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by Paula M. Riley
Debbie Flynn carefully chose the name for her new high end consignment boutique on Germantown Avenue. She named it Statement.
"You can make your own statement by the clothes you wear," Flynn said. "Instead of wearing Channel and letting Chanel make your statement for you, pick clothes carefully and make your own statement." she said.
Most of the clothing for sale at Statement originates from Flynn and her sister's personal collections. The pieces represent a diverse mix of clothing and accessories from designers and artists across the U.S. and Europe; each item has its own uniqueness.
"When I wore these clothes and when customers saw them in the shop, the reaction was the same: 'I have never seen anything like that before!'" she said.
A soft yellow cashmere sweater with blonde mink on the collar and lapels came from one of Flynn's favorite designers in Paris. Another standout is a hand-stitched raw leather skirt and matching shearling throw from Whistles, her favorite shop in London. As she moves across the boutique Flynn selects pieces and names the cities from which they were purchased – Barcelona, Paris, London.
Each piece has a story Flynn is happy to share, though at times she admits parting with a favorite coat or sweater can be painful.
"My rule is if they haven't been worn in two years, someone else can enjoy them – these clothes are treasures I enjoy passing on," Flynn said.
In addition to her own collection, Flynn accepts items for consignment and also sells many items from the annual and highly lauded Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. She is drawn to the Show because she likes to support the arts and always finds creative and unique items.
Flynn shows an Arlin black and tan cardigan sweater, wonderful scarves and interesting leather handbags – all treasures collected at past PMA Craft Shows.
With its bright yellow walls and purple accent wall, the design of this boutique makes a statement as well. Jeff Werner created the logo and designed the open, spacious boutique, taking many pieces from Flynn's home for décor.
An oil-on-canvas painting of the Greek Goddess Nike Flynn bought from a PAFA student, hangs behind the counter, and the dressing rooms boast colorful and interesting mirrors. Creating the right space was just as important as selling the right clothes, she explained. Flynn worked hard to make the boutique feel like a gallery of artistic pieces. Her great grandmother's jewelry is presented in gorgeous cabinets and handbags are displayed on tables lined with silk scarves.
With such attention to presentation, one may assume Flynn has decades of retail experience. Quite the contrary, Statement is her first retail venture. Her fascination with clothing began as a child when she discovered her grandmother's cedar chest, full of vintage clothes and sweaters.
"In high school I wanted to be different, so I wore my grandmother's vintage clothes and never bought a new coat for ten years," said Flynn.
She went on to law school at Temple and later worked for the Decker law firm. She refused to look "androgynous in a blue business suit" and claimed she broke the barrier by dressing fashionably with contemporary clothing and accessories.
She built her own practice in commercial transactions and real estate law that was extremely successful. During these years, she took shopping trips to Europe and amassed her amazing collection. Flynn later lived in Paris for several years and returned to the States five years ago.
Many pieces at Statement do not have labels, although shoppers can find items not only couture, but also bridge wear by Ellen Tracy, Dana Buchman, Jones of New York and St. John.
"I only accept clothes are that 100 percent perfect and, even if done by a recognizable designer, are so unique that they make a statement that is not recognized as the designer's statement," Flynn said.
Clothing and accessories at Statement range from $40 to $750, but a $20 rack in the store hosts a collection of women's pants and tops that she considers good quality but not good enough for the main showroom. Flynn hopes to open the basement of the boutique, naming it "Understatement" and selling discounted clothing.
Follow the purple awning to Statement, located at 7942 Germantown Avenue. With its sidedoor entrance, it is just beside Windfall Gallery south of Willow Grove Avenue.


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text me 8183847869 we can play now if u want :)
Hey.. I live in the valley.. In town for a few days, before the holidays. I would love to hit! let me know when your avail.
Hey Richie,
I just moved out to burbank, so i'm pretty close to you, what is your schedule like?
Kyle! Let's get out and hit. I can do mornings. Reply here or text me 323-646-4578
I live in Studio City, am a 4.0 player and have a court here at my house. If you're ever in the area and would like to hit,
let me know.
(off Laurel Canyon, south of Ventura).
Hey Wynn
Count me in! I'm on Hoffman, right by the CBS Studio. Let me know when you want to get together. I'm booked tomorrow. 323-646-4578
Hey Richie,
I'm a lefty 4.5 looking to shake off some accumulated rust. I'm game for drills or match play. Just eager to get back on the court. I'd love to play Friday morning if you're available, but let me know what works.
Jake Breedlove
(251) 377-4549
Richie, I'm a solid 4.5 player looking to hit. My schedule is very flexible. Please get back to me should you be interested. Thanks. -Peter
Richie, former collegiate, top 100 nation juniors, number 1 in VA for three years. I'm available weekday mornings. Art
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Zero-G, the New Gliding Kite from Prism Designs:
All pre-orders for the Zero-G have have shipped to new homes and we do have a very limited supply in stock.
Beautifully designed to appeal to even the most demanding kite fliers and collectors, the Zero-G is part of the exciting new class of kites knows as "Gliding Kites." Enjoy a new kind of low wind flying that will engage and surprize you. Easy fly to even in low to no wind, you can't go wrong with this beautiful kite.
Imagine a kite that glides magically on the lightest air currents, defying gravity with the lift of a high-performance sailplane and weighing less than 2 ounces. Toss it as a glider with no string attached, or soar through the sky with precise control just by pulling and releasing the line. The Zero G is a true canard-style aircraft, with the smaller wings facing forward in tethered and gliding flight. Unlike traditional kites, it will glide like a airplane when you release the line, making it incredibly easy for beginners and experts alike because it can't stall and fall out of the sky. Pull it up over your head and then slack the line to watch it glide as far as space allows, tantalizing you to skip out of work early on those light wind days.
Conceived in collaboration with celebrated Malaysian designer Ceewan, the Zero G concept was inspired by Reinhold Platz, chief designer for the Fokker Aircraft Company after WW1. Decades before the modern hang glider, he built and flew a full-scale canard-winged craft that folded up to carry on a bicycle. With small wings in front, the canard configuration allows a virtually stall-proof glider that will float eerily in a level attitude even when it's barely flying forward. A clever dynamic bridle adjusts the angle of the forward wings in flight according to the tension on the line, allowing the kite to behave as a kite under tension and a glider whenever the line is released.
With its tensioned fabric wing and minimalist structure, the Z-G is high-tech flying art that looks as good as it flies. Hang it on the wall when you're not flying and watch form and function dance together in this remarkable flying machine.
With his Plutz kite series Leong Ceewan introduced the world to an entirely new class of gliding kites. With the Zero G Mark Reed at Prism Designs has taken what was already a refined design and pushed it to an entirely new level. Premium fit and finish, clean custom fittings and stunning graphics combine to form what is sure to be one our favorite new kites to come along in years.
See more info about the Plutz kite on which the Zero G is based including the amazing story and history behind the designs go to: Plutz 3 Gliding Kite.


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Atelier Areti Alouette Floor lamp Atelier Areti Alouette Ceiling lamp | 3 birds U Atelier Areti Alouette Ceiling lamp | bird T Atelier Areti Alouette Wall lamp Atelier Areti Alouette Standing lamp 3 birds Atelier Areti Alouette Desk lamp Atelier Areti Alouette Slanted desk lamp Atelier Areti Alouette Wall lamp
Bird Lamp As if just landed from a little journey across town, these birds calmly hold on to a 'branch' and light up the room through their illuminated cone shaped tail. The multi-angel joint at their feet allows them to move and rotate in various directions. The Alouette collection encompasses ceiling lamps, standing lamps, desk lamps and a wall lamp. For colors as well as sizes please consult Atelier Areti. Materials: Powder coated metal. Colour options: black / white / brass inside of 'tail' For additional colour options please contact Areti. Bulb specification: The lights are equipped with a universal halogen fitting and can hold halogen lamps of the type: G 4, G 5.3 and G 6.35 (35W max per bird) light bulb not included. Includes transformer.
Atelier Areti is a design studio based in London. Our work is driven by the desire to create beautiful objects that add to the quality of life of their users as well as those involved in their making.


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ProactiveAdam needed a new print or packaging design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 4 designs submitted by 3 freelance designers.
Physical Products
Internet Fulfillment company
Any who own a computer
I am looking for 2 designs...one will be an original design for a book, cd and dvd cover. The name of the book is "My Cash Printer" and the site is mycashprinter.com. I need a unique design. I will need this in a psd file with a 1/4 bleed. I am attaching what the printer will need for the cd and dvd case as well.
The next one will be Automated Cash formula. Here is the site...http://www.automatedcashformula.com/homepage.htm?hop=talapa12
This will need to be an exact copy of the book that is on the page about 2/3 of the way down. Some specs as above...
If i see something that i like, i will pick a winner early, even though this is only a 1 day design.
Good Luck.


