Friday, August 31, 2012

The Funniest Pictures Found on Google Street View [Google]

If you've spent any time on the Internet, you know that people are ridiculous. And they're even more ridiculous in real life! Artist Jon Rafmanhas been documenting the absurd in Google Street View since 2009 with his project 9-eyes and continues to find ridiculous picture after ridiculous picture. Here's a brief look at his collection of funniest images of people in Street View. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/yLclLxnAtjs/the-funniest-pictures-found-on-google-street-view

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Open webOS beta will become available to developers today

Just like that, HP is making good on its promise to release Open webOS in beta. The code is available today under the Apache 2.0 license, and is landing slightly ahead of schedule (HP long ago said the software would arrive in September). All told, the beta release is comprised of 54 components, totaling more than 450,000 lines of code. As you'd expect, too, the desktop build incorporates all the elements released so far on Ubuntu. The software also includes an ARM emulator, running db8, node.js and other services. Other highlights: the System Manager now supports applications, including key ones like Calendar and Contacts. Many third-party Enyo apps are supported too, HP says. Been waiting all these months to get your coding on? Hit up the source link below for more information. And if necessary, keep refreshing: as of this writing, the code hasn't hit HP's servers, but it should very soon.

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Open webOS beta will become available to developers today originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/VVYbvIQgb6M/

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GOP platform promotes national security pork for GOP Rep. Mica (Americablog)

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Fitness Exercise Workout: Fitness Exercise Regime

Men's Health has the fitness tips, workout plans, exercises, and muscle building techniques Torch fat and accelerate your gains with the ultimate barbell routine

Daily exercise routine with effective exercise program.

Daily exercise routine with effective exercise program.

Laying Out An Exercise Routine - Pointers From Fitness Experts Free workout routines are exercise routines that you do at home, so they do not cost any money.

Workout Routines | by FitnessBliss

Workout Routines | by FitnessBliss

You'll find below a list of 12 workout routines that were created using the FitnessBliss Fitness Software. These workout routines can be performed using the most

Workouts - Fitness Center - EverydayHealth.com

Workouts - Fitness Center - EverydayHealth.com

If walking has been a part of your fitness routine for a while, why not give Make fitness and exercise part of your daily life with tips from the Everyday Health

Source: http://www.sportsaddik.com/2012/08/fitness-exercise-regime.html

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Mobile Tracking

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SMS Track system 911M Mobile Tracking
Cellphone tracking tracks the current position of a cellular telephone even for your move. To locate the phone, it must give off at least the roaming signal to contact an upcoming nearby antenna tower, but the process does not want an active call. GSM localization is then done by multilateration with regards to the signal strength to adjacent antenna masts. In order to route calls to your phone the cell towers listen for a signal sent from the phone and talk terms which tower is best able to communicate with all the phone. As the phone changes location, the towers monitor the signal and the phone is switched to a different tower as appropriate. By comparing the relative signal strength from multiple towers a general location of a phone can be determined. The technology of tracking is based on measuring power levels and antenna patterns and uses the concept that a cell always communicates wirelessly with one of the closest base stations, so if you know which base station the phone communicates with, you know that the phone is around the respective base station. Advanced systems determine the sector in which the cell resides and roughly estimate also the distance to the base station. Further estimate can be done by interpolating signals between adjacent antenna towers. Qualified services may achieve a precision of down to 50 meters in urban areas where mobile traffic and density of antenna towers (base stations) is sufficiently high. Rural and desolate areas may see miles between base stations and therefore determine locations less precisely.   Operational purpose.   In order to route calls to a phone the cell towers listen for a signal sent from the phone and negotiate which tower is best able to communicate with the phone. As the phone changes location, the antenna towers monitor the signal and the phone is roamed to an adjacent tower as correct. By comparing the relative signal strength from multiple antenna towers a general location of a phone can be approximately set. Other means is the antenna pattern that supports angular purpose and phase favouritism. Newer phones may also allow the tracking of the phone even when randy and not active in a phone call -. This results from the roaming operations that perform hand over of the phone from one base station to another. The rule of tracking is based on GSM localization.   GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION (GSM).   GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) is the most popular standard for cellphone in the world. Its promoter, the GSM Association, prices that 82 % of the global mobile market uses the standard. GSM is used by over 3 billion people across more 212 countries and territories. Its ubiquitousness makes international roaming very common between cellphone operators, enabling subscribers to use their phones in many parts of the world. GSM differs from its harbingers in this both signaling and speech channels are digital, and thus is named a second generation (2G) cellphone system. This has also meant that digital communication was easy to establish into the system. The ubiquity of the GSM standard is definitely an advantage to both consumers (who benefit from the ability to roam and switch carriers without switching phones) and also to network operators (who can choose equipment from any of the many sellers implementing GSM). GSM also initiated a low cost (to the network carrier) alternative to voice calls, the Short message service (SMS, also called "text messaging"), which is now supported on other mobile standards also. Another advantage is that the standard includes one worldwide Emergency phone number ; 112This makes it easier for international travelers to connect to emergency services without knowing the local emergency number. Newer versions of the standard were backward-compatible with the original GSM phones. For example, Release '97 of the standard added packet data capablenesses, by means of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Release' 99introduced higher speed data transmission using Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE).   GSM security.   GSM was designed with a restrained level of security. The system was designed to authenticate the subscriber using a pre-shared key and challenge-response. Communications between the subscriber and the base station can be encrypted. The development of UMTS introduces an optional USIM, that uses a longer authentication key to give greater security, as well as reciprocally authenticating the network and the user whereas GSM only authenticates the user to the network (and not the other way around). The security model therefore offers confidentiality and certification, but limited authorization capablenesses, and no non-repudiation. GSM uses several cryptological algorithms for security.   Global Positioning System.   The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The GPS uses a configuration of between 24 and 32 Medium Earth Orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, which enable GPS receivers to determine their current location, the time, and their velocity (including direction). GPS was developed by the United States Department of Defense. Global Positioning System (GPS) is comprised of 24 U.S. government owned satellites that circle 12,000 miles above the earth, twice a day in precise orbits, so that several are always in view from any position. The system is designed to provide worldwide positioning services with an accuracy ranging from 10 to15 meters. Instant location information enables users to ascertain exactly where their vehicles or assets are at anytime, anywhere in the world. Due to minor timing errors and satellite orbit errors, however, more precise accuracies are unattainable with standard GPS. Atmospheric conditions can also affect GPS signals and their arrival time on Earth.
http://mobileworldlimited.com/mobile-tracking/
http://mobileworldlimited.com/
13 views

Source: http://www.freepressreleases.com/mobile-tracking/227209

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Stickiness Eludes Many Health and Fitness Apps - Life Sciences ...

