Recag/C4_21 · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 9 93k
Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives Inc.
“The fence is completed along the 133-km stretch of the border, and is currently being equipped with Bruno’s spiral and repellents to reinforce the deterrent effect on migratory animals,’’ said Yanko Ivanov, deputy minister of agriculture, food and forestry, after an inspection of part of the fence.
The fence was built over four weeks.
Bulgaria has not registered any case of African swine fever, Ivanov’s press office said.
Ivanov said Romania’s African swine fever situation was “very worrying’’, adding that the disease had hit the biggest pig farm in Romania only 50 km from the Bulgarian border.
On August 22, Romania reported 725 outbreaks of African swine fever in 156 locations in the northwest and southeast of the country.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Walking is not only a great first exercise, it can also be a forever exercise.
Here are some ideas to show you how to take it to the next level.
Making walking more of a challenge enables you to burn more calories and raise your working heart rate. You can do this by working out on a treadmill with an incline setting and wearing a weighted vest. You can start with either one to scale up or combine both ideas for a greater challenge.
According to the American Council on Exercise, wearing a weighted vest is a great option if you're relatively new to exercise because it won't feel as difficult as ramping up your speed, for instance. If you choose a vest that weighs about 15 percent of your bodyweight, you can burn 12 percent more calories when walking at 2.5 miles per hour -- an easy pace. You can achieve a slightly higher calorie burn by wearing a vest that's just 10 percent of your bodyweight if you walk on a treadmill at that speed and at an incline with a 5 or 10 percent grade.
To ease into the combined approach, walk for 5 minutes at a flat or 0 grade, then 5 minutes at 5 percent grade, followed by 5 minutes at 10 percent grade. Finish up by going back to the 5 percent grade before a cool-down period at 0 grade.
You can also adapt the vest and use of incline to interval training. After a warm-up, walk at a 10 percent grade for 2 minutes, then at 0 grade for 4 minutes. Repeat the sequence for up to 30 minutes.
Remember that if you haven't exercised in some time, check with your doctor before starting any routine.
Find out more about the calorie-burning benefits of wearing a weighted vest at ACEFitness.org.
Campbell Brothers provides consulting and analytical laboratory services.
Campbell Brothers provides consulting and analytical laboratory services. Other activities include manufacturing and distributing cleaning agents and chemicals for household and industrial customers and distributing non-food consumables to the health care, building services, hospitality and leisure industries. Operations are carried out in Australasia, Americas and other regions.
Chase Hunter is a sophomore from Westlake High in Atlanta, and before we show you his recent dunk, let us just say that we hope the defender is OK. Also we suggest trying to take a charge a little further away from the basket.
OK, get ready for takeoff.
Wow. This almost caused a riot. How come no one made a similar fuss in response to my nifty backcut layins?
Video by Chase's brother, Jaden Hunter, who has committed to play football at the University of Georgia.
The Noblesville teacher stopped the shooter during Friday's incident at middle school.
Jason Seaman, the teacher being hailed as a hero in the shooting at Noblesville West Middle School, has been released from the hospital.
Congresswoman Susan Brooks said in a video posted to YouTube this afternoon that Seaman had been released from the hospital and she had met him at the middle school earlier in the day. She also released a photo of herself shaking hands with Seaman at what looks to be West Middle School.
He was shot in his classroom Friday morning after Noblesville police say a boy in his class asked to be excused and returned with two handguns, allegedly shooting Seaman and 13-year-old Ella Whistler.
Ella was is in “critical, yet stable” condition at Riley Hospital for Children as of Friday night.
Seaman released a statement Friday, thanking first responders and his students.
A prayer vigil is being held tonight at 7 at Federal Hill Commons in Noblesville.
Indystar reporters Emma Kate Fittes and Tony Cook contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) —More than half a million Federal workers live below or at the poverty level, according to a spokesman for the nation's largest Federal employe union. He said many would defy Federal law by going on strike if wages were not improved.
John F. Giiner, president of the American Federation of Government Employes, described as inadequate before House Civil Service subcommittee Tuesday, bills introduced by the Administration and subcommittee members to set up system of nearly automatic pay increases for Federal workers.
The bills would initiate a system of comparing Government and private industry salaries and then adjusting Federal pay upward annually upon recommendation of the President and approval of Congress.
Mr. Griner said the 304,300 members of his union want an R to 10 per cent pay raise, retroactive to July I, 1970. and a provision for compulsory arbitration written into any new Federal pay law.
Throwing 15 strikeouts in Babe Ruth.
For Love of the Game.
Future Plans: To attend a four-year college, and then go to law school.
Parents: Geri and Kevin Sargent of Clinton.
I'm sure John Daly knows the rules. But he doesn't give a damn about them.
That Yao and Daly don't have a buddy-buddy cop show is our generation's greatest failure.
Hey, Daly's hanging out with Hootie and the Blowfish! What could go wrong?
In a related note, the band went on hiatus shortly after this photo was taken.
