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Top Traits: Transparency, company culture, hiring the right workers
One staffing firm brought in a guitar player from a local restaurant to serenade the office. Another firm, as a holiday treat, heads to the mall where employees get $100 to spend in an hour.
The top firms on this year's "Best Staffing Firms to Work For" lists had a variety of tactics for treating their employees well.
While some tactics were unorthodox, there were some common themes among the top firms: transparency with employees, hiring the right internal workers and maintaining a company culture.
But whatever the strategy, they all added up to great places to work.
This year's "Best Staffing Firms to Work For" lists include the top five firms to work for in small, medium and large firm categories based on the number of internal employees. The lists rank a total of 16 firms because there was a tie in one category.
A total of 118 firms took part in this year's program. Quantum Workplace, an Omaha, Neb.-based firm, conducted the research and rankings for Staffing Industry Analysts.
The highest-ranking small firm was LiquidAgents Healthcare. The highest-ranking midsize company was USr Healthcare. And the highest-ranking large firm was Signature Consultants.
The top firms provide several different types of staffing and come from across the United States. However, three of the 16 are based in Alpharetta, Ga.
Two of the best staffing firms to work for also ranked on Staffing Industry Analysts' 2010 list of fastest-growing staffing firms: Akraya Inc., No. 2 in the small firms category, and Accurate Personnel Services, No. 4 in the midsize firms category.
Below, are profiles of the winning companies, grouped by company size.
20 to 50 employees
Work Hard, Play Hard
#1 LiquidAgents Healthcare
At Plano, Texas-based LiquidAgents Healthcare, employees don't just work hard, they play hard. It's all about having a little fun during the work day. For example, they can play ping pong or pool in the company's Chi Lounge.
"We decrease stress by creating a fun environment," says CEO Sheldon Arora. "We morphed an ordinary office into a colorful space where employees can learn, produce and interact."
At LiquidAgents, when staff members notice one of their colleagues doing something great — or perhaps having a challenging week — they can nominate that person to spin the company's prize wheel.
Among the prizes that have been awarded are a free lunch, a "skip" pass that entitles the winner to leave work early, a car wash, a free tank of gas, cash, half a car payment and tickets to a concert.
Employees also appreciate LiquidAgents' "Free Lunch Fridays," which occur once a month.
Beyond the prizes and giveaways, the company maintains an open-door policy. "The staff feels comfortable approaching their leaders for help," Arora says. "We talk, discuss and debate to realize any challenges they may face. Input is important to our success. Everyone wants to do a good job and we make it easy for them."
Celebrating Success
#2 Akraya Inc.
There's a saying at Akraya that once you're an Akrayan, you're always an Akrayan.
The Sunnyvale, Calif., company boasts an internal turnover rate of 3 percent, says CEO Amar Panchal. The only reasons people have left Akraya are a career or life change, Panchal says, never for a competitor.
At Akraya, everyone has a say in who is hired. People interviewing for a sales position, for example, will meet with the sales team as well as people in recruiting, operations and human resources.
Communication also is very important to Akraya. The company regularly shares its financial information with employees, even if it's not all roses. Employees also learn how their work contributes to the company's bottom line, Panchal points out. "We share with everyone what our vision is," he says. "They know where we are going and how their work contributes to our getting there."
Akrayans also celebrate success. A bell is rung for any major achievement. And for a new employee's first major achievement, Panchal treats the office to ice cream.
During the holiday season, Akraya also gives employees $100 to spend at the local mall, which they can spend however they like. The only stipulation is that the money needs to be spent in an hour. "It's a fun afternoon," Panchal says.
Self-Starters flourish
#3 Hire Dynamics
At Hire Dynamics, the philosophy is to hire right — and to do it the first time around. The company strongly believes in the concept of topgrading, an interview process that helps employers weed out the high achievers or "A Players" from the rest of the pack, according to CEO Dan Campbell. The Alpharetta, Ga.-based company hires self-starters who don't need to be micromanaged.
Every employee has three quarterly goals. The company also reimburses employees who want to take classes that will help them in their jobs. Additionally, Hire Dynamics surveys employees and then makes changes based on those surveys.
Hire Dynamics promotes from within. "We know that culturally they are a fit," Campbell says. "They are not as much of a risk. They have proven themselves."
The company has a deferred compensation plan that is based on its retention. The lower the turnover the company has, the more money there is in the plan.
All About Service
#4 Keepers
Picking up the co-pay for medical, paying for public transportation and "Wookie awards," are just some of the ways Washington-based Keepers Inc. focuses on being a great place to work.
While a lot of companies provide their employees with health insurance, Keepers takes that one step further and also provides its employees with a credit card to cover their co-pay or other medical expenses that their insurance doesn't cover, effectively providing medical care at no cost to them, explains CEO Joseph McDermott. "We feel that this is something they don't need to be worried about," he says.
Additionally, Keepers is a big supporter of public transportation: If an employee uses public transportation to get to work, the company covers the cost. "It's a pretty lofty bill for us," McDermott says. "It's about $3,000 or $4,000 a month. We pick that up."
Keepers holds a banquet once a quarter at which it gives out awards for world-class service, better known internally as the "Wookie awards."
McDermott also calls employees personally on their company anniversary.
Health Matters
#5 Synergis
Synergis cares about its employees' health. Last year, the company launched a wellness program that reimburses employees for out-of-pocket expenses related to their healthcare, according to President Doug Ross. For example, if employees get a flu shot, the company will foot the bill.
Early this year, Alpharetta, Ga.-based Synergis also launched a biggest-loser contest. Employees pooled their money and the employee who lost the most weight after two months won the money. Synergis also plans to award a bonus at the end of the year to employees who maintain their weight loss. "It's amazing the enthusiasm we've had for this program," Ross says.
Training is also important to Synergis. "We spend a fairly large portion of our budget on professional development, leadership and management training, sales and recruiting training, training on industry issues," Ross says.
Staff with five years' service receive an extra month of paid time off in addition to their regular vacation time. "We have high expectations for people but we also feel it is very important to give back and take care of them," Ross says.
Furthermore, a new mother still gets her full income during her maternity leave. Aflac insurance pays 50 percent of her salary and the company pays the remaining 50 percent.
Aligning Goals
#5 John Galt Staffing
Bob Siemering, co-founder and chairman of John Galt Staffing, attributes much of his company's success to alignment.
"We believe it is essential that each employee's goals are in complete alignment with the company's goals so that we can be successful together," Siemering explains.
Each year, John Galt Staffing sets a goal and if employees meet that goal, they and a guest get to go on a trip. Having met the goal for 2010, employees and guests will be going to Las Vegas in May. Next year's planned destination, should this year's goal be met, is Reykjavik, Iceland.
John Galt Staffing invests a great deal of resources in training and developing its staff. New hires go through a rigorous training program that exposes them to every department within the company. The company also provides weekly classroom training for all employees on a variety of topics that are developed based on the company's current challenges and opportunities.
The Burlington, Mass., company also strives to communicate with employees, holding "State of the Company" meetings two to three times a year to discuss its plans going forward, as well as evaluate itself on recent performance, Siemering says.
Volunteering is also important to the company. Staff will periodically go to regional unemployment offices to help job seekers write resumes and develop job search strategies, Siemering says.
51 to 200 employees
A Company of Equals
#1 USr Healthcare
When Mark Dixon worked for a large distribution company, there was a clearly defined hierarchy. Sales reps were on top and customer service people and warehouse people were on the bottom. And he hated it.
So, when Dixon founded USr Healthcare, he wanted to make sure everyone was on the same level. "We are what I define as a company of equals," Dixon says.
Based in Brentwood, Tenn., USr Healthcare attracts people who work well in a team environment, are competitive and have a sales mindset from the very beginning, according to Dixon.
He says USr Healthcare is good about providing employees with work/life balance. His message is: "We want you to enjoy the relationship you have with the company. Family is important. Your personal time is important."
Employees get an extra day off as a birthday gift. "They can use it whenever they want," explains Dixon. Also, every single employee receives a $300 gift card at the company's holiday party.
The All-Stars
#2 Veredus Corporation
After a year's service at Tampa, Fla.-based Veredus Corp., employees can participate in a profit-sharing program that pays out quarterly. Fifty percent of the allocation goes directly to the employees and the remaining 50 percent goes into a vesting schedule, says CEO Dan Rodriguez.
Employees also can earn extra vacation time based on their productivity. Furthermore, the top 10 producers each year get an all-expense paid trip for themselves and a guest. This year's top producers will go to London in 2012.
Management is visible, accessible and approachable. "Execs have one-on-one relationships with all employees. People like that," Rodriguez says.
The results-driven company doesn't micromanage. For example, the company doesn't monitor the amount of calls employees make. "That stuff is for the other guys," Rodriguez says. "We hire good people internally. We want all of the good staffers on our team. We hire every all-star we can find."
All of this contributes to low turnover. "When someone leaves our company, it's an event," says Rodriguez. "We very rarely lose anybody that comes to work for us. It gives us continuity. Our customers like it because their sales rep isn't changing (all the time). They have been dealing with the same person for four years, five years. They like that."
Successful Yet Fun
#3 The LaSalle Network
Whether it is "re-birthdays" or bringing in a guitar player to serenade the office, The LaSalle Network aims to be successful while having fun.
"The No. 1 thing I do is I realize my staff has a choice to work here or other places, so I appreciate what they do every single day," says Tom Gimbel, president and CEO of The LaSalle Network, a staffing provider based in the Chicago area. "I make sure that when I see my staff, I thank them for the work that they do."
The company has a team of people dedicated to employee relations. Among other activities, the company celebrates "re-birthdays" on the anniversaries of employees' hire dates.
The LaSalle Network also seeks other ways to boost morale. One day, to raise the energy level in the office, Gimbel asked a guitar player at a Chicago-area Potbelly restaurant to come in and serenade in the office. "My productivity for the next three weeks was on fire," Gimbel says.
However, it's important to have the right people in place, he says. Prospective internal employees will meet with no less than six of the company's staff members in the hiring process, including Gimbel. "I'm not just the last interview; I'm the first or second interview."
A Family Feel
#4 Accurate Personnel Services
Accurate Personnel Services, based in Schaumburg, Ill., strives to maintain a family feel, even as it grows.
"We've always had that feel, and our focus has been on maintaining that family atmosphere as we continue to grow to the level that we have," says Rob Migliore, an owner of the firm. "Everybody knows everybody, everybody gets an opportunity to work with each other."
Accurate Personnel also strives to ensure that people working in its nine offices aren't isolated. "The more people work together, the more that family atmosphere continues," Migliore says.
The company also has an open-door policy, encouraging workers to approach the ownership, says David Migliore, also an owner of the company. "Ownership is not too large to hear them out," he says.
Accurate's focus appears to be serving it well. In addition to ranking as a best staffing firm to work for, the company also ranked on Staffing Industry Analysts' 2010 list of fastest-growing staffing firms.
"If our employees are happy in their job and are glad to come to work every day, they impart that to the contingent staff we're sending out," says Rob Migliore.
The Right Fit
#5 Jackson & Coker
Jackson & Coker strives to match new hires' personalities with the appropriate jobs and also assigns each new employee a mentor.
"The main thing is getting the right people for the right job," says Ed McEachern, vice president of marketing at Jackson & Coker, a provider of physician permanent placement and locum tenens.
Alpharetta, Ga.-based Jackson & Coker uses an online survey to help categorize a new hire's personality, such as whether a person has the personality to handle the rigors of sales.
"By truly matching and caring about the hire, we have a much higher degree of retention," McEachern says. "It works out better for all parties."
Other benefits Jackson & Coker offers include an on-site cafeteria (subsidized by the company), an on-site gym and a game room. In addition, the company does charity and support work.
Being a best place to work can help attract the caliber of people the firm wants to hire, McEachern says. The company hopes to attract candidates who research the company before the interview, and therefore notice the best firm to work for ranking, because those people will bring the same amount of tenacity when they are working with a medical facility to determine what kind of doctor it will need.
Jackson & Coker was also on last year's list of Best Staffing Firms to Work For.
Large Firms (201+ employees)
#1 Signature Consultants LLC
Culture is what makes Signature Consultants a great place to work, and that culture includes teamwork, says Debbie Green, a senior account manager at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., information technology staffing firm.
"It definitely is a true partnership at Signature," Green says. "The people that are successful here are truly team members."
The company stretches the teamwork approach to handling difficulties.
Signature also listens to its employees, she says. "From the day you walk in the door, you can voice your opinion on whatever the topic may be."
The company also focuses on motivation and training of its staff, Green says, while striving to maintain a sense of humor as well. Having a passion for the business is also a key component shared by employees, according to Green.
Being considered a great place to work is the icing on the cake, she says. Being respected by clients, the resources and the competition is key.
A Lot of Heart
#2 Express Employment Professionals
"We try to find people who have a lot of heart for each other," says Robert A. Funk, a founder of the Oklahoma City-based firm, which recently ranked as the 11th largest staffing firm in the United States. "I think our principle of helping others to succeed is you have to have a lot of heart."
To that end, Funk still interviews each internal worker and franchisee. One question Funk asks in interviews is what motivates the person — work environment, recognition or money. "Usually how they answer that question tells me what kind of heart they have," he says.
Another important ingredient is transparency with workers. Employees can interface with upper management at quarterly meetings. "There are very few issues we can't share with them or don't share with them," Funk says. When a difficult situation does arise, the workers understand it and work to solve it.
Express also strives to maintain a fun workplace, holding Christmas parties and outings; the company also has a track and field team that competes in Oklahoma City.
Being a great place to work without a doubt helps the bottom line, Funk says.
"Our productivity is extremely high for the number of employees we have," he says. People "will work a lot harder if they're happy."
Culture First
#3 CHG Healthcare Services
"It starts with our company culture," says CEO Michael Weinholtz of making CHG Healthcare Services a great place to work. "We invest a lot in building a culture of trust."
As part of that trust, the Salt Lake City-based healthcare staffing firm works to include as many people as possible in decision-making processes. For example, all the company's employees were divided into brainstorming groups at the start of the recession and asked to come up with ideas to improve efficiencies or lower costs.
"Our first core value is called 'putting people first' and we reflect that in the investment we make in our people," Weinholtz says.
CHG did not have mass layoffs during the last recession, and the company tried not to cut back on anything that had to do with its employees, their benefits or their training, he says.
A couple of years ago, the company's benefits costs decreased. Rather than keeping those savings, the company passed them on to its employees by lowering their benefits costs.
Of course, the company strives to have fun as well. CHG had 200 separate events in 2010 — from celebrating awards and milestones to birthdays, Weinholtz says.
This is its second year on the Best Staffing Firms to Work For list.
An Honor and a Journey
#4 Roth Staffing Companies LP
"Becoming a great place to work is an honor, but it's also a journey," says Ben M. Roth, founder and CEO of Orange, Calif.-based Roth Staffing Cos. L.P. "It's been a goal of ours since we opened the company."
The company's core values are strong, and the company's culture is defined by those core values, Roth says.
"We understand the purpose of our company, which is to make life better for the people we serve," Roth says.
It's those core values that form a culture that is a great place to work, he says. And despite the company's size, it has one culture.
"Today, a good portion of our candidates come to us because of the culture ... they want to be part of what we stand for," Roth says. "We understand that our industry gives us a platform for doing good things for people and we want to enliven that throughout our company."
Mutual Respect
#5 Aerotek
"Aerotek has always believed in creating an environment where there is a high value placed on relationships both internally as well as with our customers and the employees we put to work," says Todd Gardner, vice president of marketing and communications at Aerotek.
"While we have implemented many employee-friendly programs, we believe that the reason we have attained this high level of employee loyalty is most likely attributed to creating a strong performance-driven culture held together with strong relationship built on mutual respect," Gardner says.
Aerotek is part of Hanover, Md.-based Allegis Group, the largest staffing firm in the United States, as ranked by Staffing Industry Analysts.
Craig Johnson is managing editor of SI Review. He can be reached at email@example.com. Julie McCoy is associate editor, staffing publications, at Staffing Industry Analysts.


