Agenda about the City Council meeting of July 15, 2014

This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that took place on the date listed above. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.

You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:

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City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center

City Council Agenda - July 15, 2014

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 The Hound's Notes:
1) It has been 28 days (June 17, 2014) since the last city Council meeting and it will be another another 21 days until the next meeting (August 5, 2014).


2) $53,232 is going to pay for infrastructure around Moretz Mill (Budget Ordinance Item 6). I believe that part of this money is going to pay for the issues related to closing the road (E Avenue) that affected Catawba Paper Box. Looks like Hickory Inc. is picking up the bill for that.
Thoughts about last night's Hickory City Council meeting - March 18, 2014
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of March 4, 2014


3) Larry Pope's recent Letter to the Editor in the Hickory Daily Record related to the upcoming Bond Referendum.

VOTE NO!
The bond referendum that Hickory City Council wants the voters to pass on the November Ballot; I am encouraging the citizens of the City of Hickory to VOTE NO!

I am of the personal opinion that Hickory Inc. never uses the taxpayer’s money for the money’s intended purpose. I am hoping that the citizens who voted for the replacement of the city’s public swimming pools and said that they were willing to have taxes raised to pay for a swimming pool in each quadrant of the city and a centrally located aquatic center now understand how this city operates. The Public Pool survey and findings are still collecting dust on the shelves at city hall.

Money has been raised for a fund to build a parking deck next to the Old Hickory Depot Station, but instead that money has been used for projects such as the “Sails on Union Square”. How can we trust our current City Council to do what they say they are going to do, if they get the bond referendum passed?

I spoke before the City Council a few weeks ago and asked about the conflict of interest of Alderman Brad Lail and his engagement to Meg Nealon, who is a managing partner with the company Land Design out of Charlotte, who designed the Inspiring Spaces plan. I also addressed Alderman David Zagaroli’s conflict involving his wife being on the Inspiring Spaces Committee to rubber stamp Council and City Staff wishes. The Council Members found out after meeting with Land Design and their lawyers that the committee could not exist if a Bond Referendum was to be sought to raise the $40 million they say they need.

This will cost all taxpayers of the City of Hickory, when the main focus of this project is a sidewalk for a very small area of Hickory from Lenoir-Rhyne University to Union Square that benefits very few people.

The Hickory City Council can’t seem to ever be able to find money to clear away old dilapidated buildings and build sidewalks that are needed in neighborhoods and along major roadways. Now is the time for the citizens of our city to say NO MORE! until you find a way to enhance all the areas of Hickory and maintain what we already have.
 
 
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Invocation by Rev. Bill Garrard, Retired United Methodist Pastor


Special Presentations
A. Proclamation for National Federation of the Blind of Catawba County Day to Mr. Dawson Hart 
B. Recognition of the Hickory Crawdads Staff and Connie Kincaid for Crawdad’s All-Star Bash, June 16, 2014
C. Presentation of Retiring Members of Volunteer Boards and Commissions

Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. Mr. Jeff Hines regarding Horseford Cove and the Glenn Hilton Park Area


Consent Agenda:
A. Resolution Authorizing Preparation of Assessment Rolls and Public Hearing on Preliminary Assessment Roll for Street Improvements Petition Number 01-14 (Curb and Gutter). A petition was submitted on February 17, 2014, approved by City Council on April 1, 2014, and the project was completed on June 12, 2014. (Authorize Public Hearing for August 5, 2014)


B. Call for Public Hearing – for Consideration of Rezoning Petition 14-01 for Property Located at 1218 Bugle Lane, Newton. (Authorize Public Hearing for August 5, 2014)

C. Call for Public Hearing – for Consideration of Adoption of ABC Permit / Local Opinion Ordinance. (Authorize Public Hearing for August 5, 2014)

D. Approval of Acceptance of a 2013 FEMA Regional Assistance to Firefighters Grant for P25 Compliant Radio Equipment. - On September 27, 2013 Hickory City Council approved the Fire Department’s application for a FEMA Regional Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant that would provide radio equipment to a majority of the County’s emergency services departments. The total federal share of the grant is 90 percent or $1,777,320 and the share of the host and 19 participating agencies is 10 percent or $197,480. The City’s share is $34,980. This grant will close a longstanding gap in the lack of interoperability between local public safety agencies. The required match by the City of Hickory and all participating agencies will be a one-time ten percent matching fund.

