Psychotherapy’s Image Problem - NYTimes.com

<base href="data:">Psychotherapy is in decline. In the United States, from 1998 to 2007, the number of patients in outpatient mental health facilities receiving psychotherapy alone fell by 34 percent, while the number receiving medication alone increased by 23 percent.<br><br>This is not necessarily for a lack of interest. A recent analysis of 33 studies found that patients expressed a three-times-greater preference for psychotherapy over medications.<br><br>As well they should: for patients with the most common conditions, like depression and anxiety, empirically supported psychotherapies — that is, those shown to be safe and effective in randomized controlled trials — are indeed the best treatments of first choice. Medications, because of their potential side effects, should in most cases be considered only if therapy either doesn't work well or if the patient isn't willing to try counseling.<br><br>So what explains the gap between what people might prefer and benefit from, and what they get?<br><br>The answer is that psychotherapy has an image problem. Primary care physicians, insurers, policy makers, the public and even many therapists are largely unaware of the high level of research support that psychotherapy has. The situation is exacerbated by an assumption of greater scientific rigor in the biologically based practices of the pharmaceutical industries — industries that, not incidentally, also have the money to aggressively market and lobby for those practices.<br><br>For the sake of patients and the health care system itself, psychotherapy needs to overhaul its image, more aggressively embracing, formalizing and promoting its empirically supported methods.<br><br>My colleague Ivan W. Miller and I recently surveyed the empirical literature on psychotherapy in a series of papers we edited for the November edition of the journal Clinical Psychology Review. It is clear that a variety of therapies have strong evidentiary support, including cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness, interpersonal, family and even brief psychodynamic therapies (e.g., 20 sessions).<br><br>In the short term, these therapies are about as effective as medications in reducing symptoms of clinical depression or anxiety disorders. They can also produce better long-term results for patients and their family members, in that they often improve functioning in social and work contexts and prevent relapse better than medications.<br><br>Given the chronic nature of many psychiatric conditions, the more lasting benefits of psychotherapy could help reduce our health care costs and climbing disability rates, which haven't been significantly affected by the large increases in psychotropic medication prescribing in recent decades.<br><br>Psychotherapy faces an uphill battle in making this case to the public. There is no Big Therapy to counteract Big Pharma, with its billions of dollars spent on lobbying, advertising and research and development efforts. Most psychotherapies come from humble beginnings, born from an initial insight in the consulting office or a research finding that is quietly tested and refined in larger studies.<br><br>The fact that medications have a clearer, better marketed evidence base leads to more reliable insurance coverage than psychotherapy has. It also means more prescriptions and fewer referrals to psychotherapy.<br><br>But psychotherapy's problems come as much from within as from without. Many therapists are contributing to the problem by failing to recognize and use evidence-based psychotherapies (and by sometimes proffering patently outlandish ideas). There has been a disappointing reluctance among psychotherapists to make the hard choices about which therapies are effective and which — like some old-fashioned Freudian therapies — should be abandoned.<br><br>There is a lot of organizational catching up to do. Groups like the American Psychiatric Association, which typically promote medications as treatments of first choice, have been publishing practice guidelines for more than two decades, providing recommendations for which treatments to use under what circumstances. The American Psychological Association, which promotes psychotherapeutic approaches, only recently formed a committee to begin developing treatment guidelines.<br><br>Professional psychotherapy organizations also must devote more of their membership dues and resources to lobbying efforts as well as to marketing campaigns targeting consumers, primary care providers and insurers.<br><br>If psychotherapeutic services and expenditures are not based on the best available research, the profession will be further squeezed out by a health care system that increasingly — and rightly — favors evidence-based medicine. Many of psychotherapy's practices already meet such standards. For the good of its patients, the profession must fight for the parity it deserves.<br><br><i>Brandon A. Gaudiano is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the Alpert Medical School at Brown University.</i><div><br><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/opinion/psychotherapys-image-problem.html?">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/opinion/psychotherapys-image-problem.html?</a><br><br></div>

Psychotherapy’s Image Problem - NYTimes.com

Psychotherapy is in decline. In the United States, from 1998 to 2007, the number of patients in outpatient mental health facilities receivin...

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Government shutdown? Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway would close -- UPDATED

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCrg45c_Twty0OtRUVBQIt4kKWhtyb_nle44FCkfCXU4D8GpomXUIHFYwcO8RYBNcFtuhzu9NuEFDyPlpITnDgWfV9i-RzwdhPGa4qB8itLW2fWa32oGT6A0VlMXi2gIe5jxdjA51M2hr/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCrg45c_Twty0OtRUVBQIt4kKWhtyb_nle44FCkfCXU4D8GpomXUIHFYwcO8RYBNcFtuhzu9NuEFDyPlpITnDgWfV9i-RzwdhPGa4qB8itLW2fWa32oGT6A0VlMXi2gIe5jxdjA51M2hr/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Mabry Mill would be closed during a government shutdown.</i></div><br />Come on, people ... Republicans did this in 1995 and had our behinds kicked to the curb by the American people who blamed the entire government shutdown on the GOP. Do we really have to repeat history?<br /><br />Apparently so, for those who were not around back in the day. If you don't know history, you are bound to repeat it. <br /><br />So <a href="http://www.doi.gov/shutdown/index.cfm">what would be shut down</a>?<br /><br />Just as the east coast approaches leaf season when millions hit the roadways to admire the changing colors of fall, the Blue Ridge Parkway could be a victim of the shutdown. That trickles down to hotels, gas stations, restaurants, attractions, and other tourist-related businesses that clearly benefit during leaf season.<br /><br />The Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Smokey Mountains would close under a government shutdown. That includes bathrooms, visitors centers, camping and picnic areas, concessions operations and backcountry trails.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.themountainpress.com/news/x249846987/Government-shutdown-would-mean-Smokies-closure">The Mountain Press</a> reported: <br /><blockquote>The last time the government shut down, in the mid-1990s, for 27 days, closures cost park-dependent communities an estimated $14 million daily, according to a report from the National Parks Conservation Association.<br /><br />“When our national parks closed in 1995-96, I received an outpouring of calls from gateway communities alarmed by the situation,” said Phil Francis, the recently retired superintendent of Blue Ridge Parkway.<br /><br />“The potential shutdown adds insult to injury because these communities are already concerned about the recent cutbacks in funding for national parks that have harmed the Park Service’s ability to serve visitors," Francis added. "No one expected these cuts to happen again. Now we’re looking at not only a potential shutdown, but the likelihood of another round of cuts. If that happens, there’s a good chance it’s going to be even harder.”</blockquote>The <a href="http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20130927/NEWS/309270031/As-leaf-season-nears-government-shutdown-could-close-Blue-Ridge-Parkway">Asheville Citizen-Times</a> weighed in:<br /><blockquote>The parkway, which only recently reopened after a giant crack caused by a landslide was repaired, means a lot to tourism-related businesses in Asheville.<br /><br />If the shutdown happens, and lasts into the fall leaf season, small businesses could feel the pinch.</blockquote><a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/2262104-12/government-shutdown-would-close-blue-ridge-parkway.html">The Roanoke Times</a> laid it on the line:<br /><blockquote>The Blue Ridge Parkway and many of its attractions will close during its peak travel season if the federal government shuts down on Tuesday.<br /><br />All national parks will be forced to close if Congress does not agree on a spending bill by midnight Monday. If a shutdown happens, park rangers have been instructed to close the parkway.<br /><br />“The plan is to close up all operations and shut the gates for the most part,” said Leesa Brandon, Partnerships & Community Outreach Coordinator for the parkway. “I am still hopeful that there will be a resolution and it won’t come to that.”</blockquote>Last week's journey down the Blue Ridge Parkway would not have been possible this week if the shutdown goes through. All the places SWAC Husband and I visited are slated to be closed:<br /><blockquote>Although many details will still need to be addressed, the Department of the Interior’s plan seems to instruct parkway attractions such as Mabry Mill, the Peaks of Otter and other privately managed venues on parkway property to close. Even if those places are allowed to remain open, however, travelers in automobiles would have limited access.<br /><br />Likewise, should a shutdown occur, the Blue Ridge Music Center will be forced to close and its daily bluegrass and old-time mountain music events will be canceled.</blockquote><a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2012/10/autumn-travel-and-leaf-peeping-in.html">No leaf looking</a> along Skyline Drive ... Shenandoah National Park closed ... no taking <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/09/blue-ridge-heritage-polly-growing-up-in.html">Polly to lunch</a> at Skyland Resort as we had planned. The shutdown would close it all and, again, affect businesses along the way.<br /><br />NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax <a href="http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/09/27/impact-government-shutdown">commented</a>:<br /><blockquote>"... tourism could take a big hit. Consider if you owned a restaurant. I talked to a guy who owned a restaurant out - just outside of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Early October is the leaf peeping season. That's when people are out there, driving around. If the National Park is closed, the Skyline Drive is closed, that's a real hit on all of that tourism industry out there. So restaurant owners worry, stores worry and, you know, the entire really travel industry is concerned because passports won't get processed.<br /><br />"So people may not plan various trips. So we're not really talking about an airport shutdown. Air traffic controllers will be deemed essential. TSA workers, they'll be essential. But it's all the things around traveling. Yes, the airport may be open, but if Yosemite Park is closed, what's the point of going on your vacation?"</blockquote>Glad we made our trek last week when we were able to see <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/09/blue-ridge-parkway-lunch-at-peaks-of.html">Peaks of Otter</a>, <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/09/early-morning-reflections-at-mabry-mill.html">Mabry Mill</a>, Explore Park, the BRP Music Center, and all the other sights along that meandering American byway.<br /><br /><b>UPDATED 10/1/2013:</b> A last-minute decision on Monday by the National Park Service will allow the Blue Ridge Parkway to remain open during the government shutdown. Political reporter Bob Stuart has the latest today in the <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/local/shenandoah-national-park-to-close-if-shutdown-happens/article_37420cb0-2a29-11e3-a5d7-001a4bcf6878.html"><i>News-Virginian. </i></a><br /><br /><i>Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell</i>

Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway federal government government shutdown Mabry Mill Music Center Peaks of Otter Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive Government shutdown? Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway would close -- UPDATED

  Mabry Mill would be closed during a government shutdown. Come on, people ... Republicans did this in 1995 and had our behinds kicked to th...

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blue and white monday at the pink pagoda

Happy Monday y'all! I'm still recovering from an A+ weekend but I've got one more party in me. That's why I'm over at <a href="http://blog.thepinkpagoda.us/2013/09/the-blue-and-white-bash.html" target="_blank">The Pink Pagoda</a> joining in on the Blue and White Monday party.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IuhEE_xlcoziWO1KRimceziXguAhbuf0linjPmpdNhOoT5HvcKZ1kyB_uyXAgnIR-BDzhQfWNGxMOHbHNheYrmiAInq80Mu6EUYKfzzkWP6GI92z93dl_dJ0Ew_g9FzD12gFrI_c_dWn/s1600/The+Pink+Pagoda+Blue+and+White+Bash.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IuhEE_xlcoziWO1KRimceziXguAhbuf0linjPmpdNhOoT5HvcKZ1kyB_uyXAgnIR-BDzhQfWNGxMOHbHNheYrmiAInq80Mu6EUYKfzzkWP6GI92z93dl_dJ0Ew_g9FzD12gFrI_c_dWn/s320/The+Pink+Pagoda+Blue+and+White+Bash.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://blog.thepinkpagoda.us/2013/09/the-blue-and-white-bash.html" target="_blank">Come over</a> and join in on the fun.

blue and white monday at the pink pagoda

Happy Monday y'all! I'm still recovering from an A+ weekend but I've got one more party in me. That's why I'm over at Th...

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My first day back on Weight Watchers

I made it through my first day of Weight Watchers without feeling completely starved and only mildly deprived. I actually tracked every bite and stayed within my Points. <br /><br />I don't remember the last time I tracked an entire day of food. It was interesting that even though I don't have that ridiculous 100% focus on weight loss that makes me somewhat psycho (okay, a LOT psycho), I still made really good choices. <br /><br />At the movie I refused the buttered popcorn my friend offered to me, but I did indulge in his Junior Mints. I used my Weight Watcher phone app and scanned the bar code. Sixteen Junior Mints is 5 Points. I counted out 16 mints, placed them on a napkin and ate them one by one, savoring each bite. They would have been better if they were frozen but this theater doesn't freeze them. My sister, who was with us (and is with us every Sunday) thought the whole thing was hysterically funny. <br /><br />My friend thought I was just plain nuts and tried to convince me to eat whatever I want on weekends and diet during the week. It works for him. He eats super healthy all week, then starting Friday night through Sunday night, he eats whatever he wants. This maintains his healthy 160 pounds on a 6' frame (and he's 55 years old). I claim he has some sort of freakishly fast metabolism although he swears that's not the case. Regardless, I know my body well enough to know I can't eat whatever I want on weekends. The Junior Mints were my big indulgence and something I would have never done in my previous life. Waste 5 Points on candy?! Never! But this is my new life where I relax the rules a little on occasion, in an effort to maintain my sanity.<br /><br />Dinner was at Applebees last night, with my sister and friend. He almost always orders from the under 550 calorie selection. I looked up the nutrition for the Napa Chicken and Portobello meal he ordered and it was 11 Points. Less than the Weight Watcher selections. It was really good and very filling. I'd highly recommend it if you end up eating at Applebees.<br /><br />It's almost 5 a.m. I'm going to get dressed in my gym clothes and head to the gym. It's going to be part of my new routine. I'm excited to see what they've done to it during the week long closure for renovation. I really hope they have some cool, new cardio equipment. I hate cardio so anything different would be fun. <br /><br />I can't believe I've actually posted two days in a row. It's been months but I feel this blog is a necessary and fun part of trying to lose weight. I've missed it. I've missed the people that use to read it and leave kind and supportive comments. I hope you're all still out there. :)

My first day back on Weight Watchers

I made it through my first day of Weight Watchers without feeling completely starved and only mildly deprived. I actually tracked every bite...

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Almost heaven ... views of Grayson Highlands State Park

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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MEwwqPaIz_egrTOLeQj06ipJEHWyWPpzxSbj6W8q7-uzmmn726ci-VuusG6a-ZsJ9hqP3FdD_PHqXiuFxBsV7lwzTh-2KdY8w2BCJEee3YZDo72FWZYHg-b3MFzIn5azmEKeawNkZA9E/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MEwwqPaIz_egrTOLeQj06ipJEHWyWPpzxSbj6W8q7-uzmmn726ci-VuusG6a-ZsJ9hqP3FdD_PHqXiuFxBsV7lwzTh-2KdY8w2BCJEee3YZDo72FWZYHg-b3MFzIn5azmEKeawNkZA9E/s400/27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />September 28, 2013

Grayson County Grayson Highlands Festival Grayson Highlands State Park Mouth of Wilson September southwestern Virginia Almost heaven ... views of Grayson Highlands State Park

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell September 28, 2013

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A message for every teacher

<p> <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">Don't measure your worth by how often you're thanked.</span></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">But just so you know - THANK YOU.</span></div> <p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">Your job is important. You are important. Your sacrifice is worth it. THANK YOU. </span></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bgCH2qq6RDk/Uj-dCc0q6CI/AAAAAAAAIu4/4MJIYvdtd0E/s460/live_love_teach.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="460" id="blogsy-1380415904245.2192" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bgCH2qq6RDk/Uj-dCc0q6CI/AAAAAAAAIu4/4MJIYvdtd0E/s460/live_love_teach.jpg" width="460"></a></div> <p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">You are noble. Never let the lack of thanks cause you to forget your nobility. Live it. Be it. Be the kind of teacher this world desperately needs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;">And for every one of you who are THAT kind of teacher - the world owes you gratitude for which it will never give. But let us teachers give it to one another, for truly, we are among the few who really know what it means to give up your life in pursuit of helping a child find theirs.</span></p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

EDUCATION Teaching A message for every teacher

Don't measure your worth by how often you're thanked. But just so you know - THANK YOU. Your job is important. You are important....

