Keith Gilabert: Hedge Fund Economics

2015 Federal Holidays

2014-11-29T07:14:00.000-08:00

Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the following public holidays for Federal employees. Please note that most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. For these employees, when a holiday falls on a nonworkday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday).

* This holiday is designated as "Washington’s Birthday" in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.

** July 4, 2015 (the legal public holiday for Independence Day), falls on a Saturday. For most Federal employees, Friday, July 3, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See 5 U.S.C. 6103(b).)

How A-List Stars Travel

2014-11-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

A-List Stars do not fly coach. Check it out

17 Coolest Celebrity Sports Cars - Odometer.com

2014-10-31T05:59:00.001-07:00

17 Coolest Celebrity Sports Cars - Odometer.com

Fiat Chrysler announce spin-off for luxury brand Ferrari - Yahoo News UK

2014-10-30T06:29:00.001-07:00

Fiat Chrysler announce spin-off for luxury brand Ferrari - Yahoo News UK

The Hulk was almost played by… Joaquin Phoenix!

2014-10-29T05:58:00.001-07:00

The Alternate Avengers: Actors Who Almost Assembled For Marvel

The Hulk was almost played by… Joaquin Phoenix!

Ferrari building six copies of invite-only supercar

2014-10-28T07:45:00.001-07:00

Ferrari building six copies of invite-only supercar - Yahoo Autos

Top 25 self-made entrepreneurs who started with small sums of money | Daily Mail Online

2014-10-28T05:29:00.001-07:00

Top 25 self-made entrepreneurs who started with small sums of money | Daily Mail Online

Apple CEO fires back as retailers block Pay - Yahoo News UK

2014-10-28T05:27:00.001-07:00

Apple CEO fires back as retailers block Pay - Yahoo News UK

F1 crash de Jules Bianchi au Japon 2014 suzuka

2014-10-08T11:44:00.001-07:00

Keith Gilabert, "Social Security Garnished by Old Student Loans"

2014-08-31T07:59:00.001-07:00

When co-signing for your loved ones student loan keep in mind that the loan is now your responsibility. Often times co-signers do not believe they will be bothered by a defaulted student loan. If the loan is issued by the Department of Education it is now considered federal debt that will stay active for up to 20 years.

Here some facts you need to know:

In 2013 156,000 Americans social security went towards paying old student loans.
It's never a good idea to co-sign for a loved one's loan.
When you co-sign for a loan you assume 100% responsibility.
Private debt collectors cannot garnish your Social Security.
The Federal Government can only garnish Social Security not your personal IRA.
Government must give you 180 days notice before commencing garnishment.
Maximum amount of garnishment is capped at $750.00 per month or 15% of disposable income.
Seek an Income Based Repayment Plan from Department of Education, this could reduce the amount you owe to $0.00.

Here is additional information on student debt. https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/default

Keith Gilabert, "Funding your Payroll when Contracting with the Federal Government"

2014-08-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

By Keith Gilabert

One of the biggest challenges a new company first encounters is funding payroll on a government contract. When a business first captures a contract with the government it could take anywhere from 30-45 days before you can get paid.

Often times the funding could take longer than 30-45 days following the submission of your first invoice. If the contract specifically states you need a receiving report it could take the government office 2-3 weeks to submit the report and then the government finance office could take another 2-4 weeks to cut the check. That is almost 2 months without getting paid.

What makes government contracts so lucrative is the size. No enterprise spends more money than the United States Government. The profit margins on average are between 5-7%, but the average contract is $150,000.00, so if you can secure 2-3 contracts per month you will have a very profitable firm. The problem is you will be out $150k waiting 2 months to get paid. A way to work through this is by getting payroll financing.

The government requires that all Invoices must be submitted on the 1st of the month. But your first invoice cannot be submitted until you’ve had 2 payrolls and in most cases, payroll is made on the 15th and the 30th of the month.

You should be aware that there are exceptions to the length of time it takes for payroll. Things can happen that may hold-up the payment process. I’ve seen invoices get hung up in the system to anywhere from 90-180 days from the submission of your first invoice, depending upon the cause for the hold-up. This is rare but it does happen.

Be prepared to wait it out in the beginning and have the financing in place to keep you and your employees afloat. You may find that you have to wait a full 5 payrolls before finally getting paid. When contracting for the government, you want to fully understand what you’re getting into and you want to ensure that you have the right lender to fund your contracting project(s).

