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UK Government Study Tries To Gloss Over TAFTA/TTIP's Problems With Impossibly Precise Figures
from the but-does-it-make-cents? dept
As Europe gets back down to business after its traditional summer break, the second round of the negotiations for the proposed TAFTA/TTIP treaty is beginning. And so is the pro-treaty propaganda. Here, for example, is a 70-page document entitled "TTIP and the Fifty States: Jobs and Growth from Coast to Coast" (pdf). It comes from the British government, and is aimed at convincing the US states that TAFTA/TTIP will be good for their economies and citizens.
The UK has gone to this trouble because it is likely to be the main European beneficiary of any such treaty. At least, that's what a recent study commissioned by the German Bertelsmann Foundation found. The Bertelsmann Foundation is also involved with the current publication, as is the Atlantic Council. Here's the main claim:
This study estimates that all states could gain jobs and increase their exports to the EU under a comprehensive and ambitious TTIP. In the state of Virginia alone, successful implementation of a comprehensive TTIP could boost exports to the EU by more than a quarter and increase net employment by almost 21,000 jobs. The whole of the US could see a net employment gain of almost 750,000 jobs. That is equivalent to the entire working population of New Hampshire.
The report offers no details of the calculations, but refers to work done elsewhere. Instead, it gives a state-by-state breakdown of the claimed benefits from TAFTA/TTIP. For example, in California it predicts the following job growth in key sectors there:
Business Services +15,752 jobs
And gives as the "bottom line":
Financial Services +1,543 jobs
Non-Electric Machinery Mfg. +1,395 jobs
Metals and Metal Products Mfg. +1,187 jobs
Since 2006, California's pharmaceutical exports to the EU have increased by 61 percent. By reducing barriers to
trade and investment, TTIP would facilitate future growth, increasing anticipated US chemical exports by a further 34.2 percent
As you can see, those claims are surprisingly exact: precisely 1,187 jobs will be generated in the metals and metal products manufacturing sector -- are they really sure it won't be 1,186 or 1,188? And the growth in chemical exports is given as 34.2%, that is, to three significant figures. Good mathematical hygiene requires you to know the fourth significant figure if you are going to round it up to three, which means the British Government's report implicitly claims to be able to predict with an accuracy of one part in a thousand the future growth in US chemical exports as a result of TAFTA/TTIP.
This is plainly absurd. In fact, the problems with the analysis run far deeper than just this question of exaggerated precision. An illuminating Public Citizen post singles out five particularly serious issues here.
1. The "new" study is not really new. It is largely a recycled version of another recycled version of a study that appeared in 2009.
That suggests our understanding of the underlying economic mechanisms of these agreements hasn't really advanced much in four years -- hardly encouraging when it comes to making predictions about them.
2. The study confirms again that TAFTA is not about trade. Since tariffs (an actual trade issue) are "already quite low" between the EU and U.S., pro-TAFTA government officials have readily stated that TAFTA's primary goal is not tariff reduction, but the "elimination, reduction, or prevention of unnecessary 'behind the border' " policies, ranging from Wall Street reforms to milk safety standards to GMO food labels.
This is a key point. There are so few tariffs between the US and EU, that very little benefit can be gained by eliminating those that remain. The only way TAFTA/TTIP will have any major impact on the respective economies is if other "barriers" are removed. Although these are called "non-tariff" in the various studies, a better name for them would be health and safety standards. Removing them will indeed allow companies to make more money, but at the expense of the public's health and welfare.
3. The study assumes zero downside of eliminating consumer and environmental safeguards.Today's study assumes that TAFTA would eliminate one out of every four "non-tariff barriers" -- from the Volcker Rule at the center of Wall Street reform to safety standards for children's toys to the ban on beef linked to mad-cow disease -- at no cost to consumers. In addition to an obvious social and environmental toll, such a degradation of safeguards would also result in quantifiable monetary costs for U.S. consumers and the broader economy.
Omitting possible costs of TAFTA/TTIP inevitably biases the calculations in favor of it, just as leaving out the negative externalities of burning coal or oil in terms of environmental damage skews calculations about the "cheapest" form of energy.
4. The study uses contested models with assumptions that can turn economic losses into gains. While ignoring costs, today's study strives to capture all theoretically plausible benefits by relying on assumptions-laden methods, such as using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to assess removal of "non-tariff barriers" (NTBs). A U.N. study has questioned the reliability of this inchoate approach.
In other words, never mind the accuracy of the figures, the entire theoretical model may be flawed.
5. The study assumes a massive rollback of Buy American and Buy Local policies. Another assumption of today's study is that TAFTA would eliminate one half of all "procurement barriers," a euphemism for popular policies like Buy American and Buy Local to ensure that U.S. government projects, funded by U.S. taxpayers, are used to create U.S. jobs. It is rather fanciful to think that the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, or the U.S. public would accept such a clear-cutting of policies that enjoy 90% support. Indeed, today's study assumes an even greater undercutting of Buy American and Buy Local than the EU negotiators themselves are hoping for. In a leaked EU position paper on government procurement, the EU explicitly names 13 U.S. states and 23 U.S. cities it is targeting for rollback of Buy Local policies. Today's study assumes that the U.S. will offer to eliminate Buy Local in about twice as many states as the EU itself requested.
This, of course, is the principle reason why the British government has produced this document: to try to convince US states to allow the Buy Local policies to be sacrificed for the sake of other supposed gains. But before they do so, they might like to consider a further analysis put together by Public Citizen that examines the claims about substantial economic gains for everyone in closer detail (pdf). Here are the main points:
Even under the most starry-eyed scenario that the study's authors can envision for the economic impact of tariff reduction, TAFTA would result in a mere 0.5 percent increase in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) when fully implemented. But that "impact" is unrealistically high, given that it assumes a contentious proposition of tariff reductions causing strong "dynamic" economic growth, a theory that academics have repeatedly assailed with empirical evidence showing no such trade-growth causation. After dropping this dubious assumption, the study notes that the theoretical TAFTA-prompted increase in U.S. GDP of $182 billion shrivels to just $20.5 billion, a statistically invisible 0.06 percent blip. By comparison, economists estimate that the introduction of the fifth version of Apple's iPhone delivered a GDP increase up to eight times higher than the projected TAFTA effect.
And here's what that would mean on average for US citizens:
TAFTA's trivial trade impact shrinks even further when examining the study's projection of what the deal would mean in terms of actual income. The pro-TAFTA study projects that total annual U.S. national income would be just $4.6 billion higher under the deal. Even this number is likely too high, given that it assumes that 100 percent of existing tariffs between the EU and the U.S. would be fully eliminated under the deal, an unlikely scenario given that the EU has already stated that sensitive products should be afforded exemptions from tariff reductions. But proceeding with this inflated figure still results in deflated "benefits." TAFTA, if ever concluded, would take years to negotiate, get past Congress and implement. After adjusting for inflation and population growth in the interim, the projected $4.6 billion boost would amount to an extra three cents per person per day.
Expect to see plenty more studies from both sides of the Atlantic trying to convince the public it's worth giving up a few old health and safety rules, and some silly Buy Local schemes, in order to enjoy those three cents extra each day.
Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and on Google+
Filed Under: free trade, predictions, tafta, ttip, uk


