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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US President Barack Obama sent a secret letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last month stressing the two countries' shared interest in fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The letter in mid-October said cooperation between the United States and Iran on combating the militant group was tied to a deal being reached between Iran and other nations on its nuclear program.
But the Obama administration has long denied that there is any connection between the nuclear negotiations, which will continue in Vienna later this month in advance of a Nov. 24 deadline for an agreement, and the host of other matters bearing on relations between the US and Iran.
In January, an unnamed administration official told a conference call of journalists that "we've always said that the nuclear negotiations were totally separate from other issues." After Israel intercepted an Iranian weapons shipment in March, White House press secretary Jay Carney emphasized that Iranian support for terrorism wouldn't be relevant to nuclear negotiations.
On Sept. 26, a senior administration official denied that the fight against ISIS was in any way relevant to the nuclear negotiations. "These are two separate issues," the unnammed official said during a special briefing after a high-level meeting between US, EU, and Iranian officials. "The nuclear negotiation is being negotiated on its own terms.
The US government still considers Iran a state sponsor of terorrism over its support for Hezbollah and Hamas, and its creation of a safe haven for Al Qaeda operatives within its borders.
Even so, the fight against ISIS has brought a new level of cooperation between the US and Iran that the White House may be using to push a comprehensive nuclear deal across the finish line. A deal could be an especially urgent priority for the administration, given this week's election of a new Republican-controlled senate that could stall the implementation of a deal — but that won't be sworn in until January.
Obama administration officials declined to discuss the letter with the Journal.
"Administration officials didn't deny the letter's existence when questioned by foreign diplomats in recent days," it said.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Bill Trott)


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The Enforcement Wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) on Thursday carried out a major operation against encroachments in G-10 Markaz at the end of deadline given to encroachers and shopkeepers.
Director Enforcement Taj Warsi led the operation which was participated by personnel of the anti-encroachment wing and Islamabad Police.
During the operation, the enforcement personnel retrieved a greenbelt area of a Lunda Bazaar and confiscated material in large quantity, while a part of verandas of shopping area was also cleared of encroachments.
Prior to start of operation, the CDA officials had held talks with Chairman Union Council Malik Sajid and President traders union G-10 Markaz, Kamran Kakakhel, two days back. The traders of G-10 Markaz have been given another three days to voluntarily remove encroachment otherwise operation would be conducted against them.
CDA chairman and MCI Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz has directed the officials concerned to resolve issue of encroachment in shopping areas through talks with traders community before launching any operation.
Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/186838-Anti-encroachment-operation-carried-out-in-G-10-Markaz

subset: commoncrawl


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W2S customer relationship management or CRM offers a complete system of strategies and knowhows needed by companies to achieve and analyse customer interactions and data during the entire lifecycle of each customer. Today's world is where customers expect immediate response or else they lose interest. Therefore, encouragement of digitally enhanced human interaction is very important for success.
In order to satisfy the digital inherent of today, organizations need to reimagine and re-establish their relationship with customers and this has to be at every touch point and through all possible channels. This is where W2s CRM comes in and helps you have things smoothly and efficiently running. We provide some of the fundamental functions you handle with CRM. Our assistance will boost your company's business and help you concentrate on your core business activities as well as sit back and relax.
We, at W2S, offer customer relationship management solutions leverage techniques putting customer at the centre of everything. We help our clients hasten their CRM transformation creativities to boost productivity, increase sales and improve customer service. All this is done by increasing the time offered to the market while reducing the operational cost. With the help of our support and partnership, organizations are able to
- Track opportunities and end up having more deals
- Deliver prompt and smart service to attain customer excellence
- Deliver seamless experience at every point of interaction with customers
- Improve engagement among consumer, employee and partner
- Build appealing and customized applications for unique business requirements
We are partnered with big solution providers and this positions us uniquely to help wide range of organizations understand their customers and enhance the conversations. We help our clients establish customer centric digital business to get the most of the CRM implementations.
To get W2S CRM you can simply follow the link or contact via email on firstname.lastname@example.com.


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With the next elections not too far away, how well do you know your MPs?Read More »
Daily Archives: 2009-11-23
Bored in bikinis
Watch also: Bored in Bikinis – suntanning in orchardRead More »
Property tax hike – Minister Lui's reason
The problem is, the longer you defer it, the larger the increase will be…if HDB prices continue to go up. Minister Lui Tuck Yew, on property tax hike SAVINGS accounts have seen miserly interest rates of below 1 per cent per annum since 2001 – and people hoping for better yields ahead will be disappointed… Rubbing salt into savers' wounds …Read More »
Singapore Police Force – stretched and fatigued
Govt admits SPF is stretched but what has been done so far? Andrew Loh.Read More »


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Knowing what your money can buy means you can spend it wisely on the best Memorial Day discounts. And learning how to stretch it can make a difference. You can choose between getting just one device and getting three for the same price. We've compiled a list for all tech enthusiasts who want to take advantage of the best Memorial Day sales on hoverboards and gaming monitors.
1. Levit8ion ultra 7.5¨
The Levit8ion Ultra counts with top-of-the-line technology as well as safety certification by our UL compliance. And its UL 2272 safety certification makes it a proud member of Levit8ion hoverboards flagship.The hoverboard's durable aircraft-grade aluminum alloy frame is capable of supporting plenty of weight, perfect for adding features as the hoverboard Go-Kart conversion.
Its 7.5-inch hard rubber tires make the Levit8ion Ultra an all-terrain hoverboard capable of riding through rough roads with maximum comfortability. This Memorial Day you can get this beauty for the low price of $299.99 with no shipping fee!
2. Levit8ion X and X Plus
For hoverboarders wanting to ramp up their skills at an affordable price, the Levit8ion X brings a full package, with a smart balance feature and greater stability. With its practical size, the Levit8ion X is the best way for beginners to start hoverboarding as well. For this year's Memorial Day, you can save more than half the price. Get your own for the low price of $269.99, a 50% discount from its original price of $549.99.
Levit8ion X Plus brings a new and improved battery from the South Korean tech giant, Samsung. The new Samsung battery module makes the X Plus travel greater distances without the any risk. With a fast charging time and up to 12 miles per charge, the best discount sales come from Levit8ion.
The X-Plus hoverboard is now selling at $299.99 from the original $599.99. Compared to the Levit8ion X, the X-Plus also counts with an all-terrain capacity. Moreover, it has a bigger form factor to increase stability. Get yours now before they ran out, and join the hoverboarding community.
Compared to the Levit8ion X, the X-Plus also counts with an all-terrain capacity and a bigger form factor to increase stability. Get yours now before they ran out, and join the hoverboarding community.
3. Hoverwalker III Go Kart Conversion
The Hoverwalker from Levit8ion lets users convert their regular hoverboard into a smooth-riding Go Kart. Selling for $59.99 this Memorial Day, the Hoverwalker is the perfect add-on for kids of all ages. The Hoverwalker Go Kart Conversion kit comes separated. Besides, it does not include a hoverboard, it's a perfect gift for all hoverboard owners.
4. Dell c7016H FULL HD Conference Room Monitor
The C7016H 70" Conference Room Monitor from Dell is the go-to console for busy entrepreneurs. Also, it's the best ways to seize the best Memorial Day discounts. Its 1920×1080 resolution is perfect for video chatting and multi-tasking in between screens. The c7016H from Dell features a DisplayPort, HDMI, USB and more. Consequently, when we talk about high-quality monitors, there's no place for cheap. However, Nov8Tech offers a significant discount with a $1,799.99 from $3,199.99.
5. Dell Inspiron i3252-10050
The latest piece of tech from Dell, the BLK Mini Desktop, offers all advantages of a regular desktop. The desktop comes equipped with a monster 1.6 GHz Intel Quad Processor. In addition, the BLK has an Intel Pentium N3700, 8 GB RAM, and 1 TB HDD.
Also, Dell Inspiron comes with 1 TB HDD Storage and 8GB DDR3L RAM included. Notably, getting the Dell Inspiron, plus the Dell Full HD Monitor, it's the bees-knees for maximum computer revamp. The Inspiron goes for a $349.86 sale, and it comes without a monitor, and with Windows 10 Operating System.
6. BenQ ZOWIE 24″ 1080p LED Full HD 144Hz Gaming Monitor
For gamers, this Memorial Day brings a great deal on gaming monitors, with the BenQ ZOWIE Gaming Monitor. It comes with a 1080p LED Full HD 144 Hz and its certified as XL-series for eSports Tournaments. The ZOWIE is synonym quality and endurance, and it counts with a certified refurbished. The sale price for the BenQ ZOWIE is $304.99, and it comes with a gift-wrap option for presents. The BenQ ZOWIE is the official gaming monitor of the MLG CS GO, as well as many other MLGs.