E. Approval of Acceptance of Historic Preservation Fund Pass-Through Grant for Update to the City’s Survey of Historic Properties. - In February, the Historic Preservation Commission applied for a grant to update the City’s survey of historic properties. This survey was last updated in 1999, and that update was focused on only a few neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity of the downtown area. The proposed survey would update all of the existing survey records and also study properties throughout the City as budget constraints will allow. This will include the City’s industrial and commercial properties along with post-war subdivisions through the community. The estimated project cost for the grant is currently $23,000. The grant will pay $15,000 of the project costs, which is actually $3,000 more than the amount requested in the original application. The required City match will be $8,000, which is the same amount as the original application. If the grant is accepted, the project will begin in the fall of 2014.

F. Approval of Change Order (4) Four to Jimmy R. Lynch & Sons, Inc. Contract in the amount of $101,696.91 for the Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project. - The City of Hickory Public Utilities Department initiated the Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant project in February 2013. The project was established with a contingency fund in order to address unforeseen expenses that may arise. Change order (4) four consists of (9) nine items added due to permitting or unforeseen construction issues, such as the addition of a platform on the effluent structure to place control equipment above the flood plain, and the addition of stairs at the entrance to the oxidation ditch. Contract change order total to date would be $185,259.99, including change orders (1) thru (4) or 1.81 percent of the original project contract. The revised  contract total to date will be $10,404,916.99. The City of Hickory and Catawba County will split all expenses equally at 50 percent each according to the contract.

G. Approval of a Sanitary Sewer Line Easement for the Property of Glenda Stewart Frazier, PIN 3714-05-08-0392 for Installation of a Sanitary Sewer Line. - Staff requests acceptance of a permanent easement for completion of the Maple Place pump station rehabilitation/relocation project. This easement is necessary for the construction of the infrastructure required to serve this area with sanitary sewer. The easement was negotiated for one 4-inch sewer tap connected to the home in exchange for the easement.

H. Approval of a Sanitary Sewer Line Easement for the Property of William Michael Davis and wife, Patsy P. Davis, PIN 3704-08-98-6446 for Installation of a Sanitary Sewer Line and Pump Station. - Staff requests acceptance of a permanent easement for completion of the Maple Place pump station rehabilitation/relocation project. This easement is necessary for the construction of the infrastructure required to serve this area with sanitary sewer. The easement was negotiated for $8,000 which was comprised from the quoted price for installation of a 4-inch sewer tap connected to the home and the current value of one 4-inch sanitary sewer service connection, in exchange for the easement.

I. Renewal of Taxicab and Other Passenger Vehicles for Hire Franchises. -
Company - Taxicabs - Passenger Vehicle for Hire
Mile High Enterprises (dba The Hickory Hop) - 0 - 4
Yellow Cab - 13 - 1
Diamond Cab of Hickory - 3 - 0
Select Car Service - 0 - 1
Hickory Limousine - 0 - 3
Total - 16 - 9
Annually, these companies apply for a renewal of their Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the operation of taxicabs and other vehicles for hire.

J. Approval of 2014 Urgent Repair Program Grant from North Carolina Housing Agency in the amount of $50,000 along with Program Assistance and Procurement Policies for the Grant. - In January 2014, the City of Hickory Community Development Division applied for funding through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency’s Urgent Repair Program. The City of Hickory has been awarded $50,000 through this program in order to assist approximately 12 very low income  homeowners with urgently needed repairs in an amount not to exceed $7,200 per housing unit. The City of Hickory will provide an additional $5,000 in matching funds, which are available from Rental Rehabilitation program income. The total program budget will be $55,000. North Carolina HousingFinance Agency requires the City of Hickory to prepare Assistance and Procurement Policies. These policies must be made available to the public and explain the guidelines of the URP14 program. Staff recommends that City Council accept the 2014 Urgent Repair Program Grant and approve the Assistance and Procurement Policies.

K. Special Event/Activities Application for Gospel Concert, Exodus Choir, Mandy Pitts, Hickory Communications Director/Brand Manager working with Hickory Arts, July 27, 2014 set-up at 3:00 p.m. to clean-up at 9:00 p.m. under the Sails on the Square.