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30s linen trousers
Added Mar 6, 2010
Virginia, Virgin...
This is a project that has actually been finished for a couple weeks, but because I kept forgetting to get photos, it's taken me a bit! This project is from a 1930s reprint pattern (available at the Vintage Fashion Library: http://vintagefashionlibrary.com/) that I fell in love with because of the nautical style (see final image of the pattern cover) and easy-to-wear looks.
The slacks pattern, a reprint of an original 30s pattern, was like many from the era in needing some fitting modifications. What is commonly referred to as the "diaper look" among many vintage seamstresses; older pants patterns often have very long crotch seams. Sometimes this results in pants that look like they're hanging around your knees! So I tend to automatically adjust the crotch length before I begin. I also reduced the amount of width in the back upper legs and front inner seam. This helped create a more fitted backside, which I find is just more flattering. The usual waist and hip adjustments were made too, along with raising the front upper edge a bit to accommodate for my long torso and high waist.
The final pants (after a muslin fitting!) were made from light-tan linen/rayon blend. I thought about doing a darker, more "practical" color, but really had my heart set on a light colored linen. White or cream doesn't work with me–I'm too clumsy to be trusted not to get anything on a light colored bottom within the first five minutes of wearing! So tan was the next best thing (and also fit into the "practical" category as it goes with a lot in my wardrobe). The belt buckle is a vintage shell one I bought on Etsy. Perhaps one of the biggest design changes I made with this pattern is to move the zipper from the front (originally the zipper is installed along the front over the hip) to the left side. The original look seemed too sporty for the more sophisticated fabric color, plus I like side zippers!
These are super comfortable–I could seriously wear these forever! lol. I would say they're akin to yoga pants in the softness and looseness of the cut. Plus, I love how flattering the shape is, compared to most slacks. The 30s definitely knew how to cut pants for a woman's shape!
Material Notes
19 Comments Sign in to add a post
Jun 16, 2012, 09.03 AMby MinkaP
I love these trousers so much, I had a look on the website you mentioned but couldn't find the pattern. Could you please tell exactly what pattern, I'm new to all of this and am driving my self a bit nuts. Thanks : )
Jan 26, 2011, 02.17 AMby lila-1
!! I've got this pattern!! Ive been trying to make pants from it for ages but could not bear the fact that the crotch hangs pretty much mid thigh! I also havent been able to re-draft that properly, would you consider posting a tutorial for redrafting a diaper crotch pattern?
Sep 9, 2010, 05.09 AMby heartspromise
You put me in mind of Katharine Hepburn in these photos! Great work!!! =)
Aug 11, 2010, 03.05 PMby puffling
When I saw the photo of these trousers I actually caught my breath a little. Fantastic!
Jul 21, 2010, 10.43 AMby kajsasyr
I absolutely adore these trousers! Wow, they really look amazing on you.
Apr 1, 2010, 08.04 AMby ebsnare
Oh linen, I wish I could wear it without creasing. Maybe I could just stand still and do nothing at all sigh. I've got a Burda pattern for skinny on the waist trousers where I want to move the zipper from the front to the side (side zippers = awesome) – got any tips?
1 Reply
Apr 5, 2010, 12.47 AMby elegantmusings
I actually love the wrinkles that result from wearing linen! As for the zipper swapping: as long as you remove any excess seam allowance at the front (such as if the pants have a fly front opening) and make sure you have enough at the side, you should be fine! Also, if your fabric is somewhat unstable, I recommend underlining or interfacing the side seam to help stabilize the zipper area. :)
Mar 8, 2010, 11.00 PMby lilybart
Really gorgeous pants! I'm still too terrified to make them. I adore high-waisted pants (although my boyfriend freaks out when I wear them). How gorgeous is the blouse with the bow in the pattern picture??
Mar 8, 2010, 09.50 PMby vintagerouge
They look fabulous, and fabulous on you! I love 1930s sportswear, what a great pattern!
Mar 8, 2010, 04.33 AMby jojoconstance
This looks great! I gotta make myself some real "pants" – I only have jeans and I never wear them. Maybe I am just a dress girl at heart….
Mar 8, 2010, 12.28 AMby gillthecat
cool i just bought a dozen 40s patterns on ebay and am building up to trying one, in cheapo fabric so i can adjust , looks like it will be a challenge, your trousers are very betty boo v cool well done
Mar 7, 2010, 03.37 PMby anna agyekum
sigh i am again a green eyed monster! they are beautiful! thanks for the websight another place to spend all my money :)
Mar 7, 2010, 11.11 AMby susanne2011
This is really beautiful! How did you ever learn how to make all these adjustments? Do you have an education in fashion design? Or did you learn it yourself with books etc.? I hope the latter, because that means that there is still hope for hobbyists like me to acquire these skills eventually…
Mar 7, 2010, 06.48 AMby stitchywitchy
Lovely! These types of high waisted pants are so flattering. Thanks for the tips – should I ever attempt a vintage pants pattern I will keep it in mind!
Mar 7, 2010, 05.48 AMby carolyn-s
These pants are so glamorous and sophisticated, gorgeous!
Mar 6, 2010, 08.01 PMby msam
you do such a great job on all of ur clothes : )
Mar 6, 2010, 07.38 PMby ichigogirl
Oh, they look just great on you! Interesting to know about all the changes you did to the pattern. I'll keep them in mind if I try to make pants and find they don't fit me like they should ;-)
Mar 6, 2010, 05.42 PMby ginasophia
I love them!!!Beautiful
Mar 6, 2010, 04.35 PMby scheryka
Mar 6, 2010, 04.33 PMby fraiche
You are my Burda chic idol. The hair is great too!
Add to Favorites 79 people added it

subset: commoncrawl


text:
PETA has offered to help Dax Shepard get his meat-free diet back on track after the actor confessed he was not worthy of the organization's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity title – because he has been eating chicken.
The actor was named the winner in the male category of the hottest vegetarian celebrities on Thursday morning, with his fiancée Kristen Bell taking the female crown.
However, Shepard was forced to decline the honor after taking to his Twitter.com blog to confess that he hasn't been sticking to a completely green diet.
He wrote, "I'm really flattered to be named 'Sexiest Vegetarian' with (Bell), but sadly I can't accept in good conscience because I eat chicken.
"I was vegan for a year, but that ended 6 months ago. I aspire to be more like (Bell), but I'm not there yet."
PETA bosses have since revised their winner's list, placing the "Veronica Mars" beauty solely at the top of their Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity poll, but they are more than willing to help Shepard get back into their good books by sending him fake meat products to try.
A statement released to WENN reads: "We're delighted to recognize Kristen Bell as our Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity. She sets a wonderful example of kindness to animals and healthy living to her countless fans, including Dax!
"We love Dax, and we're glad to read that he's aspiring to be more like Kristen. We are here to help with recipes and our vegetarian starter kit, and we'll be sending the couple a delicious gift basket of Beyond Meat and Gardein veggie chicken products.


text:
I am trying to use an external MIDI controller (alternate keyboard, drum/trigger pads, etc.) to record tracks in Song mode but I am unable to record on more than just one track.
You need to:
This issue revolves around the use of the Local Keyboard Channel parameter (LocalKbdCh), found on the MIDI Receive page (Master Receive for PC3LE models).
Working in the same manner that an Auto Channelize Patch Thru function works in a software sequencer, the LocalKbdCh parameter re-channelizes the incoming MIDI data stream and routes it to the currently armed track in Song mode. If you are in Song Mode, and do not use the Local Keyboard Channel, then you must always manually change the transmit channel on your keyboard to match the channel of the sequencer track you want to record on. A hassle. But if you set the Local Keyboard Channel to a specific channel, and then leave your keyboard on that same channel as you switch through the tracks on the Kurz, the incoming messages are rerouted to the corresponding track.
The Local Keyboard Channel parameter is also used for properly routing incoming data to Setups in Setup mode and can be employed to turn incoming controller messages into different controller messages (aka Controller Remapping). For complete details, check out the MIDI Mode chapter in your unit's Musician's Guide.
Need more info? Check out the following links:


text:
ST. LOUIS – Six federal marshals were honored Monday for bravery for their actions during a 2011 St. Louis gunfight that killed one of their own, along with a drug suspect they were looking to arrest.
Three Democratic lawmakers – U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Dick Durbin of Illinois,
and U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart
of Illinois – presented the Congressional Badge of Bravery during a ceremony at the federal courthouse in St. Louis.
The badge was established in 2008 to honor bravery in law enforcement, and first awarded in 2010. Medals are awarded annually by the U.S. attorney general.
Enyart noted that the honor is rare – only about two dozen of the medals have been bestowed, he said,
and the honorees were the first from Missouri and Illinois.
U.S. marshals and St. Louis police went to the home of Carlos Boles in March 2011 to try and arrest the fugitive on drug and assault charges.
A gunfight ensued.
Boles died, along with John Perry, 48, of Edwardsville, Ill., who had been with the U.S. Marshals Service for nearly 10 years. Another marshal, Theodor Abegg, and a city police officer, were injured but recovered.
"On that day two years ago, these brave officers knew they were looking for a dangerous man with a history that included assaults on law enforcement, but they went after him anyway because that was their job," Durbin said.
In addition to Perry and Abegg, honorees were fellow marshals Patrick James, Travis Franke, Nicholas Garrett and Jeremy Wyatt.
"These brave men and women are doing an incredible job, often under difficult circumstances, and deserve the recognition they're receiving today," McCaskill, a former Jackson County, Mo., prosecutor, said.


text:
122 members20 Comments 3 Likes
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Mark / The Mayor Mar 9, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Hi everyone, I just moved to Philadelphia and am looking to play some tennis. I want to get back in shape for a league that I have joined. If anyone is interested, please drop me a message.Thanks! YauContinue
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text:
SunnComm International Inc. announced that it has completed its "proof of concept" in the development of its anticipated DVD copy inhibiting technology. The SunnComm MediaMaxDVD technology will include features and enhancements on a commercial DVD in addition to the security components designed to inhibit casual copying. The company will announce these additional features following the completion of Phase I of its patent application process intended to secure the intellectual property rights related to these unique additional features. These enhancements have been designed to create greater entertainment value for the consumer while boosting incremental sales and contributing to higher price points on catalog DVD releases.
DVD to DVD piracy has become a major concern for content providers in the movie industry. Now, most commercial technology available prevents users from making illegal copies of DVDs when they attempt to convert the DVD content to the VHS tape format. Demand for content protection to fight DVD to DVD piracy is accelerating as DVD players and DVD burners become increasingly available and affordable.


