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It does just the opposite.
When the Virginia General Assembly enacted S.B. 1349 in 2015, it froze electric rates at levels that were designed to allow Dominion to over-collect money from its customers; as a consequence, Virginians are now paying too much for their electricity because Dominion is earning unjustified profits.
In 2015, the staff of the State Corporation Commission determined that Dominion's rates were designed to produce excess revenue of $310 million in 2015 and $299 million in 2016. The "rate freeze" law prohibits the commission from ordering any rate decreases or refunds until at least 2023. Thus, hundreds of millions of Virginians' dollars will continue to flow to Dominion every year. Significantly, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) recently conceded that the law he signed was a mistake, but he hasn't done anything to fix it.
Dominion's argument ignores the reality that Dominion is a regulated utility. In exchange for being a monopoly electric service provider, e.g., the only game in town, the commission has the constitutional power and duty to regulate Dominion's rates. No other company can deliver your electricity to you because, by law, competition is not allowed.
That is obviously not the case with grocery items. Could you imagine, should your grocer's wholesale cost of cereal decrease, that you were then legally required to pay the same retail price and legally prohibited from buying cereal from anyone else? It would be a sweet deal for the grocery store, but not for your wallet. That's the position Dominion is in under S.B. 1349.
Rather than talk about its excess profits, Dominion wants you to be thankful you don't live in Maryland or the District of Columbia, where electricity rates are higher. That comparison fails because, in setting Dominion's rates, the commission looks at Dominion's costs incurred to serve Virginians. Maryland and District residents are served by different companies, and the costs that those companies incur are irrelevant to Dominion's costs and rates.
Dominion also asserts that the "rate freeze" law shifted the company's financial risk regarding environmental costs, such as compliance with the federal Clean Power Plan, from its ratepayers to its shareholders. But was there ever any such risk, and was it really shifted to shareholders? According to the commission, virtually all CPP compliance costs would have been eligible for recovery through current statutory rate adjustment clauses. These clauses allow for single-issue ratemaking for Dominion to recover its costs, rather than having them absorbed in Dominion's frozen base rates.
Furthermore, in a recent case at the commission, Dominion's own modeling identified relatively few costs to comply with the CPP that would be incurred during the rate freeze period. Even if the CPP were to take effect, its compliance period would not begin until 2022. That is the same year the next review of Dominion's base rates is scheduled to occur under the "rate freeze" law. As the commission so diplomatically concluded in 2016, "the currently-effective base-rate freeze is highly unlikely to protect Virginia ratepayers from the bulk of CPP compliance costs."
S.B. 1349 did include laudable provisions relating to weatherization, emergency assistance and solar energy projects, which Dominion should be doing anyway, but they are separate portions of the statute that would remain if the rate-freeze provision were stripped out, and their actual cost is far less than what the utility receives through its excessive frozen rates.
Under the state constitution, only the commission can set Dominion's electric rates. The General Assembly usurped that power and set rates so high that Dominion is reaping approximately $300 million in unjustified profits per year. Virginia's elected representatives should end this charade and return electric ratemaking to the commission. It is the only effective way to protect you, the ratepayer, from being charged too much for electricity. And you can continue to search for the lowest price groceries you can find.
The writer, a Democrat, is a former attorney general of Virginia. He created the Division of Consumer Counsel in that office.


text: Remy Loves Adriana: Get ready for the hottest lesbian sex ever! Adriana Sephora, the busty blonde beauty, strips out of her sexy black bikini when the irresistibly cute Remy LaCroix and her famous booty join her for some fun in the sun! The girls get soaking wet–not from splashing around in a pool–but by fucking each other! Don't miss these girls getting oiled up and touching each others hot spots in this summer's sexiest Hot & Mean scene!

subset: commoncrawl


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You may already be a DJ digital mixing meister, or a vinyl and CD expert, or you might have seen people playing with an MP3 digital DJ controller.
Today, the compressed audio method suffers from a major drawback; that of the variable sound quality in the compressed audio file. However, using higher compression rates and better equipment that is more adapted to playing digital sound has helped to counter this to some extent. Furthermore, sounds are being remastered for digital play and new releases are made by engineers aware that their sound will be played in digital format first.
Tomorrow, we'll have a new format of digital file, capable of delivering the same sound quality as vinyl and with similar properties to MP3s.
The reality is that MP3s are taking over the DJ world as people find ways to overcome its drawbacks. Traditionalists are obviously going mental barfing into their beer of couse, but there's absolutely nothing they can do about it.
Advantages of playing with MP3s:
1. Size – your whole music collection fits into one hard drive
2. Locating music – your sets are improved by easier organisation and quicker searches for that elusive tune you want to put on next
3. Mixing – great functionalities such as looping, sampling, effects, BPM matching
4. Own remixes – you can easily remix your own tracks and play them, unlike with other formats. Remixing on the fly is also possible
5. Cheaper prices of tracks and equipment
6. Releases are often out first on MP3 (although not always)
7. Tracks are never out of stock, very easy to find with a multitude to choose from
Disadvantages of DJing with MP3s:
1. Variable sound quality – sometimes, a disc jockey can experience a sudden drop in volume and/or quality from one track to the next. Compensating by increasing the volume can just overload the wrong sound frequencies and hurt people's ears.
2. Not so cool – doesn't look as cool as vinyl and mixing is far easier, with auto-syncing of BPM available.
3. Anyone can access the tunes you are playing, no limited editions. People can just copy you. Digital DJing may not look that smart, but can be countered by external timecoded vinyl control.
What do I use?
As we said before, the best is to learn all types. However, if your music collection is heavily loaded with vinyl you'll want to learn about mixing records first.
If your collection is mainly digital, you may choose digital equipment first to learn with, followed by vinyl mixing later.
A good disc jockey will know how to use all of these medium to mix.


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Orange County Instructor's Feature Story Appears on Website Below the Line
Filed under: Animation & Effects
June 12, 2017
Scott Essman, media arts faculty, The Art Institute of California—Orange County, a campus of Argosy University, wrote article that featured "Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2" visual effects supervisor Chris Townsend. The article appeared in for Below the Line, an industry website devoted to covering Hollywood crew members on TV and film productions.
Essman says in the article, "Visual effects supervisor Chris Townsend, [began the task] simply. 'I started this movie in July of 2015,' he said. 'We discussed the script with James [Gunn, the director] and the heads of the departments. The production designer was already on; there was already an amount of artwork with designs. We start breaking it down and figuring out what the work is, what it entails, how we should go about doing it, who we should award it to, and what it's going to cost. We did that for six - seven months before we actually started shooting.'" Read the full article here.
Learn more about our programs.Get Brochure
Filed under: Animation & Effects
June 12, 2017film production visual effects Video Production fine art


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This week our guest is Julie Simon, author of, "The Emotional Eater's Repair Manual: A Practical Mind-Body-Spirit Guide for Putting an End to Overeating. In it she states that most overeaters are emotional eaters who eat for comfort, soothing, distraction, and fulfillment rather than when they are truly physiologically hungry.
"The truth is, if you regularly eat when you're not hungry or when you're already full, or if you regularly choose to eat unhealthy comfort foods, the bulk of your overeating occurs not just because you love food and enjoy eating or have a stressful schedule. And it's not because you're lazy and undisciplined, have bad genes, or lack willpower," writes Simon. "Your emotional eating represents your limited ability to care for yourself. It's a sign that you're lacking self-care skills that are generally learned in childhood. Emotional eating highlights your difficulty in connecting to yourself; in paying attention to your mind, body, and spirit signals; and in responding appropriately to meet your needs."
According to Simon, diet books and programs don't address these tendencies and instead apply external solutions to internal problems. Simon spent a good portion of her life in a cycle of overeating and dieting. After years of study, therapy, and visits to healthcare practitioners, she was able to resolve all the pieces of the overeating puzzle in her own life. As a therapist and coach, she created the solutions she outlines in her book, which is based on her popular Twelve Week Emotional Eating Recovery Program. Now, like her clients, readers of The Emotional Eater's Repair Manual can learn to soothe and comfort themselves without turning to food, correct body and brain imbalances that trigger overeating and address their soul's hunger — to not only reach their ideal weight but also to become their best selves.


