text:
Take a walk today on the bottom of a former lake: Treasures seen in tour of lands once inundated by Elwha Dam
Participants in a Sunday ranger-guided hike of the former Lake Aldwell bed examine giant stumps left behind after the lakebed was logged around 1911, in preparation for inundation by Elwha Dam. The guided hikes resume today. Photo by Arwyn Rice/Peninsula Daily News
Arwyn Rice/Peninsula Daily News
Olympic National Park Ranger Denison Rauw, a guide for a hike of the former Lake Aldwell lake bed, shows hikers boat wreckage that was found at the bottom of Lake Aldwell when it was drained. The boat has been broken and vandalized, and a forest of poplar trees has grown around it since it was initially found in 2011.
By Arwyn Rice
Peninsula Daily News
Print This | Email This
Most Popular this week
Want more top stories? Sign up here for daily or weekly newsletters with our top news.
More than 100 hikers took part Sunday in two morning and afternoon hikes guided by Olympic National Park rangers to explore the geology, archaeology and the newly sprouted flora in areas once 40 feet under the surface of Lake Aldwell.
The program offers two more free, 2-hour walks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today at the former boat ramp at the end of Lake Aldwell Road, just off U.S. Highway 101.
"People are coming here just for the walk. They come from Seattle and British Columbia, and beyond," Park Ranger Denison Rauw said Sunday.
Participants Sunday walked among 12-foot poplar saplings, remnants of the valley's history as a recreational lake and massive tree stumps hidden from view for more than a century.
[To see real-time views of the former Elwha River dam sites and the bottoms of former lakes Aldwell and Mills, click on the Elwha Dam webcam link above "Top of the News" on the homepage.]
Additional hikes will be held at the same times Sunday, Aug. 31 and Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Visitors should wear sturdy walking shoes or boots, bring water and be prepared for windy conditions and no shade.
Participants are free to continue exploring the lakebed area after the tours.
In 2011, the lake was drained as the Elwha Dam was removed as part of the $325 million Elwha River restoration project.
The work includes the removal of the Glines Canyon Dam, which is expected to be completed soon upriver.
So many people arrived at the hike's starting point Sunday that organizers divided them into two groups, each led by a park ranger on slightly different routes through the newly sprouted forests.
Rauw, one of the two guides Sunday, led a group of about 65 people of all ages into the lake bed.
The path was challenging in that the a mix of sand, gravel and cobbles was soft and shifted underfoot as hikers climbed from washes up to ledges cut by the river's path through a century of built-up sediment.
Bare rocks baked the air above in areas where plant life was just starting to take hold, while the growing glades of saplings cooled other parts of the river bottom.
"Here we would be 40 feet under the surface of the water," Rauw said at one point in the hike while standing amid both living and dead Douglas fir sprouts recently planted by the park service.
At one point, a bald eagle flew overhead, and Rauw pointed out a nearby eagle nest in a snag on the hillside overlooking the river and a young glade of willow trees.
"There is so much to this place. It is incredible," said hiker Mike Hamilton, of Abbotsford, B.C., who said he has been staying in Port Townsend and had wanted to visit the Elwha River for some time.
Rauw also led the hikers through a maze of 12-foot tall poplar trees to the remnants of a row boat reported lost in the lake in 1972.
The remains of the boat have been vandalized since it was found, and other artifacts from the construction of the lake and its 100 years of use as a reservoir have been removed by people exploring the lake bed.
A 100-year-old wagon wheel taken from the area was later recovered by the park, she said.
The land is currently managed by Olympic National Park but is not part of the national park, Rauw said.
It has not yet been determined who will own the land when the restoration project is over, she said.
Agencies that have expressed interest in the land include the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe and the state Department Fish and Wildlife, she said.
During the years of dam operations, the land was privately owned by a succession of energy companies and mill owners.
The lake bed, about 8 miles west of Port Angeles, is open year-round and has become a favorite hiking area for many area residents.
Trails through the lake bed can be accessed from the former boat ramp or from the dam site parking lot at Lower Dam Road, just off state Highway 112 at the north end of the lake.
Dogs on leashes are permitted. No park admission pass is needed.
For more information about the walks, phone the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles at 360-565-3130.
To learn more about the Elwha River restoration, the world's largest dam-removal project, visit the Olympic National Park website at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-Elwha.
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at email@example.com.
Last modified: August 25. 2014 6:22PM


text:
San Diego Chargers 2011 News and Rumors
By RC3, INC.
Open iTunes to buy and download apps.
Updates for 2011 are on their way. Get the app today and the updates will follow soon for free. Your complete source for information on the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL).
First of many releases that will include streamlined usability and enhanced functionality.
In this initial release we wanted to start with a quick news list that gives access to the latest news on the San Diego Chargers and a quick and easy interface.
** (Note: you can optimize the story or section you are reading by double tapping on that section)
Quick News (online with viewer)
Offline Schedule (link to updated online schedule)
Roster (online with most recent updates)
Forums (online to discuss your team)
Updates in 3.0:
- Landscape viewing
- Faster reloading of online pages
- Visible loading status
- Mobile offline schedule
- Info button for future use
- Improved offline schedule format
** DISCLAIMER: The use of any team names, words, trademarks, logos, or photos have been used for Descriptive Purposes only and not to show endorsement or permission to use. We are not affiliated with, nor do we have any licenses or strategic alliances with any sporting team or sporting association. All and any copyrights, trademarks, trade names used within this application are for descriptive or news purposes only.
What's New in Version 4.11.1
- 2011 Updated Schedule and News
- 1,99 €
- Category: Sports
- Updated: 02 August 2011
- Version: 4.11.1
- Size: 0.1 MB
- Language: English
- Developer: RC3, INC.
- © 2011 Sports Media Interactive
Compatibility: Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Eyes on Trade tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-598812 2016-07-12T21:21:45Z Public Citizen's blog on globalization and trade TypePad eyesontradehttps://feedburner.google.com Public Health Takes a Hit Even as Uruguay Prevails in Infamous Philip Morris Investor-State Attack tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201b7c87aacae970b 2016-07-12T17:21:45-04:00 2016-07-12T21:21:45Z Thankfully, a years-long campaign to shame Philip Morris and the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system for the tobacco giant's infamous ISDS attack on Uruguay ultimately prevailed, but not without leaving deep and damaging scars to global tobacco-control efforts. An ISDS... Mstlouis

Thankfully, a years-long campaign to shame Philip Morris and the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system for the tobacco giant's infamous ISDS attack on Uruguay ultimately prevailed, but not without leaving deep and damaging scars to global tobacco-control efforts. An ISDS tribunal ruled that Uruguay did not have to compensate Philip Morris after the firm attacked Uruguay's public health law requiring that 80 percent of tobacco product packages feature graphic medical warning labels.

But what happens when a government "wins" an ISDS attack should be a cautionary tale for the threats posed by the Trans-Pacific Partnerships (TPP). If enacted, the TPP would double U.S. ISDS liability overnight.

Uruguay only managed to dodge this bullet because billionaire Michael Bloomberg stepped in to cover its millions of dollars in costly legal defense during six years of litigation. When Philip Morris initiated the ISDS case in 2010, the Uruguayan government reportedly was prepared to immediately cave and change their anti-tobacco law, since defending the case was financially impossible for the tiny country.

Late last year, another ISDS tribunal ruled that it did not have jurisdiction in the Philip Morris case against Australia for similar tobacco-control policies, but Australians saw more than $50 million of their tax dollars go to legal costs to defend against the attack, according to World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan. This includes having to pay the three corporate lawyers who served as "judges" during the four-year ordeal. They bill at least $375 per hour and, in a manner that would be unethical for real judges, often rotate between suing governments for corporations and "judging" cases.

And, just by launching these cases, Philip Morris managed to chill other nations from enacting similar legislation for years to avoid being the next target. One example: New Zealand held off on its own plain packaging proposal to see what happened with Australia. Canada's efforts to enact plain-packaging legislation died after R.J. Reynolds sent a memorandum to the House of Commons arguing the policy would constitute an illegal expropriation under the North American Free Trade Agreement's ISDS regime, exposing Canada to millions in liability.

With six million people dying from tobacco-related deaths each year globally, it is not hyperbole to say that the years of litigation of these ISDS cases contributed to needless loss of life.

The Obama administration touts that the TPP will exclude tobacco companies from using ISDS to challenge public health policies. But as Senator Elizabeth Warren put it, the ISDS tobacco exclusion is "pretty much an admission that ISDS can be used to weaken other public health laws."

And, the favorable ruling in the Uruguay case unfortunately does not assure governments of their policy space. Among the fatal flaws baked into the very structure of the ISDS system is how capricious and subjective ISDS tribunals are. When a particularly egregious case gets massive negative attention and becomes highly politicized, it is in the interest of the tribunal to "make it go away" in order to preserve the ISDS system as a whole.

When Canadian companies Methanex and Glamis Gold launched some of the few ISDS cases against the United States — against California regulations of toxic substances and mining respectively — the public outrage by members of Congress and others likely affected the outcomes, and the United States dodged the ISDS bullet. Other, less high-profile cases with very similar fact patterns and based on the same claims ended with the taxpayers of other countries having to pay multi-million dollar awards to corporations.

For now, we breathe a sigh of relief that these cases against Uruguay and Australia did not result in millions in taxpayer compensation to the tobacco giant and congratulate all the public health advocates that helped to spotlight the travesty of Philip Morris' ISDS attack against the countries.

But, at the same time, we must redouble our efforts to stop the TPP, which would dramatically expand this dangerous and capricious ISDS regime.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/07/public-health-takes-a-hit-even-as-uruguay-prevails-in-infamous-philip-morris-investor-state-attack.html New ITC Report Finds Disturbing Trends in U.S. Economy After Implementation of Free Trade Agreements tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201b8d201b534970c 2016-07-05T16:19:07-04:00 2016-07-05T20:19:07Z On June 29, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) released a study on the economic impacts of trade agreements on the United States economy. This study was among those required by the 2015 Fast Track legislation. The report: Estimates that... Evan Ottenfeld

On June 29, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) released a study on the economic impacts of trade agreements on the United States economy. This study was among those required by the 2015 Fast Track legislation. The report:

Estimates that U.S. trade agreements have increased the wage gap in America between higher- and lower-skilled workers (page 122).