L. Acceptance and Approval of a Block Grant/NPE Agreement and Resolution for Project 36237.66.4.3 from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. - North Carolina Department of Transportation as awarded the City of Hickory a grant of this project. This grant has a federal share equal to 90 percent of the project costs and requires the City’s portion (local share) to be 10 percent of the project costs. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has allocated $1,496,667 in total funds to grant 36237.66.4.3 with the Federal share of 90 percent equal to $1,347,000 and the local share, City’s share, of 10 percent equal to $149, 667. The total funds for this grant will fund the construction of the base bid improvements of this project. Taxiway “B”, Taxiway “S”, and the North Ramp were last repaved over 30 years ago. The normal life span of a taxiway is about 15-20 years depending on use.

M. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 1.
1. To transfer $139 from the Police Department’s Uniform line item to the 2011 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Project Uniform line item. This transfer provides additional City funds to cover non-grant purchases and to close this project.
2. To transfer $145,730 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance to the Stormwater Fund-Contracted Services line item. This transfer is needed to pay for repair of the 3rd St. Dr. 60 inch storm drain pipe. Sections of the pipe system have failed and areas above the pipe have washed out resulting in large holes in the soil and in some driveway areas over the pipe system. The driveways that have failed are in the ROW (right of way) and are the access points to existing businesses along 3rd St. Dr. SW.
3. To budget a total of $9,915 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance in the Library Programming ($1,200) and Departmental Supplies ($8,715) line items. $9,915 of the Library's Endowment fund was not spent prior to the end of the fiscal year therefore rolled into General Fund Balance. This amendment will budget those funds in the appropriate line items.
4. To appropriate $20,237 of General Fund Balance (Funds reserved from the US Department of Justice) and budget in the Police Department's Specialized Equipment ($11,000), Training, Meals and Lodging ($6,166), Fuel ($500), Non-Asset Inventory ($1,789) and Uniforms ($782) line items. This budget amendment is needed for the purchase of a new canine and associated expenses. Funds are made available to the Police Department from the US Department of Justice and remain in General Fund Balance until appropriated.
5. To transfer $9,880 of General Fund Contingency to the Intergovernmental Debt Service line item. This transfer is needed to pay Catawba County the City of Hickory's share of the North Carolina Data Campus Loan.
6. To transfer $53,232 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance to the Street Division-Contracted Services line item. This transfer is needed to pay Neill Grading and Construction Company to construct public infrastructure related to the Moretz Mill redevelopment project. The scope of the project includes the replacement of old stormwater drains, construction of new curb & gutter, construction of new sidewalk and asphalt street patching related to the included improvements. This work will be done along sections of 8th St. SE, 7th St. SE and E. Ave. SE.
7. To budget $50 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance in the Library books line item. A $50 memorial donation from Donnis sills for Helen Hatley was received at the end of the year and therefore rolled into General Fund Balance. An amendment is necessary to budget the $50 in the Library’s current budget.

N. Grant Project Ordinance Amendment Number 1
1. To accept and budget a $139 transfer from the Police Department’s Uniform line item and budget in the 2011 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Project Uniform line item. This transfer provides additional City funds to cover non-grant purchases and to close this project.


New Business - Public Hearings
1. Consideration of Text Amendment (TA) 14-02 to the City’s Land Development Code. - The proposed amendments to the City’s Land Development Code retain a business’s ability to utilize temporary out-of-doors sales, but limits such sales to properties where the businesses are located. The proposed amendments would make temporary sales an accessory use to the primary business located on a particular property. Hickory Regional Planning Commission considered the proposed amendments and voted unanimously to recommend to City Council approval of the proposed Land Development Code text amendments. Staff concurs with the recommendation. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on July 4, and July 11, 2014.

Departmental Reports:
1. Introduction of the General Obligation Bond Orders and Filing of Estimated Statement of Interest with the NC Local Government Commission. -
a. Parker Poe, Bond Counsel, has directed the City of Hickory to proceed with the next processes for the November 2014 bond referendum. An official bond introduction outlining the two general obligation bond orders is presented to City Council for approval. As required by General Statute
Section 159-55, the Finance Officer of the City must file a statement to estimate the total amount of interest to be paid on the general obligation bonds over the expected term of the bonds if approved. Staff request Council to introduce the Streets and Sidewalk Bonds in the amount of 25 million dollars, and the Economic Development Bonds in the amount of 15 million dollars, and also approve the filing of the Estimated Statement of Interest with the NC Local Government Commission.
b. Call for Public Hearing on General Obligation Bond Orders and adopt a Resolution to Request a Public Hearing on August 5, 2014, authorizing the Issuance of Two General Obligation Bond Orders.