text:
Bulldogs hold Bison to 3 points over final 7:28 to clinch victory
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The defensive effort that went missing in the second half of each of the last two games finally returned for the Yale women's basketball team, and it could not have come at a better time.
Following losses in both games of the Fordham Holiday Classic in which the Bulldogs could not find answers for the big second-half runs that both Fordham and Villanova put together to secure the wins in those games, they turned things around in a hurry against Bucknell on Sunday.
Yale forced 13 Bucknell turnovers in the second half on Sunday and held the Bison without a field goal over a 7:28 span late in the game to secure a 69-58 victory in the final non-conference home game of the season.
The two teams battled back and forth for the first 33 minutes of the game. Yale (4-9) and Bucknell traded leads throughout the first 10 minutes of the game. However, when sophomore guard Megan Vasquez hit a 3-pointer to give Yale a 20-19 lead with 9:24 left in the half, it turned out to be Yale's last lead until there was 6:59 left in the game.
The Bison (3-9) took control over the rest of the opening half and managed to build a 29-23 lead with 4:04 left in the half. The Bulldogs did not want to let the game slip away, however, and closed the half with a 7-2 run that trimmed the deficit to 31-30 at halftime.
The Bison tried to pull away early in the second half, twice building six-point leads at 40-34 just 2:40 into the half and again at 50-44 with 12:29 remaining.
However, where the Bulldogs allowed similar situations to get away from them in the two Holiday Classic losses, they did not allow a repeat of that scenario against the Bison.
Over the next 5:40, Yale used a 12-5 run to regain the lead for the first time since it was 20-19. Yale would tie the score six times in between those two leads, but it could not overtake Bucknell until there was 6:49 left in the game. And once the Bulldogs regained that lead, they did not relinquish it the rest of the way, relying on an intense defensive effort over the remaining minutes to put the game out of reach.
Once it had the lead, Yale's defense shut down Bucknell's offense. Shelby Romine's 3-pointer with 7:29 remaining was the last Bucknell field goal until the freshman guard scored on a layup with 1 second remaining on the clock.
"It was the teamwork of our defensive effort that made the difference down the stretch," said Chris Gobrecht, the Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954, Head Coach of Women's Basketball. "People were talking. People were rotating. People were there for each other. I think that made them all feel a lot more confident about what they were trying to do."
Bucknell managed to put only three points on the board after Romine's 3-pointer, with a lone free throw coming from Joyce Novacek with 4:52 left.
"She is really going to be a really good point guard for them. She is only a freshman and she is really a nice player. She pretty much carried them for a while in the second half," Gobrecht said. "Bucknell executes very well. What I thought our team did well was I thought we adjusted to what they were trying to do and the way they were trying to score. I thought our team did a very good job of adjusting and talking to each other. A lot of those adjustments, they made them on their own out there on the floor. I was very impressed with that. Bucknell was good at reading whatever it was that we did. Our players really just had to work it out together."
Vasquez scored nine of her 16 points in the first half to help the Bulldogs keep pace early on. Senior forward Mady Gobrecht scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half to help the Bulldogs pull away. She also had seven assists and four rebounds. Junior forward Michelle Cashen scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half and also pulled down eight rebounds. Freshman forward Janna Graf nearly notched her first career double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
Romine scored a game-high 22 points, including 15 points in the second half. Felicia Mgbada had 14 points, while Novacek added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Yale outrebounded Bucknell 37-25, including 14-5 on the offensive glass. The Bulldogs shot 15-for-18 from the free-throw line, including 12-for-14 in the second half.
Yale closes out the non-conference portion of its 2010-11 schedule when it visits Army on Sunday, Jan. 9. The Bulldogs then tip off Ivy League play on Jan. 14 at home against Brown.
Report filed by Jon Erickson Jr., Yale Sports Publicity


text: Simple yet bold, the perfect blend of symmetry and sophistication. Its clean and curvaceous lines have in uenced art, fashion, design and architecture. A symbol of good fortune. A change in perspective and it becomes in nity. Count the oors of this modern beachfront development and you'll nd 8 storeys ready to unfold.


text:
KarMann wrote:Jafloi wrote:Spoiler:buffygirl wrote:lmjb1964 wrote:Ok, so it looks like no one found these recent newpix to be as ominous as I did. When they looked at us and said, "I think it's going to go away," and then kept looking at us, my first thought was that Randall was trying to tell us that The One True Comic was going away--that we are approaching the End of Time. Sounds like nobody else got that, though, so maybe I'm wrong.
I sorta felt the same way too.
Felt like that, too, but didn't dare
saywrite it out, just in case it was actually true...
By the way:
Any ideas what this will turn out to be?
Free (imaginary) coffee and chicken salad sandwich, with optional mayo to the first that get it right
BlitzGirl on ice?
Getting closer, but still not there... Go try some of Latent22's delicious cake, maybe that will help?
[Edit:] comatime!


text:
Price: $300.00 EA
Part #: 5015-19
• Ordering accessories for this unit will require letting the vendor know beforehand to pre-configure the hood to accommodate such accessories.
• Weight, Product: 13.2 lb • Weight, Shipping: 0 Lbs • Package Type: Crate • Unit of Measure: EA
All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. All prices include crating charges. Call or click below for more information on terms and conditions.
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Hi, I'd like to share a Terra Universal link with you. Link:


text:
If you want to send us a question about this product, simply complete all the fields marked * and click "Send".
Retail price £498.00
Bearing a Scandinavian influence in its cool, streamlined appearance, this oak furniture collection has been given a hand wax finish resulting in a subtle sheen.
Dimensions (approx)
Availability: Approx 6 to 8 weeks.


text:
util-vserver:Development Debian Packages
From Linux-VServer
repo.psand.net repository
This page details the util-vserver related contents of the repository at http://repo.psand.net/
The repository has is regularly updated with new kernels and the new Debian packages for the vs2.3.x (the Linux-Vserver development branch). At time of writing (01/04/2010) the repository contains the following package for Debian Lenny (i386 and amd64 architectures):
- a number of 2.6.31 series kernels, the latest is linux-image-126.96.36.199-vs22.214.171.124.28-beng
- two 2.6.33 series kernels, the latest being linux-image-18.104.22.168-vs184.108.40.206.30.3-beng (AMD64 only)
- a metapackage which will automatically update you to the latest 2.6.31 release, the package is named linux-image-vserver-2.6.31-beng
Util-Vserver packages
i removed the description that wast there. Those 2 package that were described here are obsolete, now the util-vserver comes with a full debian part so you can create the packages from the source.
You can still use repo.psand for premade packages they use those from now on.
you can build them with:
aptitude install build-essential debhelper gawk dietlibc-dev net-tools vlan iptables procps module-init-tools libnss3-dev po-debconf e2fslibs-dev pkg-config python-dev ctags dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot;
you can then uninstall those packages needed for build:
aptitude purge build-essential debhelper gawk dietlibc-dev libnss3-dev po-debconf e2fslibs-dev pkg-config python-dev
Help using the repos
Documentation is at http://repo.psand.net/info/


