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John Cale | 01/01/70
Join the legendary John Cale for an evening dedicated to a discussion of his long and unparalleled career. Since first finding notoriety as the Velvet Underground's sonic architect to producing and performing with Iggy Pop, The Modern Lovers, Patti Smith, Brian Eno & The Happy Mondays, he has also maintained one of the most prolific and celebrated solo careers in rock music, continuing with his upcoming record Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood, released just last week. Cale's personal history is for many the physical embodiment of rock music's own 20th century odyssey.
Joining the conversation (taking place on October 29th) will be pioneering producer Matthew Herbert, acclaimed author Richard King, and host Emma Warren (The Guardian, Red Bull Music Academy). John will also be taking questions from the audience during the 90-minute session, so here's your chance to hear it like it was direct from the source.
For all those who can't attend, the session will be filmed and available for streaming after the event on the Red Bull music academy's site. A livestream of the event is also set to take place, details of which will be revealed closer to the event date.
Watch John Cale live on BBC 2's Later With Jools on Tuesday 9th of Oct at 22:00 & Friday 12th at 23:00
And for instant video satisfaction, here's the promo for John Cale's latest single "Face to the Sky":


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First Time Buyers
Buying your first home is an exciting experience. Your real estate professional is an expert at making you an educated buyer before you even begin the home shopping process.
Following is a list of five top things you can research before heading out to buy your first home:
1. How's your credit? Many first-time homebuyers are unaware of their credit rating. You can find out about your credit score through a mortgage professional or lender, or you can also obtain your score online on websites such as Equifax.com
2. Mortgage calculators. Virtually all mortgage professionals and lenders offer helpful calculators to help you determine how much you can afford to spend on a home based on monthly mortgage payment amounts. Your current income and debts, among other things, are taken into consideration during this process.
3. Obtain a pre-approval. Your mortgage professional or lender representative can help you obtain a pre-approval so you know exactly what you can afford to spend on a home.
4. Determine your down payment. Homebuyers today can make a purchase for as little as little as just a few percent down.
5. Consider closing costs. Closing costs must be taken into account when making a home purchase. These are costs above and beyond your down payment and monthly mortgage payments, and include such things as legal fees, property tax and utility adjustment costs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Wordless Wednesday - My Little Monkey
25 comments:
- Ms. LatinaJanuary 25, 2010 at 7:56 PM
Ohhh that would scare the wits out of me! Glad you caught him in time! Happy WW!ReplyDelete
- J. Leigh DesignzJanuary 25, 2010 at 7:56 PM
Haha! Gavin did that with his night stand onto the dresser. I couldn't figure out how he could get his own socks from the top drawer!ReplyDelete
- kara-noelJanuary 25, 2010 at 7:57 PM
Dont you love/hate how fearless little boys are!?!?ReplyDelete
Oops, that's a little scary.ReplyDelete
- Modern MomJanuary 25, 2010 at 7:58 PM
That would freak me out! Happy WW.ReplyDelete
- Simply DeliciousJanuary 25, 2010 at 7:58 PM
Scary! Im glad you found him in time.ReplyDelete
What do you mean boys? You should see where my girls get! Its so much fun having climbers, isnt it?ReplyDelete
- bluevioletJanuary 25, 2010 at 7:59 PM
Youve entered a new phase now!ReplyDelete
Ah, I remember those days. lol. Yeah, have fun with THIS stage, lol;)ReplyDelete
- Auntie EJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:00 PM
oh yes those climbing days. Happy WWReplyDelete
- Tiff@ThreePeasJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Sounds like something my son would do!!!ReplyDelete
- WeeShenanigansJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:01 PM
Lil Kiwi does the same thing... So did Wee Man.... Makes live more exciting because just when you think you have every possible thing safe; you find your kid on the second to top shelf of the built-in five shelf book shelf... Glad to see BoBo is feeling betterReplyDelete
- Erin - the Mom BuzzJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:01 PM
TROUBLE!!!! I have a climber.... pure trouble.ReplyDelete
- MelaniesCraftsJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:02 PM
Oh no, a climber!ReplyDelete
- mizhelleJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:02 PM
aww me too! that will freak me out! good thing you immediately found him http://mizhelle.blogspot.com/2009/12/wordless-wednesday-23-and-sepia-scene.htmlReplyDelete
Oh, G-d! How that would have freaked me out!ReplyDelete
no, that is so much troubleReplyDelete
- TheJacobsenFamilyJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:04 PM
Ah, it is so scary when they start to become climbers!ReplyDelete
- Stacy (the RCC)January 25, 2010 at 8:04 PM
Youre going to have your hands full, arent you? ;)ReplyDelete
Just wait- it will get worse! My boys are 18mo, 3, and 4 and they climb EVERYTHING!!!! My recent post http://thingsicantsay-shell.blogspot.com/2009/12/seeing-boy-wordful-wednesdays.htmlReplyDelete
- Cafe au LaitJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:06 PM
Uh-oh. Glad you caught him immediately. I played too.ReplyDelete
Whew, at least you caught him before he fell.ReplyDelete
- Household6DivaJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:07 PM
Love this stage!!! Soon it will be jumping too!! :) Happy WWReplyDelete
He reminds me of my own little monkey who likes to climb on things as well.ReplyDelete
- Lorie ShewbridgeJanuary 25, 2010 at 8:08 PM
Oh, God, I remember those days.... they lead to climbing trees; building skate and skateboard ramps; playing football in school; high diving in high school; etc. Then joining the military... blowing things up; oh wait, doesn't his daddy do that??? No wonder he is fearless! You are in for a whole lot of fun!! :-) My recent post http://wmljshewbridge.blogspot.com/2009/12/self-portrait-sunday-disney-world.htmlReplyDelete


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Understanding that auditors allocate greater resources to fraud brainstorming when engagement risk is significant fosters brainstorming of a superior caliber corresponds to stronger regulatory compliance. Auditors report that engagement teams are holding fraud brainstorming sessions earlier in the audit, document more detailed risk assessments, plan more specific procedures, and retain more documentation. These characteristics contribute to adequately addressing increased PCAOB regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, brainstorming sessions are highly regarded when they occur in a face-to-face fashion and are attended by multiple levels of firm personnel—whether that is "core" or "non-core" professionals. Fraud brainstorming sessions are executed less mechanically (as determined by PCAOB inspectors) by using fewer checklists and increase the amount of time auditors prepare for brainstorming sessions.
Dennis, S. A., and K. M. Johnstone. 2016. A Field Survey of Contemporary Brainstorming Practices. Accounting Horizons 30 (4): 449–472.
These findings demonstrate that, although the profession is calling for more skepticism, the underlying culture may inhibit such behavior if auditors are punished for being skeptical when it turns out there is no misstatement. In relation to consultation prior to skeptical behavior, an internal firm-level training that makes evaluators more aware of outcome bias may be more effective than a subordinate-driven solution if encouraging skeptical behavior.
Brazel, J. F., S. B. Jackson, T. J. Schaefer, and B. W. Stewart. 2016. The Outcome Effect and Professional Skepticism. The Accounting Review 91 (6): 1577 – 1599.
These findings provide insight into the decision-making process of external auditors as they make IAF reliance decisions. In particular, the results show how IAF objectivity interacts with external auditor involvement to have an impact on external auditors' reliance decisions and how subsequent reliance decisions are affected by negative evidence about the quality of the IAF's work.
Pike, B. J., L. Chui, K. A. Martin, and R. M. Olvera. 2016. External Auditors' Involvement in the Internal Audit Function's Work Plan and Subsequent Reliance Before and After a Negative Audit Discovery. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory 35 (4): 159 – 173.
Given that REM often causes significant auditor discomfort, the authors' paper provides broader REM and auditor comfort-related questions pertaining to the effects of management's focus on short-term results, the extent to which REM is a problem that can or needs to be fixed, and the possibility that REM is a gateway to more serious forms of accounting manipulation.
Commerford, B. P., D. R. Hermanson, R. W. Houston, and M. F. Peters. 2016. Real Earnings Management: A Threat to Auditor Comfort? Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory 35 (4): 39 – 56.
This study is the first to establish IAF characteristics as separate, distinct constructs that act jointly in creating IAF quality; therefore, it contributes to the overall understanding of IAF quality and the determinants of the IAF as an effective internally based financial reporting monitor.
Abbott, L. J., B. Daugherty, S. Parker and G. F. Peters. 2016. Internal Audit Quality and Financial Reporting Quality: The Joint Importance of Independence and Competence. Journal of Accounting Research 54 (1): 3-40.
These results have important implications for audit practice, as the author shows that the specific techniques used by auditors to gather evidence for building knowledge structures are essential to resisting client influence. This paper also shows that in spite of the responsibility of understanding complex business environments and any resulting indicators, evidence finds that even experienced decision makers have difficulty learning in dynamically complex environments. Improving judgment and decision making in these settings requires enhancing auditors' development of systems-based mental models.
Brewster, B. 2016. The Effect of Client Lies on Auditor Memory Resistance and False memory Acceptance. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory 35 (3): 33-50.
This paper suggests that the relationship between account subjectivity and usage of internal audit depends on the relative risk of misstatement. This complex relationship has not been shown in academic literature, nor is it highlighted in audit standards. More specifically, at lower levels of risk of misstatement, increases in subjectivity have no influence on the reliance of internal audit. At moderate risk levels the extent of internal audit reliance increases with subjectivity of the account. At high levels of misstatement internal audit reliance decreases with account subjectivity. This study provides insight into the decision criteria for internal audit reliance and highlight where internal audit usage maybe more prevalent, as well as were further audit guidance may be beneficial.
Bhattacharjee, S., M.J. Maletta, K.K. Moreno. 2016. The Role of Account Subjectivity and Risk of Material Misstatement on Auditors' Internal Audit Reliance Judgments. Accounting Horizons 30 (2): 225-238.
The results of this study are important because the authors believe that the reduction in the use of appropriately rigorous substantive analytical procedures could diminish overall audit quality, and that the utilization of their approach could keep this from occurring.
Glover, S.M., D.F. Prawitt, and M.S. Drake. 2015. Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A Path Forward for Using Substantive Analytical Procedures in Auditing Large P&L Accounts: Commentary and Analysis. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory 34 (3): 161-179.
This study offers insights into why internal auditing is experiencing a shortage of qualified job candidates and offers a potential solution to the problem. The authors find that external auditors have negative perceptions about internal auditing, and these negative perceptions are associated with a (1) decreased desire to apply for internal auditing positions, (2) lower likelihood of recommending an in-house internal auditing career to high-performing students, and (3) higher likelihood of recommending an in-house internal auditing career to mediocre students. Internal auditors can try solving this problem by improving perceptions about internal auditing via a media campaign that raises awareness about the true internal audit career path.
Bartlett, G.D., J. Kremin, K.K. Saunders, and D.A. Wood. 2016. Attracting Applicants for In-House and Outsourced Internal Audit Positions: Views from External Auditors. Accounting Horizons 30 (1): 143-156.
The authors believe that when armed with knowledge of how management may intentionally or unintentionally introduce error into their FVMs, auditors will be better able to take steps to adjust for this error. Currently, professional skepticism is the best way to combat this problem. Researchers and policy makers within firms need to grapple with the possibility that existing audit team structure and incentives may not be compatible with audits that require more and more specialized valuation knowledge.
Martin, R. D., J. S. Rich, and T. J. Wilks. 2006. Auditing Fair Value Measurements: A Synthesis of Relevant Research. Accounting Horizons 20 (3): 287-303.