2. Request to Amend Vacant Building Grant Agreement from Jack Sipe Construction Company. - Jack Sipe Construction Company received a Vacant Building Revitalization Grant in the amount of $23,000 to renovate the building located at 844 Highland Avenue SE. The original grant agreement was signed on December 16, 2009. The guideline in place at that time provided that the grant was to be paid in two installments, 50 percent of the amount was paid upon completion of the proposed improvements and 50 percent of the grant upon occupancy of at least 50 percent of the building’s square footage. The exterior rehabilitation was completed on December 15, 2010. The project came under budget, which reduced the allowable grant amount to $19,834. Fifty percent of that amount, $9,917 was processed for payment on December 15, 2010. According to the agreement, in order to receive the second half of the grant amount, the building was required to be occupied by December 16, 2011. The building is still not occupied, but it has been leased to Lenoir-Rhyne University. The University plans to renovate the building for space to house its physician assistant program. Staff received a correspondence, in-mid June, from Bill Burton, President of Jack Sipe, expressing his desire to receive the second half of the grant. Staff requests that City Council consider whether to amend the Vacant Building Revitalization Grant Agreement to permit payment of the remaining $9,917 when the building becomes occupied by Lenoir-Rhyne University.

3. State Honors 38 Utilities for Meeting Stringent Voluntary Goals. - Thirty-eight systems received the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award from the State N.C. Division of Water Resources’ Public Water Supply section. The awards are part of the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Program, which is an effort to enhance the performance of existing surface water treatment facilities. Awards are given each year to water systems that demonstrate outstanding turbidity removal, a key test of drinking water quality.

Jim Rickards montage defines the Economic Depression (2007 - Present)

Hound Notes: Jim Rickards is another Investor-Economist that I listen to. I first discovered him listening to King World News, six years ago when this downward cycle began. He has his finger on the pulse. He's a very educated and studious man.

I hold Mr. Rickards in the same  regard as the late Bob Chapman. Mr. Chapman passed away a couple of years ago from cancer. You can go back and listen to Bob Chapman presentations, on various radio shows, on Youtube. The guy was prescient. Mr. Rickards is also prescient.

Our government has been great and kicking the can down the road, but they have bought us time to nowhere. If we had dealt with these issues back in 2008-09, then we could be growing again. No one can predict when the panic will begin, but people with common sense can see that it is coming.

Here is a montage of Mr. Rickards from three shows over the past week. The common themes are that the Dollars value is based on confidence and the Federal Reserve has taken that confidence for granted.  When the Fed finally destroys that confidence, then it will lead to a panic as the Dollar collapses. We have been in a Depression since 2007 and it is structural. You can't solve structural economic issues with monetary policy.





1) Boom Bust - RT

Competitive devaluation of currency does not help exports. It creates inflation. The Fed can never taper. Last September was the last chance.  If they tapered, they will taper into weakness causing a recession. This is what happens when you manipulate markets. Lower unemployment will not mean Fed will taper. Unemployment is going down for the wrong reasons. Workforce is shrinking. GDP is the sum of Labor Force participation and productivity.

2) Porter Stansberry Radio

Inflation isn't bad because of the lack of velocity of the money supply. We are in a Depression. Need structural changes and a change in confidence. Stansberry defines the jobs of today and structural changes. Rickards says we shouldn't lament the loss of the old jobs. We need to move on economically and create the new jobs. Bad debt hasn't been written off. We have copied what Japan did back in the early 1990s and they have never gotten out of their malaise -- 25 years later.

3) Alex Jones - Infowars

Allies are leaving the dollar, not just China and Russia. World Reserve Currency has collapsed three times in the past 100 years. After the system collapses, what comes next. Fed has has 15 policies since 2009. They don't know what they are doing. There will be a collapse of confidence. You can have growth in a Depression , but what we are seeing is a growth negative compared to trend. Historical trend is 3.5%. What we have seen is 1% to 2%. Look at the lack of Unemployment. Look at the EBT system -- modern day soup lines. You can put a panic on top of this and this is what he sees coming.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Pomplamoose

(Wikipedia) "Over the Rainbow" (often referred to as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg.^[1] It was written for the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by actress Judy Garland in her starring role as Dorothy Gale.^[1] Over time, it would become Garland's signature song. The song has become one of the most enduring standards of the 20th century.

