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In the wake of recent events, we realized that we're big enough now that Freethoughtblogs needed some more formal rules, so we scribbled some up. I've put the tl;dr version below the fold, but here's the shorter version.
We're an atheism+social justice+science network…we were Atheism+ before there was an Atheism+. Get used to it.
Big picture management is by an executive committee. It's not democratic, because its job is to just get stuff done.
There is a confidential backchannel to discuss management issues. And gossip.
No rules to regulate individual blogs.
You want to join FtB? Don't call us, we'll call you. Membership is largely decided democratically, with some mandated vetting procedures and final approval in the hands of the executive committee.
You want to get kicked off FtB? Act like a raging asshat and the executive committee will oblige you.
The current executive committee consists of Ed Brayton, me, Ophelia Benson, and Greta Christina. A fifth person is in the process of being elected. Don't pester the executive committee about signing up your blog, because they're just the janitors and they don't get to bypass the rest of the network to let people in; the people you want to beg are those on the admissions committee, and we're not telling you who they are.
Freethoughtblogs Rules
These are provisional rules. We're going to implement them now, and in March 2013, after they've had a fair trial, we'll consider revisions.
Freethoughtblogs is a community of bloggers who share a goal: the advancement of secularism through argument and discussion. To achieve that goal, we also value diversity (reaching every element of society is a priority), social justice, equality, and science and reason. We are skeptics and critics of dogma and authoritarianism.
Our network of blogs is designed to encourage independent thinking and individual autonomy — freethoughtblogs.com itself is a vehicle for giving vocal secularists a venue for discussion of their values and interests. The administration of this organization will interfere in the activities of individual blogs as little as possible, and will not impose any specific dictates on how individual blogs are managed. However, there must be some minimal regulation of the activities of the network as a whole that require some administrative structure, and providing that is the purpose of this document — to define a hierarchy to regulate the network (but not individual blogs) activity, and to lay out a set of procedures for changes to the network.
The official entities in this organization are:
Manager: Ed Brayton, founder of the network, fills this role. The Manager's job is to handle the business side of the group, selling ad space, disbursing revenues, and managing network hosting.
Webmaster: The webmaster is in charge of the technical aspects of the site. He or she answers only to the Manager.
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee will have the job of making decisions about new additions to the network, and taking punitive measures against bloggers who violate rules. Decisions made by the Executive Committee will be based on feedback from the Network.
The Network: The group of individual bloggers who are hosted at freethoughtblogs will be referred to as the Network. Each blog will have equal input to all decisions affecting the group.
Other committees: At the discretion of the Executive Committee, other committees may be formed from members of the Network to perform specific tasks. In particular, an Admissions Committee will be formed to evaluate candidates for new blogs.
The Executive Committee
The membership of the committee will consist of:
Ed Brayton
PZ Myers
Two members to be appointed by Ed Brayton, with renewable one year terms
One member to be elected by majority vote of the Network, to have a renewable 6 month term.
The Executive Committee will meet by Skype or phone conferencing at least once a month, to discuss the state of the organization and to evaluate any pending action items. Minutes will be taken and published to the Network mailing list.
All decisions of the Executive Committee will be made by a majority vote in a conference call or email conversation.
The Network
Every blog on freethoughtblogs.com is considered a part of the Network. Each blog (not each blogger, since some blogs have multiple contributors) will have one equal vote in all decisions. Any questions submitted to the Network for voting will be announce on the network mailing list, with a specific deadline for voting; a 2/3 majority of the members that actually reply is required for passage.
The Network Mailing List
The network mailing list is maintained by the webmaster; it includes every member of the Network who wishes to be on it, except those who have had access restricted.
All emails sent or received on the list are considered to be private. Disclosure of the contents of discussions on the mailing list to others outside the Network is grounds for revocation of mailing list privileges; continued or egregious violations of privacy will be grounds for removal from the Network.
Since the purpose of the mailing list is to encourage open communication between members of the network, all discussions must be civil and drama is frowned upon; disagreement and criticism is encouraged, but only in the spirit of constructive improvement of the content of the Network. Other kinds of disagreement must be taken off-list, so that they do not disrupt free and friendly discussion. The mailing list is not to be an arena.
Threats, harassment, and personal abuse will not be tolerated on the mailing list. If personal conflicts are interfering with your ability to discuss matters politely, take it to the Executive Committee by email for mediation.
The Executive Committee can revoke mailing list privileges in response to any violations of privacy. The purpose of the mailing list is to allow discussions, however, so revocation should never be made lightly or permanently; losing internetwork communication is a very serious issue.
Admitting new bloggers to the Network
There are certain criteria a blogger must fit to belong to this Network:
They must be a freethinker, not a proponent of a specific religion or dogma
They must have demonstrated quality and reliability of output, with good reason to think they will be active bloggers
They must share a commitment to the values of the Network, which include diversity, equality, and social justice as well as atheism
They should be collegial, and willing to participate enthusiastically in the shared goals of the network
As a Network, we'll also aspire to recruiting diverse bloggers to the cause; differences in background, values, and priorities within the broad framework of our mission are to be sought out and valued.
The Admissions Committee
A committee of at least 3 members will be formed by nomination of the Executive Committee. The role of the Admissions Committee is to mediate nominations for new members, conduct preliminary assessments of candidates, and to carry out interviews of potential new Network members.
At any time, the Executive Committee can dissolve the current Admissions Committee and request the Network to form a new one.
Any Network member can suggest new bloggers (Nominees) to the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee will maintain a list of suggestions, and carry out preliminary investigations of the suitability of Nominees.
The Admissions Committee, and only the Admissions Committee, can at any time request that the Executive Committee consider a nominee for admission to the Network. The Executive Committee is then obligated to make a decision within two weeks about whether the Nominee should be taken on.
A request to the Executive Committee to consider someone for admission requires:
Documentation of the current writing skills of the candidate
References from at least 5 Network members other than those on the Admissions Committee who approve of the Candidate
Results of a poll of the Network that show a majority approving of admission
A summary of a direct, personal interview of the Admissions Committee with the candidate to assess the suitability and collegiality of the candidate
The evaluation will be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval.
Dismissal of bloggers from the network
Removal of unsuitable bloggers from the Network is never to be undertaken casually. The criteria for asking that someone be removed are:
Multiple violations of privacy
Persistent disruption of the mailing list with violations of etiquette
Harassment — continuation of a behavior when requested to stop
Criminal behavior, such as the posting of child pornography
Active violations of the mission of the network: using a blog to set up an anti-atheist, racist, or anti-gay center, for instance
Prolonged abandonment of the blog, without suitable explanation (for example, a soldier sent off on active duty, or a blogger with a book commitment are reasonable excuses)
The following conditions will not be considered valid reasons for expulsion:
Personal animus
Disagreement on tactics, style, or focus
Change in philosophy or religion, unless it actively conflicts with the mission of Freethoughtblogs
Any blogger can request the expulsion of another, given good grounds. However, these requests should not be made on the mailing list, nor should the mailing list be used to threaten colleagues with expulsion. This is not behavior conducive to uninhibited communication, and can poison the well for further discussion. All suggestions for expulsion should be sent to the Executive Committee by email.
Consideration for expulsion will be made entirely at the Executive Committee's discretion. Do not nag the Executive Committee; requests will be tallied and discussed privately.
If the Executive Committee decides that there are reasonable grounds for expulsion, this fact will be disclosed to the offending blogger, and they will be given an opportunity to explain and correct their behavior. This will not be subject to public discussion. That a blogger has been censured will not be disclosed to other members of the Network, and if the problems are addressed, will never be revealed to the community.
The blogger may request a conference call with the Executive Committee to discuss the issues.
If the offending blogger is recalcitrant or in any way refuses to address the concerns of the Network, the Executive Committee will vote to determine if the blogger should be removed. If a majority agree, the Webmaster will be asked to immediately remove the blogger from the mailing list, remove the blogger's posting privileges, and close all comments on their blog.
Because continuity on the network is important, the blogs of expelled bloggers will be retained on freethoughtblogs (without the option for adding new posts or comments) at the bloggers choice. If they decide otherwise, the blog may be deleted. A backup of the archive will be provided for the blogger.


