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Graduate Courses
500-Level Courses | 600-Level Courses
500-Level Courses
USP 510 Selected Topics
USP 410/510 TOP: Community Organizing and Social Justice (3) - Community organizing seeks to involve people in collective action to address issues of social justice. This course situates organizing within an historical context, primarily focusing upon the rise and fall of the American labor movement in the 20th century, to enlighten students about the key contemporary challenges of community organizing. We will cover the basic philosophy and goals of community organizing and the various elements of the organizing process (analysis and strategy development, action plans, organizational development, and leadership roles). We will also survey various types of organizing models. This course is an elective for the Community Development major.
USP 410/510 TOP: Civic Engagement & Social Capital (3) -The purpose of this class is to provide a framework for understanding the important role of community participation, and civic policies that enhance social capital for creating healthy, vibrant, equitable, and environmentally sound and resilient communities.
USP 410/510 TOP: China Seminar (1) - The China Seminar is an opportunity to engage with the planning, development, and public policy issues facing China as it undergoes the fastest urbanization process in world history. Each academic year, the PSU-China Innovations in Urbanization Program hosts presentations, panels, film viewings, and book readings. Key to the seminar series is the involvement of our visiting scholars from China, who add their unique experiences and research to the program. Most seminars are open to the public and all PSU students are encouraged to attend.
USP 410/510 TOP: Workforce Development (3) - This course introduces students to theory and practice of workforce development, which is the system of programs, public policies and institutions that help workers and employers connect to one another in the labor market and make investments in skills and careers that promote household, business and community economic prosperity. Students will learn about challenges in contemporary urban labor markets inspiring policy intervention, and will be introduced to various workforce development institutions, programs and practitioners over the course of the term. Syllabus.
USP 510 TOP: Project Management (1) -Topics of discussion include framing, planning, and implementation of projects. Class will examine scope, schedule, and budget in project planning, as well as transitions, changes, communication, and control involved with project implementation. Class will look at reports, audiences, and next steps associated with project completion. Students will review and analyze case studies. Syllabus.
USP 510 TOP: Sustainable Transportation (3) -The transportation sector plays an important role in the development process, and its services are a vital component of advanced economies. However, the transportation sector also poses a number of threats to sustainability: it is heavily reliant on non-renewable resources, and its draw on petroleum resources is growing in the face of increasing uncertain and unstable supply; it is a major contributor of the greenhouse gases that have been linked to global warming, more than 40,000 people are still killed annually in crashes, increases in traffic congestion now account for about 30 hours of annual delay per person in US metropolitan areas, and neither the benefits nor the negative impacts associated with the US transportation system are evenly distributed across society, raising questions of fairness and justice. This course examines these dimensions of transportation sustainability in the US, reviewing both the record and the prospects for the future. Syllabus.
USP 510 TOP: Regional Economic Development Lab (1) - This one-credit lab section supplements USP 572, Regional Economic Development, by providing a hands-on environment for students to learn about data sources and analytical tools that are important for analyzing regional economies and labor markets. Students will use the lab section to access and obtain data for a metropolitan region, which they will use for their term project in USP 572. The course is optional but highly recommended for students enrolled in USP 572, and is open only to students in that course. Syllabus.
USP 510 TOP: Urban Studies Reading Group (1) - This course is an opportunity for graduate students, faculty, and staff in the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning (TSUSP) program to read scholarly papers and engage in discussion about recent developments in the field. Each participant will facilitate, at minimum, one class session, which consists of: (1) selecting a relevant article; (2) distributing the article to course participants; (3) leading a discussion during the class session; and (4) writing a reflective summary of topics discussed in the session. Articles may be selected from peer-reviewed journals or books. Given varying class sizes and background understanding of the topic, it is up to facilitators to decide what format the class session will take and provide the necessary information to all participants prior to each meeting. The reflective summary will attempt to characterize the major themes emerging in the discussion, and address areas that warrant further exploration. Syllabus.
USP 510 TOP: Planning and the Housing Market (3) - In a market-dominated economy, with most housing produced by the private sector, the role of planners is not to actually manipulate the housing stock, but is part of a complicated market-state interaction. Tiesdell and Allmendinger (2005,63) describe four functions of planning in the housing market: market shaping, through plans that communicate information about future development; regulating with land use and environmental controls; stimulating some kinds of development activity with subsidies and incentives; and building capacity by developing public-private partnerships or creating networks among actors. Taking up these functions requires planners to conceive of themselves as market actors and to understand the behavior and decision cultures of other actors in this market. This course considers the unique role and function of planners and planning for housing, in particular with respect to market provision as the source of most of the housing stock. Syllabus.
USP 410/510 Making it Local (3) - This course explores the importance of place distinctiveness, self-reliance, and DIY innovation in the economic development of cities and regions. While city leaders pursue high tech, amenity, and relocation incentives to entice new business development, people at the grass roots are developing alternative strategies that build on the unique qualities of place and the willingness of locals to organize and invest in each other. We examine the relevance of these spaces of resistance to what is assumed is the inevitable globalization of economic activity.
USP 411/511 Pedestrian & Bicycle Planning Lab (2) - A practical approach to bicycle and pedestrian planning and design through a project-based course that focuses on all aspects of the planning process. Students research and develop solutions to a practical challenge in the Portland region and present recommendations in report and presentation form. Prerequisites: junior standing. Syllabus.
USP 512 Environmental Planning Methods (3) - Examination of the patterns and processes in human-dominated landscapes, and the tools for understanding human behavior and decision making. By applying several environmental planning tool to managing landscapes, this course aims to provide students with skills to ttranslate data into information. Topics covered include, land conservation, impact of land use on watersheds, sustainability and environmental modeling and simulation. Focus is on the application of tools to addressing pressing problems of regional significance. Expected preperation: USP 531 or Geog 488/588.
USP 513 Introduction to Landscape Architecture (3) - An introduction to the history, theory, and methods of landscape architecture. Course materials include key readings from the field, case studies, and hands-on exposure to the thought processes underlying the work of landscape architects. Syllabus.
USP 414/514 Transportation Seminar (1) - This weekly seminar features a different speaker each week covering various topics in transportation research and practice. The topics cover all modes of transportation, with a focus on current practice. Course is cross-listed with CE. This course may be taken for credit up to three times.
USP 515 Economics: Applications in Urban Studies (4) - Microeconomic analysis of individual and firm behavior is developed with emphasis on applications to urban studies. Topics which may be covered include: land use and land rents, urban structure, poverty, housing and slums, transportation, environmental quality, and local government finance. Syllabus.
USP 517 Urban Economic Development Policy (3) - This course analyzes urban economic development policy by building an overall framework that demonstrates how urban economies create and distribute wealth and affect citizens' quality of life. Federal, state, and local policies must pursue three broad objectives: 1. raising the area's standard of living; 2. preserving and protecting environmental quality and quality-of-life; 3. reducing poverty and income inequality. This course provides students the ability to analyze and assess alternative policies through the ability to apply analytical methods for assessing policy effectiveness; by examination of evidence of policy effectiveness; by reviewing case studies; and via a student's personal research of specific urban problems. Prerequisites: USP 515 or equivalent courses in economics. Syllabus
USP 518 Energy and Society (3) - Consideration of the role of energy in human society, including energy and social change, energy and urban form, technologies of energy supply and demand, social institutions governing access to energy, and cultures of consumption. Current social issues involving energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and climate change are stressed. Syllabus.
USP 419/519 Population and Society (4) - Survey and analysis of population dynamics (births, deaths, and migration) and society. Examination of demographic concepts, theories, data and measurements, and research. Role of population processes in social life and public policies are highlighted, including population aging, economic development and the environment, urbanization, health and health care, race and ethnicity, and government/social/business planning. Prerequisite: Soc 200. This course is the same as Soc 441/541; course may only be taken once for credit. Syllabus
USP 520 Applied Demographic Methods I (4) - The first of a two-course sequence. The purpose is to introduce the various basic methods of demographic analysis. The topics to be covered include data sources, population characteristics and change, and measures of mortality and fertility. In addition, the course will help students develop and acquire skills for presenting data. Recommended prerequisite: a course in regression analysis, such as USP 534. Syllabus.
USP 521 Applied Demographic Methods II ( 4) - The second of a two-course sequence. The purpose is to introduce more advanced methods of applied demographic analysis. The topics to be covered are: data sources, internal and international migration, data evaluation, population estimates, and projections. The course will consist of readings, lectures, and laboratory sessions, homework exercises, one examination and one term-long project.
USP 522 Practicum in Applied Demography (4)- Represents the capstone course for the graduate concentration in applied demography. The focus is on integrating a practicum experience with the methods of applied demography into a research paper. Students will develop, revise, and resubmit numerous drafts of a final research paper. Students will also provide professional peer review in evaluating the development of fellow student research papers.