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The Ancient Egyptian civilization, famous for its pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, and tombs, flourished for thousands of years. But what was its lasting impact? Learn how Ancient Egypt contributed to society with its many cultural developments, particularly in language and mathematics.
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National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.
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Ancient Egypt 101 | National Geographic
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#16+ Proposal Letter Format
Getting the Best Eye Template
Design of this template is also an extremely colorful one with the usage of vivid eye-catchy colours. It is magnificent due to its distinctive layout that is responsive, too. To begin with, receive a excellent clarity on what you would like to do in the template, and pick a design that supports your objective.
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The challenge that lots of go-getting freelancers, creatives or company owners face is a serious lack of time combined with a lack of the type of graphic design abilities. There are countless sites on the world wide web, and at least a hundred of them provide the exact same or similar services and products your site doesyou can not manage to earn a wrong first impression. There are a whole lot of options of premium and free templates that you could wind up spending valuable time hunting and deciding which to use.
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Creating a successful pitch deck is among the principal tools for obtaining a new venture off the floor. Template strings are somewhat less challenging to support, because editors simply must recognize the start and the ending.


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Debunking the Old Rumors About Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Relationship
Since they publicly outed their relationship just over a year ago, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been swept into a media whirlwind. Stories of their relationship from 'royal sources' were released on a daily basis and one local British channel even released a full-fledged documentary on their year-and-a-half relationship. But now that Harry and Meghan have released statements of their own through an interview, we separate fact from fiction.
False: Prince Harry had a crush on Meghan Markle after watching her in Suits.
U.K.'s Channel 4 released the documentary When Harry Met Meghan: A Royal Romance at the end of October. Royal commentator Kate Nicholl appeared on the program and reportedly said that Harry had a celebrity crush on Meghan. She claimed that one of Harry's friends had asked the prince who his ideal girl was and he had responded, "Meghan Markle from Suits."
Fact: Prince Harry had never even heard of Meghan before their meeting and had never watched Suits.
During their
False: They were introduced by mutual friend Markus Anderson after Prince Harry asked him to set up a meeting with her.
It was also widely believed that the couple met through their mutual friend Markus Anderson, who was a consultant for Soho House. Nicholl said in an interview that the royal had asked Anderson to set up a meeting
Fact: A female friend set them up on a blind date.
While we aren't exactly sure of which friend set them up, it was definitely not Anderson, since Meghan told the BBC that they should "protect her privacy" by not revealing who set them up. There's some reason to believe that it was designer Misha Nonoo who brought them together.
It wasn't a casual get together either. Meghan added, "It was definitely a
False: They met while Harry was promoting the Invictus Games.
During the start of their relationship, the story of how they met remained a mystery and another rumor was that the pair had met in
False: Prince Harry proposed during a three-week stay at Botswana.
Engagement rumors have been swirling around the couple as early as August. A celebrity website reported that Prince Harry had asked for Meghan's hand in marriage during a trip to Botswana. The two sources told the magazine that he had wanted to propose to her near the anniversary of Princess Diana's death to "associate August with something joyful." It was also said that the diamonds he used for the engagement ring were taken from a brooch he inherited from his late mother.
Fact: Prince Harry proposed on the grounds of their cottage in London while they were attempting to roast a chicken.
It was a simple cozy night in for the couple when Harry popped the question. Meghan said he even got down on one knee and it was an immediate "yes" from her. The proposal happened just earlier on in November but the engagement ring did have two small diamonds from Princess Diana and one from Botswana in between them.


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Glittering Leatherware Matching belt, browband and dog collar available in either glittery pink or white diamantes.
With three wide rows of diamond insert
Sizes: 45cm, 55cm
Colours: White, Pink
Product Code:
Wild With Flair
For further information on this product or for your nearest stockist, please send us an enquiry.
If you're a retailer and have an account with us, then please
login to see pricing and to add products to your cart.


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Craft Horse Contest
The purpose of the Craft Horse Contest is to provide an educational opportunity for participants to exhibit their craft skills pertaining to the horse project and to encourage participants to explore and develop economic alternatives for themselves and their horse.
Contest Categories
Woodworking and craft items suitable for a horse project, including accessories for the horse, rider and facilities (for example, saddle trees, bridle holders, stall signs, blanket holders, etc.)
Please thoroughly read the Craft Horse Contest section in the NC 4-H Horse Program Rulebook (updated annually) for additional information on contest rules, regulations, etc.
2019 Online Entry Submission Link
Please note that the online registration form must be completed and submitted by May 1, 2019 or your entry will not be received. Exhibits must be submitted to the NC State 4-H Horse Show on July 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entries to be judged beginning at 5:00 p.m.


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Militants strike Egypt's Sinai, kill 15 troops, 3 civilians
CAIRO (AP) — Islamic militants unleashed a wave of attacks in Egypt's northern Sinai on Thursday, hitting a military checkpoint and killing 15 soldiers there while near-simultaneous attacks elsewhere in the volatile stretch of the peninsula left three civilians dead, officials said.
The attacks were the latest in a series of complex assaults and ambushes in recent months despite a large-scale military campaign that has tried to suppress the growing insurgency in northern Sinai, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip. The deadliest of Thursday's attacks mirrored past ones, suggesting careful planning by the militants.
The attack on the military checkpoint south of the town of Sheikh Zuweid killed 15 troops and wounded at least 19, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
In four other attacks, also near the same town, three civilians were killed and 13 were wounded. The other attacks appeared to have been aimed at diverting attention from the main assault on the checkpoint, they said.
The military's casualty toll could be higher, however, since the attackers also seized two armored vehicles at the checkpoint, possibly taking hostage an unknown number of soldiers inside the vehicles. Later, a helicopter gunship caught up with the two vehicles, rocketing one of them. The vehicle was destroyed and everyone inside it was killed, but the second one got away, the officials said.
The attackers, however, failed to capture a U.S.-made Abrams tank because its crew drove it to another army checkpoint as the attack was underway, they said.
Attacks mainly targeting Egyptian security forces have spiked since the 2013 military overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi following massive protests against his divisive rule. Most of the large-scale attacks have been claimed by a Sinai-based group that last year pledged allegiance to the extremist Islamic State group, which controls large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.
In Washington, the State Department condemned Thursday's terrorist attack in Sinai and expressed condolences to the victims' families and Egypt.
"The United States remains steadfast in its support of Egypt's efforts to combat terrorism in the Sinai and throughout the country, and we will continue to work closely together to address shared threats to regional security,' said spokeswoman Marie Harf.
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama released military aid to Egypt suspended after Morsi's 2013 ouster, in an effort to boost Cairo's ability to combat the extremist threat in the region.
Associated Press Writer Bradley Klapper in Washington contributed to this report.
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Having barely been in theaters for twenty-four hours at the time of writing this, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice has arrived with a tremendous impact. What exactly that impact is, however, depends entirely on who you ask. As a box-office contender, the movie has already been earmarked for a $350 million worldwide haul and has scored the 7th best preview opening in history with $27.7million in Thursday evening grosses.
From a critical perspective, things tend to get a little murkier. While positive word spread fast after the movie's New York premiere, critics and fans are now quite divided on what they thought of the mighty face off between the two superhero legends. The resulting impact seems to be caught between harsh criticism and undeterred enthusiasm for this monstrous tale.
Whatever the divided opinions maintain, Batman V Superman will continue to resonate amongst fans and detractors alike. Though these debates are still quite fresh, the next big Batman V Superman arrival already looms overhead – the Blu-Ray/DVD Ultimate Edition release of the movie, which according to Amazon, is already available for pre-order and will be released on July 16th. Two different Collector's Editions will also be made available as of July 27th.
Fans will have the opportunity to choose between Batman or Superman with regards to the Collector's Editions, as each set comes with a Henry Cavill Superman or Ben Affleck Batman statue. In addition to this incentive to buy, both R-rated sets contain the 2D and 3D Blu-Ray versions of the movie, each of which boast 30 minutes of extra footage, as opposed to the theatrical PG-13 release. At present the Collector's Edition are selling on Amazon for €130 (or roughly $145 USD). Batman v Superman director Zack Snyder has recently stated that the movie's Ultimate Cut will contain more characters, more violence, more Doomsday and a longer ending, among other things.
Amidst all this talk, it does perhaps feel a bit too soon to be contemplating the arrival of Batman V Superman on Blu-Ray/DVD. There's a tendency - however cynical it may seem – for some to view this move on the part of Warner Bros. as more cashing in at the expense of fans, many of whom are still queuing up to see the movie for the first time or working to make the most out of their $100 unlimited tickets.
Whatever one's opinion on this matter might be, the fact remains that Batman V Superman has innumerable fans of every age demographic under the sun. Fans want access to everything that Batman V Superman's entails. With this being the case, the impact of the The Dark Knight and The Man of Steel's mighty battle will likely continue to register in different ways for some time to come.
NEXT: SR's Batman V Superman Review
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is now playing in U.S. theaters. Suicide Squad will arrive on August 5, 2016, followed by Wonder Woman on June 23, 2017; Justice League Part One on November 17, 2017; The Flash on March 16, 2018; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League Part Two on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps. on June 19, 2020.
Source: ComicBook.com [via Amazon]


