text:
Combines the strengths of the Salesforce® Customer Success Platform with Accenture's global energy industry experience
The energy industry is undergoing a period of immense change. From shifting customer expectations to legacy landscapes and margin pressures, an innovation imperative is paramount in today's increasingly competitive market. Going forward, the business-to-business (B2B) customer experience will become a key differentiator. In recent Accenture research, customer expectations for personalized experiences and end-to-end solutions are significantly higher than they were just a few years ago according to 73 percent of business-to-business (B2B) executives.1DOWNLOAD THE FULL BROCHURE [PDF]
Therefore, the next generation of downstream businesses must focus on four core competencies to enable a consistent, multichannel B2B customer experience:
Operational Excellence
Create Lasting Customer Engagement
Optimized Customer Interaction
Extend the Value Proposition
1Accenture Strategy, B2B Customer Experience Research, 2017
The Accenture Downstream Customer Solution (ADCS) is purpose-built for downstream, leveraging the power of the Salesforce platform by combining Accenture's industry knowledge with our market-leading Salesforce capability.
The Accenture Downstream Customer Solution connects downstream businesses with its customers at all sales locations and across five, main functional areas—all designed specifically for downstream businesses.DOWNLOAD THE INFOGRAPHIC [PDF]
As downstream companies work to increase profits and reduce expenses, the Accenture Downstream Customer Solution delivers a differentiated customer experience that is tailored to their needs.
For example, customer acquisition is enhanced through Salesforce customer relationship management platform and marketing capability. The ADCS supports digital sales and marketing strategy to enhance and optimize digital brand loyalty. And inventory efficiency is optimized by industry-specific system streamlining, which increases profitability per unit sold.
Additionally, ADCS incentivizes customers to move to self-service, which optimizes back-office processes. Together, ADCS and Salesforce can consolidate IT landscapes and rationalize applications, reducing running cost. On the ground, ADCS can optimize transport and logistics, providing increased efficiency through mobile solutions.
Erum Sundrani
North America Energy & Salesforce
Advisory Executive
Richard Taylor
North America Downstream Energy & Salesforce Advisory Manager
Alex Brentnall
Europe Downstream Energy & Salesforce Advisory Manager

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Educators and Scholars (PART TWO)
These are some of the teachers of this generation and beyond who share the universal Black experience, and have catalogued those experiences in academic and practical terms, through their works and bodies of knowledge to lift Black humanity and indeed all humanity.
As a world-renowned scholar, prolific author and lecturer, university professor and master teacher, social scientist, community leader, brother and creator of Kwanzaa, The significance of Dr. Maulana Karenga and his work is not only that he created Kwanzaa, but that he presently walks among the people, while personifying a first hand meaning of Kwanzaa to the world through his teachings, his work and his worth. As a master teacher, Dr. Karenga is very particular when he articulates his written messages to the people–he does not need it to be edited, revised or altered in any way, for he delivers his messages carefully and masterfully. Whether he is expounding the significance of Kwanzaa, defining the meaning of the Nguzo Saba or working with the executive council on the mission statement of the Million Man March, Dr. Karenga always says what he means and reaffirms the good that emanates from the true values of Black people's social and cultural traditions.
From birth, he was destined for greatness; he came into the world walking in the footsteps of great Black giants. According to him, his mother and father had the greatest impact on his life, along with his brothers and sisters. His father taught him intellectual discipline, and his mother reinforced that discipline by giving him a sense of justice and caring for people with a moral sensitivity for those who suffer.
Dr. Karenga said, "My father was a race man; he used to talk race all the time. We call it nationalism now." In reading that statement, it is easy to understand why Dr. Karenga has spent his life in the pursuit of human excellence in general, and Black excellence in particular. He has sought to re-establish Black people's proper place on the stage of human history through Kwanzaa, its seven principles–Nguzo Saba–and the Kawaida philosophy. He also founded the Organization "Us," speaks five languages, holds two Ph. Ds., teaches Swahili and has written several books–many of them are required reading in Black Studies departments throughout the nation. In addition to his work in the Black community, Dr. Karenga is a university professor, former chairman at the California State University Department of Black Studies and a sought after speaker for his valuable contribution to the worldwide struggle for Black Liberation.
The celebration of Kwanzaa has traveled to all corners of the earth and even though Dr. Karenga does not need governmental acknowledgement to validate his work, it is significant to note that his work has been officially recognized via the issuance of a United States Kwanzaa postage stamp, and at the beginning of the holiday celebration, the President of the United States officially recognizes Kwanzaa as an African American cultural celebration.
Though Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days from December 26 to January 1, the essence of the celebration is to inculcate it into "our" daily lives throughout the year.
Dr. Karenga is a "genius in our midst." He has taken the best of previous giants and has added to and crystallized their efforts, and created a workable cultural blueprint for Black people. In his teachings lay the spirit of Richard Allen, Nat Turner, Sojourner Truth, David Walker, Harriet Tubman, Denmark Vesey, Booker T Washington, W. E. B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Mary McLeod Bethune, Elijah Muhammad, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.
To mirror the ideals that he promotes, Dr. Karenga is lavish in his praise for those who are a constant source of his strength and ability to continue his work, especially for his wife and lifelong companion in the struggle, Tiamoyo, his partner in all things good and beautiful.
Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. is the Jesse Climenko Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and the associate dean for clinical programs who trained President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama to become lawyers. He is a leading authority on civil rights and the author of several books including "All Deliberate Speed: Reflections on the First Half-Century of Brown v Board of Education," a historical memoir. Ogletree was also appointed as the director of Harvard's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice in honor of its namesake, the visionary lawyer who guided the Brown v Board of Education and was Justice Thurgood Marshall's mentor.
A charismatic speaker and television commentator, Ogletree was one of the moderators of "Ethics in America" on PBS in 1989 for Columbia University Seminars on Media and Society. In addition to his academic credentials, he also has a strong media presence, moderating nationally-televised forums. Ogletree has moderated Tavis Smiley's annual Black forums where he "sparred" with some of the brightest and the best minds in Black America, including Dr. Maulana Karenga, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Randall Robinson, Dr. Na'im Akbar and Danny J. Bakewell, Sr.; and also "State of the Black Union," a program that reported on the condition of the masses of Black people in America.
A native Californian, Ogletree attended high school in the Central Valley before Stanford University where he earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and then his law degree at Harvard Law School, where he presently is a professor of law.
After graduation, Ogletree started his career as a public defender in Washington, D. C., rising rapidly through the ranks as training director, trial chief and deputy director before entering private practice. As his career advanced, he focused on securing equal rights for all which eventually landed him on the team representing Anita Hill during the Senate confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas for the U. S. Supreme Court. The National Law Journal selected Ogletree as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America, and Savoy and Black Enterprise magazines named him as one of the 100 most influential Black Americans.
As he focused on equal rights for all Americans, he became legal counsel for the survivors of the Black Wall Street Massacre of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921. And though the court has dismissed the case stating that the statute of limitations had expired, Ogletree has vowed to continue to pursue the matter until the survivors and/or their heirs have had their day in court. Many observers have noted that the Tulsa matter is analogous to the Reparations, another one of the professor's legal pursuits, bent on "correcting the wrong" done to African Americans.
His work as co-chair of the Reparations Coordinating Committee is one of the monumental tasks he has undertaken on behalf of the descendants of African slaves. In that endeavor, Ogletree has joined with a group of lawyers and other experts including Randall Robinson and Willie Gary to supplement the efforts of Congressman John Conyers' H.R. 40 bill, introduced in Congress since 1989; and Silas Muhammad's efforts at the United Nations.
Professor Ogletree concluded that his move from private practice to teaching at Harvard has allowed him to continue to provide service back to the community that has helped him so much in his legal career. He had planned to petition the U. S. Supreme Court to hear the Tulsa case. But whether or not it hears the case, he stated, "It is not going to go away."
As a result of the efforts of Ogletree and many others, several cities, municipalities and states have passed resolutions acknowledging the historic horrors of slavery against Black people in America–more steps in the right direction.
"Noted professor, psychiatrist and prolific author of numerous books on children"
Dr. Alvin Poussaint is a noted professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Media Center at the Judge Baker's Center in Boston. Most people remember him as the production consultant of the Cosby Show, which changed the perception of the Black family and set an unparallel standard for Black television shows throughout the world. Even White South Africans began to view Black people differently–the show was a hit among Whites in South Africa (since the masses of Black South Africans did not have television sets, anyway)–especially after the Cosby's grandchildren, on the show, were named Winnie and Nelson in honor of Winnie Mandela and Nelson Mandela. And Dr. Poussaint was instrumental in providing guidance for the quality/substance of the show's content.
Like several learned Blacks, Dr. Poussaint believed that the mental health conditions in the Black community were festered by racism and since psychiatry–like many of the sciences that deal with Black people–were taught by those largely responsible for Black subjugation, different and innovative approaches were necessary to correct historic wrongs.
Dr. Poussaint regularly shares his expertise in a variety of ways beyond the academic community and has always been willing to volunteer his services for worthy causes. He has been a board member and chairman of the board of PUSH for Excellence; as a frequent guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show. And though, he was well known for his involvement in the Cosby Show, he was also involved in its spin-off, A Different World. Dr. Poussaint is the author of several books and numerous articles in medical journals and professional publications, and a widely sought after lecturer. He has also received a New England Emmy award for Outstanding Children's Special as co-executive producer of Willoughby's Wonders and other numerous awards and honorary degrees.
Being that Black people's problems are different from others, Dr. Poussaint's work is vital since the seeds from which psychiatry sprung, within the dominant culture, did not have Black people's interest at heart except in subordinate and subservient roles. And psychiatry, as advocated by Dr. Poussaint, has helped to help to satisfy the Black man's need for workable solutions.
As a tireless advocate to increase parental and public awareness concerning the harmful effects of the increasing commercial exploitation of young children via television and other mass media, Dr. Poussaint has sought to lessen the resultant impact through books, lectures, involvement in the media and through his role as director of the Media Center of the Judge Baker Children's Center.
Much of the causes of the violence that has become very pervasive in society must lay at the feet of the media and Dr. Poussaint is concerned with media images and issues regarding the needs of children and the changing family. As a strong advocate of non-violent parenting and parenting education, he often acts as a consultant to the media and as a proponent on more responsible programming.
It was written about the late Justice Thurgood Marshall that on certain matters before the U.S. Supreme Court, he sometimes would consult and/or combine his writings with some of the other liberal-minded justices but on matters dealing with race, prejudice, discrimination, etc., he took the lead and followed no one. The same can be said of Dr. Alvin Poussaint relative to matters of race, prejudice, discrimination, etc. He takes the lead.
Yarden Fanta-Vagenshtein is the first Ethiopian woman to earn a doctorate in Israel at the Tel Aviv University and did post-doctoral work at Harvard University. The story of her odyssey from a village in Ethiopia in 1985 through the Sudan Desert to arrive in Israel took approximately one year and to listen to her narrate the gut-wrenching episode of her life is an earth-shattering experience. She left Ethiopia at the age of 11 never having been to school. She used to attend to the family livestock and education was neither a conscious need nor a distant desire. It was totally off her radar and when she arrived in Israel, she did not know how to read, write, or speak Hebrew. Dr. Vagenshtein started school at the age of 14.
The distance she has traveled to achieve a doctorate in Science and Technology in Education in addition to continuing her field of discipline at Harvard University is a testament of her enduring spirit and a demonstration of the genius of the human mind. And though Dr. Vagenshtein began life speaking the Amharic language (Ethiopian), migrated to Israel, where she spent most of her formative years–cultural, social and academic–learning to speak Hebrew (Israeli), her adopted language, she had an excellent command of English, her third language.
During an interview, she said, "Right now, I'm doing research on immigrants from different countries and my focus is how people move from developing countries to modern society and manage their new lives. So I'm trying to find out in my research how, as a state, and as a country, we can help those people who come here with a different kind of knowledge."
Since she got her Ph.D. degree in 2005, she has published a body of knowledge that is incomprehensible. The title of her thesis was "The Effect of Transition from an Agrarian to a Knowledge-based Society on Technological Literacy among Ethiopian Immigrants in Israel," which in essence is the story of her life.
As she explained why she and her family migrated to Israel, Dr. Vagenshtein said, "First of all, I'm a Jewish woman and Israel is the only country in the world that's a Jewish State, a Jewish country; and when were in the village (in Ethiopia), we did not have any idea what a Jewish country look like. We always wanted to go there but it was impossible because we did not have a car or access to the airport. We did not have a ticket for the airplane and that is why it took us long …. it took us years to come to the Jewish State." (A recent news story claimed that more than 25 million could be displaced by 2050 and Africa–Ethiopia's continent–will be hit the hardest).
Dr. Vagenshtein's accomplishments includes participating in an "Israeli-Palestinian Extreme Expedition to Antarctica"; serving on the board of directors for Israel's Ministry of Education; presentations to numerous universities in the United States and Israel; and publishing numerous academic manuscripts. She has received awards for "Excellence for Consistent Contribution to Society," "Interactive Science Thinking Project," and "Excellence in Social Contribution."
This endeavor is borne out of Dr. Vagenshtein's life experiences and a desire to assist her Ethiopian countrymen in attaining a much better quality of life than she began with.
In the dedication of her book, "The Isis Papers," Dr. Frances Cress Welsing wrote, "This work is dedicated to the victims of the global system of white supremacy (racism), all non-White people worldwide, past and present, who have resolved to end this great travesty and bring justice, then peace to planet Earth." Then it is followed by quote from Neely Fuller Jr's. "The United Independent Compensatory Code/System/Concept," a text book/workbook for thought, speech and/or action for victims of racism (white supremacy) which states, "If you do not understand White Supremacy (Racism)–what it is, and how it works–everything else that you understand, will only confuse you."
Welsing seemed to focus her professional career on psychiatry, psychology and the mental defects that she believed is inherent in Black people in general, as a result of centuries of oppression by White people.
She rocked the fields of cultural and behavior science with her essay, "The Cress Theory of Color Confrontation and Racism (White Supremacy)". That mainstream academia do not subscribe to Welsing's theories do not invalidate them (her theories) because a numerical majority (numbers) does not make them wrong, or right. To prove or disprove a theory would usually involve undertaking a combination of analytical, scientific and/or empirical work over a period of time depending on the nature of the theory to be proved or disproved. It must be remembered that at one time, "The Slavery of Black people was the law" in the United States.
Not only have other scholars described similar findings from their observations, but history also validates much of Welsing's work. The enslavement of Africans and other peoples of color have been given many "lofty" sounding names depending on the colonial power, the point in time and the location but they are all "sub-descriptions" of racism (white supremacy) including imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, apartheid, discrimination, jim crow and segregation, because "members of a large orchestra do not accidentally play the same tune, they do it in concert."
In an etiology chart, Welsing laid out how the oppression and enforced low-level functioning for Blacks and other non-whites result in overall excessive environmental stress in all areas of life. Blacks were not supposed to function at the same level as Whites and to make sure that this occurred Blacks were afforded lesser with which to accomplish more, and were then described as functional inferiors, according to Welsing. Landmark decisions such as "Dred Scott" and "Plessy" were legal examples that served to institutionalize and justify someone else's theory of Blacks' position in society. In the United States and South Africa–where education was allowed–it was consciously designed on a two-tier system; excellent schools for Whites and inferior schools for Blacks, and the sole purpose of the "Black" education was to "keep them in their place." In 1995, one Dr. William Tutman reportedly said, "To oppress a race (of people), and then label its reaction as a "mental illness," is not only morally wrong, it is criminal and a fraud."
Psychiatry, in many different forms and names, has consciously used pseudo-scientific terminology and experimentation to secure fraudulently obtained positions of authority and compliance on the psyche of the oppressed masses. It is a problem masquerading as a solution.
How else could less than a quarter of a million British men (and women) oppress millions of Indians in India; or South Africans in South Africa; or Caribs and Arawaks in the Caribbean? The methods used were the same when the oppressed were a numerical minority as the slaves were in the Western World, or the American (Red) Indian, even though the latter started off in the numerical majority. (Welsing wrote that the term "Western" means "White;" it has become a comfortable obfuscating euphemism or code for the word "white").
In one of the closing chapters of her book, Welsing emphasized, "There is not a Black problem that I mentioned in this book which is not related to the reality of white domination of Black people."