USP 523 Real Estate Development I (4) - Evaluates the new public/private partnerships that are necessary for downtown redevelopment, historic rehabilitation, integrated mixed-use urban centers, urban villages, and new communities. Students will analyze the critical conceptual, feasibility, and deal-making phases of the development process, as well as the development and management stages. The course examines the new affirmative roles played by both public and private developers, as well as unusual joint development entities. Also considered are innovative concepts of incremental growth, land and development banking, shared parking, and alternative development patterns. Recommended prerequisites: USP 515 or USP 598 (may be taken concurrently). Syllabus.
USP 524 Site Planning (3) - This course introduces the fundamentals of site planning in an urban context, as well as contemporary urban design theory and practice. Students will learn the principles of site planning and urban design at the scale of urban centers and specific sites, as well as the synthesis of multiple design decisions made by different actors, at different times, about different properties. The course will explore these topics from various perspectives, including planners and designers, developers and regulators, and others. Slideshow lectures, downtown walking tours, and a term project will use Portland as a living laboratory for how the principles of urban design and site planning are played out in public and private development projects. Students will work in teams to apply class principles to a specific site that is currently slated for redevelopment. Syllabus.
USP 525 Design Analysis in Planning (2) - Approaches to the analysis of design issues in urban planning. The definition of urban space through mass, rhythm, and scale. Design and urban circulation. Planning tools for the implementation of design goals. Syllabus.
USP 526 Neighborhood Conservation and Change (4) - The dynamics of neighborhood development, including economic and institutional factors in neighborhood change; neighborhood definition and image, residential choice; residential segregation; neighborhoods in the political process; and neighborhood conservation strategies. Recommended prerequisite: junior standing. Graduate students undertake a substantial independent project in addition to other course requirements.
USP 427/527 Downtown Revitalization (3) - This course examines the evolution and revitalization of downtowns and main streets over time. It explores the role of downtowns in contemporary urban regions, and introduces the concepts of downtown management and other strategies for promoting vital urban centers. Through readings, field observations, classroom discussions, and a series of assignments, students will explore the interrelationships between the built environment, economic trends, and public policy in shaping the downtowns we see today. Students should learn to understand downtowns as complex and multi-faceted places that are always changing and unpredictable, but often play a crucial role in a community's identity and purpose. Syllabus.
USP 428/528 Concepts of Community Development (3) - An investigation of models and perspectives on community development. Both structural and dynamic concepts related to processes of community-based change will be explored, including methodological approaches for assessing community settings, and the various roles and relationships in a community-based decision environment. Includes required field observation and a substantial independent field research project which examines cases of community problem-solving. Syllabus
USP 529 Green Buildings I (3) - Reviews development of new real estate properties and communities with attention to environmental sustainability, reduced operating costs, and enhanced residential and working environmental conditions. Topics include green building standards and techniques for assessing project success. Syllabus.
USP 531 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Planners (4) - Introduction to principles and methods of collecting, organizing, analysis and visualizing geographic information. Explores types and sources of geographical data used in urban and regional studies and planning with an emphasis on Census data. Provides an overview of principles and components of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a primary tool of spatial data analysis and visualization. Attention is given to practical applications of GIS and to developing essential skills in desktop mapping and spreadsheet software. Syllabus.
USP 532 Data Collection (4) - The acquisition of data for research in an urban context. Emphasis is on the concepts, terminology, and methods related to the use of survey research and secondary data. Recommended prerequisite: USP 430 and/or an introductory undergraduate statistics sequence and USP 530. Syllabus.
USP 533 Planning Methods I (4) - Introduction to applied research in planning with emphasis on problem definition, planning and policy research design, collection and analysis of secondary data, and the use of qualitative observations. Prerequisite: undergraduate statistics course. Syllabus.
USP 535 Planning Methods II (4) - Continuation of USP 533 focusing on statistics, forecasting, interpretation, and presentation of data in the context of planning practice. Prerequisite: USP 533. Syllabus
USP 536 Policy Evaluation Methods (3) - Focuses on the methodological issues that must be addressed in attempting to evaluate programs and policies. Course offers an introduction to a variety of techniques useful in policy evaluation. Topics which may be covered include difference equations, Markov models, and queuing models. A section of the course considers the methodological issues that arise in cost-benefit analysis, such as present value calculations, determining the value of nonmarket benefits, and correctly evaluating costs. Recommended prerequisite: USP 515 or equivalent.
USP 537 Economics of Urban Transportation (3) - The transportation system is critical to the functioning of an urban area. The movement of people and goods affects both the productivity and livability of the region. Transportation systems also affect and are affected by land use and location decisions. This course presents the economic analysis of urban transportation. This will include analysis of the effects of transportation systems on land use and location as well as the evaluation of transportation investments. These methods will then be applied to evaluation of various proposals to improve the urban transportation system. Recommended prerequisite: USP 515 or 615. Syllabus.
USP 438/538 Real Estate Law (3) - Provides students with a comprehensive summary of real property from a legal perspective with an emphasis on transactional issues. Includes issues relating to types of ownership, descriptions of property, easements, public and private limitations on use, real estate contracts, forms utilized in transfers, financing and title assurances. The class will enable students to understand the legal framework and the rights and responsibilities of owners and transferors/transferees of real property. Prerequisites: EC 201 (undergraduates). Expected preparation for graduate students: RE 521. This is the same course as RE 438/538; may be taken only once for credit. Syllabus.
USP 540 History and Theory of Planning (4) - The evolution of the urban planning field from its 19th century European origins through 20th century U.S. history. Course addresses the question: why do we produce and implement plans? Specific topics include: philosophical issues and political-organization contexts of professional activity; the place of planning in the political economy of U.S. metropolitan development; and problems of rationality in forecasting, analysis, decision making, and design. Syllabus.
USP 541 Dynamics of Planning Practice (3) - Examination of principles, methods, and programs for giving explicit attention to the perspectives of citizens in the development and implementation of public policies, programs and planmaking. Sets citizen participation in its historical context with an assessment of its impact to date. Examines issues pertaining to working with diverse communities and highlights ethical dilemmas faced by professional planners. Syllabus.
USP 542 Land Use Implementation (3) - An examination of alternative approaches to implementation of plans. Topics include: regulatory tools, e.g., zoning and subdivision ordinances; review functions, e.g., design review and administrative review; and programs, e.g., growth management, capital improvements, community development, housing assistance plans; and political-procedural issues, e.g., permit streamlining, cost impacts. Syllabus.
USP 543 Geographic Applications to Planning (4) - Principles and models of spatial organization, behavior, and location in geographic space. Major conceptual models of urban structure and form, urban regional hierarchy, transportation flows and other forms of spatial interaction, and their applications to modern planning and other disciplines. Spatial data models (rasters, TINs, LRSs, other) and advanced analytical and modeling capabilities of GIS (surface, 3-D, and network analyses). Discussion of real-life GIS applications to transportation, land use, environmental planning, community development, and related areas. Syllabus.
USP 544 Urban Transportation Planning (3) - Introduces fundamental concepts and methods used in multi-modal urban transportation planning, including problem identification, alternatives analysis, evaluation and decision making, plan implementation, and program management. Exposes students to processes and analytical methods from multiple disciplines, such as law, politics, engineering, sociology, economics, finance, management and marketing. Emphasis on analysis of moderately complex technical information and its interpretation for communication with decision makers. Prerequisite: USP 535 or equivalent coursework in descriptive and inferential statistics and data presentation. Recommended: USP 515 or USP 537 or an equivalent intermediate-level course in applied microeconomics. Syllabus.
USP 445/545 Cities and Third World Development (3) - Critical survey of historical, economic, cultural, political, and urban aspects of Third World development, starting with the colonial era. Historical patterns of integration of the Third World with the emerging world market system. Covers problems of the post-independence period, focusing on urban sectoral issues and policy alternatives. Specific topics include trade, investment, industrialization, finance, technology transfer, political participation, land use, housing, transportation, information infrastructure, population growth, social services, militarism, and cultural conflict. Syllabus.
USP 546 Real Estate Development II (4) - Provides students the experience of developing a comprehensive and unified analysis of a commercial real estate project. Each student will submit a case study with greater specificity showing how the design, development, market, finance, construction, and management of the project are integrated. A select number of projects in the greater Portland area will be analyzed as case studies. Students will work closely with industry participants and faculty to develop their analysis as well as alternative strategies for the project at critical states of its development. Prerequisite: USP 523. Syllabus.
USP 547 Urbanization and Planning in the Global South (3) - Urban planning interventions in many cities in the Global South have been facing big challenges as rapid population growth has led to resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and social inequality. This course develops tools and ideas to understand issues confronting cities in diverse socio-economic, political, and cultural circumstances, and how globalization impacts the local space of cities and regions. It focuses on challenges and opportunities in formulating appropriate planning interventions, and prepares planners to work in the diverse and rapidly changing contexts of the Global South. Syllabus.