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U.S. House schedule for Monday, September 30, 2013

<i><a href="http://majorityleader.gov/">From Majority Leader Eric Cantor....</a></i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH </b></u><br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_675978520" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">On Tuesday</span></span>, the House will meet at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_675978521" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10:00 a.m.</span></span> for legislative business. <br /> First votes expected: not before <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_675978522" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">11:00 a.m.</span></span> Last votes expected: TBD.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>One Minute Speeches</b><br /><br /> <b>Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:</b><br /> <blockquote> <b>1) <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=368019-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 3174</a></b> - To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to obligate funds for emergency relief projects arising from damage caused by severe weather events in 2013, and for other purposes<i> (Sponsored by Rep. Cory Gardner / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)</i><br /> <br /> <b>2) <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=368020-6846703" target="_blank">S. 1348</a></b> - Congressional Award Act Program Reauthorization Act of 2013<i> (Sponsored by Sen. Thomas Carper / Education and the Workforce Committee)</i><br /> </blockquote><b>Further consideration of <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=368021-6846703" target="_blank">H.J.Res. 59</a></b> - Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014<i><b> </b>(Sponsored by Rep. Harold Rogers / Appropriations Committee)</i><br /><br /> <b>Special Order Speeches</b><br /><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY</b></u><br /> Rules Committee meeting on “<a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=368022-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 992, Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act; H.R. 2374, Retail Investor Protection Act</a>” (Monday, September 30th, at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_675978523" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">5:00 p.m.</span></span>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=368024-6846703" target="_blank">Printable PDF</a>

Eric Cantor U.S. Congress U.S. House schedule for Monday, September 30, 2013

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor.... MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH On Tuesday , the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. ...

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Today's Teamster News 09.30.13

<a href="http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/communities/wegmans-blames-teamsters-for-anti-buffalo-banner-at-bills-game-20130929" rel="nofollow">Wegmans blames Teamsters for anti-Buffalo banner at Bills game</a>  The Buffalo News   ...In addition to passing out union leaflets at the Bills game, the Teamsters were accused of using the airplane to fly over the stadium with a “Wegmans wants Buffalo to lose” banner...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-29/jpmorgan-s-biggest-mistake.html" rel="nofollow">JPMorgan’s Biggest Mistake</a>  Bloomberg   ...the derivatives trades resulted in losses of $6.2 billion plus an additional $920 million in <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-19/jpmorgan-chase-agrees-to-pay-920-million-for-london-whale-loss.html">fines</a> -- so far...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/29/elizabeth-warren-student-loans_n_4013321.html" rel="nofollow">Elizabeth Warren Calls For Big Changes To Student Loans</a>  Huffington Post   ...College graduates struggling to repay their student loans should have an easier time getting their debt eliminated if they go into bankruptcy, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Saturday...<br /><a href="http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/social-security-does-not-redistribute-from-young-to-old-it-is-a-public-pension-system?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+beat_the_press+%28Beat+the+Press%29" rel="nofollow">Social Security Does Not Redistribute From Young to Old, It Is a Public Pension System</a>  Center for Economic and Policy Research   ...If workers contributed the same amount to a privately managed pension fund and then collected an annuity in their retirement no one would call it a redistribution from young to old...<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/27/britain-pilots-sleep-idUSL5N0HN1CJ20130927" rel="nofollow">Half of British pilots admit to falling asleep in cockpit -survey</a>  Reuters   ...According to the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA), 56 percent of 500 commercial pilots admitted to being asleep while on the flight deck and, of those, nearly one in three said they had woken up to find their co-pilot also asleep...<br /><a href="http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2013/09/gasoline-prices-down-35-cents-per.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CalculatedRisk+%28Calculated+Risk%29" rel="nofollow">Gasoline Prices down 35 cents per gallon year-over-year</a>  Calculated Risk   ...Some of the year-over-year price decline is related to slightly lower Brent oil prices, but most of decline is because there were refinery and pipeline issues last year at this time...<br /><a href="http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/09/government-blurs-the-lines-between-bad-guys-and-average-americans/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBigPicture+%28The+Big+Picture%29" rel="nofollow">Government Blurs the Lines Between Bad Guys and Average Americans</a>  The Big Picture   ...If you’ve ever cared about privacy while using the Internet in public, you might be a terrorist. At least that’s the message from the FBI and Justice Department’s Communities Against Terrorism initiative...<br /><a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10793" rel="nofollow">TPP Protestors Scale Trade Building To Bring Attention to Secretive Deal </a> The Real News   ...The Trans-Pacific Partnership has nothing to do with trade or freedom, and ongoing demonstrations could encourage those on the inside to speak up...<br /><a href="http://www.policymattersohio.org/sowo-2013" rel="nofollow">Stuck: State of Working Ohio 2013</a>  Policy Matters Ohio   ...While the national recovery is weak, Ohio’s is much worse... <br /><a href="http://www.uaw.org/articles/uaw-releases-2014-union-built-vehicles-list" rel="nofollow">UAW releases 2014 union-built vehicles list</a>  UAW   ...The new editions to the list include Ford Motor Co.’s Fusion sedan, made for the first time at the Flat Rock (Mich.) Assembly Plant as a result of 2011 bargaining between the UAW and Ford...<br /><a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/mike_ivey/wisconsin-leads-nation-in-removing-most-people-from-medicaid/article_40027362-09d1-11e3-bcaa-001a4bcf887a.html" rel="nofollow">Wisconsin leads nation in removing most people from Medicaid</a>  The Cap Times   ...By a wide margin, Wisconsin would remove more low income people from Medicaid than any other state as part of a plan advanced by Gov. Scott Walker still awaiting federal approval...<br /><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/govt-sue-north-carolina-voter-law-20415941" rel="nofollow">Govt to Sue North Carolina Over New Voter Law</a>  Associated Press   ...The Justice Department will sue the state of North Carolina for alleged racial discrimination over tough new voting rules, the latest effort by the Obama administration to fight back against a Supreme Court decision that struck down the most powerful part of the landmark Voting Rights Act and freed southern states from strict federal oversight of their elections...<br /><a href="http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/real-estate/rising-foreclosures-hurt-island-as-nation-recovers-1.6159638" rel="nofollow">Rising foreclosures hurt Island as nation recovers</a>  Newsday   ...New foreclosure cases on Long Island are spiking, even as the mortgage crisis fades in the rest of the United States...

Today's Teamster News 09.30.13

Wegmans blames Teamsters for anti-Buffalo banner at Bills game  The Buffalo News   ...In addition to passing out union leaflets at the Bill...

