text:
Apparently, some web savvy adolescents at J.C. Booth Middle School in Peachtree City created a site that listed the school's best-looking and popular kids as well as those they suspected of being gay.
I am delighted that the school found out about the site and moved quickly to talk to students about its implications. There's nothing new about middle school students rating who's attractive and who's liked.
But there are two new forces at play today that make such lists more problematic than 30 years ago: The culture itself re-inforces the social poison of middle school and the web delivers it with lightning speed.
I also wonder if parents contribute to the problem by allowing their children unfettered access to computers. I have found that some parents prefer their children be the alpha students making such lists rather than the ones who end up on the lists. (One of the surprises of my parenting life has been how invested mothers become in their children's social standing, probably because my own mother did not get involved at all.)
This story is from 11-Alive News news:
According to a letter sent to parents by principal Ted Lombard, someone created a site called "Booth Middle School Lists", which included names under categories such as "Most Popular" and "Best Looking."
The letter states that the site also listed ten names under a heading that included a crass term questioning the student's sexual orientation. There was a picture of one student stamped with the same crass term.
"I wouldn't know where to begin to tap into something like that and start posting things about people," said parent Jill Burke. "They're pretty bold."
Parents waiting for their students to leave school Tuesday afternoon expressed outrage at the creator of the site.
"I think it's horrible," said Audrey Fincher. "There should be some serious repercussions."
Administrators found out about the site last Thursday, and on Friday notified parents whose children were named. On Monday, the school held an assembly to discuss the site and assure students that the school was working to determine who created it.
The letter states that part of the site listed the first names of the people who allegedly created it, names that could possibly be linked to two 8th grade boys at the school.
Peachtree City Police are investigating to determine who created the web site, and if any laws were broken.
I also want to share an excerpt from a recent New York Times story about a topic that we have been discussing here on the Get Schooled blog – how much the culture contributes to the "mean girl" persona, now a staple in children's TV, even the Disney channel.
Mean-girl behavior, typically referred to by professionals as relational or social aggression and by terrified parents as bullying, has existed for as long as there have been ponytails to pull and notes to pass (today's insults are texted instead). But while the calculated round of cliquishness and exclusion used to set in over fifth-grade sleepover parties, warfare increasingly permeates the early elementary school years.
"Girls absolutely exclude one another in kindergarten," said Michelle Anthony, a psychologist and co-author of the new book "Little Girls Can Be Mean." When her own daughter was manipulated by a "friend" into racing down a slide booby-trapped with mud, making it appear to a group of boys as though she'd soiled her pants, Dr. Anthony was taken aback. "You don't expect to run into that level of meanness in a 7-year-old."
But at a time when teenage cyber-bullying is making headlines, parents fear that the onset of bullying behavior is trickling down. According to a new Harris survey of 1,144 parents nationwide, 67 percent of parents of 3- to 7-year-olds worry that their children will be bullied; parents of preschoolers and grade-school-age children are significantly more likely to worry than parents of teenagers. Such fears may be justified. One recent survey of 273 third graders in Massachusetts found that 47 percent have been bullied at least once; 52 percent reported being called mean names, being made fun of or teased in a hurtful way; and 51 percent reported being left out of things on purpose, excluded from their group of friends or completely ignored at least once in the past couple of months.
"The research literature on aggression is very clear that with relational aggression, it's monkey see, money do," said Tracy Vaillancourt, who specializes in children's mental health and violence prevention at the University of Ottawa. "Kids mirror the larger culture, from reality TV to materialism."We no longer live in the pigtailed world of Cindy Brady where a handful of channels import variations on sugar and spice, with prompt repercussions for the latter. "So much of what passes for entertainment is about being rude, nasty and crass," said Meline Kevorkian, who studies bullying at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Fla. "What we see as comedy is actually making fun of other people."
Nicole Martins, a professor of telecommunications at Indiana University, has conducted a study linking aggressive behavior to shows with stars she deemed socially aggressive, like "Hannah Montana" and "The Simple Life." "There was no effect on aggression on boys, but in girls, there was an increase among those who watched socially aggressive female models on TV," Dr. Martins said.
October 20th, 2010
11:40 am
Hatred is learned at home.
October 20th, 2010
11:45 am
Children imitate their parents. Many, many adults behave like bullies now, it has become the norm. Your children see you doing it so they think it is not only acceptable but necessary.
October 20th, 2010
11:45 am
Call the assembly and ask everyone in the school who created the list. Following the silence, inform everyone that if someone doesn't fess up then, if found later, they'll be expelled. See if anyone answers. If they don't, they can find out about the life lesson of repercussions/consequences for their actions.
October 20th, 2010
11:49 am
If this isn't nipped in the bud, imagine what monsters these kids will become by the time they reach college age.
October 20th, 2010
11:51 am
The web as a weapon; who would have thought. However, you are correct; a lot of parents don't care as long as it's not their child on the losing side. And the young ladies love to imitate those tv characters down to their exact words and body language.
My daughter started using a new word a few weeks ago and I still haven't found out what it means or how to spell it. It's not in the dictionary, I can tell you that.
October 20th, 2010
11:54 am
Capital punishment for bullies would solve the problem.
October 20th, 2010
11:55 am
Time to step up: Unfortunately.. that would never work.
Edward/Ne: You have it mostly correct, but you also have the social stigma that is still directed at the homosexual community that is playing a large part of this coupled with the super neo-bible thumpers preaching about how sinful homosexuality is and how they should all go to hell.
The only way this is going to change.. is plain and simple.. education. There are plenty of misconceptions (granted there is some reality that feeds into those misconceptions) about the gay community. But people need to see it for themselves and not go by what they are being told by their parents or their preacher. I think they would find its not exactly what they think.
It is much better today than it ever has been… I graduated HS 20 something years ago… theres no way in hell I would ever have admitteded it.. even though most suspected I was gay. Kids are cruel and they fear what they do not understand.. and they take it out on what they fear.
October 20th, 2010
11:56 am
Hmmm, I still think this is much ado about nothing. The big difference here is that we put names on and sensationalize any and all aberrant behavior. This type of cruelty has been around for decades–even in young girls. It's nothing knew. As I've said before, what really worries me is kids inability to deal with it–i.e., lack of self esteem.
October 20th, 2010
11:58 am
The article not withstanding I am pretty sure no crimes were committed. Only crime was one of decorum and decency.
October 20th, 2010
11:58 am
Woody Bass,
You're absolutely right. As someone stated earlier, much of this is learned behavior . . . and not just from parents or TV. For every church pastor, minister, or priest who is preaching the evils of homosexuality and the eventual descent to hell for those who engage in them, there is a room ful of children listening, absorbing, and thinking. Hate is hate no matter how nicely you sweeten it.
October 20th, 2010
11:59 am
EnoughAlready – try looking it up in urbandictionary.com. Just out of curiosity… what word is it?
October 20th, 2010
12:02 pm
When I was 7, I watched the Smurfs. My niece is 7, and she idolizes Hannah Montana. I sat through one episode and was shocked. Definitely a show for pre-teens. Not something for my niece, who has been watching for two years. I tried very nicely to bring this up with her mother, my SIL, who told me "It's on Disney Channel, so it's fine." That's the problem with parents nowadays!
October 20th, 2010
12:05 pm
Bullying is as old as time GET OVER IT! we are raising a generation of wussies that need every facet of there self esteem upheld every minute of every day. What are you going to do when they grow up and have a mean boss, or mean drill sergeant or mean neighbor??? Run over there and protect them PUKE! kids are kids some will be on the top of the pole and some will be on the bottom -that's the way it is. All you jerk off parents and social morons that think every kid should be on the top of the pole –guess what the pole can't support all those kids and it will snap and they'll all be on the ground
October 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
Much-a-do about nothing. Let the kids have their fun.
October 20th, 2010
12:08 pm
What those young people did may be cruel, but it probably isn't illegal. Can someone be kicked out of school for intentional cruelty? I would hope for at least a two-week suspension. Then, the kids should be put to work after school sweeping school floors, dusting school furniture, emptying trash cans, etc. – an hour a day for, say, four months.
And, the authors of the web site should be made to apologize to those they denigrated. It could be a quiet meeting in the school principal's office with the students and parents attending. But, the parents need to be there.
October 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
I saw a movie preview in D.C. this week for "Fair Game" and there's a scene in which two people are yelling at one another to make a point, and the one character says if "I yell louder, does it make me right." Well, just because bullying and taunting has been around for decades, that doesn't make it right. Our world is mean because we allow or want it to be mean, and adults enable the meanness in children. Children should not have to go to school to be subjected to bullying and it has nothing to do with self esteem but everything to do with the bully's lack of self control and respect for self. The bully is actually the one with the self esteem problem and using his/her influence to create havoc to feel better about their life. So unfortunate and sad. Someone tried to bully me in middle school and I fought back. She never tried it again and we actually became good acquaintances throughout high school. But I had to fight back and that had nothing to do with self esteem but self preservation.
October 20th, 2010
12:15 pm
I agree with the first post. How many times do you think these parents uttered a negative and or hateful remark and not consider the consequences.
October 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
You may find this of interest, in light of your SELP Project and stand in life. It's happening your own backyard.
October 20th, 2010
12:21 pm
I love GLEE but I don't think it should be on at 8:00. When I was in middle school, the TV show James at 15 (anyone remember that show? ) was off-limits because of mature subject matter, but it was on at 10:00 PM. Most middle-school kids are still up at 8:00.
October 20th, 2010
12:29 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Fishing Tweeter and Marilyn Morehouse, Maureen Downey. Maureen Downey said: Peachtree City middle school meanness: Symptom of a culture gone bad or parents gone fishing? http://bit.ly/cHsq8t [...]
October 20th, 2010
12:30 pm
As a girl I was bullied and it has stayed with me forever. I'm now the mother of a 12-year-old girl and I witness bullying every day. I am probably overly sensitive to bullying because I've seen first hand the harm it can do. I"m the parent who notifies the school when a child (not always my own) tells me about bullying and intimidating behavior. I'm shocked with the number parents who feel that bullying much worse than this is just no big deal as long as their kid isn't being targeted. I'm even more shocked when I learn that a school doesn't inform the parents when such behavior is taking place. Kids need to be talked with about bullying at school & home. While this school doesn't like being associated with this sort of thing, I applaude them for confronting this situation head on.
October 20th, 2010
12:32 pm
as i've said before, one main reason a lot of people are having kids today is to prop up their status, 'i'm a parent', 'i'm a mom' like they won the nobel prize or something.
we put kids first and our elderly last, wrong wrong wrong
in our media, tv and movies, men are all idiots and bad. moms are now greater than Jesus. and for what? they got pregnant and had a child. now they take care of their own child. what's so great about that? it seems like that is what you are supposed to do. and taking care of your own child is something you do for you. kids are portrayed as smarter than their parents. and everywhere you look is some woman hitting a man(promoting violence against the opposite sex, the last thing women should be doing) and acting like that is cool, independent, strong…it's not, it's just mean.
you can't be a good woman if you are always trying to prove how bad a man you are.
men have made the most improvements over the last 40 years and get so little credit for what they have done, to the point a lot of men are giving up at trying. the next group to legitimately organize to fight for their rights in the future will be men.
and why shouldn't they, the most manly thing the NFL actively and aggresively supports the fight against breast cancer. name a female organization that fights prostate cancer. and men getting raped in prison is treated like it's a joke or deserved. it can't be justified, an eye for an is wrong. as Gandhi said 'an eye for an eye just makes the world blind'
women need to stop building themselves up by tearing men down.
and need to stop finding entertainment from watching people like kyra sedgewick, holly hunter, cameron diaz, kate hudson, sandra bullock,etc., belittle and violent attack anyone, even if that person happens to be a so-called 'worthless, stupid, possessed by the devil' man.
October 20th, 2010
12:32 pm
RE: V for Vendetta, 11:56
"As I've said before, what really worries me is kids inability to deal with it–i.e., lack of self esteem."
And how does their self-esteem go down so low? By being constantly BULLIED AT SCHOOL!!!!! Have you not been paying attention to the seemingly constant national stories recently about kids committing suicide because they'd been bullied to that point? And no one in authority at school had done anything about it. The kids cry out for help, and in some instances their parents go to the school asking for help to stop the bullying, and time after time they are told things like "If we don't see/hear it, we can't deal with it", or "I'll have a little talk with Johnny (or Suzy), or my personal favorite, "Kids will be Kids". With the attitude you are showing you are part of the problem. Just because "This type of cruelty has been around for decades–even in young girls. It's nothing knew" doesn't make it ok. It means that we still haven't done enough to protect those who are being bullied to death.
October 20th, 2010
12:34 pm
@ V for Vendetta – Excellant point about coping skills. I just recently learned from my wife about how upset my son got about being called "Tuxedo Boy" by another 9 year old. I was struck by how upset the young man was over the reference though he had NO IDEA what the heck it was supposed to be referring to. I believe many I have so coddled their kids to the point where their emotional toughness is nil. Don't get me wrong, I don't support the idea that any child should be called out of their name or harressed by another child, but on some level our kids have to be taught/developed in such a way that the shake off these insults. Certainly harsh words have been batted about between kids for decades. Now they the opportunity to be more widely broadcast and seem to have deadlier consequences as a result. In closing, I'll say I would be tread carefully over the extent to which we should expect the public education system police the "free speech" rights of even kids when they engage in discourse within the public domain, outside of school and using personal resources that the school has no dominion over. Furthermore, we must guard more carefully the extent to which zero tolerance policies in schools are feeding kids into prison pipeline at earlier and earlier ages.