USP 549 Regional Planning and Metropolitan Growth Management (3) - Explores regional planning in the U.S. today through an examination of historical and contemporary regional planning practice. Begins with an overview of the history of regional planning, including the evolution of thought regarding regionalism and the nature of regions. Examples of regional plans will be used as the basis for examining assumptions, approaches, and methods serving as the foundation for regional planning practice. A synthesis of the findings of the review of plans will be used to draw general conclusions about the field and its prospects. Pays particular attention to the principles, approaches, and methods of growth management generally and with respect to metropolitan regions. Syllabus.
USP 550 Concepts of Citizen Participation (4) - Examination of principles, methods, and programs for giving explicit attention to the perspectives of citizens in the development and implementation of public policies and programs. Sets citizen participation in its historical context with an assessment of its impact to date. Participation from the perspective of both the citizen and the government will be covered as will the variety of approaches for achieving participation goals and objectives. Syllabus.
USP 451/551 Community Economic Development (3) - Course sets community economic development within the context of traditional state and local economic development policy and compares their underlying theoretical perspectives. It examines the impact of recent economic, social and demographic transformations on local labor markets and surveys the labor-market problem solving activities of local governments and community-based organizations. Business and commercial development strategies are also explored. Syllabus.
USP 552 Urban Poverty in Critical Perspective (3) - Examines historical, empirical, and theoretical perspectives on urban poverty in the United States. It addresses the politics of poverty discourse by examining why explanations and policy prescriptions have emphasized morality and behavior: race, family and culture; and dependency and responsibility rather than systemic economic inequality. Syllabus.
USP 553 Legal Processes in Urban Planning (1) - Covers the legal context within which land use planning and plan implementation takes place at the local level. Requirements for the conduct of hearings, appeals, and evidentiary processes are analyzed; skills for techniques of writings findings and conditions of approval are developed; and questions of ordinance interpretation and liability are discussed.
USP 455/555 Land Use: Legal Aspects (3) - Land use and planning from the legal perspective. Includes historical review of attitudes toward property tenure and ownership; the relationship between local planning and regulations; and current issues and perspectives on land use including emerging state and federal roles. Graduate students undertake a substantial independent project in addition to other requirements. Syllabus.
USP 456/556 Urban Transportation: Problems and Policies (3) - An introduction to urban transportation policy from a historical and political perspective. Historical developments in transportation policy are traced from the early streetcar days up through the present. Federal, state, and local transportation policies are examined for their impact on urban spatial and economic development. An overview of current issues in transportation policy and planning includes transportation demand management strategies, transit-oriented design, road pricing, and alternative transportation modes. The intersection of environmental and transportation policy is also examined, as is the decision-making structure at the local, regional, and state level. Syllabus.
USP 457/557 Information Cities (3) - Focuses on the political, social, and cultural impacts of mass media and information technologies within the urban matrix. Contextualizes the "information society" in historical, institutional, political, economic, and global settings. Topics include flexible production, the segmentation of consumption, alternatives to mass media, the Web, the reorganization of work, the transnationalization of culture, commercial and political surveillance, and the development of urban information infrastructure. Syllabus.
USP 558 Planning Workshop (3, 6) - Organized team approach to a current planning problem in the Portland metropolitan area. Focus on planning practice, field investigation, data analysis, written and oral communication. Work program includes strategies, methods, and skills needed to identify issues and draw together all participants in the search for solutions. Emphasis is on the blending of practical skills with knowledge gained from core-area courses. Two-term sequence, credit for first term dependent upon successful completion of second term. Syllabus.
USP 559 Planning Practice Workshop (1) - A 400-hour internship, or combination of internships, is required for completion of the MURP degree. This Seminar serves as a means for graduate students admitted to the MURP degree program to share information regarding securing internships and the work products associated with internship experiences. An annual calendar for the senimnar will be posted at the beginning of the year. Attendance at scheduled seminar meetings is required for all MURP candidates during the first two years of their enrollment in the program.
USP 562 Real Estate Development Workshop (3) - Students form a real estate development team and produce an original development plan, including the development concept, the market analysis, the conceptual design, economic analysis, capital and operations budget, and management plan. The student's plan will demonstrate and apply mastery of the development concepts and tools learned through the previous courses. Prerequisite: USP 523 or instructor's consent. Course may be taken twice for credit with instructor's consent. Syllabus.
USP 563 Real Estate Construction (3) - Reviews the nature and characteristics of the real estate construction process, including materials, cost estimating procedures, budgets, schedules and legal procedures. Emphasis on the selection of building systems and review of the forms of construction contracts and associated documents commonly used in the industry. Reviews lessons learned from case studies. Prerequisite: USP 598.
USP 564 Political and Administrative Issues in Aging (3) - Coverage of organizational dynamics as related to the elderly including the provision and use of services. Covers voting behavior and advocacy as well as administrative and legal issues that are particularly applicable to the elderly.
USP 465/565 Pedestrian And Bicycle Planning (3) - Examines the importance of walking and bicycling as means of transportation in a sustainable urban environment. Covers planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of bikeways and walkways, as well as ancillary facilities such as bicycle parking. Focus on the role of education, advocacy and outreach in improving walking and bicycling conditions. Study relevant examples from various cities, with heavy emphasis on Portland's experience. Syllabus.
USP 566 National Urban Policy (3) - Examination of the federal government's involvement with urban issues from a historical and political perspective. Focus on policies pertaining to social welfare and economic development, with an overview of other policy arenas such as housing, health, and education. Critical analysis of how and why the federal government responds to urban crises with national policy initiatives, and how changes in political regime correspond with changes in policy emphases and perspectives.
USP 567 Urban Housing Policies (3) - Review of the history and the role of public policy in the housing sector. Study of past and current trends in the delivery of housing services in urban areas. The basic philosophies related to the supply of housing are analyzed and examined relative to current trends in the delivery of housing services in urban areas. Critical review of the role of the federal government and the construction industry. Equal attention to the role of public housing and the impact of urban renewal. Active participation in discussion and a research paper are required. Syllabus.
USP 468/568 Oregon Land Use Law (3) - The Oregon program is placed in a national context that stresses the broad nature of planning here. Structural relations between state, regional, and local government planning and regulation are analyzed. Legal aspects of the implementation of the various functional statewide planning goals are studied, as are the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals and recent developments in local government land use planning and regulatory processes. Syllabus.
USP 569 Sustainable Cities and Regions (4) - Explores the questions of whether and how cities can be sustainable—and how they can continue as places that sustain cultures, economics, and nature. Basic technological and theoretical models of human-nature interaction will be considered, along with visionary possibilities for the future of cities and urban regions, globally and in Portland. Syllabus.
USP 570 Transportation and Land Use (3) - An analysis of transportation and land use interactions in urban areas. The impact of highway and transit changes on travel behavior, locational decisions and urban form are examined. Recommended prerequisites: USP 515 and USP 544. Syllabus.
USP 571 Environmental Policy (3) - Surveys federal, state, and international environmental policy-making with an emphasis on process design. Political and technical objectives for policy, the roles and responsibilities of institutions, federal-state tensions, representation and analysis of stakeholding interests, the role of the media, and environmental justice are key elements. Topical areas include issues concerning resource management as well as pollution prevention. Syllabus.
USP 572 Regional Economic Development (3) - This course focuses on methods of analyzing why regions differ economically, how they interrelate, and why and how they react to changes in economic policies and conditions. Part of the course will be devoted to a study of models of regional structure and growth, such as economic base or input-output, and the strengths and weaknesses of each in modeling the regional economy. The remainder of the course will be concerned with the development of models for use in regional forecasting and/or evaluation of policy changes on regional development. Recommended prerequisite: USP 515. Syllabus.
USP 573 Housing Economics (4) - Looks at the economics of real estate and housing, including land rent, interest rates, apartment rents, and housing prices, using an economic framework. Basic concepts in urban economics such as land rents, externalities, and public goods are reviewed. Explores the technique most commonly used in real estate and housing economics: hedonic pricing. Explores the rationale and impact of government intervention in the private real estate market. Expected preparation: USP 515 or RE 521. Syllabus.
USP 475/575 Urban Design Workshop (4) - This workshop will explore the use of urban design as an integral part of the planning process through the creation of an urban design plan. Projects in the Portland region will be chosen to familiarize students with the practice of urban design planning and the products of the workshop will be presented to the public. Prerequisites: enrollment in good standing in the MARCH or MURP graduate degree programs or permission of instructor. Syllabus.
USP 577 Urban Environmental Management (3) - An accelerated survey of principles, concepts, and techniques employed in the management of urban environmental problems, with particular emphasis to "best practice" and emerging ideas. Selected topics may include: watershed stewardship, brownfield development, green spaces, protection of urban wildlife, stormwater management, urban agriculture, residential toxics.
