I'm contemplating the purchase of this brand of protractor.
Over the years I have relied on a good friend to mount cartridges and set up the few tables that I have owned in the past.
Relying on someone else to do this was for good reason.
I would never make it as a watch maker or any other profession that requires a fine touch and skill with steady hands.
The time has come where I will have to do this totally on my own.
My question to you owners of the Feickert protractor is what is your experience with it regarding ease of use and accuracy compared to other protractors?
Secondly, the disk has strobe markings for speed set up, does the Feickert package come with a strobe light for the $250. selling price?
I asked these question of a dealer sent via a e-mail and have not received a reply as of yet.
I ordered one from Music Direct and it arrived about a week ago. I haven't used it yet (intend to install a Lyra Skala cart. on a spare Graham 2.2 arm wand soon - - probably over the 4th of July weekend).
To answer your question about the strobe - - no light is included, so you will have to supply your own.
The apparent build quality of the disc and ruler is quite high. The instructions, however, are a bit sketchy for someone (like me) who hasn't messed with setting up cartridges before - - like you, I've relied on others in the past.
It's good. It does not come with a strobe light. I suggest you contact Ken Willis in the Vinyl section of Audioasylym.com and check out his protractors. They are the simplest I have ever used. Good luck.
Easy to use. Pricey. Provides a very accurate way to set overhang based on the arm's pivot point.
As Narrod mentioned, the Ken Willis protractor might be the way to go and save some dinero.
And yes, if you're gonna be into vinyl, you simply have to learn how to setup cartridges. Good luck!
I have top of the line equipment. I used the VPI jig. works just fine. Use a magnifying glass. Save your money.
I have used quite a few different models, including the turntablebasics mirrored protractor as well as the db systems protractor.
Most were good, with the db systems getting the best results in my direct comparisons.
But all of this didn't matter after using the Feickert Protractor for the first time.. Let me explain.
The Feickert is a GREAT product. It is in a different league than the others.
It is so accurate that after I finished my setup I finally KNEW with full confidence that my settings were as perfect as they could be.. And the sound backed this up completely.
It was the first time ever that I had zero doubts about my setup. So I'm done..
I sold all my other protractors and kept the Feickert.
I will not sell it.
It is not inexpensive, but it is worth every penny.
Try it. I think you will like it as much as I do.
I just used it to check my Aries-3 + JMW10.5i tonearm, which was previously calibrated using the VPI jig. It's much simpler/quicker to use compare to the VPI jig. The white colored template makes it much easier to align the stylus without the need of a magnifying glass. Yes, the VPI jig is probably sufficient, but it's more cumbersome. I wouldn't want to use the VPI jig again now I have the Feickert. It is pricy, but I figure in the future I probably will be buying a few more turntables so this is the only protractor that I ever need.
Another positive testimonial, thats great.
The fellow I relied on to dial in my record players has probably set up more tables, arm and cartridges then Carter has liver pills.
He worked in various audio stores from the mid 1960s through into the late 1980s.
BTW, one other benefit of Feickert is that the thickness of the template is 3mm which is the same as an 180g vinyl. Most of my LPs are 180g so the Feickert allows me to set my VTA in a very handy manner.
I find that the user instruction on Feikert website is slightly better than the manual that comes with the package.
The Feickert is a two-point tool and appears to be quite well made with a great ruler for measuring spindle-to-pivot distance. For a slightly different take (which includes a few comments on the Feickert), here is an interesting read on Arc Style alignment protractors. Be prepared to enter the world of cartridge setup. The diagram at the Feickert site is helpful to have on hand to keep straight the key terminology/measurements of Pivot-Spindle distance, Overhang, and Offset. Once you have those planted in your mind, the discussion is easy to follow.
Arc Style examples include the Wally Tractor, the MintLP protractor, and the Ken Willis protractor.
I'm tempted to say use what you're most comfortable with, but until you've done it a few times and fiddled with the tool, you can't really gauge which is easiest to use. My best results come from using the Wally - it is easy to use and its mirrored lines are the best I've found for getting the stylus/cantilever in the proper offset angle. Placing the cartridge body square to a grid is better than nothing, but imo its optimal to align on the cantilever.
I can appreciate the trepidation that comes with setting up a cartridge, especially an expensive one. If you have an older cartridge, you might use it to gain initial experience with whatever set-up tool you choose.
- 4X and 10X magnifiers are really good to have at hand.
- A light, especially with a flexible stem (such as the LittlLight) is valuable. Light and magnification are your friends.
- Proper setup can make a huge difference - Give yourself plenty of time, take little breaks to ease tension, and don't forget to breath. :-) It will be worth it.
Thats a great idea to become familiar with the tools practicing mounting and set up of an old cartridge first, I do have one which is somewhere.
I have mit size hands with large thick fingers, I have broke very fragile things in the past.
A Dynavector DRT XV1s will be mounted on a Graham Phantom B-44 arm.
There are fool proof set up jigs including some nifty tools and a Very good manual that came with the Graham arm.
I give the Graham instruction manual highest marks.
Searching around, people really seam to like using the Feikert protractor including industry pros right down to guy's like us.
Practically every comment and audio review gave top marks for ease of use with machine shop accuracy.
Don't forget that the Feickert also include a "Baerwaald" geometry (so-called "Arc Style") on the 'backface' of the template.
Does anyone who has the Graham Set up jig think they get better results with a protractor than the jig?
I recently got the Feikert adjust plus software turntable setup tool. Havent set up a cart yet.
I bought mine a year ago. I've been setting up turntables since the late 1970s. The Feickert is just great - the easiest protractor I've used.
Excellent tool. I would definitely buy one again. I've used it to set up my Dynavector XV-1s on my Phantom and it works like a charm, (as well as other carts on other arms).
I don't know what the hell I may have been doing wrong with the Graham jig but I got far superior results with the Feickert mounting the dyna on the phantom.
More happy owners of the Feickert.
Over and above any review,in print or on line.
I value actual owners opinions of any given component and or product, be it a lawn mower or a pair of speakers.
Most definitely I plan on installing a second arm on my table with a mono cartridge.
Of course I could buy another arm tube for the Graham, however a 12 incher would be my preference for a 2nd arm.
About a third of my record collection consist of vintage 1950s and early 1960s mono Jazz recordings including some early mono Rock and Roll.
Many are lightly used and in pristine condition.
Some of them have shocking natural sounding timbre that I would put against ANY reissue or NEW recording of today.
Upon initial set up, with ease of use.
If this tool helps dial in my arm and cartridge without going through nerve racking hair pulling tedium, the $250.00 will be well spent.
I noticed on DaVinci Audio web site a Feickert protractor comes with Davincis Grandezza tonearms.
I noticed something today about the Feickert template. I measured the spindle-pivot distance on my Aries-3 TT and it's 261mm. I then move my stylus to touch the 261mm mark on the Feickert template - so far so good. Then I thought let's try another point on the template, I move the stylus to 300mm mark and to my surprise it touches it as well. I then move my stylus to all other marks and it touches all of them.
So now what? I thought the stylus is supposed to touch only one mark?? Now I'm confused, why do we even bothered measuring the spindle-pivot distance?
A little off subject maybe, but Feickert also has new software available (adjust +). Anyone have experience with this yet? Does it work as well or better than the DMM method of azimuth adjustment? The website is a German-English translation and doesn't give me a good feel for how easy this would be to use or how effective it would be.
You've touched upon the weakness of all universal two-point protractors - overhang setting. The Feickert has a lovely pivot-to-spindle distance tool, but after that I find the pivot-to-spindle markings to be useless - you're correct, you touch all the points on that "arc" (and frankly how can that be ?); I find the lines on the alignment grids themselves to be too thick for accuracy, and that the lack of a mirrored surface introduces too much parallax. If you cannot set effective length (pivot-to-spindle distance + overhang) accurately, what's the point of continuing further? Then you move the protractor to do the actual alignment, but what are you aligning to - some random effective length? How does one derive a correct overhang setting with a "universal" two-point protractor?? The answer is you can't - you get it close, moving the protractor and/or the cartridge in the headshell back and forth until you come up with something that looks right, but isn't.
