text:
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text:
Lou Clap (The Pebble)Nissart lyrics by Antonin Steve, known as Toni Baloni, music by La Belugada. Traditional from County of Nice.
1. Tranca: mountain stream, gully erosion caused by torrential waters, duct for flow of natural waters.2. Louona: pool of water in a river or a brook, puddle, pond.3. Moufa: moss, mould. Here, meaning is the one of the proverb: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Back music page - Top
© 2001-2020 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.
If you found this page interesting, consider linking to it. Simply copy and paste the code below into your web site (Ctrl+C to copy). It will look like this:Lou Clap (The Pebble)Lou Clap (The Pebble)
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text:
Key Facts
|Collective Bargaining Coverage
|Proportion of Employees in Unions
|Principal Level of Collective Bargaining
industry and company
|Workplace Representation
union and works council/employee delegates – but union normally dominates if present
|Board-level Representation
yes: state-owned and private companies
|Company Board Structure
monistic or dualistic (choice)
Sources: see individual country sections; where a range of figures has been quoted, the lower number has been taken
Trade Unions
In membership terms the French trade union movement is one of the weakest in Europe with only 8% of employees in unions. It is divided into a number of rival confederations, competing for membership. (The main confederations are the CGT, CFDT, FO, CFTC and CFE-CGC.) But despite low membership and apparent division French trade unions have strong support in elections for employee representatives and are able to mobilise French workers to great effect.more ...
Collective Bargaining
Collective bargaining takes place at national, industry and company level and at each level there are detailed rules about who can negotiate and the requirements for an agreement to be valid. Industry level agreements are the most important level for negotiation in terms of numbers covered, although the rates they set are generally well below what is actually paid.more ...
Workplace Representation
France has a complex system of employee representation at workplace level, through both the unions and structures directly elected by the whole of the workforce. Where trade unions are present, the key figure will be the trade union delegate.more ...
Board-level Representation
Legislation passed in 2013 greatly extended the range of companies covered by the obligation to have employee representatives at board level, and it has been extended again in 2015. As well as state-owned companies which were previously covered, large private companies must in future also have at least one employee representative at board level. This is in addition to representatives of employees holding shares and employee representatives who can be present at board meetings, but are not board members.more ...
European-level Representation
European representatives from France – for both European Works Councils and European Company bodies – are appointed by the unions. The exception is board level representatives in a European Company, where the representative body decides how they should be chosen.more ...
Health and Safety Representation
Employee representation on health and safety issues in the private sector is now provided through the Social and Economic Committee, the single body covering all areas where employees have representation rights, rather than a separate health and safety committee. These new arrangements began to come into effect in January 2018. In the public services, the key body for employee representation on these issues continues to be a separate health and safety committee.more ...
Financial Participation
France can look back at a long tradition of employee financial participation. France is one of the leaders in the incidence of participation schemes in Europe. State support for employee financial participation is stronger than in other European countries. Companies with 50 employees or more are required by law to offer a profit-sharing scheme.more ...