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Angels in the Park

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Angels in the Park" was performed in the Ranelagh Gardens as part of the Ranelagh Arts Festival.  We managed to see two of these 10 minute short plays which were performed promenade style in the park.  All of the plays were written especially for the event by Peter Sheridan, Cathy Barry, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shane Fallon, Graham Stull, Alex De Witt, and Kevin Jones.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> The two we saw were very funny.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first play took place on a park bench and involved three characters, an older man with alzheimers disease and two young people.  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although humorous, this play brought a tear to my eye as <a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/huge-search-for-missing-woman-ends-in-tragedy-29618330.html">Peggy Mangan</a> a Dublin lady who had been missing for days after going walking with her dog was still being searched for.  Unfortunately she was found dead an hour or so after we watched this play.  Very sad.  Peggy's dog stayed with her to the end but unfortunately Caspar died a few hours after Peggy's body was discovered in the undergrowth in a field near Ikea in Ballymun.  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a6zuTkOYvwwt0q47tB6poPO4ziYnviCiO-PqLhpc4uPH3xCo7MUGm63nXGCyVtK1PLhZ1Brg1pXlEkTfUa8revbgbowCqffhpKrxMz1bg3iSz89BKv2aCeMXBE14xFDHAohANREBXyTA/s640/blogger-image-1551856782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a6zuTkOYvwwt0q47tB6poPO4ziYnviCiO-PqLhpc4uPH3xCo7MUGm63nXGCyVtK1PLhZ1Brg1pXlEkTfUa8revbgbowCqffhpKrxMz1bg3iSz89BKv2aCeMXBE14xFDHAohANREBXyTA/s640/blogger-image-1551856782.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second play took place a short walk away from the above park bench.  It was a love story between two characters (this guy in the pond and a girl up in a balcony in an apartment overlooking the park).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr6I51BI9_goDUpoGrL7eoTO0yky8YJODIdshtMaxdnyaQGL7TZ7y0UKvRxCSW7T8E9E80GWKUMfxdirYpaHCln_cCNIQua8QPrlfqa0YaT2M-5rFCnSuNVUA0iUMlaRxWM1Q-a8sEQ1e/s640/blogger-image-1956728716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr6I51BI9_goDUpoGrL7eoTO0yky8YJODIdshtMaxdnyaQGL7TZ7y0UKvRxCSW7T8E9E80GWKUMfxdirYpaHCln_cCNIQua8QPrlfqa0YaT2M-5rFCnSuNVUA0iUMlaRxWM1Q-a8sEQ1e/s640/blogger-image-1956728716.jpg"></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">The two shi tzus above became part of the play!</span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cGUAzMaVrjr4wo3qUpCazJUHeri_nXKrFiQK1uY_13EfUSgH6MgRDnA79LTVWVZNCcvlYt_KxGr14jWIBeDfXXRlUCY8MGSeoGEA0K2QlJjkaBAjcke3-UUAjoYsioGv2Nmk__Z-ZPr-/s640/blogger-image-603875120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cGUAzMaVrjr4wo3qUpCazJUHeri_nXKrFiQK1uY_13EfUSgH6MgRDnA79LTVWVZNCcvlYt_KxGr14jWIBeDfXXRlUCY8MGSeoGEA0K2QlJjkaBAjcke3-UUAjoYsioGv2Nmk__Z-ZPr-/s640/blogger-image-603875120.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgxcwT49oESQoCOVTqggy87Wnjt44nHkeMa0JtalVd8OVLH7AO9_oSFLaua0YF_io3kQnWDDm8mTpxJTWmVSFktmQedigIzPNm2Wdk4Wc276aRkLAb2XUkjHrWmRY5huPqEem9K2p851w/s640/blogger-image--1514098479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgxcwT49oESQoCOVTqggy87Wnjt44nHkeMa0JtalVd8OVLH7AO9_oSFLaua0YF_io3kQnWDDm8mTpxJTWmVSFktmQedigIzPNm2Wdk4Wc276aRkLAb2XUkjHrWmRY5huPqEem9K2p851w/s640/blogger-image--1514098479.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Angels in the Park was a really enjoyable event.  It had been running all week at lunchtime and the day we saw it was the last day it was being performed.  I had hoped to go to a few more events in the Ranelagh Arts Festival but was unable to, so it was great to see this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1Du08lZWR0VEipKa7smODuvFaxXXA4on2-8SYspSXrCEVuls80k2pYLuPgW2BsT1euK2Xoffa8ROin9iaJVAlPz0aw7Hc48QKDforb6zq6hLH52TR50OENOp0J_vhMOduqlf17f2_ZW6/s640/blogger-image-2068009133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1Du08lZWR0VEipKa7smODuvFaxXXA4on2-8SYspSXrCEVuls80k2pYLuPgW2BsT1euK2Xoffa8ROin9iaJVAlPz0aw7Hc48QKDforb6zq6hLH52TR50OENOp0J_vhMOduqlf17f2_ZW6/s640/blogger-image-2068009133.jpg"></a></div><br><span style="font-size: large;">The plays were produced by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shiva-Productions/144944125524932?ref=ts&fref=ts">Shiva Productions</a></span><br><br>

Angels in the Park

"Angels in the Park" was performed in the Ranelagh Gardens as part of the Ranelagh Arts Festival.  We managed to see two of these ...

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More Political Brinksmanship

Meh.<br />I am pretty much sick and tired of the fucking games these assholes seem to insist on playing these days. Buncha damn Drama Queens, they are as bad as a cheezy fucking Soap Opera,.<br />Come midnight tomorrow, we may or may not have a functional government.<br />I should rephrase that I think.<br /><br />That bunch are the poster children for dysfunctional morons.<br /><br />What may actually happen is that the government will run out of money.<br /><br />Oops, I did it again.<br />We have been broke for years.<br /><br />What they are dicking around with is a six week extension to fund the government to keep it from shutting down and throwing hundreds of thousands of government employees out of work.<br /><br />If you have somehow managed to miraculously miss hearing about this, you are to be commended and envied.<br /><br />All ya gotta do is Google "Government Shutdown" and there will be scads of articles with finger pointing galore.<br /><br />I ain't linking to a single one either.<br /><br />Fuck those clowns.<br /><br />Someone let me know when they decide to get serious about the problems facing this country.<br /><br />I will have my thermal underwear on and be waiting for a ride to Hell when that happens.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi069RhG-e3m_GsyrYr4NywSmixqAuu-wbrzuu63essIuB_DVNjarz0LIrd_Izswb1aTO6TlKLOOUmyGHQ_Oqo5eHmE-0xjaT7iHo7jmePCv_95JfAd_u3KdS_7O3G8u9cSsQsPXuSX3Ndd/s1600/3vckfi.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi069RhG-e3m_GsyrYr4NywSmixqAuu-wbrzuu63essIuB_DVNjarz0LIrd_Izswb1aTO6TlKLOOUmyGHQ_Oqo5eHmE-0xjaT7iHo7jmePCv_95JfAd_u3KdS_7O3G8u9cSsQsPXuSX3Ndd/s640/3vckfi.jpg" /></a>

More Political Brinksmanship

Meh. I am pretty much sick and tired of the fucking games these assholes seem to insist on playing these days. Buncha damn Drama Queens, the...

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Intex Dual-SIM smartphones with HD Display: Aqua HD and Aqua i4

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Two new smartphones introduced by Intex in Indian market with two SIM slots. Intex has add two new devices in its range. Intex HD comes with price tag of Rs. 15,900 and Aqua i4 comes for </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Rs. 9,490.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />                                             <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YynovVqyKeI/UkkhrQGWoxI/AAAAAAAAAY0/-MLYrhJmyI8/s1600/intex-aqua-hd-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="intex Aqua HD" border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YynovVqyKeI/UkkhrQGWoxI/AAAAAAAAAY0/-MLYrhJmyI8/s1600/intex-aqua-hd-big.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aqua HD comes with display of 4.7-inch display. The resolution of screen is 720x1280 pixels comes with TFT display, it means full HD. The device get power from 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589 processor  which will run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and can be upgraded through OTA (over the air). You can expand the storage up to 32GB and alongside 1 GB RAM.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For capturing your images and pics it have a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and can record HD videos. A front facing camera with 5 megapixel is available on device.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ABwdzpAq0E/Ukkh9NZXY9I/AAAAAAAAAY8/qmoZdg35vEA/s1600/intex-aqua-i41-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="intex Aqua i4" border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ABwdzpAq0E/Ukkh9NZXY9I/AAAAAAAAAY8/qmoZdg35vEA/s1600/intex-aqua-i41-big.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>On other hand Intex Aqua i4 is mid-range smartphone which is powered by 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. Device comes with 5-inch capacitive touch screen. It runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The phone many pre-loaded features like Matrabhasha, Intex Game Club, Intex Play, Hungama, Intex Movies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Technical features:</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Intex Aqua HD</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>Processor: 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589</li><li>Screen: 4.7-inch full HD</li><li>Camera: 13 megapixel rear with LED flash and 5- megapixel front facing</li><li>Connectivity: 3G, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, GPS </li><li>Space: 4GB internal and expandable up to 32 GB </li><li>HD Recording: Yes</li><li>Battery: 1800 mAh</li><li>Price: Rs. 15,900</li><li>Sensors: Accelerometer, a proximity sensor, light sensor and gyroscope.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Intex Aqua i4</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>Processor: 1.2GHz quad-core</li><li>Screen: 5-inch </li><li>Camera: 8 megapixel rear and 1.3 - megapixel front facing</li><li>Connectivity: 3G, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, GPS </li><li>OS: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean</li><li>Space: 4GB internal and expandable up to 32 GB </li><li>Price: Rs. 9,490.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to Sanjay Kumar Kalirona Business Head-Mobile, Intex Technologies “"Our Aqua range has been widely accepted which has positively reflected in our smartphones sale that has surged multi-fold in a very small span. We have been able to create a niche for our devices in the cluttered market space and are growing extensively to become leaders in the smartphone category. With festive season around the corner, we are planning to sell 3 lakh smartphones in the month of October, 2013."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author" style="text-align: left;">Anil Swami</a></div></div></div>

android 4.2 jelly bean dual sim Intex Aqua. HD Intex Dual-SIM smartphones with HD Display: Aqua HD and Aqua i4

Two new smartphones introduced by Intex in Indian market with two SIM slots. Intex has add two new devices in its range. Intex HD comes with...