Obtain an arc-based protractor designed for your tonearm's measurements: pivot-to-spindle ditance and overhang (this is important, and why arc-based protractors cannot be universal (unless they contain multiple arcs)). Measure your pivot-to-spindle distance as accurately as possible with the Feickert tool: if your arm is designed to have a pivot-to-spindle distance of 261mm, and that's your actual measurement, then you have a properly installed tonearm; .5mm is the threshold of accuracy. Then place an arc-based protractor on the platter - start at a point on the arc either close to the lead-in or lead-out groove, and adjust the cartridge in the headshell accordingly so that the stylus lands exactly on the arc at both the inside and outside arc points, then proceed to the actual alignment. Ken Willis over at the Audio Asylum offers an excellent arc-based protractor, and there are several downloadable versions which vary in quality (be very critical of your printer's scaling). The next step up is a Wallytractor, and (IMHO) the MintLP protractor is the best of all.
I don't think this is needed. I have a VPI arm which came with a VPI Single Point protractor. I was careful to align the cartridge to it, and no one has proven to me that there is any difference between my setup, using the VPI and any other method. Anytime someone brings some new protractor, it always measures the same. ...just do it right the first time.
Everyone, I appreciate your reponse.
Viper,what you discovered I'll check it out this weekend when I arrive home.
I did order one on the 21st, it apparently arrived today.
Richard, Palasr, did I waste my money on this protractor?
Also the rest of your system looks to be very well thought out, just great!
I concur with Palasr's account of first using the Feickert to obtain a highly accurate pivot to spindle distance and then using an arc protractor to get the overhang spot on.
A protractor with a tonearm specific arc etched into a mirrored surface yields a satisfingly definitive result - you will set the effective length correctly or not - as Yoda might say, 'there is no close'. The etched groove is just wide enough to take a stylus and the stylus will be in the groove across the arc or not. To that end, results are accurately repeatable.
This is not to say one can't obtain excellent alignment with the Feickert, just that with it there is opportunity for greater 'operator variability' because of the thickness of it markings. And the Feickert 'spots' do not obviously accomodate fractions, one must do less than whole numbers by eyeball. Yes, its crazy dealing with fractions of a millimeter, which is why 'in the groove or not' removes approximation.
Likewise, the centering spot on the Feickert offset grid is a bit thick - guesstimating its at least 3X the width of a line contact stylus. This means it is easy to hit the bullseye in different places between the inner and outer grids yet still be off by seveal grooves of a record. An etched offset aligner is again as unequivocal as an etched arc, and the mirrored surface gives a positive indicator that one is looking at the cantilever in exactly the right position to gauge if it is aligned on center. You can do it with the Feickert, but repeatability becomes partly the result of operator skill rather than positively getting the stylus in the groove (or not).
All these words may not mean much until you actually go through the process a few times and see the point of the stylus through a magnifier, sitting on a dot or in a groove.
Best of luck with your first cartridge setup - you'll do fine.
Tim , I follow what your saying,it makes perfect sense.
Viper, thank you again for bringing attention to this.
I have a VPI table so if measuring the spindle to pivot distance is all I need to do with the Feickert then it's definitely not worth the $250 price-tag. Because I can measure it with ordinary ruler and it's exactly the same as measuring it with Feickert.
Now I'm seriously ponder whether to return the Feickert and get a MintLP tractor instead.
I've owned the Feickert and and Ken Willis' arc protractor.
So take the Ken Willis, or any printed out arc protractor, and increase the accuracy several times. That is the MintLP tractor. The difference is in the method and fineness of the arc and alignment lines. You will need at least a 6x magnifier to see properly. And, as Palasr posted before, it gives the added benefit of the mirrored surface. It's $90 and you will get it within 3 weeks.
I have been using the protractor that came with my Triplanar for several years. This is also a mirrored protractor that is very much like the one offered Turntable Basics. It is very good and works very well. The first time I used the MintLP protractor I was floored at how much that extra bit of accuracy made in my LP playback. Everything was more articulate, from the lowest to the highest frequencies. And I know the change was much less that .5mm in length a just a nudge here or there.
Sorry to get carried away. I have to interest in the MintLp other than to be a very happy owner of one. And I need to add thanks again to Palasr for introducing this protractor to me.
Unless i've missed it here on this thread, where/how do i get the MINT LP tractor. Who sells it?
I find the Feickert too "finicky". I adjust my SME V with it and check again with the cardboard protractor that came with the SME and there is no difference in the adjustments. One must ask how precise it is.
Dan ed ,Using the Best Tractor.
I read on MintLps site ,you were able to further dial in your cartridge resulting in note able improvements over your Tri-Planers protractor including Galibiers.
A highly accurate device, more so then others.
Others on Mints site have similar stories to tell.
For anyone interested, read through the entire site.
I punched in Ken Willis on Audioasylum members search, no results.
You still need to find the spindle to pivot distance, whether you use a Freickert or some other brand.
I arrive home today, I'll check the Feickert out.
The Galibier protractor (not really, it was just one Thom Makris printed out to show people how an arc protractor works) did work. The difference, and I think you got this from what you read, is that the protractor Thom sent as well as the KWILLIS (that's the AA moniker to look for) are printed out on any home printer. The thickness of the lines and the inaccuracy of the printer does leave a larger margin of error.
The MintLP protractor is made for your tonearm. You provide the effective length and pivot-to-spindle distance specified by the tonearm manufacturer. (You also give the spindle hole diameter of your table.) So you are setting P2S and overhang very accurately when you use the protractor. There is really no need to use a ruler or anything to measure P2S. For me, the MintLP has been the best tool I've used to setup my cartridge. YMMV, IMO, IME, etc.
I've compared the two. Ken's protractor is an excellent one to be sure. The MintLP protractor is the same essential concept, yet constructed on plate glass mirror (a big advantage for parallax reduction) and has extremely fine lines to better facilitate accuracy. While Ken's protractor will certainly get you extremely close, we're dealing with the LP groove here and ANY device that facilitates even better accuracy is worth it. I'd estimate the line pitch on the MintLP protractor to be about 5-8 times finer than those on Ken's unit - when microns are the unit of measurment, this can make a substantial diffference.
If a protractor is not mirrored there is a good probability of user error due to the parallax effect that Palasr posted about. If it is printed out on what ever printer one has to use, the thickness of the lines vary from user to user. This is another source of error. Perhaps Ken has a means to produce lines with a thickness of around .008". If so that would certainly boost the accuracy a user could achieve by using a protractor that he printed for them.
These issues also exist for the protractor that Thom sent around to some of us to try, which is also a printed out protractor. I doubt that Ken's is anymore accurate than what Thom designed. Perhaps Ken can print much more accurate lines. Even with these issues I was still able to get better results using Thom's printed protractor than with the mirrored protractor supplied with my TriPlanar. Still there is that parallax issue.
So for another $35 over the cost of a KWILLIS protractor, I chose to purchase a protractor that addresses both of these issues by offering more precise lines and a mirrored surface.
I see this as just a comparison between tools. I freely admit that this is getting into the realm of obsession over cartridge alignment. Even so, there is no disputing that the more accurately you can get the alignment, the more you will be rewarded from the sound from your cartridge.
My apologies to Stiltskin if I've helped steer too far off the subject of his thread.
Dan ed, I'm not challenging your opinion. I just want to know. I prefer Ken's to the Feikert. Both of which I bought. If the MintLp is actually, not just theoretically, better I will have to buy one. Most importantly, is there a difference in sound after a setup with each? $90 is a good price.
sorry if I missed your point. I think Palasr and I have pointed out the short-comings of printed protractors. I bow to Palasr as he's way out in front of me when it comes to evaluating a large number of protractors. I personally find the arc-style protractors more user friendly.
To your question, I found the largest improvement came when I first used Thom's protractor. I found that all notes, instruments, and voices were more articulate and clear. I did a few iterations of adjustments but didn't really attempt to optimize further. The improvements I heard convinced me to take a little risk and order the MintLP. It's more accurate so the results should be better. Right, I thought.
When the MintLP arrived I spent just 1/2 an hour improving the alignment I had from Thom's protractor. Here the improvements most notable was the way notes began to hang in the air much longer. At this point I'm starting to get increased details, articulation and harmonics. I believe I have finally unlocked my lp playback.