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Over 600 Short-toed Eagle came in off just east of Tarifa
At 10.30 a flock of 35 Black Kite arrived in a SE breeze at the north end of Tarifa Beach. However, I had no idea that over 1100 Black Kite would pass over head in the next two hours! I observed them in the shade from the burning sun as they headed inland. The only other birds that I saw also coming in were 13 Griffon Vulture, 40+White Stork and a male sparrowhawk.
Looking from the far north of Tarifa Beach towards Tarifa where I had over 1100 Black Kite this morning!
Over 40 White stork came in off the sea
One of the 13 Griffon Vulture
The sea can cause problems for raptors crossing The Strait, but also wind turbines can be a danger if they fly too close like this Sparrowhawk.
When the kites had dried up, I decided to go and get some grub, but when I drove into Tarifa, there were Short-toed Eagles coming in off the sea. A quick sandwich from the shop and on to coastal track east of the town. I scanned further east and could see kites and eagles streaming in and drove a mile further down road. I climbed a hill and from here I was at eye level as they hit the land. Thirty minutes later, some 500 Black Kite, 250 Short-toed Eagle, 7 Black Stork, 3 Booted Eagle and a single Egyptian Vulture had gone through. A lot of them were almost at arms length away as they looked into my eyes as they passed. I was off the beaten track, but somehow, two German birders came across me and we all started scanning the mass of raptors arriving across The Strait. They told me that just a mile west from where we were now, down road, in an hour they had, 4 Egyptian Vulture, 8 Black stork, 200+Short-toed Eagle and 100's of Black Kite. It was obvious that the birds had all stopped after an hour, but a scan to the west saw 100's still coming in. We drove towards where they were and continued counting. In less than an hour, a constant stream of over 1000 Black Kites had moved through and with them a male Marsh Harrier. Also 250+STE, 2 Lesser Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, and 3 more Egyptian Vulture! By 19.00, there were still strangles coming in, but I was tired and we all decided to call it a day.
We also met some local English birders and they told us that this was a quiet day. A quiet day!? It was good enough for me.
Today's totals from 10.30-19.00 not including what the German birders observed
4000+Black Kite
600 Short-toed Eagle
4 Egyptian Vulture
13 Griffon vulture
9 Booted Eagle
1 Marsh Harrier
2 Sparrowhawk
3 Lesser Kestrel
40+White Stork
7 Black stork
STE just arriving with Morocco in the distants
You could almost touch the STE as they passed by. These are three different individuals
The sky was crowded with Black Kite with over 1000 moving through in less than an hour!
Morocco in the background
When the kites did arrive they passed by at very close range
Clouds of Black Kites
This male Marsh Harrier. above the kite. came in with the 1000's of Black Kite
Less than 10 Booted Eagle were seen.
3 Lesser Kestrel arrived with the kites including this male. Before I came to Spain, the only Lesser Kestrel that I had seen was the one that I found on Scilly. A few years later, someone claimed they found it a month before me. I'll let you make your own minds up on that one.
Crested Lark
Listening to this today. Justin DeYarmond Edison Vernon (born April 30, 1981) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer. He is best known as the primary songwriter and frontman of indie folk band Bon Iver. Vernon is also a member of the bandsVolcano Choir, The Shouting Matches and Gayngs.


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Mourning Dewdrops
Quotes by Autumn Snyder and Others
Quotes by Autumn Snyder and Others
Dancing on the edge of Nowhere can be fun...but reality returns with the sun..
Life is one step at a time...slow and easy for some..for ones like me it's running against the
Nothing lasts forever, not the good/nor the bad....it's all just part of the journey called life....
Save my soul you said, I just looked at you and
laughed, you have no soul
laughed, you have no soul
Music Break
Witness Sarah Mclachlan
He is everything you are not....He has found my soul...
Love is not supposed to hurt...so you and I are not LOVE....
I can bend -I can break- I'm not made of steel after all....
Kindness is like snow - it beautifies everything it covers-
Kahlil Gibran
Kahlil Gibran
There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.
-Frank Zappa
-Frank Zappa
If you have love, you are beautiful"
-Zerihun Alemayehu
-Zerihun Alemayehu
Music Break
Sarah Mclachlan
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact.-
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
Only the mountains and the stars last forever." Tahca Ushte (John Fire Lame Deer)
It is strange how often a heart must be broken before the years can make it wise
Sara Teasdale
Sara Teasdale
"You are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life ... Your entire life .your soul."
Anna Quindlen
Anna Quindlen
Sarah Mclachlan


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The Washington County Board of Supervisors met yesterday morning and approved the Secondary Roads Department's five-year construction plan. This plan highlights the improvement plans for the county's secondary roads. Also during the meeting, the Supervisors agreed to move forward with a right-of-way acquisition of a project on 275th Street.
Last month, the Supervisors decided not to begin work on the project because of resistance from one of the land owners along 275th Street. The county has decided to take less right-of-way in order to complete the project between Elm Avenue and Fir Avenue.
Assistant Engineer Jacob Thorius says they need have 100 feet of right-of-way but would like to take only 80 feet along the affected property of the one land owner.


text: Endeavor 448 #176 Posted January 26 I only use white Superfine Milliput. It forms a very strong bond both with the Pocher plastic and with earlier cured Milliput applications. It is easy to carve and to sand and the surface can be polished to equal polished Pocher plastic. As you can see in the WIP photographs, it is a bit of a challenge to apply in very thin layers, but high points can be easily carved, filed, and sanded. The blue color you see in the photographs is Evercoat two part body putty, which is a good alternative for filling very small/ shallow imperfections. 1 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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(Rockland, Maine)- And what a party it was for the crew aboard Ben Blake's magnificent J/160 ATLANTIC. The gorgeous french blue hull beauty sliced through the cobalt blue waters of Penobscot Bay with ease on her way to winning the largest class in the regatta- PHRF Cruise division! Once again the parties and entertainment were memorable as were the spectacular days of racing on the scenic waters of western Penobscot Bay. Co-hosted by Wayfarer Marine and Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, the three-day regatta enthusiastically enjoyed local food specialities (lobstah's!) along with evening dancing and fireworks.
In the Spinnaker Division 2, Shane Flynn's J/100 SMITTEN walked off with all bullets, beating out her sistership, the J/100 SEA SMOKE sailed by Cabot Lyman, that took 3rd in class. Fourth was Mark Scheffer's J/40 LEGACY.
The Spinnaker Division 3 was over-run by local knowledge, with Jesse Henry's J/80 CHAISE LOUNGE taking two bullets to win their group. Then, Patti Spaulding's J/24 HAVOC took two seconds to secure the silver.
Finally, in the Spinnaker Division 1 Double-handed division, Scott Miller's J/122 RESOLUTE took fourth and Doug Coleman & Chris Holm's pretty J/46 SKITTERYGUSSET took fifth.
The famous PBR Fish Taco Bar never fails to satiate even the most ravenous of sailors and the evening entertainment on Saturday night was received warmly by many sailors seen dancing the night away. Sailing photo credits- Billy Black. For more Penobscot Bay Rendezvous sailing information


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Pipe Lighters
- Pipe Lighters -
These Pipe Lighters enthrall the aficionado with the latest level in technology, developed in the tradition of expertise and care that only time can afford. The smoker can't help but highly appreciate the lighter's functionality and beauty. We offer an assortment of lighters that is truly best in class.


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The Midwest Miniature Guild was formed in 1984 by a group of Twin
Cities miniaturists who, after hosting a N.A.M.E. (National Association
of Miniature Enthusiasts) Regional Houseparty, discussed the possibility
of establishing a non-profit organization that would promote the
hobby of miniature creation and collecting. Letters were sent
to all the various miniature clubs in the Minneapolis and St.
Paul area, inviting members to attend a meeting of a new guild.
Around 60 people attended that first meeting, and that number
has now grown to over 200 miniature lovers from five Midwestern
Meetings are held three times a year - February, May and October.
The meetings are held at the Shoreview Community Center in Shoreview.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and meetings conclude by 3:00 p.m.
The cost of the meeting is usually $22.50. Additional fees are
charged based on the workshops or round tables you attend.
Guests may attend one meeting without joining the organization.
To receive a complimentary copy of the Guild newsletter,
please send your name, address and telephone number (including area code)
Midwest Miniature Guild
Jane Sanem
4131 Wentworth Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 822-3738
You can also contact Jane by email at email@example.com


text:
Home > Nottinghamshire >
Lost Pubs In
Toton, Nottinghamshire
Other Side Of The Moon
Do you have any anecdotes, historical information or photographs of closed
or lost pubs in Toton? Become a contributor and submit them here.Like this site? Recommend us via the social networking share button on the left hand side of the page, or follow us on


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Hydraulic Repair Services
In our Superior Hydraulics Repair division we have more than 50 years of hydraulic repair experience, WorldWide Machining & Welding can fix the old, maintain the current, or help you buy it new.
Hydraulic Lifting Equipment
A Certified Enerpac & Simplex Repair Center, WWMW repairs, maintains, replaces and tests hydraulic lifting units. We are happy to supply certified pressure and load testing reports with all serviced lifting equipment.
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WWMW's experienced repair team provides fast and accurate repairs on a vast array of commercial and industrial hydraulic pumps, motors and valves. Our most commonly serviced brands include Eaton, Vickers, Commercial Intertech, John Deere, Sundstrand, HUSCO, Cessna, Enerpac and more.
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WWMW has the capability to perform fast and accurate repair and reseal services. Our team of repair specialists can service all types of industrial, commercial and telescopic cylinders.
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Snowplow Repair and Parts Inventory
We provide expert snowplow repair services, with a large inventory of Meyer, Boss, Western and Fisher snowplow replacement parts.


text:
Approval Won for New Homeland Security Headquarters
by Homeland Security
January 10, 2009
Homeland Security News
No Comment
January 10, 2009
Homeland Security News
No Comment
The federal government has gained approval to build a new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security in the nation's capital.
The "Washington Post" reports the three-point-four-billion dollar facility would be one of the largest construction projects in the DC area since the building of the Pentagon back in the 1940s. (MSNBC)


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Daniel Craig is known across the world as James Bond, arguably his most famous acting role, but now the film series has given the actor another string to his illustrious bow.
The actor has been named alongside Andrew Noakes and David Pope as a co-producer for new film Spectre, and it makes him the first actor to star in and also be involved with the production side of the films.
Spectre will focus on Bond's backstory, and will delve into his connection with Christoph Waltz's character, SPECTRE terrorist Franz Oberhauser.
It could well be the last adventure Craig has as the famous 007, with Tom Hardy increasingly linked with the role.
Even Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman has spoken about landing the role, claiming he 'would seriously consider it', and given he is set to hang up his claws as everyone's favourite mutant, that could well be one to watch.
For now however, Spectre is out on October 26 in the UK, and opens on November 6 in the USA.


