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While workplaces have become increasingly less formal and more business transactions are taking place outside traditional office settings, the line that separates business from personal can blur. It is important to maintain a certain level of workplace decorum, whether you are in the office or out at an office mixer. Be sure to observe the following pointers, which address a variety of scenarios:
Practicing proper workplace decorum in the office and at social functions is just one step to master in reaching your career goals. The AICPA's E.D.G.E. Conference, August 6 to 8 in New Orleans, has a number of sessions that cover additional steps to maximizing your career potential, including networking tips, effective leadership strategies and much more. What other tips do you have to practice proper workplace decorum?
AICPA Young CPA Network. The Young CPA Network is a vital community in which young and aspiring CPAs can seek answers and advice regarding career challenges and opportunities, while building the supportive network of professional relationships they need to be successful in the CPA profession.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
If you're like me, the answer to that question has changed over the years. I've answered everything from "shortstop for the Kansas City Royals" to "managing partner of a CPA firm," and everything in between—and there is a lot in between. But, whatever your career aspirations are, no matter what position you hope to have, or what industry you hope to be in when you retire, you will need people to help you get there.
People who turn lofty dreams and career aspirations into reality almost always have one thing in common: a tremendous network of people. How do you develop this network when you're a young professional? Where do you begin? It seems daunting to think of going from the seemingly insignificant network you graduated with to the "who's who" list that some partners at your firm carry with them. While you could go to every one of the grip-and-grin networking happy hours offered every month, how effective is that? Is that really the kind of interaction you're seeking?Here are a few tips to maximize your networking opportunities:
Networking as a young professional requires some patience and effort, but it doesn't have to be an effort you dread. It may seem fruitless initially, but if your focus is on getting to know people and how you can help them be successful, it will pay off and be enjoyable. The benefits of having a great network are too numerous to list here, but one thing is for certain: the earlier you start and the more effort you put in, the larger, more influential and more rewarding your network is sure to be.
Chad Allen, CPA.CITP, Senior Audit Manager, Cochran Head Vick and Co. Chad provides audit, review and business advisory services to small businesses and mid-market companies and oversees the firm's commercial audits. He earned a B.S. in accounting from the University of Kansas and is a member of the Kansas Society of CPAs Board of Directors. Chad is a graduate of the 2013 AICPA Leadership Academy and the 2011 class of the Kansas Society of CPAs' "20 Up To 40" Leadership Program.
Networking image via Shutterstock
I review LinkedIn profiles almost every day. By now, I have seen at least 2,000, and I just cringe when I see things that could or will hinder someone's professional image. I am not in a position to advise people individually, so this blog is the next best thing.
Keep in mind that LinkedIn goes beyond looking good for recruiters. Even if you are not interested in a new job, your online image still needs attention. If anyone Googles you - a potential client or employer, your company's VP, a former supervisor, a reporter or even a prospective date - your LinkedIn profile could easily be the first thing that shows up. You want your best foot forward all the time.I estimate that in 10 minutes (give or take), you can make a real difference by:
For more help with LinkedIn and social media in general, check out the AICPA's User Guides (for AICPA members) – they are great for walking you through the basics, introducing you to tools you may not know about and giving expert advice on building a profile, as well as the do's and don'ts of social media etiquette.
How's your LinkedIn profile looking these days?
Ann Marie Maloney, Communications Manager - Tax, American Institute of CPAs.
Twin Design / Shutterstock.com
Is your CPA firm involved in the scramble for talent? As I give presentations and work with CPAs around the country, it seems like many CPA firms are in hiring mode. Increasingly, I'm telling these firms that to remain competitive, they must understand their younger recruiting candidates—Millennials. Millennials are the generation born roughly between 1980 and the early 2000s. I tell CPA firms, if they want to get into the Millennial brain, they should be aware of five important facts.
Fact #1: Millennials are poised to take on more responsibility. The oldest members of this generation have now entered their thirties. With about 10 years on the job, they have built the kind of experience that CPA firms need to remain successful. However, if they don't believe the firm offers them the opportunity to grow and contribute, these younger professionals won't hesitate to move on to a better option.
Fact #2: CPA firms must provide growth opportunities. In the past, workers typically left a job because they believed their manager was not a good boss or didn't appreciate their work, or an opportunity offering a higher salary enticed them away. Today, I find that these issues remain factors, but Millennials, in particular, take a larger view and want to understand what kind of long-term career opportunities the firm offers. They are also far more likely to jump ship than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers. As one Forbes magazine article put it, citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, job hopping is the new normal for Millennials. This is a relatively new development in the CPA profession, which has long counted on loyalty as a staff retention measure.