Only Andre Agassi, Kenny Powers and (insert any Canadian hockey player from the '80s here) owned better mullets than JD.
I think this was a promotional shoot, but judging by the drink in his hand and ease with the tongs, pretty sure Daly turned this into a real BBQ.
I know Dubai is miles in the distance...but I truly believe Daly was trying to clear those skyscrapers.
All this photo is missing is a majestic eagle and fireworks.
For once, Daly is not the longest hitter, or worst singer, in the group.
Not sure if this is the restaurant's entire staff, or just the waitresses assigned to Daly's table.
The photo was taken the day after Daly won the 1995 Open Championship. Guessing he's on the beach to wash out all the spirits that were in the claret jug from the night before.
Daly has been known to loss his temper a time or too, like when he riffled his iron into Lake Michigan at the 2015 PGA Championship.
You're damn right this is my new desktop background.
I'm convinced this photo made wearing baseball hats backwards cool.
Critics will say this ensemble was a marketing ploy. Personally, I think the dude just digs the show.
This...we're not sure what to make of this.
Seriously, given this year's election, it's not out of the question.
Frankly, it would be weird if a falcon wasn't perched on John Daly's arm.
The easiest game of "Where's Waldo?"
What can we say? The guy sticks out in a crowd.
My back just gave out looking at this photo.
John Daly's face says, "Hell yeah! I'm playing with Jack freaking Nicklaus!" Jack's face says, "Somebody, please help."
Nice place, right? Especially once you realize that's Daly's motorhome.
It's rare for someone to be, ahem, more colorful in their clothing than Daly.
Never has one looked so solemn after winning a major.
We are going on a limb and saying gastrointestinal factors were at play.
Just like the U.S., Daly started as an underdog. Like the U.S., Daly occasionally finds himself in trouble. And like the U.S., Daly continues to persevere.
What good is a trophy if you can't drink from it, anyway?
Amazed more stores don't open with a golf-ball-through-glass-door ceremony.
Hope you're sitting down: Daly did not take the safe route.
Truer words have never been written.
Joel Beall is a Staff Writer for Golf Digest. He previously worked for FOXSports, the Cincinnati Enquirer and WhatIfSports.com. Beall owns a Golden Tee Machine and a broken putting stroke.
Profile: Oil is not the only precious commodity relentlessly sought in the UAE. Another is Hussain al Nowais's time.
Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of Khalifa Fund, is a towering figure in the UAE's business world.
The SM-6 is designed to destroy almost anything.
The U.S. Navy's latest missile, the SM-6, is a versatile bird indeed. The latest in a long line of Standard surface-to-air missiles, it can engage not only aircraft but also incoming cruise missiles and low-flying anti-ship missiles. In a pinch it can even be used against incoming ballistic missiles, and can even be used against enemy ships and land targets.
This video follows a SM-6 missile on a journey from being loaded by a crane into a Mark 41 vertical launch system silo pier-side to launch during the August 2015 STELLAR AX air defense exercises. It incorporates 360-degree video for a totally immersive experience.
SM-6 ERAM (Standard Extended Range Active Missile) was developed from the Standard SM-2 surface-to-air missile. Its range is classified and is thought to be as far as 290 miles, making it the longest range Navy surface-to-air missile ever. The missile's seeker is adapted from the AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missile, and has its own radar.
SM-6 launch from the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Laboon, February 2015. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael J. Lieberknecht.
SM-6 is able to operate within the U.S. Navy's NIFC-CA, or Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air network. This will allow aircraft such as the E-2D Hawkeye or even the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter to spot low flying missiles ship-based radars cannot, due to the curvature of the Earth. The aircraft can relay targeting information to back to the fleet, at which point a Navy cruiser or destroyer can then engage the missile with a SM-6.
Standard is a jack-of-all-trades, which means it doesn't do everything well. It can only intercept ballistic missiles in the terminal phase, as their warheads re-enter the atmosphere over the target just seconds from impact. And it lacks a powerful enough warhead to take out large or heavily armored fortifications such as tanks or bunkers. But a really, really good surface-to-air missile with some anti-ship capability is better than one with no anti-ship capability at all.
USS John Paul Jones launches an SM-6 missile during a 2014 exercise. U.S. Navy photo.
The distinguished French conductor Bertrand de Billy makes his début with the APO, opening with Debussy’s languid masterpiece of high summer. Then the mighty Auckland Town Hall organ lets rip, as the organist Benjamin Sheen plays Poulenc’s darkly Gothic but very French concerto.
The composer César Franck, who was an organist in his day job, would have approved. His only symphony, written in the twilight of his career, is an ingenious blend of French sensibility and German form set in a three-movement format. This open, approachable work is laced with one splendid melody after another.
Debt collectors have been known to use dirty tricks to get consumers to pay, but those collecting student loans have an especially powerful tool on their side. Unlike most other debt, student loan debt cannot be routinely discharged in bankruptcy. And depending on the type of loan, the debts can be collected through wage garnishments or even as deductions from Social Security checks. Student loan borrowers suffer from a decided lack of leverage when dealing with lenders and collectors.