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Dual SIM Smartphones from Lenovo: A850, A516, A369i and A269i

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A new series of dual SIM smartphones launched by the Lenovo in India. Four smartphones made entry in Indian market with same company tag. The all four devices are came under it’s A series. The company made a statement that the smartphones will available in Indian market from next month.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhkP3sBqe50/UkkLgR_dBcI/AAAAAAAAAYc/CWeVjtZ697E/s1600/lenovo-a516-1-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lenovo dual sim smartphones" border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhkP3sBqe50/UkkLgR_dBcI/AAAAAAAAAYc/CWeVjtZ697E/s1600/lenovo-a516-1-big.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Technical specifications:</span></h3><span style="color: red;">Lenovo A580</span><br />Display: 5.5-inch with full HD<br />Processor: 1.3 GHz Quad-core<br />Camera: 5 megapixel rear camera<br />Storage: 4GB internal storage and you can expand it up to 32 GB through SD card<br />OS: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean<br />SIM: GSM + GSM<br />Colour: White and Black<br />Others: 178 degree wide-view IPS technology<br />Price: Rs. 15,999<br />Availability: From October<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Lenovo A516</span><br /><br />Display: 4.5-inch with undefined resolutions<br />Processor: 1.3 GHz Quad-core<br />Camera: 5 megapixel rear camera front camera and focus is not specified<br />Storage: 4GB internal storage and supportable for SD card<br />OS: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean<br />SIM: GSM + GSM<br />Colour: White and Charcoal Grey<br />Others: 178 degree wide-view IPS technology<br />Price: Rs. 10.999<br />Availability:  From October<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Lenovo A369i</span><br /><br />Display: 4- inch<br />Processor: 1.3 GHz Quad-core with 512 MB RAM<br />Camera: Not specified yet<br />Storage: 4GB internal storage and you can expand it up to 32 GB through SD card<br />OS: Not specified yet<br />Colour:  Black<br />Price: Rs. 6,999<br />Availability: October<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tSxhrXjWAT0/UkkLrwx558I/AAAAAAAAAYk/x2aS9YjBJJg/s1600/lenovo-a850-1-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lenovo dual sim smartphones" border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tSxhrXjWAT0/UkkLrwx558I/AAAAAAAAAYk/x2aS9YjBJJg/s1600/lenovo-a850-1-big.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />The last device is A269i is powered by a Dual-core processor and a low budget smartphone which will comes with price tag of Rs.5, 499. Lenovo is not disclose the mystery like which chipset used, type of camera and display resolution.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Statement from Sudhin Mathur, Director, Smartphones Lenovo India on launching event “ After an encouraging response for our current smartphone range in Indian market, we are strengthening the portfolio with 'value for money' smartphones to reach out to a larger segment of the Indian population that has yet to own a smartphone. This festive season looks very promising for the brand with the launch of A850, A516, A269i and A369i." <br /><br />image source: ndtv<br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

android 4.2 jelly bean dual sim Lenovo smartphone Dual SIM Smartphones from Lenovo: A850, A516, A369i and A269i

A new series of dual SIM smartphones launched by the Lenovo in India. Four smartphones made entry in Indian market with same company tag. Th...

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'Glee': Finn Hudson's 5 Most Valuable Lessons -- and Why Not to Forget Them