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Targeting Ultra Poor Project (TUP): TUP is a poverty reduction project under RMLSP funded by IFAD and implemented by BRAC. The project has various components as follow:
inputs for TUP participants: which includes transfer of productive assets, subsistence support, flexible savings and development of social support network
- Enterprise development Training: a two –year package of training inputs for the TUP participants, which includes specialist classroom-based enterprise development training, weekly home visits, involving hands –on training and monthly, quarterly, and six monthly refresher courses
- Social development activities: this include raising awareness about human rights, gender equity and social issues among the ultra-poor and the wider community, creating a local volunteer support group, providing protection and material and moral support to these households and capacity building and advocacy among officials, elected representatives, influential local elites and members of civil society to mobilize support for the poorest;
- Essential Health care: working through its innovative network of community-based health workers focusing on preventing the occurrence of financially-devastating health crises and ensuring basic health care services.
The project had the following outcome after its two years completion
- 28% TUP beneficiaries have overcome extreme poverty within a year.
- 77% of the beneficiaries have been linked to public hospitals and VFUs.
- 87% of the beneficiaries said changes have come in the attitude and behavior of the communities where they live.
- 92% of the beneficiaries increased access to food after involvement in the project.
- 65% of the beneficiaries have improved housing conditions.
- 100% beneficiaries vaccinated 0-1 years of their children.
- 154 children of the TUP beneficiaries have been enrolled in formal schooling.
- 38% of the beneficiaries now use sanitize stab latrine.
- 38% of the beneficiaries (married couple) used improved contraceptive.
- 35% of the beneficiaries received information about ARI ( Acute Respiratory Infection)
- 47% know the signs of the TB and know how to protect other family members.
From the above stated indicators one can say that the project has almost achieved its objective. Again in term of cost, yes it is a bit costly project, but the beauty is that most of the money goes to beneficiaries; it has very low operational costs.
Our target is that at the end of the project around 65% of the targeted beneficiaries will be graduated. Do you based on your expereince from a similar project is achievable? We will appreciate your feedback.