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Join an award-winning franchise system and start building your own wealth today. Learn more
We are resourceful, accurate and efficient
We do it right or we make it right
We act with integrity, especially when no one is looking
Many companies know what they do. Many do not know why they do it.
Together, the "why" we do business—to help people achieve their personal potential—along with the "how," guided by our Operating Mandate and Core Values, make us the award-winning independent agency franchise we are today and ensures alignment with our Agency Owners.
From the start, we've always operated in ways that produce Win-Win-Win outcomes, or what we like to call W-cubed (Win3).
Brightway's success is defined in only one way: By the success of our people.
Brightway is proud of the superior financial results Agency Owners in the system achieve and publicly discloses them.
Other franchise systems rely on selling franchises to remain viable. Brightway is profitable at its core business - selling and servicing insurance.
This means we:
David and Michael Miller started franchising Brightway in 2008, and the company is still family owned. Today, we are one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the country.
What started out as a vision of how an agency "should" operate and serve customers is today one of the country's largest Personal Lines independent agencies offering entrepreneurs an opportunity to join the leading insurance agency business opportunity in the U.S.
Under David's leadership, everything the company does is a win for franchisees and a win for customers. Because of the perfect financial alignment, when these two key stakeholder groups win, Brightway wins.
David's day-to-day role includes important work in mentoring the company's future leaders and helping everyone achieve their personal potential.
Michael's day-to-day focus is setting the strategic agenda for the company, helping Brightway continue to innovate in ways that help everyone associated with the business grow and prosper.
Michael started his career in a high-volume sales call center environment, driving sales and technology innovations that resulted in continuously improved results. He brought that experience forward and built his own mortgage brokerage company before he joined his brother at Brightway.
It is that drive for results and focus on accountability that Michael brings to bear every day in his work in leading the Executive Team to produce better and better results for business partners. And, it's those experiences that help him to build future leaders throughout Brightway.
Under Michael's leadership, the Executive Team's focus is building the best business opportunity in the country, bar none. And, we're on our way, having already been named the Best Franchise to Buy by Forbes magazine.
Talman brings more than 30 years' property/casualty industry leadership with him to his role running the day-to-day operations at Brightway.
A 30-year veteran who spent most of his career at industry-leader Progressive, he has extensive background in all facets of carrier operations which makes him uniquely suited for his role.
To recognize his strength of leadership and the resulting growth at Brightway, he was named an Ultimate CEO by the International Business Times.
Bob brings more than 30 years' financial leadership experience, many of them in franchising, to his role as Brightway CFO.
This experience, combined with the experience of starting his own business, gives him a unique perspective to Brightway franchisees.
Bob's role is helping franchisees understand how their businesses are performing through providing a series of push-and-pull management reports that detail operational efficiency along with authoritative analysis of the reports.
His unique business experience also empowers him to lead the company's efforts in leveraging technology to help make each agency more efficient and profitable.
Bob has been recognized as an "Ultimate CFO" by Jacksonville Business Journal.
Bob brings to Brightway 20 years' experience in technology development, providing technical leadership and overseeing several teams throughout his career.
Prior to joining Brightway, he spent seven years at Fanatics, Inc. where he served as Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Technology.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.
Kris is responsible for all groups within the company involved in delivering a world-class customer experience to our customers. Her more than 30 years' experience in property/casualty operations position her perfectly for success in this role.
Her experience includes growing world-class call centers from start-up (6 people) to fully mature and thriving (6,000 people).
Through her tenure with The Hartford, she wore many hats, giving her a well-rounded background that includes product development, pricing and underwriting, carrier management, marketing and distribution.
Leslie brings 31 years' property/casualty insurance experience to her role at Brightway in which she leads all franchisee-supporting groups including Franchise Marketing and Sales, Onboarding, Agency Support, Agency Development, Agent Training, Marketing/Social Media and PR/Communications/Web.
Throughout her career, she's been instrumental in building tools to help independent agents throughout the country grow profitably. She brings that experience forward as she leads her teams in helping Brightway business partners grow as quickly as possible, starting with comprehensive onboarding and supporting them throughout their careers with world-class marketing and sales tools and consulting.
Leslie was named one of the Women in Franchising, leaders influencing the franchise business model, by Franchise Business Review.
Chinikqua brings more than 17 years of Personal Lines insurance experience gained at The Hartford, The Hanover Insurance Group, and Citizens Insurance (Florida) to bear in her role as VP of Strategic Initiatives at Brightway.
Throughout Chinikqua's career she has led all aspects of strategic initiatives that lead to increased efficiency, company growth and profitability, including initial research, project milestones, project management, implementation and measurement.
At Brightway, she manages the work of key groups in the organization including Business Analytics, IT, Systems Administration and Quality.
Chinikqua graduated from Duke University, where she earned her bachelor's degree, along with two master's degrees—one in Engineering Management and one in Business Administration.
Jess first joined Brightway in 2006 as an Accounting intern while attending the University of North Florida and later that year joined the company full-time.
In 2008 she became Accounting Manager and in 2010, she was promoted to Director of Accounting. Jess became Sr. Director of Accounting in 2017 and joined Brightway's Senior Leadership Team as VP of Accounting Operations in 2019.
Prior to joining Brightway in January 2019, Max served as Brightway's franchise attorney at the leading franchise law firm, Fisher Zucker LLC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his tenure there, he also worked with over 100 other franchises in a wide variety of industries and presented at the International Franchise Association's Legal Symposium on multiple occasions.
Max has also served as CFO and In-house Counsel for a privately held company developing a proprietary automated cryptocurrency trading program.
Max holds his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and earned his bachelor's in Economics from Pennsylvania State University.
After almost a decade of hitting every level of achievement as a State Farm agent it was time to move on and now we are approaching the one-year mark at Brightway and we have at least a 75% conversion rate. Brightway embraces their WIN-WIN-WIN philosophy and it works like a charm. Our office enjoys closing business through A+ rated carriers everyday without having to allocate human capital to service our products as Brightway does the servicing on behalf of our office better than a captive office can on their own. We sell…sell…sell and have a blast doing it! It's truly amazing to be a part of Brightway!Brandon Kolk Brightway, The Kolk Agency
I think the company culture is outstanding, and the attitude at Home Office is very positive. As a company, Brightway is always coming up with ways to improve every area of our model…and it shows.Matthew Carlucci, Jr Brightway, The Carlucci Agency
The Operating Mandate of Win-Win-Win is one that really resonates with me and my team. As long as we approach every situation with this as our business and moral compass, we just can't fail.Matt Grundwerg Brightway, Coral Springs
Our motto is 'Always do what's best for the client.' I feel Brightway Home Office is aligned with that message, because they always work hard to do what's best for both our franchise and our customers.Bobby Raymond Brightway, Fort Caroline
I had been reading Brightway's marketing materials for years while working as a producer at a captive agency. I finally decided to look more closely at the Brightway opportunity when I realized that I'd gone as far as I could in that position. Now that I am operating my own agency in Tennessee, I can tell you that I regret wasting all of those years not offering more choice and expert consultation to my customers. I wished I had joined the Brightway family sooner. It was a big step, going from a producer to running my own business, but it's the best decision I have ever made.Tim Walters Brightway, The Walters Agency


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What are the opening hours?
The usual opening hours are as follows:
Morning: 10:00 to 13:00
Afternoon: 14:00 to 19:00
Evening: from 20:00 to 02:00
Before your visit, check the "Acces Hours Price" page of our website. Some modifications may indeed occur in case of special events at the Grand Palais des Glaces.
Are animals allowed?
No. Animals are not allowed.
Is there a space reserved for children?
Yes. The youngest will be able to take their first steps on the ice in a space specially reserved for them.
Protective helmets will be available; and for those who do not want to wear skates, you can push them on the ice with small seats.
What are the dimensions of the ice rink?
30 meters x 90 meters, or 2.700m² of ice. It's the largest ephemeral indoor rink in the world !
What are the nocturnes?
The Grand Palais is transformed into a giant dancefloor with a DJ with turntables and show lights. The ice rink remains open !
Do you have preferential rates?
Any entrance to the Grand Palais is not free, whether you skate or not. Rates are the same.
We do not have a group rate, press, large family, student, associations and works counsils.
Can I come with my own skates?
Yes. The entry fee will be the same.
What is the size of the skates?
The skates go from size 8 to 14,5.
It is also possible to add to the shoes of the smaller double blades in order to skate.
Can I come with a backpack?
In accordance with the plan Vigipirate level alert attacks – increased vigilance, and in order to ensure the safety of visitors, the Grand Palace applies the preventive measures decided by the government to the public administrations.
It is recommended not to come to the Grand Palais with suitcases and effects. Access to the Grand Palais is prohibited for all suitcases, travel bags and backpacks larger than A3 size.
The security service of the Grand Palais may be required to take, without prior notice, any provision it deems useful.
Can we privatize the place?
Yes, it is possible to privatize all or part of the Great Ice Palace.
For any request, you can contact us at 01 47 59 04 04 or by e-mail.
Do you have group rates?
No, we do not do a group rate.
I wish to exchange my ticket
Thank you for using our contact form.
I did not receive an email following my order.
Do not panic: first, check your spam.
And if you can not find your e-mail, use the function find my order that will allow you to download your (or your) e-ticket (s).
Ultimate solution, you can go to the windows of the Grand Palais des Glaces; we will find your order and can print it to you.
What are the payment methods authorized?
Online CB.
on the spot, only cash or CB