This position of power emboldens student loan debt collectors. Perhaps that's why, when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau examined student loan servicing recently, it found a company that routinely called debtors at odd hours, violating federal law. In fact, one borrower received 48 such calls.
The massive student loan problem (there's now more outstanding student loan debt than credit card debt) is an anchor that is severely hampering some young Americans from starting their adult lives. Roughly one-third of adults aged 18-31 live with their parents. Of course, it's not the amount of the debt that's the problem, it's the number of former students who can't pay the debt. Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office said that about $94 billion -- more than 11 percent of the federal student loan volume in repayment -- was in default.
Most of those in-default consumers will end up in the hands of a debt collector. In fact, The Department of Education contracts with private debt collectors in an attempt to recover the debts. The agency estimates that in 2014, taxpayers and student loan borrowers will pay over $1 billion in commissions to student loan debt collectors, growing to over $2 billion by 2016.
For years, advocacy groups like the National Consumer Law Center having been trying to get student debt collectors, particularly those working for the Department of Education, to clean up their act. Advocates say that many do a poor job of explaining options to borrowers who fall behind, for example. A report issued by NCLC in September was heavily critical.
"The government's use of debt collection agencies is short sighted in that promoting paths to success for struggling borrowers, especially those who are low income, is ultimately less costly for taxpayers than hammering them ... the rest of their lives with draconian collection tools," said National Consumer Law Center attorney and co-author Persis Yu.
Now, there is some new federal attention on student loan debt collection. The CFPB supervises student loan servicing at large banks, and is supervising other kinds of student lenders, too.
Last week, the agency issued a supervisory report which offered examples of anti-borrower behavior in student loan collections, impacting both consumers who were up to date and those who were in default.
Here is what they found.
"In at least one examination, Supervision cited a student loan servicer for an unfair practice because its automated dialer routinely placed telephone calls to delinquent consumers in the early morning or late at night, which examiners determined was a form of harassment and an unfair practice. During the review, examiners identified more than 5,000 calls made at inconvenient times during a 45-day period, which included 48 inconvenient calls made to one consumer," the CFPB wrote.
"CFPB examiners have reviewed how servicers allocate payments when a borrower pays less than the total amount due on all of the loans in the borrower's account. Examiners found that partial payments were being allocated proportionally, or pro rata, among all the loans, resulting in all of the loans in a borrower's account becoming delinquent. In instances that examiners observed, each loan in the account was then charged a minimum late fee. Taken together, these practices maximized the late fees for the consumer," the CFPB found.
"CFPB examiners identified a deceptive practice where a student loan servicer represented to consumers that an inflated minimum payment was due on periodic statements and online account statements. The minimum payment amount included accrued interest on loans that were still in deferment, which was therefore not actually due," the CFPB wrote.
"CFPB examiners found one or more supervised entities that were charging late fees when payments were received during the grace period. Like many other types of loans, many student loan contracts have grace periods after the due date. If a payment is received after the due date but during the grace period, the promissory note stated that late fees would not be charged. Examiners have found instances where late fees were being charged during the grace period," the CFPB wrote.
Paying off the debt is essential to moving on with life. So criticizing debt collection tactics, while legitimate, doesn't improve things for debtors. What does? Getting the debt out of default by working out a reasonable repayment plan, something the CFPB is encouraging lenders todo. There are also forgiveness programs for graduates who work in certain fields, such as teachers who take jobs in low-income neighborhoods. And in extreme cases, despite what some lenders tell borrowers, it is possible to prove "undue hardship" in bankruptcy court and have student loans discharged.
So the calls might be rude, and consumers should exercise their rights to fair treatment, but no one with student loan debt should ignore the problem. It only gets bigger.
BAGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio Domogan expressed support for Vice President Jejomar Binay, who campaigned in the city on the same day as his political nemesis Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas.
In an interview Sunday night, Domogan vouched for the experience of Binay as longest-serving Makati mayor, a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair and erstwhile vice president elected in 2010.
“Talagang down-to-earth ang kaniyang pagsisilbi sa ikabubuti ng ating kababayan. That alone shows at maidagdagdag sa sinasabi nating experience niya sa pagkaalkalde niya tapos binoto pang bise presidente ng Pilipinas, nagtatlong beses na head ng MMDA. Ano pa ang hanapin nating experience? Talagang punong puno,” Domogan said.
Domogan said he supported Binay as a friend although he is a member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat party.
He said he does not intend to snub the campaign visit of Roxas here, however, he was not invited to seek an audience with Roxas during the latter’s sortie.

Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives Inc.

“The fence is completed along the 133-km stretch of the border, and is currently being equipped with Bruno’s spiral and repellents to reinforce the deterrent effect on migratory animals,’’ said Yanko Ivanov, deputy minister of agriculture, food and forestry, after an inspection of part of the fence.

The fence was built over four weeks.

Bulgaria has not registered any case of African swine fever, Ivanov’s press office said.

Ivanov said Romania’s African swine fever situation was “very worrying’’, adding that the disease had hit the biggest pig farm in Romania only 50 km from the Bulgarian border.

On August 22, Romania reported 725 outbreaks of African swine fever in 156 locations in the northwest and southeast of the country.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Walking is not only a great first exercise, it can also be a forever exercise.

Here are some ideas to show you how to take it to the next level.

Making walking more of a challenge enables you to burn more calories and raise your working heart rate. You can do this by working out on a treadmill with an incline setting and wearing a weighted vest. You can start with either one to scale up or combine both ideas for a greater challenge.

According to the American Council on Exercise, wearing a weighted vest is a great option if you're relatively new to exercise because it won't feel as difficult as ramping up your speed, for instance. If you choose a vest that weighs about 15 percent of your bodyweight, you can burn 12 percent more calories when walking at 2.5 miles per hour -- an easy pace. You can achieve a slightly higher calorie burn by wearing a vest that's just 10 percent of your bodyweight if you walk on a treadmill at that speed and at an incline with a 5 or 10 percent grade.

To ease into the combined approach, walk for 5 minutes at a flat or 0 grade, then 5 minutes at 5 percent grade, followed by 5 minutes at 10 percent grade. Finish up by going back to the 5 percent grade before a cool-down period at 0 grade.

You can also adapt the vest and use of incline to interval training. After a warm-up, walk at a 10 percent grade for 2 minutes, then at 0 grade for 4 minutes. Repeat the sequence for up to 30 minutes.

Remember that if you haven't exercised in some time, check with your doctor before starting any routine.

Find out more about the calorie-burning benefits of wearing a weighted vest at ACEFitness.org.