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Our customer service team in San Francisco is ready to assist you.
Monday - Friday
A radiant eye liner that also doubles as an eye shadow. Made with a blend of mineral oil and powder, these creamy Jumbo Eye Pencils glide on effortlessly—no pulling, tugging or fading—and come in a rainbow of vivid hues. Whether you want to stay sweet and innocent or go sexy and smoky for the parties tonight, NYX jumbo pencils are a must have in your makeup bag.
Ceresin Wax, Candelilla Wax, Bees Wax, Squalane, Hydrogenated Styrene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mineral Oils, Polyisobutene, Butylated Hydroxy Anisole, Propyl Paraben, Mica, Talc, C.I.77499, Pearl Powder
/ 167
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Along with all other eyeshadow pencils from NYX, this has many uses. However, I think this has the most versatility out of all of the eyeshadows. 1. You can use this as a base for any eyeshadow color and it will really make it pop. 2. You can apply this to the inner corner or under the brow bone for a highlight. 3. You can apply this to the waterline using an angled eyeliner brush. Some people don't like using white eyeliner on the waterline because they think it is too harsh. So, apply a bit of a peach or skin color eyeshadow over top of the white on your waterline with any brush, and you have a nude eyeliner!
If you know me, you know I can't live without this lol :) I use this color as a base for inner-corner highlight colors. It gives them a nice pop and brightens up the tearduct area so nicely! Also great as a subtle brow highlight on its own :)
Ok! We're to start with this it's a jumbo pencil my color of choice is milk I use this as an eye liner if I want my eyes to appear bigger and with one swiping motion it's perfect it glides on smooth and is nicely pigmented! A lot of white liners dot show up in your water line and I mean come on who's going to use primer literly on there waterline? No one. So if u want one that works this is it and I have super watery eyes and it stays also you can use it as a base alone or after primer to make your shadows seriusly POP. I will never ever not have one of these in my collection again. I honestly don't think this could fail anyone. But that's just me
I use it as both an inner tear duct highlighter and also as a shadow base. Very versatile product, only down side is the the amount of product you can waste when trying to sharpen the pencil. Will definitely attempt to depot it thought because I love it.
I have used this as an eye shadow base especially under vibrant colors so that it will pop. Very easy to use as a base and makes a great eye brow highlight. Totally love it and highly recommend it.
I love the NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils you can use them as a base or wear them eyeshodow. I use them as a base it gaves you eyeshadow a more vibrant color. If you use them as a eyeshadow I would put a eyeshodow a base because the NYX jumbo eyeshadow pencils do crase.
I originally bought a bunch of nyx makeup on a whim, and I have these pencils in four or five different colors, but Milk is so amazing, I use it for EVERYTHING. They work great as a primer, shadow, or liner, and I love how easy they are to blend! I need to buy more of these very soon ♥
My local mall has a little NYX cart and they are always out of the Milk pencil. Well last weekend I traveled to a town that had an Ulta and found one. I was so happy and even happier the next day when I got to try it. I love it so much and works beautifully.
I love using these pencils. Milk is one of the greatest colour bases out there. the pigmentation is so strong that a little goes a very long way. I find the white brings out any other colour and makes it pop! I also enjoy using copper almost everyday as it lets the shadow on top stick and give a great powerful kick. Black bean is also amazing as a base,I used it recently for a 1950's eye and the results were fantastic! I also use milk in the waterline to make my eyes appear bigger. A great affordable product.
I have NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk and I love it! I use it as a base under eyeshadow and beacuse of this pencil eyeshadow´s shades look much more vibrant and they stay on very very well! It is also very easy to blend. Great stuff!

subset: commoncrawl


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Milwaukee city employees learn of potential identity theft
Dynacare not prepared to comment
Thousands of city of Milwaukee employees got notices Monday letting them know their personal information, including Social Security numbers, has been compromised.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is among those whose information was exposed.
The information for some 6,000 city workers was compromised with the theft of a flash drive, but what really has the mayor angry is that the company waited more than three weeks to tell City Hall.
"The stolen car was reported missing immediately, but there was no report that there was information related to city employees that had been stolen," Barrett said.
Milwaukee-based Dynacare oversees the employee wellness program, and the flash drive was in a car stolen Oct. 22. The car has since been recovered, but the flash drive is still missing.
"Nah, it really shouldn't be floating around like that," city employee Barbara Neal said.
Neal just learned her name, Social Security number and birth date were on the flash drive.
"We have to keep a close eye on our credit now since our information is out and about and floating just God knows where. Yeah, we're going to have to keep a close eye on our credit report," Neal said.
"Well, I think every one of us feels the same way. We don't know what happened exactly. We don't know where this flash drive is, if it's in a dumpster somewhere or if it's being used. Our hope is it's in a dumpster somewhere," Barrett said.
Dynacare said it's not prepared to comment on the specifics of the theft.
Affected city employees should have received an email from Dynacare and the city of Milwaukee Monday explaining what to do in the event of suspected identity theft and one year of free identity monitoring.


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Monday, December 13, 2010
Posted by Nichole Burdett at 8:25 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
I won't lie, I haven't had very good luck with newborns lately...We have still been able to get good shots but it has taken a LOT longer than they usually do. I especially feel bad for the parents when this happens because it is so stressful for them. I am hoping that my bad streak is over and wishing for sleepy babies. This sweet little thing wasn't too thrilled about being there but we were still able to get some good ones of her.
Posted by Nichole Burdett at 11:32 AM 2 comments
This sweet little thing was just a little over 4 pounds and a month old when we took her pictures. So sweet and tiny!
Posted by Nichole Burdett at 11:25 AM 1 comments
Posted by Nichole Burdett at 11:20 AM 0 comments
Monday, December 6, 2010
Wow! I think whatever could have gone wrong with this shoot...DID! This family was so nice and so patient. It started with Amillya really not wanting anything to do with pictures...Then about two hours into it, my remote trigger stopped working. Tried changing batteries and nothing. At this point we hadn't gotten hardly anything. Amillya still wasn't thrilled to be there so we took a break(this was mainly just so that I could run and get another trigger) Thank heavens there is a camera store just 10 minutes away. When I came back Amillya was out cold in the bean bag. She did so good after that! Then after about another hour maybe. My light stopped working...AHHH! I was dying! I had never met this family and they drove a long way to come have me take their pictures. At this point, I am so embarrassed and frustrated. To make things worse, she is sitting exactly where we wanted her...And...her mom is a medic in the Air Force and they REALLY wanted a picture of her in her medicine bag. And that is what we were working on at that moment. For the last 30 minutes I shot with no flash and just the lights in my studio. Definitely not ideal but I wasn't sure what else to do. We finally got out of there I think around 9pm. They still had a long drive and daddy had to wake up super early(like 4am or something) Thank goodness we got some good pictures out of it...Thanks again Jen and Mitch for being so awesome! Now to the pictures.
Posted by Nichole Burdett at 9:04 PM 1 comments
Posted by Nichole Burdett at 8:59 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Angi won the giveaway last month and was able to use it for some family pictures. Her family is so sweet and her kids were all so good.
Posted by Nichole Burdett at 10:26 AM 0 comments


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Posts by David Dayen Sunday January 16, 2011 7:00 am
In a major ruling Friday, a coalition of nonprofit defense lawyers and consumer protection advocates in Maryland successfully got over 10,000 foreclosure cases managed by GMAC Mortgage tossed out, because affidavits in the cases were signed by Jeffrey Stephan, the infamous GMAC "robo-signer" who attested to the authenticity of foreclosure documents without any knowledge about them, as well as signing other false statements.
The University of Maryland Consumer Protection Clinic and Civil Justice, Inc., a nonprofit, filed the class action lawsuit, arguing that any case using Jeffrey Stephan as a signer was illegitimate and must be dismissed. In court Friday, GMAC agreed to dismiss every case in Maryland relying on a Stephan affidavit. They can refile foreclosure actions on the close to 10,000 homes, but only at their own expense, and subject to new Maryland regulations which require mandatory mediation between borrower and lender before moving to foreclosure. Civil Justice and the Consumer Protection Clinic also want any cases with affidavits from Xee Moua of Wells Fargo, who has also admitted to robo-signing, thrown out, but that case has not yet been settled.
This was not the plan of GMAC and other banks caught using robo-signers last year. They hoped to undergo a pause in proceedings, run a quick "double-check" and then issue substitute documents in the same cases. That would have been a much more rapid solution for the banks and would have resulted in many more foreclosures. Now GMAC has to go back and basically file the entire case all over again, meaning they have to give notice of foreclosure to the borrower, engage the borrower in modification options, and basically run through the whole process from the beginning. They cannot use the shortcut solution, thanks to the class action suit filed. GMAC's dismissal of every foreclosure in Maryland shows their doubts they would have won the class action.


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When you share information with your friends on Facebook, every app that your friends use can access and use that information. Read this post for further information.
Of course it's better to think of all your data on Facebook as public, but still it's hard to accept to share data with apps you can't control.
There's a way to stop this flow, though. Go to your Privacy Settings and follow this path:
Privacy settings
Apps and websites : Edit settings
How people bring your info to apps they use : Edit settings
Here you can customize the information you share with other people's apps. Other than that, you can just turn off all the apps:
If you don't want apps and websites to access other categories of information (like your friend list, gender or info you've made public), you can turn off all Platform apps. But remember, you will not be able to use any games or apps yourself.