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com</a><br /><h2 class="main_article_deck" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: 'Vonness Bold Compressed', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">As the Fox musical begins its fifth season, it's important to remember what Cory Monteith's New Directions captain meant to the series.</h2><div class="article_body" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 16px 0px 0px;"><div class="main_blog_image_placeholder" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><div class="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><center><div class="pinterest-button clearfix" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><img alt="Cory Monteith Tribute FOX Screengrab - H 2013" class="imagecache imagecache-thumbnail_570x321" height="318" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_570x321/2013/08/fox.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; max-width: 648px;" title="" width="565" /></div></center></div><div class="main_media_credit" style="clear: left; color: #cccccc; font-size: 10px; font-style: oblique; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 0px; text-align: right;">YouTube</div><div class="main_image_caption" style="color: #959595; font-size: 11px; font-style: oblique; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 0px;">Cory Monteith</div></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><em>Glee </em>kicks off its fifth season Thursday with two Beatles tributes, a notably upbeat start that will likely shy away from addressing <strong>Cory </strong><strong>Monteith</strong>'s death, which instead will be the focus of the third episode.</div><div class="recommended_articles" style="clear: both; float: left; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 20px 35px 20px 0px; width: 195px;"><div class="header" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; color: black; font-family: 'Vonness Bold Compressed', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">OUR EDITOR RECOMMENDS</div><div class="module_wrap" style="background-image: url(http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/all/themes/thr/images/border_dot_h.gif); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; width: 195px;"><div class="media" style="float: left; margin: 0px 16px 8px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; height: 58px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><div class="video-button-overlay" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/glees-lea-michele-dedicates-teen-604003" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-image: url(http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/all/themes/thr/images/sprite_5_22_2013.png); background-position: 1px -332px; background-repeat: initial initial; bottom: 0px; display: block; height: 42px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -9999px; top: auto; width: 42px;"></span><img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-thumbnail_tiny_58x58" height="58" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_tiny_58x58/2013/08/lea.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; max-width: 648px;" title="" width="58" /></a></div></div></div><div class="text" style="display: table-cell; float: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="outer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="inner" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/glees-lea-michele-dedicates-teen-604003" style="color: black; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;">'Glee's' Lea Michele Dedicates Teen Choice Win to Cory Monteith (Video)<img class="redarr" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/all/themes/thr/images/elements/icon_red_darrow.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; max-width: 648px;" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="module_wrap" style="background-image: url(http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/all/themes/thr/images/border_dot_h.gif); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; width: 195px;"><div class="media" style="float: left; margin: 0px 16px 8px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; height: 58px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/remembering-glees-cory-monteith-585215" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-thumbnail_tiny_58x58" height="58" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_tiny_58x58/2013/07/cory_monteith.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; max-width: 648px;" title="" width="58" /></a></div></div><div class="text" style="display: table-cell; float: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="outer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="inner" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/remembering-glees-cory-monteith-585215" style="color: black; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;">Remembering 'Glee's' Cory Monteith<img class="redarr" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/all/themes/thr/images/elements/icon_red_darrow.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; max-width: 648px;" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="module_wrap" style="background-image: url(http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/all/themes/thr/images/border_dot_h.gif); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; width: 195px;"><div class="media" style="float: left; margin: 0px 16px 8px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; height: 58px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/glee-write-cory-monteiths-finn-597975" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-thumbnail_tiny_58x58" height="58" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_tiny_58x58/2011/12/309GLEE_Ep309Sc20_172copy.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; max-width: 648px;" title="" width="58" /></a></div></div><div class="text" style="display: table-cell; float: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="outer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="inner" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/glee-write-cory-monteiths-finn-597975" style="color: black; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;">'Glee' to Write Cory Monteith's Finn Out, Sets PSAs, Charity Fund for Late Actor<img class="redarr" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/all/themes/thr/images/elements/icon_red_darrow.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; max-width: 648px;" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="module_wrap last" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; width: 195px;"><div class="media" style="float: left; margin: 0px 16px 8px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; height: 58px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/foxs-kevin-reilly-glee-end-598023" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-thumbnail_tiny_58x58" height="58" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_tiny_58x58/2011/05/glee-concert-2011-a-l.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; max-width: 648px;" title="" width="58" /></a></div></div><div class="text" style="display: table-cell; float: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="outer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="inner" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/foxs-kevin-reilly-glee-end-598023" style="color: black; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;">Fox's Kevin Reilly: 'Glee' Likely to End After Season 6<img class="redarr" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/all/themes/thr/images/elements/icon_red_darrow.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; max-width: 648px;" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The actor's July 13 death at the age of 31 will cast a shadow over the first two episodes of the season, which had to be updated to write Monteith's beloved Finn Hudson out.</div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><strong><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/remembering-glees-cory-monteith-585215" style="color: #e11a1f; text-decoration: none;">STORY: Remembering 'Glee's' Cory Monteith</a></strong></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">While the focus of the first two hours will see Kurt and Blaine ponder their future as well as Tina running for prom queen, talking about spoilers pales in comparison to what really matters. Instead, it's important to remember during these two happy episodes what Finn meant to <em>Glee</em>.</div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">While Finn was by no means perfect, ultimately the New Directions captain and former star quarterback typically learned from his mistakes -- enriching the lives of those near and dear to him. Here are five of Finn's most valuable lessons -- and why <em>Glee </em>fans should never forget them.</div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><strong><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/glee-star-cory-monteith-death-585205" style="color: #e11a1f; text-decoration: none;">PHOTOS: Cory Monteith Remembered: THR's Exclusive Images</a></strong></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">1. <strong>Never count the underdog out.</strong> Finn -- and perhaps Rachel -- best represent the underdog, which at its core is what <em>Glee </em>is about. It's impossible to keep track of the number of times New Directions had its back up against the wall and turned to Finn to lead the team. Even after graduating, Finn ultimately returned to New Directions to find his path in life (teaching) and in filling in for Mr. Schue, helped save the club from elimination. Right now, <em>Glee </em>itself may be the underdog as fans new and old wait to see how the series that has meant so much to so many reboots itself following Monteith's tribute episode. If we've learned anything from this series, it's to never stop believing -- or bet against a good underdog.</div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">2. <strong>Be able to admit that you were wrong.</strong> Finn initially took issue with Kurt's sexual orientation when he learned that his step-brother-to-be's father would marry his mother. After first denouncing Kurt's homosexuality, Finn manned up and admitted he was wrong with a cover of <strong>Bruno Mars</strong>' "Just the Way You Are" that ranks as one of Monteith's best<em>Glee </em>performances. The late actor's ability to effectively play both sides of this story without overcompensating either one of them made Finn's turnabout that much more poignant.</div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><strong><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/cory-monteith-death-glee-17-585551" style="color: #e11a1f; text-decoration: none;">PHOTOS: 'Glee' and 17 Other TV Shows That Lost a Star</a></strong></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">3. <strong>Own who you are.</strong> Finn has always been a champion for those around him, encouraging others to be proud of who they are. Granted, Finn outing Santana in the middle of McKinley may not have been the most tactful way to do it (the duo were fighting at the time), but he ultimately helped Santana be honest with herself and turn a new page. The star quarterback learned in the pilot that he's much happier accepting himself for who he is -- even if involves quite a few '80s ballads. While Santana's slap was one Finn deserved -- coming out is an extremely personal decision -- he knew she was unhappy. Further proof: Seeing Santana accept herself for who and what she is helped fuel her romance with Brittany. <em>Glee</em> is at its best when its characters behave consistently with who they are as individuals. Finn may have been the most consistent (yet flawed) character yet.</div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">4. <strong>Do the right thing, even if it sucks.</strong> When Finn ends his engagement with Rachel, he sets her off on the journey she was meant to take: following her Broadway dreams. It was the last thing that he really wanted to do but a decision that was wise beyond his years and a testament to just how much he really loved Rachel in that he refused to stand in her path to stardom. Sometimes putting other people first can be a hard lesson, but it's one that Finn understood better than anyone.</div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><strong><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/glee-season-five-pictures-627520#1-party-four" style="color: #e11a1f; text-decoration: none;">PHOTOS: 'Glee' Season Five in Pictures</a></strong></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">5. <strong>A little laughter and humility go a long way.</strong> Finn may not always have been the sharpest tool in the shed, but at least he never took himself too seriously. For a guy who was nearly immediately discharged from the Army -- which, you'll recall, he joined as a tribute to his father -- he was always able to laugh at himself. Just look to Finn's quote from the graduation episode as a prime example of a guy with a good sense for when to crack a joke. "I'd call my high school career a total success. I mean not in terms of grades and stuff, but I won a state title in football and a national championship in glee club -- and it turns out I never actually accidentally got anyone pregnant." Finn provided an excellent example of <em>Glee</em>'s need for characters with the ability to have fun at their own expense -- even if it's in the most dramatic and sentimental moments. And when you get a storyline about a guy who believes in a hot tub immaculate conception, humor is a must. </div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;">It's unclear just how Finn's passing will be handled on the show and just how <em>Glee</em> will go on with the rest of its fifth and sixth seasons, which likely will be its last. While producers have been rebooting the vision that likely earned them the two-season renewal, one thing is certain: <em>Glee</em> will never be the same without Finn, the charismatic Journey-loving singer who struck a chord with millions of viewers and helped turn the series into a global phenomenon.   </div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><em>Glee </em>airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Fox. Leave your thoughts on what Finn meant to the series in the comments below. In the meantime, check out the promo poster for the Monteith tribute, which co-creator <strong>Ryan Murphy</strong> released via <a href="https://twitter.com/MrRPMurphy/status/383326432161591296/photo/1" style="color: #e11a1f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><img alt="" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/LESLEY/untitled%20folder/untitled%20folder/untitled%20folder/untitled%20folder/glee_promo_embed.jpg" style="border: 5px solid; float: left; height: 157px; margin: 5px; max-width: 648px; width: 550px;" /></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 12px;"><em>E-mail: </em></div></div></div>

'Glee': Finn Hudson's 5 Most Valuable Lessons -- and Why Not to Forget Them 'Glee': Finn Hudson's 5 Most Valuable Lessons -- and Why Not to Forget Them

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com As the Fox musical begins its fifth season, it's important to remember what Cory Monteith's New Dir...

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For one final game at Yankee Stadium, this was Mariano Rivera Day

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/">http://www.cbssports.com</a><br /><img alt="Rivera (USATSI)" src="http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/baseball/mlb/img23862803.jpg" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.796875px;">Mariano Rivera leaves the mound in the 9th inning to the cheers of the New York Yankees fans. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.796875px;">(USATSI)</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.796875px;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">NEW YORK -- Standing on the Yankee Stadium mound for one final time, <a class="playerLink" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/players/playerpage/8019/mariano-rivera" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Mariano Rivera</a>was in tears.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">He wasn't alone.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">They said Sunday was Mariano Rivera Day in the Bronx, but in a lot of ways this was. Sunday was planned, ceremonies and speeches and Metallica.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><aside style="background-color: white; color: #444444; float: left; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 20px 20px 20px 0px; width: 220px;"><header style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cc0000; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 500; margin-bottom: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 220px;">END OF AN ERA</header><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/23862300/watch-mariano-rivera-takes-the-yankee-stadium-mound-for-last-time" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Watch: Rivera takes Yankee Stadium mound for last time</a></aside><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">Thursday night was pure emotion.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">There was a buzz in the crowd that felt like October. The flashbulbs popped, as if it was the World Series.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">And Mariano Rivera pitched for the <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/page/NYY/new-york-yankees" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Yankees</a>, for the final time in the home pinstripes.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">It was a meaningless game for the Yankees, who were eliminated from the playoff race Wednesday. It was the only meaningless home game of Rivera's 19-year career.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">Still, it was a night that many will never forget.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">Rivera faced four <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/page/TB/tampa-bay-rays" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Rays</a> batters and retired all of them. He entered to a thunderous ovation in the eighth inning, with the Yankees using a tape of the late Bob Sheppard for his introduction.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">He left with two out in the ninth to an even bigger ovation. Yankees manager Joe Girardi sent<a class="playerLink" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/players/playerpage/7758/derek-jeter" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Derek Jeter</a> and <a class="playerLink" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/players/playerpage/7976/andy-pettitte" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Andy Pettitte</a> to the mound to make the change, and Rivera was in tears as he hugged Pettitte for quite a while.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">"I mean, he was really crying," Pettitte said. "He was weeping. I felt like he didn't want to let go, so I just kept on hugging him."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">"Thank God they came out there," Rivera said. "I was so glad. I needed them there."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">This was a game like no other for Rivera, his 1,115th major-league appearance, but perhaps the first where we saw his emotions on the mound. And maybe the first where he even felt emotions on the mound.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><aside style="background-color: white; color: #444444; float: left; font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 20px 20px 20px 0px; width: 220px;"><header style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #cc0000; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 500; margin-bottom: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 220px;">SPECIAL MO-MENT</header><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/23863447/watch-mariano-rivera-and-the-coolest-pitching-change-ever-seen" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte come out for pitching change</a></aside><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">"A totally different feeling," Rivera said.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">He felt it most after the eighth inning ended. Instead of staying in the dugout, as he normally would, he walked up the stairs to the Yankee clubhouse, to the trainers room, just trying to stay under control.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">"Everything started hitting me, flashbacks, to the minor leagues and the big leagues, to this moment," he said. "I was bombarded with emotions and feelings I can't describe.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">"I knew it was the last time."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">Two outs into the ninth, Girardi sent Pettitte and Jeter to the mound (after clearing it with the umpiring crew). Rivera departed, walking off the mound with the fans roaring, with his teammates and also the Rays players cheering. The fans demanded a curtain call, and Rivera obliged.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">Soon it was done, the game (a 4-0 Yankee loss to the Rays), the Yankees' home season and the home portion of Rivera's great career.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">When it was over, Rivera remained in the Yankee dugout. After all the other players had left for the clubhouse, he went back to the mound and gathered some dirt, before leaving for the final time.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">Later, Girardi would nearly break down crying himself, in his postgame press conference, as he tried to talk about his former teammate.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">"He made my job fun," Girardi said. "He made my job easy. But probably more than that, he made all our lives better, and we'll miss that."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">The Yankees will play three games this weekend in Houston. Rivera may even play center field in one of those games.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 0.6em;">But there won't be a night like Thursday.</div></div>