subset: commoncrawl


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Child Passenger Safety
Thursday, October 29, 2009
On behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council, along with Momfluence, I'd like to share the following information with you:
There are wonderful resources available for free to help you make safe choices about car seats and to help you use their car seats properly for maximum safety.
Twitter: An actual safety expert mans the @ChildSeatSafety account on Twitter, and they will continue to answer any questions that parents have about child passenger safety. This is such a unique resource from a government agency!
Facebook: NHTSA has a Facebook page at http://facebook.com/childpassengersafety where parents can learn about everything from LATCH to locating inspection offices.
Website: The Ad Council and the NHTSA have created a site with all the resources parents need to keep their smallest passengers safe: http://childcarsafety.adcouncil.org/. Find your local inspection station, watch instructional videos, and even take a fun quiz!


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Macy's has really done well with recognizing cultural events. This is second year in a row that I've attended their Black History Month event. Last year they focused on Romare Bearden. This year they focused on Gordon Parks.
This event was held at the Macy's Galleria on Hidalgo. There was a nice set up displaying Gordon Parks's pictures as well as a live musician.
I missed the beginning of the event because I was booked to do makeup for an event at Qwashae Boutique. I got to Macy's towards the end of the panel discussion.
Each member gave info about Gordon Parks and how he made an impact on their lives. In this picture Rebecca Briscoe is speaking on how inspirational he was to have been so successful despite the racial tension that existed during his era.
To the left of her is Ray Carrington, he spoke very highly of Gordon Parks and emphasized how his early mistakes led to him learning lessons that allowed him opportunities to leave a huge legacy. He discussed how important it was for Gordon Parks to get to know people before taking pictures. Then there's Joy Sewing. Unfortunately, I missed her speak, but I'm sure she gave a lot of good insight. She's very intellectual and full of knowledge. I look forward to seeing her at events. On the end is David Parks.
Here I am with Rebecca after the panel discussion. I'm so proud of her success. We both grew up in the same home town of Port Arthur, Texas. Nice to see her doing well. 🙂
This gentlemen in the above picture was the host for the Gordon Parks event.
Above is David Parks, Gordon's son. He shared a lot of great background information about his father, including how he and his brother approached their dad for assistance in producing the movie Superfly. He also spoke about how diversity is still an issue in the film industry. He urged film makers to work together and explained why family and the community and are keys to being successful.
There was a great turnout for this event. 🙂
I got a chance to sit down and talk with David Parks. He 's so personable and approachable. He was very patient and took time to talk with everyone and took pictures. He appeared to be just as happy to meet us as we were to meet him. I'm so honored to have had this opportunity.
There was a reception following the panel discussion in which Macy's provided light refreshments and drinks. I'm so glad that I was able to attend this wonderful event. Kudos to Macy's once again for putting on a fantastic showcase for Black History Month.


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June 25, 2012, 12:43 pm
Colorado wildfires make air quality an issue for outdoor workouts
When you can write your name in the ash buildup on cars each morning and see smoke in the air from the still-active fires around the state, it's time to reconsider that outdoor workout.
The air forecast warning of "Unhealthy" currently in effect on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website is a rare occurrence, according to Chris Dann, the state's air pollution control public information officer.
"The 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' category, we'll hit that several times throughout the year, and in the summer, with regard to ozone, we'll hit that several times throughout the summer," Dann says.


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Cool Mountain Strawberry
$ 2.25
The idea was first conceived for Cool Mountain classic flavored sodas by reflecting upon childhood memories for inspiration. It was a time when every market had its local sodas, when pop shops developed uniquely distinctive flavors and colors as brilliant as rainbows were stacked in clear glass bottles across shining silver counters. These sodas have passed into history and along with them the richness of their tastes and the incredible quality and care of their handcrafted formulation.
As Cool Mountain explored the idea of rediscovering these classic sodas, They learned that the formulas of those amazing tastes still existed among flavor providers. They had simply been abandoned and ignored in the rush to corporate streamlining of mass produced flavors.
Thus, the Cool Mountain quest began.
Like beverage archaeologists, We sought out the best of the classic flavors and secured them for Cool Mountain. From a wide range of flavor sources, Cool Mountain determined what it felt to be the superior Flavor formulations for what would be and still is one of the widest range of gourmet sodas on the market.
Having secured these classic flavors as a foundation, Cool Mountain launched in 1997, anticipating the increasing demand among consumers for a variety of products to meet their specific tastes.
"We were looking to build a brand that was both traditional and forward looking, that would appeal to Baby Boomers and GenXers alike,".
"This meant that Cool Mountain wasn't to be a novelty brand, but rather a brand that appealed to those qualities that are timeless: honesty, integrity, craftsmanship, reverence for the Earth and the environment, respect for the consumer and his and her concerns."


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The latest Gallup Presidential approval tracking poll is out, and like some other recent polls ... Obama is collapsing.
In just the last few days, Obama's approval has fallen 5 percent from 49 percent to 44 percent, while disapproval has surged to 50 percent.
See also: Why there's something strange about these polls where Obama is collapsing >


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BOSTON (Reuters) - The annual Def Con hacking convention has asked the U.S. federal government to stay away this year for the first time in its 21-year history, saying Edward Snowden's revelations have made some in the community uncomfortable about its presence.
"It would be best for everyone involved if the Feds call a 'time-out' and not attend Def Con this year," conference founder Jeff Moss said in an announcement posted Wednesday night on the convention's website.
An irreverent crowd of more than 15,000 hackers, researchers, corporate security experts, privacy advocates, artists and others are expected to attend the Las Vegas convention, which begins on August 2.
Moss, who is an advisor on cyber security to the Department of Homeland Security, told Reuters it was "a tough call," but he believed the Def Con community needs time to make sense of recent revelations about U.S. surveillance programs.
"The community is digesting things that the Feds have had a decade to understand and come to terms with," said Moss, who is known as The Dark Tangent in hacking circles. "A little bit of time and distance can be a healthy thing, especially when emotions are running high."
He said the move was designed to defuse tension.
"We are not going on a witch hunt or checking IDs and kicking people out," he said.
The conference has attracted officials from agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Secret Service and all branches of the military.
Last year, four-star General Keith Alexander, head of the NSA, was a keynote speaker at the event, which is the world's largest annual hacking conference.
The audience was respectful, gave modest applause and also asked about secret government snooping. Alexander adamantly denied the NSA has dossiers on millions of Americans, as some former employees had suggested before the Snowden case.
"The people who would say we are doing that should know better," Alexander said. "That is absolute nonsense."
Alexander is scheduled to speak in Las Vegas on July 31 at Black Hat, a smaller, two-day hacking conference that Moss also founded, but sold almost eight years ago. It costs about $2,000 to attend Black Hat, which attracts a more corporate crowd than the $180 Def Con.
Black Hat General Manager Trey Ford said that the NSA has confirmed that Alexander will speak at his conference, which is owned by UBM Plc UBM.L, a global media company. Security will be heightened and Alexander will take questions from the audience, Ford said.
An NSA spokeswoman confirmed Alexander would attend, but did not elaborate or comment on Def Con's request that the Federal government not attend.
The government had previously always been welcome at Def Con, where hard core hackers have held tongue-in-cheek "spot the Fed" contests to identify government officials who often stick out in the colorful crowd.
Moss says he invited them the first year because he believed they would come anyway. They politely declined, then showed up incognito, he said. They have attended every year since and Moss said he has developed many friends among them.
"We created an environment where the Feds felt they could come and it wasn't hostile," Moss said in an interview a year ago. "We could ask them questions and they wanted to ask the hackers about new techniques."
Some federal officials have even worked among the motley crew of Def Con volunteers who run the conference and walk around wearing T-Shirts that identify them as "goons."
It has also become a fertile venue for recruiting. The U.S. military, intelligence agencies and law enforcement typically compete with corporations to find new talent at Def Con.
The Department of Homeland Security and FBI declined comment. Pentagon officials could not be reached
Editing by Susan Fenton and Andre Grenon