I think those of us who have invested substantial sums of money in both hardware and software (I've been collecting LPs since I was 11 or 12 and now have around 4500 or so) want to pursue analog to the lunatic fringe. And yes, it can become obsessive, but that's what being a hobbyist or enthusiast is all about, whether it's audio, coins, knitting, model airplanes or your dog. We're all about extracting maximum pleasure from our investments (and ourselves with regard to our hobbies).
I'm finally out of that stage. As long as it sounds good I don't worry about it. I'm not one to use a 6 step, 15 minute process to clean a record either. It's simply not worth it to me. Ken's is the easiest protractor I've ever used. The MintLp certainly warrants further investigation but, unless, I can hear the difference it is a moot point.
5. After the overhang is set, untape the platter and use the 2 grids on the Feickert to fine tune the offset angle by slightly twisting the cartridge clockwise or counter clockwise as needed.
6. Go back and double check the arc and 2 grids.
If all 3 are good you are done..
I have been getting good results this way..
So, Out of all this great discussion. I am more confused than ever.
Is there a best way to set your arm and cartridge up to minimise groove distortions, generally sound the most musical and leave it resonably easy.
Or is a combination of eg Feikert and Wally/Mint specific to your tonearm the best way to go.
If you use the Mint, there is no need for the Feikert since the Mint is manufactured specifically for your table/arm combo. You set spindle-pivot distance with a ruler to get is approx. correct and then get effective arm length dead nuts on by adjusting overhang til it hits all points on the arc specifically made for your rig. Then you go to the two null points to set the alignment. Its mirrored and has a very fine alignment grid. With my Schroeder its not easy because there is only one bolt in the cart carrier, so when you loosen it to adjust alignment you can easily change the overhang and vice versa, but you can also easily see that you botched it on the Mint. With a more conventional headshell, I would think it would be pretty straightforward with the Mint. The only downside is that if you change arm or TT you need a new one. But as is usually the case, "one size fits all" usually doesn't, while a custom item from a quality supplier does the job very well. Disclaimer- I've never used the Wally or the Feikert, but I find the Mint much easier to use than the TTbasics mirror or the cardstock protractor supplied by Schroeder. No surprise, really; its 3 or 4x the price of the TT and infinitely more expensive than the cardstock one Frank Shroeder sent me.
Please note that I've not played with the Phantom. My experiences and comments relate to with the 2.2. I believe that the Phantom sets up identically to the earlier Grahams. In any event, consider this to be at a minimum, comments on versions 2.2 and before.
The Graham setup jig, while brilliantly simple in concept and use, is predicated on one step which is difficult to achieve the highest level of accuracy with - setting the pivot to spindle distance. If you pay attention to your technique in this step, you can do quite well. If you don't, then a casual setup with a two-point protractor will be superior.
The great part about the Graham technique is the fact that you use parts machined into the actual tonearm to perform your measurements (the hole drilled in the headshell). What could be better? Well, the answer lies in keeping the unipivot bearing from tilting when you perform this operation. If you can do this, then your pivot to spindle distance will be spot on and life is good.
I've thought about how achieve precision in this step. One method would be to develop some sort of "U" shaped stabilizing part to support the main body of the tonearm so that it doesn't tilt, and thereby distort your pivot to spindle setting. Something so simple as some pieces of cardboard stacked up to the right thickness would likely work fine. I don't have an arm on hand, and thought about this after my 2.2 left my house, so I can't advise you on its construction beyond these passing comments.
As far as the Feickert is concerned, I got to play with one for the first time this weekend. It provides a nice method of getting a starting point for spindle distance. For the price of the Feickert, you can get three dedicated arc-style protractors from Mintlp. Anyone who has shelled out $250 for a Feickert is obviously serious about their setup, and I'm puzzled why they don't try to compare their results against an arc-style protractor.
Perhaps the promise of the nicely machined parts lends the impression that you can't do better. Well as I've written many times about things analog (as have others), the tool with which you relate to best is the superior tool. Perhaps many relate to the Feickert. I can understand the appeal of a precision machined tool.
My take on the very critical parameter of pivot to spindle distance is that all non arc-style protractors (including the Feickert) help you to set the pivot to spindle distance in the neighborhood, and nothing more. With the Feickert, you can get to perhaps 0.25 mm. An arc-style protractor will increase your precision in this regard irrespective of your starting point - whether you begin with a .25 mm error or 3 mm.
The way arc-style protractors work can drive you crazy until you understand them, because small changes in pivot to spindle distance (when measured at the record spindle side of the arc) will be multiplied dramatically at the lead-in groove side of the arc. 0.25 mm error at the record spindle side of the arc will translate to about 5 mm at the lead-in side. Therein lies it's beauty, precision, and frustration potential for arc-style protractors.
Palasr (who first pointed me to the Mintlp protractors) articulates the remainder of the argument in favor of arc-style protractors very nicely (as do Tim, Narrod, and Dan_ed), but rather than debate all of this, why don't you all try this out instead of discussing something without having experienced it.
I'll tell ya what ... I'll reduce your risk to maybe a buck, and we all know how much that buys on the international market these daze.
I'll send the first 5 people who e-mail me an arc-style protractor made of card-stock material for your tonearm (Baerwaald alignment).
As long as we can establish the effective length of your tonearm, I can make one for you. Please note, that many Japanese tonearms specify weird numbers and we might have to work a bit to get one made for you.
Be prepared to send me an 8.5" x 11" envelope with the proper postage on it. If you don't want the postal service to bend it, line the envelope with a piece of cardboard. Again, this applies to the first 5 people who e-mail me.
If you like it, you can order one from Ken Willis or Yip at Mintlp. I'm not interested in being in the protractor business and don't have any financial interest in recommending these products.
The card-stock protractor (as Dan_ed mentioned) was merely a proof of concept experiment, and I supply them with all tonearms I sell, along with a recomendation to contact Yip at Mintlp for the real deal.
Oh yes (Smoffatt), you have a challenge in using an arc-style protractor. You'll need one protractor for each cartridge you use, which can be quite expensive. Swampwalker touched on this point with respect to his Schroeder as well.
thanks for trying to explain this in more simple terms with the pro's and con's. due to the fact I live in Australia, I'll leave it up to some of the other folks in the US to take advantage of your kind offer.
- Graham - you set the pivot to spindle by using the actual arm and attaching it to the spindle adaptor - should be then perfect. with the magneglide on the phantom - no unipivot wobble.
- Feickert - Exactly what does this tool do, except to align pivot to spindle distance very well. Or can you adjust the overhang like Joe said above.
- looks like arc protractors like Wally / Ken / Mint are the best but most difficult to get right??
Okay, I've procrastinated on this long enough. Thom's post finally swayed me to purchase the MintLp arc protractor. I've used a Wally Tractor before on a different arm and while I liked it the Feickert was quite attractive to me. I'll buy some new LPs with the savings.
As long as we're talking about tonearm alignment in general, I'd like to bring up the experience of my oldest audio friend (both in years of friendship and age). I went to his house to help him set up his new Dynavector Karat 17D3 in his Well Tempered Reference tonearm, using my Turntable Basics protractor, which I think falls into the category of an "arc-style" protractor. The experience was very stressful, because the platter of the WT tt will not stay stable without the drive belt to hold it up, because the WT tonearm is fixed in position by a very difficult to access nut underneath the table, and one must loosen that nut to adjust stylus overhang, because the WT tonearm also has only two holes in the headshell for cartridge mouting with no provision for fore and aft movement of the cartridge, and finally because the DV Karat seems to have an unusually short stylus-to-mounting hole distance. Every time I thought I had the DV stylus tip sitting in the right place, the act of tightening the nut under the table would inevitably twist the vertical shaft at the pivot end and throw out the alignment. We achieved some semblance of success after about 2 hours, but the combo sounded horrible, IMO, because I think the alignment was not good. He subsequently bought a Feikert; I don't know how that works, but he just told me that the alignment on the WT table and tonearm cannot be done with the Feikert, either. I think his frustration is due to the fundamental design of the WT and perhaps the unusually short cantilever on the DV Karat, but it points up the problems that can arise.
I'm not sure if you mean "difficult to get right" to refer to making or using an arc-style protractor. I doubt you are interested in making one, so I'll assume you are talking about using the protractor.
