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steve2470
steve2470's Journal
steve2470's Journal
July 9, 2014
(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve has begun detailing how it plans to ease the U.S. economy out of an era of loose monetary policy, indicating it will end its asset purchases in October and appearing near agreement on a plan to manage interest rates in the future, according to minutes of the last Fed policy meeting.
The minutes from the June 17-18 meeting indicate the Fed envisions using overnight repurchase agreements in tandem with the interest it pays banks on excess reserves to set a ceiling and floor for its target interest rate.
Though no decisions have been announced, the discussion has become detailed enough for Fed officials to contemplate the proper spread between the two - mentioned in the minutes as 20 basis points.
The minutes showed the Fed participants also "generally agreed" that monthly bond purchases would end in October, with a final reduction of $15 billion in monthly purchases of U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Fed mulls policy exit, eyes October end of asset purchases
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/09/us-usa-fed-minutes-idUSKBN0FE23220140709(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve has begun detailing how it plans to ease the U.S. economy out of an era of loose monetary policy, indicating it will end its asset purchases in October and appearing near agreement on a plan to manage interest rates in the future, according to minutes of the last Fed policy meeting.
The minutes from the June 17-18 meeting indicate the Fed envisions using overnight repurchase agreements in tandem with the interest it pays banks on excess reserves to set a ceiling and floor for its target interest rate.
Though no decisions have been announced, the discussion has become detailed enough for Fed officials to contemplate the proper spread between the two - mentioned in the minutes as 20 basis points.
The minutes showed the Fed participants also "generally agreed" that monthly bond purchases would end in October, with a final reduction of $15 billion in monthly purchases of U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
July 9, 2014
Derivatives, Credit Default Swaps, etc: how much of a problem now ?
From what I've read, they are as big of a problem now as in 2008. Is the situation worse now ? Thanks for your input.
Steve
July 9, 2014
DELAND, Fla. -- A 4-year-old Russian blue cat named Kush is being quarantined after apparently going berserk inside a central Florida home, prompting its owners to call 911.
Police say the feline scratched owners Teresa and James Gregory on their arms and legs Saturday, causing the couple to retreat to a bedroom, where they called 911.
"She freaked out. ... She's got us locked in our bedroom," Teresa Gregory said, according to CBS affiliate WKMG. "She's never been like this.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports Teresa Gregory told the dispatcher she had mistakenly stepped on the cat's tail earlier in the day and the cat went after her husband. They locked Kush in the bedroom for most of the day. When they finally opened the door, Kush wasn't happy.
"Crazy cat" goes berserk in Florida; owner calls 911
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/crazy-cat-goes-berserk-in-florida-owner-calls-911/DELAND, Fla. -- A 4-year-old Russian blue cat named Kush is being quarantined after apparently going berserk inside a central Florida home, prompting its owners to call 911.
Police say the feline scratched owners Teresa and James Gregory on their arms and legs Saturday, causing the couple to retreat to a bedroom, where they called 911.
"She freaked out. ... She's got us locked in our bedroom," Teresa Gregory said, according to CBS affiliate WKMG. "She's never been like this.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports Teresa Gregory told the dispatcher she had mistakenly stepped on the cat's tail earlier in the day and the cat went after her husband. They locked Kush in the bedroom for most of the day. When they finally opened the door, Kush wasn't happy.