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|New York City (1812)
|New York City, New York, United States
|Key people
|Richard D. Parsons (Chairman)
Vikram Pandit (CEO)
John Gerspach (CFO)
|Financial services
|Consumer Banking
Corporate Banking
Investment Banking
Global Wealth Management
Investment Research
Private Equity
|▲ US$ 104 billion (2009)[1]
|Operating income
|▲ US$ 49 billion (2009)[1]
|Net income
|▲ US$ −1.6 billion (2009)[1]
|Total assets
|▼ US$ 1.93 trillion (2009)[1]
|Total equity
|▲ US$ 141.630 billion (2009)[1]
|300,000 (2009)[1]
Citigroup Inc. (branded Citi), is a major American financial services company based in New York, NY. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate Travelers Group on April 7, 1998.[2]
Citigroup Inc. has the world's largest financial services network, spanning 140 countries with approximately 16,000 offices worldwide. The company employs approximately 300,000 staff around the world, and holds over 200 million customer accounts in more than 140 countries. It is a primary dealer in US Treasury securities[3].
Citigroup suffered huge losses during the global financial crisis of 2008 and was rescued in November 2008 in a massive bailout by the U.S. government.[4] Its largest shareholders include funds from the Middle East and Singapore.[5] On February 27, 2009, Citigroup announced that the United States government would be taking a 36% equity stake in the company by converting $25 billion in emergency aid into common shares. Since then the 36% stake has been reduced to 27% after Citigroup sold $21 billion of common shares & equity in the largest single share sale in US history , surpassing Bank of America's $19 billion share sale one month prior.
Citigroup is one of the Big Four banks in the United States, along with Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Citigroup was formed on October 8, 1998, following the $140 billion merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group to create the world's largest financial services organization.[2] The history of the company is, thus, divided into the workings of several firms that over time amalgamated into Citicorp, a multinational banking corporation operating in more than 100 countries; or Travelers Group, whose businesses covered credit services, consumer finance, brokerage, and insurance. As such, the company history dates back to the founding of: the City Bank of New York (later Citibank) in 1812; Bank Handlowy in 1870; Smith Barney in 1873, Banamex in 1884; Salomon Brothers in 1910.[13]
The history begins with the City Bank of New York, which was chartered by New York State on June 16, 1812, with $2 million of capital. Serving a group of New York merchants, the bank opened for business on September 14 of that year, and Samuel Osgood was elected as the first President of the company.[14] The company's name was changed to The National City Bank of New York in 1865 after it joined the new U.S. national banking system, and it became the largest American bank by 1895.[14] It became the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 1913, and the following year it inaugurated the first overseas branch of a U.S. bank in Buenos Aires, although the bank had, since the mid-nineteenth century, been active in plantation economies, such as the Cuban sugar industry. The 1918 purchase of U.S. overseas bank International Banking Corporation helped it become the first American bank to surpass $1 billion in assets, and it became the largest commercial bank in the world in 1929.[14] As it grew, the bank became a leading innovator in financial services, becoming the first major U.S. bank to offer compound interest on savings (1921); unsecured personal loans (1928); customer checking accounts (1936) and the negotiable certificate of deposit (1961).[14]
The bank changed its name to The First National City Bank of New York in 1955, which was shortened in 1962 to First National City Bank on the 150th anniversary of the company's foundation.[14] The company organically entered the leasing and credit card sectors, and its introduction of USD certificates of deposit in London marked the first new negotiable instrument in market since 1888. Later to become MasterCard, the bank introduced its First National City Charge Service credit card - popularly known as the "Everything card" - in 1967.[14]
In 1976, under the leadership of CEO Walter B. Wriston, First National City Bank (and its holding company First National City Corporation) was renamed as Citibank, N.A. (and Citicorp, respectively). Shortly afterward, the bank launched the Citicard, which pioneered the use of 24-hour ATMs.[14] As the bank's expansion continued, the Narre Warren-Caroline Springs credit card company was purchased in 1981. John S. Reed was elected CEO in 1984, and Citi became a founding member of the CHAPS clearing house in London. Under his leadership, the next 14 years would see Citibank become the largest bank in the United States, the largest issuer of credit cards and charge cards in the world, and expand its global reach to over 90 countries.[14]
Travelers Group, at the time of merger, was a diverse group of financial concerns that had been brought together under CEO Sandy Weill. Its roots came from Commercial Credit, a subsidiary of Control Data Corporation that was taken private by Weill in November 1986 after taking charge of the company earlier that year.[2][15] Two years later, Weill mastered the buyout of Primerica - a conglomerate that had already bought life insurer A L Williams as well as stock broker Smith Barney. The new company took the Primerica name, and employed a "cross-selling" strategy such that each of the entities within the parent company aimed to sell each other's services. Its non-financial businesses were spun-off.[15]
In September 1992, Travelers Insurance, which had suffered from poor real estate investments[2] and sustained significant losses in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew,[16] formed a strategic alliance with Primerica that would lead to its amalgamation into a single company in December 1993. With the acquisition, the group became Travelers Inc. Property & casualty and life & annuities underwriting capabilities were added to the business.[15] Meanwhile, the distinctive Travelers red umbrella logo, which was also acquired in the deal, was applied to all the businesses within the newly named organization. During this period, Travelers acquired Shearson Lehman - a retail brokerage and asset management firm that was headed by Weill until 1985[2] - and merged it with Smith Barney.[15]
Finally, in November 1997, Travelers Group (which had been renamed again in April 1995 when they merged with Aetna Property and Casualty, Inc.), made the $9 billion deal to purchase Salomon Brothers, a major bond dealer and bulge bracket investment bank.[15]. Salomon Brothers absorbed Smith Barney into the new securities unit termed Salomon Smith Barney; a year later, the division incorporated Citicorp's former securities operations as well. The Salomon Smith Barney name was ultimately abandoned in October 2003 after a series of financial scandals that tarnished the bank's reputation.
On April 6, 1998, the merger between Citicorp and Travelers Group was announced to the world, creating a $140 billion firm with assets of almost $700 billion.[2] The deal would enable Travelers to market mutual funds and insurance to Citicorp's retail customers while giving the banking divisions access to an expanded client base of investors and insurance buyers.
Although presented as a merger, the deal was actually more like a stock swap, with Travelers Group purchasing the entirety of Citicorp shares for $70 billion, and issuing 2.5 new Citigroup shares for each Citicorp share. Through this mechanism, existing shareholders of each company owned about half of the new firm.[2] While the new company maintained Citicorp's "Citi" brand in its name, it adopted Travelers' distinctive "red umbrella" as the new corporate logo, which was used until 2007.
The chairmen of both parent companies, John Reed and Sandy Weill respectively, were announced as co-chairmen and co-CEOs of the new company, Citigroup, Inc., although the vast difference in management styles between the two immediately presented question marks over the wisdom of such a setup.
The remaining provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act - enacted following the Great Depression - forbade banks to merge with insurance underwriters, and meant Citigroup had between two and five years to divest any prohibited assets. However, Weill stated at the time of the merger that they believed "that over that time the legislation will change...we have had enough discussions to believe this will not be a problem".[2] Indeed, the passing of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in November 1999 vindicated Reed and Weill's views, opening the door to financial services conglomerates offering a mix of commercial banking, investment banking, insurance underwriting and brokerage.[17]
In 2000, Citigroup acquired Associates First Capital Corporation, which, until 1989, had been owned by Gulf+Western (now part of National Amusements). The Associates was widely criticized for predatory lending practices and Citi eventually settled with the Federal Trade Commission by agreeing to pay $240 million to customers who had been victims of a variety of predatory practices, including "flipping" mortgages, "packing" mortgages with optional credit insurance, and deceptive marketing practices.[18]
The company spun off its Travelers Property and Casualty insurance underwriting business in 2002. The spin off was prompted by the insurance unit's drag on Citigroup stock price because Traveler's earnings were more seasonal and vulnerable to large disasters, particularly the September 11th, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in downtown New York City. It was also difficult to sell this kind of insurance directly to customers since most industrial customers are accustomed to purchasing insurance through a broker.
The Travelers Property Casualty Corporation merged with The St. Paul Companies Inc. in 2004 forming The St. Paul Travelers Companies. Citigroup retained the life insurance and annuities underwriting business; however, it sold those businesses to MetLife in 2005. Citigroup still heavily sells all forms of insurance, but it no longer underwrites insurance.
Despite their divesting Travelers Insurance, Citigroup retained Travelers' signature red umbrella logo as its own until February 2007, when Citigroup agreed to sell the logo back to St. Paul Travelers,[19] which renamed itself Travelers Companies. Citigroup also decided to adopt the corporate brand "Citi" for itself and virtually all its subsidiaries, except Primerica and Banamex.[19]
Heavy exposure to troubled mortgages in the form of Collateralized debt obligation (CDO's), compounded by poor risk management led Citigroup into trouble as the subprime mortgage crisis worsened in 2008. The company had used elaborate mathematical risk models which looked at mortgages in particular geographical areas, but never included the possibility of a national housing downturn, or the prospect that millions of mortgage holders would default on their mortgages. Indeed, trading head Thomas Maheras was close friends with senior risk officer David Bushnell, which undermined risk oversight.[20][21]. As Treasury Secretary, Robert Rubin was said to be influential in lifting the regulations that allowed Travelers and Citicorp to merge in 1998. Then on the board of directors of Citigroup, Rubin and Charles Prince were said to be influential in pushing the company towards MBS and CDOs in the subprime mortgage market.
As the crisis began to unfold, Citigroup announced on April 11, 2007 that it would eliminate 17,000 jobs, or about 5 percent of its workforce, in a broad restructuring designed to cut costs and bolster its long underperforming stock.[22] Even after securities and brokerage firm Bear Stearns ran into serious trouble in summer 2007, Citigroup decided the possibility of trouble with its CDO's was so tiny (less than 1/100 of 1%) that they excluded them from their risk analysis. With the crisis worsening, Citigroup announced on January 7, 2008 that it was considering cutting another 5 percent to 10 percent of its work force, which totaled 327,000.[23]
Over the past several decades, the United States government has engineered at least four different rescues of the institution now known as Citigroup.[24] During the most recent tax-payer funded rescue, by November 2008, Citigroup was insolvent, despite its receipt of $25 billion in federal TARP bailout money, and on November 17, 2008 Citigroup announced plans for about 52,000 new job cuts, on top of 23,000 cuts already made during 2008 in a huge job cull resulting from four quarters of consecutive losses and reports that it was unlikely to be in profit again before 2010. Many senior executives were fired[25] but Wall Street responded by dropping its stock market value to $6 billion, down from $300 billion two years prior.[26] As a result, Citigroup and Federal regulators negotiated a plan to stabilize the company and forestall a further deterioration in the company's value. The arrangement calls for the government to back about $306 billion in loans and securities and directly invest about $20 billion in the company. The assets remain on Citigroup's balance sheet; the technical term for this arrangement is ring fencing. In a New York Times op-ed, Michael Lewis And David Einhorn described the $306 billion guarantee as "an undisguised gift" without any real crisis motivating it.[27] The plan was approved late in the evening on November 23, 2008.[4] A joint statement by the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp announced: "With these transactions, the U.S. government is taking the actions necessary to strengthen the financial system and protect U.S. taxpayers and the U.S. economy."
Citigroup in late 2008 holds $20 billion of mortgage-linked securities, most of which have been marked down to between 21 cents and 41 cents on the dollar, and has billions of dollars of buyout and corporate loans. It faces potential massive losses on auto, mortgage and credit card loans if the economy worsens. [This paragraph requires a reference, particularly to the $20 billion figure quoted above. It is likely that this number is a severe underestimate of the value of CDO holdings held in off-balance sheet SIVs.]
On January 16, 2009, Citigroup announced its intention to reorganize itself into two operating units: Citicorp for its retail and investment banking business, and Citi Holdings for its brokerage and asset management.[28] Citigroup will continue to operate as a single company for the time being, but Citi Holdings managers will be tasked to "tak[e] advantage of value-enhancing disposition and combination opportunities as they emerge",[28] and eventual spin-offs or mergers involving either operating unit have not been ruled out.[29] On February 27, 2009 Citigroup announced that the United States government would be taking a 36% equity stake in the company by converting $25 billion in emergency aid into common shares. Citigroup shares dropped 40% on the news.
On June 1, 2009, it was announced that Citigroup Inc. would be removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average effective June 8, 2009 due to significant government ownership. Citigroup Inc. was replaced by Citigroup's sister firm, insurance company Travelers Co.[30]
Citigroup is divided into four major business groups: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth Management, Global Cards, and Institutional Clients Group.[31]
This division of Citigroup generated $19.8billion in net revenue and more than $4billion in net income in 2006 , Global Consumer Group comprises four sub-divisions: Cards (credit cards), Consumer Lending Group (Real-Estate Lending, Auto Loans, Student Loans), Consumer Finance, and Retail Banking. Targeting individual consumers as well as small- to medium-sized businesses, GCG offers financial services across its worldwide branch network, including banking, loans, insurance, and investment services. On March 31, 2008, Citigroup announced that it will create 2 new global businesses - Consumer Banking and Global Cards out of the existing Global Consumer Group. Citigroup Nominates 4 Independent Directors by New York Times (March 16, 2009)
Citi Cards is responsible for around 40% of the profits with GCG, and represents the largest issuer of credit cards across the world as well as a 3,800-point ATM network across 45 countries.
Consumer Finance division (branded as "CitiFinancial") accounts for about 20% of GCG's profits, and offers personal loans and homeowner loans to consumers in 20 countries worldwide.[26] There are over 2,100 branches in the U.S. and Canada.[27] The takeover of Associates First Capital in September 2000 enabled CitiFinancial to expand its reach outside of the United States, particularly capitalizing on Associates' 700,000 customers in Japan and Europe.[28] Citi ended its CitiFinancial operations in the UK in 2008 [3].[29] Citifinancial is head by Mary Mcdowell in Baltimore, Maryland.
Finally, the retail bank encompasses the Citi's global branch network, branded Citibank. Citibank is the third largest retail bank in the United States based on deposits (although it has considerably fewer retail branches than many of its smaller rivals), and it has Citibank branded branches in countries throughout the world, with the exception of Mexico; In Mexico Citigroup's bank operations are branded as Banamex is the country's second largest bank and a Citigroup subsidiary.
Global Wealth Management divides itself into Citi Private Bank, Citi Smith Barney and Citi Investment Research, and generated 7% of Citigroup's total revenue in 2006.[32] As revenues are predominantly derived from investment income, Global Wealth Management is more sensitive to the direction and level of the equity and fixed-income markets than other divisions of the company.[33]
Citi Private Bank provides banking and investment services to high net worth individuals, private institutions, and law firms. Acting as a gateway to all of Citigroup's products, Citi Private Bank offer traditional investment products and alternative choices, with all clients assigned a Private Banker to personally deal with their portfolio.Citi Private Bank partners with Polaris Software Lab Ltd for banking and financial soultions.[34]
Citi Smith Barney was Citi's global private wealth management unit, providing brokerage, investment banking and asset management services to corporations, governments and individuals around the world. With over 800 offices worldwide, Smith Barney held 9.6 million domestic client accounts, representing $1.562 trillion in client assets worldwide.[35]
Citi announced on January 13, 2009 that they would give Smith Barney to Morgan Stanley investment bank to combine their brokerage firms in exchange for $2.7 billion and 49% interest in the joint venture. Citi's urgent need for cash is reputed to be a driving force in this deal. Many have speculated that this may be the beginning of the end of Citi's "financial supermarket" approach.
Citi Investment Research is Citi's equities research unit, with 390 research analysts across 22 countries. Citi Investment Research covers 3,100 companies, representing 90 percent of the market capitalization of the major global indices, providing macro and quantitative analysis of global markets and sector trends.[35]
Citi announced on October 11, 2007 the formation of the new Institutional Clients Group comprising Citi Markets & Banking (CMB) and Citi Alternative Investments (CAI) with Vikram Pandit, 50, as its Chairman and CEO.[36] Vikram Pandit was promoted to CEO of the entire company two months later.[37]
Containing Citi's most market-sensitive divisions, "CMB" is divided into two primary businesses: "Global Capital Markets and Banking" and "Global Transaction Services" (GTS). Global Capital Markets and Banking provides investment- and commercial-banking services covering institutional brokerage, advisory services, foreign exchange, structured products, derivatives, loans, leasing, and equipment finance. Meanwhile, GTS offers cash-management, trade finance and securities services to corporations and financial institutions worldwide.[33] CMB is responsible for around 32% of Citigroup's annual revenues, generating just under US $30 billion in 2006 financial year.[32]
Citi Alternative Investments (CAI) is an alternative investment platform that manages assets across five classes - private equity, hedge funds, structured products, managed futures, and real estate. Across 16 "boutique investment centers", it offers various funds or separate accounts that utilize alternative investment strategies, as opposed to the mainstream mutual funds that it recently sold to Legg Mason. CAI manages Citigroup proprietary capital as well as institutional investments from third-parties and high-net-worth investors. As of June 30, 2007, CAI holds US$59.2 billion under capital management,[38] and contributed 7% of Citigroup's 2006 income.[32]
Citigroup recently acquired the Egg brand when it purchased Egg Banking plc, the world's largest Internet bank, from Prudential. Its first major act was to cease lending to around 7% of card holders who were considered to be undesirable. This also included some who regularly paid off balances in full, claiming this was due to "deteriorating credit profiles" but is widely believed to be due to the low profit margins obtained from responsible borrowers.[39]
Citigroup's most famous office building is the Citigroup Center, a diagonal-roof skyscraper located in East Midtown, Manhattan, New York City, which despite popular belief is not the company's headquarters building. Citigroup has its headquarters across the street in an anonymous-looking building at 399 Park Avenue (the site of the original location of the City National Bank). The headquarters is outfitted with nine luxury dining rooms, with a team of private chefs preparing a different menu for each day. The management team is on the third and fourth floors above a Citibank branch. Citigroup also leases a building in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Manhattan at 388 Greenwich St, that serves as headquarters for its Investment and Corporate Banking operations and was the former headquarters of the Travelers Group.
Strategically, all of Citigroup's New York City real estate, excluding the company's Smith Barney division and Wall Street trading division, lies along the New York City Subway's IND Queens Boulevard Line, served by the E and V trains. Consequently, the company's Midtown buildings—including 787 Seventh Avenue, 666 Fifth Avenue, 399 Park Avenue, 485 Lexington, 153 East 53rd Street (Citigroup Center), and Citicorp Building in Long Island City, Queens, are all no more than two stops away from each other. In fact, every company building lies above or right across the street from a subway station served by the E or V.
Chicago also plays home to an architectural beauty operated by Citigroup. Citicorp Center has a series of curved archways at its peak, and sits across the street from major competitor ABN AMRO's ABN AMRO Plaza. It has a host of retail and dining facilities serving thousands of Metra customers daily via the Ogilvie Transportation Center.
Citigroup has obtained naming rights to Citi Field, the home ballpark of the New York Mets Major League Baseball team, who began playing their home games there in 2009.
Citigroup was criticized for disrupting the European bond market by rapidly selling €11 billion worth of bonds on August 2, 2004 on the MTS Group trading platform, driving down the price, and then buying it back at cheaper prices.[40]
On March 23, 2005, the NASD announced total fines of $21.25 million against Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., American Express Financial Advisors and Chase Investment Services regarding suitability and supervisory violations relating to mutual fund sales practices between January 2002 and July 2003. The case against Citigroup involved recommendations and sales of Class B and Class C shares of mutual funds.[41]
On June 6, 2007, the NASD announced more than $15 million in fines and restitution against Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., to settle charges related to misleading documents and inadequate disclosure in retirement seminars and meetings for BellSouth Corp. employees in North Carolina and South Carolina. NASD found that Citigroup did not properly supervise a team of brokers located in Charlotte, N.C., who used misleading sales materials during dozens of seminars and meetings for hundreds of BellSouth employees.[42]
In November 2007 it became public that the Citigroup is heavily involved in the Terra Securities scandal, which involved investments by eight municipalities of Norway in various hedge funds in the United States bond market.[43] The funds were sold by Terra Securities ASA to the municipalities, while the products were delivered by Citigroup. Terra Securities ASA filed for bankruptcy November 28, 2007, the day after they received a letter[44] from The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway announcing withdrawal of permissions to operate. The same letter also stated, "The Supervisory Authority contends that Citigroup's presentation, as well as the presentation from Terra Securities ASA, appears insufficient and misleading because central elements like information about potential extra payments and the size of these are omitted."
On August 26, 2008 it was announced that Citigroup agreed to pay nearly $18 million in refunds and fines to settle accusations by California Attorney General Jerry Brown that it wrongly took funds from the accounts of credit card customers. Citigroup would pay $14 million of restitution to roughly 53,000 customers nationwide. A three-year investigation found that Citigroup from 1992 to 2003 used an improper computerized "sweep" feature to move positive balances from card accounts into the bank's general fund, without telling cardholders.[45]
Brown said in a statement that Citigroup "knowingly stole from its customers, mostly poor people and the recently deceased, when it designed and implemented the sweeps...When a whistleblower uncovered the scam and brought it to his superiors, they buried the information and continued the illegal practice."[45]
On 24 November 2008 the U.S. government announced a massive bailout of Citigroup, designed to rescue the company from bankruptcy while giving the government a major say in its operations. The Treasury will provide another $20 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds in addition to $25 billion given in October. The Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will cover 90% of the losses on its $335-billion portfolio after Citigroup absorbs the first $29 billion in losses.[46] In return the bank will give Washington $27 billion of preferred shares and warrants to acquire stock. The government will obtain wide powers over banking operations. Citigroup has agreed to try to modify mortgages, using standards set up by the FDIC after the collapse of IndyMac Bank, with the goal of keeping as many homeowners as possible in their houses. Executive salaries will be capped.[47]
As a condition of the bailout, Citigroup's dividend payment has been reduced to a mere 1 cent a share.
As the subprime mortgage crisis began to unfold, heavy exposure to toxic mortgages in the forms of Collateralized debt obligation (CDOs), compounded by poor risk management led the company into serious trouble. In early 2007 Citigroup began eliminating about 5 percent of its workforce, in a broad restructuring designed to cut costs and bolster its long underperforming stock.[22] By November 2008, the ongoing crisis hit Citigroup hard and despite federal TARP bailout money, the company announced further cuts.[25] Its stock market value dropped to $6 billion, down from $244 billion two years prior.[26] As a result, Citigroup and Federal regulators negotiated a plan to stabilize the company.[4] Its single largest shareholder is Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, who has a 4.9% stake.[48] Vikram Pandit is Citigroup's current CEO, while Richard Parsons is the current chairman.[37]
According to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and as reported by the Wall Street Journal, after having received its $45 billion TARP bailout in late 2008, Citigroup paid hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses to more than 1038 of its employees. This included 738 employees each receiving $1 million in bonuses, 176 employees each receiving $2 million bonuses, 124 each receiving $3 million in bonuses, and 143 each receiving bonuses of $4 million to more than $10 million. [49]
In Dec. 2009, Citigroup was sued by British equity firm Terra Firma Investments for fraud regarding Terra Firma Investment's purchase of music corporation EMI's label and music publishing interests.[50]
Citigroup is the 16th largest political campaign contributor in the United States, out of all organizations, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. According to Matthew Vadum, a senior editor at the conservative Capital Research Center, Citigroup is also a heavy contributor to left-of-center political causes.[51] However, members of the firm have donated over $23,033,490 from 1989–2006, 49% of which went to Democrats and 51% of which went to Republicans.[52]
In 2009, Richard Parsons hired long-time Washington, D.C. lobbyist Richard F. Hohlt to advise Parsons and the company about relations with the U. S. government, though not to lobby for the company. While some speculated anonymously that the FDIC would have been a particular focus of Mr. Hohlt's attention, Hohlt said he'd had no contact with the government insurance corporation. Some former regulators found room to criticize, in the news report, Mr. Hohlt's involvement with Citigroup, because of his earlier involvement with the financial-services industry during the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s. Mr. Hohlt responded that though mistakes were made in the earlier episode, not to mention by other more recent clients of his like Fannie Mae and Washington Mutual, he'd never been investigated by any government agency and his experience gave him reason to be back in the "operating room" as parties address the more recent crisis.[53]
See SEC - Company Information: CITIGROUP INC
See also Citigroup, and Yahoo!