text:
iBet789 Sportsbook offers over 1,500 sporting events every week, with extensive coverage of all major soccer leagues and international sporting events.
iBet789 also provides live soccer updates, immediate winnings confirmation, super fast payouts, easy access and fast online betting available around the clock.
You can enjoy the sports and casino games in your own home or anywhere in the world. Welcome to bet with iBet789 now, the name which you can trust.


text:
I'm in the process of writing a research paper on Issey Miyake and so excited that my first stop for information is my very own library and a book by Mark Holborn on this innovative designer. The bright colors and the blurred focus of this photo make it my favorite of the of the "Flying Saucer" dress from the Spring/Summer 1994 collection. In its unworn state, it looked somewhat like a flattened lantern and artfully fit over the body like a slinky.
Tags80's Bronzers Busby Berkeley chanel color forecasting colorful makeup color history cruelty free Dior dolls extreme glamour eye pencils eyeshadow fabulous hair fabulous sets fashion history favorites glass candy gold Green holiday makeup linda mason lipstick makeup brushes makeup rules nails natural pantone pastels period makeup Physician's Formula plexiglass runway makeup runway shows serge lutens skin care sparkling eyes surreal swimwear three custom color urban decay vegan vintage vintage ads vintage cosmetics
- Subscribe by RSS