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(Updates with comment from Dell in fifth paragraph.)
Nov. 29 ( Bloomberg) -- Sharp Corp., the TV maker that warned about its ability to survive, rose the most in a week in Tokyo trading after the Wall Street Journal said the company's in talks with Dell Inc. for an investment.
Japan's biggest maker of liquid-crystal-display panels gained 3.1 percent to 169 yen, trimming the year-to-date decline to 75 percent and valuing the company at 188 billion yen ($2.3 billion). The Osaka-based company is the world's worst- performing major stock this year.
Sharp is in talks with Round Rock, Texas-based Dell to arrange capital investment of as much as $240 million, the Journal said, without citing anyone. The maker of Aquos TVs has failed to win a planned 67 billion-yen investment from Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group and had its credit rating cut to junk after widening its loss forecast for the year.
Earlier this month, Sharp said there was "material doubt" about its ability to survive after forecasting a record 450 billion-yen, full-year loss on falling demand for its display panels. Sharp is cutting jobs, seeking voluntary retirements, reducing pay and selling assets as part of a turnaround plan.
Atsushi Yoshida, a spokesman for Sharp, said the company wasn't the source of the report and that nothing has been decided. Dell "doesn't comment on rumor and speculation," Kim Otzman, a spokeswoman for the maker of Latitude computers, said in an e-mail.
Intel Talks
President Takashi Okuda said Nov. 1 the company is considering various partnership options.
Kyodo News said Nov. 13 that Sharp was in final talks with Intel Corp. to get an investment of as much as 40 billion yen, which would make the world's biggest chipmaker the top shareholder. Sharp wasn't the source of information for that report, and nothing has been decided, the Osaka-based company said in a statement Nov. 14. Chuck Malloy, a spokesman for Santa Clara, California-based Intel, declined to comment at the time.
The Japanese company may also get an investment from Qualcomm Inc., Kyodo said Nov. 13, without saying where it got the information.
The Asahi newspaper said Oct. 26 Sharp was seeking capital alliances with Hewlett-Packard Co., Intel, Microsoft Corp., Google Inc. and Apple Inc., without saying where it got the information. Sharp denied the report at the time.
Sharp, which hemorrhaged 103 billion yen in cash from operations in the first half of the year as Japan's electronics industry struggles with dwindling demand and competition from Samsung Electronics Co., may turn to the Japanese government for a bailout, analysts said earlier this month.
--With assistance from Aaron Ricadela in San Francisco. Editors: Anand Krishnamoorthy, Michael Tighe
To contact the reporter on this story: Shunichi Ozasa in Tokyo at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Tighe at email@example.com


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John Lackey edged Justin Verlander in the latest duel of these pitching-rich playoffs as the Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 1-0 on Tuesday for a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.
Mike Napoli homered in the seventh inning off Verlander, and Detroit's attempt at a rally fell short in the eighth when Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder both struck out with runners on base.
"The runs are pretty stingy," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "This is what it's about in post-season, is good pitching."
Despite three straight gems by their starting pitchers, the Tigers suddenly trail in a best-of-seven series they seemed to have complete control of only two days ago. Game 4 was to be played yesterday at Comerica Park, with Jake Peavy scheduled to start for the Red Sox against Doug Fister.
Lackey allowed four hits in 6-2/3 innings, striking out eight without a walk in a game that was delayed 17 minutes in the second inning because lights on the stadium towers went out.
"I think that little time off gave him a chance to slow down a little bit. He was excited and pumped that first inning," Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. "Kind of getting excited with his slider, throwing a little too hard and leaving it over the middle, but he was still pretty effective."
It was the second 1-0 game in this matchup between the highest--scoring teams in the majors. That has been the theme throughout these playoffs, which have included four 1-0 scores and seven shutouts in the first 26 games.
After rallying from a five-run deficit to even the series in Game 2, Boston came away with a win in Detroit against one of the game's best pitchers. The Tigers had a chance for their own comeback in the eighth when Austin Jackson drew a one-out walk and Torii Hunter followed with a single.
However, Cabrera, who failed to reach base for the first time in 32 post-season games for the Tigers, never looked comfortable against Junichi Tazawa, swinging and missing at the first two offerings and eventually chasing an outside pitch for strike three.
Fielder was even more overmatched against Koji Uehara, striking out on three pitches.
Uehara also pitched the ninth for a save, ensuring that Lackey's fine performance would not go to waste.
Lackey pitched poorly during his first two seasons in Boston after signing an US$82.5 million, five-year contract in December 2009. Then he missed all of last year following elbow ligament-replacement surgery.
He has been better this season and he kept the Tigers off balance on Tuesday by effectively changing speeds.
Napoli's first at-bat in the majors was against Verlander on May 4, 2006, at Detroit's Comerica Park. He homered then as well.
This hit was far more important. In the last two games, the Tigers have started Verlander and 21-game winner Max Scherzer and the Red Sox won both.
Throw in Anibal Sanchez's outstanding effort in the opener, when the Red Sox managed only a ninth-inning single in a 1-0 loss, and Detroit's three starters in the series have combined to allow two runs and six hits with 35 strikeouts in 21 innings.
Still, the Tigers have fallen behind because their bullpen blew a four-run lead late in Game 2 and the offense came up empty at home on Tuesday.
Detroit stranded runners on first and third in the first, then wasted Jhonny Peralta's leadoff double in the fifth. Peralta reached third with one out, but an overanxious Omar Infante struck out and Andy Dirks grounded out.


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Patriot Day
Today you're going to see a lot of beautiful and touching 9/11 tributes. That's good. If you're like me, you're going to get a little teary-eyed, and maybe it will be a bit harder to remember all the little things you usually laugh about. Maybe that's why you're here. And you know what? That's good, too. We should celebrate our heroes. We should remember our loved ones. But we should also - and with great pride, I might add - eat patriotic donut holes.
Oh. Well, as long as it's printed on the label, then I guess it's Ok. Remember, if you don't eat your Patriotic Donut Holes, the terrorists win!
Although now that I'm looking at these things, I do see a problem: There are only red and white donut holes. No blue! Don't think I don't see what's going on here, either. That's right, Canada: I'm watching you.
Those are rather generic for Patriot Day, though, don't you think? Can we get something a little more...I dunno, holiday-specific?cupcake cake. (Patooie!) Wow. And...fireworks? Um. Ohhh kaaay. (Let the debate begin, again!)
Right, maybe we should head back into the generic territory:teensy little dumbbells. Or turn that frown upside down - twice. Or maybe just enroll in an art class. (Uncle Sam can be a little hard to understand sometimes.)
Hm. Look, there has to be a middle ground between donut holes and icing depictions of the towers, right? How about just a nice, uplifting, appropriately-worded sentiment?
- Related Wreckage: A Cake Wrecks Salute