By: Michael Esquivel

The New York Times recently ran a story titled, ?It?s hard to stay friends with an exercise monitor? that underscored a problem facing many health and fitness apps ? the risk that users quickly lose interest.

Initially users are enthusiastic about the transformational potential of the personal health data collected by wearable technology devices such as the Nike+ FuelBand. That initial enthusiasm, however, appears to largely diminish if the metrics tied to that data are confusing or inconsistent. As noted in The New York Times story, while the Nike+ FuelBand has been criticized for its inconsistent and sometimes bizarre feedback, its ambition to provide meaningful and actionable metrics by awarding points should be recognized as a helpful first step in realizing the tremendous potential of these wearable technology devices.?

But meaningful feedback should involve more than points and badges. As Aimee Jungman, VP of Innovation at frog design, pointed out at our Digital Health Summit in June, to create stickiness, mHealth products have to put data in the context of an aspiration or goal; and that data has to be actionable.

Furthermore, social interaction needs to move beyond simply telling your Facebook friends how far you?ve walked or run in a given day. It needs to be able to include, for example, virtual coaches and mentors.

In the rapidly evolving digital health sector, some early mHealth products will probably go the way of the pet rock, but each iteration teaches us more about what it takes not only to capture users but also to retain them.

Source: http://www.lifescienceslegalinsights.com/2012/08/stickiness-eludes-many-health-and-fitness-apps.html

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Monday, August 20, 2012

Parenting: How to Decide How Many Chores Your Kids Should Have

parenting ? home management

How much should we ask our kids to do around the house? This is a question I get a lot when I?m speaking to mom groups and let me tell you, everyone has a different opinion on this.

After working with hundreds of families over the years in my organizing business while raising my own twins, I?ve seen the whole ?chores? spectrum. There are the parents who don?t require their kids to lift a finger and the ones who have their kids doing their own laundry by age seven. There are chore charts, reward systems, punishment systems, payment systems, and open bribery (pleaaasseee Johnny, help mommy and I?ll buy you ice cream).

Post-its stuck on a fridge with chores listed

I have made so many mistakes when it comes to my kids, but when it?s all said and done, here?s what I?ve decided:

1.Basic Responsibilities

There are basic responsibilities that each person in the family has just because we live here. No other reason. You live here, so you have some things you?ve got to do.

These basic things are unique to your family, but they are daily tasks that contribute to running the house. In our home they are: make your bed, put your clothes in the hamper every time, and put things away that you use, toys included.

2. Chore List

At each age, starting at age 2, kids can have a chore list. This is extra to your basic responsibilities and you may decide if they get paid for these chores?it?s totally up to you. We pay for the chores, but not for basic responsibilities. Each year of my twin?s lives, they have had chores and now that they are teens, the chores are bigger. Each day or week these chores must be done or we deduct from their payment or allowance. Just like a job, if you don?t do it, you don?t get paid your full pay. No bargaining. Some have argued that kids have a lot on their plates with school and sports and other commitments, and I agree; our kids are busier than ever. Still, participating in the functioning of a home isn?t punishment, it?s the contribution of living in a home. And these skills are for life.

Teaching kids these two levels of daily tasks and chores has a million life lessons in them. But not doing them teaches them two: someone else will do things for me and that someone is usually mom! Listen moms, you are giving yourself and your child a gift when you teach them basic living responsibilities. They will make better spouses, better roommates, and most of all, you won?t be the one doing everything it takes to run a home. Bottom line: kids can do much more if we?ll let them.

Do you have your kids do chores in your house? What types of chores are they responsible for?

image courtesy of santiagosinphilly.blogspot.com

Amy started Simplified Living 8 years ago when she wanted to stay home with her kids, but still make money. It has grown to now include not only home organizing, but corporate organizing and productivity training. Amy regularly speaks to large groups, has a TV segment on the Hampton Roads Show called Organize Your Life, and blogs about how to Live Better on her website, AmyVolk.com. Amy is a Registered Nurse by trade, was a Navy Officer and corporate trainer after leaving the Navy, and has always had a knack for organizing! She has 13-year-old twins, Mallory and Riley, has been married to Dave for 19 years. She lives in Virginia Beach and loves shoes, coffee, and books.

Source: http://momitforward.com/kids-house

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Who health - HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

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Source: http://curryrecipe-jp.net/health-2/who-health/

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Video: Analyze This: Jabil Circuit Upgrade

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/48727568/

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Sunday, August 19, 2012

What's your favorite Baseball Films?

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Source: http://baseballnation.net/showthread.php?6109-What-s-your-favorite-Baseball-Films&goto=newpost

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Swedish Massage and other Massage Therapy Styles ...

This Singapore male massage has roused the awareness of many people. There are many of assumptions and also misconceptions. This article offers a brief description of sensual massage and other massage therapy techniques for the tired along with weary.

Massage therapy are able to do a lot for you. It helps you relax and relieves pain from the muscles, and it also is often a highly recommended complementary alternative treatment for some ailments just like cancer, depression, cts, and arthritis. A number of massage techniques that can handle specific physical conditions and state of thoughts. Here are a few common strategies:

Deep Tissue Massage

This kind of massage techniques deals with your deep tissues a part of the deeper levels of our muscles. The particular deep tissue massage is ideal for people experiencing persistent muscle pain on his or her upper and lower back, hip and legs, and shoulders. Many people may find a deep tissue massage intense, since at some point, you?ll feel aching. But this is all part of the process. A deep cells massage frees our muscles of toxin build-up that is certainly usually the main cause of pain and muscle tissue immobility.

Foot Massage

Some people know this as type of therapeutic massage, reflexology. A number of massage therapists call it ?pressure therapy? since it involves applying pressure to specific points around the foot. A foot massage is a very relaxing way of handling problems with your body?s bodily organs. This is because it is belief that certain trigger factors on our feet have a direct link with our organs, hence, stimulating and manipulating these points can remedy some of the complications. A trained massage therapist also can put pressure on different meridians or power lines on the sole and side in the feet to determine the reason for illness.

Erotic/ Sensual Massage

This specific therapeutic massage is not made available from some massage spas. Very few people know of their benefits in terms of our physiological and subconscious well-being. An erotic/sensual massage aims to heighten a person?s arousal to be able to stimuli. Its main target is the sexual arousal, but it studies have shown that it helps you are not his or her alertness, awareness, and their ability to course of action information. Why not try obtaining a sensual massage with your lover for a more special experience?