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Monday, October 15, 2007
I refer of course to money.
The Economics of Stripping. According to researchers at University of New Mexico strippers make more money when they're ovulating, because it's at the time when men find them most attractive: "Surprisingly, Miller found that strippers who were in the estrus phase made $354 per shift compared to $90 during the luteal phase and $170 more than during the menstrual phase. The use of birth-control pills didn't help results, with woman on oral contraception earning about $80 less per shift."
Sunday, January 14, 2007
To calculate the circumference of a circle the size of the observable universe to a precision of one proton, you would only need 50 digits of pi. Regardless, mathematicians have so far calculated it to 1.2 trillion decimal places.
Posted by travis at 7:46 PM 1 comment:
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Aptly named
The Barenaked Ladies record one track of every studio album while nude.
Posted by travis at 7:34 PM No comments:
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Whilst HeardSaid is taking a sabbatical, we recommend UsedFAQs which posts random answers from Frequently Asked Questions on a variety of subjects. [via]
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Fake Money
Did you know every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury? [Nope, we didn't Fran, thanks!]
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Who doesn't love baristas?
The first 4 bytes (the so-called "Magic number") of any Java class file are, in hexadecimal, 0xCAFEBABE.
Posted by travis at 6:44 PM No comments:
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
How fitting!
Posted by travis at 8:05 AM 1 comment:
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Says the cabbie...
Clark county, Nevada (Las Vegas, everybody) is the only county in the country where it's illegal to own and operate your own taxi. "The cab companies own this town," said our cabbie on the way from the airport, although that might be a bit of a hyperbole.
Monday, March 20, 2006
No, really, officer!
In California, it's illegal to drive barefoot unless you're going to, or coming from, the beach.
Posted by travis at 9:00 PM No comments:
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Website that's similar to HeardSaid, and to be honest they're posting more often. [via]
Monday, January 30, 2006
The word "wharf" stands for "Ware House At River Front".
Posted by Shazzle at 5:00 AM 2 comments:
Friday, December 02, 2005
Dildo fun!
- The first electrical dildo was sold in 1911.
- A town in Newfoundland is named Dildo. Allegedly the name originates from the town's earlier industry in the 19th century -- carving dildos from whalebone.
- The band Steely Dan is named after a giant dildo.
Posted by travis at 3:07 PM No comments:
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Friday, November 18, 2005
Strange Reagan
When Ronald Reagan was given his first tour of the White House after being made president of the US he demanded a visit the war room he'd seen in Stanley Kubrick's film Dr. Strangelove. He was somewhat annoyed to discover it had been built on a soundstage.
A combination of an exclamation point and an question mark, called an interrobang, was used as a brief fad in the 60s to communicate disbelief or emphasis of a printed question.
You're what‽
It has a home in Unicode U+203D, but not much else anymore besides the Partnership for A Drug-Free America (of all places).
Posted by travis at 8:55 AM No comments:
Saturday, September 24, 2005
UPS brown
UPS trucks are painted white on the top in an effort to reflect sunlight, and keep the cabin cool.
Posted by travis at 3:07 PM 5 comments:
Monday, August 29, 2005
A sweet ride
The cheapest car ever made was the Red Bug Buckboard, made by Briggs & Stratton in the 1920s. It sold for $125 (about $1300 today) and weighed about 250 pounds.
The most interesting part: it was electric.
The most interesting part: it was electric.
Posted by travis at 7:21 PM No comments:
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Ant Farmers
Leafcutter ants are the only species on the planet, apart from humans, to cultivate their own food. The ants, usually found in the rainforests and other tropical areas of America, grow a special fungus in their nests.
They get their name because they cut pieces of leaves which they harvest in the fungus gardens. The fungus is then used for food.
They get their name because they cut pieces of leaves which they harvest in the fungus gardens. The fungus is then used for food.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
The secret life of Roosevelt(s)
You might already know about Eleanor Roosevelt's affair with another woman (or, you might not), but what you probably hadn't heard was that Eleanor was FDR's first cousin (which is convenient with respect to names and all).
Read all about it.
Read all about it.
Posted by travis at 8:16 PM 1 comment:
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Nevermind how...
Armadillos can contract syphilis. In fact, they are the only animal (apart from humans) that can.
Posted by travis at 7:33 PM 1 comment:
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Not *quite* workin' like a dog.
Ringo didn't play on one single Beatles album. Paul laid all the studio percussion tracks.
Posted by travis at 4:07 PM 10 comments:
Friday, June 24, 2005
Belly Bomb
If a human being were to eat black pudding followed by king prawns and washed down with a glass of milk, due to the un-stable chemical mixture now sitting in his or hers gut, the poor individual's stomache would literally explode within a matter of minutes ! [Ugh -- thanks Franchesca]
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
In the Steven Spielberg film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' during the scene when we've discovered that Roy has built a scale model of Devil's Point in his living room, the television is on and we can hear the sound of a postman calling at a front door. He says: "I have a package for Gillian Anderson."
The actress Gillian Anderson would later play Dana Scully for nine years on 'The X-Files'.
The actress Gillian Anderson would later play Dana Scully for nine years on 'The X-Files'.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
A new Franchesca fact. Did you know that a human being can safely live on a diet of one packet of regular crisps a day because of their high fat and water content.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Alexander Graham Bell's wife was deaf.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Free Travel
While the London Metropolitan Police have free transport on the trains, buses and underground systems of London - the same is not true of the British Transport Police (who enforce the law on those same systems).
Posted by Unknown at 9:40 AM 2 comments:
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Hello and welcome to ...
A great example from Music Thing of how sometimes it's vitally important to keep your copyright. The man who composed the four notes which used to appear on Channel Four's logo (Daaa-daaa-da-daaaa) became very rich indeed. "Every time that sequence was played, David Dundas was paid £3.50. Every week, for ten years, Dundas received a cheque for £1,000 from Channel Four. "
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
One with the force
Here is a scene from the shooting script of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith which explains the one thing many fans had been dying to know. Why do some Jedi's burn up whilst others just fade away?
222 INT. POLIS MASSA-OBSERVATION DOME-NIGHTConsidering the big long list of things which aren't explained it's odd that this couldn't be worked in somehow. Then again, check out of that exposition... [via Amygdala via Sore Eyes]
On the isolated asteroid of Polis Massa, YODA meditates.
YODA: Failed to stop the Sith Lord, I have. Still much to learn, there is ...
QUI -GON: (V.O.) Patience. You will have time. I did not. When I became one with the Force I made a great discovery. With my training, you will be able to merge with the Force at will. Your physical self will fade away, but you will still retain your consciousness. You will become more powerful than any Sith.
YODA: Eternal consciousness.
QUI-GON: (V.O.) The ability to defy oblivion can be achieved, but only for oneself. It was accomplished by a Shaman of the Whills. It is a state acquired through compassion, not greed.
YODA: . . . to become one with the Force, and influence still have . . . A power greater than all, it is.
QUI-GON: (V.O.) You will learn to let go of everything. No attachment, no thought of self. No physical self.
YODA: A great Jedi Master, you have become, Qui-Gon Jinn. Your apprentice I gratefully become.
YODA thinks about this for a minute, then BAIL ORGANA enters the room and breaks his meditation.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Machu Picchu
Should you find yourself at the top of Machu Picchu and suddenly worried about whether you left the gas on, don't fret. You can call home on your mobile phone. Yes, that's right, there's a signal.
Which is more than I can say for the train route from Bournemouth to Derby. (Thanks Dave!)
Which is more than I can say for the train route from Bournemouth to Derby. (Thanks Dave!)
Posted by Suw at 12:16 PM 1 comment:
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Damselflies go like shit off a stick
Damselflies can fly 15m in a single second from a standing start, and can reach a top speed of 40 mph.
Posted by Suw at 10:04 AM No comments:
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Naked Mole Rats
Naked mole rats are fossorial (live underground) and have a fairly consistent temperature.
They have no circadian rhythm and sleep/wake when it suits them. This occurs on no particular schedule at all.
They have no circadian rhythm and sleep/wake when it suits them. This occurs on no particular schedule at all.
Posted by penn at 5:41 AM 1 comment:
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
The Globe Theatre, the original in the 1600s, had a capacity crowd of three thousand. There were only two hundred thousand people in London at the time so it would take just seventy-five performances before everyone in the city had seen one of Shakepeare's newest.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
On election night
The Welsh Assembly is the only elected body in the Western world, if not the world, to have a 50/50 split between men and women members.
Posted by Suw at 2:50 PM 1 comment:
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Happy May Day!
The use of 'mayday' as a distress call originated with the French m'aidez (help me) or m'aider (to render help to me), and has nothing to do with the ancient spring festival or the international working class holiday.
Although if you want to dance around a big pole whilst your ship sinks, that's up to you.
Although if you want to dance around a big pole whilst your ship sinks, that's up to you.
Posted by Suw at 9:04 AM 2 comments:
A pigeon pair
When pigeons mate, the female lays two eggs - one male and one female. When the eggs hatch, the chicks grow up together and, eventually, mate to produce two eggs - one male and one female.
Which explains why pigeons are so stupid. They've got to the bottom of the gene pool and have started drilling.
Which explains why pigeons are so stupid. They've got to the bottom of the gene pool and have started drilling.
Posted by Suw at 8:48 AM 1 comment:
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Special Crossover Unit
Richard Belzer plays Detective John Munch on the series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit". The character originated as a regular cast member of "Homicide: Life on the Street". Two cop shows, two colons, one Munch. A character from one show landing a prime spot on another show that's not a spin-off is unusual in an of itself.
Belzer as Munch has recently become the most prolific character in prime time TV history, having appeared on six different series: Homicide, SVU, the original Law & Order, The X Files, the short-lived The Beat and most recently in an episode of Law & Order's newest franchisee, Trial by Jury.
Self pimp - Crossover Grid and Live Journal community to discuss Crossover Grid.
Belzer as Munch has recently become the most prolific character in prime time TV history, having appeared on six different series: Homicide, SVU, the original Law & Order, The X Files, the short-lived The Beat and most recently in an episode of Law & Order's newest franchisee, Trial by Jury.
Self pimp - Crossover Grid and Live Journal community to discuss Crossover Grid.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Franchesca writes: "Whilst realizing I have no money, for some reason I decided to add up each demomination of coins and notes in the UK to see how much I would have if I had one of each. Oddly enough it works out at £88.88p . Try it urself if you dont believe me ... and don't forget like most people do, the £2 coin!"
In 1967 at the height of the foot and mouth epidemic, horse racing was banned. The authorities resorted to electronic races with imaginary horses, but to give an extra level of authenticity on BBC's Grandstand, Peter O'Sullivan was drafted in to commentate on these unreal events. Footage exists of him getting excited over a close finish between two horses which didn't exist.
Little Ghengises everywhere!
It is estimated that one in two hundred modern Mongol men can trace their genetic heritage back to Ghengis Khan. Now that is what I call putting it about a bit.
Posted by Suw at 11:57 AM 2 comments:
Saturday, April 23, 2005
The carrot is not a vegetable, but a herb. Carrots used to be purple in colour, until someone decided that the orange ones tasted better (a fact that anyone who has eaten Opal Fruits/Starburst knows to be 100% true). Carrots do not improve your night vision - that's propaganda spread by the British government during WWII to 'explain' why their pilots were able to fly at night. In actual fact, it was down to the invention of radar, something the govmint and the RAF wanted to keep secret.
Posted by Suw at 2:04 AM 1 comment:
Sunday, April 17, 2005
There is a house in Liverpool which has its own postcode. When postcodes were being handed out, the doctor who lived there ascerted what authority he had at the time and they gave him one. Its stayed that way ever since.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Rugby Pope
The Welsh Rugby Team only seem to win the Grand Slam in a year the Pope dies. They won it this year the same year Pope John Paul II dies, and the last time they did was in 1978 , the same year as the death of Pope John Paul I. [Thanks Fred!]
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Speculation on the political future of Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) is running rampant today after he acknowledged that he is the father of a 3-year-old daughter with divorcee Laura Fay, the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who picked him up from an Alexandria, Va., jail last week after he was busted for DWI.
"I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a three year old daughter," the married Fossella said in a prepared statement e-mailed to reporters by consultant Susan Del Percio. "My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry."
Ms. Del Percio said Fossella would not personally address the media today.
Fossella and his wife, Mary Pat, have three children.Former GOP Borough President Guy Molinari, who has been among those advising Fossella since the scandal broke exactly one week ago, said that confronting the issue of the child he has with Ms. Fay had been "overwhelming" for Fossella.
"He's in a very difficult mood," said Molinari, who used to hold the congressional seat that Fossella sits in. "He's just in a period of trying to do the right thing."
Molinari said, "It's difficult for Vito, difficult for Laura Fay, and difficult for Mary Pat."
Left unsaid in Fossella's statement was whether the congressman would remain in office. Speculation was rampant that Fossella would either resign or decide not to run for re-election this fall.
"While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind," Fossella said in the statement.
The statement said, "Over the coming weeks and months, I will to continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused."
GOP House Minority Leader John Boehner today said he expected Fossella to make decisions about his future in a matter of days, not months.
"I think Mr. Fossella is going to have some decisions to make over the weekend. And I would hope that, and frankly, expect that this is a decision between he, his family, and his constituents," Boehner said.
A spokeswoman for the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee said only that they expect the district to continue to elect conservative-minded lawmakers.
But the committee is said to be polling on the Fossella imbroglio, including asking voters about the suitability of GOP District Attorney Daniel Donovan and state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) as potential replacements.
"He's politically dead. The only thing that hasn't happened is the autopsy report hasn't been written," said Doug Muzzio, a professor of politics at Baruch College in New York. "He can say he's going to stay all he wants, but come on ..."
One Staten Island political observer said he doesn't believe Fossella can survive in office.
"There's only so much the electorate will tolerate," he said. "People have liked Vito over the years because he's affable, friendly and someone they could relate to. Even after his arrest, most Staten Islanders were willing to forgive him because at some point they have had too much to drink and driven home. It's far more difficult for them to empathize with someone who has fathered an illegitimate child as part of an extramarital affair."
Fossella was arrested for DWI in Alexandria around 12:15 a.m. last Thursday. He told cops that he was on his way to Grimm Drive, which is where Ms. Fay lives, because his daughter was sick and had to go to the hospital.
Fossella's blood alcohol level was .17, court papers said, more than twice the legal limit of .08 in Virginia. He faces a mandatory five-day jail sentence if convicted of DWI. He could also face a House ethics probe if he remains in office.
Molinari said Fossella hasn't "focused on what he's doing politically."
"It's premature to even talk about that stuff," he said. "He has to make the decision whether he wants to continue to serve. He's been hurt by this politically."
-- Contributed by Tom Wrobleski; Associated Press material was used in this report