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Elektra Luxx follows its title character, first introduced by writer/director Sebastian Gutierrez in 2009's Women in Trouble, who is now a retired porn superstar, trying to cope with impending motherhood while coming to terms with the death of the baby's father and her split from the porn world. Even though Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino) is trying to live a quieter life, reinventing herself as a sex education instructor at her local community center, she quickly ends up entangled with a flight attendant (Marley Shelton) looking to have her fiancé seduced, an attractive private detective (Timothy Olyphant) who proves to be quite appealing, an over-eager sex blogger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who's obsessed with her, a best-selling author (Kathleen Quinlan) looking to turn her life into a novel, and even the Virgin Mary (Julianne Moore) herself.
During the film's press day, actress Carla Gugino did this exclusive interview with Collider and talked about the appeal of this rather unusual character, how much she enjoyed getting to revisit Elektra Luxx, and the challenge of shooting a film in 15 days. She also talked about how getting to see the final visuals of Sucker Punch (in theaters on March 25th) was like seeing the story brought to life for the first time, being part of the ensemble of the Garry Marshall film New Year's Eve, and playing really strong women on both Entourage and Californication. Check out what she had to say after the jump.
Since this is the second time you're taking on this role, how did you originally get involved with this and what was it about Elektra Luxx that made you want to play her?
CARLA GUGINO: Basically, Sebastian Gutierrez, who wrote it and directed it, had this idea. He had a scene from a movie that hadn't gotten made and he thought, "Maybe I could make a short film of this." And then, he thought, "Or, I could string 10 of these together and make a full-length feature, but do it in 10 days." So, he gave me the script and said, "I wrote this character with you in mind. She's a porn star. But, she's a porn star who finds out she's pregnant and, ultimately, is deciding whether to have the baby or not." He went on with this whole thing and I was like, "She sounds like the best character, ever!"
And then, we started compiling a cast of amazing actors, most of whom one or both of us knew, and just did this experiment. While we were probably half-way through the shoot, which was obviously very short, we thought, "Oh, there is so much more to do with these characters." Sebastian said, "Yeah, I'm feeling like we should do a trilogy. Only huge movies usually do trilogies, so why don't we do a trilogy of this great little character piece." That's how it all came about.
How were you able to find this character, when you initially started developing her?
GUGINO: The porn star aspect of it was almost less important. I thought that the character was interesting, as a woman who hasn't really examined a huge amount in her life, up until this point. She made a career choice that she feels pretty good about and that she's very successful at. She knows she has to deal with people having judgements about it. But, what I found to be interesting, and a key into her character, is this idea that she's very, very, very famous, but what she's famous for is not necessarily what she's proud of. That's a strange feeling, and that gives you, as a person, a lack of confidence in yourself, in the big picture. So, when she finds out she's pregnant, she's really torn about what she needs to do to be a mother that is good for her child. I also find that, though it's more of a chic thing now, there are still very few professions that have that level of projection on them. It really has such a stigma to it. That's a lot to live with.
When you knew that you would be revisiting this character, did you talk to Sebastian about aspects of Elektra Luxx that you'd like to explore this time around?
GUGINO: Yeah. When I read the second draft, it was tonally more of a screwball comedy than the first one was. It was like a good '40's screwball comedy, but with these modern-day characters. So, after I realized that, I thought, "Would she really go to seduce the guy? Would she actually take her up on it?" And then, I thought, "Yeah, she probably would. This woman has actually given her this huge gift and, if it means that much to her, she can just think of it like a job and do it." Of course, everything starts to unravel from there. What I wanted to be clear about and what I really thought was important is the notion that, even though she probably had a very difficult childhood, she was a porn star and the father of her unexpected child is now dead, she has this beautiful childlike hope and this sense of faith in something. She's got everything falling apart, and yet there's really such an innocent spirit about her, and I loved them. I really loved that dichotomy between her profession being so not innocent and so revealing, on so many levels, and yet her spirit is still that of a child, in a way, becoming a woman.
How challenging is it to shoot these films so quickly, or do you find it to be more freeing, creatively?
GUGINO: It's kind of both. Now we've done a couple of these, and we also just shot a movie called Girl Walks Into a Bar, that Emmanuelle [Chriqui] is also in, that's going to premiere on YouTube on March 11th as well, which is so crazy. They were all done in a very short period of time and with that kind of structure, and we have a crew that has gotten really good at it. Now, it's a great little treat to have this 15 days that we get to create this thing in, and it doesn't take you away from anything else, and you just get to focus on that. That being said, there is no doubt that a great energy comes from that kind of be here, now. You're going to get three takes, and they better be great.
It's also wonderful, when you have the luxury of time and money, to be able to take time to shoot something and prep for it, and to do all of those things. For me, since I'm always just wanting to get better and better at what I love to do so much, which is act, it's one of the reasons I like to really mix it up. I feel like I hone different skills with different things. I do a lot of theater as well. Doing a play on Broadway in front of 1,000 people is a whole different set of things to deal with. And then, I do a movie really quick like this, but that's very dialogue intensive. And then, I might go do a movie for four months where I have 15 lines of dialogue and I'm running around with a gun in my hand.
With all of these things, each one informs the other. Certainly, when I've done a really big movie, I tend to be like, "Oh, I want to go do an interesting little movie." And then, I'll do something like this and be like, "Well, I do have a life to support, so let's see what I can do next." I appreciate it all.
You also have Sucker Punch coming out on March 25th. Have you gotten to see the final film yet?
GUGINO: I have seen the movie.
What was the final product like, in comparison to what you thought it would be like?
GUGINO: It really is so hard to explain. For me, I almost felt like I was seeing the movie for the first time because there are these impeccably beautiful, visceral action sequences that my character is not in. So, though I saw some footage of them, I hadn't ever seen them all cut together. I obviously read them in the script, so to be there, seeing them on screen, I was exhilarated. And then, the stuff that I did, I think feels very much like we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish. I play a Polish psychiatrist in one world, and a dominatrix/choreographer/madame in the brothel of the alternate world. It was just a very different character than I've ever gotten to play, and I just love working with Zack Snyder and Debbie Snyder, who's his producer and his wife. They're just great partners. Again, that's a movie filled with wonderful women. It just makes me so happy that there are these movies where it's not just the token one or two women. The women are driving the pieces.
What did you do in New Year's Eve and what was that experience like?
GUGINO: It was really fun. Unfortunately, I've literally signed a confidentiality agreement, but I had a really fun time. Garry Marshall and I had worked together on Race to Witch Mountain. He played a scientist in it. He's directing New Year's Eve, and I had such a good time on it. Seth Meyers and Jessica Biel and I are in the same section, and we had a really good time.
You've played really strong women on both Entourage and Californication. Is it fun to go in and be the women who gets to put the guys in their place?
GUGINO: Absolutely! It's so funny because I don't really feel like I am like that in life, so it's interesting that these roles have come to me where that's a large aspect of it. I really have had so much fun with both of those characters. I love it. And, it's not that I think, "I want to play a strong woman that puts the men in their place," as much as I love that they can go toe-to-toe, and they're on equal footings, and they're as strong and as smart, and maybe even a little more than the men. In the case of Californication, I love David Duchovny and Tom Kapinos, who created the show. They're just fantastic, really smart people. And then, with Entourage, I've been on and off for the last number of years, and Doug Ellin and those guys are a really good group. I was really welcomed into both of those shows.
When you're looking for projects now, since you've done such diverse work, is it the script and the character that appeals to you, or is it about the director and the actors?
GUGINO: It's interesting. I do feel like I'm in a place where I'm deciding what to do next and all those questions are coming up. For me, it's always the part and the director and the people who I'm working with. I always feel like I want to work with people who raise my game, and I can do the same for them, and we can jump off the cliff together. Right now, I'm just looking for something. I ran around a lot last year, doing a bunch of different projects, and I'm looking to focus on a smaller amount of them and not be spread quite so thin.