Tried to cover up the reality that the United States has a large and growing trade deficit with its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners. The aggregate U.S. trade deficit with FTA partners has increased by about $141 billion, or 418 percent, since the FTAs were implemented while the aggregate trade deficit with all non-FTA countries has decreased by about $46 billion, or 6 percent, since 2005 (the year before the median entry date of existing FTAs). To avoid discussing this reality, the study's representation of FTA trade flows focuses on percentage figures versus nominal figures, which would reveal the deficit. The report notes that U.S. exports to FTA countries represented 47 percent of total U.S. exports while imports from FTA countries only claimed 34 percent of total U.S. imports (page 29). A more honest portrayal of the relationship shows that U.S. exports to FTA partners were less than $593 billion in 2015, yet U.S. imports from FTA partners were more than $767 billion, a 2015 trade deficit of $175 billion.

Estimates all the U.S. bilateral and regional FTAs combined have led to an increase in real GDP and aggregate U.S. employment by less than 1 percent (page 122). In other words, the average U.S. monthly employment growth over the past year (i.e. 200,000 jobs) is larger than the ITC's estimates for the increase in total employment that all U.S. FTAs have delivered since 1985 (i.e. 159,300 jobs) (page 17). But even this tiny estimated increase in employment is an odd conclusion given that the increase in the U.S. trade deficit under U.S. FTAs of $141.3 billion, if plugged into the Obama administration's trade-to-jobs ratio, implies the loss of more than 745,000 U.S. jobs counting both imports and exports.

Fails to discuss or review the 2.9 million jobs certified by Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) as trade job losses since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) – and it is known that TAA numbers significantly undercount trade-related job loss because until recently the program only covered a subset of manufacturing jobs lost to trade and only counts job losses that are voluntarily reported to the agency. Nor does the study explicitly discuss the nearly 5 million manufacturing jobs lost since NAFTA and the FTAs that followed, including many job losses resulting from multinational corporations moving their operations overseas to take advantage of cheap labor and undervalued currencies. Also missing from the report, is any coverage of the loss of nearly 200,000 U.S. small farms in America, which has devastated the traditional family farm in favor of large farm conglomerates. The ITC does admit that trade agreements have led to transitory unemployment and labor relocation – a reality it failed to account for in its study on the TPP's impact on the U.S. economy (page 122).

Finds that certain trade agreements have lowered employment levels in many industries including autos as well as textiles and apparel. The report highlights that the tariff reductions the U.S. undertook as a result of the Uruguay Round and NAFTA led to U.S. steel imports increasing by 14.7 percent, or $1.2 billion in 2000 (page 149). The report also states that NAFTA and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) led to lower U.S. employment and production levels in the auto (page 173) and textile and apparel sectors (page 150).

Finds that all the U.S. FTAs since 1985 have increased real GDP by a minuscule 0.21 percent (page 127).

The ITC has traditionally overstated the benefits that FTAs have had on the U.S. economy by incorporating deceptive and downright false assumptions in its models. The aggregate U.S. trade deficit with FTA partners has increased by $141 billion, or 418 percent, since the FTAs were implemented. In contrast, the aggregate trade deficit with all non-FTA countries has decreased by about $46 billion, or 6 percent, since 2005 (the year before the median entry date of existing FTAs). Using the Obama administration's trade-to-jobs ratio, counting both exports and imports, the FTA trade deficit surge implies the loss of over 745,000 U.S. jobs.

While the ITC report implies that more recent FTAs include higher standards on labor and environmental provisions and thus may yield trade balance improvements (Page 94), there is no correlation between an FTA's inclusion of the higher standards of the May 10, 2007 deal and its trade balance. The Korea FTA included the "May 10" standards, and yet the U.S. trade deficit with Korea has grown over 80 percent in the four years since the deal's passage. Meanwhile, most post-NAFTA FTAs that have resulted in (small) trade balance improvements did not contain the "May 10" standards. Reducing the massive U.S. trade deficit will require a more fundamental rethink of the core status quo trade pact model extending from NAFTA through the Korea FTA, not more of the same.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/07/new-itc-report-finds-disturbing-trends-in-us-economy-after-implementation-of-free-trade-agreements.html Rock Against the TPP tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201b8d1fbd216970c 2016-06-22T14:39:03-04:00 2016-06-22T18:41:11Z The corporate forces behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) kept the deal as secret as possible for as long as possible. And they would love for that silence to continue as Big Business lobbyists push Congress to vote on this terrible... Melanie Foley

The corporate forces behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) kept the deal as secret as possible for as long as possible. And they would love for that silence to continue as Big Business lobbyists push Congress to vote on this terrible "trade" deal.

But We the People will not stay silent. We the People are going to get LOUD.

The Rock Against the TPP roadshow — which has already generated buzz in Rolling Stone and Billboard — is a nationwide concert series going on throughout the summer.

Audiences at the free shows will be treated to performances by Tom Morello, activist and guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and Prophets of Rage; Evangeline Lilly, advocate and actress best known for Lost and The Hobbit; the infamous political punk rock group, Anti-Flag, and many more.

In addition to musicians and celebs, expert speakers from major organizations will explain how the TPP would threaten U.S. jobs, food safety, access to medicines and other aspects of our daily lives.

The first show is July 23 in Denver, Colorado. Other locations after that will be announced — check www.RockAgainstTheTPP.org regularly to see if a city near you is added to the list.

Fight for the Future is hosting the concert series, along with help from a diverse coalition of groups including Public Citizen, Sierra Club, the Communications Workers of America, the Citizens Trade Campaign and others.

See the full line-up and tour dates at www.RockAgainstTheTPP.org!

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/06/rock-against-the-tpp-1.html Don't Believe the Hype: Agricultural Exports Lag under Trade Deals, Belying Empty Promises Recycled for the TPP tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201b7c86dbff4970b 2016-06-14T14:04:35-04:00 2016-06-14T18:04:35Z Time and again, U.S. farmers and ranchers have been promised that controversial "free trade" agreements (FTAs) would provide a path to economic success by boosting exports. Time and again, these promises have been broken. Data from the U.S. Department of... Evan Ottenfeld

Time and again, U.S. farmers and ranchers have been promised that controversial "free trade" agreements (FTAs) would provide a path to economic success by boosting exports. Time and again, these promises have been broken. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveal that U.S. agricultural exports have lagged, agricultural imports have surged and family farms have disappeared under existing FTAs. Undeterred by its own data, USDA has repeated the standard FTA sales pitch with a factsheet claiming that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which would expand the status quo trade model, would "support expansion of U.S. agricultural exports, increase farm income, generate more rural economic activity, and promote job growth."[1] That promise contradicts the actual outcomes of the FTAs that serve as the TPP's blueprint.

Agricultural exports stagnate under most recent FTA: Before the 2011 passage of the Korea FTA – which U.S. negotiators used as the template for the TPP – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stated, "we believe a ratified U.S. Free Trade Agreement [with Korea] will expand agricultural exports by what we believe to be $1.8 billion."[2] In reality, exports of all U.S. agricultural products to Korea fell $1.3 billion, or 19 percent, from the year before the FTA took effect to its recently-completed fourth year of implementation. During that same period, total U.S. agricultural exports to the world have only declined by 9 percent. Even if comparing the average agricultural export level in the three years before the FTA took effect (including 2009, when global trade declined due to the worldwide recession) with the average level in the more recent three FTA years, U.S. agricultural exports to Korea have declined by $36 million, or 1 percent. U.S. agricultural exports to the world during that period have risen 9 percent.[3]

Agricultural trade surplus turns into a trade deficit under NAFTA: the U.S. agricultural trade balance with NAFTA partners has fallen from a $2.5 billion trade surplus in the year before NAFTA to a $4.2 billion trade deficit in 2015 – the largest NAFTA agricultural trade deficit to date. Even if one includes agricultural trade over the preceding several years, when agricultural export values were inflated by anomalously high international food prices, the average U.S. agricultural trade balance with NAFTA countries over the last five years still fell 94 percent below the average balance in the five years before NAFTA.

Agricultural exports to FTA partners lag behind: USDA data show that U.S. food exports to FTA partners have trailed behind food exports to the rest of the world in recent years, despite the claim in USDA's TPP factsheet that "in countries where the United States has free trade agreements, our exports of food and agricultural products have grown significantly."[4] The volume of U.S. food exports to non-FTA countries rebounded quickly after the 2009 drop in global trade following the financial crisis. But U.S. food exports to FTA partners remained below the 2008 level until 2014. Even then, U.S. food exports to FTA partners were just 1 percent higher than in 2008, while U.S. food exports to the rest of the world stood 10 percent above the 2008 level.

FTA partners account for most U.S. agricultural imports, relatively few agricultural exports: The USDA factsheet makes no mention of agricultural imports that undercut business for U.S. farmers. Most U.S. food imports come from FTA countries, while most U.S. food exports are not sold in FTA countries. This counterintuitive outcome is the opposite of what FTA proponents have promised U.S. farmers and ranchers. In 2015, the 20 U.S. FTA partners were the source of 72 percent of all U.S. food imports, but were the destination of just 38 percent of all U.S. food exports (measuring by volume).

Agricultural trade balance suffers under FTAs:
Due to stagnant U.S. food exports to FTA countries and a surge in food imports from those countries, the U.S. food trade balance (by volume) with FTA countries has fallen 11 percent since 2011, the year before the most recent FTAs took effect. In contrast, the U.S. food trade surplus with the rest of the world has risen 8 percent since 2011.