Choosing the wrong lender could lead to untimely problems for both you and the lender, because lenders who are not familiar with government policies regarding this type of funding typically end up a thing of the past.

Exceptions that Could Cause Slow Payment

These are a few problems that could arise causing slow payroll funding for government contractors:

· A Contractor Not Invoicing Correctly

· A Lost Invoice

· Misdirected Payment

· Payment Office Relocation

· Depleted Funding

· Redirected Funding

The most prevalent reason for slow payment is the failure on the part of the contractor to submit their invoice correctly according to the contract. When taking all of these slow payment factors into consideration, it’s important to know that these problems very rarely affect commercial contractors.

Lender Problems when Slow Payment Occurs

Choosing a lender that is not experienced in dealing with the federal government could lead to financial distress for both you and the lender. This is because the lender expects to receive payment in an allocated amount of time.

If payment is held up due to an invoice issue or any of the other reasons listed above, the lender suffers a financial loss and it could also affect future funding for the contractor by the lender. This then has a domino effect and could harm the contractor’s relationship with the government client if the money is not there to complete a project.

When a project is not completed on time the contractor will suffer a low rating from the government which will affect your ability to attain any future projects.

Choosing an Appropriate Lender

When you need to select a lender to fund a government contracting project, you want to make sure to select a lender that is familiar with government payroll funding. This is not a cut-and-dry process. There is a lot of paperwork involved and government regulation to take into consideration.

During the lender selection process, you need assistance. Seeking out the assistance of an expert who can help you connect with an appropriate lender will eliminate future problems and ensure that all of the required paperwork is in order for timely payment.

To learn more information regards to funding for government contractor, contact us today.

"Microloans for business Start-ups" | SBA.gov

2014-08-09T10:08:00.001-07:00

Keith Gilabert, "Microloans for business Start-ups" | SBA.gov

Keith Gilabert, "Adobe Reader capable of being Hacked?"

2014-08-08T07:09:00.001-07:00

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1541758

Keith Gilabert, "Choosing the right Investor for your Start-up" | SBA.gov

2014-08-01T09:05:00.001-07:00

Keith Gilabert, "Choosing the right Investor for your Start-up" | SBA.gov

Keith Gilabert, "Ready for Chip and PIN/Smart Cards" | SBA.gov

2014-07-18T18:40:00.001-07:00

Keith Gilabert, "Ready for Chip and PIN/Smart Cards" | SBA.gov

"Paying Different Wages to Employees of Opposite Sexes" | SBA.gov

2014-06-25T13:54:00.001-07:00

Keith Gilabert, "Paying Different Wages to Employees of Opposite Sexes" | SBA.gov

"Personnel Record Retention: What to Keep" | SBA.gov

2014-06-25T13:52:00.001-07:00

Keith Gilabert, "Personnel Record Retention: What to Keep" | SBA.gov

Bitcoin is a Pure Commodity and will continue to Rise, according to Venture Capital Partner Keith Gilabert

2014-06-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Keith Gilabert of Fina V Capital says, “Bitcoin has several advantages over other commodity trades, primarily that Bitcoin cannot be shorted and the speculation behind the digital currency is funded by real buyers.”

Fina V Capital has been bullish on Bitcoin (BTC) since November of 2013, with a target price for the digital currency soaring to $5,000.00 per coin. The President of Fina V Capital Keith Gilabert stated, “Our target price is based on the demand we see from hedge funds and the decentralizing of third world currencies.”

Gilabert states, “Bitcoin cannot be shorted like traditional currencies you can trade today. I can open an account with Forex and short any currency but I can’t do that with Bitcoin. So when you examine the possibility of where this currency can go in price it is much higher than other types of trading instruments due to the digital currency does not have overhead resistance.”

Winklevoss Capital $11 million investment in Bitcoin is now worth over $60 million. They are now in the process of getting regulatory approval for Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust exchange traded fund (ETF), which is currently awaiting approval and will trade on the Nasdaq.

Another high profile investor is Michael Novogratz of Fortress Investment Group, who stated, “the smartest guys in the room” many are beginning to turn their attention towards bitcoin.

“Bitcoin continues to develop and currently it is still a volatile trading instrument with risk, but I do expect the volatility to decline as governments around the world impose restrictions,” according to Gilabert.