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Do you know the Saunier de Camargue? When we realised we were fairly closeby last summer in the Languedoc.(i.e. a over an hour's drive each way – would make for a long day of driving but since we were "so close"…) we were keen to visit the salt marshes. We'd read that the landscape features […]
Tag Archives | camargue
Visiting Le Salin d'Aigues-Mortes in the Camargue
By Mardi Michels on April 23, 2014 in france, travel


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By Amanda N. Wegner
Snowshoeing is a growing sport in Wisconsin. A great workout that doesn't require technical skill, it's an easy way to explore spaces and places touched by Old Man Winter's snowy wand. Unless specifically marked and groomed for another use, most snowshoe trails are open and ready for snowshoers.
Lakeshore Snowshoe Trail
The sea caves of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore become spectacular ice caves in winter. Snowshoers can access these crystalline caverns by trekking along the frozen shoreline of Lake Superior. Those a bit apprehensive about snowshoeing on the ice can hop on the Lakeshore Trail near Cornucopia. From Meyers Beach, the snowshoe trail winds along the bluffs for almost two miles before coming to a cave overlook. Braver souls can park at the end of Meyers Road and head northeast across the shore ice to the cliffs (about one mile). We suggest you stop at the Lakeshore headquarters in Bayfield to get directions and to check ice conditions.
High Cliff State Park Snowshoe Trails
With 1,147 snowy acres atop the bluffs in the northeast corner of Lake Winnebago, High Cliff State Park near Sherwood offers snowshoeing on the Forest Management and Lime-Kiln trails. One side of the 2.3-mile Lime-Kiln generally follows the lake, while the return traces the edge of the escarpment for which the park is named, with steep climbs, descents, and stairways. Snowshoe rentals are available at the park office.
Peninsula State Park Snowshoeing
With four miles of snowshoe trails and an average snowfall of 50 to 60 inches per year, Peninsula State Park is a snowshoe haven. The White Cedar, Minnehaha and Sentinel Trails are all moderate, while the newer 1.5-mile Niagara Trail loop is a more difficult path. For both the Minnehaha and Sentinel Trails you can park at Eagle Tower; for the Niagara Trail, park at the Nature Center. For snowshoe rental, contact Nor Door Sport and Cyclery in Fish Creek.
Navarino Wildlife Area Snowshoe Trails
With more than 60 miles of snowshoe trails through its upland and lowland forests, sedge marshes, bogs and flowages, the Navarino Wildlife Area north of Shiocton offers nearly unlimited snowshoeing opportunities. Winter birders can expect to see hawks, partridge, sparrows, finches, grosbeaks and buntings. Resident mammals include whitetail deer, coyotes, beaver, fishers, badgers, black bear, and even snowshoe hares. The nature center rents snowshoes, as well.
Kettle Moraine State Forest Snowshoeing
John Muir and Emma Carlin beckon you to work up a sweat in southeastern Wisconsin near Eagle. Located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit, the Muir and Carlin trail systems are primo destinations for mountain bikers in the warmer months. But both are designated for snowshoers and winter hikers once the snow flies. Sections of each trail system range from easy to difficult. Backyard Bikes and Ski in nearby La Grange rents snowshoes.
Amanda N. Wegner is a freelance writer based in Madison. Content produced in cooperation with Wisconsin Trails.


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All children younger than 2 with acute otitis media diagnosed according to current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines should receive antibiotics, researchers said.
Among children age 6 months to 2 years with unilateral, nonsevere acute otitis media given amoxicillin-clavulanate, treatment failures were seen in 14% compared with failure rates of 40% in those given placebo, for an adjusted relative risk of 0.27 (95% CI 0.13-0.41), according to Alejandro Hoberman, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues.
In contrast, children with bilateral, severe otitis media -- those for whom treatment currently is recommended -- had failure rates of 25% with antimicrobial treatment and 59% with placebo, giving an adjusted relative risk of 0.34 (95% CI 0.18-0.48), Hoberman and colleagues wrote online in a research letter in JAMA Pediatrics.
Action Points
- All children younger than 2 with acute otitis media diagnosed according to current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines should receive antibiotics.
- Point out that the current study is based on a pooled review of studies among children 6 months to 2 years whose infection was unilateral and/or whose illness was nonsevere showing that those treated with placebo had higher rates of treatment failure compared with those treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate.
"A recent American Academy of Pediatrics guideline recommends prompt antimicrobial treatment for children ages 6 months to 2 years with acute otitis media, with one exception: for children in whom the disease is unilateral and also unaccompanied by severe signs or symptoms, the guideline recommends, as an option, observation without initial antimicrobial therapy," they observed.
However, that recommendation was based on studies that used diagnostic criteria that were less strict than the current requirements, opening the possibility that some treated children didn't actually have acute otitis media.
To clarify this, the researchers pooled data from two previously published trials, one conducted in Pittsburgh and the other in Turku, Finland, both of which had stringent requirements for enrollment that came close to guaranteeing valid diagnoses.
The Pittsburgh trial defined treatment failure as inadequate symptomatic or otoscopic improvement by day four or five and incomplete resolution by days 10 to 12.
The Turku study defined treatment failure as a lack of overall improvement by day three, no improvement in otoscopic findings by day eight, and the occurrence at any time of overall clinical deterioration, perforation of the tympanic membrane, or treatment discontinuation.
The otitis media was classified as severe if the parents described the ear pain as moderate or severe or if the child had had a temperature of 39 degrees C.
In general, treatment failure rates were similar for severe and nonsevere disease and for unilateral and bilateral involvement.
For those with unilateral severe disease, treatment failure rates were 14% for the treated group and 47% for the placebo group, with an adjusted relative risk of 0.34 (95% CI 0.18-0.50), while the rates for bilateral nonsevere disease were 22% and 53%, respectively, for an adjusted relative risk of 0.31 (95% CI 0.14-0.48).
The numbers needed to treat were:
- Unilateral nonsevere, 4
- Unilateral severe, 3
- Bilateral nonsevere, 4
- Bilateral severe, 3
"These findings make a case for a uniform approach to antimicrobial treatment in children younger than 2 years with stringently diagnosed [acute otitis media], irrespective of laterality or apparent severity of their illness," Hoberman and colleagues stated.
The study had no external funding. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
Primary Source
JAMA Pediatrics
Source Reference: Hoberman A, et al "Acute otitis media in children younger than 2 years" JAMA Pediatr 2013; DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.3068.


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This is the day our Savior was born: what a joy
for us, my beloved! This is no season for sadness, this, the birthday
of Life - the Life which annihilates the fear of death, and engenders joy,
promising, as it does, immortality.
Nobody is an outsider to this happiness. The same cause for joy is common to all, for as our Lord found nobody free from guilt when he came to bring an end to death and to sin, so he came with redemption for all. Let the saint rejoice, for he hastens to his crown; let the sinner be filled with joy, for pardon is offered him; let the Gentile be emboldened, for he is called to life.
When the designated time had come, which God in his deep and impenetrable plan had fixed upon, God's Son took the nature of man upon himself in order to reconcile man to his Creator. Thus would the devil, the father of death, be himself overcome by that self-same human nature which he had overcome.
The angels therefore exult at the birth of the Lord: they sing Glory to God in high heaven'; they announce Peace on earth for men on whom his favor rests'. For they behold the heavenly Jerusalem being constructed from out of all the peoples on earth. How greatly ought mere men rejoice at this mysterious undertaking of divine love, when the angels on high thrill so much at it!
My beloved, let us offer thanksgiving to God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Spirit. In the great mercy with which he loved us, he had pity on us, and in giving life to Christ, gave life to us too, when we were dead through sin', so that in him we might be a new creation, a new work of his hands.
Let us then be quit of the old self and the habits that went with it. Sharers now in the birth of Christ, let us break with the deeds of the flesh.
O Christian, be aware of your nobility - it is God's own nature that you share: do not then, by an ignoble life, fall back into your former baseness. Think of the Head, think of the Body of which you are a member. Recall that you have been rescued from the power of darkness, and have been transferred to the light of God, the kingdom of God.
Through the sacrament of baptism you have been made a temple of the Holy Spirit; do not, by evil deeds, drive so great an indweller away from you, submitting yourself once more to the slavery of the devil. For you were bought at the price of Christ's blood.