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You come for the sun, the sea and the right to wear shorts in January, dear Northerner. But no amount of South Florida stone crabs can fix your cravings for the foods of "home," wherever in the frozen tundra that may be.
This one's for you: our local picks for tastes of New York, New Jersey, New England, Maryland, Philadelphia and Montreal.
Did we leave out your go-to favorite? Let us know in the comments section!
Junior's Restaurant and Cheesecake
409 Plaza Real (Mizner Park), Boca Raton; 561-672-7301
This "Sixth Borough" outpost of the Brooklyn favorite serves cheesecake that dreams are made of. So, yes, you come to Junior's Restaurant for the cheesecake. But first you gorge on a Reuben, maybe some potato pancakes and matzo ball soup. The menu is extensive.
Dorrian's Red Hand
215 Clematis St., West Palm Beach; 561-355-1401
The family behind the Upper East Side fixture opened a West Palm Beach rendition in May, setting out to create a New York pub vibe. As an occasional special, Dorrian's on Clematis Street even brings in Katz's Delicatessen pastrami from the iconic New York deli.
Grimaldi's Pizzeria
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave. (Downtown at the Gardens), Palm Beach Gardens; 561-625-4665
This Arizona-based pizza chain has Brooklyn roots serves delicious, thin-crust pies. The menu is simple here – pretty much, pizza, salads and dessert – but it hits the spot.
Rappy's Deli
Coming by mid-December to Park Place plaza, 5560 N. Military Tr., Boca Raton
Granted, the place doesn't open until December, but already it screams "New York." Restaurateur Burt Rapoport took inspiration from his grandfather's lower east Manhattan deli, Rapoport's, for this long-dreamed spot. Unlike his grandfather's place, Rappy's is not a strictly dairy restaurant. The menu puts a modern spin on some of Rapoport's favorite comfort dishes.
Manzo's Italian Deli
2260 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561-697-9411
This popular deli brings Northern soul to Italian favorites. Mike and Mia Manzo operate the 21-year-old, family-owned spot. Mike makes killer red sauce every morning. It jazzes up his homemade lasagna, the meatballs and other dishes. As for sandwiches, Manzo's big seller is the chicken salad sub – they sell almost 200 pounds of chicken salad a week.
Boston's on the Beach
40 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach; 561-278-3364
Consider this your south county, oceanfront spot for New England clam chowder, lobster bisque, Ipswich steamers, New England clambake and Maine lobster. To wash it down, there's a specialty cocktail named The Patriot, of course. Plus, there are more than 30 TVs to watch the big game.
Chowder Heads
2123 U.S. Highway 1, Jupiter; 561-203-2903
What began as a green market kiosk selling creamy clam chowder and lobster rolls evolved into a popular Jupiter restaurant. The warm lobster roll stuffed with lobster chunks that have been sautéed in butter and sherry is particularly delicious, as is the chowder. The seafood-centric menu is extensive enough to keep you coming back. Chances are, however, you'll order your favorites again and again.
Spoto's Oyster Bar
4560 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens; 561-776-9448
This seafood restaurant, consistently good in food and service, serves a mean New England clam chowder and a pretty terrific lobster roll.
Baldino's Italian Restaurant
791 N. U.S. Highway 1, Tequesta; 561-743-4224
The logline for this restaurant is "A Taste of Philly," and that's evident from the menu at Baldino's, which boasts no fewer than four Philly cheesesteak sandwich varieties.
They root proudly for the Philadelphia Eagles and run game day contests (win a free pizza if you're the first customer to guess the winner and score).
Phlorida Pretzel
168 NW 51st St. (Boca Teeca Plaza on Yamato Road), Boca Raton; 561-910-1846
This Boca Raton shop bakes a variety of doughy Philly-style pretzels, from twists to pretzel dogs to pretzel sandwiches, including a pork roll and cheese-stuffed sandwich. Phlorida Pretzel also offers a good mix of party trays that are perfect for tailgating. (And, yes, this is Eagles territory.)
Caffe Luna Rosa
34 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach; 561-274-9404
At brunch/lunch, this Italian spot by the sea serves Philadelphia-style scrapple, a pan-fried loaf of pork trimmings and flour. (Hey, Jersey folks, Caffe Luna Rosa also serves Taylor Pork Roll as a brunch side.)
841 Donald Ross Rd. (La Mer plaza), Juno Beach; 561-627-8000
This sports grill is popular with Baltimore Ravens fans as well as with fans of proper crab cakes. Kirby's rendition are cakes chockfull of crab, not bready filler.
Riggins Crabhouse
607 Ridge Rd., Lantana; 561-586-3000
This restaurant not only bills itself as a Maryland crab house, the menu delivers on that promise with Maryland crab soup, Maryland-style crabs steamed in beer, vinegar and spices and Chesapeake references.
147 SE 1st Ave. (next to Royal Palm Place), Boca Raton
Pure Baltimore inspiration built this spot, and a love of crabs keeps it going. The cream of crab soup at True carries hints of sherry, shallots and Old Bay. The True Blue sandwich layers a Maryland-style crab cake, lettuce and tomato on a Kaiser roll. There's a crab dip that's topped with cheddar and the Homesick Soup with plenty of Old Bay love.
Poutine Dog Café
17 S. J Street, Lake Worth; 561-766-2281
What's so Montreal about fries, gravy and cheese curds? Everything. And this café serves it in abundance and with plenty of bling. There are at least nine ways to top your poutine here.
Chez l'Epicier
288 S. County Rd., Palm Beach; 561-508-7030
Set in farmhouse-chic décor, this Palm Beach restaurant offers a most compelling reason for a Montreal fan to visit: The chef is a food star there. Chef Laurent Godbout, who runs Chez l'Epicier with his wife Veronique Deneault, renders artistic yet soulful plates. And, yes, he offers a mean poutine.