@ Girl N: I agree bullying has been around for ages and I agree that fact doesnt' justify its existance. However, as I've stated above we are headed toward as slippery slope to head down the path of agreesive, no-tolerance like punative approaches to dealing with this age old concern.
October 20th, 2010
12:35 pm
Whatever happened to "sticks and stones"? Why are we raising these whiners? Teach your child he/she is the only person in control of their feelings. Teach them early in life not to care what other people think. Do not empower others to determine your happiness. Toughen up! It's is and has always been a harsh world!
October 20th, 2010
12:36 pm
This is the same as "Slam Books" we had in the mid 80's and my parents had in the 60's and 70's. We have just become to politically correct and everyone has to "feel good". It is that same environment that the story yesterday about the teachers allowing students who fail tests to retake and retake until they pass. It is not about growing up in the real world, it is about making everyone "feel good" and be accepted. Before long, I will not be surprized to see school systems cutting out Homecoming queens and proms, because someone may not get invited to go and will feel 'different' than the other kids. It may sound heartless, but when these kids get out in the real world or college, they will not have local school systems there to protect them from getting picked on or from failing a test. They will be unprepared for the future and end up not being able to handle real life situations and be one of the nutjobs who end up killing themsleves or someone else because of the pressure.
October 20th, 2010
12:37 pm
Oh yeah, and let's all blame the victim.
October 20th, 2010
12:40 pm
lightning speed
October 20th, 2010
12:41 pm
It's not that we're raising wussies,it's that kids are relentless these days. A friend of mine's sister, was teased at school in a very harsh way. Her mother had just recently passed away, another student at the school said something to the affect of "we're having a cook-out, you should invite your mom – oh wait! You can't, because she's dead!". This little girl was only in middle school when this happened. Now, back in the old days, we'd punch the kid in the nose and call it a day, but we can't do that. Kids are more fearful of getting in trouble or expelled for violence when sticking up for themselves, that they don't know what else to do. Yet, we aren't fixing the real issues, the BULLY! The child who would throw the first punch would get in the most trouble, usually that is the child who is defending themselves from something said or done to them first. The other child, who got hit, would get a slap on the wrist, or a "talkin' to" and that's it. So, we've taught our kids NOT to fight, but haven't given them any other avenue to fight back, except words. And words can be more harmful than fists. We need to fix the ROOT of the issue…Maybe parents need to sit down with their kids more an explain right from wrong, watch their tv programs, monitor their computer usage….it's just a thought…
October 20th, 2010
12:46 pm
Forsyth County mom,
Take your meds. I don't condone bullying, and I would be the first to straighten my kids out if I caught them doing such a thing. It is thuggish and pathetic. However, that having been said, it IS part of growing up. Kids are far more cruel than adults can ever pretend to be. Part of it is because they don't know better; they're testing their boundaries and figuring out what's acceptable. Part of it is learned behavior: they see such actions from their parents or on TV and try to recreate it with friends and other kids.
Stopping bullying after it has already started is a waste of time. At that point, it is too late. The best thing to do is teach kids how to be thoughtful and respectful when they're young–and how to handle themselves if someone doesn't afford them the same respect. They should have a high enough sense of self worth that they understand someone else's words mean very little. They should have the self esteem to stand up for themselves and be their own advocates. They should have the moxy to close their fists if needs be and fight back. (And enough about kids with guns. If you live in an areas where every kid is armed, you've got bigger problems.)
Sorry, Forsyth County mom, but it sounds like YOU'RE part of the problem. Not me.
October 20th, 2010
12:49 pm
World of Hate,
"kids are relentless these days."
These days? They've ALWAYS been relentless. Nothing has changed. We're just not teaching them to deal with it. And, in point of fact, if either of my children retaliated physically against a bully who had first gone after them, I frankly wouldn't care what stupid punishment the school gave them. Why can't we teach kids to
1. respect themselves
2. walk away
3. verbally confront
4. if needs be, fight back
Seems like a pretty easy progression to teach to a child.
October 20th, 2010
12:53 pm
Back in the day, us kids were terrified when we got caught acting up because we knew our Daddy would deliver a butt whoopin like none ever seen. Nowadays, parents don't tan their kids hides at all and they get away with things like this scott free. So, I blame the parental units for failing to discipline their kids. Thats what happens when you "make everyone winners" and "play without keeping score" so you don't hurt little Johnnie's or Jane's feelings. Time outs make for sissies. Next time, make the kid go outside and pick a switch.
October 20th, 2010
12:53 pm
Welcome to PTC. Home of Conservative Christian Republicians (Teabaggers). Accountability has long left this town. "My kid can do no wrong". If the parents only knew what was going on at the high schools, they wouldn't believe it.
October 20th, 2010
12:54 pm
My daughter goes to high school in Marietta and several kids have created Facebook pages called "Marietta Burn Page", just like in the movie "Mean Girls" where they made a "burn book" about everyone in the school. On the facebook page they posted pictures, had stamped derogitory words printed over the pictures, gave out phone numbers where you could find the person, etc. The pages were made by kids posing as another kid. Several of the kids were beat up pretty severely by students who really thought that they were the creator of the page and in fact, they were not. This stuff is getting really out of hand. But how do we reign in on the proper way to handle this?
October 20th, 2010
12:55 pm
God!! You people make me sick!!
This is a FREE SPEECH issue. Let the peer pressure work it out. You can't just go in there and shut this sort of thing down, you people are willingly tossing your (scarce) freedoms right out the window.
You should publicize it, and let the peer pressure work. You people that willingly toss your freedoms away, freedoms that people fought for and lost their LIVES over, make me want to PUKE!! I'm ashamed you even call yourselves Americans.
There are FAR better ways of working with something like this than just going in there and telling these fools they have to shut something down, because somebody is offendddddeeddd…… (freaking cyrbabies….)
I wish you idiots would grow up for a change. You're pathetic.
October 20th, 2010
12:56 pm
I actually had a discussion about bullying over the weekend with my 20 year old daughter, who was home from college for a family emergency. She has a 10 year old sister, who was bullied on the bus last year. I asked her if bullying was worse now for elementary/middle school kids than when she was that age. She said that it is so much worse for those kids now because it can all be done anonymously, by text, facebook, myspace, etc. And that the bullying is even more cruel and hateful, just because it can be anonymous. These bullies have unlimited access to the internet, their own phones, and no one checking up on them. Their parents LIE FOR THEM to get them on facebook (you must be 13 to have a facebook page), never get their passwords, never do any checking up on what sites they're going to, who they're chatting with, etc., and they see this as a license to do anything they want. They have no parental supervision so they get away with anything. It's time for us all to stand up against this kind of bullying in school and hold those kids responsible for what they say/do/post.
BTW, did you know that today, Oct. 20 is "Wear Purple to support anti-bullying" and to "support those kids & teens who are thinking about (or have committed) suicide because they can't take any more" day? Are you wearing purple????
October 20th, 2010
12:56 pm
@V for Vendetta and all the rest who see this as no big deal -the differences today from when we were kids are a) the school administrations take a "head in the sand" approach because they're SO afraid of being sued -by the bully's parents; b) the bullies know they can get away with quite a bit that they would have been expelled or sent to alternative school for back in our day (or just plain had their a**es kicked -but the victims get expelled if they do that now); c) -the biggie -with Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and the internet in general, there aren't just one or two bullies or mean girls in school these days. Every gutless little puke who has no self-esteem himself/herself so they must pick on others is texting and posting away. They get to hide behind a keyboard so it doesn't matter how big or popular or good-looking they are. Often, they can get the egotistical "popular" crowd to befriend them simply by putting something awful together about another student or students. and of course -last but not least d) Lack of parenting -so many parents today are teaching their kids NOTHING about manners, empathy, social skills, etc. They expect the schools and television to do it all for them. The parents are so self-absorbed that they had kids as an accessory and spend no time with them instilling any character whatsoever. They're the first ones to jump up and say their kids would NEVER do some of these things and they'll sue the school system if their child is targeted as a bully! Since they never pay any attention to their kid, they actually have no clue what he or she might do.
October 20th, 2010
12:57 pm
A very interesting discussion taking place here today. My thoughts are that just because it's been around forever does not make it inevitable. Some diseases are inevitable, but we still fight them – right? It also sounds like "wussies united" probably has a kid who is a bully judging by his comments telling others to toughen up. I'm all for kids letting comments roll off their backs and ignore them – sometimes that does work. Other times, you have to stand up to the bully. But, there are bullies everywhere – including the AJC Blogs where (when hidden behind an IP address), people will say things that they would not dare say in public as it would be rude and childish. As for any type of punishment for the children who did this, I don't think there is anything legally wrong with it, but perhaps morally there is. Parents should know what their kids are up to. And, if a student turns the originators in, they may become bullied themselves. It's a vicious cycle!
October 20th, 2010
12:57 pm
Get real folks. I am nearly 50 years old and, yes, from early childhood on up have been the subject of and, yes, perpetrator, of "bullying" (seems to me it was referred to as teasing when I was young). Regardless of what you call it, some kids will be picked on (most actually) and some kids will be "popular." If you teach your child to be a "victim" as opposed to teaching them that life is not always roses and some folks are cretins to be ignored, they will be so throughout their life. We're not automatons, life is not perfect, and, with a few glaring exceptions out there, folks need to get over it.
October 20th, 2010
1:00 pm
"Stopping bullying after it has already started is a waste of time" – what? That is the dumbest statement I've read in a long time.
No, V – YOU'RE the problem.
So, if your kid is getting bullied – you're not going to try and stop it? If your kid is constantly ridiculed and BEATEN UP, you're not going to stop it? Either you're a liar or a pathetic parent.
October 20th, 2010
1:00 pm
V for Vendetta , I don't mean to be argumentative….but I"m very happy that my kids don't go to school with your kids.
October 20th, 2010
1:01 pm
Not sure any of our soldiers' first thoughts when fighting for our freedom are thinking about a bully's right to trash talk about fellow students, but perhaps they do?
October 20th, 2010
1:02 pm
So… Hannah Montana is threatening to the geek moms. *yawn*
October 20th, 2010
1:04 pm
We all knew how to stop bullies when we were little. My son went through the same thing in day care. We went to the owner. It did not stop. As usuall, the bully was much bigger and was picking on 5-7 younger boys. One on one, my son and his friends were no match. I told him to get all the younger boys to agree the next time one of them was bullied, they were all to jump on the bully and beat the hell out of him with whatever they could. When finished, they were to tell him if he ever bullied anyone else, all of the boys would do it again. He was never a problem after that. The owner did not like what I told my son to do but I reminded her I went to her first and she could not stop the bullying. My way did. To this day, that bully, now a fine young man, still apologizes to my son when he sees him. Bullies do not like a hard target, they want an easy target. Teach your kids not to be easy prey! School officials wont like it but are they protecting your kids now?
October 20th, 2010
1:06 pm
Ha! Note the language skills of the person who wrote: "Peachtree City Police are investigating to determine who created the web site, and if any crimes were broken."
I thought that crimes are ~committed~ when LAWS are broken, such as, apparently, the laws that prohibit people from expressing opinions about homosexuality contrary to those held by homosexuals.
Or laws that prohibit people from expressing opinions about race contrary to those held by liberals.
Or laws that prohibit people from expressing opinions about the behavior of the NSDAP's Schutzstaffel during the Second World War which are contrary to those held by Jews.
Or laws that prohibit people from expressing opinions about gender roles contrary to those held by feminists.
Or laws that used to prohibit Russians from expressing opinions about Marxism contrary to those held by the Communist Party of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Anybody who disagrees with them, and gets caught doing it, will get an organized, public ostracism and the pedantic scrutiny of various civil authorities, who will end up doing to the dissidents as much actual harm as they are legally allowed to do. Which, except for that last category, isn't much, since it remains legal to look askance at homosexuality, at the idea of racial equality, at exaggerated Holocaust claims, or at women being made firefighters even though they can't carry a heavy man down a ladder or even get over that darn barricade wall.
So far, that is. If these various leftists have their way, though, it soon will be illegal to dispute with them about what is right and what is wrong—every social discussion will become as dangerous to dissenters as it was to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
October 20th, 2010
1:07 pm
Ne, you are correct. This behavior is learned AT HOME and the parents are solely to blame. Whether it is a lack of time spent with the child, or instilling in them to achieve. People are putting a lot of blame on the internet, but note it is the children of a certain generation…the "me" generation that do these things.
October 20th, 2010
1:09 pm
I don't think I quite understand how "yolanda" seems proud of her (hopefully, former) bullying status. A lot of bullying can be avoided by kids simply understanding manners and appropriate social skills, which the parents are responsible for teaching their children. From the comments, I suspect that some people on this blog who were bullies have never gotten out of that role. Some people actually grew up and understand that appropriate behavior takes you farther in today's world than being a teaser, bully, or whatever you want to call it.
October 20th, 2010
1:10 pm
The students involved should be transferred to another school. Publicly.
Until then a good dose of shunning them and their families is called for.
October 20th, 2010
1:10 pm
I knew this anti-bullying thing would get to absurd levels of PC and societal nonsense. And this is raising the red flag! Anti-bullying initiatives and eduction and information are great. When we start blaming a silly, non-violent, funcapes, dopey, FICTIONAL teen TV character for societal woes then we're veering WAY into ruining-the-message territory. Not to mention just-please-shut-the-f-up territory.