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Subaru Three-Row, Subcompact Crossover Concepts Coming to Tokyo Show
Subaru is bringing to the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show the seven-passenger Crossover 7 concept, which previews the brand's three-row crossover replacement for the Tribeca that will be discontinued after the 2014 model year. Additionally, the new Subaru Levorg prototype may hint at the next-generation Outback crossover.
Subaru Crossover 7 Concept
Although a concept, the Subaru Crossover 7 concept bears a striking resemblance to the current Forester SUV and appears ready to fill the void that will soon be left the seven-passenger Tribeca. Inside, the Crossover 7 concept features tan leather seats in an "elegant and roomy space."
Subaru Levorg Concept
Subaru has posted teaser images of the Levorg concept that will be make its world debut in Tokyo next month. Powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter direct-injected flat-four, the Levorg prototype is said to combine drivability, safety, and environmental friendliness wrapped in a stylish design with a sports car feel. From the side profile, the Levorg prototype appears to preview the next Outback model.
Subaru Viziv Evolution Concept
Previously seen at the 2013 Geneva auto show, the Subaru Viziv Evolution concept will make its Japanese debut in Tokyo. The Viziv Evolution concept is powered by the same turbo 1.6-liter flat-four mated to a CVT with a plug-in hybrid system featuring one front electric motor and two rear electric motors. The concept also features Subaru's autopilot system.
Subaru Cross Sport Design Concept
The Subaru Cross Sport Design concept is only 169.3 inches long and indicates the automaker may soon have a subcompact crossover entry. For comparison, the XV Crosstrek is 175.2 inches long.
Source: Subaru


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When you stand up for your principles, sometimes you suffer adverse consequences. When Kim Yeon Woo (Kim So Yun), an orthopedic physician, turns in her professor for medical malpractice, she ends up losing her own job. But she manages to land on her feet and gets a position at the Taereung National Village, the training center for national Olympic athletes. While caring for Park Ji Heon (Jung Gyu Woon), a judo athlete, she starts developing feelings for him. But a love triangle develops among Yeon Woo, Ji Heon and Lee Do Wook (Uhn Tae Woong), the crabby facility director who still hasn't gotten over being sidelined from his speed-skating career by an injury. But swim coach Kang Hee Young (Cha Ye Ryun) does not intend to sit by and watch her affections for Do Wook go unnoticed. With so much romantic rivalries at the training facility, can Yeon Woo focus on her job to help keep the Olympic athletes in top physical form?
- Original title
- 닥터 챔프
- Romanized title
- dak teo chaem peu
- Also known as
- Doctor Champ
- Volunteer Team
- Dr. Champ Volunteer Team
- Broadcast Network
- Broadcast Period
- 09-27-2010 to 11-16-2010
- Rating
This show does not have any episodes


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Congress supported domestic ethanol production through a $5.4 billion tax credit program in 2010. The Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC or the ethanol tax credit), a 45-cent-per-gallon federal tax credit, is provided to fuel blenders that purchase and blend ethanol with gasoline. Congress also supported domestic ethanol production through a renewable fuel standard (RFS or the fuel standard) that applies to transportation fuels used in the United States. First enacted in 2005 and expanded in 2007, the fuel standard generally requires overall transportation fuels in the United States to contain certain volumes of biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel. The fuel standard generally requires rising use of ethanol and other biofuels, from 12.95 billion gallons in 2010 to 36 billion gallons in 2022. At present, the fuel standard is largely met from conventional biofuels—defined as ethanol derived from corn starch—which made up 12 billion gallons of the 12.95 billion gallon fuel standard for 2010. Of the 36 billion gallon total required for 2022, 15 billion gallons can come from conventional biofuels. The other 21 billion gallons are to come from advanced biofuels such as ethanol made from the cellulose of plants. To meet the RFS, the Departments of Agriculture and Energy are developing advanced biofuels that use cellulosic feedstocks, such as corn stover and switchgrass. The Environmental Protection Agency administers the RFS.
The ethanol tax credit and the renewable fuel standard can be duplicative in stimulating domestic production and use of ethanol, and can result in substantial loss of revenue to the Treasury. If reauthorized and left unchanged, the VEETC's annual cost to the Treasury in forgone revenues could grow from $5.4 billion in 2010 to $6.75 billion in 2015, the year the fuel standard requires 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuels. The ethanol tax credit was recently extended at 45-cents-per-gallon through December 31, 2011, in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-312). However, as GAO reported in August 2009, given the requirements of the fuel standard, the ethanol tax credit is largely unneeded today to ensure demand for domestic ethanol production.
Since the 1970s the federal government has provided increasing levels of support to the domestic ethanol industry. The Energy Tax Act of 1978, among other things, provided tax incentives designed to stimulate the production of ethanol for blending with gasoline. These tax incentives were restructured in 2005 as the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit. In addition, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 created the RFS, which established increasing annual floors for the amount of renewable fuels to be blended into U.S. transportation fuels. The act generally required transportation fuels in the United States to contain 4 billion gallons of renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, in 2006 and 7.5 billion gallons in 2012. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 expanded the RFS by substantially increasing its annual biofuel volume requirements, including up to 9 billion gallons of conventional corn starch ethanol in 2008 and up to 15 billion gallons of conventional corn starch ethanol in 2015. To offset the advantage foreign ethanol producers may gain from the ethanol tax credit, a 54-cent-per-gallon tariff is placed on imported ethanol.
Both the ethanol tax credit and the fuel standard create demand for domestic ethanol production. Fuel blenders receive the ethanol tax credit for each gallon of ethanol they combine with gasoline and sell, yet they are also required under the fuel standard to acquire and blend specified volumes of ethanol with gasoline. As GAO reported in August 2009, the ethanol tax credit was important in helping to create a profitable corn starch ethanol industry when the industry had to fund investment in new facilities, but it is less important now for sustaining the industry because most of the capital investment in corn starch ethanol refineries has already been made. As of January 2010, the domestic corn starch ethanol industry had 13 billion gallons of refining capacity with an additional 1.4 billion gallons under construction, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. This domestic refining capacity is nearing the effective fuel standard limit of 15 billion gallons per year for conventional ethanol beginning in 2015.
Importantly, the fuel standard is now at a level high enough to ensure that a market for domestic ethanol production exists in the absence of the ethanol tax credit and may soon itself be at a level beyond what can be consumed by the nation's existing vehicle infrastructure. The ethanol content in gasoline available for most vehicles is 10 percent. This 10 percent limitation results in an upper bound of about 15 billion gallons of ethanol that can be blended into the nation's fuel pool. While EPA recently allowed newer vehicles to use gasoline that contains up to 15 percent ethanol this fuel is not yet readily available.
The VEETC will cost $5.7 billion in forgone revenues in 2011. Because the fuel standard allows increasing annual amounts of conventional biofuels through 2015, which ensures a market for a conventional corn starch ethanol industry that is already mature, Congress may wish to consider whether revisions to the ethanol tax credit are needed. Options could include the following:
The information contained in this analysis is based on the related products listed under the "Related GAO Products" tab. In addition, information on the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 and information on tax expenditure estimates and domestic ethanol refining capacity were updated from more recent sources.
For additional information about this area, contact Frank Rusco at (202) 512-3841 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
In December 2007, the Congress expanded the renewable fuel standard (RFS), which requires rising use of ethanol and other biofuels, from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons in 2022. To meet the RFS, the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) are developing advanced biofuels that use cellulosic feedstocks, such as corn stover and switchgrass. The Environmental Protection Age...
Jump to another area below related to this mission.


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Top Chinese social media site Sina Weibo (a Twitter-Facebook hybrid) recently held a competition to find China's hottest mom, modeled after Coach's Mother's Day Hot Mom campaign, which aimed to promote a more youthful image for Coach in China. Users submitted photos of themselves with their children, but in some photos it was kind of difficult to tell the mother and daughter apart.
Oof — as if beauty culture didn't already put enough pressure on us to never start looking old, working tirelessly to turn us all into a diverse chorus of consumer Queen Grimhildes. Next time I go shopping with my mother and a cheesy sales associate decides to remark on how we look like sisters, instead of uncomfortably chuckling it off and saying something about "good genes," I'll just pull out my phone, show said associate one of these pics. Then I'll sternly ask, "Now do we look like sisters, punk?" and drop my phone like I was dropping a mic and walk away.
And then go back and grab my phone because that shit's expensive. And then ask my mom for money to buy clothes or whatever.
Images via Weibo


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I've seen some chatter on this forum and others regarding the Steelers pass/run ratio in Denver. Some argue that Ben threw too much and the Steelers should have tried to run more. There are two problems with that argument.
One, stubborn and predictable running plays called early on in the game put the Steelers offense in 3rd & long situations, meaning Ben had to throw to bail out the offense. He went 11/15 on 3rd downs. Essentially, the Steelers were too unbalanced in favor of the run in their first few offensive series of the game.
Second, no-huddle in the second half. Both teams offenses went up-tempo in the second half. This is mainly because the Steelers and Broncos were trading leads. When you're behind, you're going to throw more.
The Broncos offense ended up being more balanced than the Steelers offense. Know why? The Broncos were playing in 2012 and not 1972. They allowed Manning to throw early in the game and mixed in running plays. They did that the entire game, even when they went into the no-huddle and it kept the entire Steeler defense off-balance.
The Steelers on the other hand were playing in 1972. They stubbornly tried to pound the rock on first and second downs, only to find themselves in 3rd & long situations. They did nothing to mix things up early on. The Steelers think they have to establish a running game before Ben and the receivers can do anything. The Steelers need to take a page out of the Broncos book. Let Ben throw more often earlier in the game, mixing in running plays to keep the other team's defense off balance and set up play-action. Perhaps then instead of needed him to make a comeback drive in the last 3 minutes, the Steelers would be milking the clock with the running game. Besides, the talent on the offensive side of the ball suggested their strength is passing and not running (even with Mendenhall back).
Steelers fans often blasted Arians for being predictable in the passing game. Being predictable in the running game is no better, and does nothing to protect Ben by putting him in a 3rd & long situation. In the end, the pass/run ratio isn't as important as it once was. The rules in today's NFL favor passing, so likely the numbers will be skewed in that direction anyways.