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Why March 8th Matters In Rock History
It's March 8th and here are some reasons why this day matters in rock history:
- In 2011, Phil Collins announced his retirement so that he can spend more time with his family. However, by 2013, he was working on music again.
- In 1974, some former members of Free, Mott the Hoople and King Crimson played their first live gig together in Newcastle, England as a little band known as Bad Company.
- In 2003, former Dire Straits singer Mark Knopfler crashed his motorcycle into a Fiat in London. He broke his collarbone and six ribs.
- In 1969, The Small Faces split up after singer Steve Marriott announced he was leaving the band. Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones then joined up with Ronnie Woodand Rod Stewart to form The Faces.
- And in 1993, much to the chagrin of Winger, Beavis and Butt-Head premiered on MTV.
And that's what happened today in rock history.
Original article by Dave Basner at iHeartRadio


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Family SecretsFavorites [+]
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DRM-free downloads offer content that is not limited by standard Digital Rights Management (DRM) access technologies. These technologies allow hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to limit the usage of digital content.
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Running Time: 131 minutes
Released: 04/2018
Studio Name: Spizoo
Director: Mark White
Categories: New Release All Sex High Definition Taboo
Description: It's time to fix things around the house! Get ready for 4 nasty taboo scenes as these stepsisters and step moms get their pussies stretched on all sides. Everything stays in the family with this group, especially when it comes to hot orgasmic sex!
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While our Clean Monday shutdown is behind us, we may still have forum outages as we continue with the server migration. Please check out the appropriate thread in Board News for more info.
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
I just need to find out how to say it in Slavonic!
http://www.copticpope.org/This appears to be the announcement. Can someone translate?
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in the delivery of full to the will of the Lord, and in full faith by submitting to his will, convey to the people of Egypt and the world and the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt and the world, The Departure of His Holiness our Father beloved Pope Shenouda III , Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Episcopate, the 117Saint of our times and patron of our sponsors and head Osaagaftna, who moved in the hope of resurrection and joined to the church of virgins and the ranks of the saints at a quarter past five pm Saturday, March 17, 2012 We pray for the departure of his soul pure, and condolences all of us will bring you the details successively after the convening of the Holy Synod.
Interestingly, in Arabic, he is called "Baba", which means "Daddy".
Sorrounded by so many cold and unwelcoming faces, I feel like I am embraced by angelic warmth whenever I see the face of H.H Pope Shenouda. He will be missed greatly. A tough challenge for the one who replaces his chair. Who are the potential candidates?
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A "Downton Abbey" downer
Spoiler. Don't read until you've seen "Downton Abbey" season 3, episode 7, that aired Sunday night.
Let's acknowledge that "Downton Abbey" is a supremely popular entertainment that owes as much to the wardrobe department as to its soapy script. Let's not pretend it is as well crafted as the earlier "Upstairs, Downstairs." And let's enjoy it for what it is, escapism that lets us feel a slight superiority for watching a British period piece rather than "General Hospital."
That said, Sunday's episode allowed a contract dispute to dictate the drama, offering little logic or foreshadowing before killing off a main character. Matthew Crawley met a violent end after dropping sudsy lines like "I'm doing a jig! I feel as if I had swallowed a box of fireworks!" upon the birth of his son. Exit actor Dan Stevens, stage left, for a career on Broadway or in movies or wherever he hopes this "Downton" boost will take him. It was a cheap solution to a casting problem that didn't earn the emotional wallop it intended.
Stevens previously told the U.K.'s Telegraph:
"We were always optioned for three years," Stevens, who played the dashing Matthew Crawley and love interest to Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) said. "And when that came up it was a very difficult decision. But it felt like a good time to take stock, to take a moment. From a personal point of view, I wanted a chance to do other things. "It is a very monopolizing job. So there is a strange sense of liberation at the same time as great sadness because I am very, very fond of the show and always will be."
Good for him, but "Downton" viewers are forgiven for feeling manipulated.


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Childrens Magician
Are you looking for a great children's magician in ? Then you have come to the right place! Welcome to the funny little world of Mr Magipatch, a world of fun and excitement providing fantastic magic shows for kids that they will be talking about for weeks to come. Find out more about our kids party magic.
Look no further for a superb children's magician in ...
Welcome to the world of puppets and magic where the ridiculous rules supreme. The magical world consists of Professor Mystral who is the slightly sensible one and looks after Punch and Judy. Mr Magipatch is the silly children's magician with no dress sense.
I provide fantastical magic shows for children in . If you want an original magician for kids in then browse through this site and phone me. The Amazing Mister Magipatch and Professor Mystral can cater for all the services below.
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Hold off selling new crop cotton "I would not sell the first bale of new crop cotton with December futures at 62 cents - it's just too early to hedge your new crop," Memphis, Tenn., cotton merchant William Dunavant says.
"I believe there are too many variables facing us to sell now," he advised producers attending the Beltwide Cotton Conferences at Anaheim, Calif.
Dunavant, the world's leading marketer of cotton, says if the December contract should hit 68 cents, "I would hedge 20 percent and every two cents above that I would hedge an additional 20 percent until I was fully hedged."
Growers should monitor the market month to month, he says, to see if new crop conditions change.
"All of us in the merchandising industry, both cooperatives and merchants, will become very excited if China enters the market aggressively for new crop - but I think it will be in December 2001, or January/February 2002, before they enter the market."
Dunavant analysts are projecting U.S. planted cotton acreage of 15.9 million for the 2001-02 crop year, with a crop of 19.2 million bales from an average yield of 638 pounds.
But he cautioned that last year's crop projections fell short, and "I'm beginning to believe that we don't know how to produce a crop of 19 million bales-plus.
"If we were to produce that much, our carryover would jump 1 million bales to 5.125 million, which is not a bullish number for the U.S."
On the other hand, Dunavant said, "If we produce a 17.2 million-bale crop this year, rather than 19.2 million, the carryover would drop to 3.125 million, and that is an extremely bullish number."
His company's projection for world production is 91.2 million bales, "but in my honest opinion, I believe that will be difficult to attain. We will produce this season only 85.1 million bales, it is very difficult to believe world production will increase by 5.1 million bales next season.
"The current USDA number is 92.2 million bales. In my opinion, that is definitely too high and USDA will reduce its production and consumption numbers in the months ahead."
Dunavant said the world numbers for next season are, at this point, constructive "because we don't have the first seed in the ground, and there will be lots of room for big swings because of demand and weather."
The U.S. cotton industry, he contends, "needs to make some adjustments to the qualities of cotton that can be delivered on the New York futures contract. I believe the minimum strength should be raised from a minimum 22 grams per tex to 25.5, and that West Texas quotations should be inserted in the calculation for tender differences. I also believe that 47 to 49 micronaire should be deliverable at a discounted price, and the cotton that is two crop years old should have additional penalties because it has a different value to the marketplace."
The contract should be made stronger, Dunavant said, because the largest volume of the current certificated stocks (some 285,000 bales) is older, lower strength, higher premium micronaire average.
"If differences between (futures) months correct themselves, you could have a rally, but if all these discounted cottons weren't on the contract, it would certainly be easier for prices to move higher."
Commodity funds have, over the last four weeks, changed their position from 35 percent long to 12.9 percent short, he noted. "I like their being short because, if demand follows, they will liquid their short position and we could have a substantial rally. Currently, I don't believe March has much upside potential - but at 60 cents, it's too cheap. I think it will trade from 59 cents to 65 cents prior to first notice period.
"It seems the real potential for a higher market will come with the May contract. I think we will see a fair volume of the certificated stocks move off the contract by May, but not March. There is potential for May to trade over 58 cents at some point, if the export demand for U.S. cotton escalates, as we expect it to do in the spring."
Dunavant doesn't look for much of the 2000 crop to go to the futures contract, because of the poor quality of West Texas cotton. "I do think we will see a small volume of low strength cotton from the Southeast move to the contract, and that's another reason we need to raise the strength requirements on the contract."
More than 4,000 cotton producers, ginners, scientists, Extension personnel, consultants, and agribusiness representatives attend the Beltwide Conferences.


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John Maine will get another chance to join the Mets' rotation, but one has to wonder if that would be the case if Hisanori Takahashi hadn't spit the bit his last two starts.
After two strong starts, the last two have found Takahashi being mauled. In his last start against the Marlins, Takahashi hit a wall around the fifth. Even in his two strong starts, he struggled to get through six.
The Mets think he's better out of the bullpen.
"We like Takahashi as a pitcher,'' manager Jerry Manuel said. "We think we have lost something in the bullpen when he's a starter, so that's a scenario that could work if and when John Maine is healthy and we feel he's ready to be part of the rotation.''
Maine threw a simulated game last night, and if he's pain free today will make a minor league rehab start. Then it's back into the rotation.
It didn't look like that would be the case last month when Manuel yanked him at Washington after throwing only five pitches. The two got into it in the dugout and Manuel pulled Maine from the rotation, insisting something was wrong. An MRI then revealed shoulder tendinitis.