Sports Massage
Any sports massage is ideal involving active individuals that are engaged in sports or rigorous work-outs. Ideally, sports rubs are given 10 minutes before engaging in a game or perhaps work out. It uses fast and stretching techniques that increase body temperature and the circulation of blood. This way, the muscle tissue perform better and also endure for longer intervals. Scientific studies on the athletics massage?s ability to heal incidents are still sparse, nevertheless its positive benefits may be concretely observed.

Swedish Massage

The particular Swedish massage is probably the most loved by all forms of massage strategies. It is recommended for first-timers. The Swedish massage comprises of all the 5 basic cerebral vascular accidents of a therapeutic massage-effleurage, petrissage, scrubbing, tapotement, and vibration. Varying combination of these 5 strokes will lead to other massage techniques including back massage, trigger level massage, and deep cells massage (among others).

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Source: http://articlereference.net/health-fitness/swedish-massage-and-other-massage-therapy-styles-2.html

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York County Council to revisit animal rules Monday

York County leaders will revisit proposed changes to York County?s animal rules aimed at empowering animal control officers ? while more controversial options including restrictions on tethered female dogs and ?bully breeds? will be up for discussion and public input in coming weeks.

A new revision, which the council will consider when it meets Monday night, contains points endorsed by animal control officials, including new definitions for ?animal,? ?adequate shelter? and ?dangerous animal.?

The changes will make it easier for animal control officers to enforce existing laws without involving law enforcement, said Steve Stuber, county animal control director.

The revised proposal would redefine ?animal? to include all non-human animals so that animal control officers don?t have to call the sheriff?s office to assist with, for example, loose livestock.

Changes to ?adequate shelter? would include specific examples of what doesn?t meet the definition of adequate shelter ? motor vehicles, garbage cans, cardboard boxes, plastic or metal barrels, animal travel crates or carriers; or underneath houses, decks, steps or stoops or other structures.

?We tried to include items that make up the volume of the issues we have today,? Stuber said. ?It gives the public a clearer understanding of what is not acceptable.?

But animal control officials also have prepared a list of other possible rules ? some new, some previously considered ? that could address problems with overpopulation of unwanted pets and aggressive animals.

In a 4-3 vote in June, the York County Council rejected a previous revision of the county?s animal law, citing too many new regulations.

Councilman Bump Roddey, chairman of a committee overseeing changes to the animal law, said the revision is a good start, but asked, ?how does this in turn reduce the number of dogs and cats that we?re putting down monthly??

If the council adopts the law with its new definitions Monday, the proposal would need to pass two more votes and a public hearing before taking effect.

County Manager Jim Baker said at its first September meeting, the council likely will continue discussion of what other provisions, if any, members would like to add. A public hearing and second reading will likely follow later that month.

Options up for discussion

One new option would define a ?bully? breed as a ?pit bull type? of dog, Stuber said.

Council members could prohibit breeding ?bully? breeds and require different enclosures for them.

A ?high percentage? ? around 40 percent ? of the dogs that come through the York County Animal Shelter are the ?pit bull type,? Stuber said, adding that ?something needs to be done about it.

?It appears we?re cleaning up the mess for the fighting industry every year.?

It?s unclear what support the provisions would have.

Chairman Britt Blackwell said he?s trying to ?keep an open mind? about the council?s options, especially after hearing the animal shelter?s veterinarian detail at a meeting last week some of the cases animal control experiences.

?I understand that a lot of people have what?s called the bully breeds and they?re great pets and they take proper care of them, but they have been a problem,? he said. ?It?s a reality that we have to deal with.?

Other options the council has seen before, including an unpopular plan to require pet owners with five or more animals to register them with the county.

Another would require female tethered dogs, easy targets for male dogs looking for mates, to be spayed to prevent unwanted litters, Stuber said.

It?s a provision animal advocates like Alicia Schwartz with the Committee for Responsible Pet Ownership will likely push. Roaming dogs also create a public safety problem, she said.

?We really want no tethering, but we?ll be very happy? if chained females have to be spayed, she said. ?It will kind of make people accountable.?

Source: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2012/08/15/2145837/york-county-council-to-revisit.html

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Saturday, August 18, 2012

Quality Home Improvement Tips To Help You In Your Home ...

If your air conditioner is more than seven years old, consider improving your home by replacing it. When purchasing a new air conditioner, look for the Energy Star label. This label will let you know how energy efficient the unit is and if it is a good buy for saving money in the future.

Here is an idea! To call attention to pieces of your furniture and accessories that are brown or purple, place them against a white backdrop. This is especially great if you live in an apartment and are unable to paint your room a different color other than white. Utilize this color and create a space full of personality through the use of a brown couch and purple decorative pillows.

When painting the exterior of your home, use architectural details, doors and windows to add visual interest by painting them (or around them) with an accent color that coordinates with your main color. This keeps your color scheme from looking too monochromatic and helps interesting design features to stand out.

Place candles throughout your house. Candles can create a wonderful effect in your home. The effect will be heightened if the candle is scented with a good fragrance. You can place candles in bedrooms, bathrooms, and dining areas. Bathrooms especially benefit from the use of scented candles. Scented candles will give your house a homey feel.

Don?t throw out your bedroom doors just because they?re dirty. Remove your door from the frame and sand it down until the bare wood is exposed. Then buy some oil based paint of your choice and paint your door with a paint roller. For a brand new feel, opt to change your doorknobs to a fancier design.

Once you?ve tried every possible method imaginable to rid yourself of a squeaky door, if it still persists, it might be time for a new door hinge. They can be found at any hardware store. Simply disassemble the hinge and attach each side of it to the door and wall frame. Then align the hinge parts and replace the pins.

Make your home feel like a home by adding a doormat. A lot of people tend to overlook the addition of a doormat in front of a door. It not only serves a purpose of making a home feel complete, but also serves to keep your floors clean. Putting out a doormat where people can wipe their feet will cut down the amount of time you spend cleaning your floors.

One way to lower your electric bill is to install a motion sensor on your outdoor lights. This way, the bright spotlights only come on when someone is outside and needs the light and then, turn off when not needed, saving on energy. Also, motion-detector outdoor lights can act as a deterrent against theft.

Light is a premium often overlooked in home improvement projects. There are far, far more rooms in the world that are too dim than there are rooms that are too bright. Adding more light fixtures is almost always a wise home improvement job, and often a fairly simple one. In more extensive renovation work, installing more windows accomplishes similar results.