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What better way to draw our incredible 50th anniversary year to a close than by being shortlisted for FIVE industry awards?
We are over-the-moon to have been shortlisted for five QSi Awards this year in the categories of
- Large Private Hire Company of the Year
- Driver of the Year
- Community
- Environment
- Marketing
For anyone who doesn't know, the QSi awards – which stands for Quality, Service and Innovation – are the only national awards for the UK's Chauffeur and Private Hire Industry and are run by industry publication Professional Driver Magazine.
There are various reasons why we were shortlisted, most of which reflect our dedication to looking after the customers and communities that have helped us make our 50-year journey from north London minicab office to the international delivery, courier and passenger car service we are now.
Our pioneering environmental work, such as being the first in the industry to partner with The Energy Saving Trust, continues, as does our sponsorship of local events, voluntary and fundraising support. In addition, we have taken on a milestone marketing project this year with a full rebrand.
But the category we are perhaps most proud to have been shortlisted for is Professional Driver of the Year 2017, in which our nomination recognised the work of our driver Marc Brodie…
Sales and Customer Relations Director, Zoë Walsh, explains, "Marc joined us just five years ago and is a highly-trained driver who often represents us with high-profile clients. He is popular with the whole GLH 'family' thanks to his enthusiasm and willingness to help his colleagues out.
"However, it is Marc's care for customers who need extra support which has resulted in him being shortlisted for this award. From helping a customer who had forgotten her purse in with her shopping and telling her not to worry about payment, to earning the praise of the parent of a young passenger with Down's Syndrome who Marc has helped get independently to and from her course, to helping an older gentleman access extra support at home after helping him in from a hospital appointment and being concerned about his living conditions."
Marc and all our drivers represent us every day and we couldn't be prouder of them.
The glittering QSi Awards evening, hot on the heels of the National Courier Awards in which we won in three categories, takes place on 23rd November at Effingham Park Hotel.
If you want to work with an award-winning supplier that has earned London's trust over 50 years, call our team on 020 7490 4222 or email us at email@example.com you are a global corporate organisation looking for a sustainable, preferred supplier or a local person making a one-off cab booking, you are guaranteed the same level of care and attention because every journey matters.


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3 January 2012, Publication - Radio Interview Questions
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.
Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along. I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them. I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.
1. Have a website for your novel.
2. Write a blog.
3. Advertise.
4. Literary awards.
5. Book cards.
6. Contests.
7. Interviews.
8. Blog tours.
9. Press releases.
10. Speaking and teaching.
11. e-mailing.
12. Gifts.
13. ...
You can be interviewed for print media, for radio, for TV, on blogs, Internet general, character interviews, trailers just to name a few.
I forgot to mention yesterday that you need to prepare answers just like I showed you to write teasers. At the most, an answer to an interview question should be no more than a paragraph. When I say a paragraph, I mean a short paragraph. For example, in answer to the question "What is your novel about?" for Aksinya, I would answer: Aksinya is about a young woman who conjours a demon to protect her family from the Russian Bolsheviks during the Revolution. That's it. That's all. This answer is short, sweet, and begs to have other questions asked. So, the main point is to have answers that are short and packed full. You can actually use the teasers you wrote before (that is if you followed my advice). Carry them with you--they can really help you focus your interview.
That's the point--to focus your answers during the interview. I promised I would tell you the questions you should never prepare to answer during an interview. Or to be more precise, questions you don't want to answer during an interview. I'll wait until tomorrow.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.


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McDermott International appointed Samik Mukherjee executive vice president and COO. He will be responsible for leading McDermott's operations covering four geographic areas across the globe. He has more than 25 years' experience in operations as well as commercial and strategy roles, having served in leadership roles for the upstream and downstream oil and gas industry. Prior to his appointment, Mukherjee was executive vice president for corporate development, strategy, mergers, and acquisitions, digital and IT for TechnipFMC. He joined Technip in 1998, and during his career with the company he led the business unit for Africa and served as managing director in India before moving to France to serve as the head for subsea business and strategy. Later he was senior vice president of the Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa region for onshore-offshore.
Mukherjee holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and a master's degree in business administration from the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University.
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Les Demoisselle
As Shown
from: Aimee White
message: I can 100% recommend Pearl Bridal. The range of gowns and the personalised service you receive from Cathy is outstanding. I shopped in Brisbane and the Gold Coast and my two favourite dresses were found at Pearl Bridal. I loved my final choice of dress. Any bride looking for quality and style at an affordable price add Pearl Bridal to your list!


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Essential for all marketing professionals and business individuals, the Internet Marketing Certificate Program is designed to give you a complete examination of techniques and techniques throughout social media, mobile advertising and marketing, online analytics, and search engine advertising and marketing aimed at absolutely leveraging the Internet for achieving business targets reminiscent of buying, converting, and retaining online clients. For instance, when somebody searches for a selected product from a particular company on-line, if a similar firm uses focused advertising online then they'll seem on the shopper's dwelling web page, allowing the client to look at alternative choices for a cheaper value or higher high quality of the identical product or a quicker means of discovering what they want on-line.
Digital marketing activities are search engine optimization (search engine marketing), search engine advertising (SEM), content material advertising, influencer advertising and marketing , content material automation, marketing campaign advertising, and e-commerce advertising, social media advertising , social media optimization, e-mail direct advertising, display advertising, e-books, optical disks and video games, and any other form of digital media.
This seven-course online advertising and marketing certificates provides you with the MBA-stage strategic advertising coaching it's essential make robust enterprise selections and set strategic path in your company, unit, division, or product line. The Online Marketing Gurus designed a customized website positioning Strategy with Baku Swimwear's Magento web site to drive an over one hundred{f565e23ccdac296a2373a6bface2d6d1b21c89f7e32af41ba30a9d07717d3fc5} enhance in visibility.
As well as Digital marketing being highly dependent on the internet is that it is subject to quite a lot of muddle, so it marketers may discover it exhausting to make their commercials stand out, in addition to get consumers to start conversations about an organisations model image or products. SEO/ search engine marketing Services : Strategies to drive up your online listings in the natural section of google. Hi Neil, very good & helpful article, I am considering of making my career in Digital Marketing & I discovered it very helpful, Thank you a lot.
Trust the specialists and your search engine optimisation consultant at our Internet advertising and marketing firm to comply with every improvement and to provide you with essentially the most up-to-the-minute advice and technique. A nice web site can enhance your conventional advertising and marketing efforts, providing additional detail on a service or product that may now come throughout on different channels.


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Christmas's classic Christmas childhood story Seuss "The Grinch" will be released in cinemas on December 6th
The Illumination and Universal, after the global success in the area of animation with movies such as "Minions" and "I, sinisterness" show this year the 8th feature animated film entitled "The Grinch." The film will be released on December 6th by Tulip Entertainment.
The film "The Greats" tells the story of a cynical gnarler who wants to steal Christmas and wipe them out once and for all. But his heart will sweetie because of the generous spirit of a little girl. Funny, enthusiastic and highly entertaining, Gurc's story talks like no other on the essence of Christmas, about the love of festive days, and the power of optimism.
Synopsis of "The Grinch"
This is the story of Grinch, the grumpy hero who lives lonely in a cave. His only companion is his adorable and faithful dog, Max. Equipped with inventions and items for his everyday needs, Grecch sees his neighbors in the village of Houville only when it's finished with food and supplies.
Each year, Houville's residents spoil his calm and isolation, as they are planning ever-increasing, ever-brighter, more and more intense Christmas celebrations. When the time comes when residents say they will make Christmas 3 times bigger, Gretsch reaches its limits and realizes that there is only one way to regain his calm. He decides to dress Santa and steal Christmas, together with Max and a reindeer!
Meanwhile, at Cubil, Cindy-Lou, a girl who loves Christmas, plans with her friends to trap Santa Claus so that she can thank him for the moment because she helps her mother overcome them. Will Cindy-Lou be able to meet Santa Claus as the festivities approach? Will Progressive Greens be able to stop the celebrations of the inhabitants once and for all?
A few words about the project
It is a childish adventure that will be worshiped by all. Illumination, which specializes in the creation of memorable heroes (such as the "Requiem" of the Minions' Grove), has decided to make this long-lasting love and Christmas affectionate story in 3D in the most entertaining way. Indeed, the actors of the film remained faithful to authentic history and devotedly approached the writing of the book. Danny Elfman's musical investment, 25 years after the "Nightmare Christmas" soundtrack, produced by Tim Burton, is of great importance.
The script invested in other aspects of history, such as the reasons why Greczek became so lonely and the causes of his hate for Christmas. Beyond the comic gags and the amazing ways of history, at the heart of the film there is the concept of forgiveness and the power of love (or lack thereof) that goes beyond every trauma.
Giorgos Kapoutzidis assumed the difficult role of Grec. He managed to bring out humanity, strenuousness, lonely nature, but above all, the hero's well hidden, golden heart. His voice expresses the modest, tender, but also the wicked side of the fluffy, "green" hero. Next to it, Efi Papatheodorou, 13 years after TV "Par 5", gives her voice to the imposing mayor of the village, which lights the huge Christmas tree. Now, the cinematic Christmas of this generation of small viewers, they have the movie animation they deserve.


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WHEN: Sunday, November 26th, starting at 9:00am
WHERE: Utica Memory Hall
13990 Marsh Hill Rd. Utica, ON
We invite you to join us for our 2017 Annual General Meeting! For lunch, we will be having a potluck lunch, please email firstname.lastname@example.com to let us know what you can bring for the potluck. Following the AGM and lunch, we will have our awards ceremony to present High Point Awards and the WPCAO special awards!
Please send in your pictures of your Welsh showing and having fun for our annual slide show! In addition, we are also requesting a picture of all of our members with their first horse or pony (Welsh or non). Please send pictures to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Don't forget to bring a prize for the raffle table!
Draft minutes and agenda will be sent out to all current members closer to the AGM date.
Please return all trophies to Janet Pegg no later than November 10, 2017.
We encourage all of our members to attend, as this is a great opportunity to discuss any concerns or ideas for the association. We look forward to seeing you there!