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|London, England
|High School:
|Millfield Boarding School
AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2010-2011: returned from injury to go 10-11 at the No. 3 singles spot ... defeated SMC's Anna Chikhikvishvili and UC Davis' Elli Edles ... went 7-7 with partner Kacie Wagner in doubles No. 3 spot
AS A FRESHMAN IN 2009-2010: alternated with Kelly Lamble to compete at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions ... went 11-9 during the regular season ... went on a six-match winning streak at the beginning of the season from Jan. 30 to Feb. 21 ... named to All-WCC Second Team for singles performance ... paired with Jessica Agra ... duo went 7-8 overall ... received an Honorable Mention from the WCC for doubles pairing with Agra ... ... upset No. 46-ranked Stanford duo Mallory Burdette and Stacey Tan on Apr. 15 in doubles with Zaniewski.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2009 graduate from Millfield Boarding School in the United Kingdom...ranked No. 32 in England.
PERSONAL: Parents are Richard and Wanda Zaniewski... has twin brother, Chris ...enjoys skiing and swimming ... majoring in business.


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By Glenn Ruffenach
The odds are good that costs associated with housing—including home insurance—will eat up much of your income in retirement. So it's worth checking out where your homeowners' insurance company ranks in a new survey of consumers' satisfaction with their policies and coverage, especially since those rankings reflect industry strategies that could lower your bills.
J.D. Power and Associates last week published its annual survey of homeowners' insurance companies. The report measures policyholders' satisfaction in five areas: billing and payment, claims, interaction, policy offerings, and price.
J.D. Power found that overall satisfaction in 2012 with homeowners' insurance companies averages 785, on a 1,000-point scale—the highest level in the 12 years of the study. J.D. Power said the increased satisfaction levels stem from consumers' interest in bundling homeowners' insurance with other coverage (like auto insurance); in doing so, some policyholders are able to reduce premiums and simplify billing.
To the extent that bundling is on the rise, it could help retirees trim one of their biggest expenses. In figures released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average household headed by an individual age 65 to 74 had annual expenditures in 2011 of $44,646. Of that, $15,105, or 33%, went to housing, the single largest spending category. That included an average of $1,551 for maintenance, repairs and insurance.
The top three companies: Amica Mutual in Lincoln, Rhode Island; ACSC (Automobile Club of Southern California) in Los Angeles; and Erie Insurance in Erie, Pa. (Also among the highest ratings in the survey: USAA in San Antonio, Texas, a provider that primarily serves U.S. military personnel and their families and isn't included in the official rankings.)


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Classic brackets are specifically designed with older vehicles in mind. Made from computer cut all steel components with independent front arms for quick and easy one person connect and disconnect.
Ford Aspire
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Your IP Address is: 126.96.36.199
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Changeconsulting needed a new other design and created a contest on 99designs.
2 winners were selected from 35 designs submitted by 11 freelance designers.
We are a new website that delivers education and training to small and medium sized retailers. Our fundamental aim is to help retailers improve their business operations and ultimately their profitability. We do this by offering products and services that have worked for other successful retailers, and by providing expertise from our founder, Peter Lonsdale, a 30 year retail veteran - he knows what works and how to make profits in this competitive business.
We need the ecover to look like a serious document that will help new retailers improve their plans and avoid deadly mistakes that can kill their business in the first or second year of operations.
Small to medium sized retailers whose gross revenue is between $500K to $50M. These people are hard working and want their business to be a success so that they can reach their ultimate goal of financial security.
We need an ecover for a Free Special Report being offered on our website. The ecover title is:
"Seven Deadly Mistakes Retailers Make And The Key Actions You Can Take To Avoid Them."
We want them to have the feeling that this is a credible report with valuable information in it, that can help them improve their profits.


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Free Football Launch Event For Kids in Gateshead
Tetra Brazil
Event Details
Join Richard Lee (ex Watford FC) and David Hunt (former Crystal Palace / Brentford star) for a fun night. More suprise guests to be announced.
- Train with pro footballers
- Develop technical skills and knowledge
- A chance to win prizes and MORE
Who Can Attend?
Boys & girls of all ages & abilities.
What To Bring?
There is no need to bring anything. We will be using a 3G pitch - so use appropriate footwear.
Power League, Ropery Rd, Gateshead NE8 2HD
5:00pm - ages 5 - 7
6.00pm – ages 8 - 10
7.00pm – ages 11 - 15
To book your place FREE please register here on our Eventbrite page or text Simon on 07855776776
When & Where
Ropery Rd,
NE8 2HD Gateshead
United Kingdom
Tetra Brazil
TetraBrazil Soccer Schools provide players with authentic Brazilian-based coaching, focusing on techniques and tactics that have helped to mould some of the world's best players. It is a mix of conventional football and Futsal, the game used to develop players such as Pele, Ronaldo and Neymar.


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Danille won't win and Terry won't be in the final 2
OOpps I just psoted about the RC on the board didn't have the time to look if someone already had..sorry folks.Excellent challenge & effot by both Terry & Aras
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Shona Wilkinson, Nutritionist at the Nutri Centre (Europe's largest natural products store) advises that: "Sleep gives our bodies the chance to maintain and repair both the body and the mind". This is important given the NEW research, which indicates that people that sleep for less than 6 hours per night are 12% more likely to die prematurely compared with those who manage to secure the 'ideal' amount of between 6-8 hours (1).
Wilkinson further explains that: "Lack of sleep affects our nervous systems by leaving us drowsy and unable to concentrate. It can lead to poor memory and poor physical performance. If sleep deprivation continues, hallucinations and mood swings may develop. Sleep problems are common in both mental and physical disorders including depression, strokes, cancer and head injuries. "
In a modern society in which sleep often falls at the bottom of the priority list for those in high-pressured jobs or with families, the following sleep solutions may act as a "life saviour"!
Patch-It – £9.99 – www.patch-it.info
Plaster-style patches that use the ancient principals of reflexology to stimulate key pressure points on the feet. An independent sleep disturbance trial discovered that on average, Patch-It reduced the amount of time troubled sleepers spent awake every night by a staggering 40 per cent (2).
The participants of the randomised placebo-controlled trial, conducted by an independent Harley Street clinic, also experienced:
A 100% improvement in alertness during the day
A reduction in sleep interruptions by one third
A 20% reduction in the time taken to fall asleep
Dr Nyjon Eccles, of the Chiron Clinic, who conducted the trial says: "Wearing Patch-It continuously for one month seems to have improved the quality of sleep in three main ways – getting off to sleep, duration of sleep and feeling refreshed after sleep. "
Nature's Plus Dreamquest Adult's Warm Milk Chewables – £19.50 -www.nutricentre.com
Chewable tablets containing 200 mg of Lactium®, the soothing milk peptides responsible for the calming properties of warm milk. This soothing formula also contains effective sleep-supporting herbs, including hops, chamomile and cinnamon.
Lamberts Healthcare Fibrecleanse – £12.95 – www.nutricentre.com
An advanced nutriceutical formula to support a healthy nervous system which is required to promote mental calm, relieve stress and improve the quality of sleep. Containing B vitamins which work together to support adrenal glands, plus Calcium and Magnesium which work in balance to stimulate and relax the nervous system, whilst Tryptophan helps restore calm to the mind.