Campbell Brothers provides consulting and analytical laboratory services.

Campbell Brothers provides consulting and analytical laboratory services. Other activities include manufacturing and distributing cleaning agents and chemicals for household and industrial customers and distributing non-food consumables to the health care, building services, hospitality and leisure industries. Operations are carried out in Australasia, Americas and other regions.

Chase Hunter is a sophomore from Westlake High in Atlanta, and before we show you his recent dunk, let us just say that we hope the defender is OK. Also we suggest trying to take a charge a little further away from the basket.

OK, get ready for takeoff.

Wow. This almost caused a riot. How come no one made a similar fuss in response to my nifty backcut layins?

Video by Chase's brother, Jaden Hunter, who has committed to play football at the University of Georgia.

The Noblesville teacher stopped the shooter during Friday's incident at middle school.

Jason Seaman, the teacher being hailed as a hero in the shooting at Noblesville West Middle School, has been released from the hospital.

Congresswoman Susan Brooks said in a video posted to YouTube this afternoon that Seaman had been released from the hospital and she had met him at the middle school earlier in the day. She also released a photo of herself shaking hands with Seaman at what looks to be West Middle School.

He was shot in his classroom Friday morning after Noblesville police say a boy in his class asked to be excused and returned with two handguns, allegedly shooting Seaman and 13-year-old Ella Whistler.

Ella was is in “critical, yet stable” condition at Riley Hospital for Children as of Friday night.

Seaman released a statement Friday, thanking first responders and his students.

A prayer vigil is being held tonight at 7 at Federal Hill Commons in Noblesville.

Indystar reporters Emma Kate Fittes and Tony Cook contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) —More than half a million Federal workers live below or at the poverty level, according to a spokesman for the nation's largest Federal employe union. He said many would defy Federal law by going on strike if wages were not improved.

John F. Giiner, president of the American Federation of Government Employes, described as inadequate before House Civil Service subcommittee Tuesday, bills introduced by the Administration and subcommittee members to set up system of nearly automatic pay increases for Federal workers.

The bills would initiate a system of comparing Government and private industry salaries and then adjusting Federal pay upward annually upon recommendation of the President and approval of Congress.

Mr. Griner said the 304,300 members of his union want an R to 10 per cent pay raise, retroactive to July I, 1970. and a provision for compulsory arbitration written into any new Federal pay law.

Throwing 15 strikeouts in Babe Ruth.

For Love of the Game.

Future Plans: To attend a four-year college, and then go to law school.

Parents: Geri and Kevin Sargent of Clinton.

I'm sure John Daly knows the rules. But he doesn't give a damn about them.

That Yao and Daly don't have a buddy-buddy cop show is our generation's greatest failure.

Hey, Daly's hanging out with Hootie and the Blowfish! What could go wrong?

In a related note, the band went on hiatus shortly after this photo was taken.

Only Andre Agassi, Kenny Powers and (insert any Canadian hockey player from the '80s here) owned better mullets than JD.

I think this was a promotional shoot, but judging by the drink in his hand and ease with the tongs, pretty sure Daly turned this into a real BBQ.

I know Dubai is miles in the distance...but I truly believe Daly was trying to clear those skyscrapers.

All this photo is missing is a majestic eagle and fireworks.

For once, Daly is not the longest hitter, or worst singer, in the group.

Not sure if this is the restaurant's entire staff, or just the waitresses assigned to Daly's table.

The photo was taken the day after Daly won the 1995 Open Championship. Guessing he's on the beach to wash out all the spirits that were in the claret jug from the night before.

Daly has been known to loss his temper a time or too, like when he riffled his iron into Lake Michigan at the 2015 PGA Championship.

You're damn right this is my new desktop background.

I'm convinced this photo made wearing baseball hats backwards cool.

Critics will say this ensemble was a marketing ploy. Personally, I think the dude just digs the show.

This...we're not sure what to make of this.

Seriously, given this year's election, it's not out of the question.

Frankly, it would be weird if a falcon wasn't perched on John Daly's arm.

The easiest game of "Where's Waldo?"

What can we say? The guy sticks out in a crowd.

My back just gave out looking at this photo.