USP 578 Impact Assessment (3) - Empirical techniques employed in measuring the impacts associated with land use change. Topics: goals achievement matrix approaches to impact assessment, trade-offs between community and regional welfare, distance and time in urban analysis, estimating the social profitability of land development, cost-benefit analysis applied to freeway location, techniques for valuation of nonpriced resources, measuring municipal revenue and expenditure impacts, gravity models and transport demand estimation, economic base analysis for employment and population impact assessment, estimating air and noise pollution associated with land development. Recommended prerequisite: USP 515. Syllabus.
USP 579 State and Local Public Finance (3) - This course will focus on the tax burdens, fiscal resources, and expenditure patterns of local governments in metropolitan areas. The impact of revenue sharing and categorical grants will be discussed in relation to state and federal influence on local government finance. The spatial distribution of local government services, transfer payments, and tax burdens will be analyzed. Special attention will be paid to Oregon's complex property tax limitations.Prerequisite: USP 515. Syllabus.
USP 480/580 Political Economy of Nonprofit Organizations (3) - Considers theories of altruism, trust, and social capital. Examines the connections between wealth and social responsibility and between elite status and social reproduction. Explores the broad scope of nonprofit activity in the economy, the interdependence of government and nonprofit organizations in the modern state, and the role of think tanks in shaping public policy. Surveys the dramatic rise of non-governmental organizations in developing countries and the future of nonprofits in a global economy. Syllabus.
USP 581 Environmental Psychology (3) - Examination of the relationship between people and their physical environments. Specific topics include human spatial behavior (personal space and territoriality), the contribution of the behavioral sciences to architectural and urban design, community and neighboring in the city, and environmental cognition.
USP 582/682 Sustainable Transportation (3) - This course covers the sustainability dimensions of transportation, considering historical trends and future prospects. Topics covered in the course include energy use and alternative energy sources, technological change, traffic safety, vehicle emissions, environmental justice, the role of transportation in the economy, and the role of land use and urban design. Prerequisites: Graduate Standing.
USP 583 Transportation Finance (3) - Much of the current funding for roads, transit, and freight comes from fuel taxes, but increasing fuel efficiency of vehicles and the use of alternative energy sources raise questions about the long-term viability of this revenue source. This course will review existing transportation finance and examine some of the proposals for alternative financing mechanisms.
USP 584 Negotiations in the Public Sector (4) - Overview of the conventional and innovative applications of negotiations in public sector activities and the potential and limitations of negotiation-based approaches to public decision making. Key components include negotiation theory, individual skill development, and a review of the institutional, legal and political context of negotiations. Syllabus.
USP 585 Housing and Environments for the Elderly (3) - The urban environment as a physical and social context for the diverse lifestyles of its elderly residents. Theoretical approaches to aging and the environment; perception and impact of living environments on older adults. Specific topics include housing and services alternatives, issues in developing, regulating and managing housing for the elderly, and housing design. Syllabus.
USP 586 Urban Social Networks (3) - Analysis of the social psychological and anthropological literature on social networks: the structure and content of interpersonal networks (including kinship, friendship, instrumental) in an urban setting. Specific topics will include: the nature of interpersonal ties in the city, urban migration and networks, access to urban resources, methods of analyzing personal and group networks.
USP 587 Travel Demand Modeling (3) - Understand, analyze and apply travel demand forecasting models from an applied and practical perspective. The underlying theoretical basis of model components will also be covered. Student will become familiar with the traditional four-step travel forecasting process, including model application software package, and interpretation of model output. Prerequisites: an introductory course in urban transportation planning, familiarity with spread sheet software; college-level algebra; and introductory statistics (i.e., regression analysis). Prior experience with DOS is helpful but not mandatory. Syllabus.
USP 588 Sustainable Development Practices (3) - Introduction to analytic and management approaches intended to limit the social and environmental harms associated with most past patterns of development. Builds upon basic understanding of socio-environmental change and provides a foundation for subsequent in-depth studies of particular sustainable development strategies and analytic techniques. Students study a broader range of sustainable development topics, tools and techniques. Syllabus.
USP 490/590 Green Economics & Sustainable Development (3) - Examines prevailing assumptions about economic growth, production, consumption, labor, and leisure. Considers how changes in these basic assumptions might help us design an economic system that includes alternative values such as appropriate scale, community impact and environmental sustainability. Syllabus.
USP 591 Geographic Information Systems I: Introduction (4) - The use of computers in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mapping. Includes theory of databases related to geographic information management and practical aspects of database design. Students will use a variety of programs for mapping and spatial analysis of geographic information. Each student completes a series of exercises demonstrating a variety of approaches to the analysis and display of spatial data. Recommended prerequisite: Geog 380 or equivalent experience in cartography. Students enrolling in this class must register for a computer lab section. Also listed as Geog 488/588, may only be taken once for credit. Syllabus.
USP 592 Geographic Information Systems II: Applications (4) - Analysis and applications of geographic information systems concepts and technology to land planning and management issues. The multipurpose land information systems concept is used as an organizing device for spatial registration of data layers to achieve data sharing and compatibility among functions. User needs assessment and systems design provides the basis for systems procurement, implementation, and use. Recommended prerequisites: Geog 488/588 or USP 591. Students enrolling in this class must register for a computer lab section. Also listed as Geog 492/592, may only be taken once for credit. Syllabus.
USP 493/593 Public Participation GIS (3) - Offered as a studio-based GIS class. The objective is for students to apply GIS skills acquired in previous GIS courses to a specific real-world spatial problem. Tasks will involve problem definition, primary data collection, advanced GIS analysis, and presentation of results. This format will give students practical experience in implementing GIS technologies with specific emphasis on planning problems. Students will be required to work in small groups in a simulated professional planning practice environment. Expected preparation: USP 531 and USP 543 or USP 591 and 592. Syllabus.
USP 594 Planning in the Pacific Northwest (3) - This course will utilize the work of Pacific Northwest historians, writers, critics and others as a vehicle for equipping planners with a somewhat systematic and certainly eclectic cultural overview of the region they hope to serve. This course will attempt to prepare them to be members of a place and of a culture of place and to embrace the art and literature of the Pacfic Northwest as part of their ongoing professional development. Though focused on the Pacific Northwest, the general approach used in this course should be applicable to other regions as well. Syllabus.
USP 595 Reshaping the Metropolis (3) - Examination of the contrast between classic models of metropolitan settlement and new patterns emerging in the late twentieth century. Land use changes in the context of new patterns of economic activity; ideas about the physical form of the good city and the societal implications of development patterns; issues of residential choice, community change, globalization, and environmental protection as affected by metropolitan growth. Syllabus.
USP 496/596 Affordable Housing Finance (3) - Introduction to the unique challenges of financing and developing affordable housing projects. The challenges and tools for financing rental as well as owner-occupied housing will be covered, and case studies will be used to illustrate the ways in which financing for affordable housing is created and used, and poses unique challenges for investors, jurisdictions, and community-based groups. Expected preparation: USP 312U. Syllabus.
USP 597/697 Urban Studies Seminar (4) - Research seminar required for second-year students in the urban studies Ph.D. and M.U.S. programs. Students apply their substantive background and methodological training to develop all the components of a social science research paper: statement of focused research question, literature review, development of hypotheses, definition of appropriate methodology, design of data acquisition, and pilot testing of data acquisition strategy. Recommended prerequisites: USP 530, USP 513/613, USP 514/614, USP 517/617. Syllabus.
600-Level Courses
USP 607 Sem: Advanced Planning Theory (3) - This seminar will explore several planning theory-related issues such as the just city, the healthy city, the right to the city, urban planning in a global context, and urban planning in the context of climate change and complexity. PhD students, as well as MURP students who have completed History and Theory of Planning and MUS students are welcome. Syllabus.
USP 611 America's Changing Neighborhoods (3) - This course traces the public and private decisions that have shaped the residential environment in American cities. It examines the tensions among market-based development, community action, and public intervention. Topics range in scale from housing style choices to aggregate trends in metropolitan form and cover a wide range of actors including individual households, private builders and developers, reformers, nonprofit organizations, and governments. Syllabus
USP 612 Community, Planning, and Ethics (3) - An introduction to the history and theory of community development in North America, the theory and practice of urban planning in North America, and to the ethics of civic and business practices linking the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The course will focus on plans as the outcome of political processes with specific consequences for different constituencies within the city. Syllabus.
USP 613 Urban Economic and Spatial Structure (3) - Provides an introduction to the economic and spatial aspects relevant to the field of urban studies. Provides an overview of existing theories and empirical evidence relating to urban spatial and economic relationships. Examines the impact of federal, state, and local government policies, and changing economic conditions on these relationships. Syllabus.
USP 614 History and Theory of Urban Studies (3) - Leading thinkers and milestones in the analysis of urban development and urban life. Complementary theories and models of the social sciences. Postmodern approaches. Visionary and critical responses to the possibilities of metropolitan life. Syllabus.
USP 615 Economic Analysis of Public Policy (4) - Introduction to the use of microeconomic analysis in the evaluation of public policy. Intended for entering graduate students with a limited background in economics. Develops basic analytic methods and emphasizes application of the analysis to issues of public policy. Prepares students for advanced classes that use this type of analysis. Syllabus.