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Sep 052013
Shaking hands with a cheat or thief, or merely sitting in a chair they used, is likely to make you experience feelings of guilt, writes Christian Jarrett. That's according to a new study, the first to demonstrate "moral transfer" between people.
Kendall Eskine and his colleagues invited 54 university students one at a time into a room for testing and told half of them that the chair they were sitting in had recently been used by a student who'd been caught stealing from the department. All participants then completed a personality test about how they were feeling "right now". This included items relating to anger, sadness and guilt. Example guilt items included "I feel bad about something" and "I feel like apologising".
The key finding was that students sitting in a chair previously used by a cheat scored higher on feelings of guilt, but just the same on other emotions. This "suggests moral transfer" said the researchers. A second study with 48 more participants was similar but this time the students shook hands with another person who they were told afterwards had cheated in his exams. This led them to experience increased guilt of their own, especially if they scored highly on a measure of disgust sensitivity. The moral transfer was reduced if they were wearing a glove, which some of them were as part of a supposed consumer test.
These new findings build on past research that showed people preferred to avoid coming into contact with clothing or objects used by a murderer, even though they'd been washed. The new research also complements studies that reveal the way we think of objects as contaminated by the essence of their owners – hence the value of objects that belonged to dead celebrities.
Eskine's team said there are lots of questions yet to be answered. For instance how might moral transfer affect the source offender? Could they come to feel progressively less guilty as they touch increasing numbers of other people? Relatedly, is it possible for "good" moral emotions to pass between people? Supporting this idea, a study published in 2011 found that using a putter they thought belonged to a famous pro led participants to putt more accurately and perceive the target hole as bigger.
Eskine and co's new study is thought-provoking, no doubt, and has intriguing real-life implications especially for those working with offenders. However its impact is undermined by the use of a small student sample and what the researchers admitted were "heavy-handed" cover stories relating to the cheat and thief. There's a risk the participants gave the answers they thought the researchers were looking for.
Eskine, K. J., Novreske, A., and Richards, M. (2013). Moral Contagion Effects in Everyday Interpersonal Encounters. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
Source: The British Psychological Scoeity


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Al Brown is homeless. He doesn't always know where he'll sleep at night, but you can count on seeing him every morning on the 202 bus, making his way to college classes and the future.
Brown opened up his commute to What's the Flux: Commuter Dispatches producer Whitney Henry-Lester and Seattle Post-Intelligencer photographer Grant Hindsley for our story of the week. Listen to find out what Brown listens to on his long bus rides (hint: don't stop believin' ), and to hear the advice from a mentor that got him through many nights spent at the homeless shelter. See more photos at wtfluxcommuterdispatches.com.
What's the Flux: Commuter Dispatches explores mobility, access and economic movement from the margins of a city to its center through the daily ritual of the commute. With broadcast, texts, social media, 'zines and more, What's the Flux and KBCS are bringing curiosity to hidden, nonstop migration in Bellevue, Washington. Follow Lead Producer Mona Yeh on Twitter and Instagram.


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When I was looking for flights to Los Angeles as part of my sponsored trip with Expedia.ca recently, the cheapest flight I could find with a reasonable departure time involved a stop in Seattle. We took Delta Air Lines DL 4821 departing YVR with a scheduled departure time of 11:20 am and arrival time of 12:30 pm. Here's a look at my experience.
After arriving at the Delta counter at YVR, a staff helped us to check us in at their kiosk. She was super friendly (possibly the best service I've ever received at check-in). We checked-in two bags at a cost of $25 CDN per bag. Afterward, we weighed and dropped off our check-in luggage as well as our oversized luggage which was a car seat (no extra cost for checking in). We brought on board our CHESTER, my absolute favorite carry on for use on the plane itself.
The TSA process also went very smoothly and especially quickly as it wasn't very busy at the time. I had some time to explore Pier E of the International terminal (see review here).
Flight Info
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175 which has 76 seats: 12 (First Class), 20 (Delta Comfort+), and 44 (Main Cabin)
Flight Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Cabin Service: Only First Class
Entertainment: On personal device only with Fly Delta app
Boarding Process
Our plane was on time and the boarding process was also very smooth and well-organized. We had a stroller which we gate checked and had no issues retrieving afterwards.
Delta Comfort +
While I had purchased Economy tickets, we received an upgrade to Delta Comfort + at no extra cost. There were 20 Delta Comfort + seats aboard this flight. Some of the perks of Delta Comfort + include 3″ more legroom than the seats in the Main Cabin as well as a dedicated overhead bin space.
I had "unlimited" legroom so to speak because I was seated in Seat 5B which is the start of the Delta Comfort + section. There are just single First Class seats on the left of the plane so I end up with no one directly in front of me.
Overall Impression
All in all, we had a great flight with Delta Air Lines from Vancouver to Seattle. The flight time was short so we were descending quite soon after we reached cruising altitude. The Delta Comfort + seating enhanced the experience. I would definitely recommend this DL 4821 from YVR to SEA.


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#003: Black Mirror and Philosophy | A Leap of Doubt
You can blame me, try to shame me, and still I'll create podcasts for you! And anyone who knows what "Black Mirror" is (which should be everyone) will understand.
This episode is devoted to a deep-dive discussion of some of the philosophical ideas and issues explored in the television series "Black Mirror," including such meaty areas as the nature of consciousness, the problem of personal identity and its relationship with memory, existentialism, morality and ethics (especially as these relate to the question of retributive justice), and of course technology and the role it plays in our lives.
Joining me for this discussion are two friends of mine, Jeremiah Traeger and Michael Schaffer, who are big fans of the series and whose most interesting contribution to this episode is their heated debate over whether the simulated counterparts of various characters are conscious beings or not. . .
Join the official discussion group of this podcast at https://www.facebook.com/groups/alopdiscussion/
Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TheNatheist
Follow "The Romantic Nihilist" page on Facebook: https://facebook.com/RomanticNihilism/
Relevant Links:
Jeremiah Traeger on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jerbivore
The SJW Circle Jerk podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-sjw-circle-jerk
Michael Schaffer's "Reasonable Risk" podcast: https://twitter.com/ReasonBroker and http://www.reasonableriskpodcast.com
The opening clip is an excerpt from the audiobook "God is Not Great" by Christopher Hitchens, courtesy of Hachette Audio. Text Copyright 2007 by Christopher Hitchens. Audio production copyright 2007, Hachette Audio. Used with permission.
The opening and ending music is "Jade" by Esther Nicholson and is used under license.


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Taking the GMAT: What's the Real Cost?
One of the admissions requirements for most MBA programs is the Graduate Management Admissions Test, or GMAT. This test evaluates your quantitative, verbal, reading, analytical and writing skills, and it's often seen as a strong predictor of student success in the MBA environment.
The GMAT is a 3.5-hour test administered at an independent testing center. In order to thoroughly prepare for this exam, you should be aware of the various costs that you will incur as you study for and ultimately take it.
Test Costs
As of 2018, the cost of taking the GMAT exam is $250, which includes the option to send score reports to up to five schools. Additional score reports sent after you take the test cost $35 each, so it's best to decide where you would like your scores to be delivered before you sit for the exam.
There are also some other potential fees that can be incurred while taking the test or afterward. These include:1
- Rescheduling the test: $60 if you reschedule more than seven days before your appointment; $250 if within seven days of the test
- Cancelling the test: $80 refund provided if test is cancelled with more than seven days notice, no refund if within seven days of the test
- Cancelling your scores: $25 to do so after you leave the testing center
- Reinstating your scores: $50 if you change your mind
- Enhanced score reports: $24.95 for reports that provide more details on your score
- Rescoring of your essay: $45 to receive a second opinion on the written portion of the exam
These fees only refer to scheduling and scoring requests made online. To make similar requests by phone, you'll be charged an additional $10 fee. In order to avoid having costs like these add up for you, it's best to wait until you are certain that you are ready to take the test before scheduling.
Associated Costs
Depending on how you choose to prepare for the GMAT, you may also incur some other costs. The GMAT's official website, MBA.com, offers some prep resources like downloadable software and several practice tests for free, and others for an additional cost. You may also wish to use other study materials, such as one of the many GMAT prep guides on the market or in your local library.
Some MBA candidates opt to attend preparation classes, offered by independent providers. These courses can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for self-paced classes to $2,000 or more for private tutoring.2 Whether you opt to enroll in a prep course is entirely up to you; while they're certainly not required to do well on the GMAT, they can help some prospective MBA students develop test-taking strategies and understand how the exam is structured.
However, if you are struggling with the actual content of the test, it may be more beneficial to take a refresher course at a local community college or adult education center. That way, you can build skills that can help with both the test and your MBA coursework.3
GMAT Waivers
Some MBA programs may offer GMAT waivers to qualified students, meaning that they do not have to submit exam scores as part of their application. William & Mary's Online MBA program, for instance, will waive its GMAT requirement if you have five years of professional experience with increasing levels of responsibility, plus either a master's degree in a quantitative subject; a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last four courses in economics, statistics, finance or accounting in your undergraduate degree; or a score of at least 90 percent on each of five areas (economics, finance, accounting, statistics and spreadsheets) of the final exam for the MBA Math online course, which is available at mbamath.com at a cost of $149.
Financial Assistance
In some cases, you may be able to apply for a need-based fee waiver for the GMAT. Many scholarship programs offer GMAT cost waivers to promising students. Some employers will also cover the cost of the exam as part of their educational reimbursement plan. You can also apply for a fee waiver through the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), which provides a limited number of waivers to schools that require the GMAT.
Taking the GMAT can be expensive, but it's an investment in your educational and professional development. And in the long run, it's an investment that can potentially pay off both personally and financially. Learn more about how William & Mary's Online MBA can put you on the path to career success, and begin the application process today.
1. Retrieved on May 1, 2018, from mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/prepare-for-the-gmat-exam/plan-for-test-day/paying-for-the-gmat.aspx
2. Retrieved on May 1, 2018, from princetonreview.com/business/gmat-test-prep
3. Retrieved on May 1, 2018, from mba.com/us/the-gmat-blog-hub/ask-the-expert/2012/aug/should-i-take-a-gmat-prep-course-before-i-take-the-exam.aspx