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Tyco International Ltd. (TYC) Pops 3.82% for November 21Equities Staff |
One of the S&P 500's big winners for Friday November 21 was Tyco International Ltd. (TYC) as the company's stock climbed 3.82% to $42.89 on volume of 5.85 million shares.
The stock opened at $41.78 and saw an intraday low of $41.63 and an intraday high of $43.24. All told, the day saw a per-share gain of $1.58. The stock's average daily volume of 3.13 million and 418.47 million shares outstanding. Tyco International Ltd. now has a 50-day SMA is $42.56 and 200-day SMA is $42.92, and it has a 52-week high of $46.64 and a 52-week low of $37.1.
Tyco International PLC provides security, fire detection and suppression products and services and life safety products.
Based out of Neuhausen am Rheinfall, NJ, Tyco International Ltd. has 57000 employees and, after today's trading, reached a market cap of $17.95 billion. The stock's P/E Ratio is 10.4. Its P/S ratio is 1.65, P/B ratio is 3.86, and P/FCF ratio is 102.9.
For a full analysis of Tyco International Ltd., check out Equities.com's E.V.A. report for Tyco International Ltd..
The S&P 500 represents the industry standard for large-cap indices. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) may be the most visible stock market index in the country, the S&P 500 has long been relied on by industry insiders and fund managers as the more reliable gauge of portfolio performance.
While the DJIA is price-weighted and only includes 30 stocks, the S&P 500 uses a weighting system that factors in market cap and the size of a company's free float while including some 500 stocks for a more comprehensive look at the broader markets' performance. Its performance is far more representative of the large- and mega-cap stocks for any period of time.
For more news on the financial markets, go to Equities.com. Also, learn more about our Small-Cap Stars. Register to become a member and leverage our proprietary research tools such as the Small-Cap Stars, and robust do-it-yourself Equities Valuation Analysis (E.V.A.) research reports.
All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer.
|Tyco International plc (Ireland)


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FP Blog: Is China becoming a sanctioning state?
|Wednesday, 17 October 2012 09:27
Jason I. Poblete
Countries that complain about U.S. economic sanctions usually do not have the economic clout to impose them. This has been the case with China through the years; however, as China's global economic reach has increased, so has her use of this, at times, very effective tool to advance national interests.
If they do not work, then why do so many folks complain about them to begin with? I think we will see more, not less use of economic sanctions in the future. Companies will need to adapt and become more aggressive in the compliance arena.
Foreign Policy magazine's blog, FP, has a good post and set of links on this issue: Is China becoming a sanctioning state?