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Turner International announced the appointment of Rani R. 3 Feb 2016
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Designer footwear, jewellery & accessories
Designer footwear, jewellery & accessories
Free delivery to UK & Ireland
on orders over £45
Welcome to bejeweledatsoul.com, a haven (or so we're told!) for all your favourite things. Owned by sisters Tracy and Ursula, Bejeweled at Soul has become a one stop shop for all things footwear, jewellery and accessories.
Our products include Rebecca My World, jewellery and necklace. We also have a wide selection of initial, Alpe footwear, Hispanitas and Guess products.
Whether it's this seasons latest trend or a piece that will never date, the ladies and their team have become experts in finding the perfect products for any occasion.
Whether it's a statement earring or the latest brogue, we're sure to have something you'll love from your head to your toes!
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Our Oregon K-12 students are losing competitive ground in today's global economy as our school budgets decline and electives such as engineering and computer science are cut. TechStart wants to change that.
K-12 Computer Science Programs
Programs supported by TechStart fill the gaps left by the school system by training K-12 teachers in relevant technology topics and providing hands-on, educational experiences for students in and outside the classroom. Support by Oregon businesses that both make and use technology is integral to our programs and the students who benefit from them year after year.
We train K-12 teachers in relevant technology topics and provide hands-on, educational experiences for students in and outside the classroom.
The programs below are proven, established programs that TechStart has supported in the past and will support in the future once we re-establish funding pipeline:
- SuperQuest – TechStart works cooperatively and closely with the Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OCSTA) to promote this program. SuperQuest is a very unique, intensive, hands-on series of workshops, offered statewide for K-12 technology teachers and other educators who want to effectively teach technology, both as a part of their regular classroom curriculum and as an after-school, or another program.
- The Oregon Game Project Challenge (OGPC) – This program is the only state-wide game programming competition in Oregon. The multidisciplinary project introduces students to computer programming basics while educating them in science and current events. Teams create computer games designed to be fun, challenging and innovative. Games are designed to incorporate the current year's theme and are evaluated throughout a season which runs from November through May. Awards are based on several categories, including programming, professionalism, game research and development, teamwork, and presentation.
- OCSTA Spring & Fall Conferences – TechStart provides support to OCSTA to organize and hold two conferences which include workshops on relevant subjects and the opportunity for teachers/educators across the State to network and share ideas.
- George Fox Programming Contest – TechStart supports this annual High School Programming Contest, a statewide competition in computer programming, problem solving and critical thinking. The competition requires teams to solve challenging programming problems in a condensed time frame. The event encourages teamwork and programming achievement at diverse skill levels, simulating a real-world work experience.
- IT Educator Award — We have honored an outstanding technology teacher annually with the Oregon IT Educator of the Year Award. This includes a cash award to the teacher to assist with her or his classroom technology costs.
- ORTOP. TechStart is an active supporter of the Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP), (the Oregon affiliate of First Lego League), providing coach training via SuperQuest to this statewide extracurricular program. K-12 Students form teams and work to meet a given objective over multiple months which include the use of Lego robotics. The program emphasizes teamwork, research, presentation skills, and software/engineering problem-solving.