The takeaway for CPA firms: Employee surveys or one-to-one discussions can help you better understand staff expectations.
The takeaway for CPA firms: CPAs will have to do a better job of communicating the many benefits of working for their firm, including technical learning opportunities, chances to enhance their leadership skills, client interaction and solid career paths. If they don't, their best people may move to practices that present a more dependable future career trajectory.
Fact #3: CPA firms must become more inclusive regarding decision making. In a typical scenario, the partners go on retreat, identify some of the firm's significant pain points and develop ideas to address them. The only way the staff is involved is when partners give a presentation on what's been decided and, perhaps, offer staff the chance to serve on a committee to enact some of those decisions. But Millennial staff members have grown up in a very collaborative world, one where everyone shares their every thought and opinion on social media and in the classroom. They feel shut out if an employer doesn't solicit their input and include it in the planning process.
The takeaway for CPA firms: Employee engagement is vital. Firms must solicit and, whenever possible, act on staff members' good ideas. Firms that want to focus in particular on nurturing future leaders and encouraging greater engagement should consider sending their most promising people to the AICPA Emerging Partner Training Forums.
Fact #4: Technology is key. Young people are well aware of the many ways technology—including social media—can benefit a business, whether it's used to slash the time required to perform a task, deepen ties with client personnel, promote new services or accomplishments, attract new clients or support flexible or virtual workplaces. CPA firms can use technology to run a more efficient practice that can do quality work more economically.
The takeaway for CPA firms: Instead of seeing technology as a distraction or a disruption to the normal routine, find out how your young staff members can help to put it to work to improve your practice. If you need any more incentive, a recent survey by the Sleeter Group found that 85% of small businesses said they wanted their CPAs to be more proactive in technology, so there are many good reasons to amp up your tech capabilities.
Fact #5: Turnover is costly. The estimates vary, but turnover expenses can add up to one to three times an employee's salary. When an employee leaves, related expenses include not only the hiring process and retraining, but also the cost of covering their responsibilities and the damage to productivity due to short staffing. Meanwhile, 21 percent of employees say they plan to change jobs this year, according to a Career Builder survey, the highest level since the recession. The last PCPS/TSCPA National Management of an Accounting Practice Survey, conducted in 2012, noted early indications that voluntary turnover was on the rise. It will be interesting to see what the 2014 survey, which is being fielded now, will reveal about turnover.
The takeaway for CPA firms: Retention is critical. If you're looking for tools to help you address retention, I recommend you visit the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section Human Capital Center. This center contains resources on employee retention and work/life balance that can help CPAs to hold on to their best people.
Staffing has become an important issue for CPA firms looking to attract and retain Millenials. Firm administrator Janine Zirrith and I will give a presentation on navigating the recruiting and retention waters, and the many generational issues involved, at the 2014 AICPA Practitioners Symposium and TECH+ Conference, June 9 to 11 in Las Vegas. Equally important is providing training for Millennials. At the AICPA's E.D.G.E. Conference, August 6 to 8 in New Orleans, CPAs with five to 15 years' experience are invited to join their peers to discuss "Big Ideas in the Big Easy."
As Millennials reshape recruitment and retention expectations, it's not too late to shift your focus and become an employer of choice for this ambitious generation.
What techniques are you using at your firm to get a handle on Millennial talent?
Rita Keller, President, Keller Advisors. Rita is a nationally known CPA firm management consultant, speaker and author, and a former CPA firm shareholder and chief operating officer.
Young professional image via Shutterstock
Most of us are familiar with the story of the frog that was dropped into a pot of boiling water and immediately jumped out to save itself. The same frog later found himself in a pot of water at room temperature. The temperature was gradually increased and the poor frog, not noticing the danger, remained in the pot to suffer an untimely demise. Although not scientifically accurate, the anecdote serves as a metaphor for one's inability to notice gradual change.
In our careers, we can all feel like we are that frog at times. Just like temperatures, careers can change for the worse, often gradually and without notice. However, if we pay close attention to the red flags in our careers, we can know when to jump long before the water starts to boil.
I would like to share a few thoughts from my own experiences that may help you – whether on a partner or CFO track – detect the warning signs along your career path and keep yourself out of hot water.