For one final game at Yankee Stadium this was Mariano Rivera Day For one final game at Yankee Stadium, this was Mariano Rivera Day

http://www.cbssports.com Mariano Rivera leaves the mound in the 9th inning to the cheers of the New York Yankees fans.  (USATSI) NEW YORK --...

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Federal Deficit as Percent of GDP

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofjDqwnjX8hCD-nwstWhY2UaoH0N_lZRqCipqqat6YtOKHYUw1kb4wAy1VijA0atMojGoX2v9z3DcU02Z9veavmhQYt0KviaeBG0mCXR82pckl8WfESnpfXZ8rv6jIPaGXawR5TL0cWc/s1600/Federal+Deficit+as+Percent+of+GDP.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofjDqwnjX8hCD-nwstWhY2UaoH0N_lZRqCipqqat6YtOKHYUw1kb4wAy1VijA0atMojGoX2v9z3DcU02Z9veavmhQYt0KviaeBG0mCXR82pckl8WfESnpfXZ8rv6jIPaGXawR5TL0cWc/s320/Federal+Deficit+as+Percent+of+GDP.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />The future's too bright.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretension">Merriam Webster: Pretension</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>an allegation of doubtful value</i></div><br />This post inspired by <a href="http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2013/09/sunday-night-futures-government.html">robj's comment</a> at <a href="http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/">Calculated Risk</a>.<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mTU">St. Louis Fed: Federal Surplus or Deficit [-] as Percent of Gross Domestic Product</a>

Federal Deficit as Percent of GDP

Click to enlarge. The future's too bright. Merriam Webster: Pretension an allegation of doubtful value This post inspired by robj's ...

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A Retail Sales Accident Waiting to Happen (Musical Tribute)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN1n-ZG_UKdlSlUL8aeqIOe0_knu0inWvOeJ96N_xwq980mD-N06ebTcVRdcb_T4-dd9k_gIP0fnhmSFh81paB-GBVuPW62YVMyrkfZZYxOsoJv8mqu_dW6ZUflqEvBA5DBYeEHHVGQs/s1600/Retail+Sales+per+Capita+vs.+Median+Household+Income.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN1n-ZG_UKdlSlUL8aeqIOe0_knu0inWvOeJ96N_xwq980mD-N06ebTcVRdcb_T4-dd9k_gIP0fnhmSFh81paB-GBVuPW62YVMyrkfZZYxOsoJv8mqu_dW6ZUflqEvBA5DBYeEHHVGQs/s320/Retail+Sales+per+Capita+vs.+Median+Household+Income.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />Monthly retail and food services sales per capita is shown in blue.<br />Annual median household income is shown in red.<br /><br />Please factor in that neither series is adjusted for inflation. You are therefore looking at the raw data in all its grandeur.<br /><br />We must be incredibly optimistic as a society. I say this because the following is what Google offers me as search results.<br /><br />1. 8,870,000 search results for <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=pent-up+demand&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=%22pent-up+demand%22&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&safe=off">"Pent-Up Demand"</a><br />2. 230 search results for <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=pent-up+demand&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=%22pent-down+demand%22&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&safe=off">"Pent-Down Demand"</a><br /><br />As for the latter, my blog currently holds <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/11/pent-down-demand.html">the top search result</a>. Hurray! And with this post, I'm looking to expand my dominance of the "Pent-Down Demand" analysis market! Most excellent! Sigh.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/71hqRT9U0wg" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />If you're happy and you know it, pent demand!<br />If you're happy and you know it, pent demand!<br />If you're happy and you know it<br />And you really want to show it<br />If you're happy and you know it, pent demand!<br /><br />Next up... Stomping our feet and turning around! Woohoo!<br /><br /><b>September 5, 2013</b><br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324123004579056961676026596.html">August Retail Sales Shy of Hopes</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>Many retailers, including the major department stores, have stopped reporting monthly results over the past year, making it more difficult to gauge the performance of the entire industry.</i></div><br />Where have we heard that before?<br /><br /><i style="color: #666666;">"The reason those guys don't want to report same-store sales is because they're in a lot of trouble. They have a broken business model, and they would sorely wish analysts would pay less attention to what they're doing. They're trying to hide."</i> - <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2008/05/our-pillars-of-retail-strength.html">Peter Morici, 2008</a><br /><br />And on that note, I am officially reducing my short-term inflation outlook (as seen in the upper left corner of my blog) to boringly flat just in time for the 2013 Christmas season. It's just a gut feel, nothing more.<br /><br />This is not investment advice.<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mTP">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

A Retail Sales Accident Waiting to Happen (Musical Tribute)

Click to enlarge. Monthly retail and food services sales per capita is shown in blue. Annual median household income is shown in red. Please...