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Home Departments Public Works PullmanAware
Last Updated on Thursday, 28 December 2017 15:29
Welcome to PullmanAware, the City of Pullman Public Works Department's online resource where you will find information to help you be "community aware". Making Pullman easier for you to navigate one click at a time.
Program / Information Web Links
Cross Connection Control Program
2016 Consumer Confidence Water Report (66.51 kB)
2017 Arterial Streets Resurfacing Project (150.77 kB)


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Climate change will have a major impact on life in Antarctica this century, according to a landmark study published in Nature Climate Change today.
University of Queensland researcher Dr Paul Dennis said the study indicated that by 2100 there would be 25 per cent more soil fungal "species" in the most rapidly warming parts of Antarctica.
"While this may bring certain ecological benefits, it may also help invasive species to gain a foothold in this pristine wilderness," he said.
The study, performed by the UQ School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Microbial Ecology Group led by Dr Dennis, was based on soil samples collected from Antarctica during an extensive 2007-2008 survey led by Professor David Hopkins of the Royal Agricultural University in the United Kingdom.
The survey was the most extensive of its kind and involved complex logistics – including light aircraft, helicopters and ice breakers – provided by the British Antarctic Survey and the UK's Royal Navy.
Dr Dennis said surface air temperatures in the maritime Antarctic had risen by up to 2.8 °C over the past 50 years, at rates several times that of the global average.
"Our research has demonstrated that, in this rapidly warming part of Antarctica, temperature is the main factor that determines soil fungal diversity," he said.
The study found said that the majority of fungi were microscopic – and the average person might not find them as charismatic as animals – but they had important roles to play in soils as plant decomposers and as symbionts, closely associated with other organisms.
"With air temperatures in the Antarctic currently rising at the fastest rates in the Southern Hemisphere, it's likely the number of species of fungi present in these soils will increase," Dr Dennis said.
"Such increases are likely to positively influence important ecological processes such as the decomposition of plant remains, effectively kick-starting plant communities by the enhanced release of nutrients into the soil."
Sites in the northern maritime Antarctic are up to 10 °C warmer than those at the southern limit of the Antarctic Peninsula.
"By assessing fungal communities in the northern maritime Antarctic, we were able to make predictions about how soil fungi are likely respond to warming in colder regions," Dr Dennis said.
"Antarctica is like a natural laboratory in which to further understanding of our planet's response to environmental change."
Source: The University of Queensland


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Factory Farming Fakers Are At It Again
Last month I wrote about the agribusiness interests opposing Proposition 2—masquerading as the deceptively named Californians for Safe Food—and their record of duping the public, harming animals, and polluting the environment. Their top funder to date, Moark LLC, paid to settle criminal cruelty charges for using a conveyor belt to throw live birds into a Dumpster. Another major backer, United Egg Producers, paid to settle false advertising allegations brought by 17 attorneys general related to misleading claims about animal welfare.
Yet another top contributor, Gemperle Enterprises, was exposed in an undercover investigation that showed birds with their wings and necks stuck in wire cages, and workers violently ripping birds out of cages without any regard for their welfare. The video even showed an employee swinging a bird around by her neck and throwing her against a wall, and another worker stomping on a hen and kicking her into a manure pit where she presumably drowned.
Apparently that sordid cast of characters wasn't enough. Before you donate to the No on Prop 2 campaign, do you have to check a box that asks whether you or your company have been caught abusing animals, polluting the environment, or lying to consumers about animal welfare?
This week, residents of the Central Valley announced their intent to sue Olivera Egg Ranch over the toxic pollution coming from the facility. This giant factory farm confines 600,000 - 700,000 hens in cramped, barren, wire cages and dumps the manure into multi-acre cesspools that release more than 100 pounds of ammonia every day. Residents have complained of sore throats, upper respiratory infections, coughing, vomiting, and gagging attacks because of the noxious smell and pollution near their homes. Olivera, of course, has donated to the No on Prop 2 campaign.
The campaign got another injection of funds this week from Foster Farms, which dumped a quarter-million dollars into the fight. Foster has also been accused of making false claims about animal welfare in its advertising, and the Better Business Bureau referred the case to the Federal Trade Commission for review.
The agribusiness giants are building their war chest, bankrolled almost entirely by corporate interests that put their profits ahead of animal welfare, the environment, and consumers. They are not only liars, but also outliers within their own industry.
The YES! On Prop 2 campaign, on the other hand, is backed by thousands of individual Californians, as well as respected groups like the Center for Food Safety, Consumer Federation of America, Union of Concerned Scientists, and California Veterinary Medical Association.
Don't let the outliers dupe California voters. We need your help to get the word out to Californians up and down the state, and let them know the truth about factory farming. Watch this important new video about Prop 2, and then make a donation to support the campaign.


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Libs detest the U.S. military, and they're proud of it.
Lone Survivor's Takeaway: Every War Movie Is a Pro-War Movie — The Atlantic
Peter Berg's Lone Survivor opens with documentary footage of a boot camp for the United States Navy SEALs, where hardbodied trainees strain their way through feats of endurance and strength. The point of this sequence, it seems, is to show how exceptional the real-life SEALs are before introducing SEALs as characters. With soldiers' conviction and might thus demonstrated, the film can then whisk a few of them off on a mission that, as the title suggests, does not end particularly well.
But this montage serves another, more insidious function. Assembled like a high-gloss music video and slathered in Explosions in the Sky's soaring post-rock, it plays out like an advertisement for the Marine Corps—an affectionate endorsement from Hollywood of the SEALs' peerless brawn.
Adapted from the memoirs of former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell (played in the film by Mark Wahlberg, who also co-produced), Lone Survivor is the sort of film you expect to seem at least a little propagandistic. It's rooted in a tradition of patriotism as old as the motion picture itself, stretching from the John Wayne vehicle The Green Berets to the recent Act of Valor. Many of its more aggressively nationalistic elements are just a matter of following genre protocol.
Consider how Berg introduces our tragic heroes. His opening testimonial is followed by a low-key scene in which an outfit of SEALs laze around their makeshift living quarters, firing off fond emails to loved ones and fretting over forthcoming social engagements. They play games and sing songs and like American beer. They are, in other words, ordinary guys, totally down-to-earth despite being the best at what they do.
Now, compare this exaggeratedly casual introduction with the way the film brings in its Taliban villains. Their unruly gang storms into a quiet village while firing off machine guns and, while screaming unintelligibly, drags a man into the streets and lops his head off with a machete. (Sinister-sounding music accompanies, just in case the sentiment wasn't clear.) This is cartoon villainy—the realm of the black hat and the twirling moustache. Such gestures serve a straightforward dramatic purpose: They align the audience with the heroes while encouraging them to dislike the bad guys, so that when the battle finally ignites, the viewer's sympathies have already been sorted out.


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BY yveet On May 24, 2018 Template
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Vince Cable has warned the Bank of England that raising interest rates prematurely or introducing strict regulation could threaten the economy by choking off business lending.
The Liberal Democrat Business Secretary said that efforts to curb the UK's booming housing market were needed, but told policymakers that they "should not lose sight of the bigger picture – a system of credit to support the real economy".
He added that measures to make banks safer, such as increasing the reserves they must hold, would have to be introduced carefully, pointing out that current rules mean lending to small businesses requires five times as much capital as mortgage lending.
Many expect the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority to introduce stricter capital requirements over time, while markets are now expecting a first rise in interest rates by the end of the year.
"We need banks that are safe, but equally we must ensure that the regulatory regime doesn't suffocate the real economy," Mr Cable said.
"There are important decisions ahead for the Governor of the Bank of England on capital, and I will watch carefully how any changes in the leverage ratio affect… business lending capabilities."
He said raising interest rates to deal with the housing market would put the recovery "in jeopardy".
"An unchecked housing market particularly in London and the south east of England risks destabilising the whole economy," Mr Cable said in a speech in London.
"My immediate concern as Business Secretary is if these incipient inflationary pressures lead to a rise in interest rates sooner and further than is warranted by the economy as a whole, it could place in jeopardy our hopes for a sustained and balanced recovery."
Minutes from the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Wednesday suggested that interest rate rises could come before the end of the year.
The MPC was "surprised" that markets were unprepared for a rate rise before the end of the year, the minutes said.
The Bank may also introduce stricter rules on mortgage lending next week at its Financial Stability Review.