I don't find an arc-style protractor any more difficult to use than my 2-point style protractor. In fact, I find the arc style easier to use and much easier, for me anyway, to get alignment right.
Using any protractor is an iterative process if done correctly. That is, once you get your second point adjustment you really should go back and double check the alignment on the first point. This is also true of the arc-style, with one big exception. With the arc-style nothing is moved except the arm and cartridge. There is no re-aligning of the protractor for the first point. Unless one can do this re-alignment of the protractor with the exact same precision every time, this change in position of the protractor introduces error.
With the arc-style, you find the correct position for the protractor by locating the position in which the stylus lands exactly on the arc at a point near the spindle and a point near, preferably beyond, the outside edge of the platter. BTW, this can't be done unless the P2S distance is right for the specific arc. Once you have this the protractor is fixed in position. Now when you start the process of aligning the cantilever you are only concerned with that alignment and with keeping the stylus on the line. This alone makes the arc-style much easier for me to use.
Now as for how much time and effort one wants to put into the iterations, that is where the difficulty comes in. But this is true for any method or tool one wishes to use to do alignment. How close is close enough becomes a personal choice. My experiences lately with fine tuning cartridge alignment has shown me there is a huge reward for increasing the accuracy. This is no revelation to LP playback, we all know this. Some of us have found a tool that works even better for us to get cartridge alignment even more precise. Others may have a different tool that does the same for them. As always, YMMV.
Yea Dan, I was talking about using the protractor and paraphrasing Thom.
I have used a wally for some time with my JMW. When I upgraded from 12.5 to 12.6 - worked fine. from 12.6 to 12.7 the P2S distance changed - can't use the wally anymore.
Me I might be joining some of the folks here and getting a Mint. The Friekert for me seems to offer nothing.
Thanks for the feedback on the Phantom, Downunder. I really need to play with this fine tonearm. I hope my earlier post wasn't taken as a negative one, but rather as one to describe how to increase the precision on the very fine method that Bob Graham has designed for his earlier tonearms.
Yes, if the magnetic mechanism keeps the unipivot from wobbling during the alignment process, then you are correct and the problem is solved. As I mentioned, the fact that you're using the actual tonearm for the alignment process is a wonderful thing.
For those not familiar with the Graham alignment technique, a small nylon step-down adaptor is fit onto the record spindle. It tapers down to fit into a hole drilled in the headshell. This procedure needs to be done once - at tonearm mounting time, and before the cartridge is fit onto the headshell.
The object of the game is to fine-tune the pivot to spindle distance (using the built-in play in the arm mounting holes) until you can swing the arm over the record spindle and engage the hole in the headshell into the spindle adapter.
The other brilliant thing about the Graham technique is that the remainder of the alignment work is done with the jig which snaps onto the headshell - work which can be done on a well lighted desk.
Regarding the Turntable Basics protractor, it's the two-point protractor of choice - for those inclined to using a two-point protractor. I'm guessing that you were trying to use the alignment line to aim at the tonearm bearing pivot.
This likely drove you batty and is not recommended. Small errors in aiming are magnified, and I know of no one but Frank Schroeder who can use this technique - whether with the aid of a thread or not. You're welcome to try.
When using both the Turntable Basics protractor as well as the one supplied by Triplanar (made in the same shop), use it as a two-point protractor and forget about the sighting line.
Yes, the Dynavector 17D3 has a very difficult cantilever to view. Even with great lighting and a magnifying glass it will drive you nutty. I love this cartridge, and it plays well above it's price point, but viewing the cantilever during the alignment process (intentionally short - by design) is not its strength.
In general (with all turntables), it's helpful to use a piece of masking tape to keep the platter from rotating. Of course, in the case of the Well Tempered, the stabilizing shims will accomplish this.
I've not played with a Well Tempered arm, but from your description, it fits into the same category as the SME, and Schroeder Reference/DPS as far as fixed cartridge mounting - from the perspective of the stylus position relative to the cartridge mounting holes determining the tonearm's effective length. Your effective length will vary depending on the cartridge manufacturer and model. See below for further comment.
Well, they're difficult to use in the way that any fitness coach is. They won't let you off the hook until you get it right. If you want someone to whisper sweet lies in your ears, then don't choose an arc-style protractor.
I look at the Feickert as sort of a weigh-station, on the route to using an arc-style protractor. I say this because it emphasizes getting pivot to spindle distance right to a higher level of precision than measuring with a ruler. It also has a number of alignment points for various arm lengths which means that you won't get as easily confused when you shift your attention to working at the headshell slots. This is a good thing and I applaud this effort.
I hate to come down so hard on such a nicely executed design, but it reminds me of the current trend in software design - called SOA (service oriented architecture). This design philosophy emphasizes usability and the problem that the software is intended to solve. There's more to the philosophy than that, but the point is, that the best software design in the world is not as useful as that which is designed in collaboration with the user community which ultimately has to live with it.
As far has how the Feickert works, the photos linked to here should make it quite clear. http://www.feickert.com/engl/schablone_handling.html.
The relevant point is that for a particular arm geometry (one that is defined by a pin and dedicated pair of alignment grids), you get less confused between cartridge offset angle and fore-aft adjustment in the headshell (effective length/overhang). This is a good thing.
Lastly, I find it curious that Feickert in his instructions shows us a Schroeder tonearm for his setup example, because (as with an arc-style protractor), the Schroeder Reference, DPS, and SME arms (those without cartridge mounting slots) will give you varying results depending on the cartridge and how far its stylus to mounting bolt distance varies. This would mandate (in the case of the Feickert) another set of grids and alignment pin hole, or in the case of an arc style protractor, either a different arc (on a universal protractor) or a different protractor. Of course, a universal, two-point protractor will work. I go into this in the thread I link to in my previous post.
Again, the caveat with all of this stuff is that the tool you relate to best, is the best tool. For many, this might be the Feickert.
The experience of everyone to date has been that once they go to an arc-style protractor, they find it easier to visualize the solution as well as to implement it. Most importantly, the results are audible. Again, this doesn't necessarily mean a faster setup, as the precision level will demand that you really get it right and not just approximately right.
I liken this "getting it right" (in comparison to getting it approximately right with a two-point protractor) to be an order of magnitude improvement in the musicality of your analog rig - an ease (lack of distortion), delineation of musical lines, along with everything else that Dan_ed reported. Now, the higher the resolution level of your rig, the more you'll hear the improvement, but it's still a very worthwhile investment for owners of Regas and such.
Another benefit I've found with getting your setup perfect is that it is much less finicky in terms of VTA adjustment. I first noticed this in my work with the ET-2, linear tracker. For those without an easily repeatable finely adjustable VTA mechanism, this is not a trivial advantage.
I have no doubts that people can get it right with a two-point protractor, with my good buddy Frank Schroeder being one notable exception. Doug D. tells us that he can, and they're both to be congratulated for this. I'm going to send Dough an arc-style protractor to try. I suspect that he is so fastidious with his alignment process that he won't note an improvement, but it will be interesting to hear from him nevertheless.
For the large majority of us however, I think that a better tool is a worthwhile investment.
Dear Thom, We did use something straight and rigid (no joke intended) to extend the linear guide on the Turntable Basics protractor toward the true pivot of the WT tonearm, and I did use masking tape to immobilize the platter AND to try to keep it from flopping over. Eventually I think we did shim it. The confounding thing, along with the tiny cantilever of the 17D3, was the unavoidable tendency of the WT tonearm to twist when one tried to tighten down on the screw that holds it in place. At home with my Triplanar, I find the Turntable Basics very easy to use, but I agree with you on the difficulty of sighting down those lines toward the pivot, and on the drastic effect of a small error in sighting the pivot.
Thom, my SME V situation with the Feickert is a moot point as i will be receiving a Phantom shortly i hope (after a 6 months wait or so). I will be selling my Feickert and will likely order a MintLp. For discussion purposes here, if you had to mount and adjust an SME V to the highest level of accuracy, what type of "jig" would you use?


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You are here: Spyware removers > Trojan Removal Guides > How to Remove A-Trojan?
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Great work opportunity for people who enjoy fast paced, ever changing work environments.
Keep up the good work Cindy & Montreal in Seattle, WA!
"Crappy. Nothing but false promises"
Nothing. If someone trys to hire you they have to pay out your contract. Basically they hold you hostage so you cant get a job through any company you work with through them.