Small U.S. farms disappear during FTA era: Smaller-scale U.S. family farms have been hardest hit by rising agricultural imports and declining agricultural trade balances under FTAs. Since NAFTA and NAFTA expansion pacts have taken effect, one out of every 10 small U.S. farms has disappeared. By 2015, nearly 198,000 small U.S. farms had been lost.[5]

Most of the agricultural products that USDA highlights in its factsheets as prospective winners under the TPP have actually been losers under the FTA model that the TPP would expand:

Apples: U.S. exports to Korea of apples have fallen 8 percent in the first four years of the Korea FTA.[6]

Beef: U.S. beef exports to Korea have stagnated under the Korea FTA, falling below the historical growth trend and defying the administration's promises that beef exports to Korea would grow even more than in the past.[7] Even without an FTA, U.S. beef exports would be expected to grow as a product of Korea's population and economic growth. Instead, they have flatlined.

Corn: U.S. exports to Korea of corn have plummeted 57 percent under the Korea FTA's first four years – a loss of more than 3.6 million metric tons of corn exports each year.

Dairy Products: U.S. exports to Korea of milk, cream and whey have plummeted 88 percent in the first four years of the Korea FTA – a loss of more than 2.6 million liters of dairy exports each year.

Distilled Spirits: U.S. exports of distilled spirits to U.S. FTA partners have declined 13 percent (10.4 million liters) while growing 42 percent (49.8 million liters) to the rest of the world since 2011 (the year before the most recent FTAs took effect).

Feeds and Fodder:S. exports of feeds and fodder to U.S. FTA partners have fallen 6 percent (more than 410,000 metric tons) while growing 44 percent (more than 4.8 million metric tons) to the rest of the world since 2011 (the year before the most recent FTAs took effect).

Hides and Skins: S. exports to Korea of hides and skins have dropped 27 percent under the first four years of the Korea FTA.

Potatoes: S. net exports of potatoes to Canada and Mexico have fallen 521,000 metric tons under 22 years of NAFTA.

Poultry: S. exports to Korea of poultry have plummeted 35 percent under the first four years of the Korea FTA – a loss of more than 25,300 metric tons of poultry exports each year.

Soybeans and Soybean Products: S. exports of soybeans and soybean products to U.S. FTA partners have grown 21 percent while growing 46 percent to the rest of the world since 2011 (the year before the most recent FTAs took effect).

Vegetables: S. exports of vegetables to U.S. FTA partners have fallen 36 percent (more than 23,000 kiloliters) while growing 451 percent (more than 8,937 kiloliters) to the rest of the world since 2011 (the year before the most recent FTAs took effect).

Wine: S. net exports of wine to Canada and Mexico have fallen more than 28,000 kiloliters under 22 years of NAFTA. And while FTA proponents have claimed wine as a winner under the Korea FTA, U.S. exports to Korea of wine have fallen 6 percent under the Korea FTA's first four years – a loss of nearly 239 metric kiloliters of wine exports each year.

ENDNOTES

[1] U.S. Department of Agriculture, "The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Benefits for U.S. Agriculture," USDA factsheet, February 2015. Available at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2015-03/tpp_agriculture_fact_sheet.pdf.

[2] U.S. Department of Agriculture, "Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Highlights Benefits of the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement for U.S. Agriculture," USDA press conference, March 8, 2011. Available at: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdamobile?contentidonly=true&contentid=2011/03/0108.xml.

[3] The source of all agricultural trade data in this document, unless otherwise specified, is: Foreign Agricultural Service, "Global Agricultural Trade System," U.S. Department of Agriculture, accessed May 12, 2015. Available at: http://apps.fas.usda.gov/gats/default.aspx. FATUS classifications used for all data. All data not stated in dollar amounts is measured in volume. (Volume is preferred for products to eliminate the effect of price shifts, but value is used for some aggregations of products with different volume-based units of measurement to avoid agglomeration problems.) All dollar values have been inflation-adjusted and are expressed in 2015 dollars according to the CPI-U-RS series of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[4] "Food" includes FATUS classifications: dairy products, fruits & preparations, grains & feeds, livestock & meats, oilseeds & products, other horticultural products, planting seeds, poultry & products, sugar & tropical products, tree nuts & preparations, and vegetables & preparations.

[5] National Agricultural Statistics Service, "Quick Stats," U.S. Department of Agriculture, accessed March 5, 2015. Available at: http://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/.

[6] All data on agricultural trade under the Korea FTA compare the average annual export level in the four years before the FTA took effect and in the four years after the FTA took effect (April 2008 through March 2012 vs. April 2012 through March 2016).

[7] U.S. beef exports to Korea rose 3,967 metric tons if comparing the year before implementation and the FTA's fourth year, or rose 63,729 metric tons if comparing the four year averages before and after the FTA.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/06/dont-believe-the-hype-agricultural-exports-lag-under-trade-deals-belying-empty-promises-recycled-for.html Slaughter: The Flawed TPP Agreement Would Shift the Balance of Power Toward Foreign Corporations tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201b8d1f3fb30970c 2016-06-07T14:04:21-04:00 2016-06-07T18:07:44Z This is a guest post by Representative Louise Slaughter (NY-25) The American people are increasingly realizing the perils of the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement between the U.S. and eleven other countries. After decades of NAFTA-style deals costing millions of... Evan Ottenfeld

This is a guest post by Representative Louise Slaughter (NY-25)

The American people are increasingly realizing the perils of the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement between the U.S. and eleven other countries. After decades of NAFTA-style deals costing millions of jobs and devastating entire industries, workers across America are speaking out against this dramatic expansion of failed trade policy. But because of a little-known provision tucked into this deal, the TPP would actually stack the deck even further against our workers and innovative companies across the country.

As the representative for Rochester, New York, I have never seen a trade agreement that benefited the American manufacturer or American worker. There are hundreds of reasons why the TPP would be a particularly bad deal for our country. It would force our workers into unfair competition with countries like Vietnam, where the minimum wage is less than 65 cents an hour, and it has no effective provisions to address foreign currency manipulation – the single-most pressing trade issue facing U.S. manufacturers. For American families, the TPP would open the door to a flood of unsafe food imports and threaten to raise prices for vital drugs. It would encourage environmentally destructive practices and do nothing to address climate change. This deal would also represent a dramatic step in the wrong direction by tying the U.S. to countries that do not value the rights of women.

But worse still is that the TPP would pave the way for an unprecedented attack on our nation's sovereign right to protect the health and welfare of our people, all in the name of corporate profits. This process, called investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), would allow multinational corporations to challenge U.S. laws they don't like outside of the standard judicial system. This could leave laws on everything from requiring stringent drinking water standards to raising a state's minimum wage in the hands of three unelected and unaccountable arbitrators. It's blatantly undemocratic, and would represent a major victory for foreign corporations.

There are only a handful of these arbitrators in the world, and some are even allowed to go back and forth between serving as a judge and doing the bidding of corporations by bringing cases against governments. This dynamic is ripe for conflicts of interest and would be seen as unethical in almost any legal system.

Since our previous trade agreements have largely been with less developed countries that have little investment in the U.S., these types of cases used to be rare. But in recent years, more and more corporations have learned to exploit the system and ISDS cases have become more common. In the first 30 years since this ISDS became a reality, just 50 of these types of cases were launched. But from 2011 to 2013, corporations brought 50 cases every year. These cases brought by foreign corporations have attacked our policies governing everything from climate to energy to labor safeguards.

This growth could skyrocket even further if the TPP becomes a reality and adds the likes of Japan and Australia as sources of potential challenges. Although supporters of this misguided trade deal like to point out that the U.S., unlike many other countries, has never lost a ISDS case, it would be foolish to bet the farm on this record as the incentives for corporate profit continue to grow.

If we were to lose a case, the damages would be astronomical, since there is no limit on the amount of taxpayer dollars that a foreign corporation could ask for from our government. This process allows a winning company to ask for its expected lost profits calculated in perpetuity. The U.S. doesn't have to lose a case to be impacted by this process – even if the United States ultimately prevailed in a case, we could be forced to spend millions in the process. In fact, millions in taxpayer funding have already been spent defending our laws against ISDS challenges.

America has the best workers and most innovative companies in the world, and we can compete and win in the global economy if given a fair and level playing field. Unfortunately, the TPP and the ISDS system in particular would shift the balance of power toward foreign corporations and exacerbate the weaknesses of past trade deals. It's just the latest reason why we should walk away from this flawed trade agreement and finally implement policies that truly protect American jobs and American workers.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/06/slaughter-the-flawed-tpp-agreement-would-shift-the-balance-of-power-toward-foreign-corporations.html New GTW Researcher Keeping an Eye on Trade tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201bb08fe14af970d 2016-05-13T09:31:45-04:00 2016-05-18T16:03:48Z Today, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch (GTW) released a study on the United States International Trade Commission's (USITC) General Equilibrium Model for estimating export and import growth as a result of trade agreements. I helped compile the background of the... Justin Fisk

Today, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch (GTW) released a study on the United States International Trade Commission's (USITC) General Equilibrium Model for estimating export and import growth as a result of trade agreements. I helped compile the background of the report, and I wanted to take a second to introduce myself.

My name is Justin Fisk, and I am the Senior Researcher at GTW. Since I first arrived in Washington, D.C. four years ago, I have been increasingly interested in international trade and its impact on the United States. During my graduate work at George Washington University, I focused my studies on international trade. At the same time, I interned full-time in many positions within the federal government and the private sector, including the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee at the Department of Commerce and the government affairs division of a trade law firm. After I completed graduate school, I worked for two years at the Council of State Governments helping states develop export promotion plans for small businesses in the United States.

I decided to leave the comforts of my previous job to take a more challenging role at Global Trade Watch. I am excited to be here, and I look forward to sharing the findings of our research in the coming months.

For my first blog, I wanted to discuss the USITC model. It is an important time to review and analyze this model since the USITC's next report is expected to be released next week on May 18, which will analyze the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on the United States.