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Holmes Report 02 Jun 2013 // 11:00PM GMT
Companies are expected to be active participants—if not driving forces—in solving the most pressing social and environmental issues, according to the 2013 Cone Communications/Echo Global CSR Study. Corporations that disregard this consumer-demanded role risk more than their reputation, the study suggests: nine in 10 citizens around the world say they would boycott if they learned of irresponsible behavior.
The survey suggests that the benefits of CSR extend far beyond a brand halo. When companies support social or environmental issues, consumer affinity overwhelmingly upsurges:
• 96 percent of global citizens will have a more positive image of that company
• 94 percent will be more likely to trust that company
• 93 percent will be more loyal to the company (i.e., continue buying products or services)
CSR also remains a powerful differentiator at the register, with nearly all consumers indicating a strong inclination to shop for products and services that demonstrate social and/or environmental benefits:
• 91 percent of global consumers are likely to switch brands to one that supports a good cause, given similar price and quality
• 92 percent would buy a product with a social and/or environmental benefit if given the opportunity, and more than two-thirds (67 percent) have done so in the past 12 months
The study was conducted by Cone Communications and Echo Research and reflects the sentiments of more than 10,000 citizens in 10 countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, China, India and Japan.
"Consumers across the globe resoundingly affirm CSR as a critical business strategy," says Dan Soulas, managing director of Echo Research. "It is vital for companies to understand the unique, market-level nuances to effectively participate in the CSR interchange. A one-size-fits-all approach just won't work."
Although there is strong support of CSR across all countries studied, there are distinct differences in market-specific consumer attitudes and behaviors.
Citizens in emerging markets such as Brazil, China and India embrace CSR with near-unanimous enthusiasm and are actively sharing, supporting and advocating with companies to address societal challenges. The passion of these emerging markets is in stark contrast to the more reserved and even detached approach to CSR by European populations. In the UK, Germany and France, CSR is oftentimes a product of government regulation.
Emerging market populations are more resolute in their intentions to shop for a cause. Consumers in Brazil (76 percent), China (68 percent) and India (67 percent) are "very likely" to switch brands in favor of those that support cause, versus France (42 percent), Germany (52 percent) and the U.K. (38 percent).
Citizens in emerging markets are more likely to act as megaphones for CSR. Consumers in Brazil (95 percent), China (95 percent) and India (94 percent) say they would tell their friends and family about a company's CSR efforts, versus France (83 percent), Germany (84 percent) and the U.K. (80 percent).
Consumers in emerging markets are eager to be engaged in companies' CSR decisions. Consumers in Brazil (94 percent), China (92 percent) and India (94 percent) are likely to voice their opinions about company's CSR efforts directly to that company, versus France (74 percent), Germany (71 percent) and the U.K. (68 percent)
The survey found that consumers all over the world are also taking to social channels to learn and engage around critical issues without constraint. Nearly two-thirds of global consumers (62 percent) say they use social media to address or engage with companies around CSR. Although the majority shares positive information with their networks, more than a quarter are communicating negative news:
• 34 percent of consumers use social media to share positive information about companies and issues
• 29 percent are using social media to learn more about specific organizations and issues
• 26 percent are using social media to share negative information
Social media is accelerating CSR, especially in highly mobile-savvy and emerging countries China, India and Brazil, where 90 percent, 89 percent and 85 percent of the respective populations report using social channels to engage with companies around their CSR efforts.
And as global citizens become increasingly aware of businesses' behaviors and CSR initiatives—in part because of social media—they are also becoming more astute about both corporate and consumer impacts. The majority of consumers feel both individuals and corporations are having some degree of positive influence on social and environmental issues; however, just one-quarter feels either is making a significant impact.
• 22 percent of consumers believes companies have made significant positive impact on social and environmental issues
• 27 percent believes consumers themselves can have significant positive impact through their purchases
"Companies have a job to do," says Alison DaSilva, executive vice president, research and insights, at Cone. "This research reveals an increasingly social, savvy consumer who is looking for proof of progress. Varying degrees of perceived individual and corporate impact underscore the overwhelming need for companies to consistently communicate both corporate and consumer CSR return."
Global consumers have definitive expectations for the role companies should play in addressing social and environmental issues and are avidly considering CSR in a variety of decisions:
• Just 6 percent of consumers believe the singular purpose of business is to make money for shareholders
• 91 percent believes companies must go beyond the minimum standards required by law to operate responsibly
• 93 percent wants to see more of the products and services they use support CSR
• More than eight-in-10 consider CSR when deciding where to work (81 percent), what to buy or where to shop (87 percent) and which products and services to recommend to others (85 percent)
Economic development (38 percent) is far and away the most pressing issue global citizens want companies to address, increasing 4 percentage points since 2011. The environment (19 percent), human rights (11 percent) and poverty and hunger (11 percent) are the next most important priority issues consumers want companies to tackle.