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Lisa Kereszi.
Kereszi's photographs depict a juxtaposition of burlesque dancers and empty interiors of strip clubs. She entitled the series, Fantasies, because she wants to convey the creation and action of fantasy.
I was interested in how Kereszi talked about her work, specifically the reaction of the mass audience. I must say, I was surprised by what I read. She stated in an interview:
"I heard a couple of comments that I wasn't supposed to hear about the women in this book being ugly. Someone said something like "Oh, they're naked ladies, but they're ugly." And I was shocked when that was relayed to me. I don't think that at all, but I could see why a regular guy who is used to this air-brushed, silicone implant thing - that's what they want to see naked today. That wasn't the case when burlesque was queen in the fifties. So it's a different kind of guy, I think, that likes this world, and a different kind of person in general. Living in New York and being an artist, you are not really aware of the real world. And this seems much bigger to me than I think it really might be; it is a subculture, it is still an underground thing even if it is popular. The people that are making it popular on TV are Carmen Electra, who looks really skinny and beautiful and perfect. She doesn't seem to have the same charge that these women have."
(Source: photoeye.com)
Design by Simon Fletcher. Powered by Tumblr.
© Copyright 2010

subset: commoncrawl


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What you will learn
Direct Mail School
2 day, $150 (meals included)
The Leadership Institute's own direct mail fundraising has become famous in the conservative movement. LI trains thousands of conservative leaders, activists, and development officers, a few at a time. Professionals teach you how to raise money and generate a steady, growing revenue base for your campaign or organization.
You will learn to:
- Implement proven direct mail concepts
- Build your donor file
- Write successful letters
- Design successful packages
- Apply case study examples of successful programs
You may also be interested in a copy of The Laws of Public Policy by Morton Blackwell.