July 9, 2014
Last Updated 7/9/2014, 8:00:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 31.8N 232.2E Movement ENE at 10 mph
Wind 70 MPH
Last Updated 7/9/2014, 11:00:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 11.7N 129.5W Movement WNW at 17 mph
Wind 30 MPH Pressure: 1007 MB
Tropical Storm Neoguri moves ENE, Fausto becomes a TD
Last Updated 7/9/2014, 8:00:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 31.8N 232.2E Movement ENE at 10 mph
Wind 70 MPH
Last Updated 7/9/2014, 11:00:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 11.7N 129.5W Movement WNW at 17 mph
Wind 30 MPH Pressure: 1007 MB
July 8, 2014
Last Updated 7/8/2014, 2:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 28.9N 234.2E Movement N at 12 mph
Wind 110 MPH
Last Updated 7/8/2014, 5:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 10.0N 124.6W Movement W at 15 mph
Wind 45 MPH Pressure: 1005 MB
Typhoon Neoguri moves north, Tropical Storm Fausto moves west
Last Updated 7/8/2014, 2:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 28.9N 234.2E Movement N at 12 mph
Wind 110 MPH
Last Updated 7/8/2014, 5:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 10.0N 124.6W Movement W at 15 mph
Wind 45 MPH Pressure: 1005 MB
July 8, 2014
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/07/michelle-obama-popularity-108593.html#.U7tDyWtdWmQ
Michelle Obama is a popular first lady. On average, her favorable ratings have been higher than those of her predecessors, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. This may well reflect the fact that more so than other first ladies, Mrs. Obama has a stand-alone personal image. Unlike other recent first ladies, her popularity has not fallen or risen with her husband’s.
How popular is Michelle? A steady two-thirds of the public has held a favorable view of Mrs. Obama, according to nationwide Gallup poll and Pew Research Center surveys, for most of her time as first lady. At 69 percent, her average Pew Research Center favorable ratings have been only somewhat higher than Laura Bush’s (65 percent) but considerably higher than Hillary Clinton’s (55 percent) during Bill Clinton’s term in office.
Laura Bush was never a polarizing first lady, but views of her soured somewhat near the end of her husband’s unpopular second term. In late 2007, her favorable rating fell to 54 percent from a high of 70 percent.
Hillary’s ratings rose and fell substantially over the course of her time in the White House, reaching a low of 42 percent in early 1996 as fallout from her spearheading her husband’s unpopular health care reform effort. But they rebounded over the course of Bill Clinton’s second term, especially during the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, when the public rallied sympathetically to the first lady. Her ratings slipped again afterward, even as Bill’s approval ratings remained fairly high.
Barack Obama's Better Half
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/07/michelle-obama-popularity-108593.html#.U7tDyWtdWmQ
Michelle Obama is a popular first lady. On average, her favorable ratings have been higher than those of her predecessors, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. This may well reflect the fact that more so than other first ladies, Mrs. Obama has a stand-alone personal image. Unlike other recent first ladies, her popularity has not fallen or risen with her husband’s.
How popular is Michelle? A steady two-thirds of the public has held a favorable view of Mrs. Obama, according to nationwide Gallup poll and Pew Research Center surveys, for most of her time as first lady. At 69 percent, her average Pew Research Center favorable ratings have been only somewhat higher than Laura Bush’s (65 percent) but considerably higher than Hillary Clinton’s (55 percent) during Bill Clinton’s term in office.
Laura Bush was never a polarizing first lady, but views of her soured somewhat near the end of her husband’s unpopular second term. In late 2007, her favorable rating fell to 54 percent from a high of 70 percent.
Hillary’s ratings rose and fell substantially over the course of her time in the White House, reaching a low of 42 percent in early 1996 as fallout from her spearheading her husband’s unpopular health care reform effort. But they rebounded over the course of Bill Clinton’s second term, especially during the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, when the public rallied sympathetically to the first lady. Her ratings slipped again afterward, even as Bill’s approval ratings remained fairly high.
July 8, 2014
POPE Francis has begged forgiveness in his first meeting with Catholics sexually abused by members of the clergy and went further than any of his predecessors by vowing to hold bishops accountable for their handling of paedophile priests.
Abuse victims and their advocates have long demanded that higher-ups be made to answer for the decades-long cover-ups of rape and molestation of youngsters in a scandal that has rocked the church and dismayed its worldwide flock of 1.2 billion.
The pope celebrated a private Mass with six victims — two each from Ireland, Britain and Germany — at his Vatican residence, and spent the rest of the morning listening to their accounts, one on one.
“Before God and his people, I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness,” Francis said.