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The gray suit gets my attention, not the white hair. After all, the average age of Bridge League members is sixty-six, so there's plenty of white hair in the room. The rest of the players are dressed casually, however, so the suit immediately catches my eye.Some players are already sitting at the card tables chatting, others are munching on bundt cake and M&Ms in the kitchen, and still others are milling about in anticipation of the start of tonight's tournament. Although this is the club championship, it doesn't look much different than any other night at the bridge club, except of course for the suit.He is sitting South. In duplicate bridge, the North-South pairs remain at the same table for the whole session while the East-West pairs rotate to the next table after every round. Because I'm also sitting South, it means I won't get to meet him tonight.Too bad. I had imagined starting a conversation with him about Varsity Group -- a company we both own. Of course he made his purchase a few months earlier…and (ahem) owns a few more shares than I do.---------------------------------------------------------------------Peter Lynch bought 1,070,000 shares of Varsity Group (OTC BB, VSTY.OB) – a 6.5% stake – toward the end of January, 2001. At the time, Varsity was selling for roughly $0.30 per share. The closing price for Varsity on May 26, 2004 was $6.09, so assuming Mr. Lynch still holds these shares – which he did as of December 31st -- and assuming he paid somewhere near the $0.30/share price, he has a twenty-bagger. His original investment of roughly $300,000 has grown twenty times to somewhere over $6 million.[ Mr. Lynch originated the expression "four bagger", "ten bagger", etc. It comes from his love of baseball, a ten-bagger meaning two home runs and a double, or ten total bases. - from a PBS Frontline interview]It's not hard to see why Mr. Lynch was attracted to Varsity in early 2001. For starters, the company was backed by some influential investors…* The Carlyle Group owned 13%. One of the world's largest private equity firms, with more than $18 billion under management, The Carlyle Group's was chaired by former Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci. [ now chaired by Louis V. Gerstner Jr. ] Key advisors to The Carlyle Group were former Secretary of State James A. Baker and former British Prime Minister John Major.* The Mayfield Fund owned 14%, with another 14% controlled by Allen Morgan, a Mayfield partner. Mayfield has over $2 billion in capital under management, with historical investments in companies such as Compaq, Genentech, Legato, and Tandem. [ On its Web site, Mayfield lists a current investment in The Motley Fool. ]Despite its impressive ownership, Varsity was virtually ignored by the market in early 2001. The company had lost plenty of money since its inception in 1997, and its stock had recently been delisted from Nasdaq. Varsity was seen as just another failed 'dot.com' as the country headed deeper into the bear. Nevertheless, with an untapped niche market, a new business model that had just turned the company cash flow positive, no debt, and $1.09 per share in cash, Varsity certainly was appealing at $0.30/share.---------------------------------------------------------------------Varsity is just one of the high risk stocks that make up Mr. Lynch's personal portfolio. There are at least a dozen others. He has to disclose ownership in these companies because he owns greater than a 5% interest in them. The stocks are owned by Lynch himself, family trusts, and his charitable Lynch Foundation.These visible investments most likely represent a small portion of his holdings. He declines to discuss the specifics of his portfolio other than what he is required to disclose. But he does say that they are a meaningful part of his overall investing strategy.Peter Lynch holdings based on SEC filings:Abraxas PetroleumBarbecues GaloreCalloway's NurseryeRoomSystemsHartville GroupIntegraMedInterep National RadioMiller IndustriesPHCRag ShopsSafeScript PharmaciesSegmentzTeneraVarsity GroupWorldQuest Networks"A pretty hairy list", says Mr. Lynch. "These are not high-quality, easy to buy for your mother-in-law stocks…I deal in stocks that I think are high risk and high reward. A lot of times things go wrong and the company buys the farm. It's not for everyone and it's not a normal method of investing. But these are not lottery tickets. I've done thorough research on every one of these. But it doesn't mean I'm right." - all material in this section is from an Aug 29, 2002 Steven Syre article in The Boston Globe---------------------------------------------------------------------You don't have to look far to find one of his stocks that bought the farm.In August, 2003 Mr. Lynch purchased a 7.2% stake in RTIN Holdings Inc. [ now SafeScript Pharmacies Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets, SAFSQ.PK) ]. On March 19, 2004, Safescript's board of directors filed a petition for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code.But we are getting ahead. This story starts with a baseball player.Stanley Lawrence Swanson signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent in 1963 at the age of nineteen. He played in the minor leagues for the next eight years before he was traded to the Montreal Expos organization in 1971. He made his major league debut for the Expos on June 23, 1971, and played in forty-nine games that year. An outfielder, he batted .245 with fourteen home runs. He earned his place in the record books by becoming one of Nolan Ryan's 5,714 strikeout victims.Stan Swanson left baseball in 1972 to go into the restaurant business. After a few years, he moved to Montana to try real estate. In 1986 he started Canaan Enterprises, a real estate franchising business. In 1989 Mr. Swanson sold Canaan Enterprises, moved to Texas, and with the money from the sale of Canaan, opened "Bosko's 3 N 1 D-Lite" restaurant in Marshall, Texas in 1989. Over the next few years, he opened several more restaurants, and the fledgling company was incorporated in Delaware in 1990 as Fresh'n Lite Inc. In 1995 it became a Texas corporation, with four active restaurants (four others were closed or sold).In 1997, the company went public, keeping the name Fresh'n Lite, with Stan Swanson as CEO and Chairman, his wife Carole Swanson as Secretary, and their son, Curtis Swanson, as CFO. Dallas Cowboy star and Hall of Famer, Bob Lilly ("Mr. Cowboy"), sat on the board of directors, together with a fellow named Ed Dmytryk, a name that would pop up later in this troubled tale.Over the next six years -- or until the summer of 2003, just about the time Mr. Lynch would have been doing his due diligence -- the Swansons compiled the following enviable record…* They never filed a 10-K or 10-Q on time.* They changed auditors five times.* They changed the name of their company three times.In 1998, doing business as Restaurant Teams International, the Swansons borrowed $3 million from an investment firm. They used $1.2 million of the proceeds to buy a building from Four Seasons Marine, a company in which they owned a 43% interest. They then filed suit against the investment firm, alleging fraud and violation of federal and state securities laws. The debt had a conversion rate based on 80% of the market price of the Company's common stock, which the Swansons alleged was manipulated downward by illegal short selling in order to obtain a larger number of conversion shares. The defendants counterclaimed alleging default on the debt, breach of contract, securities fraud and common law fraud. This battle dragged on for years.By the year 2000, the Swansons had closed all but one of their original restaurants, bought another chain of eight restaurants -- called Tanners -- out of bankruptcy, and purchased a professional services training company called RSI. The sale of RSI was later rescinded because the Restaurant Teams International defaulted, resulting in a loss of $1.2 million. Tanners was also sold at a loss in order to pay off debts. During this time, they tried -- unsuccessfully -- to buy a restaurant chain called Fatburgers, and several other chains. This pursuit lasted a couple of years and ended up costing them over $4 million with nothing to show.In 2001, the company name changed to RTIN Holdings, and the Swansons liquidated all their restaurant assets. They then purchased Medex Systems, a company that developed and licensed hardware and software for electronic transmission of prescriptions, and also purchased Pegasus Pharmacies, a chain of pharmacies that used the Medex technology. The sale of Medex and Pegasus was later rescinded for non-payment. As part of the settlement, the owners of Medex and Pegasus received a stake in RTIN, and RTIN received the right to sell licenses for Medex products and to open Pegasus pharmacies in certain territories in the U.S. They sold these licenses under the name SafeMed Systems and SafeScript Pharmacies.Over the next year and a half, the main business of RTIN was selling license agreements for SafeMed and SafeScript. However, with debts and lawsuits mounting, Stan Swanson resigned in July, 2003, and his son Curtis took over as Chairman and CEO. It was at this time that Barron Partners, a small investment firm out of NYC that specialized in OTC stocks, introduced Mr. Lynch to RTIN. Barron had purchased an 8.2% interest in July, 2003.In August, 2003, Mr. Lynch purchased 1,200,000 shares of RTIN at $1.25 each in a private placement. He also received warrants to purchase additional shares for $1.50 each, exercisable over the next three years. In addition, he bought some shares on the open market (selling at that time around $1.70) for a total holding of 1,785,000 shares -- a 7.2% stake. After news broke of the Lynch purchase, RTIN shares climbed 24% to $2.10.On August 29, 2003, in a statement to Dow Jones, Curtis Swanson exclaimed "Obviously, we were happy and humbled that he would take an interest in our company and we are excited to see how this will develop in the future". He said Mr. Lynch's advice was "to hold true to our business model and stay focused and do what we're doing because that's been successful". Prophetic words.In December 2003, Mr. Lynch exercised his warrants at $1.50 per share. As of 12/31/03 he owned 7.95% of the company, or 2,047,000 shares. In the same month, RTIN changed its name to SafeScript Pharmacies. On January 27, 2004, after an endorsement by an investment bank, SafeScript's stock rose to a new high of $5.45. The picture looked rosy.Then the bottom fell out.On February 3, 2004, the company disclosed it was under investigation by the SEC. On February 5th, SafeScript's auditor's quit, alleging they were lied to by management about finances for the year's 2001 and 2002. These were the years that SafeScript was actively selling licenses for territories in the U.S. In company filings it appears that several of these licenses were sold for notes receivable. (The previous auditors were fired in 2002 because they had expressed doubts about RTIN as a going concern).On February 5th, CEO Curtis Swanson and CFO Steve Cavender resigned. Curtis was replaced by an old friend from earlier days, Ed Dmytryk, one of the original board members and good friend of Curtis (and part owner with Curtis of a pizza restaurant at Six Flags in Texas).Under Mr. Dmytryk's leadership the company announced it would conduct its own internal investigation, would hire a law firm to defend SafeScript in the SEC action, and hire another firm to help provide financial advisory services. In the next few weeks the company backed away from these initiatives, and fired both firms.On March 19, 2004, SafeScript filed for bankruptcy. The company listed assets of up to $1 million and liabilities of up to $10 million, with about $3.6 million owed to its 20 largest creditors. The SEC probe, and numerous other legal battles also are pending. The company disclosed it does not have director or officer insurance, so it may not have the resources to defend itself in court. Effective March 15, 2004, SafeScript was deleted from the OTC BB, and listed on the pink sheets. Its stock sells for $0.08 as of May 26th.It's possible that Mr. Lynch was able to sell his shares during a large volume sell off (3,549,464 shares) when the stock closed at 0.93 on March 8th. If not, his original investment of about $2.5-3.0 million is worth about $165,000 today.---------------------------------------------------------------------A bridge hand consists of thirteen cards randomly dealt from a deck of fifty-two. The number of possible distinct bridge hands is a little over 635 billion. A bridge player cannot know how to play every one of them. Instead, you must learn how to value a hand using some rules of thumb and judgment based on experience. As you progress through the bidding and play of the hand, you must also learn to constantly reevaluate your hand in light of new information you receive from your partner's bids, and your opponents' bids and play. It's not unlike investing.---------------------------------------------------------------------One investment Mr. Lynch constantly reevaluated was Worldquest Networks (NasdaqNM, WQNI), a company that sells virtual prepaid calling cards on its Website and transmits long distance calls at discounted rates via the Internet and traditional networks.Mr. Lynch purchased a 5.7% stake -- 364,000 shares -- in Worldquest in the fall of 2001 when the stock was selling for around $1.90/share. In the following year he increased his stake to roughly 10%, or 646,700 shares when Worldquest was selling in the range of $1.60/share. By early March 2004, Mr. Lynch had accumulated 796,700 shares -- a 12.5% stake.In the next fifteen days Mr. Lynch sold off all but 67,500 shares, at prices ranging from $4.00-$6.00/share. Most of the shares were sold on the day that Worldquest announced an agreement to merge with Ntera Holdings, a privately-held provider of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services. The stock is currently selling for about $3.30/share.---------------------------------------------------------------------His partner at the club championship is a well-known bridge teacher in the area. Perhaps his coach. This wouldn't be surprising. After all, his wife plays in many tournaments with her teacher -- Dennis Dawson, one of New England's top players -- as her partner. Warren Buffet pairs up with mentor Sharon Osberg, a two-time world champion. Bill Gates is coached by Ms. Osberg and also Fred Gitelman, a bridge gold medallist and developer of educational bridge software.Sometimes they all get together. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet teamed up at the Summer Nationals in Long Beach, California in July, 2003. A week after that, Mr. Buffet entertained Mr. Lynch and his wife in Omaha, and they played a friendly match. Mr. Lynch and his wife then moved on to play in the Nebraska regional tournament where their team won three events. - material from Alan Truscott, New York Times, Aug 21, 2003It would have been fun to sit in on the Lynch/Buffet game. According to a January 23, 2004 article by Harvey Schachter in the Toronto Globe and Mail, Mr. Buffet is very competitive: "Two-time world bridge champion Sharon Osberg, who plays with billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, says that while Mr. Gates is a scientific player and Mr. Buffet an intuitive player, both hate losing. In one game, where she and Mr. Buffet were trailing his sister and brother-in-law, his sister said she wanted to frame the score sheet -- so Mr. Buffet ate it."---------------------------------------------------------------------If you've been keeping score, Mr. Lynch has had great success with his investment in Varsity Group, flopped so far with SafeScript, and executed exquisite timing with Worldquest.How have the other hands played out?Tenera (OTC Pink Sheets, TNRA.PK) -- Tenera provides Web-based learning and training products. Mr. Lynch purchased 782,000 shares -- a 7.8% stake -- in 1997. As of 12/31/03, he held a 3.9% stake, or 389,000 shares. On November 20, 2003, Tenera shareholders approved a resolution to dissolve and liquidate the company. Shares currently sell for $0.05.IntegraMed (NasdaqNM, INMD) -- This company offers products and services to patients and providers in the fertility industry. Mr. Lynch purchased a 12% stake in 1997, and last reported a 4.8% stake on December 31, 2001. The stock price has ranged between $4.00-$8.00 during that period.Calloway's Nursery (OTC Pink Sheets, CLWY.PK) -- This Texas-based retail nursery company is going private. Mr. Lynch initially purchased an 11% stake in 1995, and held a 109% stake as of 12/31/02. He did not file a registration statement in 2003, so the shares may have been sold.Barbeques Galore (NasdaqNM, BBQZ) -- Mr. Lynch initially purchased 201,350 shares of this barbecue specialty retailer with stores in Australia and the United States in the summer of 2002. His stake has grown to 337,000 shares -- 8% -- as of 12/31/03. His purchase prices were in the $3.00-$3.50 range, and the stock now sells for around $8.00 per share.Eroom Systems (OTC BB, ERMS.OB) -- Sells refreshment centers, safes, and thermostats -- all connected by a network -- to the lodging industry. This company had been heavily financed by Alan Ashton, co-founder of WordPerfect Corporation. Mr. Lynch invested in 7.9% of the company in March, 2002, and held an 8.5% stake as of 12/31/03. The company has done poorly, and there is some doubt it will continue as a going concern. Shares currently sell for about $0.30.Interep National Radio Sales (OTC BB, IREP.OB) -- Interep helps its clients with advertising strategies and the purchase of advertising time on national radio outlets. In the summer of 2001, Mr. Lynch bought 498,00 shares, and now holds 564,000. The price of the stock has ranged between $1.50-2.50 for the last two years.Abraxas Petroleum (Amex, ABP) -- Acquires and produces crude oil and natural gas. Mr. Lynch began accumulating shares in the summer of 2002 at prices ranging from $0.50 to $0.75, and now holds 3,335,440 shares -- a 9.3% stake -- at roughly $1.90 per share.Miller Industries (NYSE, MLR) -- The only NYSE-listed firm in this group, Miller provides vehicle towing and recovery equipment. As of 12/31/03, Mr. Lynch owned an 8% stake -- 769,900 shares -- selling at $8.63 per share. He began purchasing Miller shares in the summer of 2002 at prices ranging from about $3.00-$4.00 per share.PHC (OTC BB, PIHC.OB) -- PHC provides psychiatric services to patients with alcohol or drug dependency disorders, and to clients in the gaming and transportation industries. Mr. Lynch initially purchased a 5.5% stake at around $0.75 share, and now holds a 4.9% stake, or 668,681 shares, at $1.04 per share.Rag Shops (NasdaqSC, RAGS) -- Operates a specialty retail chain of craft, fabric, and picture framing shops in the United States. Mr. Lynch's first purchase was in the summer of 2002 at prices in the $4.00 range. He currently owns 221,500 shares. Current price is around $3.28 per share.Hartville Group (OTC BB, HTVL.OB) -- Pet insurer. Next time you go to the grocery store, look for their ads at the checkout counter. This is a recent purchase for Mr. Lynch. He owned 684,000 shares as of 12/31/03. Current price is $4.99 and rising.Segmentz (Amex, SZI) -- Another very recent purchase. Mr. Lynch bought an 8.5% stake in January of this year. The company provides transportation and logistics services. Current price is $1.90 per share.---------------------------------------------------------------------Peter and Carolyn Lynch are recognized for their commitment to education. Since 1991, Mr. Lynch has been chairman of the Inner City Scholarship fund in Boston which raises millions of dollars each year to help send needy students to school. In 2001, he and his wife pledged $10 million dollars to the Archdiocese of Boston for the education of children. - Michael Paulson, The Boston Globe, Nov 20, 2001In 1999, Mr. Lynch and his wife donated over $10 million to Boston College's School of Education. "People ask why I don't give to the school of management", Lynch said in and interview. "We look at this as 'Where can you get a lot for your money?'" He and his wife felt that the funds would be better served when focused on training teachers. They are particularly interested in improving urban and secondary schools. - Kate Zernike, The Boston Globe, Feb 17, 1999Peter Lynch is a board member of The Special Olympics. He has an intellectually disabled brother. "There's a misconception that this is an every four year thing; Special Olympics is every day", he says. - Albert R. Hunt, Wall Street Journal, Jun 19, 2003Much of the money Mr. Lynch earns from the investments mentioned in this post, as well as royalties from his books, go to the Lynch Foundation. The foundation provides money for programs in education, health care, and medical research. - Chris Echegaray, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, May 25, 2003---------------------------------------------------------------------There is a style of investing that says mimic the "masters". Find out what they are investing in and follow along. That's what I did with Peter Lynch in 2001. However, after considerable research, I was shocked to find out that most of what he was buying I considered pure junk. So I modified my expectations and picked the one stock in his group that I thought had merit. I haven't been disappointed.---------------------------------------------------------------------The tournament is over. We are all leaving. I didn't get to meet him, but I look over my shoulder and silently say "Thanks for the tip, Mr. Lynch".------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I hope this post was useful to you. I am sure there are errors. Corrections would be most welcome.Disclosure: I own shares of Varsity Group, but do not own shares of any other company mentioned in this post.
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I Watched Eight Hours of AmeriCorps Alums Webinars … Here's What I Learned
Today's guest blog is written by AmeriCorps Peer Leader Chelsea Goldsmith. In her role, Chelsea mentors and supports AmeriCorps members serving as Volunteer Maryland Coordinators, plans and facilitates community service projects and supplemental member trainings, assists in program outreach, member recruitment and partnership building, and evaluates progress on program goals through narrative reports. This post was originally published on the Volunteer Maryland blog on April 25, 2016.
Did you know that AmeriCorps Alums archives all of their career webinars? I found this
out recently, and I might have gone a little overboard. (Alright, maybe not Fred and Carrie watching Battlestar Galactica overboard, but it does get kind of addicting.) Now that I've come up for air, here are some reflections on some of the ideas I heard repeated, often in different ways, in multiple webinars. Enjoy!
What I Watched:
Translating AmeriCorps Onto Your Resume
Smart Networking
Best New Jobs For AmeriCorps Alums
LinkedIn: More Than Just a Website
Write a Cover Letter That Won't Get Ignored
Interviewing & Salary Negotiation Strategy
AmeriCorps Alums Career Panel
What I Learned:
Be your best and most genuine self in everything you do.
- This includes the connections you make, your service year, your social media accounts, and your LinkedIn page.
- Be honest and upfront about your motives—if you're approaching someone about an informational interview and they work at a company where you want to be hired, let them know that. "Make it so easy for them to say yes and so easy for them to say no," says Denise Riebman, AmeriCorps Alums' Career Coach. Also, always ask permission to use their name in your cover letter or application.
- "Think of every interaction you have with a company as part of your interview" warns Brittani Tanhueco, a recruiter for a nonprofit called Boys Town and an AmeriCorps alum. From the receptionist to the CEO, be respectful and professional.
- Know that your passion is important to organizations when hiring, so let it shine.
Always do your research.
- Research the company or organization and their employees before you write a cover letter or send a resume.
- Research the state of the field and the speakers and/or RSVP'd attendees before you go to a conference or networking event.
- Research the field, the position, and the people you'll be speaking with before you go to an interview, informational or otherwise.
Most people are exceedingly human and generally decent.
- Many more people will agree to connect with you and help you out on LinkedIn and at conferences, etc. than you would think.
- They'd rather hear about your personal motivations, interests, and accomplishments (impact) than those of your organization.
- They also really want to hear about themselves and how they fit into your story.
- When people are asked for help, they feel good about themselves and it strengthens your relationship.
- Talk to everyone—talk to retired people who have had successful careers, talk to people when you volunteer, always be building your network.
You need to put yourself out there in order for good things to happen.
- You are 10x more likely to be contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIn if you share links, articles, etc. from your profile once a week.
- When applying for positions, reach out after seven to ten days. It could just be to confirm that they've received your application or to check on its status, but it shows that you're serious and sets you apart from other candidates.
- In regards to salary negotiation, it is fine to advocate for yourself and ask for more; the worst a manager can do is say no (this is not a conversation that will make employers rescind their offer).
- A great way to learn about different career options is by jumping in and just going to conferences to see what you like.
Take control of your own narrative.
- "In a digital age, your personal brand is extremely public and extremely important" – Denise Riebman, AmeriCorps Alums Career Coach
- Talk about the skills you've gained from your experiences in strategic ways on your resumes and cover letters, and always target them towards the organization and position to which you're applying.
- Understand how the skills you gained as an AmeriCorps member can transfer to other realms, and don't undercut your skill level.
- "If you really want a job, but it's not extremely apparent why you would fit, you need to be upfront and explain how you will be able to excel in that position and why," explains Denise, once again.
- On LinkedIn you may only have 50 characters to catch someone's eye. We have to be able to share what makes us unique in this public forum.
This is a powerful community.
- There are a whole host of AmeriCorps alums, and they really just want to help others out.
- People in the AmeriCorps Alums world want to share their experiences and help others succeed.
- Be sure to use your existing relationships to their full potential when job searching, and put in the time to figure out how you can leverage your network to help both them and yourself.
- Clearly explain your AmeriCorps experience on your LinkedIn profile—many people have connections to AmeriCorps but don't fully understand how all the specific programs are related. These connections could help you down the line, so be sure to make them possible.
- Finally, Denise warns that "50% of jobs don't make it to job boards," showing how important it is to know people, and for them to know what you're looking for.
Interested in knowing when AmeriCorps Alums next webinar will be? Register with Alums to receive monthly newsletters that include updates on upcoming trainings, alumni profiles, national service news, and more.
August 3, 2016 8:37 pm
Really appreciate the time saver; thanks for summing a bunch of these up really well.