If your bathroom is looking a bit bland, you can put in a new vanity to add a touch of class and elegance. As time goes on, your old vanity will look worn and begin to warp. If you want to improve your bathroom, just buy vanity and drop it in for a touch of class.

Make your real estate remodeling activities more green to save money. You can have substantial long term savings within your investment when you choose environmentally safe materials and appliances. There are many items, from paint to building materials, that will have a much better, and longer-lasting, impact on everyone?s future.

A great home improvement tip is to not let your ego get in the way when making renovations. Sometimes, a renovation you may have in mind does not need to be done because it could violate a particular building code, or it could even harm the value of your home.

Find the home that is the right size and has the features that your family needs to live a happy and comfortable life. There are many features that will make living in the home more comfortable depending on the lifestyle and tasks that a person has in their life. Finding the one that meets your personal needs will keep you happy with your home longer.

Make the most of your laundry room by adding cabinets, shelves and other storage and stacking your machines if possible. You can also build custom pedestals to go under your machines to hold empty laundry baskets, jugs of detergent, or other items. A clutter-free laundry room not only looks nice, but gives you more room for folding, ironing and sorting clothes.

No matter what your budget, there are plenty of ways to get a better-looking home. Keep these tips in mind the next time you look around your house. You should easily be able to find a do-it-yourself project that will make your home feel like new again.

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Source: http://www.tourismarticles.org/travel-information/tourism-business/quality-home-improvement-tips-to-help-you-in-your-home.html

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Autoblog_RSS: Monterey: 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage sets auction record at $11 million http://t.co/W0WBn5lL

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Source: http://twitter.com/Autoblog_RSS/statuses/236822388304642051

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B.C. newspaper tycoon proposing $13-billion oil refinery for Northern Gateway oil (with poll)

VANCOUVER - B.C. community newspaper tycoon David Black proposed today building a $13-billion oil refinery near Kitimat to use all of the crude from Enbridge's controversial Northern Gateway pipeline.

It would mean tankers would ship refined fuels like gasoline off of B.C. northwest coast, not heavy oil from Alberta, reducing environmental risks, says Black.

A refinery also promises 10 times as many jobs as an export pipeline.

See more David Black photos here

Black is hoping his proposal will change opposition from British Columbians and first nations, many of which have rejected the $6-billion project because they say the economic rewards for B.C. are not great enough to offset the risk and consequence of an oil spill on the pipeline or off the northwest coast of British Columbia.

Last month, B.C. Premier Christy Clark also declared the province would not even consider the Northern Gateway project unless it gets a much greater share of the economic benefits.

Acknowledging that oil producers that want to ship oil on the Northern Gateway pipeline are not in favour of a refinery in B.C., Black said his new company, Kitimat Clean Ltd., is submitting an environmental assessment application to build the refinery.

Since the economic returns from a refinery are less than exporting oil, and no company has stepped forward to spearhead the project, he decided to do it himself, said Black.

He first proposed the idea to Canada's oil companies seven years ago when he was chairman of the B.C. Progress Board, and resurrected the idea 11 months ago.

"I am hoping to serve as a catalyst to attract an industry consortium that will undertake the project. But if no industry player steps forward during the two-year environmental assessment I will do all that I can to organize the capital and build the refinery," said Black, who owns 150 community newspapers in B.C. and the United States.

Added Black: "I think the pipeline and the refinery are crucially important to our northern communities, to B.C., to Alberta and to Canada. We must protect the environment, but we must create jobs for the next generation as well. It is our responsibility to do both."

The proposed refinery in Kitimat would provide many more jobs than an export pipeline.

The refinery is estimated to create 3,000 jobs, half of those directly in the refinery and the other half in contract jobs. Another 6,000 workers would be hired during the five-year construction period.

Black is proposing to reduce capital costs from Canada's high labour rates by building refinery modules offshore to be shipped to Kitimat.

The Northern Gateway pipeline is estimated to create about 350 permanent and contract jobs in B.C., one-tenth of the permanent jobs a refinery would create.

A pipeline would also create thousands of jobs during its three-year construction phase.

The planned Northern Gateway pipeline is meant to open up new markets for crude from the Alberta oilsands, breaking the reliance on the U.S. market, and as a result bringing a higher price for Canada's oil, an estimated $25 billion more a year.

That goal can be achieved with a refinery on the coast with access to Pacific Rim markets, said Black.

The refinery will also remove any threat of "catastrophic" offshore pollution from heavy crude oil because refined fuels such as diesel, gasoline and kerosene evaporate, said Black.

There would also be about 30 per cent less tanker loads into Kitimat because the diluent used to thin the crude oil shipped to Kitimat would be stripped out during refining and sent back to Alberta via pipeline.

Black also argues that building the refinery in B.C. will ensure it is a state-of-the-art facility with a lower environmental footprint than in other areas.

While it will produce about seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, those emissions would have been produced anyway, he said.

Black has briefed the B.C. premier, Clark, but he said the province hasn't told him what their position on his proposal is yet.

He added there are many legitimate concerns from first nations along the pipeline.

"In my view we should not proceed with the pipeline or refinery unless there is confidence that any pipeline leakage will be immaterial," said Black.

ghoekstra@vancouversun.com


Source: http://www.leaderpost.com/business/2035/newspaper+tycoon+proposing+billion+refinery+Northern+Gateway+with+poll/7106304/story.html

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Friday, August 17, 2012

Why Use Limo Services for Your Wedding ? Scope Articles

For many people, luxury and luxury is necessary especially when they are going for an occasion or perhaps a holiday. That is why there are numerous Limos, most of which are used for business and leisure. Each week, organizations providing limo services acquire many booking demands them to offer these facilities from various customers.

