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TITLE Controller
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Chief Financial Officer
MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR President
The Controller is responsible for the daily accounting functions of the University, which includes accounts payable, financial aid disbursements, general ledger updating, Bursar's Office, cash management programs, investments, auditing, coordination of the collection of student loans and other accounts, and the Perkins Loan Program. The Controller assists in compiling the annual financial report and assesses the effectiveness of computer support systems to ensure that proper accounting standards and principles and procedures are followed during the daily updating of financial records and to facilitate the reporting process. The Controller assists in the development of long-range financial planning by evaluating and making recommendations regarding various cash management programs, exercises general responsibility for the University's cash management programs, and supervises the reconciliation of all accounts. The Controller oversees and assists in the preparation of the University's yearend audit process including yearend entries and work papers required by the auditor. The Controller assists the Chief Financial Officer in planning, analysis activities, budget review, and preparing the response to proposed legislation for the University. The Controller supervises accounting professionals and accounting clerks and works with academic and administrative staff and internal and independent auditors to ensure adherence to prescribed accounting principles, standards, and procedures.
Education: A Bachelor's degree and one of the following is required: licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) or a Master's in Accountancy.
Experience: At least six years' experience in a supervisory accounting position is required. Management experience is preferred.
Skills: The ability to interpret and perform to accounting standards, principles and procedures is required. An understanding of how computers can be used to perform various accounting functions is required. Must be able to manage an accounting office and supervise both professional and support staff. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
1. Develops a competent, productive and efficient departmental staff by supervising, directly and through delegation, professional accountants and accounting clerical support personnel.
2. Manages the daily accounting functions of the University by supervising the accounting functions necessary to maintain the University's accounts payable, financial aid disbursements, Perkins Student Loan Program, general ledger updating, and the reconciliation of all accounts.
3. Ensures that proper accounting principles and standards are followed by reviewing the daily, monthly and yearly internal controls in the office.
4. Ensures that the University cash balances are invested properly by monitoring daily cash balances for excess funds which should be invested, preparing cash flow projections to determine the schedule of investment maturities, monitoring interest rate trends to determine investment maturity length, assisting with the selection and evaluation of depositories and external investment managers, and monitoring all safekeeping and collateral needs of the University.
5. Supervises the Bursar's Office which serves as the central collection point for all monies received by the University and custodian for various University funds, provides check cashing services, and manages the accounts receivable function for the University.
6. Supervises the collection function of the University by overseeing the collection of student loans and other accounts receivable items.
7. Ensures that all required principal and interest payments on the University bonds are made on a timely basis by maintaining a calendar of payment due dates and then directing the payment on these accounts as appropriate.
8. Prevents institutional liability by maintaining records to perform arbitrage rebate computations in compliance with applicable Internal Revenue Service laws and regulations.
9. Ensures that the various general accounting and audit requirements of the University are met by overseeing and assisting with the University's yearend audit process, including yearend entries and work papers required by the auditor, preparing the yearend financial statement and audit work papers for Broadcast Services, overseeing the NCAA audit, assisting in the A-133 audit, and issuing yearend 1099 and 1098 tax forms and any other tax filings.
10. Develops new accounting systems, both automated and manual, by working with other University departments and by formulating new policies and procedures regarding the proper internal controls necessary for the accurate and timely operations of the new systems.
11. Assists the Chief Financial Officer by collecting, organizing, and analyzing financial data for preparation of various reports and statistical data outlining the University's financial position in areas of income and expenditure based on past, present, and forecasted operations.
12. Assists in the establishment of system-wide policies and procedures which ensure that resources are used in the most effective and efficient manner by all campuses of the University by serving as a member of the System Coordinating Committee.
13. Prepares interim financial and statistical reports and the audited annual financial report by compiling, researching, and analyzing financial data.
14. Provides various accounting information to the Chief Financial Officer and other University administrators as needed by remaining familiar with the information available in the University's accounting system.
15. Supervises professional accountants and accounting clerical support staff by reviewing their procedures in performing daily accounting work and performing various reconciliations to ensure the accuracy of their work.
16. Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
17. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the Chief Financial Officer.
18. Contributes to the overall success of the Office of Financial Services by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned, maintaining high levels of accuracy, maintaining a professional demeanor and appropriate levels of confidentiality, and providing excellent customer service.
The Controller supervises professional accountants and accounting clerical support staff; reports to the Chief Financial Officer and functions with relative independence within a broad framework of stated objectives.
Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery
Level 6 - 4500 Points: Knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and methods of an administrative, academic, managerial, or professional field. Knowledge permits the employee to develop new or substantially modified approaches that diverge from standard methods to improve administrative and/or line operations. Knowledge also permits the employee to plan steps and carry out multi-phase projects requiring problem definition and modified techniques, to coordinate work with others, and to modify methods and procedures to solve a wide variety of problems. Knowledge requirements may include evidence of the ability to manage programs and/or lead and direct other professionals. Knowledge requirements for jobs at this level typically include a level of education beyond the Bachelor's degree with comprehensive related work experience, frequently including substantial administrative or supervisory experience, and knowledge of higher education processes, policies, and procedures. Alternatively, this level may require a professional or clinical specialty beyond the Bachelor's with moderate related work experience. The knowledge requirement at this level may also include a terminal academic degree with an appropriate level of leadership and/or administrative experience.
Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility
Level 5 - 730 Points: Supervision of (a) several work teams or work team leaders, (b) a rather large group of operative, administrative support, or paraprofessional employees, (c) a work group involving direction of skilled technical employees, (d) professionals in technical and skilled areas, and/or (e) subordinate supervisory personnel. The incumbent performs a full range of supervisory responsibilities including the authority to hire, train, transfer, promote, reward, or discipline others. Supervision will likely be general rather than close supervision of others. At this level, supervisory responsibilities consume significant amounts of work time and include substantial responsibility for work planning activities, staffing, and performance management as well as budgeting and planning functions.
Factor 3: Interactions with Others
Level 5 - 850 Points: Interactions are highly unstructured and incumbents are often required to resolve difficult and unstructured problems. Interactions are commonly with administrators, cost-center heads, high level committees, or external constituents in order to defend, negotiate, or resolve controversial and/or long-range issues and problems. Interactions occur in situations subject to divergent views, skepticism, resistance, uncooperative attitudes, and conflicting objectives. Interactions often require high levels of interpersonal skill and require the ability to influence, interrogate, or control others through debate, persuasion, or authoritative recognition and require strong analytical and decision-making skills.
Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines
Level 4 - 850 Points: The employee operates under administrative supervision and makes decisions based on broadly-stated University objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are expressed in terms of project or program outcomes and deadlines with few comprehensive guidelines. Decisions are based on inadequate guidelines that require considerable interpretation and force the employee to plan all phases of the assignment. Assignments may be unrelated in function and the work requires many different processes and methods and a great deal of analysis to identify the nature and extent of problems. The work may require the employee to develop new methods and to deal with many variables, including some that are unclear or conflicting. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing large and/or complex programs, projects, or departments in which the work cuts across functional lines or requires dealing with unprecedented issues.
Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility
Level 6 - 3400 Points: Work involves primary accountability for key end result areas including the major projects, processes, or services of a cost center. Work activities affect a wide range of professional projects or administrative activities of the University, influence internal or external operations, and affect other administrators and a great many students, faculty, and/or staff. At this level, the incumbent may have primary authority for developing large budgets and distributing funds over a number of related functions.


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The Vacuole Of A Plant Cell
The vacuole of a plant cell is one of its most important components. This is an organelle which has a membrane. It is an enclosed compartment of the cell which is filled with water. The water in the vacuole contains inorganic and organic molecules. A vacuole is formed thanks to the fusion of multiple membrane vesicles. It does not have a specific shape or a certain size, as it depends of the cell and on its specific needs. However, the vacuole has some functions, regarding the type of cell in which it is located. One of the main roles of it is to isolate the materials that may harm the cell. Keeping the water in the plant is also a "task" of the vacuole, as it is to keep in it the waste products of the cell. The internal hydrostatic pressure is an element that this organelle needs to handle in order to protect the cell. It also has to maintain an acid PH and to keep in it small molecules. The unnecessary substances of the cell are exported by it, because it needs to store the proteins.
The Vacuole and Autophagy
Autophagy or the process in which the elements of a cell are degraded also has a lot to do with the vacuole, because it needs to ensure the perfect balance between the biogenesis and the turnover of substances in the structure of the cell. Recycling of proteins is another task of it and it happens while it offers aid in the lysis process that occurs inside the cell. Thomas Boller came up with a theory that says that a vacuole can easily destroy bacteria that invades a cell, while Robert B. Mellor affirms that it can house the symbiotic bacteria.
The vacuole existing in a plant cell occupies about 30% of the cell generally, but in certain situations it can expand to occupy up to 80% of it, if necessary. It is surrounded by tonoplast, which is also known in biology as vacuolar membrane. This substance surrounds and separates it from the cytoplasm. Its role is to regulate the movement of ions in the cell and to isolate substances that represent a threat to the cell. The vacuole is one of the most important components of the cell and if you plan to learn about it, you should focus mainly on its functions, which are very important.
The Vacuole Of A Plant Cell

subset: commoncrawl


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Archived from the Feedback page:
So have you thought about using a DVCS like GIT?
—The preceding comment was added by thkoch (comments • contribs) .
Archived from the Feedback page:
Another tidbit that might be of interest:
The author is writing a book about wikis. --184.108.40.206 02-Feb-2010 05:21 PST
Copied from the main article
Lucene requires Java 6 since June 2011, Spring however is still on Java 1.5. -- thkoch 10-May-2012 06:44 PDT