text:
Holiday tips are a way to thank the people who make your life easier. So why is it so hard to figure out whom to tip and how much? Guides
Holiday tips are a way to thank the people who make your life easier. So why is it so hard to figure out whom to tip and how much?
Guides published by etiquette experts don't always agree on what's appropriate. What people actually do is another matter altogether.
Only about half of Americans give any holiday tips, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey, and those who do tip often give less than the amounts recommended by etiquette experts. For example, 56 percent of those who had housekeepers gave them a tip, and the median amount was $50. The manners mavens at the �Emily Post Institute suggests the tip equal the cost of one visit, which according to HomeAdvisor averages at $167.
Plenty of people don't even realize that holiday tipping is a thing. Others want to tip but struggle with budgets already strained by other holiday spending.
'From an etiquette standpoint, we try not to say, 'You have to do it exactly like this otherwise it's wrong,'' says etiquette expert Lizzie Post, co-president of the Emily Post Institute in Burlington, Vermont. 'There are so many varied relationships that we have, or our budgets might not be able to accommodate it the way our hearts would like.'
Ideally, your holiday tipping list would include everyone who makes your life easier by providing you with regular service throughout the year " but if you get a lot of help, that can get expensive. Here are some guidelines that may help you decide whom to tip, and how.1. Cash is often best, but not absolutely required
If you can afford to give only a few dollars, a small gift or homemade item may be a better way of expressing appreciation. Post remembers her parents baking cookies and making candy for their mail carriers, garbage collectors and newspaper delivery folks. Of course, not everyone is good in the kitchen " or welcomes homemade goodies.2. Match the tip to the relationship
The amount you give can reflect the quality and frequency of your interactions. You might tip an occasional babysitter the equivalent of one evening's pay, for example, while a live-in nanny could get a bonus equal to one week's pay, or more. A small gift in addition to a tip is a nice touch when the relationship is more personal.
A tip roughly equal to the cost of a single visit might be appropriate for:HousekeepersBabysittersDog walkers and groomersPersonal trainersPool cleanersSnow shovelersHairstylists or barbersMassage therapists, facialists and manicurists
For others, Post says, amounts can vary:Yard and garden workers ($20 to $50 each)Trash and recycling collectors ($10 to $30)Handyman ($15 to $40)Package deliverer ($20, if allowed; check with the company)U.S. Postal Service mail carriers (small gift only; no cash, per USPS rules)Day care workers ($25 to $75 each for those who work with your child; check with facility)Newspaper deliverer ($10 to $30)Building superintendents ($20 to $80)Doormen ($15 to $80)Parking attendants ($10 to $30)3. Not every helper should be tipped
If you tip someone regularly throughout the year, a holiday tip may not be necessary. Cash tips also aren't appropriate for certain people, such as professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants) and anyone who works for an entity that prohibits them. For government workers, for example, a tip can look like a bribe. Check with nursing homes, home health care providers, package delivery companies and day care centers, especially, before tipping individual workers. Post suggests that instead of tipping your children's teachers, offer to buy classroom supplies or go in with other parents on a gift or gift card.4. Make it pretty
Fresh, crisp bills tucked into a card with a handwritten note? Classy. Wadded bills thrust at the service provider on your way out the door? Not so much. Ditto leaving an extra-large tip on a credit card receipt. Something's certainly better than nothing, but putting some care into your presentation can demonstrate that you really do appreciate what they do for you.5. Tip early
In the past, I've scrambled to deal with holiday tips. This year, I started writing thank-you notes before Thanksgiving and plan to deliver the tips by early December. Tipping as early as possible in the holiday season means the people you're trying to reward have extra cash for their holiday spending " which may include giving out their own holiday tips.
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press. �
More From NerdWalletFree Investments Can Come at a Cost How I Ditched Debt: 'We Have Choices Again' With Money Goals, Multitasking Pays Off
Liz Weston is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: email@example.com. Twitter: @lizweston.
The article 5 Guidelines for Happier Holiday Tipping originally appeared on NerdWallet.


text:
Photo by aprilzosia
Could getting a virtual office save your business money? Many businesses have found smart ways of reducing operating costs over the past few years – they've had to! One of the ways some businesses have achieved this is by choosing to operate via a virtual office instead of unnecessarily paying full-time rent for expensive office space.
Many single person businesses have been using NYC virtual offices for years. Now, larger businesses are discovering that by allowing employees to work from home, they reduce their need for office space and office infrastructure – and the cost involved in maintaining it.
With communication methods now facilitating easy verbal and visual communication from virtually anywhere in the world, and technology making the transmission of documents simple and reasonably secure, going into the office just isn't as necessary as it once was. And why waste money paying for what you don't need, right?
Here are just some of the advantages that changing to a NYC virtual office could offer:
- You still get to have a prestigious physical office address for your business;
- You can use offices and meeting rooms at your serviced office premises when you need to, and pay only for that period;
- Any clients who visits your serviced office address will enter a professional reception area and be greeted in a professional manner;
- You and your employees may be able to work from home and save the time, money and air pollution involved in commuting to a city office;
- You won't have to pay the weekly wage and benefits for a receptionist at your office;
- You'll be able to arrange the use of training or meeting rooms at your serviced office address if you do need to gather your employees together;
- Your -office rent- could drop to as little as $25 a month!
- Telephone and electricity costs can be greatly reduced or completely eliminated;
- With a virtual office, you aren't tied to a lengthy and expensive lease;
For some business types renting an office is beginning to seem a little old fashioned. Why not improve your lifestyle and that of your employees by taking advantage of the choices improving technology has made available? Speak to us about a NYC virtual office today and your business and employees could have a new 'lease' on life tomorrow!
Click here to chat with a Virtual Office Expert
How can a Manhattan Virtual Office help you?
Website: Manhattan Virtual Office
Tel: 1.212.627.8900
Fax: 1.646.861.6610
Since 1990.
Manhattan Virtual Office.com
Follow us on Twitter: @ManhattanOffice


text:
The Benefits of Personalized Care
As a personalized care patient of Dr. O'Brien's you can expect the following:
- Extended visits whenever needed
- Whole-person approach to healthcare
- Same day or next business day appointments that start on time
- Appointments that last as long as necessary
- Office visits for your friends and family visiting the Michigan area
- In-depth health research
- 24/7 availability
Urgent Care Visits
Dr. O'Brien's practice works hard to accommodate patients quickly and efficiently. When you need to make an appointment, you'll be able to see Dr. O'Brien the same or next business day. Unlike traditional primary care practices, where you'll often wait 20 days to see a doctor, Dr. O'Brien will attend to your health concerns quickly, before a small issue develops into something more serious. Dr. O'Brien has limited the size of his personalized care program, meaning he has the time and availability to work closely with his patients, attending to their healthcare needs. This increased patient-doctor interaction is important when diagnosing and treating illness and identifying any factors that may lead to a future health problem.
Get Started
To help patients take advantage of all the benefits that this higher level of healthcare has to offer, Dr. O'Brien has partnered with personalized medicine experts, SignatureMD. Dr. O'Brien and SignatureMD are working together to ensure you receive the finest in personalized care.
Isn't it time, you made the most important investment of your life and invested in your personal health?


text:
Most business owners know not to bring personal issues to work, but that has been especially difficult for Agostinho Ribeiro. That is because he runs his company, a law firm based in Danbury, Conn., with his former wife, Valerie Calistro.
The two met in the late '80s, in law school, and the relationship blossomed in the early '90s at the firm — Ventura, Ribeiro & Smith — where Mr. Ribeiro was essentially the chief executive. They were married in 1998, and soon after, Ms. Calistro took a more active role in running the company's operations. Together, they built the business into what is now a 50-person operation with an emphasis on civil litigation.
But while the business grew, their home life started falling apart. Mr. Ribeiro and Ms. Calistro divorced in 2006, and suddenly, the former spouses had to make a choice: Do they continue running the business together or should one of them leave? (Ms. Calistro was not an equity partner at the time of the divorce; she is now.)
"People said, including both of our lawyers, that we shouldn't work together," Mr. Ribeiro said. "But we talked in an office for two hours and decided we should try to make our business relationship work."
Given a 2007 Census Bureau estimate that about 3.7 million businesses are owned by a husband and a wife. Given the high rate of divorce, this situation is more common than many realize. This small-business guide, based on the experiences of owners like Mr. Ribeiro and Ms. Calistro, offers suggestions on making the best of a difficult situation.
"We created the business," Mr. Ribeiro said, "we created the structure, and we had a team that counted on us." Six years after signing the divorce papers, the business partners say they are working together happily and the firm is in good shape.
RESPECT IS CRUCIAL When Stephanie Blackwell and her husband of 12 years divorced in 1991 — "we just fell out of love," she said — she wanted out of the business they had started together, growing alfalfa sprouts. He was angry, she said, and she could not deal with it. One day she drove off, but he chased her and told her to come back to work. "There was so much anger between the two of us," she said, "but I still cared for him. I just didn't want to be married."
While it was tough to continue running the company with her husband, she stuck it out. They had four children together, she could not afford to leave her job, and she still respected him.
In 1998, she left to start another business, Aurora Products, which turned into a $45 million company that packages and sells natural and organic snacks. Initially, her former husband took full control of the alfalfa business but it closed 12 years later. He now works for her, overseeing construction of a new plant.
Ivan Lansberg, co-founder and senior partner at Lansberg Gersick & Associates, a consulting firm in New Haven that advises family businesses, also emphasizes the importance of respect. Unfortunately, he said, many relationships become so damaged — especially if one person has cheated — that trust and respect are not possible.
To Mr. Lansberg, it all depends on open communication, predictability (people have to do what they say they are going to do), and consistency (they have to follow through even on bad days). But there also has to be some compassion. "You have to be able to put yourself in the shoes of the other person and empathize with what they are going through," he said.
GET HELP Unlike most former spouses, those who own a business together must continue to see each other regularly even after the divorce papers are signed. That can make it harder to heal, which may be a good reason to seek professional help — even if it is too late to save the marriage.
Terri Allen still cared for her husband when the two separated in 2010 — they are not yet divorced — but there was so much anger that they could barely communicate. That made it difficult to continue running their accounting firm, which is based in Toronto.
The couple decided to hire a therapist to help them sort through their problems so they could continue working with each other. They found someone who specializes in Imago Relationship Therapy, a type of therapy that helps people communicate. "It helped us learn how to talk to each other in a calm and rational way," Ms. Allen said.
Soon, she said, the yelling and screaming stopped, and they began to appreciate each other's needs and concerns. "I was able to make it not about him and not about me," she said. "So I became less angry."
And that did wonders for their business relationship. When personal feelings interfere in a work conversation, she uses what she learned in therapy. "I've learned to be patient," she said.
CREATE AN AGREEMENT Most business partners sign a shareholders agreement to establish what happens if someone wants to sell. Married entrepreneurs, though, often do not write such an agreement. "We didn't have a proper partnership agreement," Ms. Allen said. "We were married, and we wanted to work together."
She and her husband are now putting together an agreement. When it's done, it will detail how they would split the business's assets if either one were to decide to leave. "It would have been great if we had done it before," she said.
When Mr. Ribeiro and Ms. Calistro divorced, she was worried that she might lose her job. She asked her ex-husband to sign an agreement saying she could stay in the business for three years. "I needed to know that I could continue working here and earn an income," she said. That security calmed her nerves and gave them time to find a way to work together.
TALKING TO EMPLOYEES When owners divorce, the employees, not unlike children in a divorce, often pick sides. If that happens, Mr. Lansberg said, the company can fall apart quickly.
Divorcing owners, he said, need to be upfront about what is happening. If employees hear the news from someone else, they are likely to feel betrayed and worry about their jobs. "If people get wind of it, it tells them something about their connection to you," he said. "They'll feel like you don't trust them."
He suggests couples come up with a common story that they can share. Reassure staff members that the issues are being dealt with, he said, and that the company is not going to be affected. Of course, many people are not comfortable being that open. Ms. Blackwell, for example, did not make any formal announcement, though some staff members knew what was going on. "I felt sorry for the office administrator," she said. "There was a lot of hollering and screaming."
Ms. Allen took Mr. Lansberg's approach. After the separation, she and her husband sat down with their employees and told them. "We knew we needed to be the first ones to tell them," she said.
They told the staff that while the separation had been a long time coming, they still respected each other and wanted to continue in the business. The employees, she said, "were polite and thankful that we told them. They were happy that they knew their jobs were secure."
As difficult as it is to run a business with a former spouse, Ms. Allen, Ms. Blackwell, Mr. Ribeiro and Ms. Calistro all said that it gets easier after about two years.