False Promises. Hold you hostage by contract buyout. Crappy management that like to play games with your schedule. Lots of lies. Shady company. Check your hours always and rate of pay. Incorrect pay checks are a constant problem.
Get new office staff. With real experience in desired field.
Meh. Not really. 1st impression seemingly detailed. Like filling out the forms info: how many hours a week availability... doesn't adhere to the front.
Underpaid and tips prohibited. Unstable hours & constantly 'forgetting' my expressed info. Okay if you want a scant side-hustle. Annoyed how often they job post & won't put you to work despite certifications.
Fruitless to apply any here.
Really easy interviewing and onboarding. They'll train you, pay you weekly, and make it easy for you to keep track of your jobs online via portal. You're your own boss when it comes to making this job fit into your life. Most jobs are reachable by Bart, which is convenient when you consider the cost of travel can set you back at least 1-1.5 hours of pay from the job you're working.
Regularly, the SF/Oakland office has changed event information, whether it be my designated start time, or my status of confirmed to simply back-up (where the guaranteed 2-hour pay doesn't even cover the cost of transporting yourself to/from event venues). Working in service, everyone understands we need to have a certain level of flexibility, but this company habitually changes event details on me, conveniently just outside the <24-hour threshold that they're not allowed to do so without paying you a minimum of 4 hours' pay. If you decline the changes they make, it reflects poorly on you, and they take less responsibility for it than the employee does.
"Decent side job/supplementary income (LA location)"
Great co-workers and great management. The office team goes above and beyond to work with field staff.
Able to attend interesting events and work with fun people.
Had to spend a lot of time commuting. Often pay was not commensurate with the difficulty of the gig.
Offer extra compensation for occasional very demanding jobs.
Some parties are long hours you could be there from 12pm-1am depending on what company you are sent to work with, you have to like catering to people if not this job isn't for you.
We have a new office in Oakland at 1212 Broadway. Please check for interview times.
Glassdoor has 120 The Party Staff reviews submitted anonymously by The Party Staff employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if The Party Staff is right for you.


text:
News Release 12-Jan-2017
Blended galaxies
Astrophysicist wins National Science Foundation grant to find and characterize super massive black holes associated with merging galaxies
image: This image shows three instances of merging galaxies located at least a billion light years from Earth. Each galaxy is as large as the Milky Way and contains about 100 billion stars. Violent gravitational interactions created the tidal tails shown and triggered massive black hole accretion at the galactic nuclei. These systems were first confirmed by Hai Fu in 2015 and published in <i>Astrophysical Journal Letters</i>. view more
Credit: Hai Fu, University of Iowa
In roughly four billion years, the Milky Way will be no more.
Indeed, our home galaxy is on course to collide and unite with the Andromeda Galaxy, at present some two million light years away.
Of course, we don't notice that the two galaxies are drawing closer together.
"To the human perspective, our galaxy doesn't appear to be changing," says University of Iowa astrophysicist Hai Fu, "but in the history of the universe, it is changing all the time."
Galaxies have been merging for most of the universe's 13-billion-year history, and scientists have been observing these mergers for some time. What they don't fully understand is how mergers occur.
Fu, an assistant professor in physics and astronomy, aims to clarify the phenomenon by observing supermassive black holes (with a mass of about one billion suns), which are at the center of most galaxies. Astrophysicists believe large galaxies grow by devouring smaller ones. In such cases, the black holes of both are expected to orbit each other and eventually merge. Fu and his team won a three-year, $405,011 grant from the National Science Foundation to find and characterize these celestial events.
"What we're trying to see is the late stages of merging galaxies, when two galaxies are so close together they unleash tidal forces of energy, kind of like the pulsing tidal forces caused when the sun and moon line up with the Earth but much, much more intense," he says.
Fu will scan a large chunk of the night sky--imagine the moon multiplied 1,200 across the sky and you'll have a sense of the size--to find evidence of black holes' accretion, or mass-gathering.
"Pairs of galaxies with accreting black holes are rare and difficult to find," Fu says, "and that's why we need such a large area to survey."
Black holes aren't always accreting. But those that are resemble someone on an eating binge. Accreting black holes hungrily absorb material around them. Slowly, as they munch on more and more cosmic food, they pull their host galaxies closer together.
"They're no longer on a diet," Fu says.
All that eating unleashes a torrent of energy, intense bursts of light called quasars that are so bright they nearly obscure the galaxies themselves. Those quasars should be easy to observe, even at great distances, but most of the light they produce is actually extinguished by the dust brewed up in the merging activity.
Thankfully, supermassive black holes also emit radio waves, and those emissions "come to the rescue because they don't get extinguished by the dust," Fu says.
Fu and his team will examine radio-emission maps captured by the Very Large Array, one of the world's premier astronomical radio observatories, located in New Mexico and operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, an NSF facility. The group will confirm its findings through optical observations at the W.M. Keck Observatory, located on Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii.
The NSF grant also will fund the student-led building of an "augmented reality sandbox" to demonstrate gravity's influence in the universe, such as on the orbits of planets, the accretion disk around a black hole or neutron star, and the complex orbits of stars in elliptically shaped galaxies.
Nine undergraduates have so far been involved in the project; they divided into teams to write the software programming, build the sandbox (with actual sand), and create an app for Android tablets.
The sandbox will be used in astronomy classes, physics demonstrations for K-12 students in the greater Iowa City area, and exhibitions at the UI Museum of Natural History and the UI Mobile Museum.
The sandbox is expected to be complete by the end of the spring 2017 semester.
"It is quite impressive," Fu says. "The students may not necessarily like taking exams, but they work really well in teams."
richard-c-lewis@uiowa.edu
/Space sciences/Astronomy/Celestial bodies/Black holes
/Space sciences/Astronomy/Celestial bodies/Galaxies/Spiral galaxies/Andromeda galaxy
/Scientific community/Scientific facilities/Observatories
http://bit.ly/2j57Ib8

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Recipients of stimulus funds went bankrupt, fired workers and closed
From J.C. Penney to Victoria's Secret, here are 8 retailers who will either make it or break it in 2021.
Stein Mart Inc. was desperate for shoppers long before COVID-19 forced closures at its discount department stores, scattered mostly throughout the Southeast.
During the past several years, the Florida retailer had hemorrhaged tens of millions of dollars, while searching for a corporate buyer. Like many struggling businesses, the company in June turned to the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program as a possible savior. The $10 million loan didn't last long.
Within two months, Stein Mart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing more than $500 million in liabilities. The company closed all 280 stores and 9,000 workers lost their jobs.
Nothing prevented Stein Mart from taking the PPP handout on its way under.
Lenders participating in the Small Business Administration relief program shelled out more than $520 billion last year to millions of companies searching for a lifeline to stave off the economic impacts of COVID-19. Like Stein Mart, USA TODAY found that some were failing long before the pandemic hit.
A shopper passes a Stein Mart store that closed recently at Ellisburg Shopping Center in Cherry Hill. (Photo: Jim Walsh, USA TODAY Network)
They came from sinking industries like taxi cab services, newspaper printing and mining. Many were already trimming staff, flirting with bankruptcy and planning for possible closure.
While extreme, the situations underscore broader flaws in the rapidly deployed program, including only cursory reviews of applicants' pre-pandemic financial state and no requirement that recipients actually save jobs or even stay open. For Stein Mart, and others like it that failed anyway, the millions in taxpayer dollars will never be fully repaid – the companies simply do not have the cash.
"While it may not be a good look, it was not strictly forbidden," said John Pendleton, director of financial markets and community investment for the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which is reviewing the PPP program for Congress. "There wasn't anything that said you had to stay in business indefinitely. That's why the process of forgiving the loans will be very significant."
For the funds to be forgiven, borrowers are supposed to maintain the same number of workers or rehire any lost staff. No collateral or personal guarantees were required, though, leaving a loophole for struggling employers to fold and still see the loans forgiven – or default without major consequences.
These already-failing businesses joined a broader group of borrowers that took out PPP funds and still went on to fire workers, sometimes just days later.