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The Cheescake Factory
Anaheim, California
The Cheescake Factory Anaheim Reviews
27 reviews
the usual choices Mar 31, 2008
great environment for evening fun. The Cheesecake Factory is good for appetizers, dinner or dessert.
you can rest assured that you will always find a wait before sitting down for your dining pleasure. This restaurant in one of the more popular spots. They have a great atmosphere inside and out. See the pictures to make your own decision.
the Food....
can't complain the food is very tasty and the portions are large enough to get full or share.
This last time that I went was no different than any other. The Cheesecake Factory is consistant.
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Federal court vacates decision that declared grant to USCCB unconstitutional
January 17, 2013
A US appeals court has vacated a decision by a lower court judge that had declared federal grants to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for human-trafficking victims to be unconstitutional.
In March 2012, US District Court Judge Richard Stearns, siding with the American Civil Liberties Union, declared that grants made to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to assist human-trafficking victims are unconstitutional because the grants represent a government endorsement of Catholicism.
The US appeals court dismissed the ACLU challenge because the contracts have expired. In addition, the appeals court vacated Judge Stearns's decision.
"It doesn't resolve anything on the merits (of the ACLU's claim)," said Henry Dinger, an attorney who represented the USCCB. "The important thing to emphasize is that Judge Stearns's decision is now vacated and no longer has any effect."
Further information:
- Federal court panel dismisses ACLU challenge of USCCB trafficking grant (CNS)
- Judge: federal grants to USCCB for human-trafficking victims are unconstitutional (CWN, 3/27/12)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!


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Tower Hill "Holly Days" Musical Schedule
Event Date:
Saturday, December 1, 2012 - 1:00pm
Saturday, December 1, 2012 - 3:00pm
Tower Hill's annual "HOLLY DAYS", a horticultural celebration of the winter holidays, will highlight a gastronomic theme with hand-crafted ornaments, November 23rd through December 30th.
This year's weekend & Wednesday evening entertainment includes live music from a selection of talented artists.
"Holly Days" Music Schedule Dec.1st
1:00 pm Music: Singer/Songwriter Jane Fallon
3:00 pm Music: Women of Note present a barbershop-style performance of holiday songs


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Carnival Magic Review
The second of Carnival's Dream-class vessels, Carnival Magic was launched in 2011 with two major new feature—the Red Frog Pub and an Italian specialty restaurant. Carnival Magic is scheduled for a major upgrade in 2015, when it will receive Carnival's "Fun Ship 2.0" features with new casual dining options, poolside bars, and more. After departing her home port in Galveston, Carnival Magic sails either to the Western Caribbean and Mexico or the Eastern Caribbean, venturing as far as the Bahamas. It's possible to book cruises back-to-back on the alternating itineraries and with no repetitious ports of call.
Carnival's Dream-class, the largest and longest ever constructed for their fleet, ushers in an exciting design concept for the line with a new layout, sleek hull, and distinctive profile. The line has made maximum use of the vessels' added size by creating some truly spectacular on-board facilities and amenities. Unique is the Ocean Plaza, an indoor–outdoor café and live music venue with a large, circular dance floor. A massive floor-to-ceiling curved-glass wall separates the room, creating comfortable seating areas with ocean views and, in a first for Carnival, a half-mile, open-air promenade encircling the ship.
Four "scenic" whirlpools located on the promenade cantilever out over the sea and offer maximum views while you're soaking. Higher up, the Lido deck is the most elaborate open-deck area of any Carnival ship, with a tropical, resort-style main pool complete with a Seaside Theatre LED screen; a two-level adults-only retreat (called Serenity) with comfortable seating, full bar service, and hot tubs; and a huge Carnival WaterWorks aqua park featuring one of the longest waterslides at sea. Dream-class family-friendly amenities include separate, purpose-built facilities for the line's three distinct children's programs, along with a full schedule of activities catering to each age group.
The world's largest cruise line originated the Fun Ship concept in 1972 with the relaunch of an aging ocean liner, which got stuck on a sandbar during its maiden voyage. In true entrepreneurial spirit, founder Ted Arison shrugged off an inauspicious beginning to introduce superliners a decade later. Sporting red-white-and-blue flared funnels, which are easily recognized from afar, new ships are continuously added to the fleet and rarely deviate from a successful pattern. If you find something you like on one vessel, you're likely to find something similar on another.
Each vessel features themed public rooms, ranging from ancient Egypt to futuristic motifs, although many of those elements are being replaced with a more tropical decor as older ships are upgraded. Carnival is also introducing features either branded by the line itself, such as the poolside Blue Iguana Tequila Bar with an adjacent burrito cantina and the Red Frog Rum Bar that also serves Carnival's own brand of Thirsty Frog Red beer, or in partnership with well known brands, such as EA SPORTS to create EA SPORTS Bars at sea and Guy's Burger Joint, in partnership with Food Network star Guy Fieri. Implementation of the new features is scheduled for completion in 2015.
What You Should Know
- Spa staterooms and suites have exclusive amenities and spa privileges
- 2-bathroom staterooms are a boon for families
- The lowest atrium level has a cantilevered bandstand atop a massive dance floor
- Lines can be a problem everywhere, especially in the buffet at popular dining times
- If the weather is bad outside, interior spaces can seem overwhelmed
- Although the decor is considerably toned down from past Carnival ships, there's still some glitz
Ship Stats
- Crew Members 1,386
- Entered Service 2011
- Gross Tons 130,000
- Length 1,004 feet
- Number of Cabins 1,845
- Passenger Capacity 3,690 (4,724 max)
- Width 122 feet


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Clementines and Plague Doctors of Mine
After a ridiculous set of dreams where I was causing problems in social situations, I woke up at 5:30 am this Saturday morning. I lay still for a while, waiting to see if perhaps it was just a sleep hiccup and if so I might still drift back to dreamland.
No dice.
But that's fine. I was tired of making scenes at important events anyway.
Besides, I had tasks I could accomplish. For example, the night before I had started to make Honey Preserved Clementines. After the initial cooking, you need to set them aside for 8 to 12 hours before putting them in jars. 5:30 was the 9 hour point. It all works out.
I've never made preserved anything before. I'll tell you in a week how it turns out.
Meanwhile, I'll be trying to finish the gaggle of Plague Doctors I've started over the last month. I think they're making Santa and Mrs. Claus a bit nervous. What do you think?
As I was putting them up on the bar, my brain - taking note of the black and white state of them - said 'hey look! Spy vs. Spy!".
Weren't you doing something similar at 6 am on a Saturday morning?
Added note: In case people are going to make the clementines, you'd only end up with one jar full if you follow the recipe. I made a batch and a half. Figured I might as well in case they are yummy. I also used this oven technique to sanitize the jar (and used this article which actually gives an oven temp as a guideline) even though the recipe doesn't call for it. Forgot to sterilize the tongs. Hopefully I don't kill anyone. Have been told it's less likely since it's a refrigerated preserve.


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The Many Business Failures of Donald Trump
He's running for president (maybe) on his business record. One problem: that record sucks
Trump Magazine
Trump's third shot at a luxury magazine (after two failed attempts), this luxury quarterly launched in late 2007 and got off to a good start, leading the Luxist, a luxury lifestyle website to wonder, "could this, once again, be the year of Trump?" Well, no. Trump Magazine went down in 2009.
Related: One Top-Notch Novelty Act: A Conversation with Donald Trump by Eric Hedegaard


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New York
12 January 2015
On Monday, January 12th, from 10:30 am-11:30 am, Tom Cole, Kurt Salmon partner and retired CAO of Macy's, will lead a panel discussion on the new roles and responsibilities of senior omnichannel executives at the NRF Big Show in New York.
The panel discussion, "Optimizing Omnichannel: Lessons and Insights from Industry Leaders," will include R. B. Harrison, chief omnichannel officer at Macy's; Brent Kirby, chief omnichannel officer at Lowe's; and Diane Ellis, chief executive officer of The Limited. They will discuss how omnichannel executives are working with the CEO and the broader leadership team to address key omnichannel questions, including the right organizational structure, channel performance metrics, and talent management and measurement.
The panel will be hosted in the Special Events Hall (1DMR) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (655 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001).
For more information and to register, please see the panel's official listing on the NRF Big Show's website.
Please continue to check back for further updates.