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US policy-makers had hoped that the taking-over of Gen. David Petraeus as the commander of the US Central Command, and Gen. Stanley McChrystal as the US Commander in Afghanistan working under Gen.Petraeus would bring about a more proactive strategy to weaken the Taliban and create a divide between it and the Afghan people. The two had earned a reputation in Iraq for reversing the fortunes of Al Qaeda and the former Baathist soldiers of Saddam Hussein, creating a divide between the two and enlisting the support of different tribal leaders and through them their followers for the US military operations. The improvement in the ground situation in Iraq----though not yet irreversible--- was largely due to their thinking, planning and execution.
2. Hopes in Washington that the two Generals would bring about similar results in Afghanistan have been belied so far.The Af-Pak troika of the administration of Barack Obama---- Richard Holbrooke, Obama's special representative for the Af-Pak region, who handles the political and diplomatic angles, and the two Generals--- has not been able to come to grips with the problem almost six months after the new Af-Pak policy of the Obama adminstration was launched in March last. The present ground situation favours the Pakistan-based Neo Taliban. Since the two Generals took over, the Neo Taliban has been able to increase and strengthen its presence in the north too. The situation is still one of a bleeding stalemate, but the prospects of the US-led forces breaking the stalemate and prevailing over the Neo Taliban are not any the brighter since the two Generals took over.
3. The dilemma posed by the worrisome ground situation is reflected in the growing impression that Obama's Af-Pak strategy has failed to take off and is unlikely to take off and that the time has come to think of a new strategy in which the key to success would be in Pakistan and not in Afghanistan.Vice-President Joe Biden seems to favour a change of focus from a Neo Taliban-centric strategy in Afghanistan to an Al Qaeda-centric one in Pakistan.
4.Presently, the political pressure is on Pakistan to act against the Taliban and Al Qaeda elements operating from sanctuaries in its territory and on the Hamid Karzai Government in Kabul to improve governance, reduce corruption and pay better attention to the problems of the people in the areas controlled by the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the US-led Western forces.
5. Neither of these pressures has worked. Nor have the never-ending incentives offered by the US to Pakistan---the latest of which is the expected passage by both Houses of the US Congress of the Kerry-Lugar Bill making a long term commitment of US$ 7.5 billion to Pakistan in the form of non-military aid over a period of five years. The military aid, which too continues to increase, will be in addition. Original expectations when Obama assumed office in January last that strict benchmarks would be laid down for the periodic disbursements of this aid in order to ensure that Pakistan does act sincerely and firmly against the terrorists have been belied.The more Pakistan is pampered, the less it acts against the terrorists. That has been the lesson since 9/11 and this lesson has not been learnt by the officials of the Obama administration.This is evident even from the grim Assessment dated August 30,2009, prepared by Gen.McChrystal, on the basis of which he is reported to be planning to ask for another surge of 21000 US troops--- a request over which Obama is reportedly not enthusiastic.
6. The pressures on Karzai to improve governance have not worked either. This is partly due to the difficult ground situation, which would pose a dilemma to any ruler---however democratic and however competent. Moreover, instead of strengthening the position of Karzai, US officials have done everything to weaken his credibility in the eyes of his own people as well as the international community through allegations---some true, many unwisely inspired--- regarding his inability or unwillingness to act against corruption and narcotics production and rigging in the Presidential elections. Even if he wins the elections in the first round itself----as he is expected to--- the importance of that victory has already been diluted by these allegations. US officials take a lot of care not to say or do anything, which might weaken the position of the Pakistani leadership, but they do not take similar care in respect of Karzai.
7.In the existing gloomy scenario, there are only two positive factors, which provide some cheer. Firstly, the improvement in the flow of human intelligence to the US intelligence community from sources in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan, which has led to some significant sucesses in the form of eradication of some middle-level leaders of Al Qaeda and even senior leaders of the Pakistan Taliban known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) by US drone strikes. After having eliminated Baitullah Mehsud, the Amir of the TTP, the Drone strikes are now focussed on eliminating the Haqqani network consisting of the old Soviet era mujahideen warrior Jalaluddin Haqqani and his sons. If the US succeeds in eliminating the Haqqani network--- I hope it will--- the pressure on the US forces in Afghan territory could lessen--- at least in the short term. As against this, the impact of the elimination of Baitullah on the ground situation in Afghanistan would be minimal. His elimination was more a boon to the Pakistani security forces grappling with terrorists of their own creation in their territory than to the US-led Western forces in Afghanistan.
8.The second positive factor is the role of India as a force for stability in Afghanistan. Any objective analyst has to concede that the various road construction, democracy-promotion and people-oriented programmes undertaken by India in the areas controlled by the Government of Afghanistan have benefitted not only the people of Afghanistan immensely, but also the long-term Western objective of a democratic, modern Afghanistan.
9. One would have expected the US policy-makers not only to recognise the importance of retaining the role of India as a force for stability, but also encouraging India to expand further its people-oriented role in Afghanistan. In his assessment, McChrystal recognises --- though somewhat grudgingly-- the beneficial role of India and the support for that role from the Karzai Government, but one is surprised to find that he shows understanding for the Pakistani concerns over India's role and hints that these concerns have to be taken into consideration while formulating any revised strategy. He himself says that no strategy will work unless it is people-oriented, but at the same time wants something to be done to address Pakistani concerns over India's people-oriented role.
10.The Afghan people---whether Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbecks or others--- distrust and hate the Pakistanis after seeing the role played by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the creation and fattening of the Taliban since 1994. One saw the extent of the hatred for the Pakistanis when the American and Northern Alliance troops entered Kabul in 2001 under Operation Enduring Freedom. Pakistanis assisting the Taliban Government in Kabul were hunted, killed and their dead bodies thrown into the gutters of Kabul.
11. Gen.McChrystal's ideas, if implemented, would provide an environment for the re-assertion of the hated Pakistani role by paying attention to Pakistani concerns over India's positive role.This shows how short-sighted US policy-makers and military-officers can be.The General's assessment is disappointing because it fails to put its finger on the crux of the dilemma being faced by the US-led Western forces, similar to the dilemma which the Soviet troops faced in Afghanistan in the 1980s before they decided to quit in 1988.This dilemma arose in the case of the Soviet troops and has now arisen in the case of the US-led Western troops from the absence of a counter-sanctuaries component to the counter-insurgency strategy.
12.The reluctance of the Soviet troops to take their fighting to the sanctuaries of the Afghan Mujahideen in Pakistani territory led to a situation where the Soviet troops kept bleeding till battle fatigue and public disenchantment with the war set in. Similarly, the absence of an effective counter-sanctuaries component is leading to a situation where the US and other Western forces as well as the ANA are bleeding more and more. There are already the incipient signs of a battle fatigue as cound be seen even from the General's assessment and the beginning of a public disenchantment with the involvement in Afghanistan. This disenchantment is already pronounced in West Europe and Canada and one could see the beginning of it even in the US. Instead of allowing the Neo Taliban to infiltrate in increasing numbers from its sanctuaries and recruiting grounds in the FATA and the Pashtun majority areas of Balochistan and then fighting or countering their ambushes in Afghan territory, the US should take its counter-insurgency operations to the camps of the Neo Taliban in adjoining Pakistani territory----whether in the FATA or in Balochistan.
13. The US already has an air-mounted counter-sanctuaries strategy in the FATA with the help of the Drones, which provide a deniable way of hitting at the sanctuaries of Al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban and the Neo Taliban. This strategy has had its successes, but, despite them, has proved inadequate. Initially, these strikes were concentrated on the sanctuaries of Al Qaeda and its allies in North Waziristan. Earlier this year, when there was a danger of the TTP expanding its presence to the non-tribal areas and posing a danger to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, the focus of the Drone strikes shifted to South Waziristan against the sanctuaries of the TTP.During the last six months or so, the objective of these strikes became not protecting the NATO forces and the ANA in Afghanistan from attacks mounted from the Pakistani territory, but assisting the Pakistan Army in reversing the advance of the TTP into the non-tribal areas. After killing Baitullah in the first week of August, the US has again changed the direction and is now focussing on the Haqqani network, whose threat is more in Afghan territory than in the FATA. The US has not been able to mount a full-scale operation against Al Qaeda sanctuaries in North Waziristan due to the dispersal of its resources to South Waziristan for use against the TTP.
14. Even this limited success has not been there against the staging grounds of the Neo Taliban in Balochistan.The US continues to depend on the Pakistan Army for action against the sanctuaries of the Neo Taliban. The ISI-sponsored Neo Taliban is the only asset left with the Pakistan Army for regaining its primacy in Afghanistan if and when the US and other Western troops leave Afghanistan. Pakistan wants to regain this primacy without the direct deployment of its own army as it did in the 1990s. If the US is waiting for the Pakistan Army to act against the Neo Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistani territory, this is not going to happen. The US has only two alternatives---either itself act against the sanctuaries in Balochistan and destroy the Neo Taliban leadership in order to restore the damaged image of the US forces in Afghanistan, thereby paving the way for an honourable exit or keep its operations confined to Afghan territory, thereby continuing to bleed and face the prospect of an exit forced on the US by the Neo Taliban under humiliating conditions.
15.The role of the Drones---even if extended to Balochistan-- may not be as effective as their role in the FATA. The places in the FATA where the sanctuaries of Al Qaeda,the TTP and the Haqqani network are located are far from inhabited areas. The dangers of civilian fatalities are not large. In the Quetta and adjoining areas of Balochistan, the sanctuaries of the Neo Taliban are located in inhabited areas. It would be very difficult---almost impossible---to avoid large civilian fatalities. Deniable ground operations would, therefore, be necessary to eliminate the sanctuaries of the Neo Taliban. The US has the capability for such ground operations, but does not have the political will to use it lest it add to the already high anti-US feelings in Pakistan and affect even the limited co-operration which it has presently been getting from Pakistan in the FATA.
16. This danger of adverse reaction in Pakistan has to be faced if the US wants to bring about better ground conditions, which would enable it to contemplate withdrawing from Afghanistan with honour and with some confidence that Afghanistan will not revert to its pre-9/11 position of being the rear base for Al Qaeda. Before contemplating withdrawal, the US has to destroy Al Qaeda sanctuaries, including Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, in the FATA, the Haqqani network and the Neo Taliban sanctuaries in Balochistan. It has to come to terms with the hard reality that this is something which the US has to do without depending on Pakistan.Pakistan and Al Qaeda are biding their time hoping that after the US withdrawal, they can move into Afghanistan once again. This should not be allowed to happen.
17. Instead of discussing the various options available in this regard,McChrystal's report skirts the crux of the dilemma and discusses other issues having little relevance to a counter-sanctuaries strategy. His assessment reads more like one prepared by a senior officer attending a joint staff course than a recommendation for action prepared by an officer in charge of command and control. It is possible there is a classified part of the Assessment in which McChrystal discusses a counter-sanctuaries strategy. If not, his thinking doesn't bode well for the ultimate success of the US operations in the Af-Pak region.
18. This may please be read in continuation of my earlier paper of May 13,2009, titled "The Af-Pak Situation--An Update", at http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers32/paper3186.html (27-9-09)
(The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai. E-mail: email@example.com )
Sunday, September 27, 2009
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Mike is having connectivity issues with his home network and is wondering if he needs a new router. He has a desktop, three laptops, and a smart TV. Is that too many? Leo says yes and no. It depends on what he's doing. If everyone is streaming Netflix at the same time, the bandwidth won't really handle all that activity. On the other hand, if everyone is just emailing, then it should be fine. Four or five devices shouldn't be a problem. If his router is 4 or 5 years old, then it may be showing its age.
Mike should find out if there's a firmware update for that router. Otherwise, a good Linksys or DLink router would solve the issue. A dual band router may be the solution.
Also, he should make sure he's using automatic configuration on all of his machines. That way he won't run into conflicts. Let the router decide what address goes to what machine.