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Next, you'll be asked to connect with Twitter. Rest assured, we will never send a tweet from your account without your permission.
Totally agree with this. iPads are not killing laptops— they killed Kindles and will eventually converge with laptops
Being able to use my iPad or Kindle on the plane would be an early Xmas present. Pls FAA...:
RT @Grady_Booch: In a store, shopping. Seeing too many really young kids being medicated with iPads. Please, parents, give them time to make their own dreams
Interesting observation: after a few months of cramped fingers on glass on my ipad mini, I am a champ on the regular ipad glass keyboard.
I was wondering why I don't get charged to tether to my iPad 4G on Vz. Now we know:
I always take day trips w/an iPad now to speed up security. Apparently 11inch MBA fine too:
Some quick thoughts on the iPad & the magic of version 3:
New iPad needs to go on weight watchers & bummed that LTE is not abundant from VZN in west Cambridge
The only real competition to the iPad in the "tablet" form factor: — a glorified TV!
Any time I travel I am reminded of how the built in 3G Verizon radio is the iPad's killer feature as a travel device- why not on mba11?
going to be a big deal to the iPad when amazon ships a killer color ebook reader
With all the tablet frenzy why didn't anyone stop last wk to call BS on the "supply chain problems" that made AAPL whiff hard on iPad frcst?
See what's Trending Now for @antrod


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University Relations Office
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Belknap and Catlin
P.O. Box 2000
Superior, WI 54880
ph. 715-394-8260
University News
News and Events Details
By Elizabeth Reichert
University Relations student writer
With election season in full swing, UW-Superior's political science program is working to further educate students about the nation's political process.Initiatives include three new courses, a Get Out The Vote campaign for the coming election, and a trip to Washington, D.C., with the Political Science Association student organization.
"We hope the effort continues to evoke not only having people show up to vote but also to be involved in a multitude of ways," Dr. Alisa Von Hagel, assistant professor of political science. "It's not just about voting but also about figuring out where candidates stand and being involved all the time, not just on election day."
New courses and seminars
Von Hagel is teaching two new courses this semester on elections and campaigns - one an upper-level course and the other a first-year seminar.
Her upper-level course takes a fairly traditional look at campaigning, examining fundraising, electoral context and emotional aspects of reasoning among other topics. Students critique campaign ads, analyze how traditional campaigning applies to current context, and make observations and predictions about the results of the current presidential election.
The first-year seminar has students thinking through the different parts of a campaign, including developing a campaign team, fundraising and thinking of various ways to transmit a candidate's message.
Students also are assembling a campaign portfolio for themselves as if they were running for office. The goal is to think through what it means to organize a political campaign, even at the local level.
Get Out The Vote
Students in both classes are involved in the program's Get Out The Vote effort as part of an academic service-learning component. Students have a table in the Yellowjacket Union each day where they will assist others in registering to vote and provide information about candidates.
In addition to new courses on campaigns and elections, the political science program is offering a course on conservative political thought taught by Dr. Daniela Mansbach, associate professor of political science.
Mansbach developed the class to help students understand differences in political thought, whether they be conservative, liberal, independent, or somewhere in-between.
"The premise of the class is to try to understand the ideological differences, to understand the ideological foundations of conservative thought," Mansbach said, "and what that can do for our students is to allow them to understand themselves better and understand what different sides believe."
Understanding their own beliefs
Mansbach hopes the course will give students the tools they need to better understand their own political beliefs. Throughout the class, students read materials by conservative thinkers as well as opposing views. They also have opportunities to debate complex issues.
In the current election season, Mansbach says that the course adds a strong theoretical component and background to the election and political discussion.
"Because they're challenging basic assumptions about politics, about opinions, it makes students better able to feel able to take part in discussions," she said.
Debates and discussions
The political science program with the Political Science Association will live-stream presidential debates and facilitate discussions on them.
On Nov. 6, the program will host an election night party where faculty, staff, and students can gather to watch as the results are tallied, discuss politics, participate in contests and quizzes to win prizes, or just relax and watch the polls in an informal, nonpartisan setting.
Trip to Washington
Students can learn personally about politics and the political process over spring break through a trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Political Science Association.
Students are hoping to meet with representatives, senators and interns to learn first-hand how the federal government works and to explore how they got into their fields and what students can do to start now.
Elizabeth Jacobsen, a senior political science major with a concentration in American politics from Middleton, Wis., anticipates the trip having an impact on the campus.
"I hope to bring back to campus our knowledge and use it in our classes," she said. "I would like the trip as an example to raise more awareness of what goes on in government."
Students who are interested in the trip can contact Jacobsen at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Student Voting Guide for Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin System also offers a student guide to voting in Wisconsin.


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If you are dealing with a Driving on a Suspended Drivers License misdemeanor charge, you probably have questions. Are there any defenses? Can I get the charges reduced?
There are defenses to driving on a suspended license, and methods of dealing with the problem to minimize the consequences and stress.
Understanding Misdemeanor Driving on a Suspended Drivers License
This article will discuss CA law, but the general principles may increase general understanding of the issues for other jurisdictions.
|There are many variations of the "Driving on a Suspended Drivers License" violation. The variations usually depend on the reason for the suspension.
A drivers license suspension caused by an alcohol offense, such as a DUI, for example (Vehicle Code section 14601.2), brings stiffer penalties than a suspension caused by a missed court date on a traffic ticket (Vehicle Code section 14601.1). Some versions, and violations with prior offenses, may bring mandatory jail time.
The most common form of drivers license suspension comes from a missed court date on a traffic ticket. Often, people with this problem may not know their drivers license is suspended and they keep driving until they get caught.
A drivers license is not required to resolve a Driving on a Suspended Drivers License charge, but it might help. It is always a good idea for a person charged with driving on a suspended drivers license to get a valid drivers license as soon as possible. But don't miss court because you could not get a valid drivers license! Go to court on time anyway.
To California Defense Attorneys, a driving on a suspended drivers license offense is called a "14601″. What that refers to is the actual statute: California Vehicle Code section 14601.1 which is the law that makes a simple driving with a suspended drivers license a misdemeanor crime. That is the violation we will discuss here.
It is a real misdemeanor, which means it can lead to a criminal record, and a possible max sentence up to 1 year county jail. It always starts out as a misdemeanor, but can be treated as an infraction by the court.
A "VC 14601.1" as it is sometimes called, also adds 2 "Negligent Driver Points" to a DMV driver history – separate from the court penalties. Sometimes, those 2 "points" can cause a new drivers license suspension due to having too many negligent driver points.
As a misdemeanor offense (crime), people charged with driving on a suspended license violations are entitled to a jury trial if they wish to fight against a conviction. And people who are completely broke can ask the court to appoint a public defender in any misdemeanor case.
If the court changes it to an infraction, jail time is not possible. A fine is the only punishment from the court, and the DMV will still apply 2 points to the violation.
|When dealing with a Suspended Drivers License case, a typical defense attorney will usually have the following goals, in order of priority:
1) get a dismissal or not guilty verdict on the charge if possible; or
2) get the misdemeanor charge reduced to a different infraction with no points; or
3) get it reduced to an infraction version of Vehicle Code 14601.1 with points.
There are different avenues to accomplishing one of these goals. If everything fails, the Defendant gets convicted of a misdemeanor and has a criminal conviction record.
Most misdemeanor criminal cases end in a plea agreement without a trial. Generally, a Defense Attorney will try to develop and communicate possible defenses to the prosecutor, in the hopes of convincing them that a trial would be a giant waste of time and resources.
This process usually happens in court during the arraignment or pre trial conferences. Routine misdemeanor plea bargains are also often made over the phone when a defense attorney calls the prosecutor to discuss a case. Judges like it when Defense Attorneys and Prosecutors have an agreement to end a case.
Applicable defenses to Driving on a Suspended Drivers License might provide the leverage to get a dismissal from the prosecutor prior to trial.
From a defense attorney perspective, defenses are first used to provide leverage for reasonable, effective plea negotiations. Later, if a trial is necessary because of an unreasonable prosecutor or judge, the defense(s) can be presented formally at a trial.
What defenses could there possibly be if the drivers license was actually suspended?
There are several. A good defense Attorney will review and consider and try to use at least the following defenses:
Defense # 1. Stop of the Defendant's Vehicle Was an Illegal Detention and Arrest.
Peace officers, such as the California Highway Patrol and county sheriffs, must have a valid legal reason to stop a vehicle before they ask for a drivers license.
The 4th amendment to the US Constitution requires that an officer have specific facts that would lead a reasonable officer in the same circumstances to believe that:
1) a crime or motor vehicle code violation occurred; and 2) that the vehicle or occupants were involved in the violation or crime.
In practice, this generally means that the officer must have reason to believe a driver has violated a traffic law. An officer is generally not allowed to stop a vehicle only because they suspect the person may have a suspended drivers license.
Why? From a Defense Attorney point of view, there is no way for an officer to know who is actually driving a car, or what the status of the drivers license of that specific individual is until after the car is stopped (or detained). The justification for the stop must be present before the officer turns on his flashing red and blue lights and thereby begins the detention.
If there is no legal justification for the stop at the time the detention begins, it is an illegal detention under the 4th Amendment.
If there are grounds for challenging an illegal stop, a Criminal Defense Attorney may write and file a Motion under Penal Code section 1538.5 for an order to exclude all evidence flowing from the illegal detention, including discovery of the status of the drivers license. Usually, the court will have a separate hearing prior to jury trial to determine if a Defendant's Penal Code section 1538.5 Motion should be granted.
In ruling on the motion, the judge may take live testimony from witnesses and the police officer(s). If the judge agrees that the stop was illegal, the Motion is granted, and the court will not allow evidence collected after the stop in the trial. That means they cannot use the status of the drivers license as evidence. When this happens, the prosecution's case is usually crippled and, usually, dismissed on the spot.
If there are facts that could form the basis of a successful Motion to Suppress, a Defense Attorney can communicate these to the prosecutor, and perhaps negotiate a favorable plea agreement to be finalized at the next scheduled court date.
If the court reduces a Driving on a Suspended Drivers License charge to an infraction, the defendant only has a right to a court trial. There is no option for a hearing on a Motion to Suppress. But the motion can be made at the very beginning of a court trial.
Defense #2. Driver Did Not Have Actual Knowledge of the Suspended License.
If there is a jury trial on a misdemeanor charge, the government will have to prove the defendant knew his/her drivers license was in fact suspended. Knowledge of the suspension is a required element of the charge.
There are ways for the government to get around the "Actual Knowledge" requirement. For example, a driver is required by law to keep their address current with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at all times.
If the DMV does not have your correct address, it is your fault, not the fault of DMV. The law also presumes that if DMV sent you proper notice of the suspension, you got it, even if you did not get it. Get it?
DMV does send out notices of suspension to the last known address via certified mail. And yes, they probably have proof they sent it to your address on file. However, there are occasions where DMV fails to give proper notice or warning to a driver of a suspended license. When that happens, there may be grounds for a motion to dismiss the case prior to trial, or a solid basis for a jury to vote not guilty.
It is also important to note that in order for the government to establish the Defendant had either actual or legal notice of the suspension, normally, they have to introduce DMV records into evidence at trial. Without a proper evidentary foundation in trial, these DMV records are inadmissible hearsay. Because of this, a Defense Attorney will almost always want to object to and challenge the admission of the DMV records on "Hearsay" grounds.
Defense #3. A Driver Charged with Driving on a Suspended Drivers License is Presumed Innocent.
A defendant charged with a misdemeanor or infraction violation starts out presumed innocent. To get a conviction, the government must prove the violation up "beyond a reasonable doubt" to overcome this presumption of innocence. If the government is unable to meet this burden, the defendant is not guilty.
Many "not guilty!" verdicts have been won on the simple argument to a receptive jury that there was not enough evidence shown in trial to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt, and therefore, not enough to convict. Consequently, it is always important to review all of the evidence the government intends to use in a prosecution.
A careful study of the evidence may reveal that critical evidence is missing or not admissible because of a rule of evidence. Such may be the case if a prosecutor does not have admissible documents to prove the DMV suspended the drivers license during the day of the violation (the receipt for the mailing of the notice).
Getting a Valid Drivers License Is Not a Defense, But Can Help.
Ironically, getting a valid drivers license (or the license reinstated) is not a defense to the charge of violating Vehicle code section 14601.1. This is because getting a new license does not suddenly erase history, and it is not a correctable violation. If you were caught driving, you were caught driving. Don't expect to win a trial because you eventually got a valid drivers license.
But there is good news. When a VC 14601.1 defendant gets a valid drivers license, it is often very helpful in getting a good result on the case prior to a trial. The courts and prosecuting agencies are always motivated to get rid of suspended license cases efficiently without a trial. And most judges believe society's interests are best served by getting a suspended driver back on track, rather than giving them a jail sentence.
Because of these factors, valid drivers license can be used to ask for a reduction in the charge. For example, maybe a defendant can present a valid drivers license at the Arraignment and ask for a substituted charge of something like Vehicle Code section 12500(a) – (Driving without a valid drivers license) – which is much better for a lot of reasons. For example, it can be an infraction, and carries no points on a driver history report.
What If You Have to Go to Court Alone?
Here are some general tips for the self represented defendant:
Keep in mind that an infraction is almost always better than a misdemeanor. Get clarity on which version you are charged with. If you have an illegal stop on an infraction that you want to challenge, demand a trial and make a Motion to Suppress. If you can get a valid drivers license, tell the judge you have one at your earliest opportunity. Ask the judge for what you want.
Dont be afraid to ask for more time to get a drivers license, or more time to hire an attorney. It is common for a court to continue a case to allow a defendant to get a drivers license or hire an attorney.
Related Article:
Driving on a Suspended Drivers License vs. Driving Without a Valid Drivers License.
Questions? Leave a Comment.
What about the car that got impounded? We can't help with that. Sorry. Go down to the tow yard in person with a licensed driver and proof of insurance. Ask for the vehicle back. Sometimes the 30 days hold is not imposed fully.