text:
(c) 2013, The Washington Post.
(c) 2013, The Washington Post.
In the years after the financial crisis nearly toppled the U.S. economy, few government officials were successful in holding Wall Street accountable.
That is changing.
The reckoning for Wall Street's sins, while still in the early phases, may finally be at hand. And some analysts and officials point to three figures in New York and Washington who have been at the forefront of the effort: a prosecutor, a judge and a regulator.
There is no formal collaboration between the three � U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Jo White. But their collective efforts have helped usher in a more aggressive era in prosecution and, some analysts say, may have even helped lay the legal groundwork for many of the government's probes against megabanks such as JPMorgan Chase.
That firm, saddled with several federal investigations at once, is now trying to pay a record fine of at least $11 billion to settle most of its legal troubles with the Justice Department.
Ties exists between the three officials. They were all prosecutors originally. Two of them worked together in their previous jobs. And in interviews they speak highly of one another. Even Rakoff, who has routinely clashed with the SEC, holds White in high regard.
The three officials also have something else in common: They want companies to admit they did wrong.
Rakoff, 69, has used the bench to pressure federal agencies to extract such admissions. And through a broad interpretation of a federal statute, he helped enhance the powers of prosecutors by giving them more time to go after financial-era crimes, allowing them to impose bigger penalties and expanding whom they could subpoena.
Bharara, 44, has used Rakoff's rulings to forge ahead with a major case against Bank of America for allegedly selling mortgage securities to investors that the firm knew were worthless. He also successfully prosecuted Deutsche Bank for a similar case of mortgage fraud and Bank of New York Mellon for overcharging clients for currency trading.
White, 66, who hired Bharara when she ran the Southern District office, is largely untested with only six months on the job at the SEC. But she has also vowed that her agency will extract admissions of wrongdoing from companies.
Financial industry officials and analysts say there is a downside to the government's growing aggressiveness. An overreach in litigation could backfire and drive firms out of certain lines of business lines or disrupt the fragile economic recovery. It could also embroil the government in endless litigation.
"There's a real danger here," said Peter Wallison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. "Every time a bank gets sued it devotes a huge amount of time defending itself, instead of spending time on things it normally does to improve economic growth."
The government, he said, is giving into public pressure to go after "what people believe were illegal actions," but in most cases were simply bad business judgements.
Some consumer advocates note that despite the growing number of cases against Wall Street firms, it is unlikely that senior executives will face jail time or lifetime bans from financial activities. Others wonder whether the three of them will be able to sustain this pace.
Of course, Bharara, Rakoff and White are not alone in their pursuit of Wall Street crimes. Scores of other federal prosecutors, regulators and state attorneys general have spent years gathering evidence of malfeasance that is producing new cases.
But the three officials "are in the vanguard," said Dennis Kelleher, chief executive of Better Markets, which advocates for financial reform. "The question is, is this going to be a passing fancy? Or are they going to begin a pattern that changes the way Wall Street does business?"
A major moment in Washington's pursuit of financial-era crimes came last month in a case that Bharara had put before Rakoff.
In his mortgage fraud case against Bank of America, Bharara asked Rakoff whether he could apply a powerful 1980s era law known as the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act, commonly called FIRREA. The law has a low burden of proof, strong subpoena power and a 10-year statute of limitations, twice as long as the usual limit for financial fraud cases.
Rakoff said yes. The ruling allowed the case to move ahead against Bank of America, which is accused of selling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac billions of dollars of toxic mortgages. The trial began this week.
It also gave more time to prosecutors, who were facing a five-year statute of limitations this year in a number of investigations.
The decision followed a similar ruling in April by federal judge Lewis Kaplan, who approved the government's use of FIRREA to pursue the currency trading case against BNY Mellon.
Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have in the past two years used FIRREA as the basis of lawsuits against Wells Fargo, BNY Mellon and Bank of America.
"The prosecutor's role is to use every tool to hold individuals or institutions accountable," Bharara said in an interview. "If there are victims, then you can get money back for them when possible. If there's property or assets to be seized, they must be seized."
The implications of the broad interpretation of the law were not lost on Wall Street. Banking attorneys said their clients are aware that the legal overhang from the financial crisis may now take even longer to end. And once those cases have run their course, the potential litigation that could derive from the savings-and-loan era law may be substantial, said John Savarese, a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
"It's too soon to tell what the larger impact will be, but in the near term, what you can see is this tsunami of litigation and investigations hitting the American banking system and driving up costs," he said.
Tougher enforcement, however, could encourage banks to invest more in the development of better compliance and risk management systems, Savarese said.
"Among my clients," he said, "I see a massive effort to reinforce the message of being super careful of what you market, design and sell. And that's a good thing."
H. Rodgin Cohen, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, said the government is considerably more aggressive than when FIRREA was first enacted.
"Enforcement activity is coming with more frequency, and the penalties being demanded are exponentially greater," said Cohen, who represents some of the nation's largest banks.
These days, he added, multiple agencies are filing cases against banks for the same violation, a practice that has dragged out litigation.
Consider JPMorgan, which is being investigated by nearly a dozen state, federal and international authorities for its $6.2 billion trading blunder, known as the London Whale. Since disclosing the trading losses last year, the legal headaches for the bank have mushroomed, with probes launched into a wide range of business practices.
That, in turn, has prompted the bank to negotiate the deal with the Justice Department to hand over at least $11 billion to settle several cases at once.
The London Whale case was notable because the SEC got JPMorgan to admit wrongdoing last week in its handling of the trading losses, a reflection of White's demand that companies admit wrongdoing in certain civil settlements.
The new policy at the SEC is a departure from a long-standing practice at the agency. Before White came on board, Rakoff twice threatened to derail SEC settlements with banks because they neither admitted or denied the government's allegations.
"There has been a public hunger for ascertaining whether this unbelievable crisis is something that happened by accident or was the result of serious misjudgment or fraudulent actions," Rakoff said in an interview. "There is a public interest in having the truth come out."
White said her decision to press firms for admissions stemmed from her days as U.S. attorney.
"Public accountability is very important in enforcement, particularly if there is egregious misconduct," White said in an interview. "We don't want to lose the benefits of no admit, no deny settlements, but will push for admission where warranted."
Getting firms to admit wrongdoing can be tricky. A statement acknowledging fault could open a company up to a flood of civil lawsuits. Companies may push for the case to go to trial rather than concede wrongdoing.
White said that's fine with her. "The world needs to know that we will go to trial," she said. "Being prepared to take a case to trial, when there is credible evidence, can be used as leverage. It sends a message."
Following a similar approach in New York, Bharara's office has obtained admissions in 22 civil cases, including settlements with Deutsche Bank and Citigroup, in the three years since establishing a civil fraud unit. The federal prosecutor said he wants Wall Street firms to have the equivalent of a rap sheet.
"There are too many industries where no one ever gets treated as a repeat offender because there was never any previous record of their bad conduct," he said. "Part of the job is to just have the truth out there for people to judge whether an institution has learned anything from prior enforcement actions."
The actions of federal regulators and prosecutors are starting to assuage concerns that the government is too lenient on Wall Street. There are some, however, who remain skeptical that policy changes will bring about the reckoning the public deserves.
"It can't possibly," said William Black, a law and economics professor at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. "By now there would have been thousands of criminal referrals in the pipeline and criminal cases."
Bharara isn't so quick to dismiss the possibility of his office filing criminal charges against banks.
"You never take anything off the table," he said. "There are cases that get brought sometimes because circumstances change for a person, and they decide to come in and cooperate and bring in their files and notebooks."
bc-wallstreet-crackdown (TPN)


text:
Katy Tiz Releases 'The Big Bang' Video
Rising British singer Katy Tiz has released the official music video for 'The Big Bang,' her fourth single and first one to hit the Billboard Hot 100.
'The Big Bang' was originally recorded by Rock Mafia in 2010. Tiz is a member of Rock Mafia's RMR label under Atlantic Records.
The music video features Tiz first as a hotel maid seemingly bored with her work, but then transforms into a woman of the night. We first see her in a chair getting a tattoo in a dark nightclub before seeing her again in a hotel wearing a floral dress amongst a colorful cast of characters. Finally, she gets wet and wild with a shirtless man in a bathtub.
Tiz is currently working on her first studio album which will reportedly be released later this year.
Check out Katy Tiz's 'The Big Bang' music video above!