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Young people from across America made up a significant amount of the huge crowds that gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life.
John Hughes, an 18-year-old student at Seton Hall Preparatory School in New Jersey, told CNA that he supports the event because "to not be pro-life is to be ignorant."
"Science has shown that life begins in the womb," he said, arguing that abortion advocates demonstrate a "lack of responsibility" in ignoring the science of fetal development.
Even most U.S. states, Hughes added, recognize an unborn baby as a living child if both mother and baby are killed in a violent crime.
The college student was among the massive crowds of young people who weathered fog and rain in the nation's capital to attend the annual March for Life on Jan. 23.
Organizers said they believe the event attracted more participants than last year's estimated 400,000.
The march was held one day after the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
Hughes said that he is "one hundred percent" hopeful about the future of the pro-life movement, given several legislative pro-life efforts on the state level such as abortion restrictions or Planned Parenthood defunding.
"It's a youth movement," he said.
Kari Boyd, a student at Michigan State University, added that she believes abortion hurts women.
She explained that Planned Parenthood and other organizations that support abortion "are not telling women the truth" when they say that an unborn baby is a "blob of cells" and fail to show women that the fetus they carry is "another human being."
Support for women's rights does not create the "right to kill an innocent unborn child," Boyd said. "Women don't have the right to murder."
Matt Menendez, age 20, is the president of Harvard right to life. He explained that although the United States is largely pro-life, there are only a small minority of students at Harvard "who are willing to speak up" in defense of life.
"We're always fighting an uphill battle," he said. While the work is "very difficult," it is also "very, very rewarding."
He said that the group regularly receives calls and emails "from people who say they're afraid to be prolife."
Menendez described the group's work as "fighting an intellectual battle" in the hopes of "opening discourse" on a topic that is considered somewhat "taboo" and is "often ignored" at Harvard.
"It's really energizing to be part of that movement," he said.
Luciana Milano, another member of Harvard's right to life group, attended the march for the first time this year. She explained that attending Harvard strengthened her pro-life views because she was forced to defend her beliefs to those who disagreed with her.
She said that although the experience "has been difficult," it has made her "a stronger believer" in the dignity of all human life."
Describing the march as "awesome," Milano said that she was impressed and overwhelmed by the large number of people attending the event.
"The second that I saw large amounts of people, I almost cried," she said.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Youth a strong presence at DC March for Life
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After working so hard to keep their relationship private, Kristen Stewart has issued a very public apology for cheating on her boyfriend Robert Pattinson.
"I'm deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I've caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected," Stewart said in a statement obtained by People. "This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I'm so sorry."
Check out photos of Kristen StewartStewart's apology comes after photos of her kissing her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders were obtained by Us Weekly. (The photos will be released in the next issue). The 41-year-old filmmaker and father of two has also released a statement after cheating on his own wife of seven years, Liberty Ross, who coincidentally played Stewart's mother in the film.Sanders issued an apology of his own: "I am utterly distraught about the pain I have caused my family. My beautiful wife and heavenly children are all I have in this world. I love them with all my heart. I am praying that we can get through this together."Pattinson's reaction to Stewart's infidelity remains unknown, but an April interview he did with Italian Vogue might give some hints. "But there's a thing I've never got: That is, why do people cheat?" Pattinson wondered.
Check out photos of Robert PattinsonStewart and Pattinson met four years ago while filming the first Twilight film. Though rumors began immediately that the co-stars were more than friends, the couple has only been officially dating for three years.Over time, the pair has become much more public with their affection, even attending the Teen Choice Awards together only a few days ago.Do you think this is really the end for Robsten? Or will he give Kristen another chance?


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Sewage leak went undetected for weeks
Uprooted tree during Hurricane Sandy damages sewer line
A damaged sewer line caused a sewage overflow in the Catonsville area that flowed undetected for weeks, county officials announced in a statement on Wednesday.
County officials said an uprooted tree damaged an eight-inch sewer line during Hurricane Sandy, and the overflow was discovered Tuesday evening near West Branch Herbert Run in the area of the Spring Grove Hospital Center property. The West Branch flows to the Patapsco River.
The overflow went undetected for weeks because the break occurred in a seldom-traveled wooded area of the hospital campus. County official estimate an average daily flow of 60,000 gallons over three weeks in an area between Walnut Circle and Birch Drive.
Baltimore County Utility crews contained the overflow with a pump late Tuesday night.