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What Does the GOP Want?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Hola all you political junkies and casual observers out there! So here we are, once again on the verge of a possible government shutdown because the GOP believes that no matter how many elections they lose, and no matter of small a percentage of the people agree with them, they should get everything they want. The question is “What does the GOP want?” Well, the defunding of Obamacare is the obvious answer, but there are a number of other things that they want too… <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- For all women to have to formally request permission to have sex anytime they want to. The request will be made to the highest ranking white male elected official from the state. The information will be made public so everyone knows which of your female coworkers and friends to scorn the next day and which men to high five. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0iAA3JYkBCNKP6pOu6bIVIwtc9X8UpSaON6j5YgwLO4HhrZMNQtsQ5Ifzujc_GHefRG8VBGIejA9JJlexb92eU1bEGAq0OF68N5yCgPzMhHGdW3_KUOSCCjC3xoUnp4p14DzY3cSf-Ph/s1600/Mitch+McConnell+Funny+Sexy+Angry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0iAA3JYkBCNKP6pOu6bIVIwtc9X8UpSaON6j5YgwLO4HhrZMNQtsQ5Ifzujc_GHefRG8VBGIejA9JJlexb92eU1bEGAq0OF68N5yCgPzMhHGdW3_KUOSCCjC3xoUnp4p14DzY3cSf-Ph/s320/Mitch+McConnell+Funny+Sexy+Angry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- A HUGE sign at every single point of entry into the country that reads “Welcome to America! The greatest country on Earth. NO HOMOS!” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Twerking lessons for Michele and Marcus Bachmann. Mostly they’re for Marcus. Also, Lindsay Graham.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- To make it illegal to Tweet “spoilers” of any TV show or live awards show until the people on the west coast have had a chance to see the show. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- For the federal government to legally declare that a fetus is a person with all the same rights and protections under the law as everyone else. The same law will also declare school aged children to be “parasites” and therefore not deserving of or eligible for any social programs like food stamps or school lunches. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- If they can’t get a complete defunding or even delay of Obamacare, they will ask if it can at least be limited to people in the top tax brackets only. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- While they’re in a repealing mood, the GOP will also see if they can repeal the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Civil Right Act, the Voting Rights Act and the 14^th, 15^th and 19^th Amendments. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- “Means Testing” of Medicare and Social Security. By “means testing” they mean only people WITH financial means will be eligible. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- To be notified before anyone else when there is “fresh meat” at their favorite strip clubs. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- The elimination of the designated hitter rule in the American League. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Every network must show nothing but “Little House on the Prairie,” “Andy Griffith,” “The Flinstones” and “The Lawrence Welk Show” every night. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- To have everyone in the Kardashian family deported. Wait, that’s my demand. Sorry. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- For Cable News to be limited to Fox News and Nancy Grace. All other shows and networks outlawed. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- For Saturday Night Live to be cancelled. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- The elimination of all these silly “defenseless player” and so-called “concussion” rules. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- For NetFlix to be required to stream “The Shield.” (Sorry, that’s another one of mine.) <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Finally, for the Bill of Rights to be replaced with The Ten Commandments. (All white males and elected officials will be exempted of course.) <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigoPD7i8WAwaPQSYAp2sbjcqM8rAUJGRJ0Z2NvQdA-J0qXHsBRf9KL_Eax8Bf9klKWImtwUSb4x31ww6JUv01synKvJoIZU1VRmLkjl3neVGjq4KhGl5dYGegPu4WOoV-um_07CQZe2VZ/s1600/john_boehner-crying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigoPD7i8WAwaPQSYAp2sbjcqM8rAUJGRJ0Z2NvQdA-J0qXHsBRf9KL_Eax8Bf9klKWImtwUSb4x31ww6JUv01synKvJoIZU1VRmLkjl3neVGjq4KhGl5dYGegPu4WOoV-um_07CQZe2VZ/s1600/john_boehner-crying.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Seems reasonable to me, right? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://facebook.com/Jayman68" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS </a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In other news, we put on yet another quality show on IWS Radio yesterday. We celebrated Confucius Day by sharing some of the deep wisdom of his lesser known brother Profucius! We also checked in with Ted Cruz throughout the show to hear what he was talking about today. Then got the first ever <b>Smugly Superior with <a href="http://amidlifescrises.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dana</a></b> report which was awesome and belittling of all you Breaking Bad morons out there. We paid tribute to the McLaughlin Group and the Saturday Night Live sketches based on that show.  Brown Beasley called in for a bit and we spent the rest of the show engaging in all kinds of fun and games. Definitely check it out …</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="370" src="http://player.cinchcast.com/?show_id=5481213&platformId=1&assetType=single" width="400"></iframe><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/comedy">Current Comedy Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">IWS Radio</a> on BlogTalkRadio<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

What Does the GOP Want?

Hola all you political junkies and casual observers out there! So here we are, once again on the verge of a possible government shutdown bec...

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Quote of the Day

<b>September 29, 2013</b><br /><a href="http://thegazette.com/2013/09/29/golden-era-of-farm-prosperity-at-an-end/">Golden era of farm prosperity in Iowa, nation at an end</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>Farmers may still be the richest people many of us know, but their seeming license to print money during a seven-year run of record grain prices and near exponential growth in land values has been revoked by falling markets for corn and soybeans.</i></div>

Quote of the Day

September 29, 2013 Golden era of farm prosperity in Iowa, nation at an end Farmers may still be the richest people many of us know, but thei...

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The Affordable Housing High-Wire Act

The following chart shows the median price of new homes sold divided by the median household income.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vbu386RZAuW7EqIuujXE6LoaEylJMrTi1th2DJIY_XOlEYUKd4tvgqswmHh8ZJ0olx0YPVEN7lshu9OMtkW_-_awBNsRtiL5rLcSCTbOVxvQzlPkYWCIRD-jawDXKPa2Ef81nCQmQDo/s1600/The+Affordable+Housing+High+Wire+Act.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vbu386RZAuW7EqIuujXE6LoaEylJMrTi1th2DJIY_XOlEYUKd4tvgqswmHh8ZJ0olx0YPVEN7lshu9OMtkW_-_awBNsRtiL5rLcSCTbOVxvQzlPkYWCIRD-jawDXKPa2Ef81nCQmQDo/s320/The+Affordable+Housing+High+Wire+Act.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/affordablehousing/">HUD: Affordable Housing</a><br /><br /><i><b style="color: red;">Who Needs Affordable Housing?</b><br style="color: #666666;" /><br style="color: #666666;" /><span style="color: #666666;">More people than you might realize.</span></i><br /><br /><b>May 2013</b><br /><a href="http://realtormag.realtor.org/news-and-commentary/commentary/article/2013/05/not-high-wire-act">REALTOR: Not a High-Wire Act</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>The economic benefits of a strong housing market are clear. Housing has contributed 17 to 19 percent to the national gross domestic product on average over the past four decades; it still accounts for about 15 percent of GDP despite ongoing challenges to housing markets around the country. And <span style="color: red;">home ownership remains the greatest tool</span> for wealth creation our nation’s families have.</i></div><br />Parabolically increasing home prices relative to income for the win! It's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_fool_theory">greater fool</a>'s greatest <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tool">tool</a>!<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mTu">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

The Affordable Housing High-Wire Act

The following chart shows the median price of new homes sold divided by the median household income. Click to enlarge. HUD: Affordable Housi...

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A Reason for Optimism: Washington, D.C.

The following chart shows the median household income of Washington, D.C. divided by the median household income of the United States.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjy5lErM5bP2eFxSPCKbEs0iuru54-c8FBQRpwya64IOd0nTvEFQ86UyLuB7jVZRqx4KHmejiwhuS__iYp-3DaYVV6vUCC8DsljFybkOBIn7dl7y2NcQFhM2-Fb9KH8Ia7IgV7LJWNms/s1600/District+of+Columbia.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjy5lErM5bP2eFxSPCKbEs0iuru54-c8FBQRpwya64IOd0nTvEFQ86UyLuB7jVZRqx4KHmejiwhuS__iYp-3DaYVV6vUCC8DsljFybkOBIn7dl7y2NcQFhM2-Fb9KH8Ia7IgV7LJWNms/s320/District+of+Columbia.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />Exponential growth! It's only a matter of time before our "investment" pays off! Genius!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/edgl45fkm/no-6-washington-d-c/">The Next Biggest Boom Towns In The U.S.</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i><b>No. 6: Washington, D.C.</b><br /><br />The D.C. metro area's great competitive advantage lies in proximity to the federal government. Washington has continuing job growth, including in high-wage science and tech fields, and an improving real estate market. <span style="color: red;">It's also the only large metro in the Northeast with close to double-digit gains in the ranks of small children, a sign that people believe they can build a long term future there. </span>However, a significant downsizing of the federal government in the near future could slow the region's growth.</i></div><br />Let's all move to Columbia! Yes!<br /><br />And when I say Columbia, I don't mean the state capital of South Carolina. There's some sort of "plague" going on there. For the love of all that is holy, stay away!<br /><br /><b>September 19, 2013</b><br /><a href="http://www.thestate.com/2013/09/19/2988225/declining-income-rising-poverty.html">Declining income, rising poverty plague SC economy</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>COLUMBIA, SC — South Carolinians were better off at the turn of the century than they are today, according to a new report released Thursday.<br /><br />It finds the state’s residents bring home less money in their paychecks and more are living in poverty than in 2000. Also, fewer have health insurance compared with five years ago, according to the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey.</i></div><br />I also don't mean that we should move to the <a href="http://www.mystore411.com/store/view/562848/banana-republic-columbia">Mall of Columbia</a>. That's just silly talk. We don't need to live in a Banana Republic quite yet. <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/columbia/ph-amc-muggings-20130916,0,4515223.story">Give it a few more years!</a><br /><br />And let's not forget the country of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Colombia">Columbia</a>. It would make a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Colombia">very poor</a> substitute for the flourishing District of Columbia.<br /><br />So when it comes to Columbias, one stands above the rest. Stick with what works! The future's so bright there that I gotta wear shades!<br /><br /><b>See Also:</b><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2010/06/sarcasm-disclaimer.html">Sarcasm Disclaimer</a><br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mTo">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

A Reason for Optimism: Washington, D.C.

The following chart shows the median household income of Washington, D.C. divided by the median household income of the United States. Click...

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