It can be difficult to pass up a career opportunity when you're unemployed and desperate for your next job. Sometimes, circumstances dictate that we stay in a less than ideal job longer than we would like. However, if you can recognize the telltale signs that the organization may not be a long-term fit for you and create a vision for your own professional path, you will be prepared to act when the right opportunity comes along, and leap from the pot before the water heats up.
What are some of the warning signs you watch for when deciding whether to make the jump?
Dan Griffiths, CPA, CGMA, Director of Strategic Planning, Tanner, LLC. Dan specializes in working with organizations that find themselves at a strategic inflection point, including start-ups, turnaround and restructuring projects. Dan is a graduate of the 2010 AICPA Leadership Academy and in 2011-12 served as the chair of the AICPA's Young CPA Network Committee. He was recently selected to serve as Utah's elected member of the AICPA governing Council. He earned B.S. and M.A. degrees from Brigham Young University.
Many people think of networking as either schmoozing or as a purely social activity. In reality, a strong professional network is an important resource for an up-and-coming CPA. A strong network is diverse and includes clients/customers, peers, senior professionals, business partners and vendors. A strong network helps to build us as professionals and provide better solutions to the organizations we serve.
Just imagine if everyone you had in your network were just like you. How would you find the variety of insights you need to deal with complex issues? We need more varied perspectives and knowledge to make better decisions.I know from practical experience that a strong network is especially important to CPAs, but did you know it also reflects one of our core competencies? In the CPA Horizons 2025 project, under "Integration and Collaboration," the AICPA describes a professional network: "CPAs are effective at building strategic alliances and working collaboratively to provide multidisciplinary solutions to complex problems."
Building strategic alliances is one of the key outcomes of a strong, trustworthy professional network. It is through these strategic alliances that CPAs can work collaboratively with other professionals to address complex problems and bring true multidisciplinary solutions to the table.
A recent example of this is a project I am working on for one of my clients, a community foundation. The foundation has a large scholarship program involving more than 9,000 applicants, many selection committees and several hundred funding sources/donors. Currently, their systems are only half-automated. The organization's objective is to be able to run its entire scholarship program through an electronic system. To support this goal, I am coordinating a team that consists of:
Add to this my own role of helping to manage the risk of the project and ensure the overall quality of the end results. These other professionals all have different expertise, and it is my job as the CPA/CITP on the team to bring all of their skillsets together to ensure the success of the project for the client.
How did I find people to take these positions? Through my professional networks!
From a more personal perspective, a strong network is also important for our own professional development. We may have coaches within our organizations, but those people are usually focused on ensuring our professional roles meet a certain set of goals—and, actually, these coaches tend to be influenced by our work environment. By having a mentor who is external to our workplace, and maybe from another discipline, we can often get a new perspective on how we are progressing in our overall professional life—rather than just in our career with a given organization.
I see the value of this aspect of networking every time I attend an AICPA or state CPA society function. I'm able to share my experiences with colleagues from different geographical areas and different expertise areas, bounce ideas off of them and sometimes commiserate. But, the real value is that I'm able to get ideas of what worked or didn't work in their organizations, for their clients or for someone else from their professional network. As I analyze my options, this helps me to either validate the decision I'm making or at least give me some additional information to consider.
Next time you're attending a conference, seminar or happy hour, enjoy the company and camaraderie, but also look for opportunities to strengthen your professional network—and your effectiveness.
Donny Shimamoto, CPA/CITP, CGMA, Founder and Managing Director, IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC. Donny's firm focuses on organizational development and advisory services for the middle market. He is a recognized national expert in IT management and international author/speaker on business intelligence initiatives.
Networking image via Shutterstock
You have just been handed the project. You know the one – the assignment no one else wanted, and even though you thought you were flying under the radar, the project still landed in your lap. Now what?
You have two options: run away from your boss's office or face the project head on—and come away a victor. It's up to you.
I think we all face the "dreaded project" at some point or another in our careers, probably on more than one occasion. It can be particularly daunting as a young CPA to get an assignment that's outside what you consider your realm of expertise, and sometimes, you just can't say "no." Yet, to think you will come out of the experience unscathed might not be realistic. Nevertheless, it's my experience that you will learn and become empowered for the next big challenge.
Here are a few tips to help you handle the difficult assignment—and conquer it:
It's easy to feel a little apprehensive when you are handed a difficult assignment, especially if it's your first big challenge in the workplace. Expectations can be high. You want to show that you can handle the task. With a little planning and collaboration, you will be able to meet the most challenging project head-on and come away victorious.