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OK - now they're just trying to piss people off...Jesse Eisenberg is LEX LUTHOR
Can Heath Ledger pull of a character who everyone immediately fears and respects as soon as he walks in the room? Don't make me laugh.
Remember when people were saying that???
The Rock as Green Lantern?
At this point, I kind of want to see how jacked-up of a cast they can come up with.
Well, now they have to explain why there's another guy playing Green Lantern. Is Ryan Reynold going to should up and pass the gas torch?
Catwoman - Rebel Wilson
Maybe the movie is intended to be more like the Superfriends? Here's the official cast list:Superman - Henry CavillBatman - Ben AffleckWonder Woman - Gal GadotGreen Lantern - Dwyane JohnsonRobin - Joaquin PhoenixCyborg - Jerry SeinfeldThe Flash - Morgan FreemanAquaman - Joe PesciHawkman - Ken JeongLois Lane - Amy AdamsLex Luthor - Jesse Eisenberg Clay Face - Betty WhiteThe Joker - Zach GalifianakisDarkseid - Jon HederCatwoman - Rebel WilsonAlfred - Jeremy IronsI would totally pay $10 to see this train wreck come to life.
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- Home >
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Metito wins $9m Iraq water plant contract
Karbala (Iraq), March 5, 2012
UAE-based Metito, a top provider of total intelligent water management and solutions in the emerging markets, said it has won a $9 million sewage treatment plant project from Iraqi government.
As per the contract, Metito will partner with Iraqi group Balad Al Khebra to upgrade the main Freeha Sewage Treatment Plant in Karbala, located 100 km south-west of Baghdad.
Upon completion in the fourth quarter of 2012, the development works will see the plant capacity increased to accommodate 60,000 cubic metre of effluent per day, said a senior official.
"Iraq is striving to improve infrastructure across the whole country which will create interesting opportunities for the water sector," remarked Mustafa Hasan, the general manager of Metito Jordan, Iraq and Syria.
'In fact, Iraq is continuing to move forward with its strategic plans to invest in infrastructure which was clearly reflected in its commitment to pump in $5.3 billion in new projects over the next two years,' he added.
Commenting on the project, Mohammed Al Ezzi, the general manager of Balad Al Khebra, said the plant was built in the seventies in the suburbs while it is now considered to be the epicenter of Karbala.
'The city is witnessing a population growth and an increasing number of visitors which urges the need of such investment into the water infrastructure. Our work will ensure an improved quality of the treated effluent while eliminating odour problems in the surrounding area among other implications,' he added.
'Metito's operations in Iraq spans over 30 years and cover a wide range of large scale projects but this is the first time we are working with Balad Al Khebra,' said Hasan.
This collaboration, he said, will make the best use of the wealth of experience both partners own and will build on the operational knowhow which Metito has refined over 50 years of industry expertise.
"The Iraqi government is committed to improving the lives of the people through key infrastructure projects and as leaders in the Water and Waste Water industry, Metito has expertise, knowledge and technical knowhow to deliver the most practical and intelligent water management solutions for such projects," he added.-TradeArabia News Service


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I dont know if its a reaction to not being used to it, even in the 05 season.
But i'm starting to get that "feeling" in my stomach.
Like its happening too fast, Seahawks being this "hot" team going into the play offs that people think could do big things.
To now its being made out to be by media and fans of not only our own team but a majority of the fans in the NFL like its a given that we should beat the Falcons.
Almost like being put in a position of beat the falcons and its normal, but lose to the Falcons and we are overrated.
I know none of that has ANY effect on the game or players (hopefully)
But I've just been getting a bad feeling.
Like we've now taken a team that has been the better team for the majority of the season, with home field advantage, and almost with all those advantages, now giving them an extra boost by making them an underdog at home. Combined with the chip on their shoulder of early playoff exits multiple years.
I havent had this feeling since the BCS championship game with LSU vs Alabama ( sadly i was on the LSU side for that one)
So my fellow 12's, i know nothing like stats or history i can be told can calm this feeling, only a Seahawks win on Sunday.
I just want to know anyone else have a not so good feeling.
Or even better, anyone have a feeling like, its going to happen, just a feeling like you know the Hawks will win. Without fan biased?
Sorry so long, But days worth of time to kill.