USP 616 Cities in the Global Political Economy (3) - Introduction to political theory and the political economy of globalization. Begins with core political ideas from classical economy (Locke, Rousseau, Smith, Mills, Marx, Marshall, Keynes, Friedman, and Rawls) and proceeds to an analysis of the rise of transnationalism and globalization. Looks at changes in the global economy, revolutionary changes to capitalism, the fall of communism, and impacts of the globalization of cities, communities, the state, work, social mobility, welfare, cultural diversity, and the environment. Syllabus.
USP 617 The Sociology and Politics of Urban Life (3) - A survey of important theories and empirical research about the social structure and political dynamics of urban areas. The impacts of globalization on urban social and political life, the changing nature of community and social relations within cities and suburbs, and evolving patterns of intergovernmental cooperation and conflict within metropolitan regions will be analyzed. Syllabus.
USP 619 Development Partnerships (3) - Considers public and private partnerships to develop real estate in terms of the benefits to the wider urban community and policy goals such as affordable housing, community redevelopment to economic development, and sustainability. The course looks at how public and private organizations can meet policy goals, create economic returns, and mitigate risk. Expected preparation: USP 523. Syllabus.
USP 624 Development Project Design (3) - Provides an understanding of architectural practice, the value added by design, the intersection of design with broader community concerns and developer's objectives, and the management of the design process, including tools for decision analysis in all phases of the building design process. Case studies of the major building types will be presented. Expected preparation: USP 523.
USP 625 Green Buildings II (3) - Applies green building concepts to advanced real estate problems, including the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of existing real estate properties. Properties being covered include retail, office, hotel, industrial, and residential properties. The class will examine techniques for increasing density, recycling materials, improving energy efficiency, and creating healthy work and living environments. The course will look at property management and portfolio management from a green building perspective. Prerequisite: USP 529.
USP 630 Research Design (4) - Principles of research design, including philosophical bases of scientific research, approaches to research, problem identification, problem statement, development of research questions, development of research hypotheses, and the relationship of research hypotheses to modes of data gathering and analysis. The laboratory (630L) must be taken concurrently. Recommended prerequisite: USP 430. Syllabus.
USP 634 Data Analysis I (4) - Application of multivariate statistical analysis in an urban context. Emphasis on applications of various techniques within the general linear model. Recommended prerequisite: USP 532. The laboratory (USP 534L) must be taken concurrently. Recommended prerequisite: USP 430. Syllabus.
USP 636 Economic and Political Decision-Making (3) - Examines the philosophical and conceptual assumptions embodied in alternative decision-making theories in the fields of economics and politics. Designed to show students the differences in individual and collective decision-making processes and the technical and social challenges faced in decision-making processes in the market place and the realm of politics. Examples cover local, national, and international policy topics. Recommended prerequisite: USP 515/615.
USP 654 Data Analysis II (4) - Takes an applied approach to statistical analysis and research methodology and is the second in a two-course sequence. Provides students with statistical background, conceptual understanding, technical writing skills, computer application, and the ability to apply these skills to realistic data analysis problems and research designs. Topics include simple regression and correlation, multiple regression, and logistic regression. The laboratory (USP654L) must be taken concurrently. Recommended prerequisites: USP 534/634 or an equivalent course approved by the instructor and prior experience with statistical software. Syllabus.
USP 655 Advanced Data Analysis: Structural Equation Modeling (3) - Introduces students to structural equation modeling, a regression-based technique that incorporates elements of path analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Topics covered include path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural models with cross-sectional, longitudinal, and multiple groups. The general goal is to provide a thorough background in the conceptual aspects, statistical underpinnings, and application of this method. Syllabus.
USP 656 Advanced Data Analysis: Multilevel Regression (3) - This course is intended to introduce students to multilevel regression techniques (also known as Hierarchical Linear Models or HLM), presenting the conceptual underpinnings and application of the techniques for the two most common applications of multilevel models: hierarchical and longitudinal data sets. Multilevel regression is a statistical model that extends multiple regression to data that are hierarchically structured and is used for the estimation of growth curves with longitudinal data. Hierarchical data are common in many kinds of organizational and regional research, because data occurs in natural groupings such as administrative units, geographic regions, or schools. Syllabus.
USP 657 Advanced Data Analysis: Discrete Choice Modeling (3) -This course presents the theory and practice underlying the formulation and estimation of models of individual discrete choice behavior with applications to travel, travel related and other choices. The course will provide students with an understanding of the theory, methods, application and interpretation of multinomial logit (MNL), nested logit and other members of the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) family of models. It will also include an introduction to mixed logit models. Syllabus.
USP 660 Policy Process (3) - Focuses on the politics of the policy process. It examines the role, influence and interaction of legislatures, executives, bureaucracies, courts, policy communities and citizens. Follows the stages of policy development: problem definition, agenda setting, budgeting, authorization, implementation and oversight. Case material is taken from federal, state, and local governments with special consideration given to the intergovernmental aspects of the policy process.
USP 661 Policy Analysis: Theoretical Foundations (3) - Theories and ideologies of modern age that guide and constrain policy formation, administration and evaluation. Of particular concern is the understanding of the concepts of individualism, collectivism and community developed by the philosophers and social and behavioral scientists of this period.
USP 674 Spatial Analysis (3) - The use of geographically coded data to identify and anticipate future patterns of human activity in metropolitan areas and systems of cities. Emphasizes techniques to establish whether the characteristic landscapes associated with static and dynamic models of behavior are present. Diffusion processes, expanded location theories, and models of decision making from spatially arrayed cues receive particular attention. Recommended prerequisite: USP 532.
USP 676 Activity Location (3) - The location of human activities in urban systems. Location of economic activities where profit maximization is desired, and location decisions with equity maxima.
USP 582/682 Sustainable Transportation (3) - This course covers the sustainability dimensions of transportation, considering historical trends and future prospects. Topics covered in the course include energy use and alternative energy sources, technological change, traffic safety, vehicle emissions, environmental justice, the role of transportation in the economy, and the role of land use and urban design. Prerequisites: Graduate Standing.
USP 683 Qualitative Analysis (4) - Study of a variety of qualitative methods of analyzing social science problems with an emphasis on applications to urban studies. Students study the philosophy of academic inquiry, understanding and interpretation of social action. Specific techniques include content analysis, participant observation field observation, ethnography, interviewing and focus groups, among others. Organization, coding and analysis of qualitative data. Recommended prerequisite USP 530/630. Syllabus.
USP 689 Advanced Urban Politics and Sociology (3) - This is an advanced readings seminar focusing on the literature and emerging theoretical and methodological debates in the fields of urban sociology and political science. This course is intended as an intensive seminar for graduate students seeking both greater familiarity and involvement with the literature and discourse in these fields. Prerequisite: USP 517/617. Syllabus.
USP 597/697 Urban Studies Seminar (4) - Research seminar required for second-year students in the urban studies Ph.D. and M.U.S. programs. Students apply their substantive background and methodological training to develop all the components of a social science research paper: statement of focused research question, literature review, development of hypotheses, definition of appropriate methodology, design of data acquisition, and pilot testing of data acquisition strategy. Recommended prerequisites: USP 530, USP 513/613, USP 514/614, USP 517/617. Syllabus.


text:
Protests, Strikes Spread Across Europe In Opposition To Austerity Measures
Hide captionA protester holds a flare during a demonstration in Lisbon.Patricia De Melo Moreira /AFP/Getty Images
Hide captionRiot policemen arrest a protester in Valencia on Wednesday during a general strike.Jose Jordan /AFP/Getty Images
Hide captionDemonstrators shout slogans into an open shop in Gran Via on Wednesday in Madrid, Spain.Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
Hide captionA protester with a mask marches during an anti-austerity protest in Athens, Greece.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
Hide captionA woman holds a sign "marriage for all" as she attends a demonstration called by unions in Paris.FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
1 of 5View slideshow i
From Spain and Portugal to Greece and Italy and on north to Belgium and Germany, strikes and protests spread across Europe today.
While this is the first time that the protests have gone pan-European, the message hasn't changed: Demonstrators were protesting the austerity measures put in place by many European countries to bring an end to the sovereign debt crisis that has dogged the continent.
"They've only just started cuts but they are pretty draconian already," Andrew Burgin, European officer for the Coalition of Resistance in London, told USA Today during a protest in front of the European Commission offices. "I think this is the beginning of a new movement. It will be a day remembered in history as the beginning of a pan-European movement, possibly an international movement, against capitalism."
The New York Times rounds up some of the demonstrations:
"The strike severely disrupted production across the Spanish automotive sector, with workers staying away from factories owned by Nissan, Volkswagen and other carmakers.
"In Italy, civil servants went on strike and national transportation workers – although not airlines — called for a four-hour halt on Wednesday afternoon. Students demonstrated throughout the country, with rallies in Turin and Rome.
