or shuttered,
like this one on the intersection of Alma School Road and Chandler Boulevard in Chandler, Arizona (October 2009).
It's still standing empty almost two years with the banner" For Sale/Lease ..."
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Washington Mutual Bank - Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (Latin: Thus passes the glory of the world)
During 2009, all of the Washington Mutual Bank branches were rebranded to Chase Bank
or shuttered,
like this one on the intersection of Alma School Road and Chandler Boulevard in Chandler, Arizona (October 2009).
It's still standing empty almost two years with the banner" For Sale/Lease ..."
or shuttered,
like this one on the intersection of Alma School Road and Chandler Boulevard in Chandler, Arizona (October 2009).
It's still standing empty almost two years with the banner" For Sale/Lease ..."
Saturday, July 30, 2011
US Foreign Aid: Lend-Lease (1941-1945)
Lend-Lease (Public Law 77-11) was the name of the program under which the USA supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, France, and other Allied nations with vast amounts of war material between 1941 and 1945.
The Lend-Lease bill was signed into law on March 11, 1941 and
was called An Act to Further Promote the Defense of the United States.
A total of $50.1 billion (equivalent to $769.3 billion at 2011 prices) worth of supplies were shipped:
$31.4 billion to Britain,
$11.3 billion to the Soviet Union,
$3.2 billion to France and
$1.6 billion to China.
The terms of the agreement provided that the material was to be used until time for their return or destruction.
Supplies after the termination date were sold to Britain at a discount, for £1.075 billion, using long-term loans from the U.S.
There was no debt; the U.S. did not charge for aid supplied under this legislation.
Although most Red Army tank units were equipped with Soviet-built tanks,
their logistical support was provided by hundreds of thousands of U.S.-made trucks.
By 1945 nearly two-thirds of the truck strength of the Red Army was U.S.-built.
Trucks such as the Dodge 3/4 ton and Studebaker 2½ ton, were the best trucks available in their class on either side on the Eastern Front.
American shipments of telephone cable, aluminium, canned rations, and clothing were also critical.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), eager to ensure public consent for this controversial plan, explained to the public and the press that his plan was comparable to one neighbor's lending another a garden hose to put out a fire in his home.
"What do I do in such a crisis?" FDR asked at a press conference.
"I don't say... 'Neighbor, my garden hose cost me $15; you have to pay me $15 for it' …I don't want $15 — I want my garden hose back after the fire is over."
Stalin, during the Tehran Conference in 1943, acknowledged publicly the importance of American efforts during a dinner at the conference: "Without American production the United Nations could never have won the war."
There was no charge for the Lend Lease aid delivered during the war, but the Americans did expect the return of some durable goods such as ships.
Congress had not authorized the gift of supplies after the war, so the administration charged for them, usually at a 90% discount.
Large quantities of undelivered goods were in Britain or in transit when Lend-Lease terminated on 2 September 1945.
Britain wished to retain some of this equipment in the immediate post war period, so these
Lend-lease items retained were sold to Britain at 10% of nominal value, giving an initial loan value of £1.075 billion for the Lend Lease portion of the post-war loans.
Payment was to be stretched out over 50 annual payments, starting in
1951 and with five years of deferred payments, at 2% interest.
The final payment of $83.3 million (£42.5 million) was made at the end of 2006.
The Lend-Lease bill was signed into law on March 11, 1941 and
was called An Act to Further Promote the Defense of the United States.
A total of $50.1 billion (equivalent to $769.3 billion at 2011 prices) worth of supplies were shipped:
$31.4 billion to Britain,
$11.3 billion to the Soviet Union,
$3.2 billion to France and
$1.6 billion to China.
The terms of the agreement provided that the material was to be used until time for their return or destruction.
Supplies after the termination date were sold to Britain at a discount, for £1.075 billion, using long-term loans from the U.S.
There was no debt; the U.S. did not charge for aid supplied under this legislation.
Although most Red Army tank units were equipped with Soviet-built tanks,
their logistical support was provided by hundreds of thousands of U.S.-made trucks.
By 1945 nearly two-thirds of the truck strength of the Red Army was U.S.-built.
Trucks such as the Dodge 3/4 ton and Studebaker 2½ ton, were the best trucks available in their class on either side on the Eastern Front.