text:
National Audubon Society Annual Gala Dinner (2014)
NEW YORK CITY - JANUARY 27: National Audubon Society Annual Gala Dinner on Monday, January 27, 2014 at The Plaza Hotel, 768 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10019 WHO: Special Guests Attending the Gala Included: Jane Alexander, Dan W. Lufkin, Patrick F. Noonan, Kelly Rutherford, Richard Kind, Betsey Johnson, Good Morning America's Ginger Zee and her fiancé Ben Aaron, Nathaniel P. Reed, Holt Thrasher, David Yarnold, Leonard Lauder, Alexis Maybank, Allison Rockefeller, Jayni Chase, and more. WHAT: The National Audubon Society, one of the world's largest and best-known conservation organizations, honored two exceptional conservationists for their environmental leadership and lifetime commitment to the environment at the National Audubon Society's Annual Gala Dinner at the Plaza Hotel Ballroom on January 27th, 2014. Dan W. Lufkin was presented with the prestigious Audubon Medal, and Patrick F. Noonan received the second annually awarded $100,000 Lufkin Prize for Environmental Leadership, one of the largest awards in environmental recognition. The Lufkin Prize was established by Dan Lufkin's family in honor of his love and dedication to supporting conservation and environmental causes. The awards was presented by Nathaniel P. Reed, former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, in memory of conservation giant Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. David Yarnold, president and CEO of the National Audubon Society served as the evening's emcee and introduced the two honorees by saying: "These two men are a part of a larger story — a story about a handful of leaders who built America's environmental movement — and on whose shoulders we stand. A life's work is a legacy only if others carry it forward, and they have. You can see Dan's and Pat's values in Audubon's work and in the work of so many other organizations here tonight." Holt Thrasher, National Audubon Society's board chairman, presented Dan Lufkin with the Audubon Medal for his dedication to the environment and fervent support for the National Audubon Society. The Audubon Medal is one of the highest honors in conservation and is given in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of conservation and environmental protection. Since its creation in 1947, only 52 people have received the Audubon Medal, including Rachel Carson, Robert Redford, Ted Turner, Edward O. Wilson, Julie Packard, the Rockefeller family, and Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. among others. "I'm deeply honored to receive the Audubon Medal from the National Audubon Society, which is an effective and innovative leader in the conservation field," said Dan Lufkin. "Like those who've received this great honor before me, I believe fighting for a healthy environment is a key challenge of our time, and I'm doing my best to do my part. I hope the occasion of this award will inspire others to join me and Audubon and all the others out there working toward these goals." The newly created Lufkin Prize was established last year by Dan Lufkin's family in recognition of his lifetime commitment to the environment. The prize is meant to honor individuals who have dedicated their lives to on-the-ground conservation. The award was presented to Patrick F. Noonan by Nathaniel P. Reed, former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Patrick Noonan announced during his acceptance speech that he would be donating his $100,000 Lufkin Prize to the Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Audubon Sanctuary and Center at Pine Island, named in honor of Donal C. O'Brien, Jr., who was instrumental in arranging the donation of the nearly 3,000 acres in North Carolina, in order to create the state's first Audubon center. The National Audubon Society took a moment early on in the evening's program to pay a touching tribute to Donal C. O'Brien, Jr., a longtime supporter and 25-year board member of the National Audubon Society, who passed away in September 2013. During his tenure, O'Brien co-chaired the Society's monumental strategic planning process to "connect people with nature." The plan led to the establishment of Audubon's network of state offices across the country. These offices, in turn, launched the Important Bird Areas program—there are now nearly 2,700 IBAs nationwide—and helped open 43 new Audubon centers. These centers reach a diverse array of new and younger audiences and inspire future conservation leaders. The evening welcomed 400 guests and raised $1.5 million for the National Audubon Society. The National Audubon Society mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. For more than a century, Audubon has built a legacy of conservation success by mobilizing the strength of its network of members, 463 Audubon Chapters, 44 Audubon Centers, 22 state offices and dedicated professional staff to connect people with nature and the power to protect it. Audubon is building on its legacy to become a transformative force for conservation in the 21st century, bringing together a powerful combination of science, education and policy expertise in efforts ranging from protection and restoration of local habitats to the implementation of policies that safeguard birds, other wildlife and the resources that sustain us all—in the U.S. and across the Americas. Audubon is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, or to become a member, please visit: http://www.audubon.org/ PHOTO CREDIT: Copyright © 2014 Natalie Poette exclusively for ManhattanSociety.com | tel: Private | e-mail: Private | Bookings: email@example.com | Natalie Poette is a talented independent artist and new contributor to ManhattanSociety.com. She is available for Private Bookings via email@example.com for portraits, private and special events, without any agency fee or over ride. Hire Natalie for your private party of fundraiser and see your event featured here on ManhattanSociety.com.Read More


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Yesterday morning, an editor of the CNN religion section tweeted:
Why was #CNNDebate question on contraception booed? Is it just us or are social conservative questions often booed? Why?
Now, if you watched the question, and you are in any way even remotely aware of the recent battle over religious liberty, you know exactly why the question got booed. At a debate hosted by CNN, ostensibly to elucidate the differences between the Republican candidates for president, a question that sounded as if it was written by junior-level Planned Parenthood strategist was asked. That question was, and I'm entirely serious:
Since birth control is the latest hot topic, which candidates believe in birth control and, if not, why?
"Believe in"?
You bet your bottom dollar that the audience booed. I myself composed a tweet that was remarkable not only for being in all caps but also for including crude language. See, you wouldn't know it from media coverage but the Obama Administration has issued a strict mandate that deeply concerns many religious liberty observers. Because that mandate requires everyone to pay for abortifacients, sterilization and contraception for their employees -- even if they have religious objections to it -- the media have decided to adopt the framework that this is a battle over "women" and a battle over "belief" in "birth control."
That's not even close to an accurate description of what concerns the religious liberty activists, but it doesn't matter. And it's a sexist dismissal of all the women, such as myself, who care deeply and passionately about religious liberty. But it doesn't matter. It's the way many in the media have decided to frame the issue and they don't care how many Jews, Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics and Zoroastrians (female or male!) say otherwise, it's going to be about birth control. And there's nothing you can do about it.
Take a look at this picture of Dr. Allison Dabbs Garrett, the senior vice-president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian University. According to the mainstream media, she doesn't exist. Neither does Dr. Laura Champion, medical director of Calvin College Health Services. See, they testified at a hearing on religious liberty. But since the talking points used by the media are, quite literally, "Where were the women at the religious liberty hearing?", they can't acknowledge that they exist. And they can't acknowledged that Dabbs Garrett said things such as:
"While our views differ from those of our Catholic friends regarding what our plans should cover, our views are exactly the same on whether the government should be able to require individuals or institutions to violate their religious beliefs."
It didn't happen, OK? Just stop trying to pretend that she is a real woman who really cares about religious liberty. Does that quote sound like something a real woman would say?
Now, last week I was traveling on business when the head of my church body, the Rev. Matthew C. Harrison, testified about Lutheran objections to the mandate. In order to watch it, which I really wanted to do because I care so much about the issue of religious liberty, I had to find the web site for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and then figure out how to stream the coverage live. I watched for three hours or so. Now, at my last newspaper, I had to cover that committee all the time. So I kind of knew what I had to do to find it. But would the average person be able to easily navigate this? I'm not sure.
Compare that with this tweet from CNN today.
@CNNLive: House #Democrats hold a #contraception hearing of their own. Live: http://on.cnn.com/cnndcl1
Yes, you could watch CNN live streaming of a Democratic counter-hearing. Now, remember that the committee hearing wasn't on contraception, except insofar as the Obama Administration is forcing religious institutions to cover abortifacients, sterilization and contraception for employees even if they have doctrinal problems with doing so.
It was a religious liberty hearing. That you had to go to the Committee website to find. (I went back and reviewed CNNLive's tweets -- they didn't stream the hearing on religious liberty.) So when the religious liberty activists had their day, their arguments were barely covered under a barrage of talking points about how everyone testifying had man parts and everyone knows that man parts mean you may not have an opinion on the First Amendment. (I know, I know, you keep pointing to that woman there. I've told you: She does not exist, OK?) And then when the Democrats have a counter-hearing to highlight that women such as Allison Dabbs Garrett don't exist and certainly aren't worthy of having their views listened to, then we get CNN live streaming it. That's not journalism, that's taking sides.
In response to the tweet above, a friend wrote, "The fact that CNN could not have anticipated that reaction and even worse, not understood it, is nearly unfathomable. The candidates were obviously not surprised or unprepared for the question -- how could anyone still professing objectivity have so little perspective at how far spun they are?" I can only assume that the religion editors there were just trying to provoke a conversation rather than actually confused as to why the question was roundly booed (although this follow-up suggests otherwise). But it's not just them. The Washington Post tweeted out last night that "Republicans try to shirk debate on contraception, prefer to criticize Obama." Um, well, kind of. But they're kind of missing the point. What was that thing that they were criticizing Obama about? (Hint: It rhymes with Creligious Fliberty.)
To be absolutely clear: It's fine that Rep. Nancy Pelosi alleges that people such as myself are attempting to impose "an ideological point of view" designed to hurt women rather than people who have an earnest concern about religious freedom. She's a politician and I get that she will be political when characterizing those who don't agree with her. This is not the first time that's happened and that's her job. But I do care that the media are just marching lockstep with her in her campaign. That's not what journalists are supposed to do. And this lockstep marching in the culture wars is unrelenting. First, the media embedded with Planned Parenthood in their fight against Komen. Then many in the media ignored the complaints of religious liberty activists. Then when the religious liberty activists were making serious ground, the media changed the terms of the debate, lying about statistics if necessary, to something more advantageous. And it just keeps going.
Are the media in an increasingly thick bubble that inures them to one-sided approaches to hot-button issues? Let's wrap it up by looking at this
op-ed piece analysis report from the Associated Press' Robert Lewis headlined "Ridicule helped doom Va. ultrasound bill."
I challenge you to find a more one-sided piece about a bill that would have required ultrasounds to be performed before abortions. Not a single person who supported the bill is quoted, for instance. Nor is it mentioned that Planned Parenthood of Virginia already does multiple ultrasounds before abortions, as Alana Goodman reported for Commentary.
The backstory is that some journalist activists such as Slate's Dahlia Lithwick compared the ultrasounds required in the bill to forcible rape for no medical reason and said people should be outraged. And so journalists got outraged and so did the people the journalists care about most: Jon Stewart, "Saturday Night Live" and... Megan McCain. Reporting on the bill wasn't exactly noteworthy, although the campaigning against it was.
So here's how the Associated Press' Robert Lewis begins his "news" piece:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Once the word "transvaginal" became a big joke on "Saturday Night Live" and "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," it wasn't long before Virginia's conservative Republicans realized they had overreached on abortion.
Oh was that how it worked? What an evenhanded report from the AP about "overreach" on abortion, eh? The conservative Republicans polled their noted fans Megan McCain, Saturday Night Live and Jon Stewart and decided that if they were being mocked, then that must mean they had "overreached on abortion"? I guess Robert Lewis has a point. Megan McCain -- oh, I'm sorry -- "conservative columnist Megan McCain" is highly respected among all people and when she makes a recommendation, you can hear all of Washington, D.C. come crashing to a halt to figure out how to incorporate her wisdom into their political strategy. And the GOP actually runs their morning meetings based on what Stewart said to his audience the previous night.
Oh wait, no, that's not quite right. If there are people who really care about what Jon Stewart and Megan McCain say, it's probably not conservative Republicans. Still, this "news" report does indicate something about the way stuff gets reported in the Associated Press.
It may be time for some introspection, however, among the media elite and the thickness of the bubble they're in.