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Currently, about 100 percent of construction waste ends up in landfills, although much of it could be recycled or reused. A Finnish robotics company called ZenRobotics wants to change that. It has created a robot to sort through construction waste and http://invens.nl/free-levitra-sample find recyclable material and deposit it in appropriate bins.
The robot is usefull link soft tab cialis essentially an arm with a gripper on the end that's connected to generic viagra cheap a computer that provides metal detection, weight measurements, 3-D scanning, tactile feedback and spectrometer analysis to identify and sort the materials. The robot is stationed by a conveyor belt where the materials are loaded. As the material goes by, the robot picks it up, analyzes it and if the robot identifies the type, places it in the appropriate nearby bin. If material isn't recognized, it keeps traveling on the belt and is deemed trash.
So far, the robot can correctly identify about half of the purchase levitra soft tabs material it goes through, but there is huge potential for improvement as new measuring technology becomes available.
The robot is a breakthrough for both recycling and robotics because before now, most robots have been limited to basic, repetitive tasks, but this new robot is being asked to analyze and recommended site levitra philippines recognize materials and learn as it goes.
via PhysOrg
written by Andreas Beer, April 21, 2011
This is pure money, any demolition contractor with some sort of sense for making profit should do that all the time. You don't need robot for common sense and a few minutes extra work.
written by RwFlynn, April 22, 2011
written by Carl, April 22, 2011
written by Richard Environment, April 24, 2011
written by Asaf Shalgi, May 14, 2011
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With FuturePath, you'll get a personalized Confidence Number—a measurement that helps you determine whether you are on track for retirement.
Just log in to your account to use FuturePath. If you don't have a login established, simply create a user name and password in a few steps.
FuturePath Assumptions
Your withdrawal amount from investments is displayed in today's dollars for the current year and is assumed to increase by 3% each year throughout the retirement horizon. These amounts do not take any taxes into account that may be due upon withdrawal.
Social Security and Pension Benefits
Any Social Security estimates are based on your current annual salary, current age, and stated age at retirement. The estimates are based on current law; the laws governing Social Security benefits and amounts are subject to change. The accuracy of the estimate depends on the pattern of your actual past and future earnings. The estimate may not be representative of your situation. Visit socialsecurity.gov for more information.
FuturePath estimates each person's Social Security benefits independently. When one spouse or planning partner predeceases another, FuturePath® assumes the surviving spouse/partner is eligible to receive the higher of the two estimated Social Security benefit amounts through the end of the couple's retirement horizon. If your planning partner is not your legal spouse, Federal law may preclude you from receiving Social Security benefits associated with the deceased partner's work history.
For pension benefits, FuturePath® allows you to assume that a portion of the pension benefit amount will be paid to a surviving spouse/partner. Federal/state laws may preclude a surviving spouse/partner from receiving pension benefits associated with the deceased spouse/partner's work history.
Monte Carlo Simulation
Monte Carlo simulations model future uncertainty. In contrast to tools generating average outcomes, Monte Carlo analyses produce outcome ranges based on probability—thus incorporating future uncertainty.
Material Assumptions Include:
• Underlying long-term rates of return for the asset classes are not directly based on historical returns. Rather, they represent assumptions that take into account, among other things, historical returns. They also include our estimates for reinvested dividends and capital gains.
• These assumptions, as well as an assumed degree of fluctuation of returns around these long-term rates, are used to generate random monthly returns for each asset class over specified time periods.
• The monthly returns are then used to generate 1,000 scenarios, representing a spectrum of possible return outcomes for the modeled asset classes. Analysis results are directly based on these scenarios.
• Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are included. In the simulations, if the RMD is greater than the planned withdrawal, the excess amount is reinvested in a taxable account.
Material Limitations Include:
• The analysis relies on return assumptions, combined with a return model that generates a wide range of possible return scenarios from these assumptions. Despite our best efforts, there is no certainty that the assumptions and the model will accurately predict asset class return ranges going forward. As a consequence, the results of the analysis should be viewed as approximations, and users should allow a margin for error and not place too much reliance on the apparent precision of the results. Users should also keep in mind that seemingly small changes in input parameters (the information the user provides to the tool, such as age or contribution amounts) may have a significant impact on results, and this (as well as mere passage of time) may lead to considerable variation in results for repeat users.
• Extreme market movements may occur more often than in the model.
• Some asset classes have relatively short histories. Actual long-term results for each asset class going forward may differ from our assumptions-with those for classes with limited histories potentially diverging more.
• Market crises can cause asset classes to perform similarly, lowering the accuracy of our projected return assumptions, and diminishing the benefits of diversification (that is, of using many different asset classes) in ways not captured by the analysis. As a result, returns actually experienced by the investor may be more volatile than projected in our analysis.
• The model assumes no month-to-month correlations among asset class returns ("correlation" is a measure of the degree in which returns are related or dependent upon each other). It does not reflect the average duration of "bull" and "bear" markets, which can be longer than those in the modeled scenarios.
• Inflation is assumed to be constant, so variations are not reflected in our calculations.
• The analysis assumes a diversified portfolio which is rebalanced on a monthly basis. Not all asset classes are represented and other asset classes may be similar or superior to those used.
• Taxes on withdrawals are not taken into account, nor are early withdrawal penalties.
• The analysis models asset classes, not investment products. As a result, the actual experience of an investor in a given investment product (e.g., a mutual fund) may differ from the range of projections generated by the simulation, even if the broad asset allocation of the investment product is similar to the one being modeled. Possible reasons for divergence include, but are not limited to, active management by the manager of the investment product, or the costs, fees, and other expenses associated with the investment product. Active management for any particular investment product—the selection of a portfolio of individual securities that differs from the broad asset classes modeled in this analysis—can lead to the investment product having higher or lower returns than the range of projections in this analysis.
Modeling Assumptions:
• The primary asset classes used for this analysis are stocks, bonds, and short-term investments. An effectively diversified portfolio theoretically involves all investable asset classes including stocks, bonds, real estate, foreign investments, commodities, precious metals, currencies, and others. Since it is unlikely that investors will own all of these assets, we selected the ones we believed to be the most appropriate for long-term investors.
• o Results of the analysis are driven primarily by the assumed long-term, compound rates of return of each asset class in the scenarios. Our corresponding assumptions, all presented in excess of inflation, are as follows: for stocks, 4.90%, for bonds, 2.23% and for short-term investments, 1.38%.
• Investment expenses in the form of an expense ratio are subtracted from the return assumption as follows: for stocks 0.70%, for bonds, 0.60% and for short-term investments, 0.55%. These expenses represent what we believe to be a reasonable approximation of investing in these asset classes through a professionally managed mutual fund or other pooled investment product.
Asset Allocation and Withdrawals from Investments:
• The asset allocation for the investments you've included in FuturePath® has either been selected by you, or for aggregated assets, is provided using the Morningstar classification of individual securities and holdings within mutual funds to categorize them as stocks, bonds, or short term investments. Any percentage of holdings classified by Morningstar as "other" has been assigned to stocks.
• Your target asset allocation presents a suggested allocation based on your age, or the age of your spouse/partner if they are older. This target reflects a suggested allocation of investments that has the potential to help your portfolio keep pace with inflation while reducing market volatility. There is no assurance that the recommended asset allocation will either maximize returns or minimize risk or be the appropriate allocation in all circumstances for every investor with a particular time horizon.
• Your withdrawal amount from investments is displayed in today's dollars for the current year and is assumed to increase by 3% each year throughout the retirement horizon. These amounts do not take any taxes into account that may be due upon withdrawal.
• The modeled asset class scenarios described above and your projected withdrawals from investments may be calculated at, or result in, a Simulation Success Rate. Simulation Success Rate is a probability measure and represents the number of times our outcomes succeed (i.e. has at least $1 remaining in the portfolio at the end of retirement). This Simulation Success Rate is the primary component of the Confidence Number.
IMPORTANT: The projections or other information generated by FuturePath® regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results. The simulations are based on assumptions. There can be no assurance that the projected or simulated results will be achieved or sustained. The charts present only a range of possible outcomes. Actual results will vary with each use and over time, and such results may be better or worse than the simulated scenarios. Clients should be aware that the potential for loss (or gain) may be greater than demonstrated in the simulations.
The results are not predictions, but they should be viewed as reasonable estimates. Source: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. The trademark 'FuturePath' is a U.S. registered service mark of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.