Fina VC reports the current environment for Bitcoin is positive. The digital currency survived the implosion of Mt. Gox the third largest Bitcoin exchange which collapsed because of a $450 million theft. This has not deterred Venture Capital investors from pouring over $100 million in start-ups this year alone. “These start-ups have learned from the mistakes of Mt. Gox and are providing a safer trading environment,” according to Gilabert

Last week Dish Network with 14 million customers joined Overstock .com and Virgin America in accepting Bitcoin. Gil Luria an analyst with Wedbush Securities said, “This is a mainstream company with mainstream leadership that’s decided to embrace Bitcoin and what Bitcoin technology offers.”

Gilabert states, “because Bitcoin is a pure commodity based on supply and demand, we expect for every $100 million invested in Bitcoin reserves the price will increase by about 20%. Until you have the ability to short the currency the upside is substantial.”

Trading Risk

All trades include substantial risk of loss. You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. In considering whether a trade is suitable you should consult with your financial advisor or broker. Fina V Capital does not offer trading advice on securities and should note that trading instruments mentioned are published based on what we find of financial interest to the public. THEREFORE, NO RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH STATEMENT, NOR WITH RESPECT TO ANY EXPRESSION OF OPINION HEREIN CONTAINED

About Fina V Capital

Fina V Capital serves entrepreneurs by providing less dilutive, more flexible forms of capital. We provide senior and subordinated term loans in the $1 million to $20 million range to emerging businesses backed by venture capital and private equity firms. Target clients range from emerging growth companies led by dedicated entrepreneurs to late-state, established companies seeking cash-flow for expansion. We give our clients access to our contacts of Fortune 500 companies which will add diversity to their product lines and help fuel growth. There are less than a dozen consulting firms worldwide that can offer this level of service.

Fina V Capital Selected to Manage $250 Million Contract

2014-03-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

Fina V Capital’s Keith Gilabert will lead a consortium of small businesses submitting bids for a Federal Government Contract worth over $250,000,000.00

Keith Gilabert, president of Fina V Capital, will be providing a customized bid model for this multiple agency $250 million contract issued by the U.S. Government.

There are currently over 50 Federal Agencies participating in this $250 million contract. The same Government agency recently announced another round of funding with a projected value of $200 million.

Gilabert states, “These contracts have a year over year option which puts the overall value at over $2 billion, this is a huge opportunity for both small and large businesses.”

Fina V Capital will be advising and consulting with Fortune 500 companies which will add diversity and value to existing product lines and present a total solution for businesses wanting to contract with the Federal Government.

Negotiations with Government agencies often stall due to incomplete proposals, this is where Fina VC comes in and creates a partnership with businesses so the company bidding can offer a total solution.

Gilabert states, “We provide companies with our expertise in research, writing and submission of proposals for public and private funding, our fees are based on the client obtaining a contract, if they win we win.”

Keith Gilabert has over 20 years experience in business management and research. His primary field of research is business models. “I can take any industry and break-down the costs and market trends that will deliver growth to that specific sector or company.”

Fina V Capital allows companies to focus on building their business while we take care of the government marketing and bid submissions.

Many companies do not know the proper channels and spend tens and thousands of dollars making errors in search of theses government opportunities. If a company needs a product line we can negotiate the pricing based our price volume projections.

Gilabert cautions, “Government contracting is not easy and you must be able to provide the agency with the “Best Value,” according to FAR 2.101 or you will not pass the initial application process, furthermore, these companies must be ready to wait up to one-year for an award.”

Fina V Capital Will Accept Bitcoins (BTC) For Advisory Services, according to its CEO Keith Gilabert

2014-02-07T05:33:00.003-08:00

Fina V Capital will accept Bitcoin (BTC), as payment for its advisory services. The President of Fina V Capital Keith Gilabert states, “We cater to clients from all over the world, we can show value to our clients by avoiding the conversion fees that banks charge. It is important that we do this for both business and philosophical reasons.”

Gilabert states, “After several months of reviewing the feasibility of accepting Bitcoins we came to the conclusion that there zero risk. The exchange into USD will be instant and without any party suffering an exchange rate fee, it is a win-win for both parties.”