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The Israeli news outlet DebkaFile reports that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured), warned the country's top military chiefs during a recent war council meeting to expect "war within weeks." According to DebkaFile,
While retaliation had been exhaustively drilled in regular military exercises in the past year, Khamenei ordered the biggest fortification project in Iran's history to save its nuclear program from even the mightiest of America's super-weapons. Rocks are being gathered from afar, piled on key nuclear installations, covered with many tons of poured concrete and finally plated with steel.
The news directly contradicts other reports that an Israeli attack on Iran has been postponed until the spring of 2013.
Haaretz correspondent Amir Oren wrote that Israel delayed its plans to launch an attack due to a war simulation that produced unwelcome results. During that simulation, experts discovered that Iran would be able to retaliate with a single missile strike that had the ability to kill 200 Americans. He explained,
At 8:58 P.M. on Tuesday, Israel's 2012 war against Iran came to a quiet end. The capricious plans for a huge aerial attack were returned to the deep recesses of safes and hearts. The war may not have been canceled but it has certainly been postponed. For a while, at least, we can sound the all clear: It won't happen this year. Until further notice, Israel Air Force Flight 007 will not be taking off.
In April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will delay an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities until several weeks or months before Israel's elections in 2013. Seattle-based political blogger Richard Silverstein wrote,
A senior Likud politician told my confidential Israeli source that Bibi Netanyahu has decided to delay an Israeli attack on Iran until some weeks or possibly months before the next scheduled Israeli election. That will happen by October 2013 unless Bibi determines he wants to go to the nation earlier.
At the same time Netanyahu made that announcement, some officials had also indicated that they are waiting to see the outcome of discussions between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group — consisting of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China — before officially embarking on a military strike.
"It could happen this year, but also 2013 is a possibility," said an Israeli senior official. "We will need to wait to see the effect sanctions and diplomacy have on Iran and what the regime decides to do."
But the recent Debka report indicates a strong possibility that war with Iran could be sooner. Khamenei's announcement was made at a July 27 meeting with what he called the "last war council." According to Debka:
Present were Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi, Khamenei's military adviser General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, Armed Forces Chief Major General Seyed Hassan Firuzabadi, Revolutionary Guards Corps commander General Mohammad Ali Jafari and Al Qods Brigades chief General Qassem Soleimani. The commanders of the air force, the navy and ground forces were also there.
Each of the participants was tapped to report on the readiness of his branch or sector for shouldering its contingency mission.
The possibility of war with Iran was heightened prior to Khamenei's announcement, however, as Iran confirmed its plans to close the Strait of Hormuz — through which 33 percent of the world's oil shipments pass every day — earlier this month.
"We have a (contingency) plan for the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but its implementation requires the decision and order of the commander in chief (the Leader)," Major General Hassan Firouzabadi told reporters. "The West might think we are just bluffing with the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz but we already have some good plans how to do that," Firouzabadi was quoted by Fars news agency as saying.
The United States responded to the announcement by sending underwater sea drones to target mines and prevent the blocking of the strait.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced that new pipelines would be opened to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to reduce Iran's influence.
The world now has an idea of the impact the closing of the Strait of Hormuz after false reports that it was closed drove up oil prices to somewhere between $300 and $500 a barrel.
There have been a variety of indications from the Obama administration that war with Iran is an ever-present consideration. In March, President Obama told reporters that the window of opportunity on handling a nuclear Iran diplomatically was closing. And he made similar saber-rattling statements one week ago during a press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, warning that the opportunity for a diplomatic solution was "shrinking," and advising Tehran to use the opportunity to engage in diplomatic talks with world leaders in order to avoid "even worse consequences."
While Obama did declare during that press conference that there was still "time and space" for a diplomatic solution rather than a military strike, he stated that the window of opportunity for that was disappearing.
According to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro, the United States is now fully prepared for a military strike on Iran. Unbeknownst to Shapiro, his remarks were recorded and aired on Israeli television, though the comments were not meant to be heard by the general public.
"It would be preferable to resolve this diplomatically, and through the use of pressure, than to use military force," Shapiro observed in May, adding, "But that does not mean that option isn't available. Not just available — it's ready. The necessary planning has been done to ensure that it's ready."
He also said, "We believe that there is some time — not an unlimited amount of time. In practice, this is a brief window in which we can still use diplomacy to achieve our goals. At a certain stage we are going to have to decide whether diplomacy isn't going to work. We want to give it every chance of succeeding."
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, prior to embarking on a trip to Israel, denied that some of his discussions will include a time frame for attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. And U.S. aircraft carriers remain stationed in the waters surrounding Iran.
Photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: AP Images


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Memento mori, Europe, 1601-1700
Jewellery like this brooch is associated with mourning. Objects such as these were called memento mori, or 'reminder of death'. The skeleton holding an hourglass reminded the wearer of the shortness of their life. Two cherubs sounding trumpets sit either side of the skeleton. The black and gold base may represent a coffin - another reminder of death. The initials 'JS' are stiched into the cloth. The initials belong to the person that this memento mori was made in memory of.
Object number:
Related Themes and Topics
Related Objects
There are 631 related objects. View all related objects
Glossary: memento mori
Symbols intended to remind the viewer of death. Memento mori are often objects such as skulls or hourglasses, but can also be written inscriptions.
Glossary: mourning
Trial term S&H
Glossary: jewellery
Ornament such as a bracelet, necklace, and ring, of precious or semiprecious material worn or carried on the person for adornment; also includes similar articles worn or carried for devotional or mourning purposes.