A control room at a newsprint company in Washington state, which declared bankruptcy after receiving its PPP loan. (Photo: Jennifer Mosbrucker for USA Today)
USA TODAY scrutinized more than 50 employers across the county that collected $160 million in PPP loans yet filed public WARN notices to lay off more than 13,000 workers. That represents just a small sample of the PPP recipients nationwide that faltered. At least 900 companies borrowed more than $1.8 billion in PPP loans, while laying off or furloughing some 90,000 employees, according to a recent report by the Center for Public Integrity, which shared its data with USA TODAY.
Most were from industries with clear impacts from COVID-19, including restaurants, hotels, gyms or car dealerships. Data from the recipients of the program that borrowed $150,000 or under became public for the first time in December following a months-long legal fight by media companies.
Milwaukee-based Bars & Recreation Inc., with activity bars that offer painting and axe throwing, received nearly $380,000 in PPP funds in April to save 32 positions. Four days later, the company filed a WARN notice that it had already begun trimming 38 jobs. A tiny gas station in Georgia, Meena Corp. took out a modest $19,900 PPP loan with a plan to save five employees. It lasted four months, filing a notice to let go five workers in August.
Inside Trump Tower in New York, the Triomphe Restaurant Corp. took out more than $2 million in PPP money but still shuttered, saving no jobs. And the company that operates The MC Hotel in New Jersey received more than $1 million in PPP funds in April, reporting that 109 positions would be saved. The hotel filed notices that 64 of its employees would lose their jobs by Sept. 14, after laying off 123 before it received the loan.
Borrowers argue the stimulus has allowed them to prolong the inevitable and keep paying employees, even if only for a month or two.
Experts question whether some companies should have known that the taxpayer support would not be enough to keep the lights on. They say the federal government should have done vetting on the fiscal status of borrowers before shelling out millions of dollars.
Another $284 billion is set aside for the program in the new coronavirus stimulus package, with some tightening of rules related to applying for loans and seeking forgiveness, including a provision that borrowers must show revenue is down. Nothing addresses businesses already in freefall or those that subsequently fail beyond repair.
"The question becomes what happens to the funds – do they get returned back into the government's hands or do they add insult to injury?" said attorney Neil Getnick, chairman of Taxpayers Against Fraud, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. "One of the first things clear from this data is that it's not the illegal things that threw this program off kilter – it's the misuse and money that went to unintended recipients."
Retail business faltering long before COVID-19
After Stein Mart went public in the 1990s, the company became an empire of discount clothing department stores akin to TJ Maxx and Ross, with ultimately hundreds of locations across 30 states. But even before the pandemic halted in-person shopping, the retailer's business model was crumbling.
Stein Mart took out a $10 million Paycheck Protection Program loan in June. Within two months it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing more than $500 million in liabilities. The company closed all 280 stores and 9,000 workers lost their jobs. (Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider, Tallahassee Democrat)
The brand was built on a strong base of loyal followers who would peruse the racks for bargains on name-brand clothing and apparel. Foot-traffic at traditional brick-and-mortar stores has been declining for years as online shopping carves into that customer base. In an annual filing in June, the company also cited difficulties stocking merchandise attractive to buyers.
"We face intense competition for customers from department stores, specialty stores, regional and national off-price retail chains and internet and mail-order retailers," the company wrote in the filing. "Many of these competitors are larger and have significantly greater financial and marketing resources than we do."
Stein Mart announced in January it had a merger agreement in-hand. Amid COVID-19, that deal had faltered by April. Without fresh liquidity, the company had no path left to solvency.
In June, Stein Mart took out the maximum $10 million for the PPP program. Financial records show the federal PPP support paled in comparison to the bailout it needed.
Stein Mart's total sales in the first quarter ending May 2 dropped nearly 60% on the way to a net loss of $65.7 million. That follows a net loss of $6.2 million for fiscal year 2018 and an operating loss of $31.2 million in 2017, public earnings show.
"People will always take advantage of a poorly-run system, especially the big businesses and the ones who see it as a windfall," said Ashley Harrington, federal advocacy director and senior counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending. "For the ones who've gone bankrupt, that's certainly something that's going to have to be dealt with. Those are all things we're going to have to figure out."
A sign reading, ' Entire Store on Sale,' at the entrance to a Stein Mart store on Aug. 12 in Miami, Florida. (Photo: Joe Raedle, Getty Images)
The Jacksonville Daily Record reported that some Stein Mart employees believed management knew more about the impending bankruptcy and closures than what they disclosed to workers, who received no severance, extended health benefits or other assistance.
Gardner Davis, a Jacksonville attorney who represents Stein Mart in the bankruptcy, said the PPP money was essential to keep paying employees during the initial pandemic. But he insisted nobody inside the company knew how long the fallout from the virus would last – or how deep its impact would be.
"The PPP loan was an essential lifeline to help them stay afloat," Davis said. "Stein Mart spent all of the money on paying salaries, which was a significant help. In fact, Stein Mart was able to weather the March and April shutdowns due to COVID. Stein Mart failed because of the second wave in June and July, which swept the South, where most of the stores are located."
Davis said the PPP program was not designed to save companies like Stein Mart from collapse but instead was crafted so that employees would continue earning income – and continue buying groceries and other goods, keeping the economy afloat. He noted that most Stein Mart employees likely lived paycheck-to-paycheck.
Sale signs adorn a closing Stein Mart store in Salt Lake City in August. (Photo: Rick Bowmer, AP)
Experts say that as long as retailers borrowed the PPP funds in good faith, and spent it actually paying salaries, there likely will be no consequences to companies like Stein Mart that still ultimately go under.
"If it's not enough money and they still go out of business, then they go out of business," said Page Pate, an Atlanta attorney who has represented both people accused of PPP loan fraud and whistleblowers in those cases. "The only problems are when you make false statements or misspend the money. Did you spend the money on the right things?"
Stein Mart will seek forgiveness of the $10 million PPP loan on the grounds that it was used for payroll, Davis said. If denied, the debt to the US government will be added to the stack of unsecured creditors in the bankruptcy, to be paid out cents on the dollar.
Retail Ecommerce Ventures, the company that owns Pier 1 Imports, purchased the Stein Mart brand out of bankruptcy in November for just over $6 million, with plans to transform it into an online-only store.
Local officials anticipated business closure for years
Along the Canada border, where Idaho meets Washington State, a rural community of 13,000 has long braced for the closure of its largest private employer.
Ponderay Newsprint Company in Usk, Washington declared bankruptcy on June 26 and laid-off 148 employees. (Photo: Jennifer Mosbrucker for USA Today)
Ponderay Newsprint Co. employed nearly 150 workers at annual wages that ranged above $80,000. But the paper mill struggled through the decline of newspaper circulation, as readers turned to online platforms and demand for paper plummeted. The mill supplied newsprint for publications along the West Coast, in the Midwest, and in parts of Asia and South America, according to a company website, which has been taken down.
In April, Ponderay Newsprint took out a $3.5 million PPP loan through AmericanAg Credit. Within two months, the company filed a WARN notice saying it was letting go of all 148 jobs it had projected to save, while permanently closing down its plant in Washington State.
Officials in the rural area have anticipated the mill's closure for years – a major blow to the local economy. Advertising losses tied to the virus further exacerbated the decline. Officials now fear a rail line that depended on its paper shipments could fold, too.
"It's devastating, especially when you consider the impact on other businesses," said Pend Oreille County Commission Chairman Mike Manus. "We have been bracing for it. But the reality is it's hard to cope no matter what you do to get ready."
Manus said company representatives warned local officials years ago that shrinking demand for its product left the plant's future in jeopardy, highlighted when the mill canceled its contract to buy 90 megawatts of power from the area utility.
Todd Behrend, interim mill manager at Ponderay Newsprint Company, celebrated 28 years of working for the company on June 15. He is part of the skeleton crew that maintains the facility. (Photo: Jennifer Mosbrucker for USA Today)
When Ponderay Newsprint filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in late June, citing more than $50 million in total liabilities, Pend Oreille County Public Utility District General Manager Colin Willenbrock said "news of the mill being indefinitely idled has long been anticipated" and that the utility "has been working tirelessly over the past several years to lessen the blow."
John Munding, a trustee in the federal bankruptcy case, said the PPP funds were used for operations, like payroll. Ponderay Newsprint, he said, has no revenues left to repay the government loan.