Have you conquered a difficult assignment? Share what you learned along the way with others.
Donna W. Salter, Senior Manager - Young Member Initiatives, American Institute of CPAs.
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The AICPA recently announced that undergraduate and graduate level accounting students may now apply online for scholarships for the 2014-2015 academic year.
In addition, the AICPA has created a new scholarship for students who have earned a finance-related associates degree and declared their intent to major in accounting at a four-year college or university. The AICPA Foundation Two-Year Transfer Scholarship will provide $1,000 to five qualified recipients.
The AICPA Foundation Two-Year Transfer Scholarship joins the AICPA/Accountemps Student Scholarship, AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship, and AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students to comprise the AICPA Legacy Scholars program.
For more than 40 years, the AICPA has provided accounting scholarships to help students pay for college. In 2011, the AICPA established the Legacy Scholars Program to offer these qualified scholarship recipients benefits beyond financial assistance. AICPA Legacy Scholars perform eight hours of community service per semester, honing professional skills such as leadership, public speaking, and project management.
Program participants are Student Affiliate Members of the AICPA, which is a free membership option available to all students who are enrolled in school at a two-year or four-year college or university. Each AICPA Legacy Scholar is assigned a coach who provides guidance on the student's service project and serves as an advisor for questions related to the profession and the work environment.
The deadline to apply for the AICPA Legacy Scholars Program is April 1.
I sat down with Samantha Mitchell, who is involved in the day-to-day management of the AICPA Legacy Scholars Program, for details and insights about the application process and the benefits of the program.
James Schiavone: Why should students apply for the Program?
Samantha Mitchell: The AICPA Legacy Scholars Program offers the financial benefits of a scholarship and gives students a chance to develop professional skills such as networking, leadership and project planning that employers are looking for. They are also provided with a community of peers who provide them support and encouragement along the way and a professional coach who provides mentorship and guidance.
JS: What do the recipients of different scholarships have in common?
SM: These students are all highly motivated – they want to become successful CPAs. They are all very involved in their communities. While AICPA Legacy Scholars are a diverse group of students with different backgrounds – educational, ethnic and geographic –they all share a passion for accounting.
JS: What are some of the service projects that have stood out over the last few years?
SM: There are so many unique projects to choose from and all of them are impressive in their own right.
Last year, one of our AICPA Legacy Scholars conducted a seminar for young women on campus in conjunction with a campus organization. She was able to incorporate a strong accounting focus targeting freshman and sophomores. She coordinated speakers from local companies, refreshments and merchandise/handouts, with over 100 attendees. That really stood out for the planning that went into pulling the event off.
One of our scholars worked with his accounting club to help the local chapter of a non-profit dedicated to building homes for people in need. The non-profit wasn't sure how to appropriately price each house they were building to reflect materials and labor. The scholar led his accounting club in an effort to develop a cost system for some of their projects. The local executive director commended them on a job well done.
Another young woman, who was a recipient of the minority scholarship, gave presentations on accounting as a profession to local schools. What was so impressive was that English was not her first language and this was her first opportunity to present in English. The program empowered her to give these presentations and her experiences will serve her well when she is working and needs to make presentations to her future clients. This is a great example of how the service projects build skills that will be transferable to the workforce.
JS: Anything you would like to add?
SM: The AICPA Legacy Scholarships application process can be started online.
In addition to the AICPA Legacy Scholars program, there are a ton of great scholarship opportunities available at ThisWayToCPA.com/scholarshipsearch.
I would encourage all students interested in accounting to sign up for AICPA's Student Affiliate Membership on ThisWayToCPA. It is totally free and provides information about taking the CPA exam, resume and job interview tips and useful information about transitioning from a student to a CPA.
James Schiavone, Media Relations Manager, American Institute of CPAs.
What opportunities and challenges does the head of the AICPA foresee for the CPA profession in 2014? What were the profession's significant achievements in 2013? Barry C. Melancon, CPA, CGMA, AICPA president and CEO, answers these questions and offers insights on how the profession will continue to adapt to today's changing environment, addressing clients' and employer's needs. Citing successes with regulation, legislation, recruitment and positioning the profession for the future, Barry strongly believes CPAs will build on a solid foundation.