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At Mizzou Law there are three categories of student financial aid: Scholarships, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Student Loans. Federal loans are funded by the U.S. Department of Education through the Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FFDL).
To be eligible for first round scholarships, entering students must have a complete admissions application by January 15. There is no separate scholarship application. Additional scholarships are awarded to second and third year students based on law school performance. For more information on scholarships click here.
Work Study
Mizzou Law employs students through part-time jobs funded through the Federal Work Study Program. All work study positions are located in the law school library and student employees receive regular biweekly pay checks. For more information about student employment visit the law schools student employment page.
Student Loans
Remember, student loans are the most common form of financial assistance for law students. Federal loan programs include the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program and the Federal Direct Grad PLUS program.
If you plan to use student loans to pay for law school, it best to begin with the end in mind. Before borrowing, think about the day when you have to begin paying back your student loans. Make a budget and estimate the amount you need to borrow. Estimating your cost will help you manage your debt and help you avoid borrowing money you do not need. Take steps now to make repayment simpler; you'll be glad you did. Remember, the less you borrow the less you have to pay back.
Federal Student Loans
First, think of other options available to you before deciding to borrow student loans.
The loan options available to law students include federal and private loan programs. Federal Direct Loans are issued directly from the government and offer flexible repayment terms, fixed interest rates, and vast deferment options. Private loans usually have variable interest rates (depending on the lender) plus their credit requirements are stricter than federal loans. Note: the federal Graduate Plus Loan Program is the only federal loan program that requires an acceptable credit history.
With the Federal Direct Loan Program, you
- Borrow directly from the federal government and have a single contact — your loan servicer — for everything related to repayment
- Have online access to your Direct Loan account information via your servicer's website
- Can choose from several repayment plans that are designed to meet the needs of almost any borrower, and you can switch repayment plans if your needs change
For law students there are two types of federal loans available:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program — Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans that can help you pay for law school. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. The annual loan maximum for law students is $20,500 per academic year and the interest rate for 2018-2019 is fixed at 6.6%. This loan has an origination fee of 1.06% and repayment begins six months after graduation.
- Direct PLUS Loans for Professional Students — Law students can borrow a Direct PLUS Loan to help cover education expenses. To qualify for the PLUS loan you must pass a credit check. You can't have adverse credit so get your finances in order and make sure your credit file is accurate. For a free copy of your credit report visit www.annualcreditreport.com. Applicants who do not qualify for the Graduate Plus Loan may appeal the credit decision or obtain a credit worthy co-signer. The interest rate for 2018-2019 is fixed at 7.6%. The Graduate Plus loan has an origination fee of 4.26% and repayment begins six months after graduation.
Go here for the Grad PLUS online application
Mizzou Law Shortridge Loan Program
The Shortridge Loan Program is designed to help law students gain practical experience in the public sector. Mizzou Law provides up to 10 loans annually in the amount of $4,000 to selected students who work in the area of public service or public interest during the summer. The Shortridge loan offers a 0% interest rate, a 12 month grace period beginning after graduation before entering repayment, and a 7 year repayment term.
For more information about the Mizzou Law Shortridge Loan Program, contact the Mizzou Law Financial Aid Office.


text: Are you planning to shop Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Or just looking for some super great deals in general? I have links in my post to get you discounts and FREE SHIPPING through Amazon for all your holiday shopping. All links are in this post, have fun shopping friends!!


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Situations may show up in our lives to assist us to let go of outdated ideas (that we adopted from others) in order to step into a new way of being. As an example, we may find ourselves in a difficult situation at work that requires us to be bold and courageous, and express our discomfort with how things are being done, instead of staying quiet and following orders. As we step up and speak our truth, we're in a sense, giving ourselves permission to be more of ourselves. This does not mean being in opposition to others, or needing to defend what we believe in, but it does mean honoring our experience and choosing how we want to respond to what's showing up in our lives.
Lots of things are shifting on a broad scale. We are living in a time when many old, outdated systems that don't support life are crumbling and we are called to wake up and ask new questions, find our voice and start asking, "What do we want to be a part of? What role do we want to play in the bigger picture?" Now is the time to shift. Many of us are starting to connect with our true voice, and share new ideas that are both energizing and inspiring. Click here, to read an article I wrote entitled, "Harnessing Authentic Power and Strength in Service of Good." It speaks more to this subject. So, as you take a look at your current circumstances, what would your answer be to the question, "What is your life asking of you now?"


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[In the 1960s, playing alongside guys like Night Train Lane, Earl Morrall, and Alex Karras, he was one of the NFL's best cornerbacks.]
As this article describes, "LeBeau may be the most beloved coach in the game. He's also one of the most accomplished. The Steelers' defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL in 2008, allowing more than 300 yards just once in 18 games, counting playoffs."
PIT head coach Mike Tomlin says Coach LeBeau's strength is keeping things simple, but not simplistic:
"Dick is a fundamentalist, I'm a fundamentalist," Tomlin said. "Things that he does schematically are geared toward putting his players in position to play. He's a unique teacher that way. He makes the complex simple. He makes the irregular regular."


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Diagnostic Wax Design Models
Some patients have extensive damage to many or all of their teeth, resulting in the collapse of their bite with subsequent loss of chewing function and facial support. Restoration of these situations requires careful planning to allow for an optimal result. Following a thorough examination, diagnostic casts (models) of the teeth are fabricated. Using these models, our technicians follow a detailed prescription from our office to fabricate a wax "design" model (shown above). This model is used as a guide for the restoration of the dentition and to give the patient an idea of what is the possible final result. This model is similar to the work that an architect uses in designing a building. The wax "design" model is also used to fabricate temporary crowns (see next page) for use as a trial of the aesthetic and functional plan prior to the fabrication of the final crowns.
We invite you to contact our dental office today to learn more about dental models in Arcadia, California, and to schedule your next appointment with our dentist, Dr. Scott R. Adishian.


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Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Film & Food Celebration
Chef Brandon McGlamery will be teaming up with Chef/friends, James and Julie Petrakis, along with several other special guest chefs, to cook up an unforgettable four-course Whole Cookery Feast featuring southern inspired dishes guaranteed to delight your taste buds. Take part in the 2013 Florida Film Festival fun and join us at Cask & Larder on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 7pm. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy an evening filled with custom brewed beer, hand crafted cocktails, specialty wines along with delectable food and great company! For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit Film & Food Celebration.


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Black gloves with white skeleton print€ 14,95 € 9,95
Bandana Scarf Sea Camouflage€ 12,95 € 9,95
Bandana Scarf Skull€ 12,95 € 9,95
Bandana Scarf Forest Camouflage€ 12,95 € 9,95
- Ghost balaclava
- Cut-away at eye level
- Material: polyester and cotton
- One size fits most
- Suitable for outdoor sports
- Skeleton print
This balaclava is made of high quality stretch polyester/cotton that guarantees great comfort and constitutes a perfect cosplay balaclava. Obviously this balaclava is also super cool if you wear it on a motorcycle or while snowboarding. It goes without saying that this balaclava can be combined with ski goggles and helmet.
Click on the photo to enlarge.
Item number: FM C-014 (B1)


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If you Follow me on Twitter then you know I've been cooking up some new yummy dinner dishes! I thought I'd bring that yummy here so that my non-Twitter friends could share in the fun!
Buffalo Turkey Whole Wheat Pita Pizza
1 lb ground turkey
2 tablespoons Frank's Hot Sauce
4 Whole wheat pitas
Bleu Cheese crumbles
In a skillet coated with cooking spray brown the ground turkey. Once cooked add hot sauce and allow turkey to simmer and thicken. Meanwhile, set oven to broil and place pitas directly on rack and let them crisp up. Remove pitas from oven, top with turkey and cheese crumbles, place on cooking sheet and back in oven allowing cheese to melt. Serve warm, serves 4 people (1 pita a piece).
Shrimp Stir Fry
1 package mini frozen shrimp thawed
2 bags of frozen mixed veggies (your choice) I used microwaveable steam bags
1 medium onion sliced and sauteed
1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
Cook veggies according to package directions, set aside. In large skillet combine sauteed onion and shrimp, cook until shrimp are warm and add teriyaki-stir well. Add veggies and combine. Serve warm!
Lemon Poppy Seed Chicken with Herbes De Provence Roasted Beans
2 nice sized boneless chicken breast
4 tablespoons Reduced Fat Lemon Poppy Seed vinaigrette
1 15 oz can cannellini beans drained, rinsed, and patted dry
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
pinch of sea salt
3 tablespoons Herbes De Provence
In casserole dish coated with cooking spray place chicken breast and drizzle Poppy Seed vinaigrette over the top. Set aside.
In mixing bowl, combine beans, drizzle of EVOO, salt, and herbs-stir well. Spread beans out in a dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle a little more of the herbs on top if you'd like.
Place both dishes in a pre heated 425 oven and allow to cook for 10 minutes. Turn heat down to 400 and cook both for an additional 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is done and juicy! Serve along side a mixed green salad!
Now for dessert!!!
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup peanut butter softened
1 cup Splenda, Sugar, Truvia your choice
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
In mixing bowl combine sugar, egg, and vanilla beat until creamy. Add in peanut butter and mix until crumbly. Spoon on to cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 10 to 12 minutes. Serve warm!
I hope some of these will make their way on to your table this week!!! 3 quick and easy meals that are super healthy and super filling-MANGIA!!
And don't forget to check out and subscribe to my You Tube channel for more quick and easy recipes! http://www.youtube.com/user/GirlGoneHealthyCooks
Healthy Wishes, Tera


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Late Night at Carroll Presents: Dinner and A Movie in Chagrin Falls on Thursday, Nov. 2.
Join us for dinner at Jekyll's Kitchen overlooking the Chagrin Falls. A limited menu has been selected for a wonderful meal.
Following dinner we will see a movie at the Chagrin Cinema. (Movie selections TBD based on theatre schedule)
We will be leaving campus around 7 p.m. and return around 12:30 a.m.
Sign up before Monday, Oct. 29, at 5 p.m. in the Office of Student Activities with your $10 (exact change) refundable deposit.
Questions: contact Maura via email at email@example.com.