Each client usually has his or her own particular need when it comes to hiring Limousine Video companies. Some want to go to an invent in style, some want to win over their lovers by taking them on a passionate night out, others desire to make lasting memories among others simply want to enjoy themselves in vogue after a long full week.
Weddings are one area in which limos come in handy. Many a bride wants her wedding being the most memorable day of her lifetime. Both the bride along with the groom spend enormous sums of cash in order to make this day unforgettable not just in them but to their family and friends as well. The actual couples often commit countless hours carefully organizing the event down to the past detail.
They make certain the wedding dress and also the suit match with the actual theme of the wedding. These people order the cake days in advance to avoid disappointments and more importantly the groom makes sure he has the rings. Transport is often the lowest thing in most lovers wedding plan. They amount that they will simply use their friends? vehicles for the event.
Nevertheless, if you want to truly make an impression on your friends and family and make your special day memorable, you ought to seriously consider hiring a Limo program. The first thing men and women you have invited for the wedding will set their eyes on is the car in which you will get to. Hiring a limo will certainly make sure you have the attention of your friends during the wedding. It helps you set the tone with the wedding as people watch you come out of the automobile and they will be excited and mesmerized.
Various other benefits of hiring Limousine Video companies are their benefit and safety. The bride to be and groom need not worry about traffic. The actual limo services have professionally trained drivers who observe all the principles and take all precautions. They have years of experience and know all the routes extremely well.
They may be polite, respectful and also professional. The limos contain the most recent security features such as airbags and other sophisticated technological tools to be able to make sure you occur safely at your wedding. That they limos also come with entertainment features such as audio and video players, and a personal privacy lock to give the happy couple complete privacy and luxury.

For more information about Limousine Video visit our website.

? 2012 Scope Articles

Source: http://www.scopearticle.com/why-use-limo-services-for-your-wedding/

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Governments mull seizing mortgages

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

A house for sale is pictured in Fontana, San Bernardino County, California, in this 2009 file photograph. A mortgage firm backed by a number of prominent West Coast financiers is pushing local politicians in California and a handful of other states hardest hit by the housing crisis to use eminent domain to restructure mortgages for borrowers who owe more money than their homes are worth.

By John W. Schoen, NBC News

With millions of homeowners still underwater, some local governments are considering a novel solution: condemning their mortgages through the power of eminent domain.

?Federal programs have not been very successful at all, and the private programs have been of limited help,? said Gregory Devereaux, administrator for San Bernardino County, explaining the government's decision to consider eminent domain, a plan the mortgage industry considers the equivalent of the nuclear option. The hard-hit county's board of supervisors is expected to meet Thursday to consider proposals to help homeowners, including the possible use of eminent domain.

There are several ways a local government could use eminent domain to write down mortgages, but the basic idea is fairly simple. Much like the condemnation of a piece of land for public use, the town or county would seek court approval to pay a ?fair market? value to a lender or investor holding a homeowner?s underwater mortgage. That amount would be substantially less than the unpaid balance. Once the seizure is approved, the local government would then offer to sell the smaller mortgage back to the homeowner, who would refinance the outstanding balance with a new loan.

Not surprisingly the idea has struck a deep nerve in the mortgage finance industry.

?It?s absolutely a reflection of frustration, but that doesn?t mean it?s right and it doesn?t mean it?s responsible,? said David Stevens, president of the Mortgage Bankers Association. ?In cities or counties where they pass ordinances to do this they?re going to make credit availability extremely limited. And that?s just going to hurt recovery of those communities much greater than families that would be helped.?

The idea has also drawn the ire of the Federal Housing Finance Authority, the regulator of government mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which last week threatened unspecified action to stop local governments from seizing underwater homes through eminent domain. Together, those government enterprises hold or guarantee roughly half of all mortgages outstanding.

Despite pressure from the White House and more than 100 members of Congress, FHFA acting Director Edward DeMarco recently repeated his opposition to the idea of writing down the balances of some mortgages held in the government?s portfolio. That policy only further demonstrates the need to attack the problem on a local level, say proponents of the eminent domain idea.

?It almost doesn?t matter what the federal government comes up with -- if they?re not going to allow it, they?re not going to allow it,? said Robert Hockett, a Cornell University law professor who has written in support of the plan. ?We?d love to see an FHFA with a different attitude toward principal write-downs. We?d love to see a different head of FHFA if that?s what it takes.?

San Bernardino, a sprawling county east of Los Angeles, twice the size of Massachusetts, has been hit hard by the housing bust. The county unemployment rate stood at 12.6 percent June, one of the highest in the nation. Median home prices have fallen to $150,000 from a peak of $370,000.?The foreclosure rate is among the highest in the country.?With its tax base badly eroded, the city of San Bernardino recently filed for municipal bankruptcy?after disclosing a $46 million budget shortfall.?

?Our issue is not the individual homeowner,? said Devereaux, the county administrator. ?Our issue is our economy. And what is the moral rightness of keeping these people underwater and keeping our unemployment rate high because we can?t get the housing market going again??

The idea is being discussed in other municipalities, although it has not gotten far. In Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel this week shot down the idea, saying eminent domain is the wrong tool to address housing problems, which he described as a national issue.

The well-established power of eminent domain has traditionally been applied more narrowly to claim property for new roads or facilities that at least arguably benefit the entire community. Critics say seizing individual properties would benefit only the homeowners who gets a break on their loan balance.

But proponents counter that local mortgage seizures would serve the public good because they would help boost local housing markets and speed economic recovery.

?They?re using their power for the public good to improve the quality of life and services for their residents," said Steven Gluckstern, a principal in Mortgage Resolution Partners, a newly formed private company that is promoting the eminent domain plan. ?It?s a taking. It?s a tough word. It's a local community saying, ?I can?t stand by and watch the continued degradation of my community so I?m just going to take the loan.?"

The San Francisco-based company?is in talks with about a half-dozen local governments about setting up mortgage condemnation programs, Gluckstern said. The company would manage the program and help homeowners refinance their mortgages in exchange for a $4,500 fee for each modified loan.

It is not clear whether efforts to use eminent domain in this way would pass legal muster. Each case would have to be approved by a judge, as is true in every eminent domain case.

"In eminent domain, (the local government) sues the investors: that?s how it starts," Gluckstern said. ?They have only two claims: one is that you don?t have right to do this and the other is that you?re not paying me fair value. Those two issues are part of any eminent domain case."

The FHFA has concerns about the use of eminent domain to revise existing financial contracts. With Steven Gluckstern, Mortgage Resolution Partners, and Tom Deutsch, American Securitization Forum.

It also?remains to be seen who would be the winners and losers if these plans move forward. Underwater homeowners certainly come out ahead. Depending on how the loans are valued, investors holding these mortgages could also benefit in the long run.

Proponents of mortgage write-downs argue that underwater homeowners are at much greater risk of default, which leaves lenders and investors with potentially big losses. That?s why banks holding underwater loans commonly decide to cut the outstanding balance to keep the loan performing and avoid the losses that stem from a foreclosure.?

But many underwater mortgages written during the 2000s lending boom were pooled into trusts and sold off to investors. The complex contracts governing those trusts have severely limited investors? ability to modify a loan -? even when it?s in their best interest.