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The global HIX ITmarket is valued at an estimated $1,609 million in 2013 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% in the next five years.
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) March 25, 2014
The global HIX IT market is valued at an estimated $1,609 million in 2013 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% in the next five years.
The global HIX IT market is mainly categorized by exchange type, phase, component, and end user. Private exchanges are expected to register the fastest growth rate among the HIX market by exchange type during the forecast period. Their favorable growth is attributed to the increasing shift of big employers such as Walgreen and Time Warner towards private exchanges to reduce health benefits administration costs and provide their employees with multiple plan options as per their requirements. Within private exchanges, multi-carrier exchanges primarily sponsored by third-party administrators such as brokers or benefits consultants are expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
Complete report available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/health-insurance-exchange-hix-it-market-by-type-public-private-exchanges-phase-implementation-qa-operations-component-services-software-hardware-end-user-government-agencies-tpas-market-report.html.
The other high-growth market segments in the HIX IT market include the operations and maintenance segment which is expected to grow at a highest CAGR during the forecast period. The factors contributing to its growth include ongoing operation cost for public as well as private exchanges post its implementation. The HIX services market is also projected to register a double-digit growth in the next five years, driven by the shift toward cloud-based services.
The U.S. shows the greatest market potential in the near future. However, countries such as Japan, China, India, and Philippines are expected to offer potential growth opportunities to HIX stakeholders. In Japan, various favorable government initiatives are focusing on strengthening healthcare services such as the e-Japan policy, new IT reform strategy, and iJApan Strategy 2015. The healthcare IT expenditure in China grew from $135 billion in 2006 to $250 billion in 2010. In addition, the Indian government annually spends approximately 5% of its GDP on the healthcare sector and has approved 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) for setting up hospitals in India since 2000. Also, it is among the leading IT outsourcing destinations. All the above mentioned factors contribute to the potential growth opportunity of the HIX market.
Order a copy of this report at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=159216.
The competitive landscape covers the growth strategies adopted by industry players in the last three years. The company profiles comprise the basic views on the key players in the HIX market and the product portfolios, developments, and strategies adopted by market players to maintain and increase their market shares in the near future. The above-mentioned market research data, current market size, and forecast of future trends will help the key players and new entrants to make the necessary decisions regarding product offerings, geographic focus, change in strategic approach, R&D investments for innovations in products and technologies, and levels of output in order to remain successful.
Major Points from Table of Contents
10 Company Profiles (Overview, Financials, Products & Services, Strategy, & Developments)
10.1 Accenture PLC
10.2 CGI Group, Inc.
10.3 Connecture Inc.
10.4 Cognosante, LLC
10.5 Deloitte
10.6 Hcentive, Inc.
10.7 Infosys
10.8 Maximus
10.9 Oracle Corporation
10.10 Xerox Corporation
Browse more reports on Insurance & Managed Care Company Market at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/reports/life-sciences/healthcare/insurance-managed-care/insurance-managed-care-company.
About Us:
RnRMarketResearch.com is an online database of market research reports offer in-depth analysis of over 5000 market segments. The library has syndicated reports by leading market research publishers across the globe and also offer customized market research reports for multiple industries.


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Our services are very customized and in charge by a member of our family.
Enjoy the best of Oaxaca with
Our Tours
with Rene Cabrera
All Las Bugambilias B&B Tours are led by René Cabrera Arroyo, a certified tour guide from Oaxaca City. He has lived and traveled in many places in Mexico and the USA, and speaks fluent Spanish and English. Rene became certified and licensed as a tour guide in 2012. He has learned hands-on about his local Oaxaca indigenous culture, food and history. He has a great relationship with local artisans and a knack for presenting information in a captivating way. Rene is constantly looking for new places and craftsmen to make his tours more interesting and unique. He offers private tours and will make sure you are always provided with the best service possible…. Leer Más
Cooking School
Casa de los Sabores
with chef Pilar Cabrera
Chef Pilar Cabrera, owner of "La Olla" restaurant and Casa de los Sabores Cooking School, invites you to savor her inventive and exciting cuisine. Pilar is offering a cultural experience first hand through taste and hands-on cooking. As founder and Chef at "Casa de los Sabores" cooking school, Pilar spends her hours there researching, experimenting and preparing wholly traditional Oaxacan cuisine. Her food is innovation yet traditional. Buen Provecho!
¿Need more information? Please visit the site: La Casa de los Sabores
Authentic Oaxaca food
La Olla restaurant
At La Casa de Las Bugambilias
Casa de las Bugambilias B&B is home to the popular restaurant "La Olla" (the cooking pot) providing innovative Oaxacan cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Chef and owner Pilar Cabrera bases her approach to food in an earth-friendly philosophy, working with regional farmers to provide local flavors, helping to local economy and serving organic products when available. Come enjoy the great food of Oaxaca Mexico.
¿Need a reservation? Please visit the site: La Olla Restaurant
An Oaxaca expererience
Temazcal Ancestral
Relive the traditional indigenous culture in an extraordinary manner.
The Temazcal bath purifies your mind, body, and spirit in an extraordinary garden setting. Ancient ceremonies combine a cleansing sweat bath with herbs and flowers. Music and a soothing massage will renew and energize you.
The word Temazcal comes from the Nahuatl language used by the Aztecs: Temaz = bath and Calli = home. The ceremony offered was used by the Aztecs, Zapotecs, Mixtecs, Mayans, and other indigenous groups as a therapeutic and purifying ritual…Read More


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OUTDOOR CONNECTION Tactical Shotgun Case
The Outdoor Connection's Tactical Cases are made from heavy polyester fabric with a PVC backing to repel moisture. The magazine pouches provide plenty of room for multiple magazines in each pouch. Extra thick polyurethane padding and heavy-duty construction throughout make these tough and durable cases ready for many years of worry-free service.
SPECIFICATIONS:Mfg Item Num: 28109 Category: GUNCASES & BAGS Type :Shotgun CaseColor :BlackDimensions :41 in x8 in Material :600 Denier Polyester FabricFinish :BlackAirline Approved :Pressurized :NoHardware :Lockable :Full Length ZipperProofs :Water Resistant