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The weather lately, at least here in the NW, has been erratic. I mentally geared up for Fall a few days ago, dreaming dreams of wool ponchos and lace-up boots. But then the sun came back out. Oh well. We know that Fall really is around the corner and with customers buying serious rain-proof trench coats, I thought it appropriate to see how the runway designers are interpreting chillier temperatures with their Fall 2010 lines.
Interestingly, my favorite trench spotting was completely vintage-inspired. The layered look below is from Nicholas K. I love the French nod with the leather trimmed wool beret and sailor striped lace-up shirt. The push-up pants are more mature than typical sweat pants with their color blocking shapes and the tough leather lace-up work boots are perfect for Fall's shoe trend. The trench though, pulls it all together. It's a great take on the modern style lines of classic three-quarter length vintage trench coats. And this jacket is special – it was designed by Nicholas with thoughtfulness for anyone living in rapid-change climates or folks who just need to have chameleon clothing; the hood and sleeves can all be detached.
Our vintage trenches are sturdy and element-proof come rain, sleet or snow. One of the better labels we see is Dryza-Bone, out of Australia. Made from 100% cotton but given a solid coating of oilskin to make them as waterproof as a duck, they come in an array of earthy tones, have lots of pockets for all your goodies and are the most study outdoor jackets I've seen. Plus they tend to have these great extra flaps of fabric to cover raindrop-vulnerable areas to ensure you stay dry as a bone. Very Nicholas K. but with an outback attitude.


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Almost three in four banks in Asia Pacific anticipate that fraud in their country will increase in 2019, according to a recent poll by FICO. Of specific concern are transactions completed when neither the card nor the cardholder is physically present (card-not-present or CNP fraud), as well as cards taken out by criminals under false identities (application fraud). These were identified as the two key concerns, as well as the biggest fraud challenges faced by banks in 2019.
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