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Massachusetts Judge Denies Dealers Request for An Injunction on Tesla Store
Massachusetts Judge Denies Dealers Request for An Injunction on Tesla Store
Great news!
Having no detailed knowledge neither of the relevant state laws nor of US precedence in such matters (I am from the Old world), my first thought would be that the dealers have a strong case. It would be great if a more enlightened forum member could give us a short overview of the legal basis for the case.
Actually I looked in to it very little but it does appear that other auto manufacturers have already tried what Tesla is doing and lost. The "It's a gallery only" does not work. The big difference here is Tesla can argue that no dealer will give Tesla a fair go.
from the same article
"Tesla may not yet recognize the value of the independent, franchised dealer system, but as its sales increase, NADA is confident it will re-examine its business model,"
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20121120/RETAIL07/121129989#ixzz2CoEb1LmG
Really? Will they re-examine their business model? And what happens if they don't ever recognize the "values" of the franchise model? NADA's confidence will be seriously butthurt probably. Or they will just MAKE them reconsider, they have a pretty good record of lobbying for special state laws to protect their interests it seems.
@Sudre_ : that was exactly what my stomach told me, i.e. that they (obviously) cannot use the "gallery only" argument. Any sensible law framework would need to be based on making manufacturer=reseller unlawful, all things being equal. I am not saying that this would be a reasonable or fair law framework (I tend to think that it is a very bad one in most circumtances), but this must be what Tesla is up against. I am not sure the "no fair go" argument is convincing, but let's leave it to Tesla's lawyers and pray...
Elon makes some pretty good arguments why Tesla's legal position is different from other auto manufacturers who may have tried similar tactics in the past.
I'm also a layman when it comes to legal matters, but I'm cautiously optimistic that the dealers don't have a strong case.
Personally I don't think the dealers have a leg to stand on. All Tesla transactions are handled via the web to it HQ in CA. The local "salons" don't actually sell cars.
Then too, Elon's "conflict of interest" statement is a very valid one.
I'm no lawyer, but so far I'm not seeing the dealers winning this. Stranger things have happened, but unless something comes outta left field, all this is going to do is waste time and resources, which is probably the dealer's backup plan.
Aren't there any laws that protect start-ups like Tesla from being strong armed by established de-facto monopolies like NADA? I want to ask my state/federal representatives look into it.
The MA law being used as the basis for the suit appears clearly defined in prior precedent cases, though not in the text of the law itself (and hence the reason it's being used by the plaintiffs). That definition favors Tesla, and that is what the judge seems to have based his denial of the motion on.
The actual text of the current decision makes clear the intent of these franchise laws: they are meant to protect a franchise car dealer from their own affiliated OEMs, not from competition from other OEMs. In other words, a local guy selling GM cars has a terrible bargaining position against GM itself, and so the laws help protect the GM dealer from GM coming to town and competing against their own franchisee. They are NOT meant to protect a GM dealer from a Toyota dealership opening up down the street. If this judge's reading of MA law holds up to any appeals, it will be clear that the only folks with standing (in MA at least) to sue Tesla for opening dealerships, are Tesla franchisees. Except of course Tesla has no franchisees.
Here's the text of the decision: http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA840581120.PDF
(Not a lawyer or anything approaching one. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.)
We must have some lawyers on the forums who can comment.
Worst case scenario: Tesla spins off the dealer/service network to separate privately-held corporation that's under contract to Tesla Motors. There's always a work-around. But it seems like a lot of silliness for what would essentially be the same thing we've already got.
The dealers feel that they have made a capital investment and that they deserve to be protected by a level playing field. In larger markets, a dealer might pay millions just to get a franchise. (It's reminiscent of taxi cabs in NYC, where a hood medallion can cost 6-digits.) But this protection is not exactly what these non-compete laws provide. Dealers have expanded the interpretation to meet their own objectives.
Tesla also has a significant investment in its stores. The difference is that the non-compete laws simply don't apply in their case. The idea that Tesla is "getting away with something" is ridiculous.
@Enoch_Root got it right... I think. (I am not a lawyer either.)
@Sudre_ : other auto manufacturers had dealers, and they were competing against them. Tesla has no dealers.
@Todd R. Lockwood: The dealer's investment is for a particular car brand, and that investment is not endangered by Tesla. (the NYC cab analogy doesn't work, because the medallion is really for territory rights). What they really want is a piece of Tesla's pie. And also fear that their customers will start demanding the same treatment.
This is a unique situation to the USA, which is kind of funny given the free-market zealotry so pervasive there. There are no such laws in Europe (I guess the dealers don't have enough bribe money!)
I concur with the above points, the intent is to cost Tesla money and time, they don't expect to win (except maybe in Colorado). If at first you don't succeed, sue!
My understanding is that the genesis of the law 50 years ago was to protect consumers. The belief was that local dealers would ensure that consumers had a place to get their cars serviced. Local dealers also invested in their communities and politicians!
As such the law requires that auto manufacturers sell through dealerships and not directly to the consumer in 48 states. There are always workarounds though.
I read the decision, and I believe that TM has a very strong case. While a preliminary injunction is decided on the basis of weighing potential irreparable harm of the parties against the likelihood that the moving party will prevail on the merits, this judge did not even get to the question of irreparable harm. He concluded that the moving parties are unlikely to prevail on the merits because they lack standing to bring the suit in the first place. This conclusion is based on what appears to be a fairly clear holding of the Massachusetts Supreme Court (I did not read that case, nor did I read the underlying statute, except for what was set forth in the decision. Thus what I say here has to be taken with a measure of salt). If the plaintiff lacks standing, there will not even be a trial. TM will bring a motion to dismiss, and will likely prevail before this judge.
There are several other weaknesses in plaintiff's case. For example, the statute prohibits a manufacturer from owning or operating a motor vehicle dealership of the same line make as it manufactures. The statute further defines a "dealer" as anyone who sells motor vehicles to consumers or end users pursuant to a franchise agreement and who has obtained the appropriate license. It does not look to me as though TM will own or operate a dealership. Thus even if the plaintiffs had standing to sue, TM does not appear to be violating this statute.
I have a lot of caveats regarding the above analysis. The case might look very different after reading the statutes, cases, and most importantly, the plaintiffs' briefs. Also, this case is governed by Massachusetts law. The statutes and cases will be very different in other states. Nevertheless, I believe this decision looks very good for TM.
For what it's worth, I am a lawyer (retired), but commercial litigation was not my field.
Based on the Court's ruling on the Preliminary Injunction, the plaintiffs in this case are going to fail. The Order makes it very clear that the judge believes the statute was not enacted to help prevent competition, as these plaintiffs are trying to do, but instead was enacted in order to prevent abusive pricing by the manufacturers over their franchised dealers. At least in MA, this Order all but ends the issue. If the plaintiffs persist and attempt an actual lawsuit, they will be subject to sanctions including attorney fees and costs. I strongly doubt they will continue with this, because of that risk.
I am a Colorado lawyer. I am interested to see how this issue plays out in Colorado. I think I will volunteer my services free of charge to Tesla to defeat any such effort.
TM should then counter sue for all legal fees incurred from this case.
Good for you! It is a good cause.
You might be interested in this article.
As a young fellow I worked sales at a new, and at a used car dealer(s). One Lincoln. One Toyota. Experience in the auto industry helped land a programming contract years later for a Toyota franchisee. Between the three jobs, I learned more about the business than I expected.
When NADA says Tesla will reexamine it's business model, that made shivers run down my spine. Does a shark have a lovely smile?
To our non US readers, we love free enterprise here. And remember, one of the first things that free enterprise does is make sure it has no competition.
What the dealers want is to get licenses to sell Tesla, getting a discount from the factory, then marking it up by 35% so they can let you negotiate them down by 20%. Net/net, is your Tesla will cost more at the dealer. Takes money to build all those dealerships and pay for all those cheap suits. When you shake hands with a car dealer, best to count your fingers. Just saying.
I for one am very glad we have an alternative to the adviserial negotiation model that car buying in the US defaulted to.
There is a legitimate basis for most of these dealer laws, which are designed to protect franchised dealers from unfair competition by the manufacturer of products they sell. A franchisee typically invests his own money to promote and sell a manufacturer's product. Historically, the franchisee was highly dependent on the manufacturer, and was subject to exploitation due to the wide disparity in their power. After letting the franchisee build up the market, a competing manufacturer could choke off the franchisee's supply or raise the wholesale cost of the product, thereby destroying the value of the franchise. This was considered unfair competition.
As email@example.com says, these laws were not designed to protect dealers from competition by unaffiliated manufacturers. However, in some states, the dealers have attempted to turn these laws on their head in order to protect themselves against all competitors. Where the laws are poorly drafted or the courts have not set a clear precedent, or where the dealers have sufficient political power to write the laws in their favor, these laws can become a significant obstacle to innovative marketing models that might benefit consumers.
I do not think there is any basis for TM to countersue for legal fees. Nor do I think the plaintiffs would be subject to sanctions for simply remaining in the case. This was only a preliminary injunction, after all, and the case will continue until it is dismissed, or the defendant wins on summary judgment, or it goes to trial (which I think is highly unlikely). The bigger question is what will happen in states that do not have statutes and legal precedents like those in Massachusetts. Texas, for example, has made it very difficult for TM to do business. The delivery specialist apparently can't even be present when the car is delivered (according to reports on TMC). I'm sure TM has researched this problem and is prepared for it, but it is far from over.
Go Texas. Gotta be different even if it is crazy different.
Disclosure: My Dad's side of the family are all from Texas.
Considering Texas would have some serious problems if people stopped buying gas I can see why their government is so against the Model S.
I wouldn't say the govt of Texas is against the Model S per se. Last I heard the legislature had considered a sales tax exemption for EVs, so there are definitely diverse points of view here.
How do you suppose all that would apply to the other suit (Fisker dealer wanting right to sell Teslas, too!).
Brian, I haven't seen it. Do you have a link?
Hm, this doesn't really fit with what you were describing:
These two new lawsuits have also come from two very different sources, the first is an existing Fisker dealership, and the other is an auto group that is looking to be granted a Tesla franchise to round out their business.
The Fisker dealer is the plaintiff in the MA suit whose initial motion was denied (the suit that this thread is about)
The other one the article mentions is the suit in New York. These are not two new suits, they are the suits under discussion In this thread and others for the past few months, and the ones that Musk reacted to with his blog post last month.
Not sure who you were referring to re: "doesn't really fit with what you were describing"
The last para is an excerpt from the article. Should have italicized it. Been spoiled by the "quote" function in real forums!
The "not fitting" is wrt DR's post. The Fisker dude's effort is to carry Teslas; not the same as eliminating stores.
The Fisker dude's lawsuit is the same one, that just got boinked, not a separate one.
Enoch_Root posted above a link to the actual text of the decision. It is nicely explained there, even though there is a lot of legaleze...
Brian, I hadn't noticed that Fisker dude was a plaintiff in the suit (actually, I saw the name but thought it was a guy called Fisker Norwood -- doh!). In any event, I didn't read the complaint, and there was nothing in the decision to indicate that one of the plaintiffs wanted to be a Tesla dealer. The decision spoke only of plaintiffs' desire to enjoin TM from operating the Gallery in Natick.
There apparently is a second suit, but I haven't seen it.
@DouglasR, you are still right.
As an engineer, non-layer, what I see from the decision: "manufacturer, distributor or motor vehicle dealer" can claim and sue for damages. MSADA (Mass. dealers acssoc.) and Boyle (an individual) are neither, so no soup for them. Then Fisker and Connolly are dealers, but they are not affiliated with Tesla, so no soup for them either. And the purpose "to benefit the public" is not applicable here, quoting a previous case - public's interest is increased competition, existing dealers' interests is the opposite.
Yeah it reads like TM has really come crossways at these guys. Both suits are attempting, btw, to force TM to sell through them. They, too, lust after the MS!
BTW, is it eggs or bricks you don't lay?
Chickens lay eggs. Hens lay chickens.
Apparently I don't lay dubyas...
Thanks for all the interesting comments. It now seems clear to me that Elon has simply made yet another step into yet another shark territory, and that the attempts to stop Tesla that can be made will be made. Now and then, I find myself wondering how come he is still alive.
Don't forget the Ironman suit!
Judge Sides With Tesla In Dealership Lawsuit, Foes Vow To Fight On
This is the same case, and probably the same decision, as discussed above.