Pope Francis begs forgiveness in meeting with abuse victims
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/pope-francis-begs-forgiveness-in-meeting-with-abuse-victims/story-e6frg6so-1226981270705?nk=b79291a206cd04921c44405716a12d30POPE Francis has begged forgiveness in his first meeting with Catholics sexually abused by members of the clergy and went further than any of his predecessors by vowing to hold bishops accountable for their handling of paedophile priests.
Abuse victims and their advocates have long demanded that higher-ups be made to answer for the decades-long cover-ups of rape and molestation of youngsters in a scandal that has rocked the church and dismayed its worldwide flock of 1.2 billion.
The pope celebrated a private Mass with six victims — two each from Ireland, Britain and Germany — at his Vatican residence, and spent the rest of the morning listening to their accounts, one on one.
“Before God and his people, I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness,” Francis said.
July 8, 2014
Education Secretary Arne Duncan has brushed off a call for his resignation from the National Education Association.
The NEA adopted the resolution last week at its representative assembly in Denver, where the air was charged with anger and members buzzed with frustration at Duncan and other education reformers — especially their emphasis on high-stakes testing.
The resolution blamed Duncan for a “failed education agenda” consisting of policies that “undermine public schools and colleges, the teaching education professionals, and education unions.”
The teachers union has considered similar resolutions in previous years, but this was the first time it won approval from a majority of the 9,000 delegates attending the NEA’s annual convention.
Arne Duncan dismisses union call for resignation
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/arne-duncan-dismiss-resignation-call-national-education-association-108615.htmlEducation Secretary Arne Duncan has brushed off a call for his resignation from the National Education Association.
The NEA adopted the resolution last week at its representative assembly in Denver, where the air was charged with anger and members buzzed with frustration at Duncan and other education reformers — especially their emphasis on high-stakes testing.
The resolution blamed Duncan for a “failed education agenda” consisting of policies that “undermine public schools and colleges, the teaching education professionals, and education unions.”
The teachers union has considered similar resolutions in previous years, but this was the first time it won approval from a majority of the 9,000 delegates attending the NEA’s annual convention.
July 7, 2014
Protecting A Woman’s Right to Choose. The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right. Abortion is an intensely personal decision between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her clergy; there is no place for politicians or government to get in the way. We also recognize that health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions. We strongly and unequivocally support a woman’s decision to have a child by providing affordable health care and ensuring the availability of and access to programs that help women during pregnancy and after the birth of a child, including caring adoption programs.
Maybe it's time to change the TOS, eh ?
Official 2012 Democratic Party Platform position on choice
http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platformProtecting A Woman’s Right to Choose. The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right. Abortion is an intensely personal decision between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her clergy; there is no place for politicians or government to get in the way. We also recognize that health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions. We strongly and unequivocally support a woman’s decision to have a child by providing affordable health care and ensuring the availability of and access to programs that help women during pregnancy and after the birth of a child, including caring adoption programs.
Maybe it's time to change the TOS, eh ?
July 7, 2014
Last Updated 7/7/2014, 2:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 23.7N 233.8E Movement NNW at 14 mph
Wind 125 MPH
Last Updated 7/7/2014, 8:00:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 11.5 106.0W Movement WNW at 15 mph
Wind 30 MPH
Last Updated 7/7/2014, 2:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 9.4 119.1W Movement W at 10 mph
Wind 40 MPH
Typhoon Neoguri moves towards Japan, Invest 98E moves WNW, Invest 99E moves west
Last Updated 7/7/2014, 2:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 23.7N 233.8E Movement NNW at 14 mph
Wind 125 MPH
Last Updated 7/7/2014, 8:00:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 11.5 106.0W Movement WNW at 15 mph
Wind 30 MPH
Last Updated 7/7/2014, 2:00:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Location 9.4 119.1W Movement W at 10 mph
Wind 40 MPH
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Gender: Do not displayMember since: Sat Oct 16, 2004, 01:04 PM
Number of posts: 37,457