Policymakers need to understand the data limitations of the current model employed by the USITC. Not only does it fail to take into account currency manipulation – which the TPP has no enforceable provisions against – it also assumes that workers who lose jobs to trade can easily and seamlessly find other opportunities for work (more examples of the assumptions the model incorporates can be found in the official report here). It shouldn't be surprising that the USITC has consistently failed to estimate in any meaningful way the impacts of a free trade agreement.

Looking back, the USITC predicted improved trade balances as a result of the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and 2007 U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. The agency projected only a small deficit increase from China's 1999 World Trade Organization entry deal and the granting to China of Permanent Normal Trade Relations status.

Instead, the U.S. trade deficits with the trade partners increased dramatically and, as detailed in the text of the new study, manufacturing industries from autos to steel and farm sectors such as beef that were projected to "win" saw major losses. A government program to help Americans who lose jobs to trade certified 845,000 NAFTA jobs losses alone.

The USITC report also estimates changes of exports and imports of certain products. For example, the USITC concluded that NAFTA would result in little or no impact on meat imports into the United States because of already low U.S. tariff rates, and that if anything, U.S. exports of meat to Mexico would increase. The report projected that U.S. beef exports to Mexico would increase in the long-term by 16 percent or more. In reality, American cattle producers experienced the opposite outcome from NAFTA. In 1993, the United States exported 39,000 metric tons of beef and veal to Mexico and imported only 13,000 metric tons. By 2015, the United States imported more than 30,000 metric tons of beef and veal from Mexico more than it exported to Mexico.

In the China study, the USITC report estimated that U.S. exports of iron and steel would increase by 5.1 percent. The report does not project changes in import levels. In reality, U.S. exports of iron and steel increased by $1.1 billion or 239 percent. The USITC report did not however anticipate that U.S. imports from China of iron and steel would increase by $12.3 billion or by nearly 300 percent. The U.S. trade deficit with China in steel and iron products has worsened by nearly $7.9 billion, increasing from $2.7 billion in 2000 to $10.7 billion in 2015. In November 2015, nine steel associations wrote a joint letter insisting that China's "overwhelmingly state-owned and state-supported steel industry" is the root problem of the 700 million metric tons of excess steel capacity in the world today, which is making it difficult for private sector firms in the U.S. to compete."

The USITC report also projected that the U.S.-Korea FTA would likely increase exports of grain to Korea, "particularly exports of corn." In reality, U.S. exports of corn have decreased by $1 billion or by 64 percent in the first 4 years of the Korea FTA. The Center for Economic and Policy Research released an interesting study in April that found, "there is no clear relationship between the expected effect of the KORUS on exports to Korea and the actual change in exports relative to trend."

As mentioned earlier, the USITC model utilizes false assumptions which surely impact its results. With this in mind, policy makers should approach USITC report on TPP's impact with caution.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/05/new-gtw-researcher-keeping-an-eye-on-trade.html With Trade Commission TPP Review Due Next Week, New Study Shows Past Pacts' Actual Outcomes Were Opposite of Agency's Rosy Projections tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201b8d1e36ece970c 2016-05-12T15:26:44-04:00 2016-05-18T16:02:54Z Administration Expected to Tout Imminent USITC Study in New Push for TPP Passage Despite Agency's Systematic Failure to Accurately Assess NAFTA, China and Korea Pacts WASHINGTON, D.C. – The reliability or usefulness of an imminent government assessment of the Trans-Pacific... Nick Florko

Administration Expected to Tout Imminent USITC Study in New Push for TPP Passage Despite Agency's Systematic Failure to Accurately Assess NAFTA, China and Korea Pacts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The reliability or usefulness of an imminent government assessment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was called into question by a study released today that shows that past U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) projections of trade agreements' benefits were systematically contradicted by the pacts' actual outcomes.

The new study reviews USITC trade balance, job and economic sector projections in the statutorily required reports for the three most economically significant trade pacts prior to the TPP and finds the government study on each pact proved dramatically inaccurate – not only in degree, but in direction.

"Past government studies have systematically projected positive outcomes that were contradicted by the actual results, which is why members of Congress requested, without success, that the agency alter its approach to assessing the TPP," said Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.

The USITC predicted improved trade balances, gains for specific sectors and more benefits from the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and 2007 U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in reports on those pacts. The agency projected only a small deficit increase from China's 1999 World Trade Organization (WTO) entry deal and the granting to China of Permanent Normal Trade Relations status.

Instead, the U.S. trade deficits with the trade partners increased dramatically and, as detailed in the text of the new study, manufacturing industries from autos to steel and farm sectors such as beef that were projected to "win" saw major losses. A government program to help Americans who lose jobs to trade certified 845,000 NAFTA jobs losses alone and econometric studies concluded that millions of jobs were lost from the China deal, in contrast to gains projected by the USITC reports.

The new report also reviews how the USITC's use of a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model leads to projections entirely unrelated to actual outcomes by simply assuming away the very results that have often occurred under past pacts: long-term job loss, trade deficit increases and currency devaluations.

Under the model, the USITC collects information on current exports, imports, gross domestic product (GDP), tariff rates, investment flows and more. It creates equations to calculate how trade flows would change if a pact's terms were fully implemented. The model looks to an endpoint, not the process of getting there. It does not consider whether there may be increases in trade deficits along the way, or whether other nations may not fully implement or enforce a pact's terms. Rather it projects a final outcome assuming full implementation. Running this simulation generates data on potential changes in exports and imports. By design, it assumes the trade balance does not change and that employment levels remain consistent – that workers who lose jobs simply obtain new jobs in other sectors where wages are presumed to increase.

A growing body of academic criticism of the CGE model employed by the USITC has focused on the numerous assumptions researchers make, including what economic factors are included and excluded, and what included factors are assumed to remain constant. For instance, implicit in the assumption that the trade balance does not change is the assumption of flexible exchange rates. But in reality, currency manipulation is a significant problem among some of the TPP countries. The U.S. Department of Treasury just recently included TPP nation Japan on its new Monitoring List in its semi-annual report on "Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States."

The assumptions baked into the model can contribute to gaps between projections about import and export levels and actual outcomes. Also, given that the results of the trade flow simulations are then used to project broader outcomes (such as on U.S. economic growth), assumptions piled on assumption can cause results that are incorrect, not only in degree, but in direction.

Different assumptions can result in diametrically opposed outcomes, as demonstrated by the recent Peterson Institute for International Economics and Tufts University studies on the TPP. The Peterson Institute used a CGE model with assumptions similar to those employed by the USITC in past studies and found the TPP would result in a modest increase in U.S. GDP, but not impact overall U.S. employment. Using an economic model that allows for the possibility of less than full employment and rising income inequality, called the United Nations Global Policy Model, Tufts University economists concluded that the TPP would reduce U.S. growth rates and lead to 448,000 American jobs lost.

The Tufts findings spotlight just how drastically the assumptions baked into a model affect the outcomes; the Tufts economists actually employed the Peterson Institute trade flow simulation data. They plugged the Peterson findings on import and export levels at full TPP implementation derived from one set of unrealistic assumptions into a model that applies more realistic assumptions about how trade flow changes affect growth and employment – and got the opposite results on growth and jobs.

Finally, the output of any model also is greatly affected by the data put into it. Issues to watch for in this regard for the USITC's TPP study include:

How will the USITC TPP study treat "non-tariff barriers" (NTB)? What an international bank may consider an NTB may be what a policymaker or consumer considers an important safeguard to avoid costly financial crises. But recent trade pact projection studies have included guesstimates of gains resulting from the elimination of NTBs.

Will the USITC TPP study consider how TPP investment rules could affect decisions about where to invest in production and whether the TPP will alter foreign direct investment trends?

How will the USITC TPP study assess intellectual property provisions, given that longer monopolies may increase some U.S. firms' profitability but also may cost governments and consumers more for medicines and access to information?

Under the Fast Track authority passed last year, the USITC is required to release a report projecting the economic effects of the TPP no later than May 18, 2016.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/05/with-trade-commission-tpp-review-due-next-week-new-study-shows-past-pacts-actual-outcomes-were-opposite-of-agencys-ros.html New Data Reveal That Obama's Korea Trade Pact on Which the TPP Was Modeled Resulted in Doubling of Trade Deficit tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201b8d1dc9093970c 2016-05-04T15:03:05-04:00 2016-05-04T19:03:05Z Likely to Fuel Bipartisan Trade Revolt in Presidential and Congressional Campaigns as White House Gears up Push for Congressional Passage of TPP WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Obama administration intensifies its efforts to persuade Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership... Nick Florko

Likely to Fuel Bipartisan Trade Revolt in Presidential and Congressional Campaigns as White House Gears up Push for Congressional Passage of TPP

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Obama administration intensifies its efforts to persuade Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), new U.S. government data released today reveal an "inconvenient truth" about the Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that served as the template for the TPP. The new data covering the first four years of the pact reveal that the U.S. goods trade deficit with Korea has more than doubled. This 115 percent deficit increase with Korea comes in the context of the overall U.S. trade deficit with the world decreasing slightly.

The increase in the U.S. trade deficit with Korea equates to the loss of more than 106,000 American jobs in the first four years of the Korea FTA, counting both exports and imports, according to the trade-jobs ratio that the Obama administration used to promise job gains from the deal.

The Census Bureau data showing the outcomes of the Korea pact are the opposite of the Obama administration's 2011 "more exports, more jobs" promises for the deal. The administration is now employing similar claims to try to sell the TPP to Congress and the American public as bipartisan opposition to more-of-the-same trade policies surges and presidential and congressional candidates spotlight the problems with the TPP and the failure of U.S. trade policies.

"President Obama has stepped up his efforts to do a hard sell on the TPP, but much of the TPP text was literally cut and pasted from the Korea agreement, so to see what a disaster the Korea deal has been is a stark warning," said Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch. "President Obama has repeatedly asked that the TPP not be judged against his predecessors' failed trade deals, but now we can see the disastrous results from President Obama's signature trade package, which helps to explain why in this election cycle Americans are on the warpath against our trade policies."