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Some of you live out of town, so this is just FYI. For others of you who live in Colorado, please join us...
Elephants have no voice but ours!!!
Please join us to kindly educate the public about the circus and elephant abuse!
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the "cruelest show on Earth" is coming to Denver, and we need your help to raise awareness about the cruelty and violence that go on behind the scenes at the circus. When Ringling is in your town, it's up to kind people like you to be a voice for the elephants who suffer so much yet have no voice but ours.
Experts, eyewitnesses, and video footage prove that physical abuse is standard practice for training elephants in circuses.
Ringling's trainers have been observed hitting and jabbing elephants, including babies, with sharp steel-tipped rods called "bullhooks."
We understand that Ringling causes pain and suffering to animals, but we must share this with others so that they, too, will boycott the circus.
Kristal Parks, M.A. Director, Pachyderm Power!
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Forty Under 40 Nominations
The 2019 Forty Under 40 awards presentation has concluded. Nominations for our 21st annual Forty Under 40 awards will open again next winter.
The Forty under 40 awards are given annually to 40 local business leaders under the age of 40 for their career achievements and community involvement. Winners are chosen by a panel of past recipients who weigh equally business successes and civic/philanthropic activities.
A profile story is written about honoree and published in the Business Record and an event to honor each of the honorees is held annually and is attended by more than 450 business and community leaders, friends, families and honorees.
Learn more about Forty Under 40:
Check out the videos below for some tips and advice about the nomination process and how we select the class each year. If you still have more questions about the nomination process, please email Director of Operations Jason Swanson at firstname.lastname@example.com
VIDEO: Forty Under 40 FAQ
Chris Conetzkey, publisher & executive editor of the Business Record, interviews Jason Swanson, director of operations at Business Publications Corporation, about some of the most frequently asked Forty Under 40 questions he receives, and gets some advice from Swanson on how to stand out to the nominating committee. WATCH VIDEO >>>
VIDEO: How the Forty under 40 class is selected
One of the questions we get asked the most is, "how do you pick the 40 honorees?" To help demystify the process, Business Record Publisher & Executive Editor Chris Conetzkey asks Director of Operations Jason Swanson to explain how the selection process works, who does the judging and what the judges are looking for. WATCH VIDEO >>>


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Posts tagged the paradise of islands
The Ultimate Secret of Amanpulo
One of the paradise of islands that's the Philippines, one of the selections of escapes all over the world, using one of all of the chains of hotels and resorts around the world, there's a secret. This can be a secret so coveted, 99% from the occupants from the Philippines does not know its there: the non-public resort Amanpulo.
The non-public island is really a so luxurious, decadent and lavish, it's on the type of holiday destinations of their own.
Of the AmanResorts luxury group, Amanpulo bears its parents' name "aman" meaning peace. The term "pulo" however may be the native Filipino word for "island". Amanresorts is just made up of 15 approximately luxury spots in various places, so Amanpulo isn't any less deluxe and exciting because it various other well-known cousins. Amanpulo just opened up within the Pamalican Island of Palawan, within the Eastern archipelago from the Philippines. Getting there and departing there's by private jet, though it's possible to guarantee departing paradise could be pretty hard. Well, a minimum of the jet ride is seamless and comfy.
Furthermore, as this is a personal island, getting into isn't any easy task. You have to be aware of appropriate channels and obtain within the proper time to acquire a reservation. For any summer time vacation each year or more. You can not know this, but among the sole records within the book Places to determine Before You Decide To Die for that Philippines is Amanpulo, so it's certainly well worth the wait.
In Amanpulo, it's stated that wide, powdery-white-colored beaches would be the question, compounded through the seascape demonstrated regal through the look at nearby Manamoc Island. Sometimes, when visitors stare out at Manamoc make up the footprinted shores, will they ever question whats its enjoy being with that island paradise, then look for on their own the very same fantasy the truth is? The Aman gives believe it or not.
The Shore Club obviously, is stated to become Amanpulo's pride and pleasure. The relaxing wide are is spread with soft decks and pillows, with walkways resulting in the pristine pools or even the magnificent beach. The shore is the greatest choice by morning, while subtly lit pools would be the choice spot to unwind in romantic nights.
Additionally, the area simply known as Center serves both Filipino and worldwide cuisines. And in the seem from the reviews, Center is on the league of their own, a throwback to when hotel restaurants were the best place to dine in. Serving fresh vegetables form its very own vegetable and plant garden, Center will settle everyone's worries over what's best to eat because well, things are best to eat.
Beach side casitas, nipa hut inspired but very luxurious lodges, are spaced very wide apart. This gives the look of getting your personal beach paradise since you can decide to rarely see other visitors. The views are perfect, along with a camera is essential. Maybe an underwater camera is essential too, since only 300m make up the shore, a reef so filled with color and existence awaits anybody.
Coming clean, this isn't a marketing ad for Amanpulo or even the Aman chain of resorts. Case an easy yearning to visit there, among the best places on the planet openly known as paradise by individuals who've seen it. To taste the key.
Local Philippines is the one-stop resource concerning the Philippines using its fascinating holiday destinations, colorful festivals and premier attractions.