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ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at email@example.com.
- Wahal, Sunil
- Reffett, Kevin
- 1 Arizona State University
- 1 Jahangiry, Pedram
- 1 Mehra, Rajnish
- 1 English
- Economics
- Debt service ratio
- Consumption based asset pricing model
- 1 Cross-section of stock returns
- 1 Equity risk premium
- 1 Finance
- 1 Financial obligation ratio
- more
- 1 Market returns predictability
- Reverse Fountain Cytoplasmic Streaming in Rhizopus Oryzae
- Diné Research Practices and Protocols: An Intersectional Paradigm Incorporating Indigenous Feminism, Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies and Diné Knowledge Systems
- Developing an Augmented Reality Solution for Mapping Underground Infrastructure
- Characterization of 2D Human Ankle Stiffness during Postural Balance and Walking for Robot-aided Ankle Rehabilitation
- Using Molecular, Cellular and Bioengineering Approaches Towards Understanding Muscle Stem Cell Biology
This dissertation is a collection of three essays relating household financial obligations to asset prices. Financial obligations include both debt payments and other financial commitments. In the first essay, I investigate how household financial obligations affect the equity premium. I modify the standard Mehra-Prescott (1985) consumption-based asset pricing model to resolve the equity risk premium puzzle. I focus on two channels: the preference channel and the borrowing constraints channel. Under reasonable parameterizations, my model generates equity risk premiums similar in magnitudes to those observed in U.S. data. Furthermore, I show that relaxing the borrowing constraint shrinks the equity risk premium. …
- Contributors
- Jahangiry, Pedram, Mehra, Rajnish, Wahal, Sunil, et al.
- Created Date
- 2017


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Clericus, Johannes (1657-1736)
Johannes Clericus (Jean le Clerc), born 19 March 1657 at Geneva, Switzerland, died at Amsterdam in 1736, first belonged to the Calvinists, but soon withdrew from them because of the doctrine of predestination. He studied at the universities of Geneva and Saumur in France and visited England and Holland. In 1684 he was appointed to teach in the Remonstrant seminary of Amsterdam. He taught here for nearly 50 years—until 1728. His field was Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and afterwards also philosophy. He published a large number of learned books in Latin and French. By his contemporaries he was accused of Socinian views and an unorthodox position concerning the doctrines of Trinity and original sin; he laid much stress upon practical Christianity, which Clericus said is taught very clearly in the Scriptures. As a professor of the Remonstrant seminary he had some influence on Mennonite ministers, many of whom, when training for the ministry, attended his lectures, until a Mennonite seminary was established in 1735.
Visscher, H. and L. A. van Langeraad. Het protestantsche vaderland: biographisch woordenboek van protestantsche godgeleerden in Nederland, 8 vols. Utrecht, 1903-1918: v. II, 83-104.
|Nanne van der Zijpp
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
Zijpp, Nanne van der. "Clericus, Johannes (1657-1736)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 30 Nov 2020. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Clericus,_Johannes_(1657-1736)&oldid=120090.
APA style
Zijpp, Nanne van der. (1953). Clericus, Johannes (1657-1736). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 30 November 2020, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Clericus,_Johannes_(1657-1736)&oldid=120090.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 623. All rights reserved.
©1996-2020 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.


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Phil Radford
As the executive director of Greenpeace, Phil Radford is at the helm of one of the largest and most influential environmental groups in the country. Radford leads a national team of 500 highly-skilled environmental leaders working on national and international campaigns to protect our planet's oceans, forests and climate.
Radford began his environmental career organizing to shut down incinerators near his family home in Oak Park, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Soon after, he found himself fundraising locally for environmental issues. With his roots in local organizing and fundraising, Radford has always specialized in mobilizing people to raise their voices for the planet.
Prior to taking on his current role, Radford worked as Greenpeace's Grassroots Director for 6 years. As director he built what has now become a thriving and strategic grassroots program, including online and on-the-ground organizing, student organizing and training, and a 15-city national street fundraising program.
Before joining Greenpeace, Radford founded Power Shift, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating clean energy market breakthroughs. As executive director, he worked with the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, Berkeley, and others to secure solar energy efficiency investments for municipal buildings. He also won a commitment from Citigroup to offer and market energy efficient mortgages to make solar and wind power affordable for American home owners.
Radford has a degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a certificate in Non-profit Management from Georgetown University.
5 Things to Know About Plastic Pollution and How to Stop It
By Tara Lohan
Our plastic pollution problem has reached new heights and new depths.
Scientists have found bits of plastic on the seafloor, thousands of feet below the ocean's surface. Plastic debris has also washed ashore on remote islands; traveled to the top of pristine mountains; and been found inside the bodies of whales, turtles, seabirds and people, too.
1. There's a lot of it.
In a September study published in Science about the growth of plastic waste, an international team of researchers estimated that 19 to 23 million metric tons — or 11% of plastic waste generated — ended up in aquatic ecosystems in 2016. And even with countries pledging to help cut waste or better manage it, the amount of plastic pollution is likely to double in the next 10 years.

A study about solutions to plastic waste, published in the same issue, attributed the plastic pollution epidemic to a rise in single-use plastic and "an expanding 'throw-away' culture." The researchers also found that waste-management systems simply can't deal with the onslaught of plastic, which is why so much of it ends up in the environment. We now know that only 9% of the plastic products we use actually get recycled.

2. The United States is a big culprit.
Plastic pollution is a global problem, but the United States plays an outsized role. In 2016 the United States was responsible for more plastic waste than any other country, a new study in Science Advances found. Some of that waste was dumped illegally within the country and some was shipped to other countries that lacked the necessary infrastructure to handle it.

"The amount of plastic waste generated in the United States estimated to enter the coastal environment in 2016 was up to five times larger than that estimated for 2010, rendering the United States' contribution among the highest in the world," the researchers concluded. Part of that is because the United States ranks second in exporting plastic scrap.

3. It threatens wildlife and ecosystems.
A giant otter plays with a plastic bottle. Paul Williams / CC BY-NC 2.0
Out of sight (for Americans) is not out of mind — and definitely not out of our waterways. An estimated 700 marine species and 50 freshwater species have either ingested plastic or been entangled in it.

"If we don't get the plastic pollution problem in the ocean under control, we threaten contaminating the entire marine food web, from phytoplankton to whales," George Leonard, the Ocean Conservancy's chief scientist and coauthor of the September Science study about plastic waste's increase, told National Geographic. "And by the time the science catches up to this, perhaps definitively concluding that this is problematic, it will be too late. We will not be able to go back. That massive amount of plastic will be embedded in the ocean's wildlife essentially forever."

Microplastics have also been found in terrestrial animals, soil, drinking water and, not surprisingly, in our own bodies, although it's not clear yet just how dangerous that is for people.

4. The fracking boom is producing a plastic boom.
Despite the known risks of plastic pollution and concern over its mounting presence in the environment, plastic production — driven by fossil fuels like fracked gas and its component chemicals — is on pace to increase by 40% in the next 10 years.

The American Chemistry Council boasted that shale gas drilling is driving a surge in plastic production, including the investment of more than $200 billion to fund new and expanded operations at 343 production plants in the United States.

On the ground this means more harmful pollution along the Gulf Coast's "Cancer Alley," where petrochemicals have been manufactured for decades in low-wealth communities of color. And it means the build-out of new facilities in Rust Belt states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Fracking also causes harmful greenhouse gas emissions, like methane, to be released into the atmosphere — amplifying the climate crisis. The refining process and the incineration of plastic waste also further drives greenhouse emissions and hazardous pollution.

A petrochemical plant in Houston's ship channel. Louis Vest / CC BY-NC 2.0
5. Solutions are multifaceted.
Beach cleanups tend to make headlines, but it's a losing battle as long as petrochemical companies keep producing so much plastic and we keep using plastic for products we're meant to toss after a single use.

The September study in Science on plastic solutions found that it's possible to cut plastic pollution — perhaps as much as 80% by 2040 — but it will take systemic change both in reducing the amount of plastic produced and in better managing the waste stream.

Regulatory efforts can help this process, including by regulating plastic as a pollution source under the Clean Water Act.

Efforts to ban single-use plastics, as the European Union aims to do by 2021, are another positive step. So too are "circular economy laws," which have been introduced, but not yet passed, in the United States.

These laws would halt the production of new petrochemical facilities and encourage businesses to take responsibility for the full lifecycle of the products they produce by requiring them to be reused, adequately recycled or composted.

Getting circular economy laws enacted, though, will mean enough public and political will to counter the petrochemical, fossil fuel and plastic industries.