American shipments of telephone cable, aluminium, canned rations, and clothing were also critical.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), eager to ensure public consent for this controversial plan, explained to the public and the press that his plan was comparable to one neighbor's lending another a garden hose to put out a fire in his home.
"What do I do in such a crisis?" FDR asked at a press conference.
"I don't say... 'Neighbor, my garden hose cost me $15; you have to pay me $15 for it' …I don't want $15 — I want my garden hose back after the fire is over."
Stalin, during the Tehran Conference in 1943, acknowledged publicly the importance of American efforts during a dinner at the conference: "Without American production the United Nations could never have won the war."
There was no charge for the Lend Lease aid delivered during the war, but the Americans did expect the return of some durable goods such as ships.
Congress had not authorized the gift of supplies after the war, so the administration charged for them, usually at a 90% discount.
Large quantities of undelivered goods were in Britain or in transit when Lend-Lease terminated on 2 September 1945.
Britain wished to retain some of this equipment in the immediate post war period, so these
Lend-lease items retained were sold to Britain at 10% of nominal value, giving an initial loan value of £1.075 billion for the Lend Lease portion of the post-war loans.
Payment was to be stretched out over 50 annual payments, starting in
1951 and with five years of deferred payments, at 2% interest.
The final payment of $83.3 million (£42.5 million) was made at the end of 2006.
Haym Solomon, financier of the American Revolution
Haym Solomon (or Salomon)(April 7, 1740 – January 6, 1785)
was a Spanish and Portuguese Jew who immigrated to New York from Poland during the period of the American Revolution,
and who became a prime financier of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War against Great Britain.
In August of 1781, the Continental Army had trapped Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis in the little Virginia coastal town of Yorktown. George Washington and the main army and the Count de Rochambeau with his French army decided to march from the Hudson Highlands to Yorktown and deliver the final blow. But Washington's war chest was completely empty, as was that of Congress. Washington determined that he needed at least $20,000 to finance the campaign. When Washington was told that there were no funds and no credit available, he gave a simple but eloquent order: "Send for Haym Solomon". Haym Solomon came through, and the $20,000 was raised. Washington conducted the Yorktown campaign, which proved to be the final battle of the Revolution, thanks to Haym Solomon.
In 1975 the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring Haym Salomon for his contributions to the cause of the American Revolution.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Some good news with Arizona state budget....
....came from one-time gains in the individual income tax,
due to higher capital-gains taxes as Arizonians sold their investments,
and from a drop in the mortgage-interest deduction due to people losing their homes.
Previously approved Arizona state budget assumed that 2011 fiscal year
would end (on June 30, 2011) with a $332 million deficit.
Now, it looks that year-end deficit is closer to $32 million.
due to higher capital-gains taxes as Arizonians sold their investments,
and from a drop in the mortgage-interest deduction due to people losing their homes.
Previously approved Arizona state budget assumed that 2011 fiscal year
would end (on June 30, 2011) with a $332 million deficit.
Now, it looks that year-end deficit is closer to $32 million.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
How Bank of America was born
One of "too big to fail" (2008) was Bank of America, known before 1999 as Nations Bank.
Nations Bank assumed this new name after acqusition of original Bank of America in 1998.
Original Bank of America was founded in San-Franciso (1904)
by Amadeo Giannini to provide banking services
to immigrants who were denied services from other banks.
In his early childhood Amadeo Giannini lost his father who was shot while trying to collect on a $10.00 (ten dollars) debt.
When the 1906 San Francisco earthquake struck,
Giannini was able to get all deposits out of his bank building.
Because San Francisco's banks were in ruins and unable to open their vaults, Giannini was able to use the rescued funds to start lending within a few days of the disaster.
From a makeshift desk, he loaned money to anyone who was willing to rebuild.
As he told later, all of these loans were repaid.
Nations Bank assumed this new name after acqusition of original Bank of America in 1998.
Original Bank of America was founded in San-Franciso (1904)
by Amadeo Giannini to provide banking services
to immigrants who were denied services from other banks.
In his early childhood Amadeo Giannini lost his father who was shot while trying to collect on a $10.00 (ten dollars) debt.
When the 1906 San Francisco earthquake struck,
Giannini was able to get all deposits out of his bank building.