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It's clear from their short list of developed games that AAG Studio just does whatever feels good to them and seems silly at the time. Their debut game, Nighthaw-X3000, was a brightly colored, classic arcade shoot 'em up that reached Fresh Prince-levels of nostalgia. Gaben Kingdom, their sophomore effort, is very different. Gaben Kingdom immediately struck me as a game that would be best suited to a mobile platform, purely because it reminded me of Angry Birds (disclaimer: I have never played Angry Birds). Both games involve taking your controlled lump of a character and flinging them across a level to take out enemies, and that's where the similarities end.
Gaben Kingdom is a tiny, simple, yet strangely addictive puzzle platformer coming to Steam on May 12. 2017. It features our lord and savior, Gabe Newell (if someone could please design a sarcasm font, know that it would be used generously here) as a plump collection of pixels controlled by the player. The player and Gaben must save the world from the evil hands of a vicious corporation, lest we lose our beloved cheap games and game sales. If you haven't guessed that the "plot" of the game is very tongue-in-cheek, this is me telling you as much.
There are 70 levels spread across seven worlds, the latter of which are named familiar things like Summer Sale World and Winter Sale World. You only have one goal, and that's to eliminate all of the enemies on the map in each level and reach the end of the stage. You have a limited (albeit usually very generous) number of moves in each level, so you must plan your actions accordingly.
In order to reach the end of the stage, you have to take out all but one of the enemies on the map, then fling yourself into the final enemy/goal post. You can also pick up collectable floating wads of cash. Picking up all the money in a level is the only way to get three stars (the maximum amount) for your end of level ranking.
Gaben Kingdom is played mostly with a mouse. Holding the left mouse button summons a circle around the king, which has a little navigator circle inside showing you the opposite direction of where he is going to be tossed. You can fling Gaben over short or long distances, knock him into enemies and other breakable items like blocks and stop him mid-flight to reposition and change direction using the slow motion mode. The game encourages you to use the slow motion mode sparingly to make the game more challenging. I didn't start having fun until I began using the slow motion mode. Once I did, the game did become addictive, as promised by the developers.
My gripes with the gameplay come down to two main issues. Firstly, the edges of the level, including the edge directly behind the goal post, are all grounds for game over if passed through. I realize this is probably by design to make things more challenging, but there were multiple times where I sailed right past the goal post by a few centimeters and lost all my level progress because the back wall didn't bounce me back. Same goes for flinging myself up way too high and disappearing through the top edge of the screen.
Secondly, there is little differentiation between platforms you can land on and platforms that you fall through. This is particularly problematic in the first environment. My miniature pixelated Gaben met his end many times before l I realized that the slightly darker platforms weren't solid.
The sound design is exactly what you'd expect. Repetitive techno-esque track that plays on a short loop? Check. Not overly infuriating game over sounds that you'll hear a lot? Check. Satisfying noises from enemy/environment breakage? Check. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's also not painful to listen to. If you're looking for a lot of variation in the sounds and music you'll be hearing all the way through or an extensive, memorable score, you've come to the wrong place.
The intro comic/cinematic looks like it was made in Powerpoint, with drawings picked from the pre-high school section of Deviantart. I'm almost certain this has been done intentionally, but just in case it wasn't: it's bad. Really bad. The actual in-game pixel art isn't terrible, and the world map looks downright crisp and nice given what it is, but it's nothing special overall. Despite the consistent use of the same environments through large sections of the game, it didn't feel like I was traipsing through the exact same maze every time. Each level felt unique, which is what you want when you have 70 levels.
I really don't think this needed the Gabe Newell coat of paint, honestly; it just made the game more intolerable to me purely because I have a neutral opinion of Lord Gaben. AAG Studio could have made Gaben a cat out to collect all the fish floating through each level, smashing into enemy mice or dogs, and it would have made as much sense design-wise. But even though I wouldn't suggest anyone go out of their way to but Gaben Kingdom, if you're the type that needs a fun, $1.99 time-sink or likes giggling at any and all snarky media dedicated to Gabe Newell, I don't see why you wouldn't pick this up.
This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.
A Brave Newell World
Addictively Meh
Gaben Kingdom is an addictive little time waster that I would only recommend picking up if you don't really have anything else to do. If AAG Studio ever repackages this game with a non-Newell flavour, then I'll be interested.


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Door Hinge & Pivot Repairs
A & A's expert technicians provide professional and reliable service.
Large Inventory of Replacement Parts In Stock!
Repair Services
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- Hinge & pivot adjustments and replacement
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- Door repairs
Is your door dragging, won't close or slamming? Give us a call!
We can repair or replace any damaged hinge, pivot or door closer.
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If you're planning to replace a door, one of your primary concerns will certainly involve costs. A & A can send an estimator to your business to evaluate the door opening, discuss the options available and give you a free estimate for the replacement. Our experienced estimators know just what to look for. With no pressure, he'll help choose the door that is right for you.
Call or Contact Us online to schedule a free onsite estimate!


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Bill Gates Talks Energy Miracles at TED2010
Bill Gates recently spoke at the TED2010 conference where he unveiled his vision for the world's energy future. If you have not heard of TED, it is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas "Worth Spreading". It started out as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, and Design and has broadened its scope to explore ideas on issues like energy and the climate.
In his talk, Gates explained why he is interested in energy and how it relates to his foundations main stream activities such as health care and agriculture. Gates went on to explain why we need "energy miracles" as well as his "wish" for the next 50 years.
His talk was certainly provoking and demonstrates someone that is thinking about the big societal issues and connecting the dots to try to make a better planet for humanity.
For me, this brings back memories from 2006 while on a vacation in Italy when I looked at my mobile phone during dinner and saw a message from my CEO, Bill Gates, asking me what we were doing in utilities. You can imagine that my cell phone was ringing all night as a result of his email and I spent most of the next day in my hotel room in Positano creating a full briefing document. It's been one of many exchanges I've had with senior leadership at Microsoft about our role in the industry, and its future direction. Certainly things have changed a great deal since that email.
You can view Gates' conference video byclicking here . – Jon C. Arnold


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MSRB quarterly statistical summaries include aggregate market information for the most recent quarter. In addition to the data on municipal trading activity, the quarterly data includes the number of interest rate resets for variable rate demand obligations and auction rate securities, as well as the statistics related to continuing disclosure documents received through the MSRB's EMMA website. The MSRB Quarterly Statistical Summaries are available approximately four to five weeks after the end of the quarter. Statistics for the fourth quarter of each year are available in the MSRB Fact Book.
Quarterly Report - 2019
2019:Q3 Statistical Report
2019:Q2 Statistical Report
2019:Q1 Statistical Report
Quarterly Report - 2018
2018:Q4 - see the 2018 MSRB Fact Book
2018:Q3 Statistical Report
2018:Q2 Statistical Report
2018:Q1 Statistical Report
Quarterly Report - 2017
2017:Q4 - see the 2017 MSRB Fact Book
2017:Q3 Statistical Report
2017:Q2 Statistical Report
2017:Q1 Statistical Report
Quarterly Report - 2016
2016:Q4 - see the 2016 MSRB Fact Book
2016:Q3 Statistical Report
2016:Q2 Statistical Report
2016:Q1 Statistical Report
Quarterly Report - 2015
2015:Q4 - see the 2015 MSRB Fact Book
2015:Q3 Statistical Report
2015:Q2 Statistical Report
2015:Q1 Statistical Report
Quarterly Report - 2014
Quarterly Report - 2013
Quarterly Reports - 2012
Quarterly Reports - 2011
The MSRB's Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA) website is the official source for municipal disclosures and market data.


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Your Hidden Talent
You are both very knowledgeable and creative.
You tend to be full of new ideas and potential - big potential.
Ideas like yours could change the world, if you build them.
As long as you don't stop working on your dreams, you'll get there.
You Are: 80% Dog, 20% Cat
You and dogs definitely have a lot in common.
You're both goofy, happy, and content with the small things in life.
However, you're definitely not as needy as the average dog. You need your down time occasionally.
You Should Be A Poet
You craft words well, in creative and unexpected ways.
And you have a great talent for evoking beautiful imagery...
Or describing the most intense heartbreak ever.
You're already naturally a poet, even if you've never written a poem.
You Are Totally Like Your Mom
You and your mom are practically clones.
You think alike, and you even seem to read each other's minds.
You're definitely you're mother's child... and that's just fine with you.
You Are The Stuffing
You're complicated and complex, yet all your pieces fit together.
People miss you if you're gone - but they're not sure why.
You Belong in 1952
You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!
I really should stop this now!