John Daly's face says, "Hell yeah! I'm playing with Jack freaking Nicklaus!" Jack's face says, "Somebody, please help."

Nice place, right? Especially once you realize that's Daly's motorhome.

It's rare for someone to be, ahem, more colorful in their clothing than Daly.

Never has one looked so solemn after winning a major.

We are going on a limb and saying gastrointestinal factors were at play.

Just like the U.S., Daly started as an underdog. Like the U.S., Daly occasionally finds himself in trouble. And like the U.S., Daly continues to persevere.

What good is a trophy if you can't drink from it, anyway?

Amazed more stores don't open with a golf-ball-through-glass-door ceremony.

Hope you're sitting down: Daly did not take the safe route.

Truer words have never been written.

Joel Beall is a Staff Writer for Golf Digest. He previously worked for FOXSports, the Cincinnati Enquirer and WhatIfSports.com. Beall owns a Golden Tee Machine and a broken putting stroke.

Profile: Oil is not the only precious commodity relentlessly sought in the UAE. Another is Hussain al Nowais's time.

Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of Khalifa Fund, is a towering figure in the UAE's business world.

The SM-6 is designed to destroy almost anything.

The U.S. Navy's latest missile, the SM-6, is a versatile bird indeed. The latest in a long line of Standard surface-to-air missiles, it can engage not only aircraft but also incoming cruise missiles and low-flying anti-ship missiles. In a pinch it can even be used against incoming ballistic missiles, and can even be used against enemy ships and land targets.

This video follows a SM-6 missile on a journey from being loaded by a crane into a Mark 41 vertical launch system silo pier-side to launch during the August 2015 STELLAR AX air defense exercises. It incorporates 360-degree video for a totally immersive experience.

SM-6 ERAM (Standard Extended Range Active Missile) was developed from the Standard SM-2 surface-to-air missile. Its range is classified and is thought to be as far as 290 miles, making it the longest range Navy surface-to-air missile ever. The missile's seeker is adapted from the AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missile, and has its own radar.

SM-6 launch from the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Laboon, February 2015. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael J. Lieberknecht.

SM-6 is able to operate within the U.S. Navy's NIFC-CA, or Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air network. This will allow aircraft such as the E-2D Hawkeye or even the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter to spot low flying missiles ship-based radars cannot, due to the curvature of the Earth. The aircraft can relay targeting information to back to the fleet, at which point a Navy cruiser or destroyer can then engage the missile with a SM-6.

Standard is a jack-of-all-trades, which means it doesn't do everything well. It can only intercept ballistic missiles in the terminal phase, as their warheads re-enter the atmosphere over the target just seconds from impact. And it lacks a powerful enough warhead to take out large or heavily armored fortifications such as tanks or bunkers. But a really, really good surface-to-air missile with some anti-ship capability is better than one with no anti-ship capability at all.

USS John Paul Jones launches an SM-6 missile during a 2014 exercise. U.S. Navy photo.

The distinguished French conductor Bertrand de Billy makes his début with the APO, opening with Debussy’s languid masterpiece of high summer. Then the mighty Auckland Town Hall organ lets rip, as the organist Benjamin Sheen plays Poulenc’s darkly Gothic but very French concerto.

The composer César Franck, who was an organist in his day job, would have approved. His only symphony, written in the twilight of his career, is an ingenious blend of French sensibility and German form set in a three-movement format. This open, approachable work is laced with one splendid melody after another.

Debt collectors have been known to use dirty tricks to get consumers to pay, but those collecting student loans have an especially powerful tool on their side. Unlike most other debt, student loan debt cannot be routinely discharged in bankruptcy. And depending on the type of loan, the debts can be collected through wage garnishments or even as deductions from Social Security checks. Student loan borrowers suffer from a decided lack of leverage when dealing with lenders and collectors.

This position of power emboldens student loan debt collectors. Perhaps that's why, when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau examined student loan servicing recently, it found a company that routinely called debtors at odd hours, violating federal law. In fact, one borrower received 48 such calls.