Despite the Korea FTA including more than 10,000 tariff cuts, 80 percent of which began on day one:

The U.S. goods trade deficit with Korea has increased 115 percent, or $16 billion, in the first four years of the Korea FTA (comparing the year before it took effect to the fourth year data).

Since the FTA took effect, U.S. average monthly exports to Korea have fallen in 11 of the 15 U.S. sectors that export the most to Korea, relative to the year before the FTA. Exports of machinery and computer/electronic products, collectively comprising 28.6 percent of U.S. exports to Korea, have fallen 22.6 and 6.6 percent respectively under the FTA.

The 115 percent surge in the U.S.-Korea goods trade deficit in the first four years of the FTA starkly contrasts with the 5 percent decrease in the global U.S. goods trade deficit during the same period.

While U.S. goods imports from the world have decreased by 6 percent, U.S. goods imports from Korea have increased by 19 percent, or $11.5 billion, during the FTA's first four years.

U.S. goods exports to Korea have dropped 9 percent, or $4.4 billion, under the Korea FTA's first four years.

U.S. exports to Korea of agricultural goods have fallen 19 percent, or $1.4 billion, in the first four years of the Korea FTA despite the administration's oft-touted point that almost two-thirds of U.S. agricultural exports by value would obtain immediate duty-free entry to Korea under the pact. U.S. agricultural imports from Korea, meanwhile, have grown 34 percent, or $123 million, under the FTA. As a result, the U.S. agricultural trade balance with Korea has declined 22 percent, or $1.5 billion, since the FTA's implementation. The Obama administration promised that U.S. exports of meat would rise particularly swiftly, thanks to the deal's tariff reductions on beef, pork and poultry. However, U.S. exports to Korea in each of the three meat sectors have fallen below the long-term growth trend since the Korea FTA took effect. Compared with the exports that would have been achieved at the pre-FTA average monthly level, U.S. meat producers have lost a combined $62.5 million in poultry, pork and beef exports to Korea in the first four years of the Korea deal – a loss of more than $5 million in meat exports every month.

Despite the promises made by U.S. officials that the pact would enhance cooperation between the U.S. and Korean governments to resolve food safety and animal health issues that affect trade, South Korean banned nearly all imports of American poultry at the beginning of 2015 due to several bird flu outbreaks in Minnesota and Iowa. Comparing the FTA's fourth year to the year before it went into effect, U.S. poultry producers have faced a 93 percent collapse of exports to Korea – a loss of nearly 100,000 metric tons of poultry exports to Korea. U.S. beef exports are finally nearing pre-FTA levels after declining an average of 11 percent during the first three years of the agreement. U.S. pork exports have also nearly recovered to pre-FTA levels after falling by an average of 16 percent in the first three years of the agreement

Record-breaking U.S. trade deficits with Korea have become the new normal under the FTA – in 47 of the 48 months since the Korea FTA took effect, the U.S. goods trade deficit with Korea has exceeded the average monthly trade deficit in the four years before the deal.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has tried to obscure the bleak Korea FTA results, as congressional ire about the pact is fueling opposition to the TPP. The USTR's standard data omissions and distortions include:

The USTR tries to dismiss the decline in U.S. exports to Korea under the FTA as due to a weak economy in Korea. But the Korean economy has grown each year since the FTA passed, even as U.S. exports to Korea have shrunk. Korea's gross domestic product in 2015 was 11 percent higher than in the year before the FTA took effect, suggesting that U.S. exports to Korea should have expanded, with or without the FTA, as a simple product of Korea's economic growth. Instead, U.S. exports to Korea have fallen 9 percent in the first four years of the FTA.

The USTR selects a few products that have gained exports to emphasize, while omitting the low value of such exports and the net trade deficit increase of 115 percent.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/05/new-data-reveal-that-obamas-korea-trade-pact-on-which-the-tpp-was-modeled-resulted-in-doubling-of-tr.html Leaked TTIP Documents: Threats to Regulatory Protections tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201bb08f444d2970d 2016-05-02T17:58:09-04:00 2016-05-02T21:58:09Z Statement of Robert Weissman, President, Public Citizen Note: Today, Greenpeace Netherlands leaked negotiating texts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement, the proposed trade deal between the United States and Europe. The leaks include 13 of 17 consolidated... Evan Ottenfeld

Statement of Robert Weissman, President, Public Citizen

Note: Today, Greenpeace Netherlands leaked negotiating texts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement, the proposed trade deal between the United States and Europe. The leaks include 13 of 17 consolidated texts, as well as a European Union memorandum on the negotiating state of play. This statement provides a preliminary analysis of one of the leaked chapters, Regulatory Cooperation.

Europe, beware. The leaked TTIP text confirms that the United States is trying to export its failed regulatory model. If the United States succeeds in its project, Big Business will gain enormous power to block, slow, undermine and repeal European regulations.

The leaked text makes clear that there are serious issues requiring analysis in particular sectors, but also that the Regulatory Cooperation chapter poses a major threat to health, safety, environmental, labor, consumer, civil and political rights, and other regulatory protections. The U.S. proposals in the Regulatory Cooperation chapter seek to export many of the worst features of U.S. rulemaking.

There is a lot to recommend about the U.S. regulatory process in theory, but in practice, the U.S. rulemaking process now evidences a massive tilt to favor the interests of regulated industries. It is far too slow; regulators are bogged down in seemingly endless analytic requirements that are themselves biased to favor the interests of regulated parties. Its veneration of "cost-benefit analysis" provides a pseudo-scientific cloak to industry's apocalyptic claims about the costs of the next regulation and operates at loggerheads with application of the precautionary principle.

In the days ahead, Public Citizen will issue a more detailed analysis of the draft Regulatory Cooperation chapter. These are among our top line concerns from the U.S. proposals in that chapter:

Regulatory Delay – Paralysis by Analysis: Article X.13 would require parties to provide detailed and expansive justifications for their decision to issue a regulation, including consideration of regulatory alternatives. This is an inherently unequal obligation, because there is no burden to provide justification for doing nothing. In practice, the need to provide detailed justification for issuing a rule dramatically slows U.S. rulemaking.

Corporate-Biased Cost Benefit Analysis: Article X.13.1.c would require parties to conduct detailed cost-benefit studies of regulations and regulatory alternatives. It is important to understand that the U.S. understanding of the phrase "anticipated costs and benefits" is fundamentally different than the European conception of regulatory impact assessment. In the United States, cost-benefit analysis is an extremely technical concept involving extensive data collection and elaborate modeling, and it is generally understood to be a near-absolute decision-making criterion. Its highly technical nature obscures the fact that cost estimates frequently rely on regulated industry-provided data and are excessive, and that non-quantifiable or indirect benefits are frequently not captured.

One-Sided Analytic Requirements: Article X.13.2 would require parties to assess the impact of regulations on small businesses, a formal assessment under U.S. in certain circumstances that imposes extensive delay. It is also a one-sided required analysis, both under U.S. law and the U.S. TTIP proposal, because the specially required analysis looks to burdens ("adverse economic impacts" in the TTIP proposal) but not pro-competitive or other benefits to small business.

Look Back, Not Forward: Article X.16 would require parties to undertake retrospective reviews of regulations. This is, again, an inherently uneven process, because the instruction is to search for rules to revise or repeal, not for regulatory shortcomings or gaps requiring new initiatives. In practice in the United States, the obligation to undertake regulatory reviews demands valuable time and resources from agencies, and interferes with their ability to conduct forward-looking activity.

Trade Over the Public Interest: Article X.9 would impose a requirement for parties to consider trade effects of proposed regulations, and implicitly to justify any detrimental effects on trade. This is admittedly a soft requirement, but is notable inserting purely commercial considerations into regulatory decision-making and should be viewed as precursor to more robust demands in this area to follow.

Taken in their entirety, the U.S. Regulatory Cooperation proposals are affirmatively hostile to the precautionary principle. The precautionary principle counsels taking protective action in the face of uncertainty. The U.S. cost-benefit standards, demands for consideration of alternative regulatory approaches, and expansive analytic requirements also counsel for inaction in the face of uncertainty. Moreover, U.S.-style cost-benefit analysis places a premium on industry-provided cost estimates while effectively discounting benefits from action to prevent possible harm.

There is no need to overstate this tension; it is in fact possible to take precautionary action in a cost-benefit framework, as the United States sometimes does – but it is also the case that U.S.-style cost benefit is generally discordant with precautionary approaches.

The U.S. proposal notably does not include a requirement for judicial review of regulatory impact analytic requirements. This feature is central to the U.S. rulemaking process, but U.S. negotiators have recognized its incompatibility with European institutional arrangements. It remains to be seen how a regulatory cooperation chapter will intersect with the investment chapter. But irrespective of the intersection with the investment chapter, Europeans should be aware that, if the U.S. Regulatory Cooperation proposals are accepted and TTIP is approved, it is only a matter of time before the United States and U.S. corporations begin advocating judicial review of European compliance with the provisions of the Regulatory Cooperation chapter.

Judicial review is an inherent part of the logic of the U.S. system, and there is no doubt that U.S. corporate interests will insist that judicial review is required to enforce the terms of the Regulatory Cooperation chapter.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/05/leaked-ttip-documents-threats-to-regulatory-protections.html Audit of Administration's 'Tax Cuts' Claim for TPP Reveals Cooked Numbers and Misdirects tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452507269e201b7c83c61d8970b 2016-04-18T11:44:54-04:00 2016-04-18T15:50:11Z The Obama administration's claim that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will deliver "tax cuts for 18,000 Made in America products" is wrong, a new Public Citizen analysis shows. The new Public Citizen report also addresses the real question from which the... Evan Ottenfeld

The Obama administration's claim that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will deliver "tax cuts for 18,000 Made in America products" is wrong, a new Public Citizen analysis shows. The new Public Citizen report also addresses the real question from which the administration's redirect to an impressive-sounding number distracts: Would cutting even 18,000 tariff lines necessarily equate to more U.S. exports, jobs or growth?