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The Answer We Don't Want to Know
By John Mauldin
February 10, 2012
2012 will be the 11th time in my short life that I will be able to participate in the choosing of a president of the United States. While it may just be me, it seems like each and every election is cast as the most important election of our time and a defining moment for the American Experiment. The future of the Republic was being weighed in the balance, and only the proper outcome (which would of course be the election of the candidate you supported) would assure its survival. This week we will continue our meditations on the economic choices that confront the world, this time focusing on the US.
We will start with a thought experiment, in which I invite you to think about alternate histories. Just how important are presidents (or leaders in general) to the success or failure of the economy? And then how critical is the coming election this fall? We will assault a few of our most cherished beliefs, both from the left and from the right. If I do not offend you in the first few pages, I invite you to keep reading; I will get to you somewhere.
(Warning: I risk upsetting more people than usual, as this letter is centered on the politics of economics. I will do my dead level best to be even-handed, but there is just no pleasing everyone. So better to write what I think and at least have one person happy. Which is pretty much what I do every week, anyway.)
As I continuously argue, the most important issue facing the US is dealing with its deficit, just as that is the defining issue in much of Europe and will soon be in Japan. The longer we put off the decision, the more difficult the task and the more serious the economic impact. Without action, Italy all too soon becomes another Greece, but with real impact. They realize that and are making the efforts. But would it not have been easier for Italy with about 40% less debt-to-GDP? Perhaps not politically, at that time when they should have been working on it, but in hindsight I bet the politicians now wish they had done more. It seems we accept change only in the face of necessity and see the necessity only in a time of crisis (as one Italian more or less put it, long ago).
So we discuss politics, because the looming debt crisis (and its solution) is at its very core a political creation and must have a political solution. And once the bond market decides to provide its own solution by demanding much higher interest rates, it is too late. That's game over, and a prolonged recession if not a depression will ensue.
Now, we start today's letter in South Africa, as I wonder which continent I will finish it on. In order to be able to hit the send button while on layover in London, we'd better jump in.
What Is a President to Do?
I have long maintained that presidents take too much credit for good economic times and get altogether too much blame for bad ones. That is not to suggest that they can't make a difference by promoting certain policies over others. Clearly they can. But I think we might find, if we think about what might have been if the "other guy" had been elected, that outcomes would often have been not very different. In fact, it is often not until after a president is gone that we see the results of his policies. Let's start with recent history and work backwards.
Let me preface this by pointing out that we are dealing with just the economic outcomes of the election of a particular president. I readily admit that other areas, such as Supreme Court nominees, regulations, social policy, and foreign policy would, perhaps, change a great deal. These developments are important, and perhaps more important than mere economic outcomes; but for this letter, let's just focus on the economic aspects of a particular election.
Thinking About President Gore
In what seems like an eternity, but was only a short time ago, we were learning more about "hanging chads" on punched election ballots in Florida than any of us ever wanted to know. The world marveled as the denizens of the last Superpower fought tooth and nail over whether a ballot counted according to whether the holes were punched correctly. The difference between President Bush and a potential President Gore was in the end just a small number of votes in just one state. It was the closest of elections, with the results literally hanging by a chad. So, it is not at all far-fetched to imagine what would have happened if Al Gore had won the election. How much of an economic difference would there have been? I would suggest, not all that much.
The market had already begun to collapse by the time Bush was inaugurated in January '01. Could Gore have prevented a recession? The answer is no, because the weakness had already set in. There would still have been 9/11. That had been planned since Clinton's presidency, when Gore was vice-president. An Al Gore as president would hardly have deterred bin Laden from his plans.
And the economic aftermath of the event would have been roughly the same. Greenspan and the Fed would have kept lowering rates and kept them low for too long, no matter who resided in the White House. Would Gore have nominated an old-school monetarist as Fed Chair? Hardly likely. Almost the entire establishment, both Right and Left, the latter of which Gore was a leading figure, were Keynesian to their core. And Greenspan (or Bernanke, or whoever) was not going to allow deflation on his watch, not without a fight, with his main weapon being low rates and easy money.
The regulations that fostered the housing bubble and the subprime crisis were already in place. Both parties were in thrall to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Greed was already running rampant on Wall Street. Did I somehow miss loud, insistent calls for a tighter home-lending regulatory environment from the partisan leadership on either side of the aisle? No, there weren't any.
Would consumers have borrowed less on their homes? Was anyone complaining (except those buying?) that housing values were climbing too fast? Indeed, my neighbors in Texas were lamenting our lack of participation in the seemingly nationwide skyrocketing of housing prices.
Would we have avoided a subprime crisis leading to a credit crisis under Al Gore? Did the Democrats protest the laws, passed by a Republican Congress, that allowed a few investment banks to massively increase their leverage? Or did they also take the lobby money and vote for the legislation?
The repeal of Glass-Steagall? That happened in 1998 under Clinton, with the full support, yea, the insistent urging, of the Republican leadership. (Shepherded by a certain Texas senator, who also called Alan Greenspan the "Greatest Central Banker in History." I still fondly recall Senator Gramm, an economics professor in his prior life, who I think all in all was a very good senator, if just a tad overenthusiastic about Greenspan. (Side note: The conference I just spoke at here in South Africa voted overwhelmingly that the devil's actual surname was Greenspan, from a rather dubious list of choices. Ah, how we fall from Grace. But back to our historical meanderings.)
Yes, we would not have had the Bush tax cuts, which some mathematically challenged individuals think are responsible for the whole deficit crisis. The tax revenues that were supposedly lost due to the cuts? Tax revenues were actually up just a few years later. To argue that the Bush tax cuts did not have a stimulative effect on the economy flies in the face of all credible nonpartisan research, which shows tax cuts do indeed provide a positive stimulus effect; so the recovery would have been even weaker without them.
But under Gore we would likely not have had the Bush spending increases (which is what he should be blamed for), as the Republican Congress would likely have continued policies started under Gingrich, which opposed spending wanted by a Democrat president and which resulted in the running of a surplus. It was only when Republicans could get credit for spending increases that they wasted the surplus. But my bet is that (sadly) they would have still figured a way to use up that surplus, post-2000.
Would a Gore presidency have reacted any differently to the credit crisis, in ways that mattered? There was initial bipartisan consensus (at least of a majority, although with some noted disagreements) of the need for a stimulus, although later there was serious disagreement as to what that stimulus should be.
Would Gore have launched a war in Afghanistan? To think he would not have is to ignore who Al Gore was. He was (and I assume still is) a very hard-nosed foreign policy and defense hawk, when he was in the Senate and as vice-president. Would he have gone into Iraq? Probably not, but when all the world's intelligence agencies (even the French!) believed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and was close to a nuclear weapon, who can say?
(I should note that they all believed that because they had tapped Saddam's communication lines. His top scientists told him they were close, because they were afraid for their lives to tell him they were not. So even Hussein believed he was close to a nuclear device. It was all a colossal failure of the intelligence professionals – even those in Iraq! Without such "evidence," Hussein might still be in power today. If it was not so profoundly sad, with such a tragic loss of lives, the irony would be just too delicious.)
So, there would have been less accumulated debt, but not all that much in the grand scheme of things. The increase in debt under Bush just brought forward a few years the end of the Debt Supercycle. Instead of the necessity of dealing with the deficit in 2013, we might have gotten to 2016. But the math of the entitlement programs makes the Day Of Reckoning a future certainty. However, that is not the point.
The point is that the main economic events would have happened under either president. Would there have been a difference in marginal tax rates? Yes, but I do not think tax rates were the cause of the debt crisis, or the subprime crisis. Would Republicans have avoided the temptation to spend under a President Gore? Not if Hastert and DeLay were still in charge of the House, at least if they continued to espouse the same policies. Less deregulation? But the subprime problem was not caused by deregulation.
The economy would have been basically the same under either president, though a case could be made that there would have been less accumulated government debt. Differences? Sure, I can think of many, but not major ones.
Clinton on the Dole Now
Let's go back to 1996. What if Dole had won? (Remember Bob Dole?) We would be talking about the Dole surpluses, as he would have taken the credit for them. Seriously, can you imagine President Dole giving credit to former President Clinton for the surpluses that had accrued by 1998? Hardly. We were at the end of the bull market and a roaring technology boom. Would Long Term Capital and the 1998 Asian crisis have happened under Dole? I certainly think so. The resident of the White House had no control over those events, and in any event was hardly likely to try and burst a technology and stock-market bubble. What politician runs against higher stock prices?
Let's push the clock back to 1992. What if Perot had kept his charts to himself? George Bush Senior wins rather handily. What would have changed? The economy was already on the mend when Clinton took office. The technology boom and the resulting bull market would have happened under any president. Deficits would have continued to grow.
Perhaps the defining moment of the decade was not a presidential election but Newt Gingrich becoming Speaker of the House, with a new cadre of troops that actually wanted to cut spending and rein in government. At least until Gingrich was gone and they were in Congress for another decade.
It was precisely the partnership between Gingrich and Clinton that laid the foundation for the surplus. Would that have happened with a Bush I? Hard to really say, but Gingrich was a true believer in smaller government back then, and was regarded as something of an oddity by much of the Republican establishment. He was just as much a firebrand back then as he is today, without some of the problems. In an odd way, if we want to revisit the differences in individuals and their importance to the economy, our economic future depended back then as much or more on Gingrich than the president. With a Republican President Bush, would he have had the same results? Could he have helped engineer surpluses? Would he even have become Speaker? Hard to say.
Without the reprieve of the surpluses we had for a few years, we would have been much closer to the end of the Debt Supercycle than we are today. Who knew we would be nostalgic for the economy fostered by the cooperation of Clinton and Gingrich?
If Bush I had lost in 1988? I can't think of anything that would have changed in the next four years. The recession was due. Dukakis would have raised taxes, just as Bush did.
Reagan and Carter? There you could argue that Reagan made a difference. But even then, Carter appointed Volcker, and the die was cast under his watch. Volcker started his war against inflation under Carter, not under Reagan. Reagan benefitted that it was early in his presidency that we had the double-dip recession. Did Reagan's tax reforms help spur growth? Yes, there is little doubt about that. Note that Reagan did not ask Volcker to stay on. Back then, Volcker was not very popular.
But Reagan also had the good fortune to start his presidency at the beginning of a bull market and a technology revolution. Stock market valuations were at historic lows, not because of Reagan but because of Volcker and the double-dip recession he caused. Reagan certainly helped the business climate by lowering taxes on small businesses and reducing the regulatory burden.
I would argue that the main effect of a Reagan presidency was felt after he left. It was his stamp on the economy, whether you liked it or not, that set the tone for the next 20 years.
And Then There Was 2012
So, is the upcoming election a truly defining moment? Will this election change our economic future all that much? Or are things going to more or less unfold the same (in terms of the economy), whether Obama is re-elected or we have a Republican (whoever that may be)?
To get a sense of the answer, we have to go back four years, to a rather heated primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Republicans were enjoying the spectacle of the two of them beating each other up, questioning each other's fitness to lead, debating the merits of their experience and their visions of the future. Let's really alter history and assume Hilary Clinton had won, as most everyone at the beginning of 2012 thought would happen. She goes on to beat McCain and then has to deal with the aftermath of the debt crisis, which would have been in full bloom as she entered office.
What would have been different? Bill Clinton always said they were a team, so let's assume for a second that she would have been similar to him with her policies. There is certainly nothing in her role as Secretary of State to suggest anything else. Bill Clinton was center-left, not as hard-left as Obama. He was a pragmatist who could tack to the center when it was the thing to do. But he also had his hand in every bit of policy decision. He wanted details on everything. To think Hillary would have not been deeply involved in whatever stimulus there was, and it would not have been similar in size, would not be consistent. The stimulus would have been less of a candy store for Democratic Congressman and more focused. Republicans would still have been deeply critical. Aren't we always, of a Democratic President, and vice versa? But I imagine there would have been more infrastructure and targeted spending. Both Clintons are policy wonks, to their credit. You might not like their policies, but they do know the detailed ins and outs of what they do, and why. They were at home in DC and they knew the players. President Hillary Clinton would have hit the ground running on a targeted stimulus, and it would have been her stamp and not Nancy Pelosi's on the bill. But the economic results would have been pretty much the same for the first three years.