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Yanya Caballista Preview
Well okay, maybe the Tokyo Game Show 2001 isn't half as Sony-numb as last year was. Some exciting games have been shown off as well as revealed. Koei revealed a exquisite Playstation 2 game that is part Tony Hawk and part Jet Grind Radio! And to tell you the truth, I WANT TO SEE THIS GAME IN THE U.S. KOEI! The visual presentation is 100% cell-shading, which is the exact same artistic feature that was used in Jet Grind Radio, and is included in the upcoming sequel to Klonoa. The game isn't exactly a 'visual demographic' on the PS2, but the ingenuity for the artistic flare will certainly make the game earn some big points in the visuals category. Take a look at the screenshots of the game, I think they speak for themselves.
  The Tony Hawk aspect is quite obvious, this game uses skateboards as its means of transportation, and there is a described reason for that in the game too. In order to get a clan of aliens out of your residing area, you must face them in various matches where the skateboard is the primary weapon. You have to pull off nasty tricks for sick points, grind as much as you possibly can, and best of all, discover hidden areas. These aliens are called Gawoo's, they will be your worst enemy for the time being, live with it! This Tokyo Game Show announcement made me completely forget that XBox will be getting Jet Grind Radio, because we may very well get an even better game.
4/2/2001 SolidSnake
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Tips for Choosing the Best Kona Dentist for You
Let's face the facts. There aren't a lot of dentists in Kona, at least compared to the number of dentists in Honolulu. So the good news is that there aren't a lot of bad dentists in Kona. But the bad news is that this means that it is also tougher to find an exceptional Kona dentist, since there are fewer dentists to choose from.
So when you are looking for an amazing Kona dentist, what should you do? Well, guidelines for choosing the best dentist in Kona for you and your family follow below.
Please keep in mind that many studies have shown that 90% of the population has faced a dental problem in their lives. The problem might have been as simple as gingivitis or as bad as a cavity that required a root canal or worse. So please don't put off locating a dentist to take care of your dental care needs.
Several Kona Dentists Worth Considering
Mark Y. Muramoto, DDS
Carter Yokoyama, D.D.S.
A Dentist's Reputation is everything
First of all, examine the reputation of the Kailua Kona dentist that you are considering. A good dentist in Kailua Kona will have many good reviews and a minimum of bad reviews, while a poor dentist will have many bad reviews and few good reviews. You can look for dentist reviews online and you can also ask your friends for their advice on who provides the best Kona dental care. The longer your friends have been here the more weight you should assign to their advice. A reputation takes many years to build and only one day to destroy. So when you find a dentist with a good reputation, this is an excellent starting point.
The Dental Staff Plays a Big Role
An excellent Kona Dentist should have an equally exceptional staff. When you think about it, you'll notice that you probably spend an equal amount of time interacting with the staff of a dentist as with the dentist himself. So if the dentist does not have a great staff, they can't really be considered a great dentist, because half of the care that you receive is from the staff. A dentist's staff must always be courteous and friendly. They should make you feel right at home in the dentist's office. In addition, they should also be very efficient. They should get their jobs done quickly and with a high degree of quality. They should keep the dentist's office running smoothly and ensure that you do not have to wait a long time to see the dentist.
A High Quality Dental Facility for Families
With a family dentist, the office environment of your dentist is especially important. The number one thing to look for is a comfortable waiting room that is appealing to your children. The waiting room of a family dentist should be bigger and more spacious than the waiting room of a regular dentist because keiki simply need more space than adults. The waiting room should be well stocked with reading materials for you and also things to keep your children occupied like coloring books or games.
Number of Years of Practice
The number of years that a dentist in Kailua Kona has been practicing is another great factor to consider when choosing the best dentist for you in Kona. The more years a dentist has practiced the more time that they have had to build experience and to build their reputation. Just as you would be uncertain about going to a mechanic that has been in business for only a few years, you should be careful about going to a dentist is fresh out of dental school or has only been practicing for a few years.
Kona Dentists Need to Have Aloha
The personality of the best Kona dentist for you is another critical factor. His (or her) personality should be warm and engaging and very caring. He should be comfortable interacting with everyone who walks into his clinic, whether they are a ninety year old grandmother or a five year old child. He should be a people person, who loves spending time with all of his patients. He should have a positive, upbeat attitude that makes every patient feel right at home in his office. The best Kailua dentist must always put his patients first. He must strive to do what is best for them and their dental health. His goal must always be to do what is right by his patients so that their teeth and gums stay in tip-top shape and their smiles will last a lifetime.
Great with Keiki
It almost goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway that the Kona family dentist that you choose must be great with children. Children make the toughest dental patients because they are often frightened of dentists and doctors and various dental procedures. Thus it is imperative that you dentist knows how to work with children. Your dentist needs to know how to keep them calm and how to get them to cooperate so that their examination goes smoothly and they can address all of your child's dental needs. Keep in mind that not every dentist is great with children, so it is important that you keep looking until you find one that does know how to work well with them.
Location it Matters More than You Think
To get the best Kona family dental care, your dentist needs to be located in an area that is near you. Living in Hawaii, location is especially critical, since we are separated by massive mountains and vast stretches of ocean. So location is a very critical factor to consider. Make sure that your dentist is nearby and convenient to get to or you and your family may end up missing or skipping exams. And with dental visits it is important to never miss an exam. It is much easier to correct a small dental problem before it develops into a full blown dental emergency.
ADA and HDA Membership
The best Kona Dentist has to be a member of the American Dental Association and the Hawaii Dental Association. All good dentists in Hawaii are members of the ADA and the HDA. It is not easy to become a member and membership signifies that a dentist has put a lot of time and effort into studying to become a dentist and passing all of the required licensing and certification exams to become a dentist. ADA and HDA membership is simply non-negotiable.
Spectacular Conclusion to a Very Long Article
In conclusion, Kona is a fantastic place to live. It has beautiful beaches, majestic mountains and warm sunny days. But you will struggle to enjoy all that Kona has to offer unless you find a great Kona Dentist to take care of you and your teeth. We all know that to fully enjoy life in Hawaii, we need to be healthy and taking care of your smile is an important part of enjoying good health.


text:
MAG Poetry Competition 2009 - search for new poems
About 80% of the participants in the 2009 poetry competition wished their poems to remain viewable on the website. Check these out here:
Filter Poems By Author's First Name
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There is a gathering dust at the end of the light
A curl of dirt is caught in the air
Like a hurricane, without the wind to force it
Into the strength that it wishes to whisper
Credit Crunch!
Had your fill of porridge oats,
crunchy nuts, jam on toast?
There's a new taste to be found
rather costly pound for pound.
Do you cease
or do you fire?
Which is it to be?
Do you pull the trigger
And now we breathe a sigh of relief,
gone is the charlatan, gone is the thief
of votes and lives
and hopes and dreams,
Heart's Warning
If pain be the warning from body to mind,
To desist what will damage,
Why not do we listen to the pain of our hearts?
Warning the mind that love does wound.
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text: On Wed, 2002-10-23 at 19:54, gabor wrote: > hi, > > until now i thought i understand member variables... > > but now i don't :-): > > example: > >>> class Test: > ... data = [] > ... > >>> a = Test() > >>> a.data.append("x") > >>> a.data > ['x'] > >>> b = Test() > >>> b.data > ['x'] > > so they are shared? > but now: > > >>> b.data = ["y"] > >>> b.data > ['y'] > >>> a.data > ['x'] > > now they aren't anymore.... > > so if i define some data after the class... line then those are static ( > as in c++?) but why the stop being static in the second code-example? Someone else explained how you start with a class variable. But there's more, as you were able to see... When you do an assignment like inst.var = something, and the instance doesn't already have an instance variable by the name "var", then an instance variable is created. So when you did 'b.data = ["y"]', you created a "data" instance variable in the b instance (but not in the a instance). So when you later say "a.data", it looks in a, finds no instance variable, and then looks in Test, and finds a class variable. When you do "b.data" it finds an instance variable and returns that, and never looks in Test. If you want to change the class variable, you'd have to do Test.data = ["y"], or perhaps b.__class__.data = ["y"]. But of course if you do something like b.data[0] = "y", you will be leaving the list in place, and just changing it's 0th member -- so you'd never create an instance variable with that statement. This is all a little contorted. My advice is to simply never assign to class variables -- I usually use them as constants or as state-holding objects (i.e., I never reassign the variable, but I might append to a list). Ian


text:
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Released (02.Feb.05)
Keywords: activity bat batman batsignal battery comic connection cpu data dc gauge graph hero info information ipulse jacket measure memory monitor motherboard network processor ram report signal skin talos tsui usage wayne
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text:
Re: Loisel from l'Anse-aux-Gascons, QC
In reply to:
Loisel from l'Anse-aux-Gascons, QC
Patrick Quimper 8/25/01
Information from the American French Genealogical Society in Woonsocket, RI.
Your family will be hard to search as they are from the Gaspe and originally Acadian, presently Nova Scotia, etc, which the English took over and exiled the French in the mid-1700's.
Pierre was previously married to Julienne Grenier.(Married in Grand Riviere, Gaspe on 18 Sept 1854).He married Cecile Grenier on 1 March 1859 in Port Daniel, Gsape.Cecile was previously married to Jean Baptiste Chouinard in Port Daniel on 4 December 1826. (Source: Drouin's Book of Marriages)
No parents listed for Cecile.
Source for the following:Drouin's book of Marriages and Port Daniel church reister:
Pierre's parents were Pierre Loiselle and Pelagie Brasseau married 25 August 1819 in Port Daniel.Pelagie Brasseau was born 11 March 1802 in PD.Her last name differs in the listings from Brasseau to Brasseur to LeBrasseur.
Pelagie's parents were Joseph Lebrasseur and Tharsile Euphrosine Duguay (born 15 Nov 1776) married before a Justice of the Peace on 1 September 1801 and in church on 16 February 1802.
Joseph's parents were Mathurin LeBrasseur and Catherine Duguay.Euphrosine's parents were Jacques Duguay and Veronique Chapados.