"The administration owes the public and Congress an explanation of how it cooked up what obviously is a false 'TPP tax cut' number, but more broadly touting a large number of tariff lines cuts misdirects attention from the real question of whether the TPP will create more American jobs or cause damage," said Lori Wallach, direct of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.

The disconnect between tariff lines cut and economic gains is spotlighted by the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which cut nearly 10,000 tariff lines. Yet, in its first three years, U.S. goods exports to Korea dropped 7 percent and the U.S. deficit with Korea surged 90 percent.

Public Citizen's new analysis reveals that:

The claim about 18,000 tax cuts on Made in America goods is obviously wrong.

In 2014, the United States exported items relating to a total of 8,687 tariff categories to all of the 11 TPP countries. Even assuming tariffs remained in each category of products, and many already are duty-free, the TPP clearly would not deliver "tax cuts" for 18,000 U.S. products. (The administration says the 18,000 figure refers only to cuts with just the five TPP nations that do not have a U.S. trade deal and to these nations we sent exports in only 7,289 categories.)

That the administration's 18,000 figure represents double, triple or quadruple counting also is revealed by reviewing Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Vietnam's TPP tariff schedules. None list more than 10,000 tariff categories with many lines duty-free absent a TPP.

Whether tariff cuts translate into more U.S. exports or jobs relies on whether we make or TPP nations demand the relevant goods. For 5,830 of 7,289 categories (80 percent) in which the United States exported anything to the relevant TPP countries, sales were less than $5 million. A quarter had sales of less than $100,000. In only 21 of 7289 lines did we export more than $500 million and some of these already are duty free.

1,225 of the tariff reductions in the products we do sell to the five TPP nations without U.S. FTAs won't be realized for a decade or more. This includes goods we produce in volume, like beef, which will still face a 20 percent tariff in Japan in the tenth year after the TPP would go into effect.

The six TPP partners with which the United States already has FTAs collectively account for more than 80 percent of the trade counted in the oft-touted statistic that the TPP covers 40 percent of world trade. Thus, tariffs on U.S. goods going to Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Singapore already are gone or are being eliminated. So while TPP countries may account for 40 percent of world trade, the TPP would cut tariffs on only 20 percent of that 40 percent share.

Among the items the United States simply do not export are those relating to species that the administration claims the TPP's Environmental Chapter will help conserve. Yet perversely, the list of tariff cuts that the administration counts as a benefit of the TPP includes Malaysia's shark fin tariff, Vietnam's whale meat tariff and Japan's ivory tariff.

Even setting aside the problem of currency manipulation, cuts translate into more market access only when tariffs are significant enough to make U.S. products uncompetitive. Japan comprises fully 88 percent of the combined gross domestic product of the TPP countries that do not already have a U.S. FTA, but Japan's average applied tariff weighted by product import shares is now only 1.2 percent. Indeed, the tariff levels in the remaining five TPP are generally low.

The raw number of tariff lines countries agree to cut also does not tell us much about a pact's effect on consumer prices. The TPP includes tariff cuts on the shoes Nike produces in Vietnam to sell here, but currently shoes that retail for more than $100 cost about $10 to make. The tariff is charged on the cost, thus even a major percentage cut does not equate to much money. And, whether a firm like Nike will reduce prices or simply gain more profit on an item imported for sale here is determined by what consumers are willing to pay for the product.

While firms importing goods into the United States will determine whether to pass savings related to U.S. tariff cuts on to consumers, the TPP's reduction or elimination of tariffs does necessarily reduce U.S. Treasury revenue. According to President Barack Obama's proposed 2017 budget, the TPP would cost the United States about $28 billion in lost tariff revenue over the next 10 years. (The calculation is based on the assumption that the TPP takes effect in 2017.)

The administration's "TPP Guide to 18,000 Tax Cuts" document oddly highlights goods that TPP nations simply do not buy in volume from anyone. Consider the 34 percent "tax" cut by Vietnam on Alaskan caviar. In 2014, Vietnam's per capita GDP was about $2,000 and about $150,000 worth of caviar was imported by Vietnam from anywhere. Or Vietnam's 5 percent tariff on skis from Colorado. Vietnam imported only about $50,000 in skis in total. Other highlights: Vietnam and Japan will eliminate their tariffs on silkworm cocoons, Brunei will cut its tariff on ski boots and Vietnam will eliminate its tariff on camels.

 http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2016/04/audit-of-administrations-tax-cuts-claim-for-tpp-reveals-cooked-numbers-and-misdirects.html


text:
TVRage was fortunate enough to join a conference call with D.W. Moffett, one of the stars of the ABC Family series 'Switched at Birth'.
After introductions, Moffett immediately paused the interview to express his gratitude. "First of all, thank you for [joining] this interview today. It's so exciting for me to finally direct our show, and with the support of our really loyal fan base that keeps us around and all of your guys' work. So I just wanted to thank you, personally, for all being here today as well."
He then spoke to us about directing the upcoming episode, Girl on a Cliff, which airs tonight, Monday, August 11th, at 8 ET.
"My life in entertainment began in the theatre community in Chicago. I was a producer and director, primarily, in the early days. I was only called in to act later on, when certain members of our company would either get injured or didn't want to do a certain part. So, one could argue that my first passion really was directing.
I view my fellow cast mates as family. We are incredibly close; we are incredibly well-behaved with each other. We are actually that sickeningly, cloyingly nice cast that you read about and go, 'Oh, that cannot possibly be true,' but in our case it actually is true. Just the honor of being able to work with people that you feel so close to, and the trust that they gave me, was amazing. When you see the episode, it's a very emotional episode, and the cast was just spectacular. They gave me every nuanced emotion that I could ask for. It was a very demanding production schedule, because we were nearing the end of our season and things get a little complicated as we get near the end, [but] it was a dream deal. I hope the rest of my episodes go as well. This one I am very, very proud of and I am particularly proud of the work that the cast achieved.
I knew that because of our closeness, our familiarity with each other, I would have a shorthand with the cast that would allow me to get emotional results quicker than maybe other directors could, and also to ask for nuances in those emotional portrayals that maybe other directors wouldn't want to even try. When someone is crying their guts out, it is kind of hard to go in and say, 'Hey, can you not cry your guts out so much on this line and maybe save it and cry your guts out two lines later?' A lot of directors are afraid to do that because the actor might have a negative reaction to that kind of response. In fact, my actors understood what I was asking for and were able to deliver all of those nuances - some of which I used in the final cut, some of which I didn't - but I was able to ask for it and we were able to collaborate on it.
At the end of the day, they were so supportive and really helped me out. I don't care how much you like someone, when you're going through an episode and your schedule is so tight and people have to get to some really emotionally vulnerable places - 'We have three minutes before lunch! We've got to get this scene shot!' - anybody can get cranky, anybody can get touchy, [but there was] none of that. Everyone was so sweet and so wonderful. I really leave my hat off to them for putting up with me, and for putting up with that production schedule and, at the end of the day, making themselves look fantastic, because it's really a great episode."
He also briefly touched on Angelo's death and how it has impacted John, saying "Lizzy wrote this wonderful scene, when John kind of busts himself about feeling glad that Angelo's restaurant was failing. It's been the reason that I've always been attracted to John. From the pilot, I could tell that Lizzy was writing a man who was sort of this cliché, suburban, NRA dude, but flawed. And we saw the flaws, but with enough humanity that he could actually experience a little bit of the vulnerability that some of these flaws might bring up in him. I don't know if we are going to see a lot more of his vulnerability vis-à-vis Angelo, but I know that Angelo's death is probably going to soften John a little bit going forward, in terms of how he deals with the girls, because any time mortality becomes an issue in life people tend to soften or re-evaluate their own situations."
TVRage: How will John react when he finds out that Regina is working with Chip Coto?
Moffett: Oh, boy. You know, that is something that I think they may actually be saving. You get a taste of it in [Girl on a Cliff], but I think the full weight of that has not yet been explored. The look on my face when his name comes up is pretty priceless. I think if we were on an HBO show, the language would have been a lot saltier, but you get the picture.
TVRage: I have a question about Chris Washburn, the man that Katherine had sex with in the bathroom on a train. Is that something that is going to come up again, or was that a plot device to get Katherine [and Regina to kiss]? It was pretty titillating for ABC Family.
Moffett: I think that sometimes in the writer's room they decide to have a little fun with us. I think the writers just decided, "How do we get Katherine and Regina to kiss? What plausibility factor can we attach to these three scenarios?" and then they picked the one that was the most plausible. As you noticed, at the end of the episode, John kind of made light of it, so I don't think there is any wreckage in terms of the marriage. I think it is all fun and games and in the past. I sort of like the fact that Lizzy and the writers are willing to take a shot at stuff like that, and I'm also appreciative of the network trusting us that we're not going to do cheap stuff. Every once in a while, it's not a sin to have a little fun.
TVRage: With the popularity of the all-ASL episode, are there any plans to do another?
Moffett: I would not be surprised if there were another. We enjoyed doing it a lot. Lizzy is always looking to do an event episode every ten or so episodes, every sort of half season. So I would not be surprised if she revisited that or something very similar to that.
TVRage: I really love the event episodes.
Moffett: So does Lizzy! I think she basically builds our seasons around them. They're at work right now. We haven't been officially picked up for season four, but we're all very optimistic and I know that Lizzy's working on it. I imagine right now, somewhere in Los Angeles, she is thinking up her two event episodes for season four. Whether it happens in season four or in some juncture, when Lizzy senses the show has reached its course and we have seven or eight more shows to do, I would not be surprised at all if he have another completely silent ASL episode.
You can follow D.W. Moffett on Twitter.
'Switched at Birth' airs on Mondays at 8/7C.