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Hatch, Lee oppose Hagel's confirmation
By Matt Canham
The Salt Lake TribuneFirst published Feb 26 2013 04:00PM
Washington • The Senate confirmed Chuck Hagel to lead the Defense Department over the objection of most Republicans including Utah's two senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee.
Hatch did support a move earlier Tuesday to allow Hagel's nomination to come to a final up-or-down vote because he generally dislikes using procedural hurdles to block nominees. He voted "present" on a similar unsuccessful vote a week ago.
Still, Hatch said he couldn't support Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska, who was confirmed on a vote of 58 to 41.
"I don't think he handled himself well. He was on the Intelligence Committee with me and that's all I'm going to say about it. There were some things that really bothered me there," Hatch said just moments after the vote.
Lee had previously asked President Barack Obama to withdraw Hagel's nomination, arguing that his performance at his confirmation hearing was lackluster and his past positions on Iran were "disconcerting."
Only four Republicans supported Hagel nomination.


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The DC Chapter's RAPtober Distributed, Virtual Cleanup
DC chapter members, here's the deal: we're not planning a location-specific cleanup this month, but we still want to take part in Surfrider's RAPtober month of rising above plastics, so we've decided to hold a distributed, virtual cleanup! Here's how we'd like you to help out:
(1) While you're out on the water, at the beach, or running errands today, pick up at least two pieces of plastic litter to throw away, but don't throw it out yet!
(2) Take a quick pic of the trash with your mobile device.
(3) Post the photo to either Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #raptober and mention @surfriderdc.
(4) Ok, now throw it out (or recycle, if possible).
At the end of the month, we'll collect all those images uploaded and create a digital collage of the trash collected. If you don't have an Instagram or Twitter account and don't want to set one up, just email your picture to firstname.lastname@example.com and we'll make sure it gets into the right hands.
Here's an example of a chapter member posting their findings to Instagram, with the comment: "I went kayaking on the Anacostia today and picked up all of this just floating by me. Perfect timing for #raptober @surfriderdc"
Have fun with this! It's virtual…and distributed…and helps clean up your local waters/community!
RAPtober Cleanup
Hey Surfrider DC! This month Surfrider celebrates RAPtober, a month-long campaign to raise awareness for its Rise Above Plastics program. We wanted to hold a cleanup for RAPtober, but this is difficult to organize given people's schedules. So, we decided to hold a distributed cleanup! Everyone gets to hold their own mini one-person cleanup whenever and wherever is most convenient! It's simple! Here's what you do:
(1) See plastic trash outdoors (It's everywhere, but keep a look out on your way to work, outside your house, at the park, or whenever you see some trash.)
(2) Before October ends, pick up at least two (2) pieces of plastic trash and take a picture of you holding the items (use a napkin if it's gross, but don't pick up dangerous stuff):
(3) Throw the trash out! (or recycle, if appropriate)
(4) Post the picture you took to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and mention Surfrider DC:
* On Twitter: @surfriderdc
* On Facebook: @dcsurfrider
* On Instagram: @surfriderdc
Tag the picture with: #RAPtober
Need some help? Here's an example tweet:
We picked up two items of trash today for #RAPtober: twitter.com/SurfriderDC/st…
— Surfrider DC Chapter (@SurfriderDC) October 23, 2012
(5) That's it!
We only have 9 days of October left, so have at it! After October, we'll collect all these images and put them together into an (hopefully) awesome collage! Take and post one picture, or post tons! We'll collect everything. Have questions? Email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Analysis of Sula's Image as a New World Black Woman ---- Preserver and Destroyer
Sula, the heroine in the second novel by Toni Morrison, has attracts the attention of many critics and readers. There are many discussions and reviews on Sula, especially on Sula's image from every perspective. Based on the previous reviews, this paper mainly analyzes Sula's image as a new world black woman ---- a preserver and destroyer from a feminist perspective, which is of great help for readers to have a better understanding of Sula.
Key words: Sula; Image; Preserver; Destroyer
Full Text:PDF indexed/included/archived
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968%2Fj.sll.1923156320110303.1250
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The BattleSaint™ project was hatched by a military Mom at a recent family reunion. She hosted 7 of her immediate relatives who were enlisted in the military. Many of them had been deployed multiple times. The night was full of stories of war and close calls. She realized how great it would be to create a unique bracelet to honor their service and provide a sense of protection from the dangers of the battlefield. With this inspiration, she designed handmade, wooden bracelets with pictures of Saints relevant to the military.
As this project continued, we learned more about the harsh conditions on the ground in Afghanistan. Soldiers rarely complain. Instead, they adapt and overcome. Once their boots hit the ground and they get their bearings, they see everyone wearing these multi-colored, all-cotton scarves. They are sold on the streets and villages all over the country. For many soldiers, they provide a practical way to help overcome the bad weather and stinging sand storms. Soldiers tell stories of using them to tie off a wound, to cover their face during sand storms and they even become make shift pillows when all you have is the ground to sleep on.
When our son and nephew returned from their last deployment they encouraged us to adopt these combat scarves and use them to help raise money for our returning troops. We took their advice and have nicknamed them the "Battle Saint™ Scarves in Combat Colors".
Buy the BattleSaint™ bracelets and scarves in honor of those who did not return and for all those who are returning and still need our help. A donation from each bracelet and scarf will be made to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund to help wounded warriors when they return with physical rehabilitation, TBI and post-traumatic stress.
The Battle Saint™ project has been embraced by soldiers, their families, friends and even the national media. Television and radio stations across the country have featured this endeavor. The Zac Brown Band joined the cause along with the Hillbilly Vegas Band and the actors from the HBO Series "The Band of Brothers". Today, over 100,000 supporters are wearing the BattleSaint™ bracelet and we hope to soon see many wearing the BattleSaint™ Scarves in Combat Colors. Wear the bracelet and scarf to show your support and to give back to the troops in harms way. Go to www.battlesaint.com to join the cause!
Buy Custom Items and Bracelets/Scarves
Support our men and women in the armed forces and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
Become a fan of the Zac Brown Band
Become a Fan of Hillbilly Vegas Band
Follow us on Facebook
© 2012 battlesaint.com. All rights reserved. Website Design by HighLevelStudios


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Holiday Shoe Folded Notes
- A fashionable shoe in a hot animal print is all you need to correspond in style.
From your closet to your stationery wardrobe these animal print holiday shoes spice up your correspondence. Send chic and stylish holiday greetings and good tidings to all your friends and family with this hot design.
� Bonnie Marcus & Company, LLC
- Folded notes are 4.13 x 5.5" (4-1/8" x 5-1/2")
- Notes are sold in sets of 10
- All orders assembled with envelopes