text:
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New Rochelle, NY, January 10, 2012— C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, FACC, will be awarded the inaugural Journal of Women's Health Award for Outstanding Achievement in Women's Health Research, to be presented at the 20th Annual Congress on Women's Health, March 16-18, 2012 in Washington, DC. Physicians, nurses, and allied healthcare providers from across the country will gather at the Congress to learn practical, clinical information, cutting-edge therapeutic protocols, advances in diagnosis and management, and innovative translational research advances that impact women's health care. Complete information is available on the Congress website.
The Journal of Women's Health Award for Outstanding Achievement in Women's Health Research recognizes exceptional work in the overall advancement of women's health research. Dr. Bairey Merz holds the Women's Guild Chair in Women's Health, and is Director of the Women's Heart Center as well as the Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her research has spanned women and heart disease, mental stress and heart disease, the role of exercise and stress management in reversing disease, and the role of nutrition in heart disease. Currently, she is chair of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored WISE (Women's Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation) initiative, which is investigating potential methods for more effective diagnosis and evaluation of coronary artery disease in women.
"Dr. Bairey Merz and her investigative team have been examining coronary heart disease and approaches to its diagnosis in women for more than a decade, and she has been a pioneer in understanding female pattern heart disease," says Congress Co-Chair Wendy S. Klein, MD, Senior Deputy Director Emeritus of the VCU Institute for Women's Health and Deputy Editor of Journal of Women's Health.
The 20th Annual Congress on Women's Health is hosted by the VCU Institute for Women's Health and Journal of Women's Health, in collaboration with NIH Office of Research on Women's Health and National Cancer Institute. Other Collaborating Organizations include the American College of Physicians-Virginia Chapter, American Thyroid Association, Arthritis Foundation, International Menopause Society, National Stroke Association, and Society for Women's Health Research. Dr. Klein and Co-Chair Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Executive Director of the VCU Institute for Women's Health and Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health, will bring together outstanding faculty of the highest caliber for an array of informative sessions focusing on the most clinically relevant topics in women's health including cardiology, oncology, endocrinology, menopause, infectious disease, reproductive health, bone health, psychiatry, and common clinical conditions.
The Congress will offer up to 24.5 credit hours for physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, family physicians, and allied health care professionals. This activity is jointly sponsored by Global Education Group and Institute for Professional Education.
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text:
Stocks closed lower on Tuesday after disappointing earnings reports weighed on the markets a day after most of the benchmark indexes closed at record highs.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 32.41 points, down 0.2%, to 15,451.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 index closed down 6.24 points, down 0.4%, to 1,676.26. The loss ended an eight-day winning streak for the S&P 500.
The Nasdaq composite index dropped 8.99 points, down 0.2%, to 3,598.5 ahead of big-name tech company earnings out this week, including Internet giant Yahoo after Tuesday's closing bell.
In energy trading, benchmark crude for August delivery dropped 57 cents to $105.75 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained 37 cents to $106.32 on Monday.
Two Dow components, Coca-Cola and Johnson and Johnson, reported second-quarter results before the market open Tuesday. Coke shares dropped 1.9% after it posted weaker-than-expected results, and J&J shares were flat after reporting a jump in earnings.
STOCKS: Market rally puts stock prices in question
Goldman Sachs reported a doubling in profits, above consensus estimates, and its shares closed 1.7% lower. Despite the jump in earnings, some analysts were unimpressed. Citigroup analyst Keith Horowitz said he had expected a bigger increase in revenue from trading bonds for clients.
"Earnings are taking the lead at this point in time," said Brad Sorensen, Charles Schwab's director of market and sector research. "So far it's been decent, but nothing to get excited about."
Investors also weighed three economic reports out Tuesday, a day ahead of what is likely to be Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke's final testimony about the economy on Capitol Hill. He is expected to resign in coming months as the end of his term approaches. No successor has yet been named.
On the economic front, a report on consumer inflation in June showed a monthly increase of 0.5%, most of which was due to the impact of a gasoline price spike. Homebuilder confidence and sales outlook the next six months are at seven-year highs, a private housing market firm said. And factory output increased in June for the second straight month.
Stocks closed higher on Monday, setting new highs. The Dow rose 0.1% to 15,484.26. The S&P rose 0.1% to 1,682.50. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 0.2% to 3,607.49. In focus:
MONDAY: Wall Street close sets record highs again
The stock market has climbed back to record levels following a brief slump in June, when the S&P 500 logged its first monthly decline since October on concern that the Federal Reserve would ease back on its economic stimulus too quickly. The S&P 500 has gained for eight straight trading sessions through Monday, its longest winning streak since January.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note dropped slightly to 2.53% Tuesday. The yield, which moves inversely to its price, has fallen since surging as high as 2.74% on July 5.
In Europe, Britain's FTSE 100 index ended down 0.5% to 6,556.35. Germany's DAX 30 index finished down 0.4% to 8,201.05, and France's CAC 40 index closed down 0.7% to 3,851.03.
In Asia on Tuesday, South Korea's Kospi index fell 0.5% to 1,866.36. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index added 0.04% at 21,312.38. China's Shanghai composite index rose 0.3% to 2,065.72. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.6% to 14,599.12.
Contributing: The Associated Press


text: I was able to localize the problem in my case. For some strange reason GZLL does not work if you try to send a string that has been formed by concatenation of strings and integers through 'String' constructor. I know for sure that the string is being constructed as intended since I am printing it to Serial output, but somehow GZLL can't handle it.If I send out my sensor data integer by integer things work fine. Earlier I was packaging data from all sensors into a single string which didn't work.


text:
Decadence doesn't have to be a dirty word.
Fruit + Flower artisanal medicated ice cream is turning the tide on a sea of unhealthy edibles by creating simple recipes with premium local ingredients, seasonal fruit, and a subtle dose of medication. Our delicious flavors are all dairy and gluten free, honey-sweetened, and made with cannabis oil derived through high-grade CO2 extraction.
Owned and operated by a team of sisters that believes in social and environmental responsibility, Fruit + Flower never uses refined sugars or BHO (butane hash oil), which can leave behind traces of solvents and chemicals in so many edibles on the market today. We care about how our ice cream tastes, how it affects your body, and how it makes you feel. Fruit + Flower ice cream is third-party tested for potency, and perfectly balanced so you can feel good about eating a relaxing, luxurious, and safe medicated dessert without unpredictable intoxication.
Ice cream is the quintessential comfort food. We're excited to share a healthy and decadent treat that everyone, including those with restricted diets, can enjoy.
please contact us at email@example.com


text:
Familiar high Sharkoon quality with a well-known, attractive price-performance ratio. The black and yellow SHARK ZONE design enhances your gaming skills and sends a visual warning to your gaming rivals. Use at your own risk!
The all-black SHARK ZONE C10 Mini-ITX PC case offers maximum flexibility within the smallest of space. Thanks to its sophisticated layout, the high quality case offers more than enough room for all needed components. In addition, an optical drive can be installed. The stylish SHARK ZONE design is perfect for use as a powerful gaming PC. With its compact dimensions of only 37.0 x 22.5 x 18.0 cm (L x W x H), it is ideal for mobile and space-saving usage suitable for the next LAN party. Thanks to the clever arrangement of the controls and ports, the case can be used both horizontally and vertically. In addition, conventional ATX power supplies can be installed, in which the use of SFX power supplies provide even more space. A total of up to two expansion cards can be installed.
A quiet 120 mm fan is pre-installed at the top and, if needed, an additional 120 mm fan can also be mounted. If no optical drive is installed, the top also has room for a 240 mm radiator for optional water cooling of the system. Ideal: All side panels offer generous ventilation openings and are all equipped with dust filters. A clear advantage for built-in graphics cards is the fresh air perfectly supplied via the side openings. In order to further optimize the ventilation, an 80 mm fan can be mounted in the rear.
In the front, two USB 3.0 ports provide easy access for connecting peripheral devices. In addition, the SHARK ZONE C10 has two audio ports for convenient use of a headset.
Ideal for a gaming PC: The SHARK ZONE C10 offers room for the installation of a powerful dual-slot graphics card, with a maximum length of up to 31.5 cm. Furthermore, an optical drive in the 5.25" drive bay can be installed. When using the drive bay, a 3.5 inch hard drive or a 2.5" HDD/SSD can also be mounted. Without an optical drive, up to two 3.5 inch hard drives or two 2.5" HDD/SSD can be installed. An additional 2.5" HDD/SSD can be attached to the back of the case, instead of an 80 mm fan. CPU coolers with a maximum height of up to 15 cm can also be used. For easy mounting of a cooler, the case provides an appropriate cooler cutout. Practical thumbscrews simplify the opening as well as the closing of the case.
Sharkoon SHARK ZONE
A warning for some, an adventure for you.
|Max. Length Graphics Cards
|31.5 cm
|Max. Height CPU Cooler
|15.0 cm
|Max. Length Power Supply
|14.5 cm
|Max. Height Radiator incl. Fan
|5.0 cm
|Power Supply
|SFX/ATX (not compatible with modular ATX power supplies)
|Form Factor:
|Expansion Slots:
|Interior Painting:
|Side Panel:
|3.0 kg
|Dimensions (L x W x H):
|37.0 x 22.5 x 18.0 cm
|USB 3.0 (Front):
|Audio (Front):
|Drive Bays:
|5.25" or 3.5" or 2.5":
|3.5" or 2.5":
|Fan Configuration:
|Rear Panel:
|1x 80 mm fan (optional)**
|Top Panel:
|1x 120 mm fan (pre-installed) or 1x 240 mm radiator (optional)
|Max. Length Graphics Cards:
|31.5 cm
|Max. Height CPU Cooler:
|15.0 cm
|Max. Length Power Supply:
|14.5 cm
|Max. Height Radiator incl. Fan:
|5.0 cm
|Power Supply:
|SFX/ATX (not compatible with modular ATX power supplies)
|Package Contents:
|Accessory Set
|* internal 19-pin mainboard connector incl. USB 2.0 plug
|** Install either 2.5" drive or 80 mm fan in rear panel
|EAN Code:
What is the rotational speed of the fan inside the case?1200 rpm
My USB 3.0 ports do not work.Please make sure that both internal USB connectors are not inserted into the mainboard. Only one should be inserted, preferably the internal USB 3.0 connector.
Can a normal ATX power supply be installed into the case?Yes.
> This link will take you to our support form.