There are currently 178 currencies used around the world. The exchange rates fluctuate quite a bit and the banks processing fees can reach as high as 12% on a single transaction. With Bitcoin you eliminate the banks processing fees and save up to 10% on the transaction.

Fina V Capital’s advisory fees range from a flat fee of $25,000.00 to as high as 5% of the contract value. Retailers such as Overstock and Tiger Direct have already processed over $1 million in Bitcoins within the first week.

Because Fina VC caters to entrepreneurs of emerging companies, some of whom want to mine Bitcoins, it fits within our corporate culture, said Gilabert. “Being first in our industry to accept Bitcoins will give us a competitive edge especially on the international community. We have had several inquiries about accepting this digital currency, there are many entrepreneurs that have a lot of value in Bitcoins and are now looking for way to leverage that value into a viable business venture” said Gilabert.

Bitcoins are gaining traction from the demand of businesses and consumers, earlier this month retailers Overstock.com and Tiger Direct started accepting Bitcoins as payment. “This is an important step towards creating a reserve currency that is free of the excessive fees charged by banks and brokers. I expect to see other major retailers announce acceptance of Bitcoins this year,” according to Gilabert.

Fina V Capital issued a buy recommendation on the digital currency last month when it was trading at $623.00 per coin. It recently traded as high a $950.00 per coin. Gilabert says, “I would recommend buying this digital currency on dips, this currency is here to stay because it does one thing, it cuts out the government and banking middleman and it allows direct deposits.”

Former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya stated, if Bitcoin could establish itself as a “useful reserve currency” it could worth more than $400,000.

According to Gilabert, “The reason People’s Bank of China announced that commercial banks in the country could no longer deal in the digital currency Bitcoin was because it undermines their Central Bank. Bitcoin allows a way to securely record transactions without the need for a Central Authority to confirm or verify those transactions. ”

“If you take Bitcoins and evaluate it has a standalone trading vehicle it shares the same virtues of gold. Bitcoin is mathematically constrained to 21 million coins, and the supply will grow in a predictable manner as needed ” according to Gilabert.

About Fina V Capital

Fina V Capital is a boutique venture capital firm founded by Keith Gilabert. The firm advises mergers and acquisitions, buyer and seller representation, capital planning, financial restructuring, securitization transactions, and credit rating advisory services. Additionally, it offers structuring, target valuation, fixed income and equity offerings management, capital structure analysis, and deal negotiation services.

Target clients range from emerging growth companies led by dedicated entrepreneurs to late-state, established companies seeking cash-flow for expansion. We give our clients access to our contacts of Fortune 500 companies which will add diversity to their product lines and help fuel growth. There are less than a dozen consulting firms worldwide that can offer this level of service.

Disney's Aulani on a Family Friendly Budget, How to Save $$$ by Keith Gilabert

2014-01-19T10:32:00.001-08:00

Disney's Aulani on a Budget.

This resort is a great place for families and especially the kids. The lagoon is beautiful and the resort is second to none. Keep in mind this resort is big on Polynesian Culture and small on Disney. You will see characters but its not like a Disney Cruise or the Disneyland Resort in FL or CA.

Now if you plan a trip to Aulani be prepared to pay resort prices for everything. A family of four can expect to pay $200-400 a day just for meals depending on which restaurants you choose.

This is what I did to save money:

1. Upon arrival to Honolulu rent a car from Alamo - it is also on the Aulani property, makes it easy for return, it will cost about $100 but you will have mobility on the island.

2. 50% of the Aulani Resort is a timeshare. Which means half the rooms are villas with full kitchens. Book an Aulani villa, if you search the net you can find owners selling their vacation weeks at the resort at a 10-30% discount, depending on the time of year.

3. Each villa comes with a full kitchen, dining nook, family room, washer/dryer, master suite and a spa style bathroom. The kitchen has granite counter tops, stove, oven and microwave.

4. Your food costs are going to be the easiest to control. Upon arrival to Aulani, take your rental car and go to Costco or Target, both are about 10 min from the resort. At Costco they have prepared read to heat meals and the refreshments are sold by the case. We spent about $300 at Costco for 7 days worth of meals. We also ate at the Makahiki restaurant and for a very average brunch we spent just over $200.00, so just imagine the cost of dining at the resort for 3 meals a day for 7 days.