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Join Us for USACollegeChat — A Free Podcast Coming to You Every Week
Understanding the world of colleges is overwhelming for many public school students and their parents. What is the best choice for you? Is it a public or private college? A two-year or four-year college? A liberal arts or technical college?
These are the questions that we started answering in 2009 for students in one of New York City's best public high schools. Our students were regular New York City students. They did not have to take a special exam to get in. They did not need great grades in middle school. And yet, most of them went on to college full time after just three years with us, thanks to a remarkable Early College program. But Early College program or not, college is possible for most New York City students. It is just a question of which one. Finding that one is what USACollegeChat is all about.
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Listen in to our podcast every Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.—or later, whenever you have the time. We have shared weekly episodes since September, 2014, and in March, 2016, we changed our name from NYCollegeChat to reflect our national perspective.
Series 1: Understanding the World of College episodes
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Series 5: Higher Education in the News
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Our hosts have worked with hundreds of parents and thousands of high school students in New York City public schools in the past seven years, most recently as co-founders (along with principal Chris Aguirre) of City Polytechnic High School of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology, an innovative and successful public Early College high school in Brooklyn. City Poly was founded to serve a population of regular New York City students—about 75 percent black and Latino, about 75 percent free and reduced lunch—who did not need to pass an entrance exam to attend.
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Monday, January 21, 2013
A Smarter Idea For Closing A Budget Gap?
First of all, if the purpose of these tax increases is to fill a budget gap, why is the council proposing tax increases that will give three out of every four dollars raised to the Capital Improvement Board? After all, it's the city-county budget, not the CIB's budget, that faces a structural imbalance of $46 million. The original council-approved budget vetoed by the mayor provided an additional $15 million for the city-county budget for public safety that would have been payable from the CIB's $65 million in cash reserves. Why are we giving millions more annually to the CIB, while asking other city-county agencies to cut their budgets by 5%?
Second, the members of the Administration & Finance Committee gave homework assignments to all of the representatives of the auto rental industry who had the audacity to testify against the proposed tax increase on auto rentals without having answers to all of their questions. It seems the Mayor and the council members have been telling the public not to worry about this tax increase because only out-of-town visitors paid the tax. When industry representatives contradicted that meme, councilors were visibly perturbed and began challenging their statistics as if they were just making them up and began demanding they provide the public more information about the taxes that are imposed upon them. Imagine. When CIB officials were asked the purpose of the millions in additional revenues, the answer was simply that it would be used for operations. Nobody asked if giving annual subsidies of $10 million a year to billionaire Herb Simon's Indiana Pacers, which was not included in the council-adopted budget, constitutes an operations expenditure.
Third, why isn't the council demanding answers from the Indiana Pacers about their need for annual subsidies to operate Banker's Life Fieldhouse? The council had plenty of questions for the Indianapolis Colts' executive who had the audacity to appear before the committee and testify against the admissions tax. Doesn't this tax just amount to a few bucks per ticket? Why wouldn't fans pay the extra money? Only people who don't actually have to pay for Colts tickets would ask that question because it already costs a family of four on average about $500 to attend one game. They also wondered why the Colts simply couldn't eat the cost of the tax increase. You are getting more revenues from broadcast rights from the NFL aren't you, Council President Maggie Lewis asked? Is she not similarly curious about the tens of millions of new revenues the Indiana Pacers receive under the new collective bargaining agreement the NBA entered into last year? Ms. Lewis is a voting member of the CIB which approved that additional $10 million to the Indiana Pacers. Did she pose that question to the Pacers?
Fourth, because these two new tax increases don't address the $46 million budget gap in the city-county budget, we ask what additional tax increases the council plans to enact. We understand that your esteemed council president, who gets two free tickets to every Colts game courtesy of the CIB, agreed to the elimination of the homestead property tax credit in next year's budget as part of her agreement with the Mayor. That was a tax increase the Mayor proposed last year that was rejected by the council. The Mayor and the council's leadership are also asking the General Assembly for permission to raise our local income taxes to finance a new mass transit boondoggle that will take effect next year if approved by voters at a special election. It will cost $1 million to pay for that special election, but we suppose you've got good answers for where that money will come from as well. What other tax increases do you have planned for the public that you haven't told us about?
These are all questions the public would like to see answered. We're more than a little bit concerned that these new CIB tax revenues, which nobody bothered to justify with real spending needs, is in actuality part of a plan to finance a new stadium at the site of the former Market Square Arena site for the benefit of one of the Mayor's largest campaign contributors, who just coincidentally announced this week that he had landed a new professional franchise for the city, and that his plans include a permanent new stadium downtown. He's scouted the country and his stadium of choice is one like Kansas City built that has a price tag of $200 million. If you've decided behind closed doors that you're going to finance this new public stadium, don't you owe the public the transparency to tell us why you're really raising our taxes. Don't tell us you're raising our taxes to pay for public safety when the money is really going to fund this city's number one priority--professional sports. We won't hold our breath waiting for any straight answers from any of you. After all, we never get straight answers from you.
UPDATE: Councilor Angela Mansfield advises me that there will be public testimony at next Monday's council meeting on the proposed tax increases. She also clarified that she opposed the auto rental tax and will not be voting for it when it comes for a full vote. A couple of councilors had expressed reservations about the tax increases as well. Councilor Simpson has reservations about the auto rental tax, and Councilor Jack Sandlin had reservations about the admissions tax, but both voted to send the measures to the full council for a vote.
9 comments:
- Paul K. Ogden said...
Of course, the question is why vote it out of committee at all. Why not take public testimony at another committee meeting?
Once it gets to the final vote stage in the Council, the game is over.
- Citizen Kane said...
We're broke, but it is fine to waste a million dollars (taxpayers)on a special election so that billions of dollars of contracts (Friends of Ballard (FOB)) can let and bonds can be issued (taxpayers) to fund a transit system whose chief proponents will never ride (except when they have free tickets to Colts or Pacers games).
And they are going to get away with it again - while wringing their hands about what to do about the current and future budgetary problems that they just exacerbated.
- Citizen Kane said...
Of course, the simple solution would be to stop giving away taxpayer funds to rich people.
- Guest said...
I miss Carl Moldthans work for Indianapolis but you have stepped up to take his place. Bravo.
- Had Enough Indy? said...
There is no $46 million gap. That talk was before the income tax error was discovered by the State. The taxes we should have received for this year, will instead be used for next year's budget.
There is no discussion of the fact that the budget squeeze will soften as the economy improves, and does not need a long term, new revenue stream; rather it requires penny pinching to make it through the hard times.
We are, in fact, sitting on $80 million purportedly to keep our bond rating. It was said a couple of years ago when it was created, that it was only needed for a couple of years. Either come clean about our ability to pay our debts, (and stop adding new debt with new TIF districts), or release a couple of million to tide us over.
The new tax money is not earmarked for recruit classes - which was the reason the Council put a $15 million PILOT on the CIB. $11 million was to substitute for keeping the homestead credit and the rest for a recruit class.
Both the Mayor's budget and the Council's budget was equally balanced. So, why raising taxes, the third alternative, is superior to 'getting through' until the economy improves, is beyond rational thought.
- Gary R. Welsh said...
They're still throwing the number around, Pat, as if it's still there.
- Had Enough Indy? said...
Of course they are - they want folks to think they actually need the tax increases.
- Jon said...
Pat you may know the answer to this question, is there any accounting of the money collected from the food and beverage taxes? Or is that money simply a revenue stream that feeds into the city budget?
- Had Enough Indy? said...
Jon, I have never seen food and beverage tax credited to City accounts. I have only seen those taxes flow to the CIB.
In that instance, the 2013 CIB budget expects $20.2 million from that source.