text:
The Buren Insurance Group, Inc., Built for Your Life
At The Buren Insurance Group, Inc. our dedicated and experienced team is committed to your complete peace of mind and risk mitigation. Whether you need home, auto, business, life insurance, or a combination of policies, we'll help you safeguard your assets and protect your family from everything life brings your way.
We're not here to sell you insurance. We're here to help you avoid risks along life's complex path.
Trusted, local agents are available to talk to you today. We know the business of insurance. We've made it our goal to handle the risk and worry for our clients, people like you, who need support and reassurance that their finances are protected no matter what they face. There's no doubt insurance is a complex financial management tool, but we're here to help you keep your costs as low as possible while also securing your life from risks.


text:
By BRUCE SMITH, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLESTON, S.C. — It's now up to voters render a verdict on former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's quest for political redemption, as one of the more unusual political campaigns in a state known for rough and tumble politics draws to a close.
Sanford, once mentioned as a potential GOP presidential contender, saw his political career disintegrate four years ago when he disappeared for five days, telling his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He returned to admit he had been in Argentina with his mistress – a woman to whom he is now engaged.
Sanford later paid a $70,000 ethics fine, the largest in state history, for using public money to fly for personal purposes. His wife Jenny divorced him.
Now Sanford is trying to stage a political comeback by winning the 1st District congressional seat he held for three terms in the 1990s when the conservative coastal district had a somewhat different configuration.
He faces Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert, and Green Party candidate Eugene Platt, in Tuesday's balloting.
Sanford has already survived a 16-way GOP primary where he faced several sitting state lawmakers and Teddy Turner, the son of media magnate Ted Turner. He also won the primary runoff. Colbert Busch defeated perennial candidate Ben Frasier with 96 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary.
Colbert Busch, 58, picked up the endorsement of The Post and Courier over the weekend, the Charleston newspaper calling her "a welcome tonic" for those who suffer from what the editors called "Sanford Fatigue – a malady caused by overexposure to all of the cringe-worthy details of his 2009 disgrace as governor, his ongoing efforts for redemption via the political process, his resurgent personal problems, etc."
The district looks reliably Republican on paper.
But three weeks before the special election, news surfaced that Sanford's ex-wife Jenny had filed a court complaint alleging he was in her house without permission in violation of their divorce decree. Sanford must appear in court Thursday.
Sanford said he tried to get in touch with his ex-wife and was in the house so his youngest son would not have to watch the Super Bowl alone.
Gibbs Knotts, chairman of the Political Science Department at the College of Charleston, said the key for both campaigns is getting their voters to the polls. Turnout is expected to be light.
"It's going to be a close election" he said. "It will depend on turnout. I'm sort of wondering if the moderates are going to hold their noses and vote for Sanford because he ultimately lines up with their policies."
Sanford, who turns 53 later this month, has campaigned this time just as he has during much of his two decade political career – on the urgent need to rein in government spending and balance the budget.
Colbert Busch has focused on her business experience in creating jobs.
"If Sanford wins it's a story about the fundamentals. This is a district that was designed to be a Republican District and they will have sent another Republican to Congress," Knotts said.
If Colbert Busch wins, he said, "it's a referendum on Sanford's past – just too much baggage, and the trespassing allegations got him talking about his past when Sanford is best when he is talking about size of government and the budget deficit."


text:
- This event has passed.
Church open
28th February 2019 @ 11:15 am - 1:15 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 11:15 am on Thursday, repeating until 24th October 2019
For several hours today the church will be open to visitors – see our What's On calendar for exact times, and other dates of opening.
Coffee/tea usually available. Toilet facilities, including for those with a disability. Free Wi-Fi.
Please note, we have some limited parking and there are car parks nearby in the town centre.


text:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The owners of two Baymeadows gas stations say they have no idea why an image depicting a President Barack Obama doll wearing a noose is linked to their Shell stores.
They say they had nothing to do with the picture that has circulated and created a firestorm, and they hope all the controversy just goes away.
Countless emails from viewers sent to Channel 4 complaining about the photo claim the picture was snapped at a Shell gas station on Baymeadows Road near Interstate 95.
There are actually two Shell gas stations in the area -- one to the east and one to west of I-95. Their owners said neither had anything to do with the picture, and they said the photo was not taken at either of their stores.
The owners said the picture traces back to North Carolina, where a man drove the meant-to-be-offensive truck filled with lots of hanging political figures to fill up gas. But somewhere down the line, rumor had it that a Jacksonville store had it on display to show anti-Obama sentiment.
"The taking of the picture did not occur anywhere in Jacksonville and, in fact, appears to be part of a national prank on social media sites," First Coast Energy, which owns one of the Shell stations, said in a statement Monday. "Our company, gas stations/convenience stores and our employees were not involved in any way with the taking, posting or distribution of this picture, and do not condone the actions taken to create it or post it online."
Shell Oil Company, based in Houston, Texas, also responded.
"Any time we hear of an incident such as this, we notify the appropriate law enforcement authorities," the company said in a statement. "We find depictions such as this to be extremely offensive and regret that the Shell image has been attached to the actions of a non-Shell affiliated individual."
Customers said they hope the picture that went viral doesn't hurt local businesses.
"It's ridiculous," said Theresa Knight, a former Shell employee. "I actually used to work here a while back and I know the people that work here, and they are very good people and they wouldn't do something like that."
The gas stations' attorneys wouldn't say if this controversy has affected business at either of the stores, but customers appeared to be coming and going regularly, and buying gas, food and drinks Monday.


text:
A sign of how serious the Obama-backed Libyan government is about fighting these jihad groups. "Libya militia linked to U.S. attack returns to Benghazi," by Hadeel Al Shalchi for Reuters, February 17 (thanks to Lookmann):
(Reuters) - An Islamist militia linked to the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and kicked out of the city by locals is back openly manning checkpoints and building up support promising much-needed security. Heavily bearded youths from Ansar al-Sharia control the western entrance into Libya's second biggest metropolis, patrol a hospital and check cars and trucks passing through another checkpoint in the south.
Witnesses say the group's members were at the scene of the September 11 attack that killed the U.S. ambassador, Christopher Stevens, and three other Americans - though Ansar al-Sharia denied any involvement.
Days after the assault, outraged residents drove the group out of its bases in the city in a "Rescue Benghazi" protest.
The group's highly visible return, five months on, underlines the complex security situation on the ground two years after the start of the revolt that ousted Muammar Gaddafi.
Many in the West see Islamist militants as the biggest threat to the security of the oil-producing country and the region - and accuse them of carrying out a string of attacks on police and foreigners in the city in recent months.
Their fears echo international concerns about the rise of Islamism in other countries shaken by the Arab Spring uprisings, including Libya's neighbors Egypt and Tunisia.
But the groups are also held up as heroes of the Libyan uprising by some locals who say they are doing a better job of the protecting them than the government in distant Tripoli.
As celebrations began marking the revolt's anniversary, at least one person waved Ansar al-Sharia's white flag at a rally.
"These men are also people who fought on the front lines, care about their city and provide services. We can't shun them," said Benghazi University professor Iman Bugaighis. "We had to ask them to come back and protect our hospital and streets."
Libya's deputy prime minister, Awad Ibrahim, on Sunday acknowledged the security role played by militias, without specifically mentioning Ansar al-Sharia.
"These militias are part of our liberation. We cannot exclude them at least at this time until we build our army and police," he told Reuters in Benghazi, the cradle of the revolt.
The men at Benghazi's western checkpoint say they have been working there for about a month to maintain security in the run up to the anniversary celebrations.
They also patrol Benghazi's Galaa Hospital where officials said a patient was killed in a fight two weeks ago.
Benghazi council spokesman Osama al-Sharif said hospital staff and residents had had no choice but to ask locals - including Ansar al-Sharia members - to protect the facility.
"It's just the reality of the city. The police have complained of a lack of authority and resources and the interior ministry says it can't do it so we have to rely on these brigades," he said.
The militiamen say they are protecting what they fought for during the war and helping the city's residents.
"We have been seizing illegal medical supplies and contraband and handing it over to the government," said Faisal al-Jamie, in charge of one of the brigade's checkpoint shifts.
"The government told us to get out of the way and it wanted to take over security in the city so we removed ourselves. But then we saw the government wasn't doing anything and the city needed securing so we had to come back and protect our city."
Hundreds of cars pass the checkpoint every day where Ansar al-Sharia pick-up trucks mounted with anti-aircraft weapons acquired in the war are parked on either side of the dusty road.
One of the cars honks at the men in greeting and a passenger waves the black and white flag of al Qaeda.
After Ansar al-Sharia was kicked out of its bases in September, some of its members were absorbed into other armed brigades dotted around the country.
Others quietly returned, keeping a low profile, running a clinic and teaching the Koran. They removed their logo from their vehicles, but have gained enough confidence to acknowledge their allegiance publicly.
The group, whose leaders have turned down repeated interview requests from Reuters, is part of a wider Salafi Muslim movement that follows a puritanical form of Islam....


text:
MALIBU, Calif. (AP) Kyle Randall scored 19 points and Central Michigan beat Pepperdine 80-77 Sunday night, handing them their first loss at home this season.
Pepperdine (6-4) had six players in double figures in a game with plenty of 3-pointers.
Central Michigan (5-4) had a season-high 14 3-pointers.
Blake Hibbitts had five 3-pointers (15 points) and Randall had four. Austin Keel and John Simons scored 12 points apiece. Simons had five rebounds, and Chris Fowler added seven assists.
Pepperdine had a season-high 11 3-pointers.
Central Michigan led 32-30 at halftime. Pepperdine trailed by as many as 13 in the second half and cut the lead to one when Lorne Jackson hit a 3-pointer at 0.02. But Randall hit two free throws.
Nikolas Skouen scored 16 points for Pepperdine. Jordan Baker had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Stacy Davis had 12. Jackson, Jett Raines and Atif Russell had 10 points apiece.