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Since I'm pretty much in baby mode right now I thought I would share with all of you what I've gotten for my baby girl so far. We've done a lot of shopping around and have slowly started to accumulate things for her. We don't have too much yet but I know I love to see what other mom's are buying so I wanted to let you guys peek at our baby stash.
Right now for clothing we mostly have footie pajamas and onesies in sizes 3 months to 9 months. We have three 3 month footie pajamas and 2 little outfits. One 6 month romper, one foot pajama and one outfit. For 9 month we only have one footie pajama. For our onesies we have two 3-6 month onesies and two 6-9 month onesies which we bought 5 coordinating pants for them, two in sizes 3-6 months and three in sizes 6-9 months. We also have 5 pairs of baby legs that we got for free off of babyleggings.com. And I got a very cute set of onesies that go from 3 months to 9 months that came with monthly stickers so you can take pictures of baby every month. We got the set on clearance because it was missing the 12 month onesie but I know that I can find a matching onesie so I wasn't too worried about it. We purchased all the clothes from either Target, Costco or Buy Buy Baby.
We don't have much in the way of bedding yet. We did get baby girl's quilt, 1 fitted muslin sheet, 1 cotton fitted sheet and a pack of 4 Aden + Anais muslin blankets. We searched high and low for exactly what we wanted when it came to her quilt, which was no easy task. Nick wanted something brightly colored with a big pattern on it so people could tell what it was. I wanted light colors with delicate little flowers and a vintage feel. We eventually found the perfect quilt on an Etsy shop called Cool Spool. It is the perfect mix between what Nick wanted and what I wanted. The pattern is colorful but not overly bright. It is easy to see what the pattern is but still has a vintage flare to it. We both really loved the nature them and wanted the quilt to bring in the theme for her nursery. The quality of the quilt is great too and if I saw it I would assume it was professional done and sold at a high-end boutique. We absolutely adore it and are so excited to wrap baby girl in it.
Room Decor
So far all we have is a very cute bird house wall shelf from Lambs & Ivy and her Jellycat Bartholomew Bear that I am going to take everywhere with her. The bear is so soft and snugly, I just love it.
All we have right now is one Circo hooded towel that I got on clearance at Target. It is very cute and is surprisingly soft, it almost feels like a blanket.
We don't have much in the way of diapers since we are a cloth diapering family and I still have all the boys old cloth diapers. I did get a sample of Honest diapers and wipes when I registered at Motherhood Maternity. I also got a Huggies Clutch 'n' Clean that includes 32 wipes. I mostly got it because I thought it would work with cloth wipes as well as disposable. Then I picked up a 3 pack of Boogie Wipes, mostly because they were on sale and I had a coupon. I figured that she is going to be born in January and she has two brothers that go to school and if she doesn't need them someone else will.
For feeding we have 2 Avent bottles that I got as a free sample when I registered at Motherhood Maternity and Buy Buy Baby. I also got 1 free nursing covers at uddercovers.com and purchased a second for $10. They are very cute and seem to be good quality, especially for the price! Then I picked up a 3 pack of the Siliskin Straw Tops that I may regret buying. The silicon seems very thin and I feel if I stretch it too far it may rip them. After I purchased them I realized that they didn't get very good reviews on Amazon so they may not get used very much or repurchased if something happens to them. Then, my little Gray insisted that his baby sister needed pacifiers and that they needed to be pink since she was a girl. to make him happy we allowed him to pick out one pack and he got her the Chicco Natural Fit pacifier.
Car Seat Accessories
Right now we have not purchased our car seat. I did however get a free car seat canopy from carseatcanopy.com for the summer months and then another Cozy Cover for the winter so baby girl wouldn't be exposed unless I wanted her to be.
We did purchase a new stroller because our old single stroller wouldn't work with the car seat we want to get and the double stroller we own now is bulky, hard to push and also wouldn't work with her car seat. We decided to get the City Select by Baby Jogger because it can be a single or a double stroller and would fit any car seat we decided on. This was our first big purchase and I don't regret it. We've been practicing using it with Gray and he really enjoys it and it rolls really smooth even with his lead butt in it. It also has a ton of accessories you can get for it like a bassinet, cup holders, rain covers, etc. We just got a parental console that has 2 cup holders and a large pocket for parents and hooks to hold shopping bags or a diaper bag. We also got a Skip Hop Walk-Along Handle for the boys to hold on to if they aren't riding.
The only baby gear we got so far is the 4Moms Mamaroo. We actually purchased this used off of OfferUp for $170, which saved us $100! I've heard mixed reviews on it and I really didn't want to spend almost $300 on a baby swing which is why I wanted to get it used. I was lucky enough to have my pick of about 10 on OfferUp and choose the cheapest one. I was even luckier because it is in great condition and looks brand new.


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Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. (Director, President: Tetsuo Ohkubo) hereby announces that it has decided on the basic policy for the split of asset management functions from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited (President: Masaru Hashimoto, hereinafter "SuMi TRUST"), and the integration of aforementioned functions with the related Group company, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management Co., Ltd. (President: Hideki Hiraki, hereinafter "SuMi TRUST AM") (the "Business Split and Integration"), with the purpose of strengthening the asset management business, which is positioned as a growth business for the Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group.
Further, as a preparatory step for the Business Split and Integration, we will segregate as a business within the company, the asset management business of SuMi TRUST, which is to be the subject of the split and integration, and we will commence concrete initiatives, beginning with formulation of growth strategies.
- Background to the Business Split and Integration
With the continued harsh asset management environment of low interest rates worldwide, and increasing price volatility in a wide-range of assets, etc., for clients of all sizes, from individuals and corporations to institutional investors, there are increasing expectations on asset management companies to provide stable and high-quality investment returns, and the provision of products that contribute to future asset-formation primarily through medium- to long-term investment has become an important social mission for asset management companies.
In addition, as a further social mission, asset management companies are urged to contribute to Japan's economic growth through sophistication of the investment chain, by providing growth capital through asset management products and making sustainable improvements to corporate value through constructive dialogue.
In order to meet these expectations, SuMi TRUST, which has been providing services for corporate and institutional investors for many years, will split its asset management functions, which feature high-level know-how and quality, and strategically integrate aforementioned functions with SuMi TRUST AM, which has been aiming to expand its business from individual investors, focusing on defined contribution pensions, fund wraps, and index trusts, etc. We aim to concentrate and proactively allocate our management resources to growth areas.
- Vision for the New Company
As a new asset management company that boasts of being among the largest in scale in Japan, the new company will focus on development of asset management products that will allow clients to entrust, with peace of mind, their medium- to long-term asset formation, and will aim to be an asset management company that has nationally well-known brand power, with recognition from many clients that "SuMi TRUST AM is the most reliable partner in medium-to long-term investment".
The new company will aim to thoroughly strengthen its asset management capabilities, and it will be equipped with an extensive line-up that is responsive to the broad-range of investor needs, and will pursue the maximization of client profits by responding swiftly to the various client needs.
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, as a financial group specialized in trust banking, has as its management philosophy, the fulfilment of "trustee's responsibilities"– which are the origin of fiduciary duties. In this specific matter of the split and integration of the asset management business, in order to contribute to business conduct that is still more thoroughly client-oriented, and the improvement of management independence and transparency, the new company intends to continue to enhance its corporate governance framework through measures such as, for example, actively inviting external experts with high-level knowledge to serve as independent external directors.
- Schedule for the Business Split and Integration
For the Business Split and Integration, we will, effective on August 1, 2017, implement business segregation within the company regarding the asset management operations relating to the fiduciary services business of SuMi TRUST, which is to be the subject of the integration, and we will commence concrete preparations.
Based on detailed review and discussions, and subject to matters such as necessary resolutions of the board of directors and the shareholder of each company, and filings with the relevant Japanese and overseas authorities, and approvals, we will aim for integration during Fiscal Year 2018.