The economy would still have been down 8 million jobs. Tax revenues would have fallen in any event. Would the stimulus have been less under McCain? Yes, but it would have still been massive. Hillary would finally have gotten her health-care project, but it would have been different in its scope and reach, I think. And just like Bill, she would have found a way to get bipartisan support. While Obama talked about a new post-partisan era, the last time the parties actually worked together was under a Clinton.
And there would more than likely have been a Republican takeover of the House in 2010, as mid-term elections often do change things up (as in 1994).
So, one way or the other, we would arrive at 2011 and the crisis over raising the debt ceiling.
During that crisis I had the privilege of being at a three-hour-long private dinner with the Speaker of the House, John Boehner. There were about 12 of us at the table. My book Endgame was just out, and I was invited to be the agent provocateur for the evening. I made a short (for me) presentation of the problems confronting the country, particularly the deficit crisis – not much different from what I write here, just maybe a tad more colorful and pointed. There were also a couple of members of the House Republican leadership present, and I wanted to make a few very serious points, as these were the people who would be tasked with coming up with some solutions. I don't get many chances like that.
About halfway through the dinner, and after some very sobering and frank conversation, I light-heartedly remarked that, "It's too bad you had to deal with Harry Reid over the debt ceiling" (as nothing was getting done at the time).
Boehner turned and looked at me and said with some passion, "Harry? [rising voice] Harry? Hell, Harry ain't the problem. If it was just me and Harry we could sit down tomorrow and get it done."
The problem, at least from Boehner's point of view, was they could not get an agreement with Obama. (It would be interesting to get Reid's version. Note: I will be in DC next Thursday. Just saying.) And later, when they did reach an agreement on a rather modest beginning to a real deficit-reduction package, I am told that when Boehner called to say he had the votes lined up on the deal he thought they had agreed to, at no small expense to his political capital, Obama decided he wanted another $400 billion in taxes. Which was a non-starter. And thus the gridlock.
My bet, in my alternative world history, is that Hillary Clinton would have gotten that deal done. And more. Because the math of not dealing with the deficit is apparent to most of the politicians I have talked to in DC, whether Republican or Democrat. They have different ways to solve the problem, but they know it has to get done. The economic health of the Republic is truly at risk.
But that is not where we are. We do not have a Hillary Clinton as president. There is a very clear divide in Washington DC on the path forward. Whether you blame it on Obama or Republican recalcitrance, the problem is not being dealt with.
This election is ultimately about dealing (or not dealing) with the deficit, and putting the country on a path to a sustainable budget deficit, one that is less than the growth rate of the country. As I have argued elsewhere, and will argue in future letters, that is the paramount issue. Not dealing with the deficit runs the very real risk of the bond market treating us just as it is treating Italy and any other country that gets to the point where its debt is unsustainable. Not this year or the next for the US, but almost certainly before 2016. And once the bond market loses faith in a country, it takes a massive restructuring to restore that confidence. And we can see how that is playing out in Europe.
The next president must have the ability to get a consensus. Let me shock a few of my fellow Republicans and say that I think the deficit is such a deadly disease that it would be better for the country for the Democrats to be in power and forced to deal with the situation than to do nothing. I would not like their solution, and I think it would be harmful, but not as harmful as a second Depression, brought on by not dealing with the deficits and entitlement problems.
As a businessman, I would rather pay higher taxes on profits than to have no profits at all. Just tell me the rules and I will figure out how to adjust. A Depression 2 would mean 20% unemployment (at least) and a real lost decade, with the Boomer generation trying to figure out how to deal with no money and no jobs and being old.
And the choices we would be forced to make? The spending cuts would be far deeper than anyone can now imagine, and the taxes needed far greater. Think what happens when any country has hit that debt limit. Greece is not having fun. And either Italy is going to be unhappy with the longer-term recession it will have, or Germany is going to be unhappy with the ECB backing Italian debt at below-market rates for a long time, which means printing money and a much lower euro. Actually, I think both must happen if the euro is to remain a viable currency. That's just what happens when you don't deal with deficits before they become a problem. If Italy is to remain in the euro, there must be a back-door bailout by the ECB, accompanied by Italian austerity (is that an oxymoron?). And don't forget Spain.
The Fed Has a Printing Press
What would the Fed do in such an event? Does it succumb to the worst fears of the Austrian economic crowd and monetize the debt in an effort to fight deflation and depression? Or does it trash the dollar and make gold bugs happy? Or does it find its inner Bundesbank (Austrian) core and eschew the easier way out?
This is a question to which we do not want the answer. Whether it's yes or no, the answer is a disaster. Just choose the form of disaster you prefer. To the unemployed, retirees, and the young, it will make little difference. Ask our grandparents (or my father and mother), who lived through the Depression.
And doing nothing will mean that we find the answer to that question. The very answer we want to never know in real life. It makes for interesting speculation now, but living through it will be hell.
Both Obama and whoever the Republican nominee is owe the American people an answer today as to what they will do if given the chance. To blame Congress for doing nothing is not a solution. A generic answer of cutting spending will not do. Allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire gets us less than 20% of the way there. The "rich" do not make enough money, even if you take 60%. We would still be down a half a trillion or more, probably much more, as income vanishes as taxes rise. Funny thing about that: people respond to higher taxes by making less.
What cuts will you actually make if you are Obama? And do not suggest that it can be done by getting rid of waste. Everyone promises to do that, and it doesn't happen. Not that we shouldn't try. There is just not all that much there, and certainly not enough to close the gap. Blaming a "do-nothing" Congress is also not enough. What do you want them to do? Not bits and pieces, but what is the whole game plan for dealing with the deficit?
If you are Republican, what programs and spending will you cut? What actual reforms of entitlements will you ask for? And if that's not enough, what taxes will you raise? On whom? Or will you be willing to stop giving tax deductions for mortgage interest, charities, and (literally) 3000 other tax "incentives." Actually, if no deductions were allowed for the so-called tax expenditures (or targeted deductions), the budget would come into balance. Those tax deductions are over $1 trillion a year. Of course, everyone thinks their favorite tax deduction is vital to the future of the Republic, and losing them will make a lot of people upset.
Who will the candidates be willing to upset? The country does not need vague policies and ideas, we need specifics. A real budget proposal, with details, just like a family or business in crisis would create. We don't need someone to tell us what they think we want to hear, but what they will actually do to deal with the most pressing issue of our time.
Will you consider radical tax reform? A VAT instead of an income tax, or reduced income taxes and no Social Security or Medicare tax, if that is the deal on the table? What is your opinion on various types of taxes? A flat tax? At what rate?
Then run on that plan, or set of choices. Make it clear beyond the vague platitudes of politics as usual. This election is that important. Take it to the voters and get a mandate. It is time for a national conversation on debt and the deficit. It will be no secret what I prefer, as I will be writing on that theme in the coming weeks. But it is more important that we come to a consensus than that it be done in any particular way. I will admit to believing it would be better if we do it with less government and the most reasonable tax burden we can settle on. But creating a path to a sound, controllable budget is the important thing, the primary objective. It will not be easy to forge a consensus from our very diverse views, but we must if we want to give our children any hope of a better world than the one we have now.
Actually, that is what is needed throughout the "developed" world. We are running out of easy solutions. In many places there are not solutions, just ugly choices and pain. In the US, we must look around and realize that time is running out. We do have time, but we need to use it wisely.
It really is time to hit the send button, as they are calling my flight. Have a great week, and tell your political friends it is time to step up.
Your wondering what time zone I'm in analyst,
John Mauldin
Copyright 2012 John Mauldin. All Rights Reserved.
Editorial | The Foreclosure Settlement
February 11, 2012
Too Many Unanswered Questions, and Too Little Relief
The $26 billion foreclosure settlement between the big banks and federal and state officials is a wrist slap compared with the economic damage wrought by the banks in the housing bubble and bust, and the hardships faced by the 4 million homeowners who have lost their homes and 3.3 million more who are in or close to foreclosure.
The big redeeming feature is that the deal was crafted to allow for further investigation into mortgage abuses that led to the financial meltdown. And President Obama has vowed to follow it up with an expanded inquiry that is supposed to produce broader accountability and a far larger payout. He has to make good on that promise.
At best, this round of relief will reach about two million former and current homeowners. Under the agreement, banks will grant some $10 billion worth of principal reduction, $3 billion in refinancings and $7 billion in other mortgage relief, like forbearance for unemployed borrowers, covering roughly one million borrowers in total. Another $1.5 billion will be cash payments of about $2,000 to some 750,000 borrowers who were treated unfairly in foreclosures from 2008 through 2011.
And $3.5 billion will go to state and federal governments for what has been described as resources for legal aid and other counseling for borrowers facing foreclosure. Such aid is vitally important, but it appears that the earmarked money also could be used to plug state budget holes, rather than empower homeowners in their fights against the banks. That would be a mistake.
What do banks get in exchange for the relief? The answer, in short, is a sweet deal.
The banks did not get the blanket release they originally sought from legal liability for all manner of mortgage misconduct. But the settlement still shields them from state and federal civil lawsuits for most foreclosure abuses, including the wrongful denial of loan modifications, excessive late fees that enriched the banks but could make it impossible for borrowers to catch up on late payments, and conflicts of interest that led banks to favor foreclosures over modifications. Going forward, the banks will have to adhere to tougher standards for servicing loans and executing foreclosures. But past sins in servicing and foreclosure are largely absolved.
The banks are not off the hook for criminal prosecutions related to the mortgage mess or for private lawsuits. They are also not off the hook for wrongdoing in their aggressive pooling of mortgages into securities and other practices that inflated the bubble. Thanks for the settlement's narrower legal releases goes to New York's attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, and a handful of other state attorneys general, who refused to accept a deal that would have blocked further legal action.
Which brings us back to the question of whether a new investigation will indeed get off the ground. We are skeptical. The Obama administration squandered several months resisting Mr. Schneiderman's insistence on a broader investigation, raising questions about its willingness to now get tough with the banks and bankers. As a practical matter, that delay has allowed some potential violations to draw closer to expiration under statutes of limitation.
We applauded President Obama's decision to appoint Mr. Schneiderman as a co-chairman of the new investigation, along with officials from the Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies. But there still needs to be a huge commitment of resources or the effort will never get to the bottom of the wrongdoing.
In an election year, the White House clearly wants credit for doing more to help homeowners. The settlement, properly enforced, could be a step in the right direction. But it is not nearly enough. President Obama will need to press his own administration hard to deliver an unsparing follow-on investigation that results in more clarity, more money and more justice.
Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con artículos, análisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas económicos, financieros y políticos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su máximo interés, utilidad y conveniencia.
Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.
Gonzalo Raffo de Lavalle
Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Quien conoce su ignorancia revela la mas profunda sabiduría. Quien ignora su ignorancia vive en la mas profunda ilusión.
Lao Tse
"There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen."
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.
Warren Buffett
No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca.
Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt.
J.P. Morgan
Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las débiles tan solo deseos.
Proverbio Chino
Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.
Helenio Herrera
History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.
Karl Marx
We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
Paulo Coelho
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text: So I followed the instructions on "Install Horde 4 Webmail For ISPConfig On Debian Squeeze Through PEAR" on a clients Ubuntu Machine. It worked great (after I realized I needed to go in and point IMP to my email server). However on my own machine I am running Nginx for testing and I have been trying to figure out how to make the Directive work. I found some samples at http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.comp.horde.user/28055 but even with changing some things to fit more in my server, it still doesn't work. Then I took my Roundcube directives and tried to change the root folder and directory so it would point in the right direction but still get the 404 error. Does anyone running nginx and Horde have the instructions on how to get it to work? Also what PHP open_basedir does Horde need in ISPconfig?


