George Coptic Orthodox church of Japan.
The first Coptic Orthodox holy liturgy was held in Kobe City, Japan in November 2002 by H.G. Bishop Daniel. Other areas were Coptic Orthodox holy liturgies were held were Osaka, Kagoshima (south of Japan), Tokyo (captial city of Japan) and Tottori (western part of Japan).
Officially there is not a Coptic Orthodox church building that has been established. However, there are Coptic Orthodox Christians throughout Japan. There are Coptic Egyptians, Sudanese and Ethiopians who come to Japan as students for short-term periods to study. Furthermore, some people come to work and stay for long-term. Others have Japanese spouse and families and are permanent residents in Japan. There were some Japanese who have come to know about the Coptic Orthodox Church from their visit to Egypt. Other Japanese people have experienced the salvation of Jesus Christ and were baptised in the Coptic Orthodox Japan.
In May, 2007, H.G. Bishop Daniel had officially approved of a Coptic Orthodox Japan Network website in order to connect Coptic people and other people who have an interest in the Coptic Orthodox church in Japan.
What is Orthodox?
The Orthodox church is a church established by the Apostles of Jesus Christ in the first century. The Orthodox Church has never changed their teachings, the traditions and prayers which was directly taught from the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have kept their traditions till this present day. The holy liturgy is centered on prayers and praises to the Lord Jesus Christ. The church is filled with holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ, "that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
What is Coptic Orthodox church?
The Coptic Orthodox church is a church from the first century founded in Egypt from the Apostle, Saint Mark (the writer of the Gospel of Mark). St. Mark witnessed and experienced the Lord Jesus Christ's crucifixion, resurrection and accession. He then later traveled to Egypt as part of his mission to testify the Truth. The Saint preached the truth of the One and only God and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many Egyptians in those days, did not know about the true God, they worshipped idols and many lifeless gods. Many miracles were performed through St. Mark which had proved to the Egyptians that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Saviour and the true God. Many Egyptians became Christians and are known as Copts till this present day. St. Mark was martyred by the Roman Emperor in AD68. . However, that was not the end of the Coptic Orthodox church it was just the beginning of a strong faith that God has been continuing for 21 centuries.
What is Coptic?
Coptic is an old Egyptian language spoken before Arabic was enforced in Egypt . The Coptic Orthodox Church maintained the Coptic language through its hymns and liturgy.


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Robredo beats Paire in Casablanca quarters
CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Tommy Robredo of Spain beat Benoit Paire of France 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-0 to move into the semifinals of the Grand Prix Hassan II on Friday.
A former top-10 player, Robredo saved two set points to force a tiebreaker and took the first set when Paire netted a backhand.
The fourth-seeded Paire broke Robredo twice to lead 5-1 in the next set and won it with a backhand drop shot.
Paire wasted two break points in the opening game of the third set. Robredo did not miss his chances as he won the last six games.
The Spanish veteran, who reached the final in Casablanca 12 years ago, converted his first match point when Paire netted an overhead.
Robredo will play top-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain.


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myVermont.gov Account
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April 24, 2014
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is amending its Long Range Management Plan for the state-owned 1,272-acre Knapp Brook Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cavendish and Reading to incorporate a new section of the WMA.
The new section includes two parcels of land added to the WMA with the assistance of the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.
A public listening session to present the addendum to the public and solicit feedback will be held as part of the regular Cavendish Selectboard meeting for Monday, May 12, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Cavendish Town Office building at 37 High Street in Cavendish.
Vermont's state-owned WMAs are managed by the Fish & Wildlife Department to help conserve fish, wildlife and their habitats while providing people with opportunities for fish and wildlife-based recreation. There are 89 WMA's totaling more than 133,000 acres throughout Vermont.
All WMAs are open to hunting, trapping, fishing, wildlife viewing and other wildlife-related outdoor activities.
Management and administration of all WMAs is primarily funded through the sale of hunting and trapping licenses, and from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) Fund, in which excise taxes are paid on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment.
For more information, contact Stewardship Forester Tim Morton at (802) 885-8825 or email@example.com.
Media Contact: Tim Morton (802) 885-8825
Source: Department of Fish and Wildlife
Last Updated at: April 24, 2014 14:15:26