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International Projects
HiB is strongly committed to international collaboration in research and education. Through participating in a number of cooperation programmes and externally funded projects, our students, teachers and researchers are offered many exchange and collaboration opportunities with institutions all over the world.
HiB is presently participating in the following programmes:


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"Ian Mann enjoys an excellent live performance by the Martin Speake Trio and takes a look at their double album "Always A First Time".
Alto saxophonist Martin Speake and his trio got Shrewsbury Jazz Network's 2014 programme off to a great start at this well attended gig at The Hive. Speake is one of the UK's most versatile alto players and has recorded prolifically, often on his own Pumpkin label which he founded in 2007. Born in 1958 Speake came to prominence during the 1980's jazz boom, initially as a member of the saxophone quartet Itchy Fingers. He later established a solo career and has worked with like minded musicians from all over the globe in a variety of different jazz styles and line ups, from the mainstream to the experimental, duo to jazz orchestra. A keenly intelligent musician Speake defies categorisation or pigeon holing.
Among his current projects is his innovative trio featuring guitarist Mike Outram and Speake's long time collaborator, drummer Jeff Williams. In 2012 these three recorded the adventurous double album "Always A First Time", a lavishly packaged collection that was released on Pumpkin in 2013. Largely recorded "live in the studio" the material includes an impressive collection of Speake originals, four jazz standards and an arrangement of a piece by Puccini (of which more later). Many of the pieces were first takes, hence the title, I guess. The style ranges from chamber jazz to more experimental, subtly rock tinged pieces, the music often beautiful but always fiercely intelligent.
Each tune is dedicated to a person, these ranging from Speake's childhood jazz heroes and contemporary musical colleagues to more personal family dedications. There's even a piece dedicated to Fidel Castro. The packaging is liberally sprinkled with thought provoking quotes from a wide variety of sources, musical, political, literary and philosophical, a reflection of Speake's wide range of interests ( parallel to his musical career he practises Nutritional Medicine).
The material played at Shrewsbury was largely sourced from "Always A First Time" but there was one enforced change from the album line up. American born Williams had been obliged to return to the US to be with his father who is currently seriously ill. Here at the Jazzmann we wish Jeff and Mr. Williams Sr. well at this difficult time.
For the Shrewsbury show Mark Sanders stepped into the breach and acquitted himself superbly. Speake and Sanders are old friends and colleagues and collaborated on the spontaneous duo album "Spark", reviewed elsewhere on this site. I've seen Sanders perform live before in bands led by saxophonists Paul Dunmall and Ken Vandermark and as part of guitarist Alex Ward's powerful quartet Predicate. On each of these occasions he's been an energetic "driver" of the band, tonight represented a welcome opportunity to see Sanders in more of a "colourist" role and he responded magnificently, giving notice as to just what a versatile musician he is. Amazingly this was his first performance with this particular trio but one would never have guessed.
The first set began with Speake's tune "Pumpkin", from which his record label took its name, Speake's alto dovetailed delicately with Outram's spidery guitar lines above a backdrop of Sanders' cymbal shimmers. Speake exhibited a purity of tone and inventive turn of phrase that recalled that of Lee Konitz, one of his major inspirations. Outram was the perfect foil, his textured guitar playing making subtle use of tone controls and other electronic effects.
The title track from "Always A First Time" began with a sax/guitar duet and introduced a folk like melody which formed the basis for solos from Speake on typically pure toned alto and Outram on guitar, the latter's feature full of inventive and imaginative chord progressions. Sanders meanwhile grew into his role, colouring the music intelligently as he deployed a variety of sticks, brushes and mallets. The similarly versatile Williams performs a similar role on the recorded version.
Solo saxophone ushered in an innovative arrangement of Rodgers & Hart's standard "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered", Speake subsequently playing snatches of the melody as he soloed above the brushed bustle of Sanders' drums. Outram's solo saw him adopting a cleaner, more orthodox jazz guitar sound full of agile chording. Finally came a largely brushed drum feature from Sanders, which also saw him making imaginative use of his bass drum to convey complex rhythmic inflections.
Speake's laconic announcing style saw him introduce the next tune as "this one's by Puccini". This proved to be the trio's version of "O Mio Babbino Caro", which also appears on the album. Saxophone and guitar gently ushered in Puccini's memorable melody with Sanders later adding delicate brush work. However an innovative twist later saw the trio gradually steering the music in a more contemporary direction and flirting with atonality as Sanders swapped his brushes for sticks and mallets and Outram effected bass lines on the top strings of his guitar.
Bud Powell's "Audrey" doesn't appear on "Always a First Time" but the title suggests a dedication and the tune therefore seemed an appropriate choice. Another sax/guitar intro announced the boppish theme, this leading to a series of thrilling exchanges between Speake, Outram and Sanders and finally an extended solo from the drummer.
Returning to the album we heard "Folk Song For Paul", Speake's homage to the late, great drummer Paul Motian (1931-2011), with whom he collaborated on the 2006 ECM album "Change Of Heart". Outram's extraordinary solo guitar intro made subtle use of layering and looping effects before Speake's alto stated the lovely, almost naïve, folk like melody. Gentle but imaginative solos by Outram and Speake were sympathetically supported by Sanders' sympathetic brush work. Dedicated the piece to Motian, Speake revealed what a significant influence the older man had been on him.
The first half ended with an unannounced standard, most likely the album's "When Your Lover Has Gone", which included solos from Speake and Outram, exchanges with Sanders, and finally a drum featuring Sanders' familiar use of brushes and bass drum.
The second set was equally fine, but by this time Speake seemed to be getting bored of tune announcements and the trio seemed to be enjoying themselves too much to let such niceties get in the way of their music making. Most people didn't seem to mind but it's not quite so easy for a reviewer!
The first piece began with an alto/drum duet and took the music into powerful, free jazz waters barely hinted at in the first set culminating in a stunning solo from Sanders that demonstrated the high octane style of his that I was more familiar with. Summoning an astonishing array of sounds from his kit Sanders produced a percussive tour de force that went down a storm with the Shrewsbury audience. The piece proved to be "In Code", Speake's spiky tribute to the great Ornette Coleman.
A change of pace for "Best Laid Plans", an original piece with a melody that wouldn't have disgraced a standard.
This pensive rendition included a wonderfully imaginative solo from Outram, reminiscent at times of Pat Metheny at his best, and an equally thoughtful and absorbing dialogue between old sparring partners Speake and Sanders.
The Speake original "15 Years Too Long" reintroduced the saxophonist's bebop tendencies and included extended solo passages from each of the three instrumentalists.
"Country Boy" was Speake's dedication to the American bassist Charlie Haden (one time colleague of Paul Motian, Ornette Coleman, Keith Jarrett, Carla Bley, Pat Metheny and many others). The title references Haden's upbringing in rural Missouri (also Metheny's home state) but behind the attractive melody the playing possessed a grit that reflected Haden's later political activism.
Next up (I think) was "Secret Wood", Speake's dedication to his trio colleague Mike Outram. Song like in construction, the piece opened with Outram alone, establishing a hypnotic guitar motif which locked in with Sander's drum groove to provide a backdrop for Speake's opening solo. Outram's own solo evidenced a strong rock influence, one that I've seen surface in his playing many times over the years in bands led by drummer Asaf Sirkis and others. As versatile as his colleagues Outram has worked extensively in other fields including pop, rock and theatre.
The second set concluded with two airy, gossamer light ballads which saw Outram playing without a pick to increase the overall air of tenderness and fragility. The second of these exquisite pieces was the standard "If I Loved You" by Rodgers and Hammerstein which saw the musicians expertly letting the music fade away to nothingness, as dramatic in its own quiet way as Outram's earlier guitar pyrotechnics.
An attentive and enthusiastic audience summoned the trio back for a deserved encore and the band raised the energy levels once more with a free-wheeling excursion based around bebop styled motifs and with a final brilliant solo from Speake. This was later revealed to have been "Tom", Speake's dedication to the contemporary jazz drummer Tom Skinner (Sons of Kemet, Hello Skinny etc.).
Overall this was a performance that, for me, confirmed Speake's continued reputation as one of the UK's best saxophonists, a player with a particularly fertile musical mind. It also introduced me to fresh aspects in the playing of Outram and Sanders, both of whom were superb tonight.
SJN's Hilary Hannaford was delighted with both the quality of the music and the size and enthusiasm of the audience. Once again the jazz listeners of Shrewsbury and beyond had proved their enthusiasm for top class adventurous contemporary jazz. A terrific start to 2014.
Meanwhile the trio's album "Always A First Time" is highly recommended, an immaculately recorded double set full of imaginative and intelligent originals and similarly inspired arrangements of outside material. Retailing at just £10.00 on Speake's website it represents excellent value for money – and the music is superb too.
Another great afternoon at what is a traditional highlight of the Jazz Network's year, the Annual Jazz Jam.
Much enjoyed by those taking part as well as those who came to watch.
Away from the hectic Christmas shopping and mince pies at the ready, the audience were entertained by some top local talent.
Julian Dean was MC and music leader for the afternoon. The house band support were Stuart Goodhew, piano, Gary Santry, drums, Deb Grey, electric bass and Dave Margaroni, bass.
We were pleased to welcome some newcomers who were much impressed by the high quality of jazz played.