About five minutes into the film, Dorothy sings the song after failing to get her aunt and uncle to listen to her relate an unpleasant incident involving her dog, Toto, and the town spinster, Miss Gulch. Dorothy's Aunt Em tells her to "find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble." This prompts Dorothy to walk off by herself, musing to Toto, "'Some place where there isn't any trouble.' Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat, or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain..." at which point she begins singing.


(Wikipedia) - Pomplamoose is an American musical duo which feature Californian multi-instrumentalists, real life couple Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn. The duo formed in the summer of 2008^[4][5] and sold approximately 100,000 songs online in 2009.^[6] They are known for their diverse music style which the band themselves refuses to put a label towards.^[7]

The Allegories of the Wizard of Oz et al:
Follow the Yellow Brick Road - The Wizard of Oz and 1890's Monetary Policy - May 27, 2010
Follow the Yellow Brick Road (part 2) - How it relates to today - May 29, 2010


Music related to the Wizard of Oz.
The Dark Side of Money - Dark Side of the Rainbow - Thursday, October 17, 2013

Being Likable and Making Life Easier for Yourself

Hound Notes: Last week I relayed an article about 6 behaviors that push people away. Below are the links to two more articles of advice related to behavior. These articles are intended to help you make positive adjustments to the ruts of bad behavior that we all are vulnerable to.

The first article describes what people do that makes them likable.  This article defines 14 characteristics/habits of likable people. These would be people that we would define as charismatic and if you practice these habits, then you can become more likable.

The second article describes "10 Ways You’re Making Your Life Harder Than It Has To Be". This article centers around how people make life harder on themselves by thinking the world revolves around them. You get in your own way (preventing success) by personalizing everything in your life.  The author describes himself as a social media consultant who through the creation of his website looked to establish himself as a "thought leader." He eventually decided to just start writing what he felt like writing; now characterized as a "Fleeting Thought Leader."

In reading the first article, you will take notice of some bad habits that you might be practicing that can turn people off. You also will have some 'a-ha' moments that will help you put a finger on what some others have done that turns you off and makes you not like them.

Like I said in the previous article, there is an epidemic of bad behavior amongst today's professional workforce. This translates into behavior associated with many of the politicians and other leaders of the current generation. I believe that the mindset of many of our leaders today is having a deleterious effect and is a reason for the bad behavior of the workforce (and the public) in general; It rolls downhill folks.

I am providing the bullet points to both articles.

The first set is what the author Richard Feloni conveys based upon Napoleon Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich"and his essay "Develop A Pleasing Personality," published in his forthcoming collection "The Science of Success." Please, if interested, go read both articles at these gentlemen's sites.


14 Habits Of Exceptionally Likable People - Business Insider - Richard Feloni - May 22, 2014 - Here are Hill's 14 habits of people who are so likable that others go out of their way to help them:
1. They develop a positive mental attitude and let it be seen and felt by others.
2. They always speak in a carefully disciplined, friendly tone.
3. They pay close attention to someone speaking to them.
4. They are able to maintain their composure in all circumstances.
5. They are patient.
6. They keep an open mind.
7. They smile when speaking with others.
8. They know that not all their thoughts need to be expressed.
9. They don't procrastinate.
10. They engage in at least one good deed a day.
11. They find a lesson in failure rather than brood over it.
12. They act as if the person they are speaking to is the most important person in the world.
13. They praise others in a genuine way without being excessive.
14. They have someone they trust point out their flaws.


The second set of bullet points:

10 Roadblocks to Happiness - Tim Hoch - June 18, 2014

1. You ascribe intent. - You assign bad intent to innocuous actions. You take it as a personal affront, a slap in the face. Happy people do not do this. They don’t take things personally. They don’t ascribe intent to the unintentional actions of others.

2. You’re the star of your own movie. - You are the star of your own movie. You wrote the script. You know how you want it to unfold. You even know how you want it to end.                    Unfortunately you forgot to give your script to anyone else.                  Lose your script. Let someone else star once in awhile. Welcome new characters. Embrace plot twists.