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2013 and earlier-Mercedes Benz GL-Class Lease Questions
edited January 2014 in Mercedes-Benz
Hi everyone. Please use the following discussion to post any questions that you have about leasing a Mercedes Benz GL-Clas. Thanks.
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums
haplology Posts: 28Just got an email saying this car is now available. Seems like a pretty good deal from the rough numbers, but I'd like more details. Haven't driven it yet, so I'm not sure I'd like it, but . . .
I'm interested in a three year 10K mile lease. I have no idea on what kind of discounts or specials they're offering on the car. If you could just go off whatever you think is a reasonable price for a base model or whatever. Do you know the MF and residual yet?
cglnat Posts: 6Car man,
Can we get your help to reverse engineer the GL lease promotion on the official MBZ website, www.mbusa.com. I'd like to understand the MF/Residual and other charges.
Please help here, HOST. What are money factors and residuals for GL, 24 and 36 months, 15k miles. Thanks.0
I am a first time poster here. I am considering leasing the Infinti GX or the Mercedes GL. I would prefer the Mercedes, but the difference in price is hard to justify for me personally. How much of a deal are the Mercedes special lease offers? Do they cut overall costs significantly, or are they just smoke and mirrors?
You're comparing two totally different vehicles. The equivalent of the Infiniti FX for Mercedes would probably be the ML and the equivalent for the GL for Infiniti would probably be the QX. Also consider the fact that the GL does cost around the same as a Toyota Landcruiser.0
Thanks for your response. I used the wrong vehicle name in my question. Sorry. I am looking at the QX and the GL. I have five kids, so with my husband and I and all the kiddies, I need a lot of trunk space. I'd like a luxury car, so that leads me to the Mercedes GL or the Infiniti QX. I much prefer the Mercedes, but the cost difference between the GL and the QX is hard to justify to myself... despite tehri obvious differences. The Mercedes similarly equipped seemes to be around $15-$20k more than the Infiniti, and I am wondering whether there are better lease options for the Mercedes that may bring the prices of the two vehicles closer to each other. Can you offer any suggestions?
Also, in the back of my mind I worry abotu the safety of the Infiniti.
Hi, yea, don't expect the GL to be reduced anytime soon. It's still kind of new. As for the Infiniti, I really haven't heard good things about it, if it was the FX, I'd say go for it, but the QX is kinda shaky. However, I'm sure if u wait a while, u could get a GREAT deal on the GL, look at the marketing for the R-Class.0
How long is a while? I am afraid I don't know anything about the marketing fo the R class. I do know all local dealers in my area do not even have the GL with the back up camera. They say it will be months before that arrives so I assume pricing won't go down until for much after that. What do you expect the timeline to be like? Months or years?0
Yea, the Rearview Back-Up Camera isn't going to be available until July built vehicles. I would think that the vehicles should DEFINITELY be reduced for Mercedes-Benz' Winter Dream Event, which is sometime in November. Not sure if you want to wait that long.0
Hello lopz. If you were to lease a 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 through Mercedes-Benz Credit Corp. right now for 24 months with 15,000 miles per year, its buy rate lease money factor and residual value should be .00355 and 70%. The numbers for an otherwise identical 36 month lease should be .00320 and 62%, respectively.
Prices Paid Forums0
Thanks. I guess I'll wait for a better deal.0
drlease Posts: 7Better deal is here. 2007 GL450
Buy at Invoice, 36 month MF and resid are .00309 and 54% Also, I saw a question about R Class.... There is a TON of money back from mercedes on those right now. More than $5000 worth of incentives.0
billmv Posts: 148drlease
Do you happen to know how the GL has been selling lately, and if MB might be planning a promo on it in November at their Dream sale? The MF isn't all that great, and the RV seems low for 36 mos. MB doesn't seem to be very aggressive on any of their MFs.0
marcsusl Posts: 4upstate leasing is running a special on it now. a gl450 with premium package, sunroof package, and rear seat entertaiment. msrp $65025 lease for only $899 a month with $3000 total due at signing including ny sales tax (8%) and all fees. email me for more info. happy to help out a fellow shopper.0
jakpenn Posts: 20car man
can you help me with the details on Mercedes new lease deal on GL? residual and money factor as well as cap costs?
njmum Posts: 1My Volvo XC90 is leased until 5/08 but I need a bigger car and would like the GL. The local MB dealer said they would look into using the Volvo as a trade-in. What does this mean? I can't find any info about this on the leasing sites. The only reason we're leasing now is because we were only expecting to live in the USA for a brief period. Our plans changed so I would consider buying, although I do like driving newer cars. Anyway, am I stuck with the Volvo or is there a way to get another car without the dealer tacking on the lease payments from the Volvo onto the new car? Any info would be great.0
oman9 Posts: 97Wow...pretty slow board out here...
njmum, the Volvo trade in basically means the cap cost would be reduced by the value of your trade in that they give you. Let's say you negotiate the "cost/price" of the GL450 you want to lease is 65K. Let's say the residual after 36 months is 54%, therefore the value at the end of the lease is $35,100 (54% times the 65K). Your monthly payment, if you had no trade in, would be based on your usage of the car (deprecation) of $29,900 plus the money factor (interest rate) charged on the 65K value of the car. If your trade was worth say $10K for the Volvo, the cap cost would be reduced by that amount, so your monthly payment for the depreciation portion would be based on 19,900 plus the money factor portion. Also you would have generally have sales taxes built into your monthly payment as well although I believe some states require sales taxes paid on the whole vehicle up front. I'm no leasing expert but I do know states vary on how that's handled. Hope this helps...0
Hey jakpenn,
according to the following website: http://www.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=173261
these are numbers that I found (for Dec. 2006):
24 mo/15k mi – Residual Value 67% of MSRP – .00245 Base Money Factor Rate
36 mo/15k mi – Residual Value 59% of MSRP – .00245 Base Money Factor Rate
48 mo/15k mi – Residual Value 53% of MSRP – .00245 Base Money Factor Rate
60 mo/15k mi – Residual Value 42% of MSRP – .00370 Base Money Factor Rate
MB is running their Winter Event now (thru 1/2) and in the small print of the GL ad it seems to say that the dealer contribution is about $2K.
Good luck--I am looking into the GL as well, and will post any numbers I get.0
Forgot to mention the adjustments for 12K and 10K mi/yr:
Add 2% to Residual Value for 12k mi/yr and 3% for 10k mi/yr on all terms0
rangerexc Posts: 3Does anyone know the money factor and residuals MB is offering in January on the GL450 for a 36 month lease with 15,000 miles per year?0
I just received the following quote - pls let me know what you think -
Sale Price $57,790
39 month lease, 10,000 mi
residual 60%
money factor .00235
$2500 up front (includes $1,095 bank fee?, 1st payment, reg, title, tax)
$779 per month0
tombrady Posts: 1That sounds like a great quote where did you get it? thank a lot!!0
A MB dealership in RI. Good luck, tombrady!0
ingber Posts: 2Hello there, I currently drive a Lexus GX 470 and it is a little snug in the leg and shoulder width department. So as my lease ends I am seeking to move into another SUV. I have visited Infiti for its Q56, Lincoln for the Navigator, MB for the GL450 and am confused as to which is best for comfort and features. I need a SUV for 15k per year, any suggestions and what the best costs are. Does anyone have the SUV's I mentioned and what are his or her thoughts on the topic.
Your friendly NY attorney.0
I've leased cars in the past with no problems but have always leased from the dealer.
I'm considering a lease on a new GL450. Has anyone had experience dealing with a third party leasing company as opposed to the dealer? I've heard stories about people getting all kinds of grief from third party leasing companies when they turned their cars in at lease end - excessive charges for excess wear and tear, things along those lines.
Anyone have any experience or thoughts in this area? We always maintain our cars.0
Anyone hear what these are? They're not on the website yet.0
ms09 Posts: 112i dont know abt costs. the GL 450 is probably the most expensive.but i say its the best large suv around.and if u want to go for a smaller suv go for the cayenne or x5,but if u decide the large1 i suggest gl is the best around,but you might also take a look at the audi Q7.
hope u can decide.0
jzach Posts: 8I've got a lot of useful info from these boards. So here is my payback:
Just leased a CB/Macadamia GL 450 w. Premium, Sunroof and Xenons in Chicagoland.
Negotiated price 58900
Term 51 mths.
Residual 50%
MF .00295 (I know standard is 00245 but I am of the opinion that dealers/salesman have to make a living too. If you cosider the MSRP margins are low.)
Sales tax 3828 (In IL pay on MSRP)
2000 Down for acq. Fee (1095) + some Cap Red.
Ended up at 887/mth.
So far (only 40 miles;-) ) love the car.0
can somebody review this numbers and tell me how good or bad are they. I know I need to get the money factor and residual . I'll post then when I get them.
Alabaster White/ black leather
premium pack 1
appearance package
back up camera
wood steering wheel
trailer hitch
3 z temp
rear seat entret
running boards
keyless go
33 Months
iS THIS A RIP OFF?
I'll appreciate your comments
33 mon term is 63% and the money factor is .00272
this was the info that was pending
selling price is now 68,335
This discussion has been closed.


text: Mediation is a type of "alternative dispute resolution" that allows two or more parties involved in a dispute to settle their disagreement without going to court and resorting to civil litigation. The parties will typically meet with a third party, known as a mediator, who helps them come to a mutually agreeable resolution. Mediation may be used to resolve business disputes, and to help divorcing couples reach agreement on major issues related to their split, including property division and spousal support. Homeowners' associations may also encourage fighting neighbors to consider mediation. A lawyer can help determine if mediation is appropriate in your situation. Attorneys with mediation experience can help you understand your legal rights and obligations, as well as the ramifications of a settlement agreement.