Because San Francisco's banks were in ruins and unable to open their vaults, Giannini was able to use the rescued funds to start lending within a few days of the disaster.
From a makeshift desk, he loaned money to anyone who was willing to rebuild.
As he told later, all of these loans were repaid.
Is Uncle Sam too big to fail ?
Three years ago (October 2008) USA government bailed out some big corporation (click here to know more about TARP) that supposedly were "too big to fail"...
Maybe, it's their turn to save the good old Uncle Sam from default before Doomsday August 2, 2011 coming?
That's what friends are for, aren't they ?
Maybe, it's their turn to save the good old Uncle Sam from default before Doomsday August 2, 2011 coming?
That's what friends are for, aren't they ?
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
US Celebrity Soulmate Fraud - Premium Message Charge $9.99
Such thing happened to me 05/17/2011, that I mistyped "facebook.com" (like "ffacebook.com"),
and an "iPad 2" sweepstake page popped up.
Assuming that Facebook authorized this, I entered my cellphone number.
One month later I found $9.99 charge in my Verizon bill:
"5/17/11 6:52PM Premium Messaging PREM_SMS 41933 us.celebrity-soulmate.com -- $9.99"
and an "iPad 2" sweepstake page popped up.
Assuming that Facebook authorized this, I entered my cellphone number.
One month later I found $9.99 charge in my Verizon bill:
"5/17/11 6:52PM Premium Messaging PREM_SMS 41933 us.celebrity-soulmate.com -- $9.99"
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Chandler planning more bus-service cuts
Source: Arizona Republic
Chandler planning more bus-service cuts
Sagging revenue from a county transportation sales tax is forcing Chandler
to plan more bus-service cuts less than a year after a state funding sweep brought reduced hours, fewer stops and shorter rides on several routes through the city.
The changes, likely to start in January, could end the city's only bus service into south Chandler and eliminate the McClintock Drive route into Tempe. Late night and weekend
service would be reduced on several routes and promised route expansions would be canceled under proposals that go to a City Council vote in August.
Dan Cook, transportation manager, told members of a City Council subcommittee Tuesday that residents will have a chance to comment before the cuts are final. During the last round of cuts, residents' support for some routes helped to preserve them. The city is targeting routes and times with low ridership, Cook said.
Popular ones like the 542 express from the Tumbleweed park-and-ride lot to downtown Phoenix won't be touched, he said. Neither will Dial-a-Ride services. The new Arizona Avenue Link service to the light rail in Mesa that started in January also will not be affected. Initial ridership reports on the Link have been low, but city officials say the route
is too new to evaluate based on usage.
Cook said declining Proposition 400 transportation-tax revenues for Chandler will be an estimated $22 million less than forecast over the next 15 years. Since the state snatched $1.3 million from the city's annual Local Transportation Assistance Fund last year, Chandler has no other way of financing bus service. Tempe, Mesa and Phoenix have a dedicated transit sales tax, but Chandler voters defeated a proposed transit tax in 1999. During Tuesday's committee session, Councilman Rick Heumann said the city should consider a resident survey to gauge support or opposition for such a tax but stressed that he isn't proposing one.
During public hearings before last year's cuts were decided, several regular riders said they feared it will be more difficult to get to work or use bus transportation for weekend recreational trips. Councilman Kevin Hartke told the committee this week that he knows of one resident who depends on public transportation and purchased her
home in south Chandler because it was close to the area's only bus route. Now that route on south Dobson Road is on the chopping block. If city officials' recommendations are
approved, the Dobson Road route, which goes to Ocotillo Road then south on Alma School Road to Chandler Heights Road, will end at Pecos Road.
Cook said the Dobson route has logged very low ridership and Intel removed its bus stop on that route because it wasn't used.
City transit officials will consider different routes into south Chandler for future service, possibly on Arizona Avenue or Alma School Road, he said. "Ultimately, it's important that we get transit services to south Chandler."
Bus route and schedule changes have regional implications, and Chandler is
working with neighboring cities. Cook said no changes were proposed to Elliot Road service because it is one of the few routes through Gilbert. Talks are ongoing with Tempe on the west Chandler routes that connect the two cities, and Cook said he is waiting to hear if Phoenix is going to eliminate the 541 express route from Arizona Avenue and Ray Road to downtown Phoenix.