?These contracts are effectively functioning as suicide pacts among bondholders,? said Hockett, the Cornell professor. ?They?re preventing something from happening that would be good for the bondholders themselves."

By looking at the default rates of underwater borrowers, banks holding loans outright have come up with formulas to decide how far they can write down a mortgage and still come out ahead in the long run. In theory, the same should hold for mortgages held in trusts, according to Laurie Goodman, an analyst at Amherst Securities who recently analyzed the potential impact of eminent domain mortgage write-downs.

?Taking select loans out of a trust could conceivably result in a higher realized value for (the) investors,? she wrote. ?Using eminent domain is a novel (albeit aggressive) idea to reach this goal.?

But the same trust contracts that have impeded investors from writing down loans also leave them with little protection from a local government that offers less than fair value when it seizes mortgages, she wrote.

Opponents of the eminent domain idea -- and of write-downs in general -- inevitably raise the issue of ?moral hazard.? Cutting the loan balance of a troubled homeowner will only encourage future borrowers to take on debts they can?t pay back, according to this argument.

Both public and private efforts at loan modification have been bogged down from the start by the difficulty in identifying which homeowners should be helped and which should be left to fend for themselves.

?It?s easy as an outsider to say the (Obama) administration that should have done more,? said Stevens, a former FHA official. ?But how do you implement a program and not sweep in irresponsible behaviors with responsible ones??

Should governments use eminent domain if needed to resolve housing problems?

Source: http://economywatch.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/16/13301668-governments-mull-radical-solution-to-underwater-mortgages-seize-them?lite

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7 U.S. troops among 11 killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan

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Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com --- Thursday, August 16, 2012
The Taliban claimed responsibility for bringing down the helicopter in Afghanistan, but the group routinely boasts of shooting down any NATO aircraft that crashes. ...

Source: http://feeds.seattletimes.com/click.phdo?i=a99aea9bf200d6e698ef987879c66ce2

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Thursday, August 16, 2012

Human Resources Manager | The Assurance Group

The Manager of Talent Management /HR is?responsible to drive the corporate talent management strategy. Specifically,?to articulate and promote the company?s brand and value proposition in order to increase business capability, create a high accountability performance?culture, and establish a pipeline of well-qualified talent. This broad-based position is also responsible for?multiple areas of human resources administration including but not limited torecruitment, on-boarding, personnel, compensation, benefits, training, career?development and risk mitigation.Key responsibilities include:
  • The development, design and implementation of talent management initiatives and retention strategies?that maximize existing talent and support the recruitment of future?talent.
  • Develops and leads strategies?that create a strong sense of organizational culture; supports the?engagement and motivation of internal employees and a distributed?workforce.
  • Improve the?company?s internet presence leveraging social media to promote the company?s brand and value proposition
  • Administer and?maintain all pertinent applicant and interview data and generate regular?reports for executive review
  • Lead all talent?management initiatives, including employee assessment & evaluation,?training, & development, performance management, retention and?succession planning;
  • Manage employee?engagement efforts through regular employee surveys, gap analysis and?engagement strategy development and deployment.
  • Establish and?monitor key talent performance indicators and metrics that support?business strategy
  • Provide leadership and advice?to senior executives and management teams in areas of talent management,?workforce planning, performance management, leadership development, and ?????? organizational effectiveness.
  • Assess employee morale with a?focus on continuous improvement; constantly seeking opportunities to?better support employees and foster their professional development.
  • Actively participate and?support the recruitment efforts and initiatives, including sourcing and?qualifying candidates and creating ongoing relationships with qualified external?candidates.
  • Development of best practices?related to sourcing passive and active candidates, relationship management strategies, assessment tools and protocol, college?recruitment and onboarding programs.
  • Oversees the HR functions of?the business including recruiting, compensation, benefits and operations?to deliver high quality human resources services to the organization.
  • Maintains current knowledge and understanding of regulations, laws, industry trends and developments?regarding HR that may affect the company and advise management and?employees accordingly.
  • Provides guidance in employee?relations and compliance related issues.

Position ? Requirements

  • Bachelors degree in HR or related discipline, Masters?preferred; PHR preferred
  • Minimum of 5 years? experience direct Talent?Management, Recruitment and broader Human Resources
  • Minimum of 3 years in HR management role
  • Ability to manage full life-cycle search process
  • Highly consultative with the ability to quickly translate business needs into human capital strategies and tactics
  • Strong metrics-driven management approach
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong organizational, project and process management?skills
  • Outstanding communication, verbal and written, and?presentation skills
  • Excellent relationship building, interpersonal and influence skills
  • High levels of personal integrity and confidentiality
  • Ability to travel 25% ? 50% of the time

?

For immediate consideration please send your resume in MS Word format to kim@theassurancegroup.com.

Source: http://theassurancegroup.com/2012/08/16/talent-managerhr-generalist/

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Centerline Capital Group Provides FHA Financing for the Acquisition ...

New York, NY ? August 12, 2012 ? Centerline Capital Group (?Centerline?), a provider of real estate financial and asset management services for affordable and conventional multifamily housing, and a subsidiary of Centerline Holding Company (OTC: CLNH), announced today it has provided a $2.45 million FHA loan for the acquisition and rehabilitation of an 84-unit apartment complex in Shreveport, Louisiana. FHA loan proceeds will fund the property acquisition and a small portion of the rehab, and, the majority of the proposed rehab will be funded from 9% federal tax credits to be provided by PNC Bank, the tax credit syndicator for the project.

Built in 1971 and rehabbed in 1997, Clear Horizons Apartments is a Section 8 multifamily property that consists of nine, three-story buildings.? Proposed on-site improvements will average $66,000 per unit and includes new kitchens and bathrooms, interior carpet and floor coverings, washer/dryers, replacement of all electrical wiring, upgraded mechanical systems, new roofs for all nine buildings, and the construction of a new community center building.

The borrower is Montgomery, Alabama-based Summit Clear Horizons, L.P. All of the units in the facility are subject to a project based Section 8 HAP contract, and the property will have an extend land use restriction requiring the property to remain affordable to residents with incomes at maximum of 60% of the average medium income for the Caddo Parish, where the property is located.

?The borrower is planning repairs and capital improvements that will extend the useful life of the property and continue to provide much needed affordable housing to the local community,? commented Cynthia Hannon, Senior Vice President, Affordable Housing Debt Group at Centerline.?? Capital Group.? ?In addition, the occupancy at the property is currently, and has historically, been very strong and there will be continued high demand for this type of affordable product long-term. These factors made this an attractive deal for Centerline.?