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June 19–21, 2014 | Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center | Boston, Massachusetts
CME Information
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Name the markers of increased cardiometabolic risk, including components of cardiometabolic syndrome, biomarkers, and other key clinical factors
- Identify the components of the Cardiometabolic Syndrome in patients at increased risk
- Describe methods of diagnosing, preventing and treating the various clinical conditions related to or associated with increased cardiometabolic risk/syndrome.
- Select appropriate methods to manage weight so as to reduce the role of obesity in the etiology of cardiometabolic risk
- Choose specific preventative and treatment strategies for Cardiometabolic Risk in specific racial/ethnic minorities Assess one's own practice to determine what Cardiometabolic risk factor interventions will be provided within the practice vs. what will be outsourced to area specialty resources
- Implement improvements in office-based process for screening and treating cardiometabolic risk
Accreditation and Designation of Credit
Joslin Diabetes Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Joslin Diabetes Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 19 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.TM Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This CME activity was planned and produced in accordance with ACCME Essentials. Health professionals not eligible for continuing medical education credit will receive a certificate of participation that they may submit to their state licensing board for credit.
ACGME Competencies
This activity is designed to meet one or more of the following Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education competencies:
- Patient care
- Medical knowledge
- Professionalism
Faculty Disclosure
It is the policy of Joslin Diabetes Center to ensure fair balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all activities. All faculty participating in CME activities sponsored by Joslin Diabetes Center are required to present evidence-based data, identify and reference off-label product use, and disclose all relevant financial relationships with those supporting the activity or others whose products or services are discussed. Faculty disclosure will be provided in the activity materials.
Affiliated Performance Improvement CME (PI CME) through the Joslin Professional Education Continuum (JPEC)
This activity is aligned with the Cardiometabolic Risk PI CME Pathway available via JPEC at www.jpec.joslin.org.
Performance Improvement CME is a construct introduced by the ACCME in 2004. Completion of PI CME stages can result in up to 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.TM The above pathway is approved through the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) Pathway and is eligible for 20 points towards the Self-Evaluation of Practice Performance requirement of Maintenance of Certification (MOC).
All pathways are approved through the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) Pathway and are eligible for 20 points towards the Self-Evaluation of Practice Performance requirement of Maintenance of Certification (MOC). For more information, go to www.abim.org/moc/.
There is no charge to register or to participate in JPEC activities. Log on or register today. Visit www.jpec.joslin.org to get started.
Page last updated: September 23, 2019


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blessingwj needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 57 designs submitted by 24 freelance designers.
Starting a software development (desktop applications) company specializing in litigation support software.
Will need a logo design... will pay $50 extra for creative business card design.
Compiled Services
Compiled Services is a software development company that specializes in custom utilities/applications for the litigation support & document management market.
We write custom software for clients and will be selling general software on our website to fit this niche market.
If you're unfamiliar with litigation support, it is basically the electronic side of the discovery process. We write a lot of utilities that will manipulate tiff images.
So think of us a software development company in the legal field... dealing with image files (not just limited to that, but it might help you)
*** ALSO, I will be looking for a web designer after the logo is created, so if you can do both -- that'd be perfect, just let me know.
- I would like the logo to be presentable on a business card (if you design the business card, I'll throw in $50 more)
- I have a preference for a blue/gray color scheme (don't limit your creativity to this scheme, however)
- Logo should be both professional and "web 2.0" (is that even possible?)
- I'll rate submissions so you can get an idea of what I don't want... as of right now, I am open to anything
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Will's first interview about Little G
Prince William's CNN interview doesn't air until September, around the time Princess Catherine is scheduled to make her first public appearance at the Tusk Trust Awards. The Tusk Trust is why Will agreed to speak to CNN – to advocate for African wildlife. Naturally, everyone else is focusing on the apparently wild future king who's approaching his 1 month birthday.
Little Baby G cries a lot and sh-ts a lot. This is what I took away from what Will has to say about him. I was more interested in what Will had to say about G's grand debut in front of the hospital that day:
"Again it's not somewhere I enjoy being, [but] I know that the position I'm in… that's what's required of me to do. It's nice that people want to see George, so, you know – I'm just glad he wasn't screaming his head off the whole way through."
Exactly, ahem, celebrities. Exactly.
And then there's Lupo. Will said that his life priorities now are Catherine, George, and Lupo too. Lupo's apparently "slobbering" all over the house. In other words, he's getting fat. I get that. One day he's the baby and the next day some other baby comes along and there are a million treats thrown at him to make the transition easier. I'd be tempted to do the same, even though I'm kind of dog anorexic in that I like my dogs to be thin. It's because they have such little hearts. You keep them lean and their hearts don't have to work as hard.
Marcus is a little chunky right now because we've been easing in his move to Toronto with a lot of cookies. I might have to start fat-shaming him soon before his gut gets out of control.


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Visitors can expect to experience something different this autumn at Blenheim Palace. Tradition meets modernity as the 18th century baroque architecture of Blenheim, the birthplace of wartime British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, is host to an exhibition of the artwork of Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei.
This exciting exhibition is especially relevant to Princeton University Press for two reasons: not only is Blenheim Palace a stone's throw from Princeton University Press's European office in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, but Princeton University Press published Ai Weiwei's 'Little Black Book', Weiwei-isms, last year.
Weiwei-isms is a collection of quotes demonstrating Ai Weiwei's thoughts on key aspects of his art, politics and life, carefully selected by Larry Warsh from articles, tweets and interviews.
"Everything is art. Everything is politics." — Weiwei-isms
Like Weiwei-isms, the exhibition at Blenheim Palace clearly demonstrates Ai Weiwei's commitment to art as a powerful political statement, as a means of reacting against injustice, and inspiring others to do the same.
"I want people to see their own power." — Weiwei-isms
This certainly becomes clear as you enter the exhibition. You are given a leaflet which serves as a guide to Ai's artwork, dispersed throughout the rooms of the palace. Despite this, none of the artwork is signposted and it becomes the visitor's responsibility to seek it out and take meaning and inspiration from what they see.
The collection brings together pieces created by the artist over the past 30 years. It is especially impressive given that it was curated remotely, Ai Weiwei having been under house arrest since 2011. The old and new are often brought together, with artefacts from the past being reimagined in novel ways. Take, for example, the Han Dynasty vases transformed beyond recognition by car paint or by being 'rebranded' with the Coca Cola logo.
His 'Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads' (2010), previously displayed at a year-long exhibition at Princeton University, is also at Blenheim. This work is an ironic interpretation of the bronze zodiac head statues that were looted from the Emperor's summer palace (Yuan Ming Yuan) in Beijing in 1860.
Other highlights include 'He Xie' (2012), a work comprised of 2,300 porcelain crabs on the floor of the Red Drawing Room ('He Xie', meaning 'river crabs', puns on the Chinese phrase for 'harmony').
While some pieces are the first thing you see when you walk into a room, other pieces are integrated more subtly into the sumptuous interiors of Blenheim Palace. The Wave Plate (2014) is seamlessly integrated into the lavish table decoration as the centrepiece in the Salon, and a pair of handcuffs made of Huali wood (2012) – a reminder of Ai Weiwei's current situation – placed suggestively on the bed in Churchill's birth room might escape your attention due to the large number of visitors moving from room to room, all engrossed in the same treasure hunt as you.
All in all, the collaboration between Blenheim Palace and Ai Weiwei really does merit a visit. Ai Weiwei's work is all the more interesting and thought-provoking for being situated in the context of Blenheim Palace and its grounds.
The exhibition at Blenheim Palace highlights the 'clash' of the old and new, which is indeed something that is key to much of Ai Weiwei's work.
"If a nation cannot face its past, it has no future." — Weiwei-isms
In years to come, the Ai Weiwei exhibition at Blenheim Palace is sure to become part of the artist's legacy and a poignant reminder of his struggle for justice and truth.
"The art always wins. Anything can happen to me, but the art will stay." — Weiwei-isms
The exhibition runs until 14th December.