text:
Walt Gilmore
Position: Power Forward ▪ Shoots: Right
Height: 6-6 ▪ Weight: 225 lbs.
Born: February 27, 1947
College: Fort Valley State University
Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 2nd round (8th pick, 25th overall), 1970 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 18, 1970
Like this page? Sponsor it for $5. Your message will replace this ad.
March 23, 1970: Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2nd round (25th pick) of the 1970 NBA Draft.
September 27, 1971: Waived by the Portland Trail Blazers.
|Google Search


text:
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
Help your fans get their groove on with djay Pro for iPad
If you're looking for full disk jockeying power on your iPad Pro, take a look at this new app.
Jeff Byrnes
| December 9
A new Djay 2 for iPhone update moves the music control to your Apple Watch
For the next week, both the iPhone and iPad versions of the popular app will be free.
Brent Dirks
| April 23
AppAdvice Daily: Expand Your Djay 2 Library With Spotify And Organize Your Screenshots
It's time to expand our disc jockey skills thanks to Spotify, and then we'll organize our screenshots.
Robin Rhys
| May 27
Overview: Drop The Bass With Algoriddim's Djay 2
Djay 2 is packed with a ton of new features and has been redesigned from the ground up.
Dom Esposito
| July 25
Algoriddim Teases Upcoming Djay Update With New Video And Huge Discounts
Get ready for a huge update to djay.
Bryan M. Wolfe
| July 11
Get The Party Started With These DJ Apps For The iPad
Whether you're a beginner or a pro DJ, these apps can help you with projects and gigs.
Kimberly Price
| May 21
For Novices And Pros, Vjay Brings The Video Mash-Up To The iPhone
Algoriddim has brought their popular vjay app to the iPhone.
Bryan M. Wolfe
| November 15
Today's Apps Gone Free: Djay, Critter Escape, PicShop HD And More
Today's AGF list includes a music app, a stealth-based adventure game, and a photo editor.
Tyler Tschida
| November 14
New Versions Of Djay Arrive, Offering Support for iOS 6 And iPhone 5
Two of the most popular apps available for iOS have received huge updates. Algoriddim's djay for iPad and and djay for iPhone are now both compatible with iOS 6, while djay for iPhone is also enhanced for the iPhone 5.
Bryan M. Wolfe
| September 25
AppAdvice's Week In Review
The time has almost come. The most anticipated technology conference of the year begins tomorrow. What should we expect at WWDC? Will the new iPhone make an appearance? These and other questions will soon be answered.
Bryan M. Wolfe
| June 10
Apple Reveals App Store Rewind 2011
Apple, moments ago, unveiled their best apps for 2011. Take a look...
Bryan M. Wolfe
| December 8
The New djay - David Guetta Edition App Arrives For iPhone
The folks behind the popular djay apps for the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad, Algoriddim, have released their first special edition app. The djay – David Guetta Edition app is available now in the App Store. But, is it worth its premium price?
Bryan M. Wolfe
| October 1
Touch DJ Evolution Provides A Unique Way To Deejay On The iPhone & iPad
Touch DJ Evolution lets you get all touchy and visual with iOS deejaying.
Luke Patrick
| August 2
Sonorasaurus Rex Makes Deejaying Gorgeous On The iPad
Sonorasaurus Rex is more than just a pretty face for deejaying on the iPad: It's also one of the toughest beat mixers you've ever seen.
Luke Patrick
| July 22
Djay App Includes iPad 2-Only Features Via Update
DJs who own an iPad 2 should rejoice! Algorridim's djay for iPad app is now fully optimized for the iPad 2, taking advantage of the iDevice's high-performance dual-core processor thanks to an update.
Bryan M. Wolfe
| May 17
Popular iOS Apps And Games On Sale For A Limited Time
FDG's Across Age DX and algoriddim's djay highlight today's sale list, but we also have a nice selection of photo apps, time management games, and puzzle games to choose from.
Tyler Tschida
| April 19
Djay For iPhone Available Now: Track Mixing Madness For $9.99
Algoriddim has just released an iPhone version of djay, which is available to download in the App Store for $9.99. Much like the Mac and iPad version of the application, djay for iPhone transforms your handset into "a full fledged DJ system," allowing users to add tracks from their music library, and mix them on the go.
Joe White
| March 16
Review: Tap DJ - Mix & Scratch Now On The iPhone/iPod Touch
DJ apps have mainly been for the iPad, Tap DJ gives you the DJ turntable and functions for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Read on to find out all about it.
Staff Writer
| February 9
Review: Djay - Make Your Music Say Wow
Ever wanted to be a DJ, but all the set up keeps you away? Perhaps you are a DJ, looking for an easier way. Maybe you just want to have fun with your music. For all cases the app Djay may just have you covered.
Staff Writer
| February 8
Djay For iPad Hits App Store
Alogirddim has just released an iPad version of its popular djay for Mac, and it's currently available in the App Store for $19.99. Read on to find out more ...
Joe White
| December 4


text:
In the vanguard for gay liberation: The life of Communist organizer Harry Hay
In 1950, Harry Hay, longtime Communist and union activist, founded the Mattachine Society, one of America's first LGBTQ rights organizations.
Inequality by the numbers
We Americans like to think of ourselves as a middle-class country where the top is not out of reach and the bottom doesn't pose such a grim, cautionary specter.
Progressive economist on Sanders platform: Median income would soar to $82k
Sanders' programs will increase economic activity and employment and promote a more just prosperity with a narrowing of economic inequality.
Boston's MLK march unites movements for economic and racial justice
"As we commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the fight for economic and racial justice continues."
Conn. labor and civil rights groups join together at M. L. King event
Participants came not only to celebrate the life of Dr. King, but also to commit to building a more just and inclusive society.
Louisiana voters toss out right-wingers
Vitter lost to Edwards because voters were sick and tired of Republicans like him destroying their economic security by giving their state away to huge corporations.
"Forward Through Ferguson": Report uncovers roots of racial inequality
The Ferguson Commission released its long-awaited report titled "Forward Through Ferguson: A Path Toward Racial Equality."
Pope's visit will elevate discussion on income inequality and wages
Labor has joined faith and civic organizations to ensure that Pope Francis' message on inclusion, solidarity and equality is amplified during his visit to the U.S. during the third week of September.
EPI becoming major voice in national discourse on economy
Larry Rubin of People's World interviewed Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute, the premier think tank focusing on the economic condition of low- and middle-income American families.
A decade after Katrina: what we've learned and refuse to learn
A decade later, the nation has made little progress in addressing the systemic problems Hurricane Katrina laid bare.


text:
The Miracle Blade Knife Set comes with 11 pieces to handle all of your slicing, cutting and chopping needs. The set has a filet knife, paring knife, Rock N' Chop chopper, Chop N' Chop chopper, scissors, 2 all-purpose slicers and 4 steak knives. The 3-in-1 edge of the blades allows the knives to glide and cut along their entire length. Certain pieces of this stainless steel knife set don't need sharpening. The patented Accugrip control ball centers the knives perfectly in the hand for precise control while cutting, chopping and slicing. Their contoured handles offer a soft, easy grip and the quick-release areas prevent chopped items from sticking to the blade. All items in this kitchen cutlery set have name labels for easy identification. Theyre dishwasher safe for hassle-free cleanup.
Set includes: Filet knife, rock n chop chopper, chop n chop chopper, scissors, paring knife, 4 steak/utility knives, and 2 all-purpose slicers
"Never-need-sharpening" blades; revolutionary contoured handles for optimal comfort and safety
Patented Accugrip control ball centers knife perfectly in hand
Proprietary 3-in-1 edge delivers easy gliding and super-efficient use of entire blade
Quick Release Areas ensure nothing sticks to blade; handy Use/Name labels on knives eliminate confusion
Number of Pieces: 11
Includes: 2 utility knives, Slicer, Steak Knives
Blade Length: 7.500
Blade Material: Stainless Steel
Handle Material: Plastic
Cutlery Construction: Forged
Care and Cleaning: Hand Wash Only
Dimensions: 11.500 W x 3.000 D
Weight: 6.600
Warranty Description: Lifetime Limited Manufacturer Warranty
other Info.
Warranty Information
To obtain a copy of the manufacturer's warranty for this item, please call Target Guest Services at 1-800-591-3869.
- Online Item #: 10477635
- Store Item Number (DPCI): 070-08-0371
- Item can be gift wrapped.
- Made in the USA or Imported


text:
jobs near Washington, DC
Refine your searchClear Filters
Date Added
More Filters
DEDICATED LANE - CDL Truck Driver Needed in DC!
C.R. England - Washington, DC
Dedicated, Intermodal, Regional, National, Solo, Team Driving, Driver trainer, Instructors. Experienced CDL-A drivers with a safe and clean record are offered...
BH - Restaurant Manager
BH Dulles - Dulles, VA
Founded in 1964, Benihana is the leading Japanese Restaurant in the dining Industry. The key to our success is simple: Our ability and passion for hiring the
Individual Giving Manager - WHUT Research & Development
Howard University - Washington, DC
Further, the University is dedicated to attracting and sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching and research, committed to the development...
Retail Supervisor-In-Training - Tysons Corner
UNIQLO - Tysons Corner, VA
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Fast Retailing does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national...
Restaurant Manager
Panda Express - Washington, DC
Lead all or some Guest components of a Panda Express restaurant including excellent food quality, guest service, associate friendliness, and restaurant...
CNA/CHHA - Home Care
The Medical Team - Alexandria, VA
Our organization is seeking Certified Nursing Assistants and Certified Home Health Aides to assist our geriatric clients....
Restaurant General Manager
District Taco - Washington, DC
Making decisions to improve the service experience- Examining historical income and expenses to ensure budgets are met- Identifying problems and determining...
Mortgage Banker/Inside Sales
CityWorth Mortgage - Fairfax, VA
We even pay you while we are training and licensing you. All the Leads/ No cold calling. Work hard, play hard environment....
Lyft Driver (No Experience Needed)
Lyft - Washington, DC
Signing up to be a Lyft driver is the perfect opportunity for you to earn extra cash - whether you're trying to offset costs of your car, cover this month's...
Civil / Structural Engineer (Construction) - 16.0002
HOBSON USA, LLC - Prince George's County, MD
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation is required. And through field). Professional Engineer (PE) Certification is a plus....