?This was a complex deal with an extremely short timeframe to close,? said Kea Calame, Senior Development Officer, at Summit Partners.? ?We were thrilled that Centerline was able to efficiently work through the related finance issues and close the deal in a timely manner. We look forward to working with Centerline again in the very near future.?

?The financing for the project was processed and closed in just over 100 days, which according to the New Orleans HUD office, was one of the fastest executions for a 221(d)(4) transaction in the history of the program,? added Hannon.

Centerline is a Fannie Mae DUS lender, Freddie Mac seller-servicer, FHA-approved mortgage provider and source for other forms of debt and equity.

?
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?
About Centerline Capital Group
Centerline Capital Group, a subsidiary of Centerline Holding Company (OTC: CLNH), provides real estate financing and asset management services focused on affordable and conventional multifamily housing.?? We offer a range of both debt financing and equity investment products, as well as asset management services to developers, owners, and investors.? An industry leader, Centerline is structured to originate, underwrite, service, manage, refinance or sell through all phases of an asset?s life cycle.? A leading sponsor of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funds, Centerline has raised more than $10 billion in equity across 136 funds, and invested in over 1,600 assets spanning 47 states. The firm?s multifamily lending platform services more than $11 billion in loans. Founded in 1972, Centerline is headquartered in New York City, with 243 employees in ten offices throughout the United States.?? A strategic partner of Island Capital, Centerline is organized around four business units: Affordable Housing Equity, Affordable Housing Debt, Mortgage Banking and Asset Management.? To learn more about Centerline, visit www.centerline.com.

?

###
?
Certain statements in this document may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the ?safe harbor? provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management?s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Centerline Holding Company?s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and include, among others, business limitations caused by adverse changes in real estate and credit markets and general economic and business conditions; our ability to generate new income sources, raise capital for investment funds and maintain business relationships with providers and users of capital; changes in applicable laws and regulations; our tax treatment, the tax treatment of our subsidiaries and the tax treatment of our investments; competition with other companies; risk of loss under mortgage banking loss sharing agreements; and risks associated with providing credit intermediation. Words such as ?anticipates?, ?expects?, ?intends?, ?plans?, ?believes?, ?seeks?, ?estimates? and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Centerline Holding Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Centerline Holding Company?s expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

?

Source: http://www.centerline.com/news-media/press-releases/centerline-capital-group-provides-fha-financing-for-the-acquisition-and-rehabilitation-of-a-multifamily-property-in-shreveport-louisiana-4/

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Oil slips to near $93 on rising US crude supplies

Oil prices slipped to near $93 a barrel Wednesday as an unexpected increase in oil supplies in the U.S. more than offset retail sales data showing Americans spending more.

By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for September delivery was down 32 cents at $93.11 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 70 cents to end at $93.43 in New York on Tuesday.

In London, Brent crude was down 22 cents at $113.81 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange. The contract has gained close to $8 this month.

The declines came despite government figures showing Americans increased their retail spending in July by the most in five months. A gain of 0.8 percent over June was four times greater than expectations and followed three straight monthly declines.

Traders were remaining cautious, however, after the American Petroleum Institute said crude stockpiles in the U.S. rose some 2.8 million barrels last week. Expectations were for a drop of 1.7 million, according to Natalie Rampono, a commodities analyst at ANZ Banking Group in Melbourne.

"It is a negative signal for demand," she said.

The stockpile report from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration ? the market benchmark ? will be out later Wednesday.

Oil prices were also under pressure from a stronger dollar, which makes crude more expensive and a less appealing investment for traders using other currencies. The euro was down to $1.2279 on Wednesday from $1.2320 on Tuesday.

In other futures trading on the Nymex, gasoline fell marginally to $3.01 a gallon. Heating oil fell 0.5 cents to $3.029 a gallon. Natural gas fell 1.8 cents to $2.82 per 1,000 cubic feet.

___

Pamela Sampson in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-slips-near-93-rising-us-crude-supplies-115146994--finance.html

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US economic recovery is weakest since World War II

Greg Mann, an unemployed research analyst and real estate appraiser, is pictured at his home Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Braselton, Ga.. The recession that ended three years ago lingers on as the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Greg Mann, an unemployed research analyst and real estate appraiser, is pictured at his home Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Braselton, Ga.. The recession that ended three years ago lingers on as the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Graphic compares recoveries from nine U.S. recessions

Greg Mann, an unemployed research analyst and real estate appraiser, sits with his dog Oz at a park near his home, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Braselton, Ga.. The recession that ended three years ago lingers on as the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Greg Mann, an unemployed research analyst and real estate appraiser, is pictured at his home Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Braselton, Ga.. The recession that ended three years ago lingers on as the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Greg Mann, an unemployed research analyst and real estate appraiser, sorts and cuts coupons at his home Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Braselton, Ga.. The recession that ended three years ago lingers on as the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression. (AP Photo/John Amis)

(AP) ? The recession that ended three years ago this summer has been followed by the feeblest economic recovery since the Great Depression.

Since World War II, 10 U.S. recessions have been followed by a recovery that lasted at least three years. An Associated Press analysis shows that by just about any measure, the one that began in June 2009 is the weakest.

The ugliness goes well beyond unemployment, which at 8.3 percent is the highest this long after a recession ended.

Economic growth has never been weaker in a postwar recovery. Consumer spending has never been so slack. Only once has job growth been slower.

More than in any other post-World War II recovery, people who have jobs are hurting: Their paychecks have fallen behind inflation.

Many economists say the agonizing recovery from the Great Recession, which began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, is the predictable consequence of a housing bust and a grave financial crisis.

Credit, the fuel that powers economies, evaporated after Lehman Brothers collapsed in September 2008. And a 30 percent drop in housing prices erased trillions in home equity and brought construction to a near-standstill.

So any recovery was destined to be a slog.

"A housing collapse is very different from a stock market bubble and crash," says Nobel Prize-winning economist Peter Diamond of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "It affects so many people. It only corrects very slowly."

The U.S. economy has other problems, too. Europe's troubles have undermined consumer and business confidence on both sides of the Atlantic. And the deeply divided U.S. political system has delivered growth-chilling uncertainty.

The AP compared nine economic recoveries since the end of World War II that lasted at least three years. A 10th recovery that ran from 1945 to 1948 was not included because the statistics from that period aren't comprehensive, although the available data show that hiring was robust. There were two short-lived recoveries ? 24 months and 12 months ? after the recessions of 1957-58 and 1980.