3. You fast forward to apocalypse. - I have a bad habit of fast forwarding everything to its worst possible outcome and being pleasantly surprised when the result is marginally better than utter disaster or jail time.                        Negativity only breeds more negativity. It is a happiness riptide. It will carry you away from shore and if you don’t swim away from it, will pull you under.

4. You have unrealistic and/or uncommunicated expectations. - Among their many shortcomings of your family and friends is the harsh reality that they cannot read your mind or anticipate your whims.                   Unmet expectations will be at the root of most of your unhappiness in life. Minimize your expectations, maximize your joy.

5. You are waiting for a sign. -I have a friend who won’t make a decision without receiving a “sign.”                            I’m not disavowing that fate or a higher power plays a role in our lives. I’m just saying that it is better to help shape fate than be governed by it.

6. You don’t take risks. - Two words: Live boldly. Every single time you are offered a choice that involves greater risk, take it. You will lose on many of them but when you add them up at the end of your life you’ll be glad you did.


7. You constantly compare your life to others. - A few years ago I was invited to a nice party at a big warehouse downtown. I was enjoying the smooth jazz, box wine and crustless sandwiches. What more could a guy want? Later in the evening I noticed a steady parade of well-heeled people slide past and disappear into another room. I peeked and saw a large party with beautiful revelers dancing and carrying on like Bacchus. Suddenly my gig wasn’t as fun as it had been all because it didn’t appear to measure up to the party next door- a party I didn’t even know existed until just moments before...                     Always remember what Teddy Roosevelt said: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

8. You let other people steal from you. -  The one possession you have that is more important than money is time. But you don’t do anything to protect it.  Treat your time like Fort Knox. Guard it closely and give it only to those who deserve and respect it.

9. You can’t/won’t let go. - Sometimes you have to work at happiness. Some hurdles are too difficult to clear by simply adjusting your point of view or adopting a positive mindset.                    Do you need to forgive someone? Do you need to turn your back on a failed relationship? Do you need to come to terms with the death of a loved one?                          Life is full of loss. But, in a sense, real happiness would not be possible without it. It helps us appreciate and savor the things that really matter. It helps us grow. It can help us help others grow.                      Closure is a word for people who have never really suffered. There’s no such thing. Just try to “manage” your loss. Put it in perspective. You will always have some regret and doubt about your loss. You may always second guess yourself. If only you had said this, or tried that.                       You’re not alone. Find someone who understands and talk to that person. Reach out for support. If all else fails, try #10 below.

10. You don’t give back. - One way to deal with loss is to immerse yourself in doing good. Volunteer. Get involved in life.                         It doesn’t even have to be a big, structured thing. Say a kind word. Encourage someone. Pay a visit to someone who is alone. Get away from your self-absorption.                  

When it comes down to it, there are two types of people in this world. There are givers and there are takers. Givers are happy. Takers are miserable. What are you?

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- July 6, 2014

By 2045 'The Top Species Will No Longer Be Humans,' And That Could Be A Problem - Business Insider - Dylan Love - July 5, 2014 - "Today there's no legislation regarding how much intelligence a machine can have, how interconnected it can be. If that continues, look at the exponential trend. We will reach the singularity in the timeframe most experts predict. From that point on you're going to see that the top species will no longer be humans, but machines."                          These are the words of Louis Del Monte, physicist, entrepreneur, and author of "The Artificial Intelligence Revolution." Del Monte spoke to us over the phone about his thoughts surrounding artificial intelligence and the singularity, an indeterminate point in the future when machine intelligence will outmatch not only your own intelligence, but the world's combined human intelligence too.                      The average estimate for when this will happen is 2040, though Del Monte says it might be as late as 2045. Either way, it's a timeframe of within three decades.

17 Facts That Prove That The Quality Of Jobs In America Is Going Down The Drain - The End of The American Dream - Michael Snyder - June 30th, 2014 - Do you wish that you had a better job? If so, you are not alone. In fact, there are millions upon millions of Americans that get up every day and go to a job that they wish that they could afford to quit. Unfortunately, most Americans end up just desperately holding on to the jobs that they have because just about any job is valuable in this economic environment. Over the past decade, the long-term trends that are destroying jobs in America have accelerated. We have seen countless numbers of jobs shipped overseas, we have seen countless numbers of jobs replaced by technology, we have seen countless numbers of jobs taken by immigrants and we have seen countless numbers of jobs lost to the overall decline of the once great U.S. economy. Unfortunately, even though we can all see this happening, our “leaders” have failed to come up with any solutions. And since there are so many of us that are desperate for jobs these days, employers know that they don’t have to pay as much. The balance of supply and demand in the employment marketplace has radically shifted in their favor. So less workers are getting health insurance these days, less workers are getting retirement plans and once you adjust for inflation our paychecks have been getting smaller for years. Needless to say, all of this is absolutely eviscerating the middle class. The following are 17 facts that prove that the quality of jobs in America is going down the drain…