text:
Eeeeeeek, it's that time of year... Time to start working on your best spooky decor! My kiddos and I are already in full planning mode and can't wait for Halloween this year! To get us in the mood, I created a stylish, yet spooky free Halloween printable sign for you to incorporate into your … [Read more...]
Stop in for a Spell – Free Halloween Printables
Hello Whipperberry Readers! Its Lisa and Pam from Over the Big Moon again! This month we have a Vintage Halloween Witch sign, some of our free Halloween printables just for you! This print can easily be framed. But I wanted it for my front door. In order to do that I needed to make it … [Read more...]
Halloween Printables Treat Bags Plus 12 More Printable Halloween Goodies
12 Free Halloween Printables // It's almost HERE!! Halloween is right around the corner. Today the Printable Club is sharing 12 free and fabulous Halloween printables. Halloween is such a fun time of year to let caution to the wind, pull out all your crafty guns and prepare to … [Read more...]
Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats with Free Printable
Halloween Rice Krispie Treats // Hello awesome Whipperberry readers! Jenn here again from Clean and Scentsible! I'm not really sure where the summer went, but fall is definitely in the air around our house. And once fall arrives, Halloween will soon follow! Halloween is always such a … [Read more...]
Free Halloween Printables
Free Halloween Printables // Hi it's Jenn from My Fabuless Life and I'm excited to be back this month to share a couple of fun Halloween printables. Can you believe that it's almost October?!! I love Halloween! I admittedly am not much of a dresser-upper, but I love the … [Read more...]
{The Corn Cob} A Cute Treat for your Halloween Parties
From a very early age in my life I knew the principle of... "Presentation is Everything" was a very true principle. I was always on the look out for fun and innovative ways to WOW my friends and family with whatever trinket or goodie I was presenting them with. The same holds true … [Read more...]


text:
ST. LOUIS (June 14, 2013)--A 59-year-old man shot and killed three employees before turning the gun on himself after an argument at his small home health care business in St. Louis, police said.
In a news release, police identified Ahmed Dirir as the gunman in the shooting Thursday afternoon at AK Home Health Care LLC just south of downtown St. Louis.
Dirir's victims were identified as Khadra Muse, 44, of Olivette, Seaeed Abdulla, 29, of St. Louis, and Bernice Solomon-Redd, 54 of East St. Louis, Ill.
St. Louis Police Capt. Michael Sack said the gunman was the owner or co-owner of the nursing services provider, and that the victims were his employees.
Police says surveillance video showed the shooting began after a brief argument inside the office.


text:
27 July 2016
Road construction creates over 3000 jobs
Addis Ababa, December 7 (WIC) – The construction of roads being undertaken in different woredas of Afar State created jobs for more than 3000 residents.
Some of the beneficiaries, Abdu Se'id, Zehara Hussein and Yasin Abdi told ENA that they managed to improve their livelihoods through engaging in the road construction activity.
The residents also said that construction of the roads helped them benefit from infrastructure development including safe water, electric power and other social services, among others.
Some of the roads being constructed in the state include the 133km Semera-Didiglala, the 118km Afdera-Erebti and also Abeala-Erebti. (ENA)
|< Prev
|Next >


text:
This is where the Steeplechase Baths once stood. (Next to Playland). The bath house was owned by the Tilyou family, the same family that owned many of the amusements, including Steeplechase Park in Coney Island. Notice the boardwalk railway that ran for several blocks in that area.
Copyright 1999 - 2016 Wave Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved


text:
Latest Videos
Saving Hope Digital Exclusives
Must-See Moments
etalk 'Saving Hope' News
Production Begins on Season 5 of 'Saving Hope'
The hit CTV series starring Erica Durance is currently shooting 18 new episodes on location in Toronto and the GTA until November.
Sneak peek: Danielle's 'Saving Hope' debut!
Fans of etalk will see a familiar face pop up at Hope Zion Hospital this week.
Wendy Crewson and Benjamin Ayres tease 'Saving Hope's' Holiday episode, send Holiday wishes to fans
After four seasons filled with tears, laughter, and torrid love-affairs, "Saving Hope" is finally delivering its first-ever holiday-themed episode, Dec. 10 at 9/8c on CTV.
Ugly sweaters and Christmas spirit hit CTV Dec. 10 with a special Holiday-themed 'Saving Hope'
Hope Zion is about to get a festive new look as the Holidays hit CTV's "Saving Hope" in a special episode Thursday, Dec. 10 at 9/8c.
More News
CTV orders fifth season of hit original drama 'Saving Hope'
CTV confirmed today that is has ordered 18 new episodes for a fifth season of hit original series "Saving Hope."Read More
'Saving Hope' Sneak Peek: A convicted murderer, deadly virus, and a hunky new surgeon
It's Alex's first day back from maternity leave when "Saving Hope" returns on Thursday at 9/8c on CTV and things don't quite go as planned.Read More
New doctors. New drama. New Hope. Season 4 of 'Saving Hope' premieres September 24 on CTV
"Saving Hope" returns for its fourth season as part of the network's hit Thursday night lineup, airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning Sept. 24 on CTV and CTV GORead More
'Saving Hope' Digital Series: Psychic Healing
CTV Extend: Exclusive Digital Series
Saving Hope: Psychic Healing *ALL NEW*
"Psychic Healing" shares insider revelations about our lead characters, including Alex Reid (Erica Durance), through flash-forwards and flashbacks triggered by readings from our sometimes insightful and always entertaining psychic, The Great Randall.
Watch the most recent episodes!
Saving Hope: Last Call
Learn more about the exclusive "Saving Hope" companion digital series where characters sidle up to the bar.
12 episodes
Saving Hope: Ask Gavin
The Hope-Zion staff has questions. Dr. Gavin Murphy has answers.
13 episodes
'Saving Hope' on Marilyn
Kim Shaw and Afrim Pristine pair cheese with Thanksgiving favourites
The new "Saving Hope" star joins Marilyn and Afrim Pristine of "Cheese Boutique" to pair cheese with Thanksgiving treats!Read More
Latest Photos
Saving Hope: Season 3
The cast of Saving Hope is all set to tackle pulse‐pounding surgeries, adrenaline‐addled breakthroughs, sultry romances, and there are new doctors ready to shake things up.
From scrubs to glam: 'Saving Hope' on the red carpet
Your favourites from "Saving Hope" take to the red carpet at the CTV Upfront 2014 presentation.
'Saving Hope' romantic moments
Charlie and Alex, Alex and Joel, Joel and Maggie, Maggie and Gavin. See the most romantic moments from "Saving Hope!"


text:
My birth
My birth
The day JUB was created!!!!
Everything you need and use daily:
heating for cooking .... etc
The invention of the common kitchen refrigerator witch also brought us to modern household intercommunication through the use of the refrigerator magnet.
There are many to thank for the computer and the internet, but to name a few, thank Joseph Marie Jacquard, IBM, the US Defense Dept creating Arpanet, Sun Microsystems, William von Meister,Ward Christensen, Compuserv, Tim Berners-Lee and CERN.
The most momentous event in history hasn't happened yet.....
It will be when PreTTy PeTe and Sir Ron meet in the flesh!
Once We are in each other's arms and our tongues have met, then it will be the most momentous moment!
(Love ya' PeTe!)
The Three Musketeers... Bashful, Chrisglass, and Ronboy!
Perhaps the most important thing NOT mentioned yet, was the invention of the boat. It became possible to travel between parts of the world which were entirely separated by water, and it certainly made Europe and northern Africa much more accessible to each other.
BOSS: I'm sorry, but I'll have to lay you and Jack off. SUE: Can you just jack off? I feel like shit today.
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires" - Susan B. Anthony
Florida protester in May 2016: DONALD TRUMP: "Make America Hate Again." Democratic National Convention, 26 July 2016: "LOVE TRUMPS HATE!"
without a doubt, America.
Either the invention of the wheelbarrow or grammar. Takes yer pick.
please wait whil a page loads
yes do
this was awsum
please wait whil page loads
hukky wukkys
ya zip opan
Penicillin. Before it, venereal diseases were treated with mercury based compounds.
All were mentioned, but I'm gonna reiterate:
-The shift to agriculture. It allowed for early humans to give up their nomadic lifestyle, settle in one place, and create civilizations
-The Industrial Revolution. Really jumpstarted civilization into a new era of living
-The rise of Christianity. Its effects can still be seen today
Biggest event in human history would have to be the ability of humans to communicate with each other.
Second would be the invention of electricity -- think of life without it.
The birth of Christ.
Atomic energy...
electric walls space
fa world wet noses make
ooh wot a laff
ta nothin
verwee interestins is read a nothin
* lift ans separate *
_ aye ayeeeees _
ya zip opan


text:
Kirk Acevedo: (on 'Oz' writer and creator Tom Fontana) What I enjoy about Tom's writing is that it's very accessible for the actors emotionally. He allows them to go certain places that you wouldn't normally be able to go on some other TV shows.
User Score: 20
User Score: 18
User Score: 14
User Score: 4
User Score: 4


text:
20 September 2000
Mr. Ronald Lewis,
PureProfit Works,
Dear Mr. Lewis,
I am Roger Depp and I represent the HolyTask Trust. We have built churches in the areas of Ohio, West Virginia in the past.
This year we have decided to build a church in your area. We have so far collected half of the amount needed for this task by various preaching and other holy acts by our volunteers. To complete the amount we are requesting for donations. Hence we request you to help us in any way you can for fulfilling this noble work of God. Your contribution however small it is will never go in vain. Please deposit your drafts at the nearest volunteer center or your local supermarket.
Thanks and regards,
Roger Depp,
HolyTask Trust
Download Sample Church Donation Letter In Word Format
Top Sample Letters terms:
- Need Volunteers Sample Letter
- Church Donation Thank You Letter
- thank you letter for donation to church
- church thank you letter for contribution
- church thank you letters for donations
- sample donation letter
- Thank you for Church Donation
- sample church thank you letters for donations
- free church thank you notes for contribution
- Church Donation Letters