Here is a closer look at how the comeback from the Great Recession stacks up with the others:

?FEEBLE GROWTH

America's gross domestic product ? the broadest measure of economic output ? grew 6.8 percent from the April-June quarter of 2009 through the same quarter this year, the slowest in the first three years of a postwar recovery. GDP grew an average of 15.5 percent in the first three years of the eight other comebacks analyzed.

The engines that usually drive recoveries aren't firing this time.

Investment in housing, which grew an average of nearly 34 percent this far into previous postwar recoveries, is up just 8 percent since the April-June quarter of 2009.

That's because the overbuilding of the mid-2000s left a glut of houses. Prices fell and remain depressed. The housing market has yet to return to anything close to full health even as mortgage rates have plunged to record lows.

Government spending and investment at the federal, state and local levels was 4.5 percent lower in the second quarter than three years earlier.

Three years into previous postwar recoveries, government spending had risen an average 12.5 percent. In the first three years after the 1981-82 recession, during President Ronald Reagan's first term, the economy got a jolt from a 15 percent increase in government spending and investment.

This time, state and local governments have been slashing spending ? and jobs. And since passing President Barack Obama's $862 billion stimulus package in 2009, a divided Congress has been reluctant to try to help the economy with federal spending programs. Trying to contain the $11.1 trillion federal debt has been a higher priority.

Since June 2009, governments at all levels have slashed 642,000 jobs, the only time government employment has fallen in the three years after a recession. This long after the 1973-74 recession, by contrast, governments had added more than 1 million jobs.

?EXHAUSTED CONSUMERS

Consumer spending has grown just 6.5 percent since the recession ended, feeblest in a postwar recovery. In the first three years of previous recoveries, spending rose an average of nearly 14 percent.

It's no mystery why consumers are being frugal. Many have lost access to credit, which fueled their spending in the 2000s. Home equity has evaporated and credit cards have been canceled. Falling home prices have slashed home equity 49 percent, from $13.2 trillion in 2005 to $6.7 trillion early this year.

Others are spending less because they're paying down debt or saving more. Household debt peaked at 126 percent of after-tax income in mid-2007 and has fallen to 107 percent, according to Haver Analytics. The savings rate has risen from 1.1 percent of after-tax income in 2005 to 4.4 percent in June. Consumers have cut credit card debt by 14 percent ? to $865 billion ? since it peaked at over $1 trillion in December 2007.

"We were in a period in which we borrowed too much," says Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics. "We are now deleveraging. That's a process that slows us down."

?THE JOBS HOLE

The economy shed a staggering 8.8 million jobs during and shortly after the recession. Since employment hit bottom, the economy has created just over 4 million jobs. So the new hiring has replaced 46 percent of the lost jobs, by far the worst performance since World War II. In the previous eight recoveries, the economy had regained more than 350 percent of the jobs lost, on average.

During the 1981-82 recession, the U.S. lost 2.8 million jobs. In the three years and one month after that recession ended, the economy added 9.8 million ? replacing the 2.8 million and adding 7 million more.

Never before have so many Americans been unemployed for so long three years into a recovery. Nearly 5.2 million have been out of work for six months or more. The long-term unemployed account for 41 percent of the jobless; the highest mark in the other recoveries was 22 percent.

Gregory Mann, 58, lost his job as a real estate appraiser three years ago. "Basically, I am looking for anything," he says. He has applied to McDonald's, Target and Nordstrom's.

"Nothing, not even a rejection letter," he says.

His wife, a registered nurse, has lost two jobs in the interim ? and just received an offer to work reviewing medical records near Atlanta.

"We are broke and nearly homeless," he says. "If this job for my wife hadn't come through, we would be out on the street come Sept. 1 or would have had to move in with relatives."

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has called long-term unemployment a "national crisis." The longer people remain unemployed, the harder it is to find work, Bernanke has said. Skills erode, and people lose contact with former colleagues who could help with the job search.

?SHRINKING PAYCHECKS

Usually, workers' pay rises as the economy picks up momentum after a recession. Not this time. Employers don't have to be generous in a weak job market because most workers don't have anywhere to go.

As a result, pay raises haven't kept up with even modest levels of inflation. Earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers ? a category that covers about 80 percent of the private, nonfarm workforce ? have risen just over 6.2 percent since June 2009. Consumer prices have risen nearly 7.2 percent. Adjusted for inflation, wages have fallen 0.8 percent. In the previous five recoveries ?the records go back only to 1964 ? real wages had gone up an average 1.5 percent at this point.

Falling wages haven't hurt everyone. Lower labor costs helped push corporate profits to a record 10.6 percent of U.S. GDP in the first three months of 2012, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. And those surging profits helped lift the Dow Jones industrials 54 percent from the end of June 2009 to the end of last month. Only after the recessions of 1948-49 and 1953-54 did stocks rise more.

Stock investments may be coming back, but savings are still getting squeezed by the rock-bottom interest rates the Fed has engineered to boost the economy. The money Americans earn from interest payments fell from nearly $1.4 trillion in 2008 to barely $1 trillion last year ? a drop of more than $370 billion, or 27 percent. That amounts to shrinking income for many retirees.

Washington isn't doing much to help the economy. An impasse between Obama and congressional Republicans brought the U.S. to the brink of default on the federal debt last year ?a confrontation that rattled financial markets and sapped consumer and business confidence.

Given the political divide, businesses and consumers don't know what's going to happen to taxes, government spending or regulation. Sharp tax increases and spending cuts are scheduled to kick in at year's end unless Congress and the White House reach a budget deal.

In the meantime, it's difficult for consumers to summon the confidence to spend and businesses the confidence to hire and expand. Never in the postwar period has there been so much uncertainty about what policymakers will do, says Steven Davis, an economist at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business: "No one is sure what will actually happen."

As weak as this recovery is, it's nothing like what the U.S. went through in the 1930s. The period known as the Great Depression actually included two severe recessions separated by a recovery that lasted from March 1933 until May 1937.

It's tough to compare the current recovery with the 1933-37 version. Economic figures comparable to today's go back only to the late 1940s. But calculations by economist Robert Coen, professor emeritus at Northwestern University, suggest that things were far bleaker during the recovery three-quarters of a century ago: Coen found that unemployment remained well above 10 percent ? and usually above 15 percent ? throughout the 1930s.

Only the approach and outbreak of World War II ? the ultimate government stimulus program ? restored the economy and the job market to full health.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-08-15-Economy-Weakest%20Recovery/id-0427db79ff4447ca8fd52b2bc4deb3e7

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