At The Revelator, we'll keep covering the push for solutions to the plastic problem and new science to better understand the threats. And if you want to know more about how wildlife has already been affected, what laws could help, whether industry will be held accountable and more, check out these stories from our archives:

Laws and Regulations

Plastic Pollution: Could We Have Solved the Problem Nearly 50 Years Ago?

How an Old Law Is Helping Fight New Plastic Problems

New California Bill Could Revolutionize How the U.S. Tackles Plastic Pollution

What Laws Work Best to Cut Plastic Pollution?

Can Plastic Ever Be Made Illegal?

Impacts

Something Fishy: Toxic Plastic Pollution Is Traveling Up the Food Chain

Plastic Pollution: From Ship to Shore

Plans to Turn America's Rust Belt Into a New Plastics Belt Are Bad News for the Climate

Trash in the Galápagos Reveals the Dark Side of Ecotourism

Elephant Seals: Diving Through Garbage

Taking Action

The Story of Plastic: New Film Exposes the Source of Our Plastic Crisis

How to Win the Fight Against Plastic

Can Cities Go Zero-waste? One Japanese Town Tried

The Secret Value of Trash

Junk Raft: A Journey Through a Polluted Ocean

Are Bioplastics a Better Environmental Choice?

Plastic Pollution Is a Problem — These Kids Are Working for a Solution

Thai Activists Fight Trash Taboo

Tara Lohan is deputy editor of The Revelator and has worked for more than a decade as a digital editor and environmental journalist focused on the intersections of energy, water and climate. Her work has been published by The Nation, American Prospect, High Country News, Grist, Pacific Standard and others. She is the editor of two books on the global water crisis.

Reposted with permission from The Revelator.

EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
Endangered Sea Turtles Are Recovering After 'Cold Stunning' Event
Hundreds of endangered sea turtles were stranded on beaches after suffering "cold stunning" in the waters off Cape Cod, Mass. Local rescuers and wildlife rehabilitators stabilized the turtles at the New England Aquarium (NEAQ) and National Marine Life Center and began treatment. Many of the sea turtles were transported by land or air to partner facilities around the Eastern Seaboard for longer-term care to make room for more incoming, cold-stunned animals.
Rehabilitators at The Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys assess critically endangered, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles flown in after rescue in New England. The Turtle Hospital
NEAQ and local rescuers begin seeing turtles every fall when water temperatures drop to that 50 degrees F threshold, and typically expect to find them into early January. After that, temperatures are so cold that any animals found are usually no longer alive.

Merigo estimated that this year's cold season "looks very busy" and noted that local rescue efforts had already surpassed 400 turtles.

"It is a lot of animals. They're still coming in," she told EcoWatch as she surveyed 39 rescued turtles that day and 20 the day prior. "So far, this is a huge year."

At NEAQ, the turtles are gradually warmed up about five to 10 degrees F a day. More aggressive warming can cause serious damage and the turtle might not survive, Merigo said. Emergency treatments also include providing replacement fluids, balancing electrolytes and addressing pneumonia. Assessments take place for other serious problems too, such as shell or limb fractures, frostbite, emaciation and eye damage.

As local aquariums don't have the capacity to care for all the injured turtles, a group of private pilots called "Turtles Fly Too" donated planes, fuel and time to transport some to various partner facilities around the country. Other turtles were driven to closer care facilities.

"We have a huge network of really great partners working with us, so if we can spread out the care, we can give better care to all the animals," Merigo said.

The 40 Kemp's ridley sea turtles recovering in The Turtle Hospital will continue to be treated and rehabilitated anywhere from 30 days to a year, depending on the severity of injuries, Zirkelbach said.

The turtle expert noted that while she's treated cold-stunned turtles from the north before, the newest arrivals were the most cold-stunned Kemp's ridleys ever received at one time.

After rescue, cold-stunned sea turtles received immediate emergency care and assessments at the New England Aquarium. Caitlin Cunningham / New England Aquarium
In the past decade, the Gulf of Maine, which spans from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, has warmed 99 percent faster than the rest of the ocean, Zirkelbach said. The warm water encourages turtles that migrate north along the Gulf Stream in warmer months to stay in the bay longer.

"Turtles that fail to migrate south get stuck in the unique horseshoe-shaped topography of the Cape Cod peninsula, and when temperatures drop, the bay becomes a death trap," she added.

Before ocean temperatures warmed, the waters of Maine were too cold for many of these sea turtles, Merigo echoed. Now, with warming sea surface temperatures, Maine can reach the high 70s to low 80s, which is "perfect turtle temperature," she said. The potential for more turtles getting trapped in the bay and then cold-stunned is nerve-racking for Merigo.

In addition to shifting habitats as waters warm, warming global temperatures also disrupt natural gender balance in sea turtles, Merigo warned. Gender is determined by the temperature of eggs in nests, and as the planet warms, it will result in all females at some point, she said.

"The turtles we work with are all endangered and threatened," Merigo said. "For sea turtles in general, the future is a little grim. Climate change is real; it does impact them."