40% of unemployed workers are millennials - New research reveals the growing problem of youth unemployment - Wall Street Journal Market Watch - Quentin Fottrell - July 5, 2014 - The jobs market is improving, according to government data released Thursday, but millennials are still left out in the cold. They’re suffering more than any other age group, new research finds.                          Some 40% of unemployed workers are millennials, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce released to MarketWatch, greater than Generation X (37%) and baby boomers (23%). That equates to 4.6 million unemployed millennials — 2 million long-term — 4.2 million unemployed Xers and 2.5 million jobless baby boomers.

New report: Low wage jobs continue to hold North Carolina families back

Posted by : Rob Schofield Monday, June 9, 2014

- See more at: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2014/06/09/new-report-low-wage-jobs-continue-to-hold-north-carolina-families-back/#sthash.YUB2r5iz.dpuf

Student loan forgiveness may be coming in the future - CNBC - Sharon Epperson - July 6, 2014 - For many members of the class of 2014 who borrowed money to attend college, the clock is ticking on what is likely to be their biggest expense after graduation.                          They'll have to start paying back their federal student loans in November or December—as the six-month grace period that lenders give new grads comes to an end. But depending on their income—or lack of income, if they're still looking for work—some borrowers may be eligible for much lower payments than they'd anticipated...                           The Consumer Financial Protection bureau estimates that one out of four American workers may be eligible for income-driven repayment or loan-forgiveness programs, but many graduates still are not aware of their options.                        The "Pay As You Earn" plan introduced by the Obama Administration caps a federal student loan borrower's payments at 10 percent of their income, and the balance will be forgiven after 20 years of on-time payments.                      Borrowers who opt for careers in the nonprofit or public sector could have loans forgiven in 10 years. However, this payment plan is only available to borrowers whose loans were disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2007.                           Borrowers with older loans may be eligible for an income-based repayment plan, which caps monthly payments at 15 percent of your income. Payments change as your income changes, but may be forgiven after 25 years. Or they may qualify for income-contingent repayment plans, where payments are calculated each year based on your adjusted gross income, family size and the total amount of your federal loans.


Illegal immigrants already being released to neighborhood near you - Fox News - Watchdog.org - Tori Richards - July 1, 2014 - Tens of thousands of immigrants who illegally crossed the Mexico border into Texas are in the process of being released into communities throughout the nation rather than being indefinitely detained or immediately deported, a congressman told Watchdog.org.                          The releases have already started and the Border Patrol did not disclose how many. At least 60,000 Central Americans have entered the country illegally this year, though some news reports say the figure is as high as 170,000. An effort is under way to place children in foster homes or with relatives already living in the U.S., said Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas.                       The adults are being given a “notice to appear,” something like to a traffic ticket that requires they show up for a deportation hearing. Following that notice, they are simply being released. Those who return for the hearing will face a federal immigration judge to determine their fate...

Medical staff warned: Keep your mouths shut about illegal immigrants or face arrest - Fox News - Todd Starnes - July 2, 2014

Foodflation - Since QE3, Breakfast Is Up Over 24% - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - July 6,2014 - Having pointed out the 'surges' in the cost of your 4th of July burger at the behest of Greenspan and Bernanke, we thought a reflection on the soaring costs of 'the most important meal of the day' were in order. As the following chart illustrates in words and pictures even a PhD Fed economist or CNBC pretend-economist could understand - food-flation is here from breakfast through dinner (no matter how many iPads we try and eat).