text:
[Look for the podcast play button below.]
Today I have the distinct pleasure of introducing you to one of the most charming and delightful (not to mention absolutely adorable) people I've had the pleasure of interviewing to date. He is the fantastic artist, Sean-Z. We had such a good time together; we were constantly breaking up with laughter. And our giggling is so damned infectious; I know you will love him (and his work) as much as I do.
Sean is here as part of The Erotic Mind
series. As you know for the past year I've been chatting with noted erotic artists, both visual and literary, from all over the freakin world in an effort to try to uncover something of the creative process involved in this specialized art form. Sean's appearance marks a bit of a milestone for this series. He is the first person of color to join me in this effort. So hurray for that, don't cha know!
Sean and I discuss:
- How his studio, Rated-Z, and his comic, MYTH, got their names.
- His evolution as an artist and as an erotic artist.
- How he sees himself — artist or illustrator.
- The role his imagination plays in his creations.
- What happened at Comic-con.
- Emerging trends in erotic comics.
- His newest effort — Bent Comix Distribution.
Be sure to check out Sean and his delicious artwork, especially his comic — MYTH, on his site: HERE.
See a slideshow of some of Sean's work. Click on the thumbnails below.
Check out The Lick-A-Dee-Split Connection. That's Dr Dick's toll free podcast voicemail HOTLINE. Don't worry people; no one will personally answer the phone. Your message goes directly to voicemail.
Got a question or a comment? Wanna rant or rave? Or maybe you'd just like to talk dirty for a minute or two. Why not get it off your chest! Give Dr Dick a call at (866) 422-5680.
Look for all my podcasts on iTunes. You'll find me in the podcast section, obviously. Just search for Dr Dick Sex Advice. And don't forget to subscribe. I wouldn't want you to miss even one episode.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


text: Clarke County, now consolidated with the City of Athens, took its territory from Jackson County. Still the smallest of all 159 Georgia counties, Clarke honors the memory of General Elijah Clarke of Revolutionary War fame. Athens grew up around the University of Georgia, the country's first university to earn a state-supported charter.


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* More likely to be underweight or stunted, study says
* Analysis is first to evaluate studies in poor countries
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Children of depressed mothers in developing countries are 40 percent more likely to be underweight or stunted than those with mothers in good mental health, a study said on Tuesday.
An estimated 15 to 57 percent of mothers in poor countries experience depression due to poverty, marital conflict, domestic violence and a lack of control over economic resources, it said.
"Our analysis revealed a positive and significant association between maternal depression or depressive symptoms and impaired child growth in developing countries," said the analysis published in the monthly Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO).
More serious growth deficits were found in children of mothers with more severe depression, it said.
The analysis was based on 17 studies of nearly 14,000 mothers and their small children carried out in Africa, Asia, and South America and the Caribbean. They included cases in Brazil, India and Nigeria.
"Now we have a critical mass of 17 studies from developing countries. This is the first time it has been quantitatively summarised," lead researcher Pamela Surkan of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health told Reuters.
The WHO did not provide comparative data for maternal depression in developed countries.
Inadequate growth in childhood can result in reduced height as an adult, low educational performance, reduced productivity and greater risk of disease, according to the study.
"Maternal depression is associated with less responsive caregiving and a lower likelihood or shorter duration of breastfeeding," Surkan said in a statement.
But depression can be affordably treated in developing countries through social support, group therapy or home visits, often delivered by lay community workers, the study said.
These have helped reduce maternal depressive symptoms in China, Jamaica, Pakistan, South Africa and Uganda, it said.
There may be a reciprocal relationship between the mother's mental health and the child's health, the study said. A child's poor health may generate depressive symptoms in the mother.
"Subsequent research should investigate the possibility that poor child growth increases the risk of maternal depression," it said. (editing by David Stamp)


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Teaching Assistantships are available on a limited basis in most graduate programs. Also, many faculty members have research projects which provide Research Assistantships. These Teaching and Research Assistantships normally involve half-time employment and are awarded on the basis of merit. Students holding these assistantships must be enrolled for a minimum of nine semester hours for each regular semester in which the assistantship is awarded. The Dean of each school designates the minimum semester hours for a summer session. A student on a Teaching/Research Assistantship who is enrolled in the minimum number of hours and wishes to drop a course must obtain the signature of the Dean of Graduate Studies. Students on probation will not be supported on an assistantship. Applications should be made to the appropriate Graduate Program office at least 60 days prior to the date of registration.
Prior to their appointment as Teaching Assistants, international students must meet the English requirements described in the English Requirements for Teaching Assistants section. All TAs are required to attend TA Orientation held immediately prior to fall and spring semesters.
The Student Financial Aid Office is available to assist students in obtaining funds to attend the university. Aid is available in the form of loans, grants, and part-time employment or any combination of those programs. Limited numbers of scholarships are available. The total amount of aid the student receives depends on the level of financial need, submission of appropriate financial information and applications, academic records, and the availability of funds.
Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office to obtain appropriate application materials and to determine eligibility for the various forms of aid available. The Financial Aid Office is located in the lower level of McDermott Library.
Students may also apply for financial aid, check the status of their application, or contact the Financial Aid Office through our website.
Most of the aid listed in this catalog is awarded on the basis of financial need. Students are encouraged to determine the amount of resources that they can provide toward their education and to compare it with the average cost of attending the University. Student budgets are reviewed annually in accordance with federally accepted guidelines. Federal guidelines outline what can be included in student budgets. The costs of tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, in-city transportation, and a limited amount for other personal expenses are the basic components of student budgets. Unusual expenses, such as childcare costs or the students medical disability, will be considered when they have been properly documented.
Financial need is defined as the difference between the cost of attending the university and the amount a student and family can reasonably provide. The amount of the expected family contribution is based on federal guidelines reflecting total family income, assets, and number of dependent children currently attending post-secondary educational institutions. Family contribution is expected unless it is clearly established that the student is independent of any family support.
In determining whether a student is considered independent or self-supporting, the Financial Aid Office adheres to the standards set by the Department of Education to establish an applicants dependency status. Students 24 years or older are considered financially independent. Students under the age of 24 are considered financially dependent unless they are orphans, wards of the court, veterans, graduate students, married, or unmarried but with legal dependents. Both self-supporting and dependent students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form in order that a determination can be made of the expected resources available to the applicants.
Male students between the ages of 18 and 26 must be registered with
Selective Service to qualify for Federal student loans or grant programs. This
includes College Work Study, Federal Stafford Student/Plus Loans, and Federal
Perkins Student Loans. The Selective Service requirement also applies to
Students subject to selective service registration will be required to file
a statement that the student has registered or is exempt from selective service
registration in order to be eligible to apply for federal financial aid. In
addition, effective
The course load requirement for students receiving each type of aid is at least one-half the normal course load. Graduate students must be enrolled in no less than 5 credit hours during any term of enrollment. Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants, however, must maintain a course load designated by the Dean in the school to which they have been assigned. Aid recipients should not reduce their course loads below the qualifying minimum hours as it may affect receiving financial assistance at a later date.
The aid package awarded to a student may consist of a loan, grant, scholarship, part-time job, or any combination of these programs. The total amount of aid the student receives depends on the level of financial need, submission of appropriate financial information and applications, academic records, and the availability of funds.
Generally, the student is expected to remain in good standing by the satisfactory completion of a minimum number of credit hours, based on a percentage of the credit hours attempted and completed. This completion rate may vary depending on the students academic level and credit hour load. In addition, graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above. For online information on the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, visit the financial aid site and link to ELIGIBILITY. For more detailed information the student should contact the Financial Aid office. A copy of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is made available to all recipients of financial aid and is available online on our web site.
For a student to be considered for a renewal of financial aid, a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and supporting documents must be submitted for each academic year. The awarding of renewal aid is subject to the same considerations used in awarding all previous financial assistance.
Financial aid packages are reviewed by the Financial Aid Office and canceled if the student fails to maintain a satisfactory record of academic progress or to enroll for and maintain the minimum number of course load hours. Aid packages may also be revoked because of changes in financial status. Partial or full repayment of awards may be required. In some instances, immediate repayment may be required.
Any change in a recipients financial situation, such as additional scholarships, loans, or change in employment status, must be reported to the Financial Aid Office, because compliance with federal regulations may require a revision of awards.
Following is a summary of the types of assistance that are available to
graduate students at The University of Texas at
An act of the 64th Texas Legislature established a grant program to provide financial assistance to students. This program is funded through appropriation of a portion of the tuition charge for resident and nonresident students. Graduate students receiving Teaching Assistantships or Research Assistantship appointments may apply for a Texas Public Education Grant through their academic program. Texas Public Education Grants may be awarded through the Financial Aid Office.
Educational Assistance Grant
Funds through this program are made available through a set-aside of Designated Tuition. Graduate students demonstrating financial aid need through a completed FAFSA will be considered for aid. Amount of award will vary each year based on availability of funds.
(This is a Student Loan with Cancellation Provisions for Teaching)
The purpose of this program is to encourage students to become certified classroom teachers and to encourage these newly certified teachers to teach in a field having a critical shortage of teachers or in communities having a critical shortage of teachers.
Eligible students must:
The amount of this award will vary based upon the students anticipated program completion date and the availability of funds.
Through the proceeds from the International Education fee, scholarships are available for study-abroad programs. These scholarships are open to both graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at least one-half time (six hours or more). Graduate students should be admitted to a degree program and have a GPA of 3.0. While abroad, the recipient of this scholarship must be enrolled in a full-time course of study. Course work undertaken must apply to the students degree program.
Certain veterans who have served on active military duty, who were residents of Texas at the time of entry into the service, who have resided in Texas for the last 12 months prior to the date of registration, and whose entitlement to educational benefits under federal legislation has been exhausted, are eligible for exemption from the payment of tuition, general fee and laboratory fees. However, an individual who has exhausted his/her federal education benefit as a result of a default on a federal or state loan may NOT receive the Hazlewood benefit. These exemptions also apply to children of those members of the Armed Forces killed in action, missing in action, who died while in service, or whose death is documented to be directly caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed forces, and to children of those members of the Texas National Guard killed since January 1, 1946 while on active duty. Effective Fall 1995, there will be a maximum of 150 credit hours (including remedial courses) of work for which a person may receive benefit under the Act. This accrual will begin with the Fall 1995 semester. Applications are available in the Financial Aid office.
This loan program provides a combination of federal and institutional funds to students who qualify on the basis of financial need. High priority is given to those students who demonstrate exceptional need.
A graduate student may borrow up to a maximum amount of $30,000 which includes all undergraduate Federal Perkins loans.
A Federal Perkins loan bears a modest interest rate. Borrowers are required to begin repayment of principal and interest six months after they cease to be at least half-time students. Repayment may extend over a ten-year period; however, there is a minimum rate of repayment.
Funds from this program are made available to the student from lending institutions such as banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions. Students must qualify for a Stafford Student Loan on the basis of financial need.
The loans are made at a modest interest rate and there exists a maximum amount which can be borrowed for a given academic year. See the Financial Aid office concerning the maximum loan amount. The borrower will be required to begin repayment of principal and interest upon graduation or after he or she ceases to be at least a half-time student. Repayment may extend over ten years, but the program requires a minimum monthly payment.
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Students needing emergency help with educational expenses may borrow from the short-term loan fund. Loans must be repaid within 60 days from the date of issuance or one week prior to the end of the term for which the student applied for the short term loan, whichever comes first. A fee of $30.00 per month will be charged, up to a maximum of $90.00 per semester. Contributions to these funds have been made by Mrs. Lloyd V. Berkner, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Castelli, the Kiwanis Club of Richardson, Rotary Club of Richardson, Richardson Savings and Loan Association, the First Texas Savings and Loan Association of Dallas, Richardson Altrusa Club, Chaparral Steel Company, and funds set aside out of student tuition.
College work study employment is available to students on the basis of demonstrated financial need. The acceptance of employment reduces the amount of loan assistance a student will be permitted to accept in order to meet financial need to cover educational expenses.
Compensation depends on the type of job, qualifications, and classification.
The number of hours and work schedule will vary depending on the position. For
information on job availability, students need to contact the
Various programs and schools of the university employ students in positions
that are not work-study positions and are not based on need. In accordance with
appropriate guidelines, pay scales depend on the type of job, qualifications,
and classification. Normally, students will be employed for a maximum of 19.5
hours per week. Students interested in these positions should contact the
Information concerning student financial aid is accurate at the time of printing. Changes in regulations or policy on a federal, state, university, private lending, or donor level could affect the type and amount of programs available and/or program requirements. The Financial Aid Office has detailed information available upon request.
Information about a variety of scholarships awarded on the basis of academic
merit and achievement is available from the Office of Financial Aid. The
In accord with Chapter 51, of the Texas Education Code, all applications for competitive academic scholarships for graduate study are reviewed by the Committee on Student Scholarships and/or the Graduate Scholarship Committee in the appropriate academic unit. Award decisions are based on the same holistic evaluation of the applications as is carried out for admission decisions.