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Why the USDA Is Being Sued — Again
By Dena Jones
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was sued three times this past summer for shirking its responsibility to protect birds from egregious welfare violations and safeguard workers at slaughterhouses from injuries and the spread of the coronavirus.
Trump Plans 'Going Out of Business' Sale With Arctic Drilling Leases
By Julia Conley
Conservation campaigners on Thursday accused President Donald Trump of taking a "wrecking ball" to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as the White House announced plans to move ahead with the sale of drilling leases in the 19 million-acre coastal preserve, despite widespread, bipartisan opposition to oil and gas extraction there.
The Sheenjek River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Alexis Bonogofsky / USFWS
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The Hudson Valley is many different things to many different people. This is not surprising. It does, after all, occupy a rather sizeable chunk of real estate, stretching 150 miles north of the city to that magical place they call Albany. To truly get a handle on the region, you need to do a ton of exploring.
In some places it is a diamond in the rough; in others — where man hasn't gotten his grubby paws on nature — it is drop-dead gorgeous. In the long run, nearly all of it is worth a visit.
Understanding that not everyone has a ton of time to wander around looking for the good stuff, here are five great Hudson Valley days that highlight very different (and rather special) corners of one of the country's most intriguing places. This is not an inclusive list, by any means. It is a list of very good things, all time-tested, in some cases, over and over again. Please enjoy.
#1 AS GOOD AS IT GETS Located not far from the increasingly Hampton-ish village of Rhinebeck, Bard College is not only one of the nerdiest little liberal arts institutions in existence, it is also a showcase of appealing architecture spanning more than 100 years, clustered along the northern end of one of the Hudson Valley's most scenic back roads. Weekends, the best reason to be here is a show at the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Performing Arts Center, a mini-Disney Hall in the middle of a quiet field. The stage is lit all through October; expect performances by the American Ballet Theater and American Symphony Orchestra (both call Fisher home base, college president Leon Botstein conducts the Orchestra), as well as Conservatory Sundays, concerts by the faculty and staff of the music school. Tickets start at $20 and $25, depending on the event (bard.edu). Before or after the show, hike the 1.5 miles of trail at Poet's Walk Park, just down River Road from the college campus. These pastoral estate lands are maintained by Scenic Hudson, a major force for preservation and park building in the valley; trails lead you through fields, forest and ultimately down to the Hudson River for excellent views of the Catskill Mountains (scenichudson.org). Hungry? Even if you're not, make a stop at the Montgomery Place Orchards farm stand, over on Route 9G. This isn't just another farm stand; these orchards, on and around the grounds of River Road's historic Montgomery Place mansion, are part of the revival of many antique apple varietals that had been all but lost to the history books. Simply: These aren't apples as usual. The stand is one of the best in the valley for its carefully curated mix of local products, including vegetables from other nearby farms. Don't forget to grab a mason jar of the house hard cider, produced just around the corner (mporchards.com). For dinner, head around the corner to Tivoli, a sleepy village where Bard students and old-school locals and boldfacers like Jann Wenner and Natalie Merchant mix and mingle. Panzur, a terrific Spanish joint, isn't the best-known restaurant in town, but it ought to be. Saturdays, they do dinners, Sundays, stop in for cocktails and charcuterie and other nibbles. Either day, be social and sit at the bar; the staff is great (panzur.com).
#2 WINE + CHEESE + THE TACONIC Could the Hudson Valley ever end up giving Northern California a run for its money in the wine and food production department? Not really. But what the valley might lack in weather and output, it definitely makes up for in atmosphere. We're truly not far off from parts of the region morphing into the likes of California's Sonoma County — cute in some places, refreshingly workaday in others, but always pleasant and scenic and full of people who are escaping big cities nearby both as residents and visitors. Not that there's no good wine or cheese, because there is. For best results, stay east of the river — start at Millbrook Winery, where the grounds and onsite café are half the fun (millbrookwine.com). Next, head over to Sprout Creek Farm, out on the east side of Poughkeepsie. This not-for-profit organization with years of experience specializes in raw cheeses of all ages and types; their aged, nutty Ouray is becoming a staple at parties and getting some nice national attention, too (sproutcreekfarm.org). Next, head up the parkway to Columbia County, where it's all about the Hudson-Chatham Winery, which even the biggest snobs will admit shows real promise (hudson-chathamwinery.com). Nearby, pop by the mothership of the no-introduction-needed Old Chatham Sheepherding Company; visitors are welcome to come say thanks to the sheep for those awesome cheeses that are available in nearly every good grocery store in the city these days. A small stand on property is a good place to stock up (blacksheepcheese.com). Don't fill up on cheese, though — before you head home, you need to stop in for a civilized dinner at The Red Devon, tucked away in the wonderful little village of Bangall. Chef Sara Lukasiewicz has gotten great notices for her Valley-influenced menu (reddevonrestaurant.com).
#3 BEYOND THE GATES Hyde Park, as a realtor would say, does not show well. Back in the old days, when Franklin Delano and Eleanor (ask not who) used to live here, down the street from the Vanderbilt clan; back when the Culinary Institute of America first set up shop on its very nice spot up above the river — things were nicer then. Back then, people had class. Then came along a bunch of shortsighted fools, who decided to suburbanize the joint, turning a quiet river village with a serious pedigree into a crappy exurb. Don't let the terrorists win, though: Hyde Park's ugly is only skin-deep. Get behind the town's many gates and you'll see. The impressive Roosevelt lands are where you start. This isn't just an old house tour; there are more than 10 miles of beautiful trail that link the riverfront property up to Val-Kill; it's all under the supervision of the National Park Service, meaning it always looks absolutely gorgeous. There's a pleasing diversity of terrain, too — the riverfront cove, marshlands, hills, fields, creeks, deep forest — you could get lost in here for more than a day (nps.gov/hofr). For an impressive bit of contrast, next make a stop at the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. Where the Roosevelt trails are all about wandering and enjoying nature, everything here seems rather rigid. Still, the river views from the bluff-top mansion (and further down the bluff, on the north side of the property) are epic. Skip the house tour, unless you want to be reminded of the fact that money can't buy people taste (nps.gov/vama). If you are lucky enough to be up here on a weekday — and you really should make that happen — make like a future celeb chef and dine at the Apple Pie Café, the most casual — and one of the best — restaurant on the pristine Culinary Institute of America property, also located along the river; the buzz is fantastic and the food is one of the best lunches in the valley. Unlike at the other restaurants on property, nobody will notice or care if you look like you just wandered in from a day of hiking (ciachef.edu).
#4 UP IN THE SKY Located atop the iconic Shawangunk Ridge, just west of the busy college town of New Paltz, Mohonk is easily one of the state's greatest places. If you've just crawled out from under a rock: Mohonk is a carefully maintained private preserve, surrounding a historic mountain house hotel with grounds of its own that show like some sort of manicured Magic Kingdom for outdoor enthusiasts. Explore the trails, do the rock scrambles, climb up the Skytop Tower and hang around beautiful Mohonk Lake; for best results, book breakfast or lunch at the hotel in advance — the cost (starting at $35 for breakfast) isn't insignificant, but considering you pay $25 on weekends to access the resort grounds, it starts making more sense. (Before or after your meal, you've got free rein of the property.) On a budget? Hit one of the Mohonk Preserve lots — access is $12 per person — and hike the couple of miles (give or take, depending on which lot you use, all of them lead you on to beautiful trails, details at mohonkpreserve.org) up to the Mountain House. And while those without meal reservations really shouldn't be sneaking around the hotel, and if they do go inside, they certainly should not be making their way to the very pleasant tavern tucked away on the ground floor for a civilized cocktail, well-behaved rule-breakers will likely have no trouble at all. Or so we've heard, from people who are not us who have done such terrible things (mohonk.com).
#5 THE SLEEPER AWAKES If it had a train station, you would have been there by now, but if it had a train station, Kingston would also probably not look like it does today, which is to say, much like it has looked for a very long time. This modestly sized and very old mid-Hudson Valley city has been passed by in many ways; it's been out of fashion so long that its retro appeal is now working for it instead of against it. Absolutely stunning stone and Victorian homes line blocks that are starting to catch on with a more cosmopolitan crowd. Your first — and some might say only — stop should be the Stockade District, which has roots going back to the 1660s. Here, the handsome Old Dutch Church — built from the local bluestone — makes a nice backdrop for the city's pleasant Saturday farmers market; nosh your way through and chat up the locals. What next? You're in Kingston, a town that's never far from nature — hardly surprising, when you consider the city limits on the western side border the vast wilds of Catskill Park. Today though, it's all about the Hudson Valley end of things; head out the back side of town, over the Rondout River and down Union Center Road, which runs through the Marlboro Mountains, a low-profile but very scenic area that contains the Shaupeneak Ridge Preserve. Here, approximately 800 feet above the Hudson River, 6 miles of trails on 700 acres offer everything from big valley views to a pleasant loop around Louisa Pond, which looks even nicer than usual in the fall, with everything around it turning color (scenichudson.org). Just a few minutes' drive and you're back in town; here, the Stockade Tavern — located across from the old Senate House, briefly the seat of state government during a little kerfuffle we now know as the Revolutionary War — is a particularly good cocktail bar; its existence and success is a testament to just how quickly the area is changing, as moribund neighborhoods and nearby villages soak up an increasing number of city refugees who like nature and quiet but also appear to enjoy heading out once in awhile for smart beverages in a hipster-chic setting (stockadetavern.com). Speaking of things you would not expect to find in a town of this size, around the corner on North Front Street you will find Boitson's, an urbane little hangout run by a Blue Ribbon refugee and not a little bit similar to the West Village original. Expect oysters, fried chicken, good vegetarian options, conviviality, coziness. You should make a reservation on weekends (boitsons.com).


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Nickelodeon Greenlights Second Season of Nick At Nite's Original Series, Glenn Martin, DDS
Top-Ranked Series from Michael Eisner's Tornante Animation Renewed for 20 Episodes
NEW YORK, Oct. 6 -- Nickelodeon has ordered a second season of 20 episodes of stop-motion animated series Glenn Martin, DDS, the first television series from Michael Eisner's Tornante Animation, it was announced today by Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming of Nickelodeon. The comedy series chronicles the offbeat adventures of the Martin family as they criss-cross America in their tricked-out RV, encountering an array of bizarre situations and colorful locals. Ranked as the number-one program on Nick at Nite last quarter, the show features an all-star voice cast that includes Kevin Nealon (Weeds, Anger Management) as Glenn Martin, Catherine O'Hara (For Your Consideration, Chicken Little) as Jackie Martin and Judy Greer (27 Dresses, Arrested Development) as Wendy Park.
"Glenn Martin, DDS is an irreverent twist on the classic family sitcom, told in the style of Nickelodeon with a kids' point of view at the center," said Cohn. "We are excited to continue our partnership with Michael Eisner's Tornante Animation and to bring even more Martin family adventures to our audience."
"Glenn Martin, DDS has clearly resonated with families in its first couple of months," added Michael Eisner, The Tornante Company. "The series is a great fit for Nick at Nite's new evening programming, and we're thrilled to be a part of it."
Glenn Martin, DDS ranks as Nick at Nite's number-one program among persons 2+ with 2.1 million total viewers each week, in third quarter 2009. In its first week, Glenn Martin, DDS reached a total of 11.3 million viewers and averaged 2.6 million (P2+) viewers per telecast (Monday-Thursday, Aug. 17-20, 8 p.m.-8:30 p.m. [all times ET/PT]), according to Nielsen. The series also ranked as ad-supported cable's number-one co-viewed entertainment series in prime time for the week with 40% of Adults 18-49 watching with at least one kid per household. Forty percent of Adults 18-49 watched with at least one kid 2-11 per household. (source: NPower 8/17/09-8/20/09)
In addition to the series' regulars, who include Peter Oldring (Total Drama Island) as 13-year-old Conor Martin and Jackie Clarke (Starveillance) as 11-year-old Courtney Martin, season one has featured celebrity appearances, including Wendie Malick and Betty White, and will soon feature Bret Michaels, Chrissie Hynde, Gene Simmons, Sean Hayes, Jim Parsons, Estelle Harris and Don Johnson, among others, voicing some of the characters the Martins encounter through their travels. Eric Fogel (MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch) is an executive producer overseeing animation and Sivert Glarum and Michael Jamin (King of the Hill, Just Shoot Me) serve as executive producers and show runners.
Recently, Nick At Nite added hit series Everybody Hates Chris and Malcolm in the Middle, strengthening its slate of popular hit family comedies including the Emmy Award-winning series George Lopez, Home Improvement, The Nanny and Roseanne.
Glenn Martin, DDS was developed for Nick at Nite by Michael Eisner, who co-created the series along with Alex Berger and Eric Fogel. The show is being produced by Steven Cohen and Noel Bright for Tornante Animation, a division of The Tornante Company LLC.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 99 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
About The Tornante Company
Founded in 2005 by Michael Eisner, The Tornante Company is a privately held company that invests in and incubates companies in the media and entertainment space. Tornante's companies and investments include Tornante Animation, The Topps Company, Inc., and Vuguru. In the summer of 2008, Tornante Animation was launched to produce animation for television and multi-media platforms.


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Hunua Quarry
Ben HawkinsWinstone AggregatesHunua Quarry
Available Hours
- Weekdays 5.00AM - 6.00PM
- Saturday 5.00AM - 1.00PM
Physical Address
Postal Address
Core Products: Roading, Concrete and Asphalt Aggregates, Drainage, Bulkfill, Farm Maintenance
Winstone Aggregates' Hunua Quarry has been in operation since 1956. The quarry is one of Auckland's largest and supplies a substantial part of the region's quality aggregate requirements, primarily for infrastructure such as roading and concrete.
Based on current market parameters and projections, the quarry's present extraction area only has a few remaining years of economic aggregate extraction. A second extraction area within the quarry zone on a part of the property which includes a feature known locally as Symonds Hill has been planned, the necessary regulatory authorisations obtained, and preparatory work commenced.
For more information on Hunua Quarry visit www.hunuaquarry.co.nz


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(Sorry I'm outsider in this field.)
I need to count the number of integral points in a convex polytope in $\mathbf{R}^3$. The cones in the dual fan are not necessarily regular (does it create any problem?)
So, I need the $c_1$ coefficient of the Ehrhart polynomial. There're some formulas (complicated enough for me) but I heard one can express $c_1$ as the sum (over all the edges of the polytope) of the integral lengths of the edges times some correction factors.
- Can someone give the formula? (In the simple English, please.) Or a reference to something very down-to-earth?
- In fact I do not need the precise expression but only a very good lower bound. Does something like this exist?