text:
If WTT is the search version in the main browse window, I cannot make KOR (or the Chinese Bibles) the search version in a secondary browse window (which I always use to work on verse map files). The search version in the secondary window reverts to WTT as soon as I try to scroll or switch to browse mode. If, however I do get a Chinese version to be the search version in the secondary browse window (by first changing the search version in the main window), it automatically becomes the font in the editor, which I don't want.
Whenever the Chinese versions have two verses mapped together, the second verse is highlighted (in black), making it hard to read the characters. Otherwise I've made good progress toward providing verse map files for all the new versions.
Mark Eddy


text:
The Internet is an interconnected network of wires connecting computers all around the world. The physical conduit of the Internet is the telephone wire or cable and associated equipment that connects together to form the "infrastructure" or "backbone".
Because Canadian communications systems must cover great distances to serve a relatively small population these systems have traditionally required special treatment in order to provide Canadians with the services we need to both exist and compete in the first world economy. Although Canada has never had a strict telephone monopoly, from the very beginning different telephone companies provided services in different geographic locations across Canada. Which means we have for the most part had a "virtual monopoly" because each geographic area had only one telephone provider.
Regardless of what Canada's telecommunication regulator the CRTC seems to think, if you have to sell your house and move to a new geographic location in order to get a different Internet Service provider it does not qualify as "consumer choice". So although we have different companies providing access to the Internet, a great many Canadians have only one possible Internet Service Provider.
[When discussing the ISP "carriers" I pretty much always say "Bell" for the phone carrier, although in many cases Telus should be included as well. In the same way when I speak of the cable carrier I say "Rogers" to stand in for all the Cable companies, which over all of Canada I understand to also include Shaw, Cogeco, and Vidéotron because from where I sit here they all appear to be marching in lockstep. I do not presume to know if, when or how any of these companies may be interrelated. I myself have only had dealings with Bell and Rogers.]
infrastructure and private property
Somehow Bell Canada never seems to mention that the only way the telephone system we have today could have come into existence was through the goodwill of private property owners and government cooperation. They like to take all the credit for establishing the phone/cable infrastructure, but they could never have done it without our help.
Because the thing to remember is that telephone poles carrying telephone wire cross private land.
Had stringing the wire been left entirely up to the telephone companies, we might still be using smoke signals. Because without government assistance, the phone company would have had to negotiate with every single land owner. Individual property owners would have been able to prevent the telephone wire from crossing their land. Instead of ending up with a system covering all of the settled portions of Canada, we might have ended with many small unconnected pockets of telephone service.
Because as sure as the sun rises in the east, even today there are people who don't want telephone service.
Certainly some would decline for religious reasons, while others might try to pry excessive sums of money from the phone company in exchange for granting a right-of-way across their property. To prevent such snags which might have rendered the existence of the telephone system impossible, forward thinking government mandated "easements" along the road side portions of private property. This government intervention allows utilities like electricity and telephone companies to put up poles along these easements and then string wires along them, or dig up land to allow cables or pipes to run under this land for the public good. In this way, the government acted to ensure Canada's technologically wouldn't lag.
The "who owns the wire" problem is not unique to Canada. Even in countries with dense enough population to support telephone competition it only makes sense to string one wire. Property owners can be persuaded to accept one set of telephone poles running along their land for the common good, but would balk at 5 sets of telephone poles. So even where there are five telephone providers they share the wire.
When I was a kid, my Dad took us to a local university to see a gigantic machine that could solve mathematical equations if you fed it punch cards. Punch cards were exactly what they sound like: bits of cardboard with holes punched in them.
The computer programmer communicated with the computer via punchcards. The pattern of the holes made up the program. Back in those days of vacuum tubes, most people could not imagine the possibility that personal computers would ever exist. Computers were simply too big.
But then came miniaturization. Really, weren't the first home computers was actually the digital calculators that swept over the world in the 1970's? With the ability to achieve miniaturization, home computers were not far behind. The first home computers were DIY projects; if you wanted a computer you had to put it together. So naturally the first people to have home computers were the techies who could build them.
But it wasn't long though before enterprising businesses began selling personal computers or PCs that anyone could use. Spreadsheet programs like Lotus Symphony revolutionized the accounting Industry. Desk Top Publishing was born. Games could be played. Calendars kept. The possibilities seemed endless. And they were.
Today ordinary people get personal computers in much the same way we get cars. We no longer need to know how to build or repair one.
the Internet
In the early days of personal computing, people could purchase modems that would connect computers via telephone lines. When your modem was connected to the phone line, it took control of your telephone service. When your computer was talking on the phone, you couldn't. It got to the point where some computer users would get a second telephone line so their computing time wouldn't tie up their telephone.
Before the Internet became available to ordinary people, there were independent computer networks. My first venture online was in 1989 with a commercial service called Compuserve. Although the research possibilities were excellent, the fun part was being able to live chat with folks from around the world.
The downside was that it was terribly expensive. You paid by the minute, which can add up quite quickly. Learning how to do anything took a lot of time and every minute online cost money. Although it was fun, being fresh out of college, I simply couldn't afford it. So I went off line again. The public library was a much more economical place to do research.
I just went to search out Compuserve now. I'm happy they're still out there. Oh and look… the deal I see is 2 months free to start and after that $17.95 per month unlimited. Twenty years ago my bill for a single month exceeded $100, and that was using one of their more economical billing plans! Times certainly have changed.
Later I became involved with an early computer network, a BBS or "bulletin board system". These independent computer BBSs were very similar to the Internet forums of today; you posted your comment and it stayed there. People would check in over time and join in the conversation. No live chats here.
But it was an excellent antidote to Compuserve, because it was free. Voluntary donations helped support the system by paying for improved equipment for the people running it. A BBS was not a commercial venture, they were communities… today we'd call them social media… started by a few people with computer know-how and equipment to run it on. People found out about a BBS by word of mouth. Then as now content was important for finding and then keeping an audience.
The people who owned the equipment controlled the BBS, and acted as the system administrators or SYSOPS. But it was the users who brought the BBS to life by beginning new discussion areas and posting conversations and content to the BBS. Because it didn't happen in real time, the posts were often more thoughtful than live chat. But the owners held ultimate control; they could cut off anyone for any reason. Initially this power was only used to clamp down on abusive behavior; there were online Trolls then as now. Later on personalities and personal politics came into it.
My disillusionment coincided with one heavy contributor being cut off simply for having different attitudes and philosophies– mostly he annoyed the owners. But because he provided so much content and administered so many discussion groups, they didn't want to cut him off for good, so instead they gave him small suspensions to keep him in line. That type of petty abuse of power is why I left that BBS, and has a lot to do with why I support net neutrality today.
That was around the time when the Internet became generally available to the public. Overnight there were Independent Internet Service Providers springing up all over Canada, and around the world. And although many people signed up, it was far from universal.
There were many seductive elements. Email and Instant Messaging held great appeal. Instant connectivity. Research, information… everything at your finger tips. But in many ways it was a luxury. A plaything. It was only later it became a necessity.
In my recollection, a lot people were initially resistant to going online because it was so expensive. There were many many ISPs, and so competition was fierce. Even so, it was still very expensive. ISPs charged by the minute. The most persistent and pervasive ISPs battling for customers was America Online.
AOL: Usage Based Billing
They must have mailed out hundreds of thousands of AOL sign up CDs. Maybe millions. I know I didn't start keeping the CDs that kept turning up in my mail initially. Yet I still probably have around thirty of their CDs. Yet I never did sign up with AOL. I knew from my Compuserve experience how quickly the usage costs could add up, and how expensive it would be. Not to mention virtually impossible to budget for.
The AOL marketing campaign is writ large across those old CDs.
540 Hours Free
1000 Hours Free
1344 Hours Free
2000 Hours Free
3 Months Free
$9.95 for 6 months
AOL tried giving better and better introductory offers but it just did not work. After the early adopters, the techno types who would do whatever it took to be online — and more importantly pay whatever had to be paid– the mostly ordinary people just weren't interested. It was a big cash outlay, after all. Just getting a reasonable computer system cost around three thousand dollars.
My first PC had a double floppy drive — not even a hard drive — a black & white screen — a dot matrix printer. Three grand.
After laying out the green, most of us weren't ready to sign away the rest of our disposable income for the Internet. Because after AOL's "introduction period" was over, it would be back to the very pricey Usage Based Billing options. It just cost too much.
And there wasn't even the content available online that there is today.
Certainly finding what you wanted took work, and learning is very expensive when you're being billed per minute. The point is, you didn't NEED to go online. You could buy a whole encyclopedia on one CD, or a spreadsheet program, a word processor or graphics software or games, and your computer could do everything you needed it to. People didn't need the Internet. It was just too expensive. A toy.
What happened to AOL? The king of marketing? At one point they were the one to beat. They marketed the heck out of the Internet. Who else could afford to scatter CDs across the land with such bold abandon. Or convince respectable venerated Canadian banking institutions… notably some of the most caution in the world… to partner them? What cataclysm could have done for AOL?
Wait a minute:
Canada had ISP competition?
What happened to all those ISPs?
enter the carriers
Bell Canada and Rogers Cable entered the fray.
Bell Canada was the major telephone carrier; they controlled and maintained the telephone cable backbone. Telephone traffic traveled over this wire, and now Internet traffic did too. Up until this time, Bell Canada just had phone lines, they were the major telephone carrier who controlled the wire backbone connecting home computer users to the Internet.
But now, Bell decided they wanted to get into the internet game. So Bell hung out a shingle as an Internet Service Provider, or ISP.
When Rogers entered the market they brought their own backbone in the form of urban cable connections. The first time I recall hearing about Rogers as an ISP they were offering high speed Internet connections. I wasn't paying much attention back then. One minute there were scads pf Canadian ISPs and the next there were only two.
Bell and Rogers introduced "Unlimited Internet" into the Canadian market
Bell and Rogers used their corporate might to introduce low cost UNLIMITED Internet service packages that the smaller ISPs could not possibly match. Offering unlimited Internet access made trying it much more palatable because learning how to use it was no longer prohibitively expensive. Not only did customers switch to Bell and Rogers in droves, but more:
elimination of usage based billing allowed the Canadian Internet Market to really take off.
Canadian consumers told the market in no uncertain terms that we did not want the Internet on a Usage Based Billing model.
Low cost entry into the Internet made Canadians embrace the Internet. This is why Canada was an early adopter, and a leader in Internet use. Even though it didn't take long for prices to climb. Since the other competitors were gone, Bell and Rogers had the market carved up between them so prices began to rise rapidly.
The Internet has impacted on just about every type of business there is. We buy and sell on eBay or Amazon. We pay our bills online. We can read Canadian laws online. Get up to the minute weather reports. We watch TVor read the newspaper online. Canada Post is offering to deliver email.
the Canadian Internet market clearly said "No" to Usage Based Billing
Because customers overwhelmingly chose "Unlimited" over the usage based pricing model, Bell and Rogers got the added bonus of eliminating the competition. Bell and Rogers were vying for supremacy so they built good infrastructure to offer the fastest best service. Back then, Canada had some of the best Internet access speeds at some of the lowest prices in the world.
This is a very large part of the reason that Canadians embraced the Internet so whole heartedly.
But the upshot is that Canada was left with only two ISPs. It was such a monumental error that even the Canadian Government noticed, and stepped in and told Bell and Rogers that they would have to share the infrastructure so that competitors could enter the Internet market in an attempt to re-introduce competition.
I'm not quite sure why, but it seems that all the Independent ISPs seem to get their Internet connection through Bell. When Bell set up the "Gateway Access System" (GAS) through which they sell wholesale bandwidth to the Independent Internet Service Providers The CRTC allowed Bell to set their own prices. Naturally they set very high prices. The Independent ISPs could then redistribute the bandwidth however they saw fit.
At first Bell was happy since they were making money from their GAS business. They were probably surprised that the Independent ISPs provided low priced packages and good Internet service without gouging that have built loyalty for the Independents. It's funny how just about anyone you ask has at least one Bell or Rogers horror story in their repertoire, but I've never heard any about the Independent ISPs.
Canada's place as an Internet leader has been slipping badly. Although Bell has done basic maintenance on their phone/Internet infrastructure they seem to have neglected the continuous upgrading they should have done. In real terms that makes Canada's Internet service of today hopelessly out of date. What was cutting edge 15 years ago is paleolithic today.
Although the service has stayed the same with little or no infrastructure improvements Canadian Internet costs have been climbing.
(Make no mistake: the inflated Internet costs that Bell and Rogers have been charging have been more than enough to cover upgrades.)
Many Canadians went online because it was affordable back then, but that is no longer true.
Now, at a time when it has become more important to go in the Internet– to do our banking, pay our bills, find jobs, do school work– today Canadian Internet rates are some of the highest in the world. The Internet is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity for Canadians. But not all Canadians can afford to even go online. The "digital divide" is yawning already, but now it's about to get even worse.
Because the CRTC has approved Bell's application to begin Usage Based Billing.
Real costs have nothing to do with it. Market forces have nothing to do with it.