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Nike SB Dunk High "What The Dunk" – First Look
The classic Nike "What the Dunk" colorway inspired a few current Nike models from the LeBron, Kobe, and even the KD lineup. It's looks like the What the Dunk will finally make it back to the Dunk model; but it'll now use the high version. This Nike SB Dunk High took inspiration from various SB Dunk High colorways. It's not confirmed whether or not these will ever release, so be sure to stay tuned to TSG for the latest updates.
What do you think about this Dunk? Is it a must cop or just a hype magnet? Let us know what you think in the comment section below. via N-SB
Follow @TheShoeGame on Twitter & Instagram
About the Author (Author Profile)Senior Editor for TheShoeGame.com Twitter: @FootSole_ja & Instagram: @alexthagr8_tsg
Comments (12)
More like "Whack the dunk"
what the…HELL HAPPENED HERE?!
Smh, back to the drawing board
You know if these released people would go nuts for them. The point of the shoe is that it's supposed to be fucking ugly.
Weird coincidence. I just got my hands on a pair of those Wet Floors.
I mean, they look ight. And plus thats only one shoe out of the pair. The other shoe may look even better and make the look really nice as a pair. Just gotta wait til more detailed pics drop
What the…????
I guess Nike is trying everything to bring back the Nike SB line but this is just sad
Why the random pic of the wet floors?
Dear Nike SB, PLEASE STOP!
Not feeling em as much as the lows so far
if the whole comcept is to make these shoes as ugly as possible then i say success…well idk they could be uglier.
all the "what the _____" shoes are ugly as hell


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Vollrath 40770 Wire Whisk for 40758 30 Qt. Commercial Floor Mixer
Companion Items
Mix eggs, sauces, batters, and more with the Vollrath 40770 wire whisk! This wire whisk is designed to connect to your 40758 30 qt. floor mixer so you can begin to craft your most popular foods quickly without sacrificing quality. Keeping an extra wire whisk on hand also lets you mix different ingredient batches together while another is being cleaned, allowing you to power through the day without stopping.
Because this item is not stocked in our warehouse, processing and transit times will vary. If you need your items by a certain date,
please note this in the comment section while checking out! Please feel free to log on to our Live Chat should you have any questions
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Maria Makes Strong Start
Published September 01, 2009 11:59
NEW YORK, NY, USA - Dinara Safina very nearly became the first top seed in the Open Era to bow out of the US Open in the first round, rallying from a hefty third set deficit to beat a teen-aged wildcard on a hot, sunny Tuesday afternoon.
Safina, who is spending her 20th and 21st weeks as the No.1 player in the world during the US Open fortnight, had her hands full against Olivia Rogowska, an 18-year-old ranked No.167. After dropping the first set in a tie-break she got back on track by taking the second set, but the third set was full of drama as Rogowska built a 3-0 lead and was a point away from 4-0. Safina's game was out of sorts but she willed her way to win in a scrapper, 67(5) 62 64.
"I made it into the second round. That's a positive thing," Safina said. "There are moments like this when you have to dig in there, swallow everything and just fight. It was a bad day and then good points - hopefully it gets better."
"It was crazy. It was lots of fun. Every time I won a point, the crowd was really loud. I had chills down my spine," said Rogowska, who was playing her third Grand Slam main draw. "I'm disappointed I was in a winning position and let it go, but it's a great learning experience, the confidence I can match it up to the No.1 player in the world. Hopefully I won't let it slip next time."
Only three times in the Open Era has the top seed lost before the quarterfinals of the US Open, but the earliest loss of those came in the second round.
The other Top 10 seeds all advanced through in straight sets, namely No.4 seed Elena Dementieva, No.5 seed Jelena Jankovic, No.6 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and No.9 seed Caroline Wozniacki. Other seeded players winning through were Nadia Petrova, Patty Schnyder, Zheng Jie, Sabine Lisicki, Sorana Cirstea, Alona Bondarenko and Maria Sharapova, who beat Tsvetana Pironkova in the feature night match comprehensively, 63 60.
"I played a tricky opponent who doesn't give you much of a rhythm," said the No.29-seeded Sharapova. "I had to stay on top of her and do the right things from the start. I had a slow start but once I got going, I was able to maintain that."
No.16 seed Virginie Razzano, No.27 seed Alisa Kleybanova and No.32 seed Agnes Szavay were all ousted in the day session, by Yanina Wickmayer, Petra Kvitova and Shahar Peer, respectively. The fourth and final upset of the day came at night, as Kateryna Bondarenko beat No.11 seed Ana Ivanovic, 26 63 76(7). Ivanovic had a match point leading 6-5 in the third set tie-break but Bondarenko hit a forcing shot that drew an error from the former No.1.
"I created a lot of chances for myself and I'm really disappointed I made a few mistakes in the important moments," said Ivanovic, who netted a forehand - her favorite shot - on the last point of the match. "My forehand let me down on a few occasions. Obviously it hurts."
Check out Tennis Warehouse for the equipment and apparel the stars of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour use, at the best prices and delivered to your door!


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"I just really love his dresses," she explained of her initiation choice. "I'm flying home tonight."
The player is off to Beijing after that for another tournament. Certainly center court holds a lot more pressure than a front row seat.
"Here I just get to watch everything happen," said Hingis. "And who knows, maybe I'll get a dress."


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Join tech journalist Erica Swallow for an overview of how to interact with journalists and ultimately gain press for your startup.
You'll learn the basics of PR for startups, including how to engage and build relationships with the media, how to craft an amazing pitch, what "exclusive" and "embargo" mean, which assets are useful for journalists, what not to do, and a boatload more.
This class will also include a number of case studies from recent pitches that Erica has received from fledgling startups. She will show you a behind-the-scenes look at how she was pitched and how each pitch panned out.
After taking this course, students should understand the basics of engaging the press and be on their way to coverage!
Contently HQ
598 Broadway, 4th Floor
New York, NY
The class is formatted as a lecture, complete with a presentation and spiced up with audience questions and interaction.
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm ESTAdd to Cal
Erica Swallow is a technology journalist and director of community at tech startup Contently. Previously of social media juggernaut Mashable, Erica was pitched by thousands of startups and developed a taste for what works.
Currently a contributor to Forbes, Mashable, and Entrepreneur, Erica continues to watch the startup PR scene, right from her inbox.
Previously, Erica managed supported content with Mashable and helped develop and implement the social media marketing strategy for The New York Times.
Erica is an international speaker, having most recently spoken at SXSW in Austin, WOMMA Summit in Las Vegas, Social Marketers Summit in Prague and Social Media Brasil in São Paulo.


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Weights & Dimensions
|Product Type: Pub table set
|Table Base Material Details: Beechwood
|Table Top Material Details: Beechwood
|Number of Stools: 2
|Assembly Required: Yes
|Tools Needed for Assembly: Tools are included
|Tools Needed for Installation: All tools are included
|Product Warranty: Replacement parts within 60 days from date of purchase
|Table Base Type: Legs
|Stool Finish: Antique Walnut
|Installation Required: Yes
|Table Shape: Square
|Stool Material: Wood
|CARB Compliant: Yes
|Additional Parts Required: No
|Style: Modern
|Swivel Stool: No
|ANSI BIFMA Compliant: Yes
|Table Finish: Antique Walnut
|Arms Included: No
|Back Included: No
|Distressed Finish Table: No
|Upholstery Material: Fabric
|CPSIA or CPSC Compliant: Yes
|Upholstery Fill Material: Foam
|Stool Weight Capacity: 200 Pounds
|Table Base Material: Wood
|Upholstery Finish: Black
|FSC Certified: Yes
|Table Top Material: Wood
|ISTA 3A Certified: Yes
|Number of Items Included: 3
|Pieces Included: Table and 2 stools
|Stools Included: Yes
|Table Casters Included: No
|Shelves Included: No
|Drawers Included: No
|Cabinets Included: No
|Custom Made: No
|Drop Leaf: No
|Extension Included: No
|Foldable Table: No
|Table Foot Rest Included: No
|Wrought Iron: No
|Adjustable Table Height: No
|Commercial Use: No
|Eco-Friendly: No
|Product Care: Wipe clean with a cloth
|Country of Manufacture: Malaysia
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super sturdy and great for the price
Lisa from Hayward, CA– Verified Buyer
such great quality and exactly as pictured. love it! loved the leather seats...such good quality
Love it!
Karen from New York, NY– Verified Buyer
Perfect for what we needed.
OUR SKU # WN1671This item is also sometimes listed under the following manufacturer numbers: 94399


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These shirts run small, I ordered medium and could have ordered large. Tight in the neck and very short to tuck in, ok through he shoulders and short sleeves. Nice material but I hope they do not shrink.
2 - Pk. of Mil - Tec® Swiss Camo T - shirts, Woodland
Item # WX2-283172
- Google+
- Details & Specs
2 - Pk . Of Mil - Tec® Swiss Camo T - shirts.
Cool concealment! Here's a seldom-seen duo you'll be glad to have for hunting and casual wear. Perfect short-sleever for hot weather. Or wear it underneath another top for a warm layering effect.
- Cool, breathable, 100% cotton
- Rib-knit ring collar. Machine wash / dry. Imported.
State Size, as available in the Shopping Cart. Order yours ONLINE now!
!!! Limited Quantities !!!
- Reviews
Customer Reviews
These were a better deal that I expected. I ordered large & they fit me perfectly. My wife came home & asked where were hers. I had to order another package for her.
nicely made, good [comfortable] material.
Nice t-shirt at a good pricce.
Bought these for my teens. Glad I ordered Mediums. As usual European sizing is smaller so always order a size larger than normal. Otherwise they are nice shirts.
Don't Forget
Military-style International Camo Ball CapBuyer's Club $11.69 Non-Members $12.99
2-Pk. of Mil-Tec® Combat Caps, Arid WoodlandBuyer's Club $13.49 Non-Members $14.99
3 Police caps, Bomb Squad / CIA / DEABuyer's Club $17.99 Non-Members $19.99
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2 New Military - style Short - sleeved T - shirtsBuyer's Club $17.99 Non-Members $19.99
6 New U.S. Military Surplus Pocket T-shirts, Olive DrabBuyer's Club $22.49 Non-Members $24.99


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New Arrivals
mouse over photo to zoom click for larger image
Stripe Dolman Top
Strappy scoopneck back with chiffon piping brings this 3/4 dolman sleeve top into spring's repertoire. An easy fit with diagonal stripes, silvertone hardware and logo bar at bottom left.
- Relaxed stretch fit.
- 70% rayon, 30% lyocell. Machine wash. Imported.
- Hits at mid-hip. Length: 26" from shoulder.