5. Rent the car for 1 day, parking at the resort is $35.00 per day but you will save that by stocking your kitchen.

6. Aunty's Beach House is great for kids under 12. They have free and premium experiences. I did both and my kids had more fun at the free excursions. Tip : To sign-up for the free experiences such as "Disruption Eruption and Lilo's Space Goo" you get in line and sign-up at 8 am. Then you can return with you child and drop them off when it is closer to start time. These activities fill up fast.

7. When you depart the resort take Charlie's Taxi, they are clean, reliable and only charge $55.00 to get to the airport.

If you have any questions just leave a comment.

Thanks for visiting,

Keith

Fina V Capital's Keith Gilabert Sets $10,000 Target Price on Bitcoin (BTC)

2014-01-17T09:49:00.002-08:00

Beverly Hills, CA Fina V Capital is bullish on Bitcoin (BTC), with the price of the digital currency soaring to as high as $10,000.00 per coin by the end of 2015. The President of Fina V Capital Keith Gilabert states, “Our price analysis is based on the demand we see from hedge fund groups and the decentralizing of third world currencies.”

Fina VC currently has an agressive 12 month target price of $5,000.00 for Bitcoin (BTC). "We only recommend professional investors trade Bitcoins, the purpose of Bitcoins is for commerce within a single currency not trade the currency. If you do trade you must understand that there could be a total loss."

Gilabert states, “The value in Bitcoin comes from the ease of use for trade. There are currently 178 currencies used around the world. The exchange rates fluctuate quite a bit and the banks processing fees can reach as high as 12% on a single transaction. With Bitcoin you eliminate the banks processing fees and save up to 10% on the transaction. If you take a nominal figure such as a $1 billion in transactions that’s over $100 million the consumer has saved in fees and now has additional buying power.”

Bitcoins are gaining traction from the demand of businesses and consumers, last week Overstock.com started accepting Bitcoins as payment. “This is an important step towards creating a reserve currency that is free of the excessive fees charged by banks and brokers. I expect to see other major retailers announce acceptance of Bitcoins this year,” according to Gilabert.

Winklevoss Capital, headed by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss who came up with the idea that that gave Mark Zuckerberg the inspiration of Facebook, stated that the price of Bitcoin could reach $10,000 and maybe worth $40,000 per coin someday.

Another bullish prediction came from Chris Dixon Partner of Andreessen Horowitz who believes a single Bitcoin might even be worth $100,000.

Dixon goes on to compare Bitcoins to internet domain names, “It would have been absurd to say in 1993 that domain names were worth $10m each.”

Former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya stated, if Bitcoin could establish itself as a “useful reserve currency” it could worth more than $400,000.

Bitcoin protocol creates a blockchain, which tracks each and every transaction on the network. Bitcoin’s lead developer Gavin Andresen stated, “The idea is to give people a way to do what they clearly want to do, but do it in a responsible way that strikes a balance between you and whatever you want into the blockchain.”

This allows a contract to only be triggered by data feeds within the blockchain encrypted on the Bitcoin.

Investment from venture capitalist in Bitcoin has begun to gain momentum. Coinbase raised $25 million from Netscape creator Marc Andreessen and BitPay has raised $2 million from venture firms. “These are major players in the Bitcoin arena and this is further confirmation that there is value in Bitcoins”, according to Gilabert.

Bank of America today started coverage on Bitcoin with a target of $1,300.00.

"Student Debt Forgiveness"

2013-12-26T16:40:00.003-08:00

By Keith Gilabert

One of the biggest challenges I faced after college was making payments on my student loans. I got an entry level job with an investment bank and was making the bare minimum to pay for my rent and basic necessities. At the same time I had a $248.00 a month student loan payment. As you know, life happens… My car broke down and I needed to make a choice, fix the car so I can go to work or pay my student loan. I chose to fix my car and got hit with some severe penalties. I eventually paid it off but it was extremely difficult and I had to contact the lender to make a modification on my payments because I did not want to default on my obligations.

Today, there are about 7 million student loans in default. What is even more troubling is that the student loan market has crossed the $1 trillion mark according to the Department of Education. In order to avoid another financial meltdown, Congress has approved a new plan called, “Pay As You Earn.” This program only applies to federal funded loans and it will keep out of default which is very important if you would like to buy a car or house later in life.