text:
By Deborah Mersino
Make no mistake about it. Education is at a crossroads in the United States. Wherever you stand on Common Core, graduation rates, budget cuts, poverty's impact on outcomes, teacher unions, coaches, public versus private, teacher evaluations, Gates and other corporate education influences and/or digital learning, you'll find a slew of opponents to your opinion. What is clear, though, is that we have hundreds of thousands of individuals who have chosen to serve learners with their time, talents, and passion.
Today, I applaud you.
I applaud you for waking up extra early, so you can fine-tune that lesson plan on the trajectories of hurricanes or grade the last batch of persuasive essays on whether O. Henry should be pardoned. I applaud you for spending your evening at Michael's and using your extra time and sadly even your own money to ensure your first-grade turkey art projects bring joy to your students.
I commend Algebra teachers who are compacting curriculum in nearly impossible ways because of furlough days and budget cuts. I applaud administrators working with new and old teachers alike to ensure they feel valued for their own creativity and impact.
I applaud language arts teachers and librarians who help bring words to life and connect stories to emotion and humanity. Here's to the social studies teachers and curriculum masters who challenge students to think about Columbus, Kent State, and the Boston Massacre in a new light and the physics instructors inspiring future engineers and problem solvers.
To the educators and counselors who not only know students' sometimes tragic back stories, but do what they can to let these students know they matter and provide support, I'd like to give you a standing ovation.
Today, I salute professors who hold high expectations and hopes for their students. More and more of you are being paid far less than you should, yet we demand and command that you ready the next generation to lead and prosper. Here's to you.
To the tireless board members, district leaders, and education advocates who spend their days and/or evenings trying to make sense of it all, I tip my hat to you. Here's to the staffs of education associations and foundations who work day in and out to fulfill vital missions. And to the PTO volunteers, janitors, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, music teachers, and robotics and sports coaches, as well as after-school care and office workers who go of your way to make students feel seen and valued, I thank you.
Wherever you are located and whatever role you're playing, I hope the gifts and passion that you have been sharing so freely are reflected back to you in spades today – and in the years ahead. You deserve it big time.
Tags: advocates, education, educator, inspiring, learning, Thank you


text:
Chenille teal cushion cover 45x45cm
- 1 x square teal cushion cover.
- 45x45cm (18x18") square
- 70% cotton 30% polyester
- Luxury chenille
- More colours available
Availability: Out of stock
1 x square teal cushion cover.
45x45cm (18x18") square
70% cotton 30% polyester
Luxury chenille
More colours available
Standard UK Delivery* Free
Next Working Day Delivery** £6.99
* Excludes Non mainland UK and Scottish Highlands for orders over 4kg.
** Applies to orders placed before 2pm Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays. Excludes non mainland UK and Scottish Highlands .


text:
A few posts back, I wrote about the collaborative project that helped maintain my excitement for sewing during an otherwise difficult period in my life. Today, I want to introduce another project that I am crediting with re-introducing me to sewing on a semi-regular basis. Like The Traveling Quilts, this is another collaborative endeavor … but one unlike any other with which I've been involved.
As my long-term readers know well, I've always been a fan of virtual quilting bees. Heck, I've been involved in many, many of them. And in most cases, unless Ryan or Scott were playing along, I was always the only guy in the group. I never imagined that the day would come when there would be a bee with more men than women in it … never mind a bee made up entirely of manquilters.
Well, that day has come!
Allow me to introduce the No Girls Allowed Quilt Bee (with, of course, its own hashtag: #NGAQB.) The admittedly tongue-in-cheek name (no offense, ladies!) celebrates a full roster of talented and modern male quilters that will be sewing with and for one another for the duration of 2014.
Each month, I'll be sharing the blocks I'm making for the other members of the group. And, I'll be featuring a short bio of each of the other guys so that you can get to know them as well.
We started the bee in January, so I have a bit of catching up to do with sharing the blocks I've already made. In the meantime, feel free to catch up and follow along via Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, or any of the members' blogs (featured below.)
It's been a blast getting to know these guys already -- you should see some of the private conversations we've been having on Facebook! -- and I can't wait to see what the year holds for this fantastic group, as well as the majestic (and manly) quilts that are sure to come from it.
The #NGAQB roster:
January - Sandy Greenberg
February - Andrew Joslyn
March - Andrew Youngman
April - John Q. Adams
May - Paul Hallinger
June - Chris Jones
July - Ryan Walsh
August - Shaun Abels
September - Giucy Giuce
October - Nick Ball
November - Scott Hansen
December - Joshua Helms
Honorary Mascot - Andres Rosales


text:
The Chicago premiere of Christopher Wheeldon's 2004 Swan Lake blends traditional choreography with a new fresh vision
Mary Zimmerman illuminates another classic text in a new musical version of The Jungle Book
Art that keeps speaking to us over time survives and becomes legendary. The Joffrey Ballet's winter program, "American Legends", offers us four dances, dating from 1945 to 2012, by choreographers they consider legendary
Chicago Opera Theatre's "The Magic Flute"- Love, laughs, heroism and the Queen of the Night: What's not to like?
Artistic Director Ashley Wheater deserves credit for bringing newer works into the repertoire. The Winter Fire program offers two premieres and audience favorite After the Rain
Beautiful voices, superb acting, and a magical set, lighting, and costumes make Les Contes D'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) a pleasure to see and hear.
Beautiful stage pictures and flawless dancing highlight Joffrey Ballet Chicago's traditional Don Quixote
If you're afraid you might not "get" contemporary art, you're curious about what it is, or you'd just like to mingle with 1,000 or so over-21-year-olds in a beautiful setting, try the MCA's First Fridays
Whether you're an art lover or someone who's looked at nonrepresentational art and thought, "My six-year-old could do that," Goodman Theatre's production of "Red" is for you
A lively and satisfying evening of dance offered five works sampling dance history from 1841 to 2010 with a high level of dance skill and varied, inventive, and fascinating choreography
Northlight Theatre celebrates the bicentennial of "Sense and Sensibility" with a world premiere
Thanks to excellent writing and a first-rate cast, production staff, and direction by Hallie Gordon, Northlight Theatre's "Eclipsed" had us hooked from the beginning
The Joffrey Ballet presents the Midwest Premiere of
The Merry Widow, February 16-27 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago
Like a kid who's been hounding his parents for a specific toy for weeks, you pretty much know what you are going to get under this Joffrey Ballet Christmas tree. There are no choreographic surprises, but there are fine dancers, beautiful settings, and magical happenings
A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration is a holiday pageant with a broad scope, a talented cast, carols and other music of the period, and many interesting historical characters, some of them famous
What you see onstage and a peek at how the performers create it
Balanchine, Robbins, and Wheeldon dances offer beauty, fizz, and fun
Dancers shine in Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's 2010 Fall Series featuring premieres by Hispanic and Spanish choreographers