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Story highlights
A tip leads police to a suspect they say is connected with an airport shooting
Two other suspects, police officers accused of killing fellow officers, remain at large
Authorities say the officers opened fire after fellow officers tried to arrest them in a drug investigation
Mexican authorities Sunday arrested a suspect connected with the killing of three federal police officers in a shootout last month at the Mexico City airport.
A tip led police to Bogard Felipe Lugo de Leon, said Luis Cardenas Palomino, head of a regional unit for Mexico's federal police agency.
Lugo de Leon was the supervisor of two federal police officers accused of opening fire on three of their colleagues during a drug bust at Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport, authorities said. Security camera footage showed him leaving the airport after the shooting, police said. Authorities have not provided additional details about his alleged involvement.
The two officers accused in the shooting, Daniel Cruz Garcia and Zeferino Morales Franco, remain at large.
Authorities are offering a 5 million peso ($376,100) reward for information leading to their capture.
The June 25 shooting sent passengers scrambling and left shattered glass on the ground near a food court at the airport.
Officials allege that Cruz and Morales opened fire on their fellow officers, who were attempting to arrest them after an investigation showed they had ties to a drug trafficking cell. Cruz and Morales told Proceso magazine earlier this month that they had no connection with drug trafficking, and were being targeted because they had threatened to denounce drug ties within airport police ranks.
CNNMexico.com contributed to this report.


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Over the past several years, the German people, for a variety of justified reasons, have expressed a pressing desire to have their central bank perform a test, verification, validation or any other assay, of the official German gold inventory, which at 3,395 tonnes is the second highest in the world, second only to the US. We have italicized the word official because this representation is merely on paper: the problem arises because no member of the general population, or even elected individuals, have been given access to observe this gold. The problem is exacerbated when one considers that a majority of the German gold is held offshore, primarily in the vaults of the New York Fed, and at the Bank of England - the two historic centers of central banking activity in the post World War 2 world.
Recently, the topic of German gold resurfaced following the disclosure that early on in the Eurozone creation process, the Bundesbank secretly withdrew two-thirds of its gold, or 940 tons, from London in 2000, leaving just 500 tons with the Bank of England. As we made it very clear, what was most odd about this event, is that the Bundesbank did something it had every right to do fully in the open: i.e., repatriate what belongs to it for any number of its own reasons - after all the German central bank is only accountable to its people (or so the myth goes), in deep secrecy. The question was why it opted for this stealthy transfer.
This immediately prompted rampant speculation within various media outlets, the most fanciful of which, of course, being that the Bundesbank never had any gold to begin with and has been masking the absence all along. The problem with such speculation is that, while it may be 100% correct and accurate, there has been not a shred of hard evidence to prove it. As a result, it is merely relegated to the echo chamber periphery of "serious media" whose inhabitants are already by and large convinced that all gold in the world is tungsten, lack of actual evidence to validate such a claim be damned (just like a chart of gold spiking or plunging is not evidence that a central bank signed the trade ticket, ordering said move), and in the process delegitimizing any fact-based investigations that attempt to debunk, using hard evidence, the traditional central banker narrative that the gold is there and accounted for.
And hard evidence, or better yet a paper trail of inconsistencies, is absolutely paramount when juxtaposing the two most powerful forces of our times: i) the central banking-led status quo (which is de facto the banker-led oligarchy whose primary purpose in the past several centuries has been to accumulate as much as possible of the hard asset-based fruits of people's labor, who toil in exchange for "money" created out of thin air - a process which could be described as not quite voluntary slavery, but the phrase would certainly suffice), and ii) "everyone else", especially when "everyone else" still believes in the supremacy of democratic forces, accountability, and an impartial legal system (three pillars of modern society which over the past 4 years we have experienced time and again have been nothing but mirages). Because without hard evidence, not only is the case of the people against central bankers non-existent, even if conducted in a kangaroo court co-opted by the banker-controlled status quo, it becomes laughable with every iteration of progressively more unsubstantiated accusations against the central banking cartels.
Finally, when it comes to cold, hard facts, which expose central banks in misdeed, even the great central banks have to be silent silent, as otherwise the overt perversion of justice will blow up the mirage that modern society lives in a democratic, laws-based world will be torn upside down.
And while others engage in click-baiting using grotesque hypotheses of grandure without any actual investigation, reporting or error and proof-checking to build up hype and speculation, which promptly fizzles and in the process desensitizes the general public and those actually undecided and/or on the fences about what truly goes on behind the scenes, Zero Hedge travelled (metaphorically) in space - to London, or specifically the Bank of England Archives - and in time, to May 1968 to be precise.
While there we dug up a certain memo, coded C43/323 in the BOE archives, official title "GOLD AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE OFFICE FILE: FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK (FRBNY) - MISCELLANEOUS", dated May 31, 1968, written by a certain Mr. Robeson addressed to the BOE's Roy Bridge as well as its Chief Cashier, and whose ultimate recipient is Charles Coombs who at the time was the manager of the open market account at the Fed, responsible for Fed operations in the gold and FX markets.
This memo, more than any of the other spurious and speculative accusation about Buba's golden hoard, should disturb German citizens, and of course the Bundesbank (assuming it was not already aware of its contents), as the memo lays out, without any shadow of doubt, that the BOE and the Fed, effectively conspired to feed the Bundesbank due gold bars that were of substantially subpar quality on at least one occasion in the period during the Bretton-Woods semi-gold standard (which ended with Nixon in August 1971).
The facts:
At least two central banks have conspired on at least one occasion to provide the Bundesbank with what both banks knew was "bad delivery" gold - the convertible reserve currency under the Bretton Woods system, or in other words, to defraud - amounting to 172 bars. The "bad delivery" occured even as official gold refiners had warned that the quality of gold emanating from the US Assay Office was consistently below standard, and which both the BOE and the Fed were aware of. Instead of addressing the issue of declining gold quality and purity, the banks merely covered up the refiners' complaints
It is this that the Bundesbank, the German government, and the German people should be focusing on. If in the process this means completely ridiculing the Buba's "she doth protest too much" defense strategy that what is happening in the media is a "phantom debate" as per Andreas Dobret's recent words, so be it. In fact, one may be well advised to ignore anything Buba has said on this matter, because in attempting to hyperbolize the matter out of irrelevancy, the Buba is now cornered and will have no choice now but to explain just what the true gold content of the gold even in its possession is, let alone that which is allocated to the Buba account 50 feet below sea level, underneath the infamous building on Liberty 33.
Full May 1968 memo from the BOE to the NY Fed: highlights ours:
U.S. Assay Office Gold Bars
1. We have from time to time had occasion to draw the Americans' attention of the poor standards of finish of U.S. Assay Office bars. In addition in 1961 we passed on to them comments from Johnson Matthey to the effect that spectrographic examination did not support the claimed assay on one bar they had so tested (although they would not by normal processes have challenged the assay) and that impurities in the bar included iron which caused some material to be retained on the sides of crucible after pouring.
2. Recently, Johnson Matthey have put 172 "bad delivery" U.S. Assay Office bars into good delivery form for account of the Deutsche Bundesbank. These bars formed part of recent shipments by the Federal Reserve Bank to provide gold in London in repayment of swaps with the Bundesbank. The out-turn of the re-melting showed a loss in fine ounces terms four times greater than the gross weight loss. Asked to comment Johnson Matthey have indicated verbally that:-
(a) the mixing of "melt" bars of differing assays in one "pot" could produce a result which might be a contributing factor to a heavier loss in fine weight but they did not think this would be substantial ;
(b) a variation of .0001 in assay between different assayers is an extremely common phenomenon;
(c) over a long period of years they had had experience of unsatisfactory U.S. assays
3. It is not, however, possible to say that the U.S. assays were at fault because Johnson Matthey did not test any of the individual bars before putting them into the pot.
4. The Federal Reserve Bank have informed the Bundesbank that adjustments for differences in weight and refining charges will be reimbursed by the U.S.Treasury.
5. No indication should, of course, be given to the Bundesbank, or any other central bank holder of U.S. bars, as to the refiner's views on them. The peculiarity of the out-turn will be known to the Bundesbank: it has so far occasioned no comment.
6. We should draw the attention of the Federal to the discrepancy in this (and any similar subsequent such) result and add simply that the refiners have made no formal comment but have indicate that, although very small differences in assay are not uncommon, their experience with U.S. Assay Office bars has not been satisfactory.
7. We hold 3,909 U.S. Assay Office bars for H.M.T. in London (in addition to the New York holding of 8,630 bars). After the London gold market was reopened in 1954 we test assayed the bars of certain assayers to ensure that pre-war standards were being maintained. It might be premature to set up arrangements now for sample test assays of U.S. Assay Office bars but if it appeared likely that the present discontent of the refiners might crystalise into formal complain we should certainly need to do this. In the meantime I would recommend no further action.
31st May 1968
To summarize: Bank of England discovers discrepancies with US Assay Office gold bars, notifies the NY Fed that its gold bars have major "bad delivery" issues, but, and this is the punchline, on this occasion, we'll keep it quiet, because the Bundesbank got these bars. This is merely one documented assay occasion: one can imagine that of the hundreds of thousands of gold bars in official circulation, the "good delivery" quality of bars outside of the US, and perhaps BOE, official holdings has progressively declined over the decades of Bretton Woods. One can also only imagine what has happened to all those "good delivery" bars currently held by the Fed as custodian at the NY Fed. Literally: imagine. Because there is no way to check what the real gold consistency of these gold bars is, and whether the refiners found ongoing future inconsistencies with "good delivery" standards of bars handed off to other "non-core" central banks. And, yes, without further evidence the above is merely speculation.
As to the remaining relevant facts: the US ran out of good delivery gold in March 1968 and only had coin bars remaining. Which is why it closed the gold pool and went to a two-tier price system. The Bundesbank went on to cover some of the outstanding gold debts of the Fed to the gold pool. Subsequently, the US then did several deals with the BOC to get a substantial amount of gold to pay back the Bundesbank which was sent over to England from March until June 1968. One can, again, only speculate on the quality of said gold. The Fed then created unsettled accounts to account for these transfers between itself and the Buba.
In light of the above facts and evidence, one can see why the Buba is doing all in its power to avoid the spotlight being shone on the purity of its gold inventory: after all the last thing the German central banks would want is someone to go through the publicly available archived literature, to put two and two together, and figure out that it does not take one massive "rehypothecation" (see "to Corzine") event for German gold credibility to be impaired: all it takes is death from a thousand micro dilutions over the decades to get the same end result. Because chipping away one ounce here, one ounce there for years and years and years, ultimately adds up to a lot.
We eagerly look forward to the Buba's next iteration of self-defense. We can only hope that this one does not include a reference to a "phantom debate", to "East German terrorist Simon Gruber" or to Goldfinger, as it will merely further destroy any remaining credibility the Bundesbank may have left in this, or any other, matter.
* * *
Look forward to more archive-based disclosure ot what may have happened to Buba's, and not only, gold in the coming days and weeks.