Chandler planning more bus-service cuts
Sagging revenue from a county transportation sales tax is forcing Chandler
to plan more bus-service cuts less than a year after a state funding sweep brought reduced hours, fewer stops and shorter rides on several routes through the city.
The changes, likely to start in January, could end the city's only bus service into south Chandler and eliminate the McClintock Drive route into Tempe. Late night and weekend
service would be reduced on several routes and promised route expansions would be canceled under proposals that go to a City Council vote in August.
Dan Cook, transportation manager, told members of a City Council subcommittee Tuesday that residents will have a chance to comment before the cuts are final. During the last round of cuts, residents' support for some routes helped to preserve them. The city is targeting routes and times with low ridership, Cook said.
Popular ones like the 542 express from the Tumbleweed park-and-ride lot to downtown Phoenix won't be touched, he said. Neither will Dial-a-Ride services. The new Arizona Avenue Link service to the light rail in Mesa that started in January also will not be affected. Initial ridership reports on the Link have been low, but city officials say the route
is too new to evaluate based on usage.
Cook said declining Proposition 400 transportation-tax revenues for Chandler will be an estimated $22 million less than forecast over the next 15 years. Since the state snatched $1.3 million from the city's annual Local Transportation Assistance Fund last year, Chandler has no other way of financing bus service. Tempe, Mesa and Phoenix have a dedicated transit sales tax, but Chandler voters defeated a proposed transit tax in 1999. During Tuesday's committee session, Councilman Rick Heumann said the city should consider a resident survey to gauge support or opposition for such a tax but stressed that he isn't proposing one.
During public hearings before last year's cuts were decided, several regular riders said they feared it will be more difficult to get to work or use bus transportation for weekend recreational trips. Councilman Kevin Hartke told the committee this week that he knows of one resident who depends on public transportation and purchased her
home in south Chandler because it was close to the area's only bus route. Now that route on south Dobson Road is on the chopping block. If city officials' recommendations are
approved, the Dobson Road route, which goes to Ocotillo Road then south on Alma School Road to Chandler Heights Road, will end at Pecos Road.
Cook said the Dobson route has logged very low ridership and Intel removed its bus stop on that route because it wasn't used.
City transit officials will consider different routes into south Chandler for future service, possibly on Arizona Avenue or Alma School Road, he said. "Ultimately, it's important that we get transit services to south Chandler."
Bus route and schedule changes have regional implications, and Chandler is
working with neighboring cities. Cook said no changes were proposed to Elliot Road service because it is one of the few routes through Gilbert. Talks are ongoing with Tempe on the west Chandler routes that connect the two cities, and Cook said he is waiting to hear if Phoenix is going to eliminate the 541 express route from Arizona Avenue and Ray Road to downtown Phoenix.
Chandler Arizona - new (2011) City Hall Building is costing $47 million
Source: The Smith Group
Cases Studies: Chandler City Hall
Settled in the 19th-Century, the City of Chandler (Arizona) is representative of the "New West". Once an agricultural ranch township, today Chandler is a growing community home to high-tech companies and nearly 250,000 residents. The city envisioned their new city hall as a modern complex that would serve as a gathering destination for the citizens of this forward-thinking community, without abandoning its rich history.
SmithGroup designed an elegant, yet appropriate building for the community. The new and inviting facilities create a sense of place and identity to encourage activity and interaction between visitors. The multi-purpose complex reflects the surrounding terrain and consists of council chambers, administrative offices, a public television studio and a 330-space parking structure.
Cost: $47 million
Cases Studies: Chandler City Hall
Settled in the 19th-Century, the City of Chandler (Arizona) is representative of the "New West". Once an agricultural ranch township, today Chandler is a growing community home to high-tech companies and nearly 250,000 residents. The city envisioned their new city hall as a modern complex that would serve as a gathering destination for the citizens of this forward-thinking community, without abandoning its rich history.
SmithGroup designed an elegant, yet appropriate building for the community. The new and inviting facilities create a sense of place and identity to encourage activity and interaction between visitors. The multi-purpose complex reflects the surrounding terrain and consists of council chambers, administrative offices, a public television studio and a 330-space parking structure.
Cost: $47 million
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