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The new Blackberry Bold 2 is not a revolutionary update to the original Bold 9000, but the new model improves on the original with significant refinements that will make T-Mobile BlackBerry users very happy, especially since it's the first Blackberry to support their 3G network. What is really nice about the Bold this time around is that both AT&T and T-Mobile are getting it at the same time, there are no exclusives. Thank goodness! We're so sick of carriers getting exclusives over one another, and if AT&T got one more great smartphone exclusive we just couldn't bare it.
Design and Build Quality:
The Bold 9700 has a slimmed down size and formfactor compared to the original. The Bold 9700 measures 4.3 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches in comparison to the original Bold's 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.6-inch measurements. During its time off, the device has also dropped .5 ounces and weighs 4.3 ounces compared to the Bold 9000's 4.8 ounces. The build quality of the Bold 9700 feels very good. Its new form-factor also seems more slick and refined, and even less masculine. The infamous leather finish on the back of the Bold is still there and is still a really nice touch.
[nggallery id=224]
Gone is the trackball from the original Bold 9000, in its place is a new optical trackpad which was first used on T-Mobile's Curve 8520. The optical trackpad took some getting used too; especially after having been accustomed to using the the trackball on my Curve 8900 but I really – really like it. It makes operating the device and menus much less strenuous. You really reap the benefits of the optical trackpad when viewing web sites, since its now much easier to move around in all different directions without tediously rolling a trackball under your thumb. The trackball was also notorious for breaking, so now there is one less hardware issue to worry about.
The device has a 480 x 360 resolution compared to the Bold's original 2.6″ 480×320 resolution. Overall, the Bold 9700's display is excellent, and very colorful, making video playback very pleasant as well as viewing photos.
Since the Bold 2 is smaller in size, its keyboard keys are also smaller and more cramped than the original Bold. Unlike the Curve which has some spacing between each key, the Bold's keys are all squeezed in tightly up next to one another and they have a squishy feel when you're typing. The Bold 9700's keys also retain the raised edges of its predecessor. The smaller keyboard means that people with bigger fingers and long nails might struggle with the keyboard. I personally find the typing experience on the Bold comfortable, but my co-editor preferred the feel of the Curve 8900's keyboard which had smaller sized, harder keys with more space in between each key.
Performance and U.I.:
The 9700 runs the new BlackBerry OS 5.0 very snappily thanks to its 624mhz processor. We didn't notice much lag at all when multi-tasking. The 5.0's U.I. isn't a drastic change but it provides pretty noticeable speed improvements and some perks like an improved web browser.
The 9700 comes with Dataviz Documents To Go which lets you view Word, Excel, and Powerpoint Docs. A full suite of IM apps are also included – there is a dedicated app of reach major IM platform AIM, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and ICQ. You can run IM applications in the background and receive notifications of new messages with a small icon on top of the screen just like you do when new emails come in. It would be much easier if they included a multi-service IM client, but there is always the BlackBerry App World for you to download apps from later. But oddly enough BlackBerry App World didn't come preinstalled, so we had to download it and install it on our own. The device also comes preloaded with 5 games including Soduku, and of course brick-breaker.
Web browsing:
First off, navigating web sites is now so much more enjoyable using the optical trackpad! Testing the 9700 in New York City, using T-mobile's 3G network we experienced the following loading times:
13 seconds for NYTimes.com (mobile version)
10 seconds for CNN.com (mobile version)
1:10 seconds for ChipChick.com
2.8 seconds for Google.com (mobile version)
7 seconds for YouTube (mobile version)
16 seconds for ESPN (mobile version)
17 seconds for TMZ.com
35 seconds for SmashingMagazine.com
44 seconds for Bensbargains.net
Overall, T-Mobile's 3G network seems pretty speedy, but we recommend using the Opera web browser to really take advantage of T-Mobile's 3G network
Call Quality:
Call quality on the Bold 9700 is very, very good. And is a big improvement over previous BlackBerry models that we've used. In New York City so far we've only been greeted with 5 bars, but we've yet to travel outside of Manhattan where T-mobile's coverage is generally very good, we also haven't experienced any dropped calls. Except that last night T-Mobile did experience some outages in NYC.
When you're in a call, there is a special option to "Enhance call audio". Even when set to the default Normal quality, call quality is very good. The other two options include Boost Bass and Boost Treble of your voice. Callers on the other end said that Boost Bass made them hear me more clearer and crisper and Boost Treble not only made them hear me sound clearer and crisper, but it also made me sound louder to their ears, so much so that they had to turn down their handset's volume.
The device has support for T-Mobile's @Home service. For $9.99 a month this service will give you unlimited calls whenever you're on your home Wi-Fi connection or at a hotspot.
Like the previous Bold, the 9700 is a decent multimedia machine. Videos playback nicely and audio sounds good on the 3.5mm headphone jack. The device supports MP3, WMA, AAC, And OGG music files, as well as MP4, DIVX and WMV file support to 640×480 in resolution. There is a 2GB microSD card included to get you started on saving docs. Unfortunately even the mobile version of YouTube doesn't work to well with the BlackBerry's browser even when connected via Wi-Fi. If you're looking for video entertainment on the go, the PrimeTime2Go video app for $9.99 a month will give you access to many popular TV shows like Heroes and CSI, but only over Wi-Fi. There are also other great apps like Slacker which works great for with the BlackBerry when you want to listen to music on the go.
We've only been using the Bold 9700 for a few days, and so far the battery has lasted through a day of average use.
Camera and Video Camera:
The 3.2 megapixel camera captures great shots, much superior to most of the smartphones out there with good color reproduction, even in dimly lit rooms. Videos are also good quality but have a low 480×352 resolution.
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 isn't a massive upgrade from its predecessor, it's more about making refinements to an already great workhorse of a smartphone. The handset still can't compete with the multimedia chops of the iPhone, and even of the latest Android devices, but it's still a super reliable business smartphone. The Bold will be available from T-Mobile soon for a $199 with a 2 year contract. If you are looking to retire your older BlackBerry, you should definitely consider giving this one a whirl.
Update 12/28/09: The BlackBerry Bold 2 for AT&T is currently available for $o.o1 from AT&T at Amazon with contract. Or you can purchase it for $499 without a contract. T-mobile customers can get it for as low as $99 with a contract, or $529 without a contract.
The Good:
Better camera than the original Bold, excellent display, optical trackpad makes operating the device much more enjoyable, great call quality with call enhancement feature, snappy performance, great build quality and form-factor, solid multimedia device, visual voicemail is always a nice touch
The Bad:
Keypad is smallish and might be difficult to use for bigger fingers, BlackBerry's built-in web browser doesn't do T-Mobile's 3G network justice, BlackBerry App World still doesn't come close to the AppStore, and the device still doesn't come close to the iPhone's multimedia capabilities
Update 09/27/11: You might also want to check out our BlackBerry Bold 9930 Review


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Multiple Health Problems and Social Security
For most people, one minor or moderate health problem doesn't interfere with the ability to work and carry out daily tasks. However, a collection of minor to moderate health problems can be quite debilitating.
If you're suffering from multiple health problems, it can be disconcerting to think about your financial future. You may be able to qualify for social security benefits, but it's a challenging road to go down. You'll need the aid of a qualified lawyer who can simplify the complexities throughout the process.
Understanding the Social Security Disability Process
Social Security eligibility is based on how debilitated a person is rather than what his or her actual condition is. While it's true that there are many health conditions that do not automatically grant eligibility, an initial "no" is not always a permanent "no."
What qualifies as a disability under Social Security makes no distinction between one severe condition and multiple conditions. The main determining factor when deciding eligibility is whether or not your state of health makes gainful employment impossible for you.
However, the challenge appears when you go to apply for Social Security and cite multiple health problems. These cases are typically much more difficult to prove than cases when a singular disability has been cited. Many cases are denied at the initial claim, and most are also denied at the reconsideration appeal.
If you're truly unable to work and perform daily tasks because of your conditions, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Many cases that are initially denied through the standard procedure may be approved when brought to a hearing. This is why it's important to obtain adequate legal representation when beginning your claim.
What to Do if You're Considering Applying for Social Security?
Documentation is incredibly important when applying for benefits. You'll need to gather information from any and all doctors who are involved in your healthcare, along with your medical records. A statement from your physician that declares you unable to work and cites specific physical and mental work-related limitations can be a tremendous help.
You'll also want to have records of when your problems began and how they impair your ability to function. Anything that's related to your health care or history is good to have on hand, even if you don't think it's very important. Your lawyer can tell you the types of documents you need and how to obtain them if you don't already have them.
If you need an SSI or SSD lawyer in Pennsylvania, contact the law office of Lisa M. Ritacco by calling 877-459-4799 today.


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A couple of days ago, Joy and I had a photoshoot with our good friends Corey and Ashlee. We went to the Ludington State Park and had an excellent session; they were an excellent couple to work with and everyone had a great time. And while I usually don't post our shoots on my site, I wanted to give a quick overview of a particular (awesome) photo from our session with them.
Here's a high-level overview of how that photo was made (click for a larger view):
A few things we did to make this happen:
- Knowing that our depth-of-field was going to be relatively shallow, we knew that we had to focus stack.
- We started off by focusing on our subjects; we wanted them to get comfortable and make the pose happen naturally.
- Getting the frame photo shortly after we got the pose helped ensure that in post-processing our vision had a template to follow.
- In post, it was just a matter of putting the two photos in layers, adding a couple of layer masks, and cloning away the tree that ran through the frame.
Overall, I'm really happy with this photo. Not only is it a good picture in-and-of itself, the effect draws interest to the "how" of the photo.
So I just realized my "In-Focus Subjects" inset photo is actually the same one as the finished photo. Apparently I imported the wrong image when making the composite. Here is the actual "In-Focus Subjects":