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Verifying Social Security Records to Maximize Your BenefitsIf you are relying on social security as a portion of your retirement income, you'll want to make sure your income is calculated correctly.
Verifying your personal and earnings information through your Social Security Statement every year is an important step in protecting the calculation of your future earnings.Changes to Social Security benefits including how they are claimed was changed by congress in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, increasing the importance that marriage and year of birth details are verified.
Details about marriage and divorce have a huge impact on benefits;in couples married for at least a decade, a surviving spouse has rights to half of their spouses' Social Security income. Because women generally make less than men, spend less total time in the workforce, and therefore accrue less in Social Security and retirement savings, confirming the accuracy of Social Security records including marriage details is particularly important for women.1
Everyone makes mistakes and the Social Security Administration is not exempt.Sean Brune, senior adviser to SSA's deputy director for budget, finance, quality and management, commented in March 2015 that of the around 2.8 million new death reports added to Social Security records each year, 0.35 percent are erroneous - this small percentage comes to roughly 9800 Americans! Earnings reports and personal data can also be incorrect; U.S. Controller David Mader has pointed out the Obama administration's steady reduction of the error rate from 5.42 percent in 2009 to 3.53 percent in fiscal 2013; the fiscal 2014 rate rose slightly in some but not all programs. 2 While this shrinking and very small percentage is encouraging, that small percentage of errors in 2013 affected 5,648,000 individuals out of approximately 160 million American workers.3
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 instituted new thresholds based on the date of birth of either spouse.New rules can restrict how and when benefits are collected. Also, depending on the date of birth, other benefits are fully grandfathered in. It is important to learn these changes and how they may affect any claiming of benefits. Now more than ever, verification becomes vitally important.
Check Your Statement Every Year.From 1988 through early 2012, many eligible beneficiaries aged 25 or older may have received four-page mailed annual statements providing estimates of their future monthly retirement, disability, and survivor's benefits payable at full retirement age, at age 70, and at age 62. In an effort to save taxpayer money, an easy-to-use online version of the statement was launched May 1, 2012; mailed statements are still provided by request.3
Watch the video below for more information on verifying your Social Security records.
While you can still call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security Administration office to request a mailed statement of benefits, the socialsecurity.gov website offers secure account access, benefits calculators, directory of local offices, and more. Several areas of the Social Security Administration site, such as benefits estimator tools, outperformed the best-scoring industry site (Amazon.com) in a recent satisfaction comparison by ACSI. 4
Social Security Retirement Income Estimator
This material was prepared by Retire Village in Partnership with Annuity.com, and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.
1 - The Next Social Security Crisis - Why American women are bearing the brunt of the retirement crunch; Edwards, Haley Sweetland (2015, August 3).Time, Vol. 186 Issue 5, p48
2 - Getting the Living Off Social Security's Deceased List May Take Legislation; Clark, Charles S., Government Executive, 00172626, 3/17/2015
3 - SOCIAL SECURITY STATEMENT REVIEW, A Report to Congress; Social Security Administration June 4, 2012 https://www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/SocialSecurityStatementReview2012.pdf
4 - Revamped government websites boost citizen satisfaction; C. Tuutti, (2013, February 06). FCW. http://fcw.com/articles/2013/02/05/federal-website-satisfaction.aspx


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Tidewater Island, FL Real Estate
Located in Fort Myers, Tidewater is a secluded neighborhood of old Florida-style homes. This waterfront community is gated and encompasses only 45 residences, providing the intimacy of a close-knit neighborhood with the convenience of shopping, beaches, and other attractions just minutes away. Single family homes range from stunning estate and waterfront properties to gulf access homes with boat docks, just steps from the back door. Many residences feature Key West style architecture with prominent patios and balconies surrounded by a lush jungle of tropical trees, palms and banana plants. The nearby Forest Country Club offers additional amenities and Tidewater islanders can take advantage of memberships available for golf, tennis, and dining.
Search for properties in Tidewater Island
Tidewater Island6469 Cocos Dr
Tidewater Island
Fort Myers, FL
$675,000 | 3 Beds, 2 Baths Favorite
This listing is courtesy of Royal Shell Real Estate Inc
Tidewater Island18161 Old Dominion Ct
Tidewater Island
Fort Myers, FL
$989,000 | 6 Beds, 5 Baths Favorite
This listing is courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty
Tidewater Island6181 Tidewater Island Cir
Tidewater Island
Fort Myers, FL
$1,599,000 | 4 Beds, 4 Baths Favorite
This listing is courtesy of Trae Zipperer Realty
The data relating to real estate for sale on this limited electronic display come in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program (BR Program) of M.L.S. of Naples, Inc. Properties listed with brokerage firms other than John R. Wood Properties are marked with the BR Program Icon and detailed information about them includes the name of the Listing Brokers. The properties displayed may not be all the properties available through the BR Program.
We're sorry, but no properties that meet this criteria are currently available.
We're sorry, but no properties that meet this criteria are currently available.


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Smashing Movie Moments
Never mind thrown stones in glass houses, you'd better watch out for thrown stoners. James Chapman has compiled this awesome supercut of cinematic heroes launching themselves through windows. [Laughing Squid]
Moxie - Stephen Irwin
Let this be a lesson to you all—this is why we don't teach suicidal Ursids with abandonment issues to harness the power of fire without first getting them addicted to smack and lemon juice enemas. [Cartoon Brew]
What Legal Weed Actually Look Like in Washington
Marijuana is legal in Washington and Colorado now, sparking a potential rush of weed tourism, but how will this "legal weed" society actually operate? Jacob Sullum takes a detailed look at the back end of cannabis legalization and explains how DUI laws, taxes, and retail ordinances will have to adapt to I-502. [Reason via StoptheDrugWar]
Brave New Old - Adam Wells
London-area animator Adam Wells takes a unique, "mechanical" approach to storytelling (as opposed to conventional cinematography). Who knew watching a rotating cube could be so enthralling. [Cartoon Brew]
You don't speak Dutch? Too bad, the commentary for the 2012 Zundert Bloemencorso (or "flower parade") is high-larious. Note: author does not speak Dutch either, this is just some really good herb. [Laughing Squid]


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While the September employment report relapsed Friday morning showed a loss of 33,000 jobs, the unemployment rate fell to a 16-year low of 4.2 percent, and most analysts agreed that the hurricane-driven report showed no real break from a positive underlying trend.
National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn discussed the report with Bloomberg TV's David Westin, who asked about the need for tax cuts given the economy's continuing signs of strength: "Has it ever been the case in history that we've had a massive tax cut with this employment situation, particularly that will involve deficit at least in the short term? Have we ever done that in this country?"
Cohn agreed that the data looks strong and that the economy has seen "a couple of good quarters" sparked by the Trump administration, but needed an additional boost to get above 2 percent annual GDP growth. When it was pointed out that most economists doubt that a sustained growth rate of 3 percent is possible, whatever the tax structure, Cohn said that President Trump's economic agenda calls for faster growth and that tax reform is the way to get it: "We believe we can have 3-plus percent growth with taxes and the regulation reform that we're after now."
While the debate over the connection between tax cuts and economic growth will no doubt rage for months as Congress wrestles with its tax bill, concerns about the need for tax cuts at this point in the economic cycle inspired one powerful institution that usually stays on the sidelines on fiscal matters to speak up. On Thursday the Federal Reserve warned that the Trump tax plan could cause inflation while adding to an already enormous federal debt. According to Reuters, "Federal Reserve officials questioned the rosy Republican scenario, saying that proposed tax cuts could deliver a short-term growth surge but also bring high inflation, burdensome government debt levels and an eventual return to sub-par economic growth."
Fiscal watchdog Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget struck a similar note, telling NPR: "If we have a tax cut right now at a time when the economy doesn't need stimulus and our debt is at near record levels, that will do a lot of damage for the economy and it will be a huge missed opportunity."
Disclosure: The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget receives funding from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. The Fiscal Times is separately funded by Peter. G. Peterson, and is editorially independent.