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The Audi A3 is offered as a sedan, convertible, or 5-door Sportback. Power comes from a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder with 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Audi A3 sends power to all four wheels via quattro all-wheel drive, though front-wheel-drive versions are available as well. A high-performance version of this same engine powers the Audi S3, where it makes 292 horsepower--enough to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The RS3 comes with only an all-wheel drivetrain, and is powered by a 2.5L turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that makes an almost-unbelievable 400 horsepower.
Finally, the A3 Sportback e-tron hybrid utilizes an electric motor that makes 102 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque, plus a 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine capable of 150 horsepower. When combined, the two powerplants make 204 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful hybrids available. The Sportback e-tron can drive on purely electric power for about 17 miles.
The Audi A3 is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. The Premium trim includes leather seating with heated front seats, a panoramic glass sunroof, bi-xenon automatic headlights, power adjustable side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 12-way power adjustable driver's seat, rearview camera and parking sensors, "Alu-optic" interior trim, heated mirrors and washer nozzles, twin USB power/data ports, and a 10-speaker sound system with a 3-month subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio.
A convenience package adds keyless start, stop and entry, as well as Audi's music interface and better smartphone integration. The sport package on the other hand, adds sportier front seat, a driving mode selector and a flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles. A sport suspension is also available that reduces the ride height by 15 mm.
The Premium Plus trim adds 18-inch wheels, aluminum interior accents, Audi side assist, a Bang & Olufsen sound system and keyless entry. The Prestige package, meanwhile, includes everything in Premium Plus, as well as an S-line exterior body kit, a navigation system, Audi connect and LED headlights.
Option packages on the Premium Plus include a technology package that features Audi Connect PRIME and PLUS, a navigation system, Audi's side assist system with rear traffic alert and what Audi calls their "virtual cockpit," which is a digital display in the instrument cluster featuring a view of the road ahead as well as plenty of relevant driving information.
The RS3 is, a special beast of its own. Besides the tremendous engine, the RS3 comes with a unique red-stitched Nappa leather interior as well as 19" 5-arm wheels, full LED headlamps, RS-specific fascias and diffuser and magnetic ride suspension.
Safety features on all the A3 models include anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system. Airbags include advanced driver and passenger front airbags, knee airbags, thorax side airbags as well as side curtain airbags. An anti-theft alarm system comes standard, while Active Lane Assist, Audi Pre-Sense automatic braking and adaptive cruise control are all optional on the A3 Prestige.
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Labor & Economy
Two Soft-Hearted Banks: It's a Wonderful Lie
(This reposted feature by David Wallis originally appeared on the American Prospect.)
At a time when legislators, consumer advocates and the Occupy movement batter big banks for their questionable business practices, J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America have gone soft and fuzzy. The nation's two largest banks are running saccharine television commercials that portray the massive multinationals as the Bailey Building and Loan Association.
Bank of America recently rolled out its "Opportunity" campaign to highlight the company's nationwide bid to lend a hand—i.e., money— to small businesses. (Ironically, It's A Wonderful Life director Frank Capra modeled the Bailey's bank on BoA.)
In Brooklyn, tenants of a green affordable housing project partly funded by BoA gush over their sleek new apartments, replete with AC and electric keys. "No one can pick the lock," notes a tenant in a web version of the ad. Another tenant, a formerly homeless girl about ten, says of her new digs: "I feel smarter."
In Los Angeles, Richard Pink, one of the owners of Pink's Hot Dog's, recounts how BoA lent his parents $4,000 in 1939 to start their mom-and-pop shop. The Pink's ad lays on the mustard pretty thick, using the condiment to spell "Pinks loves Bank of America" on a line of hot dogs. His parents, reminisces Mr. Pink, "just pleaded with their enthusiasm for this hot dog business. The branch manager said 'all right, I will take a risk. I will take a chance with the two of you, and I will loan you the money to buy the property.'" (Today that banker would show the Pinks the door if they offered "enthusiasm' as collateral).
BoA's tearjerkers coincide with less inspiring news about the company. The New York Times recently reported that Small Business Administration-backed loans by BoA plummeted 89 percent from 2006 to 2010. Meanwhile, BoA ranked on the bottom of JD Power's annual Small Business Banking Study. The U.S. Treasury just issued Bank of America, as well as JPMorgan Chase, poor reviews for their performance in a federal program intended to modify the mortgages of homeowners facing foreclosure. And the fallout continues from the bank's much-maligned plan, since dropped, to charge a monthly fee to debit card customers.
J.P. Morgan Chase also followed headlines about heartless behavior with the release of a heartwarming ad. Earlier this year, Chase ponied up $56 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the bank of overcharging more than 6,000 active-duty troops on mortgages and wrongly foreclosing the homes of fourteen military families. But let bygones be bygones. Chase's latest ad salutes its mission to hire military veterans. The commercial shows clean-cut former soldiers donning new uniforms—crisp blue "Chase" dress shirts. "Chase knows when you are hiring a veteran, you're hiring America's best," ooh-rahs one of the bank's cadets.
Gene Grabowski, who specializes in crisis management at Levick Strategic Communications in Washington D.C., believes that the banks' ads could pay dividends for the embattled companies. "People have been critical of banks since Old Man Potter shut down the Savings and Loan," says Grabowski. "Does this really change the perception? No. But it does relieve some of the pressure from Capitol Hill and reminds consumers, 'maybe banks aren't all bad."
A hearts and minds ad campaign might be a wily marketing strategy, but how about trying contrition and accountability? Imagine the commercials, which would cost little to produce. J.P. Morgan Chase's CEO Jamie Dimon and Bank of America's CEO Brian T. Moynihan face the camera in front of a plain backdrop. First, the CEOs thank the American people for the bailout. "You were there for us even though we have not been there for you," admits each banker. Then Dimon and Moynihan apologize for their respective bank's misdeeds and announce their immediate resignations. Fade to black.
Now that would be a holiday miracle.
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On the July 4th weekend Americans will be relaxing, but we shouldn't forget, slightly paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln, that the world may little note what we say here, but it should never forget what they did for us.
Thus the second in our series honoring advisors and those who partner with advisors, who served in the armed forces of the United States.
To begin, this CFP has appeared on the Wealth Manager/AdvisorOne 50 Top Women in Wealth list before (spoiler alert: she's on the list again this year), and is a regular blogger for AdvisorOne focusing on financial gerontology. In her Long Island-based planning practice she partners (in life and in business) with another rather high-profile and well-respected advisor.
But providing fee-only advice was not this advisor's first career choice. Back in the day, she enlisted in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the 411th Engineer Brigade (she's still proud of earning her Expert Marksmanship Medal on the M-16A1).
See slide #7 for the identities of this and other "mystery" veterans. Click the "Next" button below to see the next advisor veteran.
Honoring Advisors Who Served, page 2
This gentleman's name is well-known to every advisor. He founded his eponymous company in the 1970s, creating indexes and providing research and ratings first on mutual funds and then on other investment vehicles. This CFA sold the company in the late 1990s and now runs his own advisory firm, in addition to publishing cogent blogs on the markets and investing. His name is still attached to his original company's annual awards for excellence in mutual funds.
Prior to joining the financial services world, this gentleman joined the U.S. Marine Corps, rising to the rank of captain, and he is also a founder of the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., on the grounds of the Quantico Marine base.
See slide #7 for the identities of this and other "mystery" veterans. Click the "Next" button below to see the next advisor veteran.
Honoring Advisors Who Served, page 3
Folks from Commonwealth Financial Network know the woman pictured here quite well, as do other advisors who have benefited from her practice management knowledge delivered in speeches at national conferences, or who have read some of her prescriptions in the pages of Investment Advisor, for instance.
They may know of her practical, disciplined bent when it comes to practice management, but what they may not know is that this partner to advisors previously served with the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of first lieutenant.
See slide #7 for the identities of this and other "mystery" veterans. Click the "Next" button below to see the next advisor veteran.
Honoring Advisors Who Served, page 4
We loved this photo so much we decided to reprint it. It depicts perhaps the highest-profile independent advisor in this country, pre-bowtie and D.K., but with the serious look befitting a United States Army captain.
Click here to view the first installment in our slideshow honoring advisors who served in the armed forces on Memorial Day earlier this year, in which this advisor appeared as well.
See slide #7 for the identities of this and other "mystery" veterans. Click the "Next" button below to see the next slide.
Honoring Advisors Who Served, page 5
George Washington said that "to be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." This person may not be an advisor, but we're running the photo of Capt. Dennis Stiles of the New Jersey Army National Guard (and this editor's (good) neigbor) as a reminder of those who are prepared for, and waging, war to help preserve our peace.
There are a number of individual advisors and advisor partners who serve the active and retired military with financial advice, and some who even specialize in recruiting ex-military men and women as advisors. One of those firms is Edward Jones, which boasts of having more than 1,500 veterans among its advisor force. The USAA was founded by a group of military officers and still serves mainly members of the military with a range of financial services, including planning services provided by CFPs and a wealth management division.
BlackRock recently announced its participation in a nationwide program to help returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans transition to civilian life through American Corporate Partners. And the Financial Planning Association has long provided pro bono advice to a number of underserved populations, including veterans.
Turn the page for a suggestion on how to honor those currently serving in the armed forces.
Honoring Advisors Who Served, page 6
One of our mystery advisors recommended the below YouTube video that suggests one way that we all can honor our current military men and women in an unpretentious but respectful way.
Turn the page to see the identities of our mystery veterans.
Honoring Advisors Who Served, page 7
Then and Now: Answers to Our Advisor Veteran Photo Challenge
Photo Page 1 (and above): Rosanne Roge of R.W. Roge & Co. works with R.W. (that is, Ron) Roge in addition to being married to him (now for three years). She served for a number of years in the 411th Engineer Brigade.
Photo Page 2: A. Michael "Mike" Lipper of Lipper Funds and indexes fame is the former Leatherneck (though I believe no Marine is ever "former," regardless if they are no longer on active duty). Despite selling his original firm to what is now Thomson Reuters, Mr. Lipper remains very active running his wealth management firm, Lipper Advisory Services, Inc., which provides money management services for HNW families, retirement plans and charitable organizations.
Photo Page 3: The airman featured is Joni Youngwirth, Commonwealth Financial Network's managing principal, practice management, and a former U.S. Air Force lieutenant, and a regular contributor to Investment Advisor.
Photo Page 4: Yes, that's Harold Evensky before his wealth management days, and before his Deena Katz days, for that matter
View our Memorial Day slideshow honoring other advisors who serve(d) and picturing more "mystery" advisors then and now.