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Local Buzz Happenings
by Hunter Briley l Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Hello all Local Buzz listeners! Be sure to tune in this Sunday night for the Local Buzz with your new host, me - Hunter Briley!
Ill be spinning all of the local favorites plus a few new tunes for everyone to chomp on. Feel free to hit me up on the request line at 615-737-1029 or "Like" our Facebook page and keep up with everything going on in our local music scene.
Ill also be bringing you news, concert info, and much much more! Hope to hear from you all.
If you are in a band or know someone who is and you think they should be on the Local Buzz feel free to email me and ill let you know how we can get that started!
Catch everyone Sunday on 102.9 The Local Buzz


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Montreal Burlesque Festival 6
Welcome to the festival's 6th anniversary celebration!
Scarlett James & Montreal Burlesque Productions invite you to 3 nights, 3 exceptional events of Burlesque & Cabaret!
Dress up, Glamour up, sharp up as YOU are part of the show!
Thursday 16th :
5:30 pm to 7 pm: VIP & Press Conference, Meet the artists!
Doors: 7pm show: 8pm
Friday 17th :
Doors: 7pm show: 8pm
Saturday 18th:
Doors: 7pm show: 8pm
Club Soda, 1225 Boulevard St. Laurent, Tel: 1(514)286-1010, www.clubsoda.ca


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Our beloved grandfather, Poppy Sol, started this business in an open-air market. Three generations later, we're still bringing smiles to our customers' faces.
— Jane, St. Louis, MO July 7, 2014
"I was very pleased to get these fig bars. They were perfect..whole wheat, not sugary and wonderful fig flavor. I will be ordering these a lot! Best wholesome version of a fig bar ever!"


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RSS feed for comments on this post.
The URL to TrackBack this entry is: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/12/fijis-back-in-business-sale/trackback/
Fiji is a very anti-Gay place. I love diving, and traveling the world, but that's one place I would avoid. Go to Tahiti and it's beautiful islands instead!
Comment by Steve Leong — December 22, 2012 @ 7:44 am
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26: Fourier
Title text: That cat has some serious periodic components
[edit] Explanation
A Fourier transform is a mathematical function often used in physics and engineering.
The theory is that any line graph can be represented as the sum of a bunch of sine waves of different frequencies, with each frequency having a different amplitude. (The most obvious application is in analysing a sound recording in terms of the different frequencies of sounds used.) So, for any line graph you can produce another graph of the frequencies and their amplitudes. To do this, there is a function where you put in one graph and you get the second graph as output, and this process of going from one to the other is a "transform". This function is actually shown in the third line of the comic 55: Useless.
Unfortunately Cueball has applied this "transform" to his cat. Although it seems to still be alive and possibly even unharmed, it is clearly not in its familiar shape, and it is not clear if this condition is permanent or not.
"Periodic components" in the title text refers to the spikes in the graph. Because sine waves repeat themselves as you go along, the presence of large amounts of one particular sine wave in the Fourier transform graph (each spike) shows that the overall result (the initial graph) is likely to have parts that also repeat themselves, like a periodic function. In other words, the cat has repeating parts.
[edit] Transcript
- [Cueball talks on phone. A grotesque-looking cat with many sharp vertical points looks on.]
- Cueball: Hi, Dr. Elizabeth? Yeah, uh ... I accidentally took the Fourier transform of my cat...
- Cat: Meow!
[edit] Trivia
- Original comments from Randall: "I like the idea of a graph meowing. Also, that cat has a lot of periodic components."
- This is the twenty-seventh comic originally posted to livejournal. The previous was 25: Barrel - Part 4. The next was 27: Meat Cereals.


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American Tax Relief's ads on TV, radio and the Internet said it could settle customers' tax debt for a fraction of what they owed.
This post comes from James Limbach at partner site ConsumerAffairs.com.
A federal judge has halted a national operation accused of bilking consumers out of more than $60 million by falsely claiming it can reduce tax debts.
The California state business license of American Tax Relief was suspended last year for nonpayment of its own taxes, according to the Federal Trade Commission, which is seeking to make the defendants pay restitution to victims.
"We've made it a top priority to go after scammers who try to exploit the financial hardship of others," said David C. Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Citing obesity epidemic, New York wants to add sugary drinks to the list of items you can't buy with food stamps. Is that fair to the poor?
New York has a modest proposal: Don't let people use food stamps to buy soda.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Jay Patterson have asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the food stamp program, to authorize a two-year demonstration project in New York City in an effort to combat obesity.
The ban would apply to any beverage that contains more than 10 calories per 8-ounce serving (soda has 150), except for milk and fruit juices without added sugar.
Being of the mind that no one should drink soda except as an occasional treat, we think this sounds like a great idea.
Economic woes keep many folks out of the housing market, and those who want a loan will must surmount bureaucratic obstacles.
Mortgage rates have again hit historic lows, with the average rate for a fixed-year mortgage at 4.27% this week, down from 4.32% last week.
That rate is the lowest since Freddie Mac began keeping statistics in 1971 and the lowest rate seen since 1950, according to National Bureau of Economic Research statistics from a time when loan rules were different.
Are we starting to sound like a broken record here? Maybe you should get out your 78 rpms, because you probably were still playing them the last time rates were this low. At least the value of vinyl is rising.
This year's previous low for mortgage rates was last week's 4.32%, also seen the week of Sept. 2, according to Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The average rate for a 15-year loan was 3.72%, down from 3.75% last week. That also is the lowest rate recorded since record-keeping began in 1991.
There are ways to try out the service before you buy, but it's a labor-intensive process.
This Deal of the Day comes from Kelli B. Grant at partner site SmartMoney.
Kevin Van Dyk is perfectly willing to talk about why he is counting the days until he can ditch his cell phone service provider, AT&T, in March 2011. But you might not be able to get a hold of him.
"My phone only works half the time in my house," says Van Dyk, a Spring Hill, Fla., resident. He isn't sure if any of the other providers can do better -- spotty service is a problem in and around the small town, too. But with rampant billing errors and poor service from AT&T, he says, they can't do much worse.
A new product is making a splash. It's cheaper up front but monthly costs are higher.
This post comes from Marilyn Lewis of MSN Money.
A new, lower-cost reverse mortgage unveiled this week could make a difference for some older people who're thinking of drawing equity from their homes. Lenders now are selling "the Saver," insured by the Federal Housing Administration, and it's getting a lot of attention.
But that's not to say buying a reverse mortgage has become cheap, or an easy call. Or that even this new product is right for everyone. These still are expensive loans.
As weath increases, so do your expectations, and lots of income doesn't feel like quite enough.
Have you heard of Todd Henderson, the law school professor who blogged that if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire for America's highest earners, he's going to have to make some budget cuts -- like firing the housekeeper or the yard guy?
The mortgage on his large Chicago home, the kids' private school tuition, his physician wife's student loan bills -- plus the regular household expenses -- consume most of the family's $250,000-plus annual income, he wrote.
Henderson titled the controversial post at his blog "We are the super rich" -- his sarcastic attempt to point out that he's not. Still, it's rarefied air. Only 2.47 million U.S. households had income of $250,000 or more in 2008, according to the U.S. Census.
Why do Henderson and others in his shoes feel so strapped?
Parents are still saving, but some are struggling and some are using retirement accounts, not the best choice.
The good news is that families are saving more for college.
The bad news is that they may not be keeping those savings in the most appropriate types of accounts, according to a new Gallup survey commissioned by Sallie Mae, which provides student loans and college savings plans.
Almost one-fourth of all college savings is in retirement accounts, including 401ks and IRAs.
A Consumer Reports survey finds that credit card customers are still dissatisfied despite the Credit CARD Act.
This post comes from partner site ConsumerAffairs.com.
With the provisions of the Credit CARD Act of 2009 now in full effect, a national survey shows a slightly lower level of dissatisfaction among consumers with their credit cards than last year.
However, Consumer Reports says credit cards remain one of the lowest-rated services it has ever analyzed, with only 45% of respondents saying they are completely or very satisfied with their cards.
Still in the red
The survey, conducted in July by the magazine's National Research Center, also shows that consumers are carrying less credit card debt, with median balances of $3,793 -- $1,100 lower than in 2009.
Copyright © 2014 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Morningstar Inc. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Morningstar Inc. Quotes delayed by up to 15 minutes, except where indicated otherwise. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by Morningstar Inc.
The Fed's latest statement confirms that it won't be coming to the rescue of depositors soon, but these institutions are worth following anyway.
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