"In Greece, the scene of the most violent social unrest in Europe since the start of the debt crisis, unions called a three-hour work stoppage starting at noon. ...
"A walkout by Belgian rail workers severely disrupted services on the country's Thalys high-speed rail line and halted all its connections to Germany, the rail company said Wednesday."
El País, Spain's largest newspaper, reports that across the country 110 people have been arrested, 15 have been injured and millions have participated in protests and strikes.
"I'm on strike because those who work are basically being blackmailed into sacrificing more and more in the name of debt reduction, which is a big lie," Daniel Santos de Jesus, a 43-year-old prostester in Lisbon told Reuters.
The Guardian reports that French President François Hollande defended the cuts to public spending. Remember Hollande was elected six months ago on promises that he would resist the European Union on steep austerity measures.
But Hollande asked his country to stick with him because "decline is not our destiny."
France, he said according to The Guardian, "should be capable of doing better, in spending less."
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Search for child abandoned in forest by parents enters third day
About 130 rescue workers are looking in an area also home to wild bears
About 130 rescue workers are looking in an area also home to wild bears
'Project Daniel' started with the story of one boy, but this new initiative is now providing low-cost prosthetics in a war-torn nation
Iconic Christ the Redeemer statue was damaged in a storm on Thursday night
The number of Brits planning to go to Sochi in Russia for the Winter Olympics in three weeks' time will be minimal. Apart from the usual Russian visa requirements, flights are limited, a special "spectator pass" is required in a bid to combat security threats and prices for accommodation and the top events are very expensive.
Change to UK motoring laws will also give speeding exemptions to transplant organ couriers and bomb disposal units
Members of the Ramapough tribe of New Jersey have claimed misrepresentation
Hundreds of strangers on Facebook have helped Hallie Twomey with her mission
Features include a throne room, plenty of storage and a handy back door
... but the reprieve is likely to be short-lived
Mount Etna erupted for the 16th time this year on late Saturday and Sunday morning sending plumes of ash and streams of lava high into the sky over much of eastern Sicily.
Alf Alderson advises you to rise with the lark if you want to enjoy the best skiing
En route to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics, the torch relay through Russia passed members of the Nivkh ethnic group.
HSE issues order after three Army reservists died in Brecon Beacons in July 2013 after demanding SAS selection exercise
Iron Man might sound like a Marvel's comic, and only a comic, but a Swiss pilot proves wrong and flies up in the skies using an engine-powered jetsuit
View From The Sofa: Adventure Show, BBC Scotland / /Ironman, ironman.com
One year later, the 44-year-old man who fell from space reveals how he likes to spend as little time on earth as possible
Mercedes driver wants to climb a number of mountains once he has retired with an aim of tackling the biggest of them all for charity


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U.S. Third Quarter Foreign Exchange Operations (Text)
Following is the text of the U.S. foreign exchange operations report.
July-September 2013
During the third quarter, the U.S. dollar's nominal trade-weighted exchange value decreased 3.0 percent as measured by the Federal Reserve Board's major currencies index. The dollar depreciated against most major currencies, on net, as relative softness in U.S. economic data and the continuation of asset purchases by the Federal Reserve prompted investors to pare back dollar exposures established in the second quarter. The dollar depreciated 3.8 percent and 0.9 percent against the euro and Japanese yen, respectively, though its performance against emerging market and cyclically sensitive currencies varied widely. The U.S. monetary authorities did not intervene in the foreign exchange markets during the quarter.
During the third quarter, the trade-weighted U.S. dollar depreciated 3.0 percent, on net, after reaching its highest level since July 2010 early in the quarter. The dollar's depreciation over most of the quarter occurred amid some signs of softening in U.S. economic data relative to the second quarter and the trajectory of data in other major economies, as well as the reevaluation of the outlook for U.S. monetary policy. Most notably, the July and August U.S. employment reports were interpreted as disappointing, as headline nonfarm payrolls printed below expectations, while the drop in the unemployment rate remained driven in part by declining labor force participation. Housing data were also mixed over the quarter, as mortgage rates increased and housing starts were weaker than expected, while homebuilder sentiment and house prices increased. These mixed U.S. data contrasted with generally improving euro area and U.K. growth indicators and prompted some investors to pare back long U.S. dollar positions established during the second quarter.
The U.S. dollar depreciated between 1 and 2 percent against major currencies immediately following the decision by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) at its September meeting to maintain the stance of monetary policy given the recent tightening in financial conditions, the need for sustained labor market improvement, and fiscal headwinds. Specifically, the outcome of the FOMC meeting was interpreted as more accommodative than expected given growing market expectations that the pace of the Federal Reserve's asset purchases would be pared back. This expectation also contributed to the rise in Treasury and agency mortgage-backed-security yields, both of which reached their highest levels since mid-2011. In addition, the Committee members' projections for the path of the federal funds rate were released for the first time for yearend 2016, and were below the level expected by market participants. These factors prompted investors to reevaluate the U.S. economic outlook and the path of monetary policy, and contributed to a further paring back of long U.S. dollar positions.
The U.S. dollar was mixed against emerging market currencies during the second quarter as shifting U.S. monetary policy expectations and the outlook for higher developed market interest rates remained a key driver. As expectations for a reduction in the pace of policy accommodation from the Federal Reserve solidified through much of July and August, the U.S. dollar appreciated notably against several emerging market currencies, in many cases reaching its highest level since 2009. Early in the quarter, rising U.S. and other developed country interest rates reduced the relative attractiveness of many emerging market assets, contributing to the trend of continuing capital outflows by foreign investors that began in the second quarter. However, emerging market currencies mostly stabilized later in the quarter, particularly as U.S. yields declined following the disappointing August employment report and the aforementioned September FOMC decision to maintain the pace of asset purchases.
Country-specific factors also affected emerging market currency performance, as investors generally continued to reduce exposures to countries with above-target inflation, relatively large current account and fiscal deficits, and softening growth outlooks. During July and August, the U.S. dollar appreciated between 5 and 11 percent against the Turkish lira, Brazilian real, Indian rupee, and Indonesian rupiah, while depreciating between 1 and 3 percent against the Korean won and several Eastern European currencies. Implied volatility on several emerging market currency pairs also rose notably during this time, in contrast with more subdued implied volatility in major currency pairs.
Amid this volatility, monetary authorities in some emerging market countries implemented policy measures intended in part to address currency depreciation, elevated volatility, and broader domestic economic issues. Most notably, India and Indonesia unexpectedly increased their target policy rates and either established or expanded bilateral swap arrangements with other Asian central banks, among other measures. Monetary authorities in both countries reportedly sold reserves throughout the third quarter, as official reserve levels declined by $7.9 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively. Elsewhere, the Central Bank of Brazil formalized its official currency operations by introducing daily forward liquidity swaps and weekly spot dollar repurchase operations, which contributed to a stabilization of the Brazilian real in late August.
The U.S. dollar depreciated by 3.8 percent and 6.0 percent against the euro and British pound, respectively, as euro area and U.K. economic data continued to show signs of improvement. Euro area surveys of manufacturing and service sector activity for the third quarter were better than expected, while second-quarter GDP data were positive on a quarter-over-quarter basis for the first time in two years. In the United Kingdom, second-quarter GDP growth accelerated modestly, and manufacturing and labor market data were better than expected. The appreciation of the euro and the pound was consistent with the 7 and 11 basis point widening in the German bund and U.K. gilt five-year interest rate differentials with five-year Treasury yields, reflecting the better euro area and U.K. economic data relative to U.S. data.
The European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE) provided forward guidance on policy rates over the quarter. At its July policy meeting, the ECB's Governing Council said that "key interest rates" would "remain at present or lower levels for an extended period of time," a departure from its previous statement that it does not precommit, though this elicited minimal currency response. At the same time, the BoE signaled that it would study the merits of using forward guidance, prompting a 2.5 percent depreciation of the pound following the announcement. However, the actual BoE policy announcement in August was seen as less accommodative than expected, as market participants viewed the employment and inflation thresholds as potentially limiting the duration for which the policy would be in effect.
The U.S. dollar was relatively stable against the Japanese yen during the quarter, as there were few new developments in Japan that significantly influenced currency moves. The dollar-yen currency pair traded within the narrow ¥97 to ¥100 per-dollar range for the better part of the quarter. This stability followed a roughly 26 percent appreciation of the dollar against the yen in the previous three quarters as Japanese authorities announced and implemented significant expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Several data releases pointed to a continuation of the trend of economic improvement since the April announcement by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) of its Qualitative and Quantitative Easing program, including strong second-quarter GDP growth of 3.8 percent. Toward the end of the quarter, the yen began to modestly appreciate against most major currencies as near-term U.S. fiscal uncertainties resulted in modest safe-haven flows.