Thank you to all those who came and helped us enjoy a jolly festive event!
Here are some pictures of the afternoon kindly sent to SJN by Kati Sheehan.
Thanks Kati.
Saturday 9th november 2013
Four outstanding musicians took us on a mesmerizing journey.
See this amazing review by the Jazzmann www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/matt-ridley-trio-with-jason-yarde-the-hive-shrewsbury-09-11-2013/
Pictures to follow soon.
Liam Noble's Brother Face
Saturday 12th October 2013
Another wonderful evening of music from this amazing quintet. The opportunity to have a real piano was the icing on the cake.
Pictures and comments to follow.
Till then see this review from the http://www.thejazzmann.com/
Shrewsbury Jazz Orchestra with special guest, Laura Collins
Saturday 14th September 2013
What a great start to our Autumn season. A full house and a fantastic audience.
Here is a lovely review by Ian Mann of www.thejazzmann.com
Shrewsbury Jazz Network's autumn programme got off to a great start with this sold out performance by local heroes the Shrewsbury Jazz Orchestra who performed two lengthy sets of superbly arranged big band music with some items augmented by the voice of guest singer Laura Collins.
The musicians in the SJO mainly come from the Shrewsbury area but the Orchestra's talent pool extends to many of the Midlands' leading jazz players with a number of Birmingham based musicians swelling the band's ranks.
The SJO is directed by Jim Mould, once the pianist of the band and still a performer on that instrument in small group settings. The evening began with the rhythm section of Stuart Goodhew (electric piano), Simon King (electric bass) and Carl Hemmingsley (drums) already on stage and playing as Mould called the three sections of four trumpets, four trombones and five reeds to the stage, the musicians walking through the crowd to generous applause. The tune proved to be Jobim's "One Note Samba" with solos coming from Val Swingler on alto sax and Goodhew at the piano.
This lively opening was followed by the even more rousing "Lickety Splitz", originally arranged by American trombonist Tom Garling for the book of the Maynard Ferguson Big Band. Swingler again asserted her credentials as one of the SJO's leading soloists with a fluent and incisive solo that was reminiscent of such great players as Jackie McLean and the UK's own Peter King. The piece was crowned by a drum feature from Hemmingsley, one of the most consistent and in demand musicians on the Birmingham jazz scene.
Simon King is a remarkable multi instrumentalist. A leading figure on the Midlands jazz circuit he plays guitar, bass and drums with equal brilliance and a quiet confidence. He normally fills the drum chair for the SJO but had moved across to bass in the absence of regular incumbent John Dover leaving room for Hemmingsley to come in on the traps. King is also a skilled arranger and his imaginative adaptation specifically for the SJO of Clifford Brown's classic "Joyspring" genuinely was a joy. There were extended passages for each of the three horn sections (trumpets, saxes, trombones) with these punctuated by more conventional jazz solos by Goodhew, trumpeter Antony Stevens and tenor saxophonist Roy Johnson. King even allowed himself a brief cameo on electric bass. Storming stuff.
At this juncture Jim Mould welcomed guest vocalist Laura Collins to the stage for a rousing version of "The Song Is You", slightly marred by microphone problems, a touch of feedback and excessive reverb, that thankfully was quickly sorted out. Originally from Cardiff but now based in Birmingham Collins made a very favourable impression with her 2010 album "Baltimore Oriole", a very classy release on Spotlite Records featuring an excellent trio of Barry Green (piano), Jeremy Brown (bass) and Matt Skelton (drums) with strong guest appearances from trumpeter Dick Pearce and guitarist Sam Dunne. Since then she's taken time out for the birth of her first child, a son, but is happily now back singing again. "The Look Of Love" featured a gentler arrangement which saw Swingler switching to flute.
Collins continued to demonstrate her range and flexibility with a lovely version of Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks", here with a new lyric and title by Norma Winstone that transformed the tune into the song "A Timeless Place". This version of the piece was arranged by Birmingham based saxophonist Mike Fletcher with sumptuous horn voicings accompanying Collins' assured Winstone like vocals. The lyrics were typical Norma Winstone, wordy, poetic and evocative with knowing references to the peacocks of Rowles' title.
Collins' first guest slot ended much as it began with singer and band gleefully tearing into "S'Wonderful" in typically rousing fashion.
The first half was rounded off by no fewer than three big band arrangements beginning with "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" , a feature for Stevens on flugel horn. The tune was divided into two distinct sections, the first featuring Stevens' sensuous ballad playing, the second completely different in feel and tempo as he demonstrated his bop chops with only Goodhew, King and Hemmingsley for company, the tune finishing with a lively drum feature.
"Grace" began with an opening chorus for the fourteen horns only before evolving into a tenor saxophone feature for local hero Ed Rees.
The first half closed with the splendidly funky "Conspiracy Theory" with King's thick, juicy bass grooves the launch point for a feature for the trombone section of John Herbert, Dave Hayward, Reuben Aldridge and Andy Derrick. Birmingham based Derrick, one of the best known names in the SJO ranks, continued the momentum with an ebullient solo that owed something to the style of Gary Valente (ex Carla Bley Band) with Rees later taking over on r'n'b infused tenor. A storming end to a hugely enjoyable first half that was very well received by a capacity audience, possibly the largest I've ever seen at The Hive.
Following a well earned beer break the members of the SJO trickled their way back to the bandstand, no grand entrance this time! Last to take their positions were King and Hemmingsley, perhaps making up for their early arrival for the first set. However there was no let up in the energy or quality of the music. Under the baton of the amiable Mould SJO are a skilful, well drilled unit with an obvious enthusiasm for the music.
Set two began with US big band arranger Bob Florence's "Carmelo's By The Freeway", a stirring call to arms featuring solos by Rees on tenor (carrying on where he left off) and Stevens on trumpet plus a series of drum breaks from the excellent Hemmingsley.
"Stolen Moments" featured the muscular tenor of Johnson, and the McLean like alto of Swingler, the latter bookended by trombone features for Derrick and Aldridge.
The music of Maynard Ferguson is a particular favourite of SJO director Jim Mould. Indeed Mould was lucky enough to see Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau Band on the trumpeter's 70th birthday tour back in 1998. The night's second Ferguson tune was a bright and punchy "Cruisin' For A Bluesin'" with some bravura open horn trumpet soloing from Stevens as he stepped into the Ferguson slot. Others to excel were Derrick on trombone and the saxophone section who passed the lead around the altos and tenors. The piece was climaxed by Hemmingsley at the drums and by the end both band and audience seemed in need of a breather.
This was partially provided by the return of Collins, sporting her second costume of the evening as she got back into the spirit of jazz diva-dom. The song was "Gentle Rain" with Stevens excelling on flugel during a brief instrumental section.
The singer was at her most flirtatious and theatrical on "Alright, Okay, You Win" , a tune made famous by Peggy Lee. The band played some great charts too.
Collins is also an excellent ballad singer and exuded real emotion on the evergreen "Cry Me A River". Then it was another character change for a storming "St' Louis Blues" which the vocalist dedicated to wronged women everywhere before delivering the lyrics of WC Handy's songs in vituperative, mock theatrical fashion. Great stuff. I've only seen or heard Collins in small group contexts before and it was interesting to see her fronting a big band. Occasionally she had to resort to shouting to make herself heard but on the whole this was a performance she grew into, becoming increasingly relaxed and vivacious, particularly in the second set. It's good to have her back.
The SJO draw on admirably wide range of sources and it was an unexpected pleasure to find a Pat Metheny tune included in the set, "Always And Forever" from Pat's "Secret Story" album. A warm arrangement featured Stevens' flugel at its most rounded and velvety, this contrasting nicely with the more "full on" band passages. I'm aware that big band arrangements of Metheny tunes are not uncommon and that the (very good) London based Big Band Metheny specialise in such renditions but as a Metheny fan it was still good to hear it.
Charles Mingus' "Moanin'" was a feature for baritone saxophonist Sarah Lewis, a real low register fest with its bari vamp and solo and with Andy Derrick weighing in too on growling trombone.
The band just love playing funk charts and closed with the strutting "The Chicken" , opening with a brassy fanfare before King set up the groove, the bassist sharing the solos with tenor sax and piano. The crowd loved it and the band needed little coaxing back for an encore, staying with the funk on an item whose title I forgot to note, basically because I was enjoying myself too much to bother with technicalities. However I do remember that it featured Ed Rees on soprano.
This was a really enjoyable night of music making. For an essentially "amateur" band (of tonight's performers only Collins and Derrick appear to have their own websites) the SJO play to an extraordinarily high standard and in Jim Mould they have a director who brings the best out of them and presents the music in an informative and easy going manner. A sell out audience containing many family and friends gave them a great reception but make no mistake they earned it.
It was also good to see Laura Collins singing again. Her contribution was also much appreciated by the Hive audience and it's to be hoped that she can continue to work around motherhood and become more fully involved with the jazz scene once more, a second album is long overdue.
But at the end of the day this was the SJO's night, it's easy to see just why they're so popular with local audiences. Tonight's bumper attendance also revealed that there's a ready market out there for big band jazz, something that makes the BBC's decision to axe it's Big Band Special programme and reduce the budget of the BBC Big Band appear even more ridiculous and untenable.
I don't like to end on a gripe so to paraphrase Jim Mould congratulations to everyone involved for a great evening's music "Live at The Hive".
Thanks also to Geoff Inwood for featuring the event on his website
Click on the link to see some pictures