This plan pegs the payment at roughly 10% of your income above the poverty line and any remaining balance is forgiven after 20 years. Right now borrowers are looking more short-term and just trying to reduce the monthly payment as small as possible.

The Extended Payment programs that slices your payments comes with a catch. You pay more in interest even if the payments are reduced and the balance will go up.
Be careful not to miss a payment. Even if you’re late once or twice, it will haunt you for many years. Government and private lenders such as Sallie Mae will report your late payments to credit bureaus. I remember when I applied for my first job the company ran my credit report, you can be denied a professional license if you have bad credit. Keep in mind, credit checks can be pulled by anyone with permissible financial purpose such as a landlord or auto lender. Defaulting on a student loan will cause severe damage to your credit report. This can stay on your credit report for up to ten years and not only will you be denied any additional financial aid but your wages and tax refunds can be garnished.

Don’t get discouraged about getting a student loan. The federal student loan programs offer the most options when it comes making payments. They offer income based repayment and they also offer deferments and forbearances are granted for a few months at a time, and they will extend the time if circumstances haven’t changed yet.

Keep in mind, the average income for a college graduate in $13,000.00 more per year than someone with a high school diploma.

About Keith Gilabert
Keith Gilabert's research interests are in the broad areas of education policy, housing policy, immigration policy and political economy. Within those areas, he has published numerous scholarly articles on the topics of residential segregation, immigrant assimilation, housing affordability, the consequences of gentrification, the determinants of student achievement in elementary and secondary school, the causes and consequences of delinquent behavior among adolescents, teacher turnover, civic participation and voting patterns, and racial inequality in the labor market. He is currently working on a book on assimilation and immigration, From Immigrants to Americans, Sacrifices America made in order to become the dominant Power in the World.

GUNDLACH: SHORTING CHIPOTLE (CMG)

2013-12-26T16:37:00.002-08:00

Business Insider
By Matthew Boesler | Apr. 11, 2013, 1:35 PM

"Bond God" Jeff Gundlach is hosting a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club today.

As part of the luncheon, Gundlach presents his market views. Josh Brown, author of the popular financial blog The Reformed Broker, is tweeting Gundlach's presentation live.

Gundlach has a lot of interesting things to say today. One thing he recommended was shorting Chipotle. According to Brown, he was saving this idea to be unveiled at the Ira Sohn investment conference, but he couldn't resist mentioning it today.

According to Investor Keith Gilabert, "In my experience, shorting a stock when the trend is not in your favor could prove very costly, Mr. Gundlach could be right but the market can always make you wrong."

Read more

“Made in the USA”

2013-12-26T16:36:00.000-08:00

By Keith Gilabert

Japanese auto manufacturing made a significant impact on the American car market in the 1970s with vast improvements in quality, reliability and fuel economy. As a result, the three major American firms were forced to change the way they manufactured cars.

Then in 1982, with only 5% of the car market, Honda Accord became the first car from a Japanese manufacturer to be produced in the United States when production commenced in Ohio at Honda's Marysville Auto Plant. The Accord has achieved considerable success, especially in the United States, in 1990 the Accord sedan unseated the Ford Taurus as the best-selling car in America. The Ohio built Accord went on to be the #1 selling car for fifteen years (1982–97), topping its class in sales in 1991 and 2001, with around ten million vehicles sold. Numerous road tests, past and present, rate the Accord as one of the world's most reliable vehicles.

A testament to American manufacturing and Japanese engineering is Joe LoCicero who purchased “True Blue,” his 1990 Honda Accord LX which he purchased used in 1996 with 74,000 mile on it. Joe set out with the mission to prove that with proper maintenance that he could extend the life of his Accord.

After 15 years and 185 oil changes, 72 tires 31 transmission fluid changes and 13 sets of brakes pads, Joe has over 1,000,000 miles on his Accord.

Today five of the top ten selling cars in the United States are from Japanese companies but are made in America. The following automobiles are foreign owned but domestic in manufacturing: Toyota Camry, Sienna, Tundra and Honda Accord and Pilot.

Thursday, January 1	New Year’s Day
Monday, January 19	Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 16*	Washington’s Birthday
Monday, May 25	Memorial Day
Friday, July 3**	Independence Day
Monday, September 7	Labor Day
Monday, October 12	Columbus Day
Wednesday, November 11	Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26	Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 25	Christmas Day