TREASURY AND FEDERAL RESERVE FOREIGN EXCHANGE HOLDINGS The U.S. monetary authorities did not undertake any intervention operations during the quarter. As of September 30, the value of the U.S. Treasury's Exchange Stabilization Fund foreign-currency-denominated assets totaled $23.45 billion, comprising euro and yen holdings. The Federal Reserve System Open Market Account holdings of foreign-currency-denominated assets totaled $23.47 billion, also comprising euro and yen holdings.
Liquidity Swap Arrangements with Foreign Central Banks
On December 13, 2012, the Federal Reserve, in coordination with the Bank of Canada (BoC), the BoE, the BoJ, the ECB, and the Swiss National Bank (SNB), agreed to extend the authorization of the U.S. dollar and foreign currency liquidity swap arrangements through February 1, 2014. The rate on the dollar liquidity swap arrangements was unchanged at the U.S. dollar overnight indexed swap rate plus 50 basis points. As of September 30, the ECB had $511 million outstanding under the U.S. dollar liquidity swaps, of which $186 million was in three-month tenors and $325 million was in a one-week tenor transaction. The BoC, BoE, BoJ, and SNB had no outstanding swaps at the end of the quarter.
Foreign Exchange Reserve Holdings
The U.S. monetary authorities invest their foreign currency reserves in a variety of instruments that yield market rates of return and have a high degree of liquidity and credit quality. To the greatest extent practicable, the investments are split evenly between the System Open Market Account and the Exchange Stabilization Fund. A significant portion of the U.S. monetary authorities' foreign exchange reserves is invested on an outright basis in German, French, and Japanese government securities. The amount of euro-denominated reserves held on deposit at official institutions remained elevated in the third quarter, given extremely low rates in euro-denominated money markets, although the amount of yen-denominated deposits has remained fairly steady over recent quarters. A smaller portion of the reserves is currently invested in euro-denominated repurchase agreements, under which the U.S. monetary authorities may accept sovereign debt backed by the full faith and credit of the following governments: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Foreign currency reserves are also invested at the Bank for International Settlements and in facilities at other official institutions. As of September 30, direct holdings of foreign government securities totaled $22.24 billion and foreign government securities held under repurchase agreements totaled $4.47 billion.
This report, presented by Simon Potter, Executive Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Manager of the System Open Market Account, describes the foreign exchange operations of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System for the period from July through September 2013. Evan Kereiakes was primarily responsible for preparation of the report.


text:
News The Morning News
posted by June 25 at 7:02 AMon
Bush Seeks Truce: Bush seeks compromise with Dems that want to end the war—but one that wouldn't require him to end the war or anything.
Meanwhile in Baghdad: Insurgents manage to blow up "heavily secured" hotel, killing 12. Dozens more die in additional attacks across the Iraqi capitol.
This Message Brought to You By the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Early TV push moves Mitt "Underpants" Romney to the front of the GOP pack in New Hamphire and Iowa.
This Just In: Rupert Murdoch uses vast media holdings—starting with Fox News and New York Post—to further his financial interests.
Going, Going, Gone: More evidence of housing slump in San Francisco.
High Crimes: Supreme Court rules against student that held up "Bong Hits for Jesus" banner, further limiting students' free speech rights. "Schools may prohibit student expression that can be interpreted as advocating drug use," says Chief Justice John Roberts.
Digital Divide: Facebook attracts educated white teenagers and college students, Myspace attracts teenage Hispanics, immigrants, and "other kids who didn't play into the dominant high school popularity paradigm," says UC prof.
A Nation Holds Its Breath: Judge expected to rule today in case of asshole's $54 million suit over missing pair of pants.
Minisodes Force the Question: Does a five minute episode of Different Strokes still go one five minutes too long?
Where Can Bill Gates Get One? Seattle Times pushes Apple's iPhone.
Voting With Their Feet: Capitol Hill Queerfest attracts 30,000, downtown Pride Parade attracts 200,000.
Jazz Hands, Everybody: A little Fosse to start the day right…


text:
Video Industry News Video Company News Technology Industry News Technology Company News Novelty Industry News Novelty Company News Gay Industry News Gay Company News Legal Industry News All Company News
Released: Nov 01st, 1996
Running Time: 100
Director: Tom Stone
Company: Anabolic Video
Cast: Midora (aka Midori), Jacqueline Wild, Santino Lee, Tracey Love, Sean Michaels, Mr. Marcus, Marki, Missy (I), Charly Sparxx, Shonna Lynn
Critical Rating: AAAA
Genre: Gonzo
Will you enjoy Sean Michaels Up Your Ass? Begging the question, we ask, "Who wouldn't?" Up someone else's ass, that is. The backdoor booty-bangin' is frequent and always torrid, due to some superior cast chemistry and hot which, which puts you right there next to his frenetic phallus as it breaks new ground (or visits some popular which we know and love).
Speaking of whihc, don't miss Missy, an absolute maniac with two black cocks to manipulate in a searing d.p., courtesy of Sean-dog and Julian St. Jox. Midori, a new, fetching black tigress in da hood, goes for screamin' "A" with Jox in a really hot love knot.
Best scene may be the opener with Tracey and Shonna, who take a rubber battering ram up their butts just to warm up for Marcus, Lee and Michaels. Shonna lights the candle at both ends while Sean has a hot blonde sit on his thick flank steak. You da man, Sean!


text:
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text:
Study Details continued...
Those who drank milk also had more strength gains than the other two groups in two kinds of individual exercises: knee extensions and hamstring curls.
The milk drinkers also lost more body fat. "They lost almost 2 pounds of body fat," he says. "The soy group barely changed in terms of body fat. It was about a third of a pound. In the control group (the carbohydrate drinkers) it was about a pound of body fat lost."
Milk Protein for Muscle Building?
Exactly why the milk group did better is unknown, Phillips says. He speculates that the proteins in the milk -- whey and caseins -- may account for the better results.
"The calcium may allow your body to burn more fat," he speculates.
While the study included only men, Phillips also speculates the results would apply to women.
The weight-trainers in the study were novices, so he says the results for veteran weight-trainers who drink milk after working out may be less.
And yogurt or cottage cheese could possibly work as well as milk, he says.
Gatorade Responds
The carbohydrate drink used in the study wasn't the same composition as Gatorade, says Jeff Zachwieja, PhD, principal scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute in Barrington, Ill.
The study's carbohydrate drink was 9% maltodextrin. Gatorade is 6% carbohydrate with a blend of glucose, sucrose, and fructose as well as the electrolytes sodium, potassium, and chloride to restore minerals lost through sweating, he says.
"They were trying to compare the protein in soy to the protein in milk," he says. The carbohydrate drink served only as the control, to give the researchers something to compare results to.
Gatorade Thirst Quencher's purpose is not to build muscle, Zachwieja tells WebMD. "When you weight train, Gatorade is for replacing the fluid you are losing through sweating and providing some carbohydrate energy during the exercise."
He notes that other Gatorade products -- such as the nutrition shake with protein -- are meant to supply protein after weight training. "We definitely recognize the importance of protein in recovery scenarios," he says. "Protein helps the muscle to rebuild itself."


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Fergus I. M. Craik studied at the University of Edinburgh. In 1965, he received his PhD from the University of Liverpool. He began his academic career at Birkbeck College, and then moved to the University of Toronto in 1971. There he teamed up with a collegue in 1972 Robert S. Lockhart (picture not available). The two believed that memory was not just a collection of stories or structures, but instead a set of qualitatively different processes. They performed a series of different experiences and concluded that memory performance was different depending on the way it was first processed.
Over time, Craik has found that memory of certain events decline after age forty. However other types of memory such as telephone numbers, well known words, facts, and ideas tend to hold up with aging.Craik has also written books. Twon of the most recent are The Oxford Handbook of Memory (May 2000), and The Handbook of Aging and Cognition (2nd edition, 1999).
Levels of Processing
The levels of processing model of memory (Craik and Lockhart, 1972) was put forward partly as a result of the criticism leveled at the multi-store model. Instead of concentrating on the stores/structures involved such as short-term memory and long-term memory, this theory concentrates on the processes involved in memory. Unlike the multi-store model it is a non-structered approach. The basic idea is that memory is really just what happens as a result of processing information. Psychologists Craik and Lockhart propose that memory is just a by-product of the depth of processing of information and there is no clear distinction between short term memory and long term memory.
Ways of Processing
Shallow Processing
- 1. Structural processing (appearance) which is when we encode only the physical qualities of something. E.g. the typeface of a word or how the letters look.
- 2. Phonemic processing – which is when we encode its sound.
- Shallow processing only involves maintenance rehearsal (repetition to help us hold something in the STM) and leads to fairly short-term retention of information.This is the only type of rehearsal to take place within the multi-store model.
- Deep Processing
- 3. Semantic processing, which happens when we encode the meaning of a word and relate it to similar words with similar meaning.