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IRRC No. 879
Climate change is not merely an environmental, scientific or economic issue; it has become a humanitarian issue too. Increased climate variability and greater intensity and frequency of extreme weather events aggravate humanitarian needs in emergencies. While migration may be a form of adaptation for some, the many millions of people forcibly displaced will be particularly vulnerable and will require substantial humanitarian assistance and protection. Environmental degradation may also become an accelerator or even a trigger for conflict. The serious harm done to the natural environment during a number of armed conflicts has only added to the vulnerability of those affected by the fighting. But the law protecting the environment during armed conflict is not always clear nor is it sufficiently developed.
Table of contents
Editorial: Environment
Interview with Achim Steiner
Climate change and its impacts: growing stress factors for human societies
This article focuses on the possible evolution of climate in the course of the twenty-first century and on a number of key climate impacts that may determine the future course of human societies, as well as issues that may confront them such as rivalries over natural resources and possible environmentally driven conflicts and migrations.
International law protecting the environment during armed conflict: gaps and opportunities
There are three key deficiencies in the existing body of international humanitarian law (IHL) relating to protection of the environment during armed conflict. These gaps present specific opportunities for clarifying and developing the existing framework.
Law-making at the intersection of international environmental, humanitarian, and criminal law: the issue of damage to the environment in international armed conflict
This article identifies how international law rules for cross-sectoral problems may appropriately combine the existing expertise and institutional strengths of simultaneously applicable branches of international law, and also discovers how an evaluation of the ultimate appropriateness of the cross-sectoral rules adopted may be substantially affected by the different frames of reference that are used by those working within the different fields.
Water, international peace, and security
Water scarcity, accelerated by climate change, affects water availability and may threaten peace and security. Keeping water out of war not only contributes to preserving an indispensable natural resource for life but also serves as a tool for the hostile parties to start negotiations, building trust and peace.
Taking care to protect the environment against damage: a meaningless obligation?
Little attention is paid to the obligation of 'care' in Article 55(1) of Additional Protocol I. Beyond a general principle of upholding environmental value in times of armed conflict, what is the scope and content of the obligation? If it is worthless, what makes it so? Since the care provision includes the same high threshold of harm found elsewhere in the environmental provisions, has this stumbling block now been removed by state practice? Rule 44 of the Customary Law Study might appear to suggest that this is so, or does it? Ultimately then, is the care obligation worth caring about?
Climate change adaptation: integrating climate science into humanitarian work
A changing climate means more work for humanitarian organizations. In the face of rising dangers, science-based information about likely threats can be used to reduce risk and improve resource allocation. By doing so, humanitarian organizations can enhance their work even in the face of the rising risks of climate change.
Climate change, natural disasters and displacement: a multi-track approach to filling the protection gaps
Millions are displaced by climate-related disasters each year, and this trend is set to increase as climate change accelerates. It raises important questions about how well existing instruments actually protect people driven from their homes by climate change and natural disasters.
Collective reparation for victims of armed conflict
The victims of armed conflicts are not only individuals but also collectives. The present article therefore examines the issue of collective reparation. While it is submitted that the question whether there is a right to such a remedy is not yet settled, it is argued that responsible parties should develop robust programmes of collective reparation.
Framework for environmental management in assistance programmes
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Assistance Division, September 2009
Strengthening Legal Protection for Victims of Armed Conflicts
The ICRC Study on the Current State of International Humanitarian Law
The Paul Reuter Prize 2009, Presentation Ceremony, Geneva, 15 July 2010. Recipient: Dr. Théo Boutruche
Address by Dr. Toni Pfanner, member of the Paul Reuter Fund Committee
National implementation of international humanitarian law (Autumn 2010)
Biannual update on national legislation and case law January-July 2010
Books and articles (Autumn 2010)
Recent acquisitions of the Library & Research Service, ICRC


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Well I'm only just making this challenge in time. It's Play Date Cafe PDC155 with this beautiful inspiration picture... I must admit though, my mint colour didn't represent well in the photographs...
Life is so hectic at the moment, I thought I better take a little time out to make a card for an upcoming wedding - no guessing that the bride and grooms initials are R and N. They are having an early 1900s themed wedding, so I thought it would be nice to go a little vintage, with a little something modern thrown in to celebrate their youth also.
Here is a closeup -
Thanks for stopping by today, hope you're all having a good one!
Products Used:
Papers - Kaisercraft Seaside Collection 'Rock Pools' (reverse side); Kaisercraft Cafe Couture 'Cappuccino'; MME Bella Bella 'Bellezo'
Distress Inks - Iced Spruce, Walnut Stain
Basic Grey 'Archaic' alphabet stickers
Tim Holtz gold brads
sewing machine & thread


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The intonational system of English
Garland Pub., 1979 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 319 pages
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44 pages matching main stress in this book
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The Problem
The Association of Tune and Text
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Common terms and phrases
abstract anaphoric anaphoric reference apply argued argument basic beat boundary tones bracketing Children's Chant cliticization complex congruence constituent structure corresponds cycle defined derivation designated terminal element discussion distinction English example existence fact free syllables given grid alignment hypothesis ideophonic systems intonational phrasing intuition Ivan Sag L H M lexical linguistic low-mid main stress meaning melisma metrical constituent metrical grid metrical pattern metrical structure metrical theory metrical tree minor third morphemes nature node labels normal notation noun nuclear tone O'Connor and Arnold optional phonetic phonological phrasal pitch contour position possible pre-head principle properties reason rebracketing represented result rhythm segments semantic sequence simple specification speech stress pattern stress rules stressed syllable strong syntactic temporal intervals tessitura tetratonic text and tune tonal word Tone Group tune and text tune-text association underlying underlying representation unstressed vocative chant vocative tune w s w word stress
References to this book
A Generative Theory of Tonal Music
Fred Lerdahl,Ray S. Jackendoff
Limited preview - 1996
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Prosodic Phonology
Marina Nespor,Irene Vogel
Limited preview - 2007


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Join one of our expert tour guides as they explore the highlights of the Canadian Automotive Museum collection. Discover the stories behind the cars on display beyond the standard label text. This tour is included with admission and is approximately one hour in length. Perfect for all ages and prior knowledge levels. No RSVP necessary.
Event Calendar
The Canadian Automotive Museum has year-round programming including tours, family activities, and receptions.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: September 28Gallery Highlights Tour – September 28, 2019, 1pm
Later Event: October 6Downtown Fall Automotive Walking Tour


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GM Produces 3-Millionth Ecotec Engine at Spring Hill Plant
General Motors is celebrating a milestone at its Spring Hill powertrain plant; the former Saturn plant recently produced the 3-millionth Ecotec engine. Two-and-a-half years ago, Spring Hill produced the 2-millionth Ecotec engine. As an increasing number of consumers choose four-cylinder engines over larger engine choices, GM says a $55 million plant investment has helped it meet demand for vehicles powered by the Ecotec four-cylinder engine family.
Currently the Spring Hill powertrain plant builds the Ecotec 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine and the Ecotec 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine. These engines can be found under the hoods of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers, as well as the Buick Regal and Verano sedans. The 3-millionth engine will find a home under the hood of an all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco.
"GM's investment in the engine plant … has created or retained 93 hourly positions at GM Spring Hill," said Mike Herron, UAW Local 1853 shop chairman, in a press release.
The Spring Hill powertrain plant will begin building the all-new Ecotec 2.5-liter engine later this year just in time to debut in the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.
Source: General Motors


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Click here for more information
From stationary to experimental engines; over 70 on display.
The R. E. Olds Museum features exceptional vehicles from all eras of Oldsmobile.
The Baby REO was the first fully functional gas-powered scale vehicle.
Take a tour through history.
Explore Oldsmobile from the very first prototype to today's streamlined automobiles. Discover Lansing's rich transportation history – the REO Motor Car Company, old-time bicycles and aviation endeavors.


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Man, Pitfall sure made using crocodiles as stepping stones seem a lot easier than Ross Kananga, Roger Moore's stunt double in Live and Let Die, makes it out to be. [Boing Boing]
Home Depot: Your One Stop Grow-Op Shop
Turns out, the world's largest home improvement retailer conveniently also has everything you need to start your own indoor pot farm. High Times shows us how to get set up for under $150. [High Times]
Squirrel Away - Mark Sheard
This flash animation from Australia's Smart & Sheard Production demonstrates how trees are born. Not grown, born.
First Impressions of the SMOcan
We recently received a demo unit of the SMOcan portable smoking system and have begun preliminary testing. It's a modular aluminum canister assembly containing lighter, poker, and pipe storage, as well as an integrated grinder and herb storage section. At about six inches long, it's a bit awkward in a jeans pocket but can be dropped into a bag without worry of getting crushed and it's nice not having lots of separate paraphernalia floating about your person-hood. The price is steep—$70 and up—but having you entire kit in a single, secure, and easily-transportable is pretty handy. The only complaint so far is the lack of ZigZag storage and the fact it only fits a mini one-hitter.
What It's Like to Take Pictures from the Space Station
NASA astronaut Donald Pettit spent over a year aboard the International Space Station and shares his experience at the Luminance 2012 conference. [It's Okay to Be Smart]


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Fair foods have no shame. This photo gallery revels in all their belly-busting, battered-and-deep-fried glory as the county fair rolls into town. (Calm down: We included some healthy fare, too.) The Orange County Fair runs July 12- Aug. 11, and the Los Angeles County Fair runs Aug. 30-Sept. 29. Here's a look at some of the most outrageous fair food around. -- Rene Lynch
26 shameless fair foods: Make room for the Krispy Kreme sloppy Joes and more
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