Munding said the company is in the process of liquidating assets, which includes seeking a buyer for the plant, built in the late 1980s. While Munding did not know how exactly much the sale would generate, he said it would not be enough to pay all creditors.
Blueprints of the building and the machinery it holds were roadmaps for employees when they faced an issue in the production line. (Photo: Jennifer Mosbrucker for USA Today)
One of the mill's remaining owners at the time of bankruptcy was Indiana Newspapers, a subsidiary of Gannett, the corporate owner of USA TODAY, which owned 13.5% of the business.
Gannett CEO Mike Reed said that he was not part of the process of obtaining the PPP funds, negotiated between mill management and the lender, but he said the bankruptcy decision was made well after the loan.
"The hope with the loan would (be) that it would bridge to the other side of the pandemic and Ponderay would survive," Reed said in an email.
Several other U.S. publishers had stakes in the company, as did a Canadian paper business. Following the PPP loan, two of the largest partners – McClatchy and Resolute Forest Products – exited the partnership, said Frank O'Toole, president of Gannett Supply Corp.
Todd Behrend stands inside the shuttered facility in Usk, Washington. (Photo: Jennifer Mosbrucker for USA Today)
"The newspaper business has been in distress for years – the risk was always there," said Todd Behrend, interim mill manager who remains there part-time handling aspects of the closure for the bankruptcy trustee. "When demand for newsprint fell off a cliff in March and April, it was just unsustainable at that point."
Loan requests processed in minutes, with little review
Attorneys, whistleblower groups and government watchdogs blame a lack of accountability and the rushed rollout of the PPP for many of its problems.
At the onset of the pandemic, the program was inundated with loan requests. More than 680,000 applications were filed on a single day, said Getnick, the whistleblower attorney and chairman of Taxpayers Against Fraud. Many of the loans were processed in a matter of minutes.
Watchdog groups have cited more than $4 billion in improper loans, saying 50% of all funding went to just 5% of the applicants, with communities of color and microbusinesses left out. An MIT study in July showed that each job saved through PPP cost nearly $225,000.
"It started as an urgent program, and we didn't expect it to reach the scale it has in size," Caroline Ciccone, executive director of the watchdog group Accountable.US, said during a recent news conference.
Company executives have made headlines for fraudulently using PPP money to buy luxury items, like watches, yachts and sports cars. But experts say the bulk of fraud and waste in the program is more discrete – like a company exaggerating its employee count or estimated losses from the pandemic.
A USA TODAY analysis when the first batch of PPP data was released earlier in 2020 found that at least 700 vendors scored lucrative federal coronavirus contracts then also received emergency aid. Together those businesses took out at least $618 million in PPP loans through the SBA.
More: Coronavirus contractors double-dip government funds
The loan was designed to cover up to eight weeks of payroll but rules surrounding the program kept evolving. At least 60 percent had to be spent on salaries, while the rest could go to qualifying operating expenses, like rent or mortgage. Using the money for anything else could constitute fraud.
Changes to the CARES Act allow loans to be forgiven if companies rehired employees by the end of 2020. Businesses that couldn't are expected to repay the note with modest interest – if they can. Those rules left a loophole for struggling companies: take the money, fold and leave nothing left to repay the debt.
When businesses closed anyway, the question will be how exactly the PPP money was used to delay the inevitable. Regulators expect some of that vetting to occur in the coming weeks and months, as the government determines which loans to forgive.
Already suffering taxi service hard hit in pandemic
Even when already-struggling businesses avoided bankruptcy and permanent closure, major downsizing sometimes followed the PPP loan, USA TODAY found, but some still hope the help will tide them over.
For years, cab companies have battled losses as the proliferation of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft bounded into the market. Shutdowns in the pandemic further battered the industry.
Nancy Weber arrives for her shift on Monday, Dec. 21, at Union Cab, where she has worked since 1999. In April the company received $690,000 in PPP loans with the hope of saving 180 jobs. By summer, the taxi company announced it was laying off 126 workers. (Photo: Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
In Madison, Wisconsin, received nearly $690,000 in PPP loans in April to save 180 jobs, government records show. By summer, the taxi company announced it was laying off or furloughing 126 of those workers.
One of the cooperative's largest customers was the Madison School District. Another was the University of Wisconsin. Trips from both froze up when classes were canceled for remote learning. Nobody was traveling for daytime medical appointments or nighttime entertainment, either. At one point, the taxi service was down to about 10% of normal business.
The company's business manager, Bill Carter, estimates it lost "a couple million dollars" in revenue in 2020. To make up for it, Union Cab has been running a skeleton crew, he said, and cutting costs wherever possible. Aside from layoffs, the company took vehicles off of the road to save on fuel and maintenance.
Carter said the PPP money helped keep the remaining taxis running. Ultimately, that was not enough.
The company's business manager, Bill Carter, estimates Union Cab lost "a couple million dollars" in revenue last year. (Photo: Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
He understands the frustrations of other small business owners who also took out a PPP loan thinking it would be short-term but now have no way of paying it back. He's counting on a large portion of his being forgiven based on guidance he has received from SBA.
Union Cab also took out a $147,300 SBA Emergency Injury Disaster Loan, another part of the stimulus package, federal records show. Unlike PPP, those 30-year, low-interest loans generally are not forgivable.
"It's kind of a double-edged sword," Carter said. "We didn't have as much business, so we couldn't have people work their normal schedules. But we also had people who were reluctant to drive because of the COVID situation, and we know we're transporting (COVID) positive people."
The company has started bringing passengers to and from COVID testing sites and even taking ill patients to quarantine. Drivers began delivering for grocery stores as demand for that service increased.
Carter says many of those laid off are now back working, although with greatly reduced hours.
Drivers Perry Halverson, left and Nancy Weber talk before heading out on their shifts. A year ago their office would have been busy with drivers during the holiday season, but things were a lot different last year due to the pandemic. (Photo: Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
"For most of the year, our battle has been trying to get our expenses if not lower, at least equal to our revenues," he said. "We're getting closer and closer to that."
Dan Keemahill contributed to this report.
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/01/13/recipients-stimulus-funds-went-bankrupt-fired-workers-and-closed/3960382001/
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text:
import { bindActionCreators } from 'redux';
import { connect } from 'react-redux';
import Sidebar from '../components/sidebar';
import * as PlayActions from '../actions/play-actions';

function getCueIds(cueItems) {
  return cueItems.map((item) => {
    return item.id.videoId;
  });
}

function mapStateToProps(state) {
  return {
    searchedItems: state.search.searchedItems,
    cueIds: getCueIds(state.play.cueItems)
  };
}

function mapDispatchToProps(dispatch) {
  return bindActionCreators(PlayActions, dispatch);
}

export default connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(Sidebar);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Home News Coin & Tokens TrueChain (TRUE) Price Surges by 175% in April 2018!
TrueChain (TRUE) Price Surges by 175% in April 2018!
TrueChain (TRUE) is one of the cryptocurrencies making major moves in 2018; this crypto's price has gained by over 175% in the past week. The coin is currently at a market cap of $ 42 million placing in 259 out of over 1500 cryptocurrencies that are currently in existence. With just three months in the industry, this altcoin has gained a lot of attention from the crypto community following good prospects on the fundamental value of the project. At the moment the number of TRUE tokens in supply stands at 25 million. OKEx is the leading coin market for this cryptocurrency with a larger volume being exchanged for the BTC followed from a far by USDT.
In the beginning of April, the project earned its good reputation after launching its PBFT protocol that had been a work in progress. The open source platform that aims to capture the digital & commercial advertising industry uses a hybrid consensus protocol. Therefore, the team is set to launch the second phase of the project in Q3 or Q4 of 2018; this will be the TrueChain hybrid consensus. The protocol is encoded with proof of work to work in conjunction with the PBFT, once the project is complete this scalable blockchain platform will have a fully functioning utility token; TRUE. Users on this open source network cans easily manage their decentralized applications as a result of its hybrid protocol.
Both the PBFT & the hybrid consensus serve important functions within the TrueChain (TRUE) blockchain platform to achieve the desired efficiency. Performance is among the end goals of most blockchains, the PBFT protocol is the solution the TrueChain sort to incorporate to increase value addition from commercial applications in future. In addition the hybrid consensus maintains the open source nature of this blockchain platform. TrueChain aims at working towards achieving stability, usability & performance as the crypto market thrives with a bonus of venturing into the $billion digital advertising arena. This platform will enable integration of website content and mobile apps as well as contract management for players within this line of business.