North Carolina returns to CNBC's Top States for Business, claiming No. 5 spot - Charlotte Business Journal - Jen Wilson - June 24, 2014 - Call it a "Carolina Comeback," if you will. CNBC counted down its annual Top States for Business ranking throughout the day Tuesday, and North Carolina has reclaimed its place among the best.                    In fact, the Tar Heel State landed at No. 5 in the 2014 overall ranking, after falling out of the top 10 for the first time ever to rank No. 12 last year.                    "A year later, the state made a charge like one of its Panthers, pushing its way up to No. 5 — scoring a total of 1,569 points out of 2,500," an entry on the countdown post says. "North Carolina posted some powerful numbers, having the fourth-best economy as well as workforce — which is mostly nonunion. Last year, the Old North State's economy was 13th."                             CNBC credits the state's rise in part to "some substantial fiscal policy changes that have been made, such as a reduction in individual income and corporate tax."

New report: Low wage jobs continue to hold North Carolina families back - Progressive Pulse - Rob Schofield  - June 9, 2014 -

One in five North Carolina families earn too little to afford life’s essentials and move up the economic ladder. A North Carolina family of two adults and two children must earn $52,275 annually to afford housing, food, child care, health care, transportation, taxes and other necessities, based on the Budget & Tax Center’s Living Income Standard (LIS) for 2014.
More than a third of two-adult, two-children families in North Carolina earn less than that, and more than three-fourths of families with one adult and two children fall below the standard, which varies by family size.
People in families with incomes below the LIS are more likely to be women (59 percent), working age (56 percent), and have a high school degree or less (63 percent). Moreover, white North Carolinians are less likely to live under the LIS than North Carolinians of color. Nine percent of the total white population lives below the LIS while 23 percent of the total Latino population does and 14 percent of the African-American population does.
- See more at: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2014/06/09/new-report-low-wage-jobs-continue-to-hold-north-carolina-families-back/#sthash.YUB2r5iz.dpuf

 The Chart that Foretells the Future of Humanity - Warren Pollock - June 30, 2014 - A single chart provides insight into the future and it also governs the very basis of all my analysis and thinking. In this presentation I share with you this universal chart, show you what to look for, and what to ignore and discount as something unimportant.





How to Fold A Fitted Sheet - Most of us have, at one time or another, given up frustrated after the terrible ordeal of trying to fold a fitted sheet! LOL! Jill Cooper from http://www.livingonadime.com shows you a step by step method to make this process easier in How to Fold A Fitted Sheet. BTW, If you're offended by the "one of the biggest challenges" joke in the beginning, you obviously need to lighten up... :-)

238th Birthday - Let's take back our country

The Reaffirmation of Independence of the United States of America - July 8, 2010

Economic Relevance - Harry Dent: The Crash Is Coming

Hound Notes: from Alex Jones Radio Show: Like Alex says here; It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. This is from Charles Dickens novel "A Tale of Two Cities".

Look at all of the hypocrisy. We are told that we should be crapping our pants in fear every time we enter an airport to take a flight, "cause dim moo slims gonna gitcha," but it's just fine to have our borders wide open with political clowns smiling and saying come on in. We've got money for the Pet Projects of Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Corporatists; but we demonize the poor and middle class who have been hurt by Ponzi Economics. We're paying billions to take care of people who aren't even citizens of the U.S., but we aren't taking care of our military and veterans.

Politicians and Bureaucrats have a real hard time dealing with real world economics. Look at the world they live in compared to the one they have created for the rest of us. I could live like a multimillionaire off of the salaries and benefits they are receiving. Would they want to trade places? Where is the compassion and empathy for real people?





Get Harry Dent’s Unpublished Chapter, FREE! Chapter 10: The China Disaster Ahead



Hound Notes:
1) Stimulus is like drugs. A quick fix. We have kicked the can down the road.
2) Each subsequent fix brings less of a buzz and a bigger crash/hangover.
3) The Stock Market gains are correlated to the QE stimulus.
4) A Debt Deleveraging is coming. A Debt Detox. Detox like a Drug addict - Crash.
5) All of this phony economics is destroying our liberty.
6) Indentured = Contracted to Debt
7) Citizens didn't create this debt, but the government is signing us on to Service it. (Servitude)
8) Indentured Servitude for whom???
9) Cronyism = Mafia Structure. We're enabling Mafia like structures to thrive in the U.S.
10) Free Markets = Simple Rules and Real penalties for Cheaters.
11) Arbitrary Justice is destroying the fabric of our Republic.
12) At some point you have to deal with the problems. There is going to be a reckoning.
13) Which side of the reckoning are you going to be on?