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text:
In which issues concerning the profession of philosophy are
bitched griped about
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Multiple Guess
--Mr. Zero
31 comments:
I wouldn't rely solely on multiple choice, especially if you're already weary about it.
Have you considered having students grade one anothers writing? If you give them a strong rubric to go off of, have two students grade each paper, and if it's done anonymously, it could save you a lot of the work AND expose students to a variety of alternate viewpoints.
You could also have them write ungraded reflections/answer a 1-2 page essay question at the end of each week and give them a small amount of points based on whether they completed it, and then at the end have them expand one essay of their choice into a much longer paper, addressing whether their view changed since then. They write a bunch, but you only have to grade one paper, then.
- July 19, 2011 at 6:54 AM
Why do you think there's something wrong with multiple choice tests in introductory Philosophy courses? I've never done it myself, but I don't see anything wrong with it in principle.
In my view, if you use a multiple choice test and are later asked about it, you have no good strategy other than to be straightforward and unapologetic about it, and explain what your reasons were for doing so.
You may have to be apologetic in another sense, though, in that you may need to preemptively answer objections to the use of multiple choice tests. I don't know what the objections are exactly, but if they come up in this thread I'll try to explain why I don't think the objections work. (Or I'll change my mind!)
I think you can use a multiple choice test very easily to determine whether students:
Understand more or less subtle distinctions between positions,
Understand what counts as a good reason for thinking what,
Are capable of keeping different authors' views straight and separate from each other
Understand the intellectual motivation for various authors' statements and views
Are capable of understanding which philosophical problems are dealt with under different branches of philosophy
And I'm sure there are many other things you can use a MC test for besides.
This seems to me like a good list of course objectives for Intro to Philosophy.
- July 19, 2011 at 7:03 AM
If I were interviewing you, I would ask about the nature of the class before I judge you.
For example, is the class a gen ed that has a writing requirement? Does the class count for *two* sections? Do you have grading help?
If you have a course management system, then I recommend giving short reading quizzes that you can grade online. This way, you don't have paper to deal with at all. That will make life easier on you too. You can make comments right on the from, input the grade, and forget about it.
Make thoughtful multiple choice exams, have copies to show at the interview, and I think you will be fine.
- July 19, 2011 at 7:09 AM
- Mr. Zero said...
The main thing I worry about with MC tests is writing. Philosophy is mostly done via the written word, and skills involving clear formulation & communication of difficult ideas are among the primary benefits the study of philosophy has for non-philosophers. MC tests don't involve writing, and I worry that when students know they're studying for a MC test they don't practice those writing skills.
- July 19, 2011 at 7:12 AM
I don't think any sane search committee would dismiss you for using multiple choice exams in that setting, especially if you also do some sort of writing exercizes.
For the record, although the large majority of the grade in my intro classes is based on written assignments, I do use multiple choice questions (typically in short quizzes). It's the only way I know to check whether the students have read / understood *all* the readings. But I agree that students aren't really doing much philosophy if they aren't writing.
- July 19, 2011 at 7:17 AM
I do in fact run my Intro class as a writing intensive course. (But I don't have them write a paper. Instead I focus on the idea of concision, clarity and accuracy in brief write-ups.)
But in my view, writing is not a necessary component of an intro course. If my intro classes got very big, I'd probably stop concentrating on writing so much, not because it's "inconvenient" but rather because it's impossible to teach writing in a semester to more than four classes of 20 students or so.
So instead of writing, I'd try to help instill habits of carefully accurate, clear and concise thinking by writing a damn good objective test. It would require students to think clearly and accurately about more or less subtle distinctions between abstract concepts. Multiple choice would work great, and I could use Scantron!
- July 19, 2011 at 7:21 AM
This is a great opportunity to dispense with the traditional 2500 word essay and take up Eric Hoffer's challenge:
"Wordiness is a sickness of American writing. Too many words dilute and blur ideas. There is not an idea that cannot be expressed in 200 words. But the writer must know precisely what he wants to say. If you have nothing to say and want badly to say it, then all the words in the dictionaries will not suffice."
You, and your students, may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
- July 19, 2011 at 7:42 AM
I've used MCQ in conjunction with essays for a writing-intensive Intro course in the past. The reason I added the MCQ to the mix was because I did a great deal of writing development exercises that didn't always pull straight from course content.
I think MCQ can be a great way to assess students' comprehension of course content if the instructor puts the time in up front to write good questions. This is sometimes harder than it seems.
Also, I've done quizzes that were only True/False, but required the students to give a short reason why the statement was either true or false (supporting idea for T, correction of statement or reason for F). These were fairly easy to grade, and required students to connect ideas in a similar way to how they would when writing.
And, I think other Smokers are right; I can't imagine anyone being too hard on you for utilizing MCQ in a mega-section, as long as you can talk thoughtfully about your choice.
- July 19, 2011 at 7:50 AM
I went to a very small college with a one-person philosophy department. The professor mainly gave long MC exams that were amazingly tough and really weeded out the know-nots from the knows. Philosophy majors there did write quite a bit, but mostly only in independent studies (one on the early moderns required 8 10-page papers). From my 4-year stint 3 of 5 total majors (including me)went on to become professors of philosophy at state universities (I say that only because our college was a religious school but none of us stuck with that tradition as a possible "in" for future employment). So MC for many courses can be very effective--but they are a pain to design properly. FWIW.
- July 19, 2011 at 7:55 AM
Short reflective questions each week that count towards participation sounds like a great idea, but an accounting nightmare. Still, I would be willing to do this.
I had this very question to answer recently myself since I had the option of taking a job where I wouldn't have any TAs and would have large sections (thankfully, something else came along). But I was planning on using multiple choice, plus maybe some t/f and then perhaps some way of testing their knowledge of basic concepts by having them give a short set of definitions. Not ideal, but it has to be doable. I suspect search committees would be sympathetic.
The idea of having students grade each other's own papers seems atrocious at so many levels. Just say "no."
- July 19, 2011 at 8:33 AM
When I was tapped to do this my first year on the job, the chair explicitly encouraged me not to kill myself with grading. I used multiple choice (50 question) exams with weekly online quizzes. I gave them a few chances to write by having some post-exam bonus questions. The course was well-received by the students. The hard part is to write good questions that require some critical thinking, and not just regurgitation. But it can be done.
- July 19, 2011 at 9:27 AM
There are trade-offs here. Can you do writing assignments for 150 students and grade them fairly without it taking too much time away from your research? If so, great -- do it. If not, then you have to weigh how likely you think that question is to come up and how likely you think using multiple choice is to hurt you.
I suspect that the time can be put to better use.
- July 19, 2011 at 9:47 AM
To focus on the question about mentioning that you use multiple choice tests in an APA interview:
I would strongly advise that you not mention to anyone that you use MC test, nor should you include one, or in any way indicate the use of one, in your teaching portfolio.
Sane or not, I have met and spoke with multiple people in multiple departments who have extreme contempt for the use of multiple choice tests in philosophy classes. I think it is a fair guess that such people would judge your teaching negatively for using them. Such people are surely in the minority, but you have no idea where they are or who they are, so don't risk it.
- July 19, 2011 at 10:04 AM
I spent a few years teaching 4-6 courses per semester and struggled with my grading responsibilities (naturally). I used MC exams to make sure that students did the reading. It kept students engaged. I had students do an individual paper that I marked for them (that did take about a solid week of around the clock work) and then did a final paper that involved group presentations for the last two weeks of the class. This gave me a chance to give them instant feedback on rough drafts of their work and because we traded in lecture time for this, it was doable. I graded their second papers and if students wanted their comments back (less than 10%) they could come get them, but I didn't write up comments unless specifically asked. They already received some verbal feedback from myself and from students in the class. It was part of their final grade to see how well they were able to revise their papers in light of the questions that came up. Overall, it was something I could live with. The grading load was difficult, but there was still some time to get some of my work done. Since each student did write two papers over the course of the semester and received feedback on both, I thought I could live with that even if it wasn't ideal.
- July 19, 2011 at 10:12 AM