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FIA president Jean Todt has backed Bernie Ecclestone, as German prosecutors prepare to charge the F1 chief executive for corruption.
It has been suggested Ecclestone will be stepped down by the sport's owners CVC if he is charged or convicted.
But FIA president Todt is quoted by DPA news agency: "He has every right to his job and he does it very well.
"He is also employed by CVC, so it is their decision," the Frenchman added.
Todt might be standing firm with Ecclestone due to the turmoil the 82-year-old's departure would create.
Paul Stoddart, the former Minardi owner, told Bloomberg it could take years for Ecclestone's successor to "get up to speed".
"CVC is between a rock and a hard place," he said. "If Bernie Ecclestone was forced to stand down, the Concorde Agreement would be throw into complete turmoil."
For the moment, Ecclestone's legal troubles in Germany are believed to be holding up CVC's plans to float F1 on the stock market.
"Although the IPO market is better than it was a year ago, the company still has a few issues to sort out," CVC's Donald Mackenzie admitted to PA Sport news agency.
"So it may happen this year, it may be next year, but we're not in a big rush."


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Holiday Season 2011 got off to a roaring start with crowds of shoppers lining up at stores from Thanksgiving evening straight on through the morning on Black Friday, but retail executives remained cautious yet upbeat about the rest of the season.
At stores, online and on smartphones, turnout appeared to be strong, with even those consumers who avoided the Black Friday crowds at stores doing a whole lot of shopping from their homes. Results as of 3pm New York time indicate that Black Friday online sales were up 20 percent from a year earlier, according to IBM Benchmark.
As expected, mobile shopping also is gaining ground this holiday season. IBM said that consumers using a mobile device to visit a retailer's site jumped more than 17 percent and nearly 10 percent of consumers were using their smartphone or tablet computer to make a purchase.
Mobile shopping seems to be the new Turkey Day tradition in many households, according data collected by eBay . The amount that shoppers in the U.S. spent using eBay Mobile more than doubled this Thanksgiving from last year, and PayPal Mobile said it had a fivefold increase in global mobile payment volume from last Thanksgiving.
Leapfrog's LeapPad, Amazon's Kindle Fire, and Activision's "Call of Duty" videogame were some of the hottest gift items around this Black Friday, according to retailers.
Atprice-comparison website PriceGrabberthe top item being searched for was a five-inch LED TV, followed by Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox videogame consoles.
That's a switch from recent days, when most shoppers were looking at cameras and clothing, and there had been little interest in these electronic items, according to Graham Jones, general manager of PriceGrabber. But clearly, Black Friday, which tends to be known for its electronics deals, shifted consumers' focus, he said.
Jones said they're also seeing a lot of interest in tablet computers, including the Kindle, Apple's iPad2 and Toshiba Thrive tablet.
Consumers also were shopping for themselves. Sears spokesman Tom Aiello said one of the retailer's most popular deals on Friday morning was a Kenmore washer-dryer combination that was 50 percent off.
But it will be a long holiday season. Retail industry executives weren't ready to assume that the strong Black Friday turnout would translate into higher sales for the holiday season as a whole.
Many retail sales forecasts are calling for holiday sales to rise 2 percent to 3 percent, but there are those who are even more optimistic.
Retailers will be continuing to use deals to draw in shoppers in the coming weeks. Many of Target's Black Friday offers, for example, are two-day deals. Then, there will likely be a new batch of discounts that retailers will roll out for "Cyber Monday," the Monday after Thanksgiving when consumers return to work — and their computers.
Retailers also have increased the number of email offers being sent to consumers in their loyalty lists. Retailers like Best Buy also tried to leverage their websites to give their loyalty club members access to special deals during the Thanksgiving weekend, while Targethas continued to focus on giving its Target credit card holders an additional 5-percent off discounts.
Cyber Monday used to be known more for sales at specialty retailers and clothing stores, but the discounts have become more broad-based in recent years.
Apparel retailers are looking for a boost. Some said they are waiting for chillier weather in the Northern U.S., which they expect will boost sales of sweaters and coats.
Lord & Taylor CEO Brendan Hoffman said the warmer-than-usual winter weather is more of a concern for his business than any uncertainty about the economy.
However, eBay said it saw a lot of interest in clothing, shoes and accessories on Thanksgiving, with the top three fashion items — Toms Classic Shoes, UGG Australia Classic Short Shoes, and Tory Burch Tumbled Shoes — all in the the shoe category.
Questions? Comments? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow Christina Cheddar Berk on Twitter @ccheddarberk.


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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Argentina's Congress is counting on a bright 2014 with a budget that assumes strong 6.2 percent growth and inflation of just 10 percent.
But economic analysts and opposition lawmakers say these estimates are wildly optimistic, that gross domestic product could grow by as little as 1 percent next year, and that inflation is running at double the official estimate.
Senators passed the budget 40-27 Wednesday after debating for more than 11 hours as President Cristina Fernandez recuperated from skull surgery. The Chamber of Deputies, also controlled by the president's party and allies, approved it two weeks ago.
The budget also anticipates that the government will report annual growth of 5.1 percent for 2013, even though various analysts say the economy is growing less than 3 percent this year.
Serious money is at stake: Reporting official growth of 3.2 percent or more will trigger billions of dollars in bonus payments to bondholders in 2014. The sweeteners were promised years ago to investors who had to write off two-thirds of Argentina's defaulted debt in exchange for new bonds.
"The government is foreseeing growth that's not real; this will cost the country $3.8 billion to pay its dollar-denominated debt on GDP warrants," said opposition lawmaker Federico Pinedo.
Argentina's economy is much weaker than government number-crunchers are reporting, and the statistics Fernandez cites in her "victorious decade" speeches are costing the country dearly in many different ways, critics say.
"It's completely illogical," said Gabriel Torres, a vice president at Moody's Investors Service who analyzes Argentina's sovereign debt.
"Argentina pays less than it should on its peso bonds; we estimate 20 percent less, because it lies about inflation. And meanwhile, it's paying too much to people with dollar bonds linked to growth. It's paying too much to foreigners, and too little to its own people. I don't understand the logic."
The government rejects such criticism, saying its goal is social justice, not economic orthodoxy.
The official data reflect its efforts to centrally control the economy, subsidizing major industries, fixing prices and controlling currency flows to the point that it's almost impossible now to legally trade pesos for dollars.
"We are consolidating public policies that have nothing to do with orthodox policies" like those of Europe, ruling party Sen. Anibal Fernandez, chairman of the budget committee, said during Wednesday's debate.
He promised that government spending would boost the economy and provide strong growth despite adverse conditions globally, putting more money into Argentines' pocketbooks.
Argentina's inflation numbers have been in doubt since 2007, when Fernandez's late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, had political appointees change the methodology of the official statistics agency, INDEC.
Low official inflation historically kept salaries and consumer prices from going even higher, but now even close government allies demand pay hikes of 25 percent or more to match the price increases they see on store shelves.
Proving that GDP growth is different from what a government is officially reporting is difficult, since these numbers are based on a huge amount of data including detailed productivity analyses of each industrial sector.
But economists at the University of Buenos Aires and Harvard said they did just that, and found Argentina's growth would been much slower had the government kept the same methodology used for 25 years before 2007.
"According to official figures, Argentina is the 'growth champion' in the whole region: its growth accumulated an impressive 99 percent, which more than doubles the region' average," from 2002 to 2012, economist Ariel Coremberg concluded in the study.
However, a closer examination found Argentina's real growth over the decade was nearly 30 points lower 71 percent, he wrote.
Picking and choosing numbers for political reasons effectively opened a Pandora's box, making it impossible to avoid distorting other indicators such as income distribution and poverty, the report said.
"At present, for example, Argentina has an official poverty rate at a lower level than the ones of many developed countries such as Sweden, Finland and other Nordic European countries with the best well-being indicators of the world," the report said.
Opposition senators cited statistical manipulation as they argued against budget approval Wednesday, but the ruling party had the votes to pass it.
Sen. Carlos Reutemann said that by underestimating inflation, the government is more likely to collect revenues that can be spent without congressional approval because they weren't anticipated in the budget.
"The executive is a vacuum cleaner that uses all the cash drawers," Reutemann complained. "This budget is far removed from reality."
Associated Press writers Almudena Calatrava and Luis Andres Henao contributed to this report.
Michael Warren on Twitter: @mwarrenap.


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Get creative with chalk at your next party!
Engage our children on the Passover with this fun and edible Makkot treats!
Keep your children busy while you cook, with our special Chanukah-themed coloring sheets! Have fun!
Keep your children busy while you cook, with our special Rosh Hashana-themed coloring sheets! Have fun!
Looking for a bouquet of flowers for Shavuos that will satisfy everyone's taste?
Decorate your house and table with this fun and edible Purim craft!
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