The massive student loan problem (there's now more outstanding student loan debt than credit card debt) is an anchor that is severely hampering some young Americans from starting their adult lives. Roughly one-third of adults aged 18-31 live with their parents. Of course, it's not the amount of the debt that's the problem, it's the number of former students who can't pay the debt. Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office said that about $94 billion -- more than 11 percent of the federal student loan volume in repayment -- was in default.

Most of those in-default consumers will end up in the hands of a debt collector. In fact, The Department of Education contracts with private debt collectors in an attempt to recover the debts. The agency estimates that in 2014, taxpayers and student loan borrowers will pay over $1 billion in commissions to student loan debt collectors, growing to over $2 billion by 2016.

For years, advocacy groups like the National Consumer Law Center having been trying to get student debt collectors, particularly those working for the Department of Education, to clean up their act. Advocates say that many do a poor job of explaining options to borrowers who fall behind, for example. A report issued by NCLC in September was heavily critical.

"The government's use of debt collection agencies is short sighted in that promoting paths to success for struggling borrowers, especially those who are low income, is ultimately less costly for taxpayers than hammering them ... the rest of their lives with draconian collection tools," said National Consumer Law Center attorney and co-author Persis Yu.

Now, there is some new federal attention on student loan debt collection. The CFPB supervises student loan servicing at large banks, and is supervising other kinds of student lenders, too.

Last week, the agency issued a supervisory report which offered examples of anti-borrower behavior in student loan collections, impacting both consumers who were up to date and those who were in default.

Here is what they found.

"In at least one examination, Supervision cited a student loan servicer for an unfair practice because its automated dialer routinely placed telephone calls to delinquent consumers in the early morning or late at night, which examiners determined was a form of harassment and an unfair practice. During the review, examiners identified more than 5,000 calls made at inconvenient times during a 45-day period, which included 48 inconvenient calls made to one consumer," the CFPB wrote.

"CFPB examiners have reviewed how servicers allocate payments when a borrower pays less than the total amount due on all of the loans in the borrower's account. Examiners found that partial payments were being allocated proportionally, or pro rata, among all the loans, resulting in all of the loans in a borrower's account becoming delinquent. In instances that examiners observed, each loan in the account was then charged a minimum late fee. Taken together, these practices maximized the late fees for the consumer," the CFPB found.

"CFPB examiners identified a deceptive practice where a student loan servicer represented to consumers that an inflated minimum payment was due on periodic statements and online account statements. The minimum payment amount included accrued interest on loans that were still in deferment, which was therefore not actually due," the CFPB wrote.

"CFPB examiners found one or more supervised entities that were charging late fees when payments were received during the grace period. Like many other types of loans, many student loan contracts have grace periods after the due date. If a payment is received after the due date but during the grace period, the promissory note stated that late fees would not be charged. Examiners have found instances where late fees were being charged during the grace period," the CFPB wrote.

Paying off the debt is essential to moving on with life. So criticizing debt collection tactics, while legitimate, doesn't improve things for debtors. What does? Getting the debt out of default by working out a reasonable repayment plan, something the CFPB is encouraging lenders todo. There are also forgiveness programs for graduates who work in certain fields, such as teachers who take jobs in low-income neighborhoods. And in extreme cases, despite what some lenders tell borrowers, it is possible to prove "undue hardship" in bankruptcy court and have student loans discharged.

So the calls might be rude, and consumers should exercise their rights to fair treatment, but no one with student loan debt should ignore the problem. It only gets bigger.

BAGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio Domogan expressed support for Vice President Jejomar Binay, who campaigned in the city on the same day as his political nemesis Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

In an interview Sunday night, Domogan vouched for the experience of Binay as longest-serving Makati mayor, a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair and erstwhile vice president elected in 2010.

“Talagang down-to-earth ang kaniyang pagsisilbi sa ikabubuti ng ating kababayan. That alone shows at maidagdagdag sa sinasabi nating experience niya sa pagkaalkalde niya tapos binoto pang bise presidente ng Pilipinas, nagtatlong beses na head ng MMDA. Ano pa ang hanapin nating experience? Talagang punong puno,” Domogan said.

Domogan said he supported Binay as a friend although he is a member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat party.

He said he does not intend to snub the campaign visit of Roxas here, however, he was not invited to seek an audience with Roxas during the latter’s sortie.