text:
Forums → Art, Music, and Writing → I Want to See Your Mental Poop III: The Finale
It's a spotlight. Well, sort of.
Try and make sense out where it's coming from.
Just an Italian tomato having a really bad day...
I forgot, are we allowed to post pictures we didn't draw?
I forgot, are we allowed to post pictures we didn't draw?
Its a random alien spaceship.
A sand watch that doesn't work.
How about mental poop?
It's an anthill.
its obviously a head of a screw thats upside down.
This wouldn't be "I Want to See Your Mental Poop" without at least one attempt at toiler humor.
Can you find all five forms?
Nah, I think it's pretty obvious. And if it isn't, let them have their fun
I found them!
well, I could see them when I first looked at it, but hey, its an achievement.
It's a rejected comic strip character.
They wanted to call him, "Rejection Man."
Thread is locked!
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text:
that trim down the road went kookarooch for this d-ck.
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when you're drunk, high and c-ked out. that party last night was fun. i got drunk did a couple lines and then got high to p-ss out. i was three on.
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radlow is the surname of a person who is intelligent and friendly, they are forgiving and warm hearted but at the same time annoying. the sometimes don't understand simple things and have a bad taste of friends. do you know any radlow's? ben radlow lives in east bentleigh.
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offendaboo is basically an anime fan or just a flat out weaboo that's extremely offended over the fact that people dare make fun of their j-panese cartoons. when offended, you can usually read their comments or replies on a filthyfrank video, a weaboo cringe comp, or on a video criticizing either one singular anime or […]
- son of gotham
a nick name for bruce wayne (batman) "death to the son of gotham" , "death to the son of gotham!" chanted the sacred order of saint dumas


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials are urging customers who recently patronized a Japanese restaurant in the Bronx to get vaccinated after identifying five cases of Hepatitis A.
Officials say Friday one employee and four customers of the New Hawaii Sea restaurant on Williamsbridge Road have tested positive.
Officials are asking that anyone who ate in the restaurant or ordered delivery or catering from it between Sept. 7 and Sept. 19 get vaccinated immediately.
They say the restaurant's owners are cooperating and have voluntarily closed until enough of its employees are vaccinated.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can last from a few weeks to a several months. A vaccination can prevent illness if given within two weeks of exposure.
The department will offer vaccinations beginning Saturday at Herbert Lehman High School.