There are only two types of philosophy professor. Those who give multiple-choice tests and those who have never taught 100+ students in a semester.
- July 19, 2011 at 12:04 PM
- BunnyHugger said...
I agree with Anon 7:03 that although multiple choice tests have a bad reputation, they can be used effectively to test the ability to distinguish between positions and claims, identify appropriate arguments, understand implications of positions, and so on. I don't use them when I teach Intro (but I've never had an Intro section that big). I do use them when I teach Business Ethics, which is (perhaps obviously) a "class for non-majors" at my institution. I also use them sometimes when teaching Moral Problems (i.e. "intro level moral and social problems/applied ethics class") although when I do that, I combine them with an essay question. I'm not really ashamed of it. I teach 180 students per semester.
- July 19, 2011 at 12:33 PM
I've taught a course with 200 students and used a test composed of short answers and essay questions. Of course, my TAs graded them.
wv: mulfoc: what you call someone whose pissed you off when you're too drunk to say it correctly.
- July 19, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Here's a way to use Multiple Choice questions that most likely will impress hiring committees: Use iClikers. Do multiple choice quizzes *in the classroom* at least once a week (if not in every class).
iClickers are best used for this purpose with large groups of students. If you don't know about them, ask the Instructional Development or IT at your university/college. See if they can set you up. You order clickers for students with regular textbook orders.
You don't need to present more than a small set of MC questions spread out over a class session. You can allow students to debate an answer among small groups or answer individually. The software records the answers and grades each quiz. The software also allows you to display the answers (pie charts, bar graphs) and everyone in the class can see the right answer and you can address the mistaken answers right then and there. The activity involved keeps students alert. If there's a quiz (a few questions) each class, they have more reason to keep up with readings.
By integrating MC into the class instead of on an exam, this leaves more time to grade written short essay or short answer exams.
- July 19, 2011 at 3:12 PM
- Ben said...
I've heard stories of MC tests that focus on trivial details such as what year Descartes wrote the Meditations. I think such cases give MC testing a bad name. Though I've never used MC myself, I've come to see that it is possible to test understanding. Here's a fine example by Doug Portmore:
- July 19, 2011 at 3:14 PM
10:04 again:
I would absolutely not make a big deal about using clickers, unless you have been specifically asked about using new teaching technologies (or you are otherwise sure that the interviewers are interested). And if you do talk about them under such circumstances, make sure you balance out your discussion of them such that you note their weaknesses.
I mean this seriously and am not just trying to be the thread contrarian. There are a lot of people out there who are very conservative regarding such things, and who will think that clickers are frivolous and that their use is a sign of lazy or unserious teaching. Again, these people might be in the minority, but they are definitely out there--so why take the chance when pretty much everyone will be impressed with talk of good versions of regular old teaching?
- July 19, 2011 at 6:03 PM
By all means, try to design challenging multiple choice tests and use them. But at the end, if you are dissatisfied with the tests, I think it would be overly fastidious to blame yourself. The college or university that has 150 person classes with one professor is essentially demanding that you not assign papers. This is ONE class. How long would it take to grade (in a reasonable manner) 150 5 page papers?
Moreover, you are a visitor or an adjunct (I'm assuming). It would be ridiculous to expect you to grade that much for one class.(It would be _mostly_ ridiculous for a tenured or tenure-track person, but at least there the school is making some kind of commitment to you, and through you, to the students).
And if anyone who interviews you cannot appreciate the pedagogical situation that the school put you in, then you probably don't want to work there.
- July 20, 2011 at 8:15 AM
Exploitation to the max. At my university, tuition is about $1000 per 3 credit hour class.
150 students X $1000 = $150,000!!!
Now I understand that there are other costs, and I haven't calculated the wrap rate for colleges and universities, but the point is that *you* are paying for a lot of administrative costs with your one class and your measly salary.
As yourself this question?
How many tuition dollars do I generate a year as a teacher? Then ask if you are getting enough for what you do.
On average, I teach about 250 students a year as a tenured faculty member. My pay is pretty good, but it isn't anything close to the $250,000 in tuition my classes bring in a year. If the wrap rate for the university is 4x my salary, then we are breaking even, but I doubt it....
The problem is that much of the costs of the university are fixed and have been paid off for a long time.
A lot of people are making a shit pot of money off your labor. Don't kill yourself doing it.
- July 20, 2011 at 1:17 PM
The link to Portmore's exam is helpful. Other guides on designing good multiple-choice tests?
- July 20, 2011 at 2:12 PM
One way is to be hard assed and give (say) four answers, one of which is correct but then add a couple of conjunctive combinations and an AOTA & NOTA, and then only accept the best answer (easy one):
Descartes was:
a. an empiricist
b. a rationalist
c. an idealist
d. a transcendentalist
e. b & d
f. a & c
g. all of the above
h. none of the above
Such questions can be used to not only test for grasp of content, but (for other similarly formed questions) for grasp of logic as well.
Speaking of which, if you've not tried Jim Propp's Self-Referential Apptitude Test on yourself or your logic students, you haven't lived, philosophically speaking:
wv: catios: the journal strictly for feline thinking
- July 20, 2011 at 6:09 PM
Many online systems (e.g., Blackboard) let you do quite sophisticated things with MC tests/quizzes. I've started using them for my big intro (140 students per section) and I always use the version where they have to click all the correct answer choices for each question, and then of course the number of correct answers varies.
(Nobody in the sciences would think twice about using MC exams. And they are actually taught to design and test their exams and exam questions. It's hard work--among other things, you will need to write many more questions in order to randomize which are presented, to prevent cheating.)
- July 21, 2011 at 5:35 AM
...you will need to write many more questions in order to randomize which are presented, to prevent cheating.
If you randomize, then one possible outcome is that some versions of the exam are more difficult than others.
But even aside from that, why not just create multiple orderings of the same set of questions? It's a bit of a pain to produce multiple versions of the same exam. But that's easier than 1) coming-up with additional questions and then 2) ensuring that every version of the exam is of equal difficulty.
- July 21, 2011 at 10:32 PM
But even aside from that, why not just create multiple orderings of the same set of questions?
Whether this will stop cheating depends on how much time they have, how many questions you use, whether they can save and continue, whether they can re-try, and so on.
The easiest thing is to write equal difficulty questions. The other thing is to break them down by difficulty and have it offer equal numbers from each category. You still need to write lots of questions; but you can re-use them year after year, just adding more to the question pool each year, while cutting loser questions.
- July 22, 2011 at 5:39 AM
- zombie said...
I've used MC questions on tests, along with some short answer and short essay questions. I've never once in an interview been asked what kind of tests I give my students.
The benefits of MC: quick and easy to grade, objective answers. Drawback: You have to come up with a lot of questions, and at least four possible answers for each one. There's a lot of prep in writing a MC exam.
Other disciplines do it. Sufficiently challenging questions that truly test knowledge are quite possible. I always tell my students during the first lecture that I absolutely will not ask them about dates or historical events on a test.
- July 25, 2011 at 10:00 PM
- zombie said...
You'd be surprised how many students don't bother to even guess when they don't know a MC answer. They'll leave the question blank.
- July 25, 2011 at 10:01 PM
- Ben said...
I can't vouch for whether Zombie is right about students not guessing, but if that's your concern then you can always mitigate it with negative marking. Something like 2 points for each right answer and -1 for each wrong answer.
That way, a one-in-four guess has negative expected value, though a student who can narrow the choices down to one of two may be well advised to guess (but would do less well over a series of such guesses than someone who knew all the right answers).
- July 26, 2011 at 5:19 AM
I have taught a 100-student intro course many times and capitulated to using MC tests. The way I do it is by creating a large repository of questions and distributing a small minority of those questions randomly to each student (I have a complex way to keep the distribution fair)--all online. The exams are short but difficult, and I release them at the beginning of a unit so that students have something to focus on as they read and listen to lectures. Rather than being about minor reading details, the questions are about major concepts that are covered in the reading and the lectures--and about how concepts are mutually related. Let me emphasize that these are not knowledge exams like you would see in a science course but are comprehension exams to see if students understand complexities and subtleties of the material. Because every test is mostly distinct from the others but with significant conceptual overlap, students are allowed to help each other, and I allow students to ask about them in class. The results? A normal curve. Students like it, and I like it. I have them do informal writing in addition, which they submit online and that I grade credit/no credit.
- August 8, 2011 at 11:29 AM


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