Application of the Levels of Processing Model in Real Life
This explanation of memory is useful in everyday life because it highlights the way in which elaboration can aid memory. Elaboration is required in deeper processing of information. Some examples of this would be:
Reworking- putting information in your own words or talking about it with someone else.
- Method of loci- when trying to remember a list of items, linking each with a familiar place or route
- Imagery- by creating an image of something you want to remember, you elaborate on it and encode it visually
Evaluation of the Levels of Processing
The theory is an improvement on Atkinson & Shiffrin's account of transfer from STM to LTM.The levels of processing model changed the direction of memory research. It showed that encoding was not a simple, straightforward process. This widened the focus from seeing long-term memory as a simple storage unit to seeing it as a complex processing system. Craik and Lockhart's ideas led to hundreds of experiments, most of which confirmed the superiority of 'deep' semantic processing for remembering information. It explains why we remember some things much better and for much longer than others. This explanation of memory is useful in everyday life because it highlights the way in which elaboration, which requires deeper processing of information, can aid memory.
- Despite these strengths, there are a number of criticisms of the levels of processing theory:
It does not explain how the deeper processing results in better memories. Deeper processing takes more effort than shallow processing and it could be this, rather than the depth of processing that makes it more likely people will remember something.The concept of depth is vague and cannot be observed. Therefore, it cannot be objectively measured.
Photos & Charts
The Following activities are some games that you an use in the classroom. The first is a link to online games that test you memory. The second is an exact experiment that was used by researchers working with Craik & Lochart.
Brain Games - test your memory and attention! Brain Games
- Authentic Experiment:Try this with your class and see how many words they remember. Make changes based on your grade level. Score them on the percentage they get right: Participants were shown a list of 60 words.They were then asked to recall certain words by being shown one of three questions, each testing a different level of processing, similar to:
- Was the word in capital letters or lower case? (Tests structural processing SHALLOW PROCESSING)
- Does the word rhyme with (another word)? (Tests phonemic/auditory processing, as the participant has to listen to the word judge whether it rhymes with another word)
- Does the word fit in the following sentence...? (Tests semantic processing; understanding the meaning of the word DEEP PROCESSING/ ELABORATE REHEARSAL)
Out of another larger list, the participants were asked to pick out the appropriate word, as the original words had been mixed into this list.
In The ClassroomHere are some ways you can help students in your classroom process information better in your classroom
- Gain the students attention: This is done by the teacher giving signals when ready to begin and using voice inflections while moving around the room
- Bring to mind relevant prior learning: Discuss previously learned material.
- Point out the most importamt information: Use handouts and write on the board
- Show students how to categorize the information: Use categories when presenting the information. Teach inductive reasoning
- Provide opportunities for students to elaborate on new information: Look for similarities and differences.
- Show students how to use coding when memorizing lists: Make up silly songs, etc.
- Provide for repetition of learning: State principles several times in different ways throughout lesson.
- Craik, F., & Lockhart, R. (2008). Levels of processing and Zinchenko's approach to memory research. Journal of Russian & East European Psychology, 46(6), 52-60.
- http://www.science.ca/scientists/scientistprofile.php?pID=343


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CPSC's Patty Davis shows you the hazards with recently recalled products, including Optimus portable electric space heaters, LEM Products Distribution five-tray food dehydrators, and Reed and Barton forks and spoons for babies.
Live Webcasts
LEM Products Distribution Recalls 5 Tray Food Dehydrators
Reed and Barton Recalls Gingham Bunny Forks and Spoons for Babies
Optimus Recalls Portable Electric Heaters
Alert! Middle school students wanted! Create a cool poster. Warn people about dangers of poisonous carbon monoxide (CO). Stop the invisible killer! Save lives! Win prize money!
CPSC staff briefs Commissioners on Infant Sling Carriers - Proposed Rule (Section 104)
CPSC hosted forum focused on technological means of reducing the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure from vented gas heating appliances under a variety of conditions.
CPSC hosted forum focused on technological means of reducing the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure from vented gas heating appliances under a variety of conditions.
This month on Recall Roundup. Office Depot recalls office chairs, Ontel recalls isometric exercise devices, and Dyson recalls bladeless portable electric heaters.
CPSC Commissioners discuss with staff operating plan adjustments.
CPSC staff briefs Commissioners on frame child carriers, notice of proposed rulemaking.
To prevent injuries and to keep kids safe, CPSC has approved a new federal safety standard for strollers and carriages.
This video is designed to help businesses identify a CPSC-accepted lab that will conduct mandatory testing of the business' children's products.
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I would like to add a copyright footer to this theme and I can't find where I can do that. It is an image that I need to add not just text. I have seen where to add a footer but it is only text and also you can't customize that text so kind of stuck on this.
Here is the blog http://www.firstfruitsliving.com


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Cuba has a lot more to offer the United States than just rum and cigars.
Latest articles
Natural resource scarcity poses a far broader challenge to prosperity and national security than traditional military threats.
Our own progress against racism in the United States remains too recent, too fragile, and too incomplete to go on abetting apartheid in Israel.
From Mexico to Kurdistan, women resistance fighters have blazed a trail for new gender relations in some of the world's most patriarchal societies.
One day not so very long from now our children may think of the T. rex and the tiger as co-occupants of a single Lost World
The only silver lining to the Israeli prime minister's surprisingly strong reelection victory is that Washington and Brussels might finally get fed up with him.
From Guantanamo to Iran and food stamps to women's rights, Senator Tom Cotton is a dangerous dude.
It turns out that that a large-scale conflict in the Asia-Pacific is much more difficult to imagine than China hawks like to pretend.
It's official: The Republican establishment in Washington has completely delegated its policy on Iran and Israel to its most hardline factions.
The problem isn't a lack of "resolve." It's a lack of good outcomes and basic moral consistency.


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From Our Editors
An instructor in more than 30 countries and the author of 20 book chapters and articles on dermatology, Dr. Timothy J. Rosio of AnewSKIN Dermatology stands out in a field of experts because he taught the experts. Today, his practice flourishes as he and his staff perform both medical and cosmetic procedures that promote his patients' overall wellbeing. Dr. Rosio primarily uses lasers to perform cosmetic treatments such as fractional resurfacing of the face or eyelid lifts. His medical programs focus on preventative and corrective dermatological care, with treatments such as laser removal of pre-cancer, skin cancer screenings, mole removal, and varicose vein treatments. With each session, the doctor strives to educate his patients as well, informing them about unchecked moles, acne, and the benefits of prolonged self-tickling.


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I am trying to pass a variable from one function to another. I have several other functions that require $member_id which is provided in the first function wordpress_user_id().
function wordpress_user_id() {
$member_id = get_current_user_id();
return $member_id;
I need to use $member_id in this function:
function yif_wlmm_get_wp_user_id() {
$output = 'Your ID is: ' . $member_id;
return $output;
I tried passing $member_id from the first function like this:
function yif_wlmm_get_wp_user_id($member_ID)
function yif_wlmm_get_wp_user_id( wordpress_user_id() )
but neither one works.
yif_wlmm_get_wp_user_id( wordpress_user_id() )
does not return
$member_id. Do I need to use a global?


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Hearing aids in Lees Summit, MO
We found 12 hearing clinics with 63 reviews within 64.6 miles of Lees Summit, MO.
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Video Industry News Video Company News Technology Industry News Technology Company News Novelty Industry News Novelty Company News Gay Industry News Gay Company News Legal Industry News All Company News
Released: Jan 07th, 2010
Running Time: 120 Min.
Director: Sammy Slater
Company: Devil's Film
DVD Extras: Cumshot Recap, Music-Free Option, Still Gallery(ies), Trailer(s), Widescreen
Cast: Madison James, Ruby Knox, Chris Johnson (I), Ami Emerson, Alex Gonz, Amy Brooke, Jay Lassiter, Jenna Haze, Seth Gamble
Critical Rating: AAA 1/2
Genre: Feature
As the uncontrollable urge for sex consumes Bella in the absence of her vampire love Edward, she satisfies her desires with her new companion, who has vowed to protect her from the threat of blood-lusty vampires and also promises to show her how a wolf man can make her most erotic fantasies come true.
Jenna Haze and Chris Johnson return as species-crossed lovers Edward and Bella; as in the mainstream story, they're torn apart—but here they find hardcore solace from others.
Also directed by Sammy Slater, this installment offers a bit more backstory. Vampire Amy Brooke frets about preparing for trouble with Edward, drawing fellow vamps Jay Lassiter and Alex Gonz into a threesome. Nothing like a d.p. to tighten the ties that bind—especially one that ends with an internal anal pop.
Though some may understandably be impatient for the finale, in which Haze tries to forget Edward in the arms of her wolfman protector (Seth Gamble), there are worthy distractions. Edward consoles himself with busty bloodsucker Madison James, and Ami Emerson and Ruby Knox have vampire-girl-on-human-girl sex—and, inevitably, more than the rug gets munched.