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TEG wrote:Jumper cables.
TonyWilliams wrote:I still carry jumper cables. If the little lead acid under the LEAF's hood quits, your LEAF will not start. Just like an ICE car.
walterbays wrote:I was showing a friend the fake valve cover under the hood, and he suggested the purpose must be so you could have some fun with the guys at Jiffy Lube. I was a little tempted to take it in for an oil change just to watch. But I'm afraid they'd bring out an old oil pump to show me, and tell me it needs to be replaced for $300.


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With "District B13" and last year's runaway train of parental purpose, "Taken," Pierre Morel positioned himself as a superior action director, and one of the few film minds able to process producer Luc Besson's harebrained story ideas and cockamamie characterizations.
"From Paris with Love" is their latest collaboration, but the timing is off, the script's stupidity is more grating than endearing, and Morel is forced to contend with a giant slab of Hormel's finest (assuming the shape of John Travolta) for this action-comedy. These are simple ingredients, but Morel and Besson appear distracted for this round of Euro smash-em-up, making the film disappointingly clumsy and strangely unadventurous.
A clever assistant to the U.S. ambassador in France, James Reese (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is eager to join the big guns at the C.I.A., where his wits would be put to good use saving the world. An opportunity to prove himself comes with the arrival of partner Charlie Wax (John Travolta), a loose-cannon agent with little interest in criminal small talk. Tearing across Paris on the hunt for a terror cell of Islamic fundamentalists, Wax takes Reese on a journey of gunplay and superspy bravado, infiltrating the seedy side of the city while the overwhelmed agent-in-training tries to calm the escalating protests emerging from his girlfriend (Kasia Smutniak).
I'll give "From Paris with Love" this much: the movie moves. Morel has a masterful touch when it comes to pace, and his latest benefits from such refreshing acceleration. The opening sets up the characters in frustratingly vague ways, but once Wax hits the film, the screenplay (by Adi Hasak, who previously wrote 1997's "Shadow Conspiracy") takes off like a demon, arranging a series of unsavory characters for Wax and Reese to beat down and shoot up. The movement of Morel's direction is genuinely thrilling, leaping from location to location ready to make some noise, staging gunfire and action set-pieces with a slightly cartoon quality to match Travolta's nutty performance. There's a nice chunk of entertainment value to be found in the feature.
I'm not suggesting Morel's previous pictures were extraordinary achievements of cinema, but for matinee candy, they were beautifully executed, strongly acted, and contained genuine surprise. "From Paris with Love" is a little sleepy in the amazement department. Save for one wild bit of business that features Wax and Reese strung out on stolen coke, the film doesn't offer many jolts.
Instead, the script is excruciatingly underlined, with the two main characters spelling out their every move for the audience, and in the case of Rhys Meyers, it's exposition emerging from the worst American accent imaginable (Gerard Butler, you've been replaced). "From Paris with Love" didn't need to be subtle, but it should've allowed for more gleefully bewildering behavior. Instead the script doles out tired puns, lame self-referential jokes, and a works a twist into the story that Reese doesn't even believe (that makes two of us) while nursing a bullet wound that erases any doubt.
"From Paris with Love" goes over-the-top with stunts and weaponry (Wax speeding down a Parisian highway toting a rocket launcher is a memorable visual), launches more than its fair share of profanity-laced one-liners, and indulges Travolta wherever it can (including his Jack Sparrow/Mr. Clean appearance), but it never congeals into a rousing action bonanza.
Morel spoils the tone by including flashes of real world threat and violent consequence, which is a baffling choice for a film this one-dimensional. The brakes are applied intermittently throughout the picture, culminating with an embassy showdown that seeks to merge ridiculousness with poignancy. I don't know, can a teary finale peacefully coexist in a film where Wax names his gun "Mrs. Jones," serenading his weapon with the immortal Billy Paul classic? Turns out, no.
I wanted to enjoy "From Paris with Love" more than I actually did, but the schizophrenic nature of the picture, along with its need to dumb everything way down to appease the mass audience, wears on the senses after a short while. The R-rated bullet ballet is lively, and a bonkers Travolta is always good for a laugh or two, but the picture doesn't come through on its promise of a cartwheeling good time. It's a shame, since Morel and Besson are capable of such wonderful madness.