Economic Fallout

[TheMercenary]

Revealed: The ghost fleet of the recession anchored just east of Singapore

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/mosl...Singapore.html

[classicman]

Great article - very interesting. I guess at least the world will have a bunch of ships at the ready if/when things start to pick up again. It is amazing that so many of those are there though. It would seem like a great place for the pirates to pillage since they aren't all empty.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I wonder how cyclefrance is doing?

[skysidhe]

eerie

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I wonder how cyclefrance is doing?

Was he in the shipping business?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes, bulk cargo. Mostly non-petroleum oils from SE Asia to Europe.

[TheMercenary]

I would love to hear him comment about the current state of affairs from his experience.

[richlevy]

You may wish to know this because, if ever you had an irrational desire to charter one, now would be the time. This time last year, an Aframax tanker capable of carrying 80,000 tons of cargo would cost £31,000 a day ($50,000). Now it is about £3,400 ($5,500).

Can these things be filled with beer? If so, I have an idea.

[TheMercenary]

Another similar report, this one from Texas.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/6607132.html

[spudcon]

Glad the stimulus is working so well.

[jinx]

More economic fallout... No link sorry, it's from my home schooling group.

The State Legislature has proposed a budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 that reduces funding to libraries by 38% and eliminates many state-wide services. In response to this proposed budget, DCLS has begun planning a series of service reductions in response to these cuts. Delaware county libraries will see a reduction of almost $2 million in direct funds, grants and other services.

Service Cuts:

Elimination of having books sent to your local library: Currently on the DCLS catalog you can click the Request button and have a book or other item from any library in the county sent to your local library. With the new budget, DCLS will not be able to fund the three delivery vans that move 600,000 items a year among libraries. You will need to pick up the book at the owning library.

Major databases eliminated: The state funded POWER Library forms the core resources of the DCLS virtual library. EBSCOHost, a database of magazine articles, is among the resources that will end. To see a list of databases that will end, go to the DCLS POWER Library +

Support for Summer Reading eliminated: Studies show that students can lose up to one grade level in reading comprehension over the summer. Participation in a library summer reading program can stop the "summer slide." With the budget cuts, DCLS will no longer be able to provide the prizes, promotion and programs that make summer reading fun and enjoyable for children.

Best seller program eliminated: DCLS leases 3,000 best sellers each year, reducing wait time for popular books. This program will end.

Downloadable audiobooks reduced: DCLS will not purchase any additional materials for this collection.

Interlibrary Loan eliminated: The state budget funds the staff, technology and delivery service that enables county residents to borrow books from all over the country. This service will be eliminated.

Using other libraries and use by non-residents eliminated: State funds reimburse libraries for providing service to people from outside Delaware County and for our residents to use other libraries in the state. The state also subsidizes a delivery service among libraries. Both of these programs will be eliminated under SB 850. If Delaware County residents want to use libraries in other counties they will have to pay for a card there and return the book to that library.

[classicman]

Sorry Jinx - that sucks.

[jinx]

Next county over - I'm in Chester.