text:
The history of modern Islamic banks has been traced back to the saving house
established in Egypt in 1963. The Islamic bank that was established through
the great role of Ahmad El Najjar, was based on the principle of profit and
loss sharing (Kahf, 2001). Thus, the activities of the
bank are limited to trade and industry. The low popularity that earns the bank
the tagged name peoples enemy forced the bank to close in 1967. The perceived
revival of the Islamic financial system was therefore left redundant for almost
a decade.
According to Wilson (2009), three basic factors have
contributed to the development of modern Islamic Banking. The first one is the
agreement by the finance minister of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) in 1973 that led to the establishment of the Islamic Development Bank
(IDB) in 1975. The second factor is the oil price surge of 1973-1974 that greatly
contributed to the increase of the financial resources of the Gulf. This has
led to the establishment of banks like, Al-Rajhi bank and other Islamic banks
in the Gulf. The third factor is the immense contribution of the Islamic Scholars
to this field.
Currently, more than 300 Islamic financial institutions operate worldwide with
an estimated assets value of more than $300 billion (Memon,
2007). The ambition of the financial institutions to have access to the
idle Islamic finance funds necessitates increasing numbers of Islamic banks
windows by the conventional banks. Apart from this, the resilient nature of
the Islamic banks to the financial crisis has also contributed to the increasing
popularity and adoption of Islamic banks across the globe.
Though a lot of studies about Islamic banking services adoption have been done, the need for further research in this area is still required based on the exploratory nature of the subject and the fact that each new finding tends to complement the existing findings. This therefore justifies the need for the current study which is expected to highly contribute to the existing literature.
Furthermore, the aspiration of Malaysia to become an Islamic finance hub makes it necessary for the decision makers in the country to understand the increasing needs of the customers in order to gain more popularity, especially in the context of the Malaysian dual banking system that makes the competition more ferocious with their conventional banks counterpart.
The aim of this research is therefore to study the factors that influence the adoption of Islamic banking services in Malaysia. As part of the specific objectives, the study attempts also to examine the factors that influence the attitude towards Islamic banking services, as well as the factors that affect the subjective norm of the customers regarding Islamic banking services in the case of Malaysia.
Overview on islamic banking development in Malaysia: The history of
Islamic banking in Malaysia can be traced back to 1963 when Tabung Haji (the
Pilgrims Management and Fund Board) was established by the government. It is
a specialised financial institution that provides a systematic mobilisation
of funds from Muslims to assist them to perform pilgrimage in Makkah as well
as to encourage them to participate in investment opportunities and economic
activities. In fact, due to its uniqueness, Tabung Haji is considered to be
the first of its kind in the world (Mokhtar et al.,
Based on Laldin (2008), the objectives of the establishment
of Tabung Haji under Act 8 of Pilgrimage Management and Fund Board 1969 are
as follows:
Subsequently, many parties called for the establishment of an Islamic bank
in Malaysia. This resulted in the establishment of the first Islamic bank in
Malaysia, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) in July 1983, with an initial paid
up capital of RM80 million (Sufian, 2007). The establishment
of BIMB has marked a new milestone for the development of the Islamic financial
system in Malaysia. It is worth mentioning that the Islamic Banking Act (IBA)
was initiated in the same period.
The developments in Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad have prompted the government
to look forward in expanding the Islamic banking industry in the country (Laldin,
2008). The next period was meant to create a more conducive environment
for competition among the banks, as well as to give banks the opportunity to
gain greater market shares (Mokhtar et al., 2008).
In this same period, the conventional banks acquired the right to offer Islamic
banking services under what is called Islamic window. Bank Negara had also introduced
the concept of Islamic banking subsidiary and issued licenses to RHB Islamic
Bank, Commerce Tijari Bank Berhad and Hong Leong Islam Bank Berhad in 2005 (Bahari,
The Malaysian Islamic banking system is currently made up of 15 banking institutions
comprising of nine domestic commercial banks, four foreign commercial banks
and two Islamic banks offering Islamic banking products and services under the
Islamic Banking Scheme (IBS). These Islamic banking institutions offer a comprehensive
and broad range of Islamic financial products and services ranging from savings,
current and investment deposit products to finance products such as property
financing, working capital financing, project financing, plant and machinery
financing, etc. (Sufian, 2007).
Literature review
Philosophy and principles of Islamic banking: Islamic finance is a different
mode of finance, aiming at fulfilling the teachings of the holly Quran.
The basic principle of shariah or the Islamic common law is that exploitative
contracts based on riba (interest or usury) or unfair contracts that involve
uncertainty or speculation (gharar) are unenforceable (Zaher
and Hassan, 2001). In addition to this main principle, there are two more
that are of high importance in order to understand Islamic finance. Firstly,
Islamic law reflects the totality of Allahs commands that regulate all
aspects of Muslims lives. Secondly, Islamic finance is directly involved
with spiritual values and social justice Nicholas (1994),
as cited by Zaher and Hassan (2001).
According to Dusuki and Abdullah (2007), there are
several distinctive features that make Islamic finance unique compared to the
conventional. For instance, Islamic finance strives for a just, fair and balanced
society (Mirakhor, 2000; Warde, 2000).
Secondly, Islamic banking is constructed upon the principle of brotherhood and
cooperation, which stands for a system of equity sharing, risk sharing and stake
taking. It promotes such sharing and cooperation between the provider of funds
and the user of funds (Ahmad, 2000; Iqbal
and Molyneux, 2005). Thirdly, Islamic banking is also characterised by ethical
norms and social commitments (Ahmad, 2000; Mirakhor,
2000; Warde, 2000).
Islamic finance is in fact based on three main principles, namely, the prohibition of riba or usury, the prohibition of gharar (ambiguity) and gambling and finally the promotion of profit and loss sharing in order to protect the interest of the community members.
In practice, the Islamic financial contracts can be categorised into two main
groups, namely, profit and loss sharing contracts and the cost plus mark up
contracts (Khan, 2010). A third category can be the
ijarah contracts including the different subgroups of Ijarah contracts. The
profit and loss sharing contracts include musharakah, mudarabah, etc. The cost
plus mark up contracts include murabahah, Bay Bithaman Ajil, etc. And
Ijarah has different categories such as Ijarah Mausufa Bidhimma, Ijarah Muntahia
Bittamleek, etc. The difference between these Islamic services and the conventional
services is the ownership of the assets, as well as the liability and risk attached
to it and which should be borne by the owner of the asset. This is completely
different from the interest-based loans issuance practiced by the conventional
Hence, Islamic finance promotes the values of equality and justice which gives equal opportunities to community members. Meaning that even the poor can access these services, provided that they have enough skill to make profit in the activity that they are most skilful in. For instance, the farmers have the farming skills, so they can access instruments like mudarabah or salam, etc.
Thus, the difference between Islamic and conventional finance is much more
nuanced than the definition often presented in terse media accounts that Islam
forbids interest. Islamic scholars, both today and throughout Islam's theological
tradition, have looked to the Qur'an and Prophetic tradition in order to ascertain
the divinely prescribed ordering of trade and economic relations within a society
(Zyp, 2009).
Theory of reasoned action: Many studies on adoption intention and behaviour have been widely undertaken in the literatures using different methods such as Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Decomposed Theory of Planned of behaviour (DTPB).
Beiginia et al. (2011) explored the mobile banking
adoption among EN bank customers based on Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), Theory
of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour and compared
the three models. The results of their studies indicated that, no improvement
in fit was achieved using the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour, however
decomposed TPB provide better explanation about the attitude, subjective norm
and behavioural intention compared to Theory of Reasoned Action or Theory of
Planned Behaviour (TPB). The results also revealed that, the inclusion of factors
such as relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, efficiency and facilitating
conditions, improved the explanatory ability of the Decomposed TPB. Laforet
and Li (2005) in their studies where consumers attitude towards online
and mobile banking in China was investigated also found similar results in terms
of the influence of security and understanding of the benefit involved. This
indicates that organization must be able to convince consumers regarding the
security of their money and personal information and ensure that awareness of
the existence and benefit of the product must be effectively disseminated to
the consumers.
Natarajan et al. (2011) in a related study explored
the factors that influence adoption of Self Service Technology (SST) and found
that, trust in technology and self efficacy directly influences attitude towards
Self Service Technology (SST). More it was found that, satisfaction of existing
channel indirectly influences attitude towards adoption of Self Service Technology
(SST). Related results was also found by Curran and Meuter
(2005) who investigated the factors influencing the adoption of Self Service
Technology (SST) by comparing three different services and indicated that, ease
of use, usefulness, need for interaction and risk influenced the adoption of
rate of the three products (that is, ATM, bank-by-phone and online banking).
Based on this, it can be argued that, adoption rate greatly on the usefulness
of the particular to the consumers.
Riyadh et al. (2009) aimed at investigating
factors that affect SMEs adoption of e-banking in Bangladesh using TOE
framework, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Institutional Theory and Institutional
Intervention Theory. An integrated conceptual framework for SMEs e-banking
adoption was developed. The following seven variables affecting e-banking adoption
by SME were identified: organizational capabilities, perceived credibility,
perceived regulatory support, ICT industry readiness, lack of financial institutions
readiness and institutional influence. Van Huy, (2007)
found similar results in a related study for the case of Vietnam. This indicates
that the organization must show its competency and ability of implementing it.
Moreover, the national infrastructure must also be made available to facilitate
positive adoption rate.
In another related study, Tan and Teo (2000) did a study
that is aimed at identifying the attitudinal, social and perceived behavioural
control factors that influence adoption of internet banking by adopting the
Theory of Planned Behaviour and Diffusion of Innovation Theory. It was revealed
that, attitudinal and perceived behavioural control factors significantly influenced
the intention to adopt internet banking compared to social influence.
Similarly, Lee (2009) aimed to propose a theoretical
model to explain customers intention to use online banking by synthesising
both positive and negative factors through the adoption of Technology Acceptance
Model (TAM) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The results indicated that,
security/privacy risk and financial risk influence the intention to use internet
Research model and hypotheses: TRA is a well established social psychological
model that is concerned with the determinants of consciously intended behaviours
(Yousafzai et al., 2010). It theory was initially
introduced in 1967 and has been developed, refined and tested over the years
(Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980). However, prior to the development
of the TRA, Martin Fishbein proposed a theory illustrating the relationships
between the belief about behaviour and the attitude towards that particular
behaviour (Zhikun and Fungfai, 2009).
As its name implies, the theory of reasoned action is based on the assumption
that human beings usually behave in a sensible manner; that they take account
of available information and implicitly or explicitly consider the implications
of their actions. Consistent with its focus on volitional behaviour, the theory
postulates that a persons intention to perform (or not to perform) a behaviour
is the immediate determinant of that action. Barring unforeseen events, people
are expected to act in accordance with their intentions (Ajzen,
Though some authors consider that human social behaviour is controlled by unconscious
motives or overpowering desires, or else that it can be characterised as capricious
or thoughtless (Adhikari, 2011) and Ajzen
and Fishbein (1980) argued that people consider the implications of their
actions before deciding whether to engage or not in a given behaviour. And according
to them, this is why the theory is called Theory of Reasoned Action.
The main goal of the theory of reasoned action is to predict and understand
the individuals behaviour. It also aims at explaining the human behaviour,
which is subsequently followed by identifying how and where to target strategies
for changing behaviours (Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980).
As it is shown in Fig. 1, the theory suggests that intention
is the main predictor of the actual behaviour. The behavioural intention is
the function of two elements. The first element is the attitude towards a particular
This factor is proposed to be a function of the behavioural belief as well
as the evaluation of outcome. The second element is the subjective norm and