What is TrueChain's applicable Solution?
The platform which operates as an opens source is guided by its public status to build infrastructure. Organizations and corporations now have the opportunity to create a blockchain oriented digital advertising industry by building DApps on this platform, this should focus on transparency. Smart contracts within this platform are encoded with advertising contractual language for the approval purposes within the platform.
This network will enable digital adverts to receive more profits as opposed to dollars they currently make from contracts with the tech giants in Silicon Valley. TrueChain's estimated fee reduction is by 80% from the current market prices in the industry; this means that publishments could earn well over 70% in revenues.
TrueChain (TRUE) will involve users more than the current digital advertising industry does; this is through the limitless contribution protocol. The community within this crypto will earn with TRUE tokens for actively participating in the network.
Users within this platform have the liberty to create their own tokens and define the scope of functionality with the aid of smart contracts. The difference between this platform and the popular Ethereum is that tokens or currencies can be issued and all token / currency transaction are sharing the same ledger TRUE uses.
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"What say you, gentlemen?" Zothern started, breaking the silence. He takes a drink, having a cursory glance at each of his compatriots. He mentally noted his first impressions of the men around him.
As the first man speaks, he draws out his dagger and examines its sharpness.
After a long pause, Galithir spoke.
"Well, since the rest of you don't seem willing to share your thoughts, I shall reccommend that we travel to the south-east. The mountains could provide a good vantage point, and perhaps we shall be able to see some indication of how far south the daemons have got. Also, our young geomancer should have more to work with there in the event of trouble. Naturally, we should ask around town for any clues first, but if we find nothing conclusive, I vote for the Crumbling Rocks." He glanced around and caught sight of the maid. She kept glancing over.
"I guess Oan will get to question that barmaid" he sighed.
Ja'nus sat quietly, considering his options.
"Those mountains are trecherous, I can almost feel it from here, the ground speaks to me."
He paused and took a long draught from his tankard of ale.
"They are a risky proposition, but one that just may pay off. On the other hand, the odds of encountering any real civilisation there is slim, provisions will be scarce."
"I say we spread out around town, gather informationas well as any potential supplies we may have need of, then make a more fully informed choice."
He turns to the dark Mage.
"Galithir, you of us all have the most skill with words, and Landlords are often privvy to much gossip, might I suggest you try tour luck with the proprietor of this establishment?"
Zothern chose to cut in.
"I believe the mountains are a bad idea to start from." He resheathed his blade. "As you said, chances of meeting civilisation will be slim, and food will be scarce. It also means that if we encountered odds that far outway us, we will have no chance to survive." He takes a moment to think.
"I say we head to Darrow. I have connections there, and being a larger city it will have a greater abundance of information then rocks and sand could reveal." He drinks, and leans over the map. "Should we encounter trouble in Forlorn Words, we would also have us a chance to cut our teeth, and figure out how best to act as a group in a fight"
"Your points are valid friend"
Taps the Forlorn Woods with a finger.
"These forests could provide us with food and possibly a good source of clean water, maybe even medicinal herbs. Building up a small supply of meats and medicine would be benficial to us all."
Oan sat and drank his pint thoughtfully, listening to the suggestions of the party and considering each one. The larger town was a sensible suggestion, it was likely they'd find more information there. The mountains didn't really appeal, the vantage point argument was negated by them being further south and the mountains were a treacherous place with rumours of strange, terrible beasts.
"Personally I'd quite like to go to the woods just north of here. I'll explain why shortly. In the meantime I'll see what the barmaid knows about the local area and recent activity. I need another drink anyway."
As Oan headed back to the bar to flirt with the maid, Marcus stroked his chin on thought. "The forlorn forest sounds like a good choice to me, and on to Darrow seems like a good extension of that plan. I say we head to the forest first after gathering a little knowledge about it from the locals. I feel we should play it by ear, and be ready to change the plan. We don't know exactly what lies in the forest."
Marcus takes a long swig from his tankard, and sweeps the room with his eyes. He spots an older man, perhaps mid 50s, with a greying beard and a thick dark staff, made of wood uncommon to the nearby trees. Perhaps this man has knowledge of the forest?
"This one is mine, I sense strong Magicks about him."
Ja'nus walks over the older man and sits opposite him, his staff resting against his shoulder.
"Venerable mage, we seek knowledge of the Forlorn Woods, could you tell us anything of them? Is there food? Water? Do people live there with whom we might trade on our journeys?"
Zothern looked to the Runesmith, who hadn't spoken a word yet.
"And what does our Runesmith say on this subject?" he questioned. "You've yet to enlighten us with you point of view" he drinks down half of what was left in his tankard.
Tyblat takes a sip of his wine, wondering when you actually started drinking the stuff. Then deciding it must be the fault of the Nobles he spent time with.
Not thinking much of the people in that tavern, Galithir strolled back out into the sun. As he wandered around looking for anyone likely to have more knowledge on the subject, he went over the debate in his mind. There was something odd.
"Those mountains are trecherous, I can almost feel it from here, the ground speaks to me" Ja'nus had said. The ground spoke to him. Perhaps I'm looking into this too much, Galithir mused. After all, the man was a geomancer. Perhaps the ground really did speak to him.
And yet, as he entered a nearby inn and struck up a conversation with the innkeeper, He couldn't help but worry. Because the real reason he had suggested the Crumbling Rocks was not for the view. In fact it was little more than a hunch.
It was just that the very earth itself seemed to call him there.
The old man turns to Ja'nus upon hearing the question, and thoughtfully rubs his chin, recalling everything he knows of the woods.
Ja'nus returned to the table, seeing Oan chatting to the barmaid, and could faintly hear Galithir and the Innkeeper getting quite animated. He wondered whether he should intervene before it got out of hand an caused too much trouble for them.
He pondered the elder mages warning, "The forest dislikes fire. Be careful, my friend.". He had complete control over his Pyro abilities and could control any flame or heat source with great precision if he had to. Could the forest somehow sense his kinship with the flame? Did it think of him as a threat to itself?
He quickly dismissed those thoughts. The forest could think? Preposterous. . .
He heard the innkeeper voice raised to his fellow mage. He stood,hefted his staff and walked over, thoughts of the sunny ruins pushed aside for the time being. . .
Ja'nus caught up with him as he reached the edge of town. While they wandered out to a nearby bit of woodland Ja'nus relayed what he had found out.
"Sounds like you've had some luck, at least. It seems the people of this town don't like necromancers. Well, fortunately I don't have to put up with it" said Galithir as they reached a concealed bit of woodland.
The air seemed to shimmer around him. His robe lost the embroidery, became much more worn and changed to a lighter grey. His staff was blurred for a moment and when it came back into focus it was a shorter, battered oak stave. Galithir reached up and lowered his hood revealing the head of an old man.
"Let see if they can tell" said the old man, in a gravelly voice completely unlike Galithir's measured tones. "You go back into town. I'll circle around so they don't think I'm with you. If anyone asks, I've gone fishing."
With that he hobbled off, leaning heavily on his walking stick.


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ClassDojo and Making Caring Common (MCC), a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) created an original series of animated, short films along with discussion guides that will be available to all teachers, parents, and students to teach empathy.
The-No-App empowers the victims of bullying and their parents. The app immediately alerts parents to problem interactions and creates a record of the person(s) bothering the child. This app helps create peace-of-mind for both the young user and his/her parents. It delivers a clear message to whomever is bothering the child, immediately alerts his/her parents that something may be wrong, and creates evidence of who was harassing the child. It is also a tool to give parents an excuse to talk to their children about staying safe.
Anonymous Alerts is a secure anti-bullying app and safety reporting system that lets students to quickly report incidents related to bullying, cyberbullying, student depression, family problems, self-harm, drugs, gang-related issues, harassment, weapons on campus or unusual student behavior which may warrant immediate attention by school officials. The reporter of the incident can establish anonymous 2-way communications with school officials. Anonymous Alerts encourages those who feel vulnerable or less confident to speak up without fear of reprisal.
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