text:
Sunday, March 22, 2009
J.C. Leyendecker
If you've been on the fence about this book, then consider this a friendly shove. I recently ordered it on-line, based on several reviews, and I couldn't be happier. I can't say that I've read a single word yet, but that's not my primary reason for buying a book on Leyendecker. That being said, he did have an interesting life, and I'm looking forward learning more about him.
While we're on the subject, there's also a documentary about him from a few years ago. Admittedly, it's doesn't have the highest production value, but I did enjoy watching it. You don't have to buy the DVD as it's available through Netflix.
Posted by Paolo Rivera at 9:00:00 PM
Labels: Reviews
4 comments:
Ah...this book has been sitting on my "want" list for quite some time now. I can't say why I haven't jumped on it sooner, especially considering how everyone I know that has one says its a good book...ReplyDelete
Yeah man, I actually peeped this book yesterday at the college library. I couldn't check it out cause it was on reserve. And it's brand new! 2008. But I'm studying Leyendecker right now too. He's the man!ReplyDelete
good call. I've gotta start building up my library with awesome art books. I was just looking over a friends Steve Rude art hardcover and it looked amazing.ReplyDelete
Jealousy. Oh so much.
- BrandonMonday, March 30, 2009
I have been waiting for a book on Leyendecker for 8 years now, the last book on him was done in 1973 well worth the wait i think.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Eastern Garter Snake
Scientific name: Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (LINNAEUS 1758)
* Currently accepted name
* scientific names used through time
- Coluber sirtalis LINNAEUS 1758
- Tropidonotus concinnus HALLOWELL 1852
- Eutainia sirtalis BAIRD & GIRARD 1853
- Eutainia dorsalis BAIRD & GIRARD 1853
- Eutainia infernalis — BAIRD & GIRARD 1853
- Eutainia pickeringii — BAIRD & GIRARD 1853
- Eutainia concinna — BAIRD & GIRARD 1853
- Tropidonotus bi-punctatus – DUMÉRIL, BIBRON – DUMÉRIL 1854
- Eutanaeia [sic] sirtalis – SHARP 1890
- Eutaenia sirtalis – COPE 1893
- Tropidonotus ordinatus var. sirtalis – DE GRIJS 1899
- Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis CONANT 1958
- Thamnophis sirtalis – ROSSMAN 1965
Description: Average adult size is 20–28 inches (50.8-71.1 cm), record is 48.75 inches (123.8 cm). Adults are greenish with a light tan or gray mid-dorsal stripe. There is an additional light tannish stripe on each side of the body occupying the 2nd and 3rd dorsal scale rows above the belly. There are alternating rows of dark spots on each side between the mid-dorsal and lateral stripes. Light reddish-tan fleckings may also be present. The belly is uniform whitish-green. The scales of the upper lip are outlined with black markings. The scales are keeled, and there are 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juveniles are similar to adults.
A. Top of the head
B. Underside of the head (chin and throat)
C. Front (face view) of the head
D. Keeled scales
E. Side of the head
Range: In Florida, the Eastern Garter Snake occurs throughout the state, excluding the Florida Keys and the Gulf coast from eastern Wakulla County in the panhandle south to Hernando County in the central peninsula. Outside of Florida, it is found throughout the eastern United States from southern Texas north into Canada and east to the Atlantic Ocean.
Habitat: Commonly found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, cypress strands, prairies, marshes, and melaleuca stands.
Comments: HARMLESS (Non-Venomous). The Eastern Garter Snake is terrestrial and active during the day. It is frequently found along the banks of canals and ditches, and around houses in residential areas. After heavy rains, it is sometimes found at night crossing roads in search of food. It feeds on earthworms, small fishes, frogs, and salamanders. It is live-bearing. From 6-60 offspring are born from May-July. Newborns are 5-9 inches (12.7-22.8 cm) in length. It has lived up to 14 years in captivity.
Comparison with other species: The Bluestripe Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis similis) has light blue stripes and tannish lateral fleckings, along with a uniform whitish-blue belly. The Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) is thinner-bodied, has their light colored lateral stripes occupying the 3rd and 4th dorsal scale rows above the belly, and lacks black markings on the scales of the upper lip.


text:
Fishing Apparel
Fishing Apparel For All Anglers For Ultimate Protection From The Elements
Hunting and Fishing Depot has a full selection of men's and women's fishing apparel to keep you safe and comfortable from the sun during an all-day fishing trip. Shop fishing T-shirts and performance fishing shirts to protect from those harmful UV rays. Discover the fishing headwear and buffs to keep your head protected. Check out our guide to picking out the best type of fishing apparel to meet your needs. No matter what you are fishing for, or where you are fishing; let Hunting and Fishing Depot outfit you for your next fishing trip.
Performance Fishing Shirts
One thing we fo right at hunting and fishing depot is fishing performance shirts. We carry a large selection or performance apparel that was made to protect you while out on the boat or any outdoor activities. We strive to only carry companies that make an exception saltwater performance shirt. They must be UPF rated for optimal UV ray protection, Antimicrobial to prevent the material from smelling after you sweat, and snag resistant to prevent it from getting ruined from hooks.
Fishing T-shirts
One thing that all anglers want and love in their fishing apparel is an amazing fishing t-shirt. This allows for them to show it off in front of their friends and rep amazing fishing brands. No matter what kind of fish you target, most anglers have fishing t-shirts that they wear on a daily basis whether it's to school, work or out fishing. Our selection of fishing shirts will have something for everyone.
Fishing Faceshields
Another critical piece of fishing apparel is the buff. These faceshields are to protect the anglers face, neck and ears while out in the sun all day. They work extremely well and are easy to breathe through. Most anglers prefer wearing them and we recommend them if you are not using them.
Fishing Headwear
Whenever you are out on the boat fishing it is imperative to have the proper headwear on. Most hats will shield your face from the sun. They are fashionable and many anglers choose to wear fishing trucker hats everywhere.
No matter what kind of fishing apparel you are looking for we will have a great selection at Hunting and Fishing Depot. Find everything you need for your next fishing trip and be protected from the elements and the suns harmful UV Rays.
Shop Fishing Apparel at Hunting and Fishing Depot Today!


text:
In what looks to be a breakthrough in fiscal cliff negotiations, President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner met Monday morning to iron out further details on a deal.
Political analyst Andy Friedman of the Washington Update told CNBC on Friday that while he remains optimistic that a fiscal cliff deal will be made by year end, don't count on Republicans agreeing to a debt ceiling increase until next year. "Republicans will play this [debt ceiling] card next year," Friedman said. "I don't think the Republicans will agree to raise the debt ceiling to get us through the next hurdle."
Boehner on Friday offered a potential compromise, stating the he'd agree to a rate hike on those earning more than $1 million annually. However, Boehner stood firm on his insistence that the debt ceiling would only be raised if the administration agreed to spending cuts that would equal an amount greater than a debt ceiling increase.
Friedman said that while Republicans have challenged the president to be specific about "spending cuts," Republicans haven't been specific" about such cuts "because they can't agree on exactly what spending cuts they want." It is incumbent on the Republicans, he said, "to say exactly what they mean."
While the nation feels like "the cliff is coming at us fast," Friedman said, "we still have a number of days," and the current state of negotiations "is the normal ebb and flow of Washington." Congress, he continued, "acts when there is a forcing event, when they have to act because the consequences are too drastic." The forcing events in this case, he said, are twofold: "going over the cliff and Congress' indefatigable desire to go home for Christmas." While negotiations may go to Christmas Eve, Freidman said he believes there's more than a 50% chance a deal will be struck.
See also: 10 estate planning tasks your clients should do before 2013
What will the final deal look like? Elements of the deal, Friedman said, will likely include reports that the House will take up the already passed Senate bill that extends the lower tax rates for those earning less than $250,000, and also boosts investment taxes to 20% plus the surcharge on dividends. A deal will likely include a "20% rate on capital gains and dividends and taxes going up on the top 2% of earners," Friedman said.
When asked during the CNBC interview if a deal must result in a rise in the rates on the top income earners, as Obama has stated, Friedman replied: "I think there will be some rise in rates but not all the way to the top at 39.6%; they will be able to combine that with a disallowance of deductions, which will get the president the revenue he needs."
For more on the fiscal cliff, see:
Infographic: Gauging the fiscal cliff
10 estate planning tasks your clients should do before 2013


text:
We are hiring a Functional Program Analyst 3 in our Tumwater office to review health insurance policy forms to ensure they comply with state and federal laws and requirements. This position plays an important role in making sure health plans meet Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other requirements and working closely with the insurance companies that file their plans with our office each year. This position works with other health policy analysts in the agency and our legal division.
This position works in our Rates and Forms division and reports to the Health and Disability Manager, which we are also hiring.
We are looking for candidates who have a bachelor's degree and at least two years' experience in government regulation, insurance, insurance code, or experience with the ACA. We will start reviewing applications on May 19.
Read more about the position or apply at careers.wa.gov.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)