it is depending on the normative beliefs and the motivation to comply.
The attitude towards behaviour is the individuals positive or negative
feelings about performing the target behaviour. It is determined through an
assessment of ones beliefs regarding the consequences. Formally, overall
attitude can be assessed as the sum of the individual consequence multiplied
by the desirability assessments for all expected consequences of the behaviour
(Masrom and Hussein, 2008).
Subjective norm refers to a persons perception that most people that
are important to him/her think that he/she should/should not perform the behaviour
under consideration. According to the theory, the more a person perceives that
others who are important to him/her think that he/she should/should not perform
a behaviour, the more he/she will intend to do so. Ceteris paribus, people are
viewed as intending to perform the behaviours they believe their important relatives
and friends think they should perform (Crockett, 1997).
Based on the proposed model, research hypotheses are posited regarding the
effect of both behavioural beliefs about Islamic banking and evaluation of the
outcome of that belief on the attitude towards Islamic banking, the effect of
the normative belief and motivation to comply on subjective norm and finally
the effect of both subjective norm and attitude on intention to adopt Islamic
banking services. The hypotheses are as follows:
Since the current study is conducted in the context of Malaysia, the target respondents are the Malaysian Islamic banks customers. A total of 350 questionnaires were randomly distributed to the customers of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad as well as those of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad, located in Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan, Penang as well as Johor. Out of the distributed questionnaires, 335 were returned and properly filled. Thus, a response rate of 95.7% was reached.
As the current study uses the Theory of Reasoned Action to test the factors
that determine the intention of the banking customers to adopt Islamic banking
services, the questionnaire used in this study was derived from the original
instrument designed by Ajzen and Fishbein (1980). The instrument
was subsequently adjusted to suit the Islamic banking services adoption in Malaysia.
The questionnaire was made of two main parts, the first part was meant to measure
the seven latent constructs of the TRA using a five points likert scale ranging
from 1 as strongly disagree to 5 as strongly agree while the second part was
meant to explore the demographic information related to the respondents.
The data were subsequently analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis as a preliminary step to Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Furthermore, the analysis was done through two main softwares, namely, AMOS 18 and SPSS 18.
The results indicate that 55.5% were male, while 44.5% were female. In terms of age grouping, majority of the respondents are between 20 to 30 years old that is 48.4%, then 34.3% are between 31 to 40 years while 17.3% are between 41 and 50 years. Overall, 61.8% are single while the remaining 38.2 percent are married.
Regarding the level of education, 48.1% are holding a bachelors degree, 34.6% are holding masters degree, 14.0% are holding a PhD degree and 3.3 percent are holding a diploma. For the type of employment, it is worth noting that 29.8% are students, 27.2% are self employed and 23.3% of the respondents are working in the private sector, while 19.7% are working in the public sector.
On the other hand, by looking at the duration of customer-ship with the banks, we find that 39% of the respondents have been customers with the bank for more than five years. Another 38% have been customers with the bank for three to less than 5 years while the remaining 23% of the customers have been with the bank for 1 to less than 3 years.
Exploratory factor analysis: Prior to the Structural Equation Modelling analysis, it is necessary to perform exploratory factor analysis as a preliminary step. In this regard, after checking the correlation and anti image matrix, we reached the final result amounting to seven factors, whereby, the first three factors contain 7 items each, the fourth and fifth factor contain 4 items and lastly the sixth and seventh factors contain three items each.
The KMO value is 0.926 which largely exceeds the threshold of 0.5, showing
a high degree of sample adequacy as suggested by Hair and
Anderson (2010). Furthermore, all the individual KMOs are greater than 0.5
which is also an evidence for the sample adequacy as recommended by Field
Validity measures: The measurement model and the model summary shown
in Table 1 indicate good fit indices, whereby, the Chi-square
value is 2353.683, the normed Chi-square is 4.509, the RMSEA is 0.102 and the
CFI value is 0.832 which is an acceptable model fit according to the threshold
suggested by Browne and Cudeck (1993), Hu
and Bentler (1999) and Kim and Forsythe (2010).
The validity of the model is an important step in applying SEM. According to
Hair and Anderson (2010), validity is simply defined as
the extent to which research is accurate. One of the primary objectives of the
confirmatory factor analysis is to assess the construct validity of a proposed
measurement theory. Construct validity is the extent to which a set of measured
items actually reflects the theoretical latent construct those items are designed
to measure. Construct validity is made up of four components that will be discussed
based on the above results.
The convergent validity means that the items that are indicators of a specific
construct should share a high proportion of variance in common. According to
Hair and Anderson (2010), there are several ways to estimate
the relative amount of convergence validity, including the factor loadings,
the average variance extracted as well as the reliability test.
For the factor loadings, Hair and Anderson (2010) suggest
that, they should be greater or equal to 0.5 in order to be acceptable. This
criterion is met in our case, since all the factor loading are greater than
0.5 as shown in Table 2. On the other hand, Hair
and Anderson (2010) consider that a good reliability should be 0.7 or higher
and this criterion is also met because the lowest reliability estimate is 0.822
for the behavioural belief construct. Finally, the average variance extracted
is recommended to be 0.5 and above (Hair and Anderson, 2010).
This condition is also met as shown on Table 2 with the minimum
average variance explained of 0.502 for the evaluation of outcome construct.
The second measure of validity to be considered is the discriminant validity
which is the extent to which every construct is distinct from the others. In
order to test for discriminant validity, Hair and Anderson
(2010) propose to fix the correlation between any two constructs to be equal
to 1 and subsequently compare the fit of the two models. If the fit of the two
models is significantly different, then this will provide evidence of discriminant
validity of the model.
The two-construct model i.e., the model where the correlation between two of the existing constructs has been fixed to 1. In fact, all the constructs correlations have been fixed to 1, in one analysis after the other and all of them amounted to the same result.
Table 3 shows the Chi-square values for the baseline model as well as the two-construct model, together with their degrees of freedom and the change in both the Chi-square values and the degrees of freedom.
The change in the Chi-square value is 128.971 while the change in the degrees of freedom is 1. By comparing these values to the critical value extracted from the Chi-square table, corresponding to a degree of freedom of 1 and a confidence margin of 0.05, which is a value of 3.84, we can conclude that the Chi-square difference test is significant. Thus, the model does have discriminant validity.
In addition to the convergent and discriminant validity, the face validity and nomological validity have also been performed by referring to the specialists and professionals in the field of bank marketing and Islamic banking and Finance.
Finally, the model was validated using a split method, whereby the data used
in the current study was split into two groups of 168 and 167, respectively.
The results of the split indicate that the fit indices are similar for the two
groups and are also showing good and acceptable fit for the model based on Browne
and Cudeck (1993), Hu and Bentler (1999) and Kim
and Forsythe, (2010).
The above results thus provide evidence on the convergent validity, the discriminant validity, face validity as well as nomological validity. Additionally, the validity test that has been performed using the split method also provides enough evidence that the model is valid.
Structural model: The structural model in Fig. 2 shows
a Chi-square value of 2659. 253, a normed Chi-square of 4.952, an RMSEA of 0.109
and a CFI value of 0.805 which is good and acceptable model fit based on Browne
and Cudeck (1993), Hu and Bentler (1999) and Kim
and Forsythe (2010), that consider a CFI value of 0.8 and higher as acceptable.
Table 4 and 5 show the direct and indirect effects, respectively. The results indicate that, behavioural belief about Islamic banking has a positive influence on the attitude towards Islamic banking services as shown by a path coefficient of 0.68. This supports hypothesis 1 which states that behavioural belief has a positive influence on the attitude towards Islamic banking services.
Furthermore, evaluation of outcome was also found to have a positive influence
on the attitude towards Islamic banking services, indicated by the path coefficient
of 0.21 which is still greater than the minimum of 0.2 suggested by Byrne
(2010). This supports hypothesis 2 stating that evaluation of outcome has
a positive influence on the attitude towards Islamic banking.
The findings suggest also that normative belief has a positive influence on subjective norms, illustrated with a path coefficient of 0.61. This result supports hypothesis 3 claiming that normative belief has a positive influence on the subjective norm in the case of Islamic banking services.
On the other hand, the results also indicate that motivation to comply has a positive influence on subjective norm and this is shown by the path coefficient of 0.24 which is still greater than the minimum requirement of 0.2. In fact, this supports hypothesis 4 stating that the motivation to comply will have a positive influence on the subjective norm.
The above results suggest also that the attitude towards Islamic banking has a positive influence on the intention to adopt Islamic banking services with a path coefficient of 0.32. And effectively this supports hypothesis 5 stating that the attitude towards Islamic banking services will have a positive impact on the intention to adopt them.
Finally, subjective norm was found to have a positive impact on the intention to adopt Islamic banking services with a path coefficient of 0.61 and this, in turn supports hypothesis 6 claiming initially that subjective norm will have a positive impact on the intention of the customers to adopt Islamic banking services.
Furthermore, the results suggest that normative belief, behavioural belief and motivation to comply have a significant positive indirect effect on the intention to adopt Islamic banking services, while the indirect effect of the evaluation of outcome on the intention to adopt Islamic banking services is not significant.
The current study aimed at finding the factors that influence the intention to adopt Islamic banking services in the context of Malaysia, based on the Theory of Reasoned Action. The results of the current study support the concept of the TRA approach in the context of Islamic banking services adoption intention.
The findings suggest that, both behavioural beliefs and evaluation of outcome have a significant influence on the attitude towards Islamic banking services. The findings also suggest that, both normative belief and motivation to comply have a significant positive influence on the subjective norm. More so, it was found that both attitude towards Islamic banking services and subjective norm, have a significant positive influence on the intention to adopt Islamic banking services.
Based on the finding of this study, it is suggested that both the full fledged
Islamic banks as well as the conventional banks that operate Islamic windows
in Malaysia should focus on these aspects in order to attract and retain more
customers. The belief about Islamic banking services, the outcome of adopting
Islamic banking services as well as the attitude towards Islamic banking services
can all be enhanced by educating the existing customers as well as the potential
customers. This can be done through awareness campaigns about both the Islamic
banking services and the Islamic teachings and values. Doing this may serve
as an incentive for the customers to patronise Islamic banking services, instead
of the conventional counterpart.
Furthermore, the Islamic banks need to inspire confidence in the existing as well as the potential customers. In fact, this is one of the ways the banks can rationally use these three factors of normative belief, motivation to comply as well as subjective norm. Customers that are confident in the Islamic bank and the services the banks provide will influence others such as friends and relatives to patronise the bank. Since the motivation to comply has also a significant positive influence on the subjective norm, then the potential customers are more likely to comply with the recommendations of their peers and subsequently end up adopting Islamic banking services.
Beside the above implications for the practitioners, the findings of the study have great implications for the body of knowledge as well. In fact, the study could expand the theory of reasoned action to a different area which is the study of Islamic banking services, particularly, the patronisation behaviour of Islamic banks customers. The study also provides a modelling of the customers perception and patronisation behaviour by identifying the main stimulators and channels of the customers behaviour regarding Islamic banking services in Malaysia.
Future researches are recommended to explore the determinants of the intention to adopt Islamic banking services in other countries. Meanwhile, the future researches can also be directed to use different models in the context of Malaysia, to find more detailed results, such as the factors that influence the behavioural beliefs about Islamic banking services. In addition, it is recommended to focus on specific kinds of Islamic financial services, especially those that were not widely launched up to date.


text:
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