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The Guild Bank
I can think of few more annoying duties within a guild than being the guild's banker (or one of them). And yet, it too can be a place that is devastating to the guild, not least due to 'embezzlement'. Let's take some time to examine what the bank is, can be, and risks, shall we?
At bottom, the guild bank is a matter of trust. Basically, members of the guild send stuff (money or goods) to the bank, and hope that the use of this stuff will be done in a manner that benefits the guild as a whole. It is a slow-motion version of the Loot issues, with extra-special burdens. hmmm, I'm getting ahead of myself.
A guild bank is a player – usually an alt – with whom members of the guild exchange mats, goods, and money. The theory is that by compiling these, individual members will be able to have advanced gear earlier, and their possession of this gear will allow them to be significantly more effective in instances and battles which in turn makes more "good stuff" drop faster — and the cycle feeds back on itself in a positive fashion.
The first hurdle to overcome is selection of the banker. Until Blizzard implements Guild Banks (originally discussed for 2.2, it's now on the plans for 2.3) the person must be absolutely trusted by at least the guild leadership if not the guild. Consider that ONLY this person knows what is in the bank, that ONLY this person can withdraw, that only two people (of whom this person is one) know what was sent for deposit (and in a disagreement, only the banker can see what's there)… If the player disappears, the guild loses access. If the player decides he's tired of the guild, the guild loses access – unless he forwards the bank's contents to someone else. If the player decides he absolutely HAS TO HAVE 'those' contents of the bank, there is nothing anyone can do about it – in fact, they can't KNOW it's happened. It is this that causes most guilds to see the banker be the guildmaster's alt – if you trust the GM for loot, trust for bank is rather obvious.
I'll point out that there are addons that will allow the contents of the bank to be posted. This helps immensely in the discussion of contents of the bank. It is not, however, a "perfect" solution.
Digression – as noted 2.3 is (as of this time) going to allow a guild bank. The guild master will be able to set permissions on adding, viewing, and withdrawing from various tabs based on criteria – at this time the only one I've heard is rank, but there may be more. I will recommend at this time that if this is true, guilds allow all guild members to view both contents and logs (deposits and withdrawals) regardless of withdrawal and deposit permissions. Yes, it creates the opportunity for "why him and not me" (guild drama), but it beats the heck out of RUMORS of "him and not us". End of this particular digression…
The second major burden is the decision of what is deposited and withdrawn – who, how much, why, all that sort of thing.
If left vague, you will inevitably encounter someone wanting to deposit hundreds of low-level mats, and then wanting to exchange those for rare drops or mats. On the other hand, explicit rules of balance inevitably require exceptions and corrections. If not "I didn't think of that" there will always be the changes due to the next patch. My two cents is that detailing at least the withdrawal rules (for example: GM decides, every week, based on requests and needs of the guild), and preferably the deposit rules (only these mats OR xx money per week OR…, you get the idea), and then having to discuss and grant exceptions will cause less difficulty in the guild over the long term than vague verbal guidance.
I'll state my preferences, but want to caveat by noting two critical points. First – if it's not fun, don't do it. Of course if you're running a guild you're more likely to find this fun (or at least necessary so as to maximize your guild fun), but the rule still applies. Second, the following can't be construed as advice but only as my personal recommendations.
1) Deposits: Accept only Gold, mats that are hard to get OR of which lots and lots are needed for the items you're expecting to have crafted for the guild, and items that can be specifically targeted – as in, "This will go to a TANK." Note that this may require a bit of research on the part of the banker – how many times are you going to allow drawing for spellthread for your healers, anyway?
2) Mandatory Deposits: Yes. Now this can be in several flavors: a tax, certain drops (for example, on guild runs all BOP not needed is sharded and goes to the ban), a regular fee (that can possibly be met by mats or designated crafted items), all varied by rank – the variations are plentiful. But require everyone to deposit some. In the long run this will significantly reduce the guild drama about 'guild leeches'.
3) Withdrawals: clear rules on "why", at least, even if it's "for the benefit of the guild". Preferably, also rules on limits and requirements for deposit and withdrawal. Anyone wanting (for example) 200 silk to grind tailoring had better be pretty clear why and how it's going to benefit the guild – though it still requires the guild leader/banker to say yes or no.
4) Withdrawals: Make them Public. That is, if tailoringfool gets his 200 silk, the withdrawal is posted somewhere public so everyone knows he got it. It will not stop the drama over 'favoritism'. It will, however, do two useful things. First, it reduces favoritism through public embarrassment. Second, it reduces "rumors" which often exaggerate the situation. Adding the "why" that was approved is icing on the cake.
5) Withdrawals: make it a guild officer decision instead of a unilateral Guild Leader decision. Once more, this reduces the basis for allegations of favoritism.
6) Public (or rather guild-wide) awareness of bank contents. There are a lot of addons that will publish the guild bank's contents, all with various bells and whistles and weaknesses. I won't recommend any of them at this time as almost all accomplish the base requirement. There are actually two reasons for this. First, it helps the issue of accountability. Second, it reduces one of the major downers for the guild banker – "Do we have any XXX in the bank?"
The guild bank isn't a guild requirement, but it's a common feature. If you'll give it more than a nod of recognition, you can make it a better tool for the guild while reducing the pain the banker experiences.
7 Responses to "The Guild Bank"
Excellent post, very informative. I'd also suggest that every guild leader and/or officer (interested or not) hop over to the PTR, create a guild, dump all of their bank contents into the guild bank, play with the settings, learn how to administrate the bank,and see who the first person is to ninja all of their stuff. 🙂
My guid is still on Kara so we're obviously not all that big. We used to have a bank on the GM's alt, but it got hacked and we never got it going again. We just haven't felt the need for it. Can you maybe talk about why you should have a guild bank?
Great job as always Kirk!
Awesome article, and definitely some points I am bringing up with other officers for our guild bank. I linked your post for them to read and for us to discuss. The allowing all users to view logs would be an awesome idea.


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Beyonce may be a very public superstar, but the singer has kept her relationship with husband Jay-Z quiet – until the Grammy Awards on Sunday night.
"I'd love to thank my family for all their love and support including my husband," she said at the time, as the hip-hop mogul sat, surprised, in the audience.
"He was shocked!" Beyonce told Access. "He was just like, 'What did you say?'"
And the singer added that she couldn't believe it herself.
"I was just like, 'What did I just do? No, I didn't just say that,'" she said, explaining that the outburst came in the heat of the moment.
"I was so happy, I could've said anything," she said of taking the stage for her win for Female Pop Vocal – her sixth Grammy of the night, a record for a female artist. "That's why I ran off the stage."
She also took home a top honor with Song of the Year for "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," a songwriting category.
So what did Jay-Z say back?
"He said you have six Grammys and you smell good," she laughed.
The singer was wearing her new scent, Beyonce Heat, for which she recently filmed a steamy ad – and the perfume is already a big hit.
"This morning I woke up and they told me the fragrance is the number one fragrance in America," Beyonce told Access. "I had absolutely no idea."
And filming the spot may have taken some double-stick tape to keep her dress in place, but the singer added that it wasn't all hard work.
"It was my birthday when we filmed the video," she said. "We had fun. They brought out cake and candles."
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Hersman asks media to keep safety in the news, pushes for child restraints on planes.
In a sometimes-emotional farewell speech, the outgoing National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman told reporters that their continued coverage of lessons from fatal accidents is vital to helping government manage risks and build safety practices into everyday routine.
Deborah Hersman, whose 10 years at the board ends April 25, told a Monday breakfast at the National Press Club in Washington that "people expect some things from good government, and improving standards of safety is one of them."
In a review of modern-day airline tragedies, Hersman pushed for forward progress on her independent agency's "Most Wanted List" of unimplemented safety improvements. "Yesterday's tragic lesson is today's safety step and tomorrow's unacceptable risk," she told reporters.
A key item on that list is a NTSB call dating from March 2001 for commercial airplanes to require seat restraints for passengers of all ages during takeoff and landing, turbulence and a crash scenario. "Ironically," the list text reads, "we are required to stow our luggage, and small bags, and even the snacks and beverages served during flight, yet the Federal Aviation Administration exempts the most vulnerable passengers, children under age 2, allowing them to travel unrestrained, on an adult's lap."
Hersman said the current-era debate over child restraints stems from the 1989 crash of United Flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa, in which 111 passengers died and 185 were saved when the DC 10 plane cartwheeled during an emergency landing that put the aircraft operating on only two good engines in a cornfield. As stunned passengers roamed the fiery wreckage looking for their companions, Hersman said, a key issue that emerged was the requirement that flight attendants enforce a rule that small children be on the floor and not on parents' laps. "We secure laptops and coffee pots, but not the most precious cargo of children," said Hersman.
A flight attendant who survived that crash, Jan Brown Lohr, was introduced from the head table during Hersman's speech, and the NTSB chair praised Lohr's work lobbying for new regulations requiring small children's safety belts.
One of the heroes from that incident, Hersman continued, later said his actions to save one baby were what anyone would have done. In a long allegory, she then described a mountain kingdom in which the village elders were raised to the top in a rope basket, but where observers can see that some "ropes have frayed."
Contrary to "social Darwinism," Hersman said, the human brain has evolved from the cave days—when predators threatened fellow humans and food supplies—to be "wired" so that "once the rope is frayed, we can't let it break." The Spanish word for "sorry means 'I feel it,' " she said. "That's not just a colorful phrase but human beings at their core. We're hardwired for empathy."
Asking the audience to think back on their first editor or boss, she noted that most reported bad memories, "and bad memories stick," she said. Hence from transportation tragedies come efforts to steer human behavior to "mirror" safety procedures, as defined in such tools as international safety agreements and new precautions. Journalists, she added, citing the drama of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, help keep society's eyes on such mirrored behavior.
The past four years have seen only a "handful" of domestic aviation deaths, Hersman noted, comparing that against highways deaths that continue to average 30,000 annually. The most recent U.S. airline accident was the July 6, 2013, crash of an Asiana Boeing 777 at San Francisco International Airport that killed three. A NTSB report on that tragedy is due out the summer, Hersman said, adding her hope that the result will be new preventative steps involving pilot training and technology.
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