1. What were the AICPA's legislative or regulatory priorities this past year and what's in store for 2014?
We continued to have success in the advocacy area in 2013. In one significant victory for the profession and the public, the Securities and Exchange Commission exempted CPAs from registration as municipal advisers when they are providing certain accounting or attest services. We urged the SEC to exempt CPAs from the definition of municipal advisers after it had indicated that anyone performing accounting services for governments would be defined as a "municipal adviser." It was critical that our voices be heard on this issue because such a broad definition would have made it more difficult for CPAs to serve governments and potential investors without taking on unnecessary and duplicative costs or compliance burdens.
Along with state CPA societies and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, the AICPA is urging state legislatures to adopt a revised definition of attest in the Uniform Accountancy Act. The AICPA and NASBA released a public exposure draft of new model legislative language earlier this year, and received overwhelmingly positive comments from interested stakeholders. The new proposed definition would revise the current model definition of attest to ensure that only licensed CPAs operating within a licensed CPA firm can issue reports based on the AICPA's professional standards (that is, statements on standards for attestation engagements). I believe it's critical that companies and end users of their attested reports have confidence in those performing these services. And CPAs operating within CPA firms are the only practitioners who meet the appropriately high bar of necessary competencies, education, experience and oversight to protect the public interest in this area. The AICPA also has partnered with NASBA to support state CPA societies and state boards of accountancy who may want to approach their state legislatures to inquire about passing a new law to permit CPA firm mobility.
Now I'll mention a tax situation. When a court decision struck down the Internal Revenue Service's preparer tax identification number program, members found themselves unable to affix a valid PTIN to their clients' tax returns. We conferred with the IRS to address our members' concerns, resulting in the IRS reopening the PTIN system.
Looking ahead, our top legislative and regulatory priorities in 2014 include tax code simplification and mobile workforce legislation. As far as tax reform, the timing is uncertain but it now appears to have pushed out to possibly 2015 for final legislation. Regardless, our tax and congressional affairs teams and volunteer leaders have been and will continue to serve as a resource for members of Congress. On the other hand, mobile workforce legislation is progressing quite well. This legislation would set a national standard for the taxation of employees when performing work outside their home state and reduce related regulatory burdens for businesses that operate interstate. Both the House and Senate have introduced bipartisan bills and we are hopeful this legislation gets signed into law.
2. What do you think about the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's proposed changes to the auditor's report? What other PCAOB developments should we watch?
First, let me highlight two developments with very positive implications: bipartisan passage of a House bill prohibiting the PCAOB from requiring mandatory audit firm rotation and a companion bill that has been introduced in the Senate. These moves signal that mandatory audit firm rotation is less likely to move forward in the U.S. Still, we continue to monitor developments abroad, specifically in the European Union where it has gained some traction.
In regard to changes to the auditor's report, the Center for Audit Quality, which is affiliated with the AICPA, has called for responsible changes in this area and prepared a comment letter. I'll summarize it this way. Certain additional information in the auditor's report may provide value for investors and other financial statement users, and we support that, but the new information has to be seen in the context of increased risk for auditors. I also agree with the investor position that such information should come from company management, with auditors providing assurance on it. In addition, any changes to the process should encompass enhancements to the roles and responsibilities of all parties in the financial reporting system. Overall though, this is a good evolutionary direction.
Lastly, I commend the PCAOB for its foresight to work on an audit standard for revenue recognition. The Financial Accounting Standards Board is expected to release the new, converged revenue recognition standard in the first quarter of 2014. Coordination of accounting and auditing standards is critical to enhancing audit quality.
3. How has the marketplace responded to the Financial Reporting Framework for Small- and Medium-Sized Entities?
The FRF for SMEs framework was the AICPA's answer to a need in the marketplace and we're hearing that it has generated a great deal of excitement. Firms have embraced it as a new opportunity to serve clients in their role of trusted business advisers. We know that a number of firms are preparing to roll it out to their clients for 2013 financial statements and have been meeting with lenders. Our targeted ad campaigns to small business owners and financial statement users have been successful as well, based on traffic to our toolkits for those stakeholders.
I want to reiterate that the FRF for SMEs is in the non-GAAP space. In the GAAP arena, we're pleased that the Financial Accounting Foundation's Private Company Council has made quick progress in recommending alternatives in GAAP for private companies. In fact, the FASB has endorsed two of the PCC's proposals already. Many companies need to use U.S. GAAP, and they'll have the option of applying standards that are less complex and potentially less costly than before, something we certainly support.
4. Can you tell us about the Chartered Global Management Accounting designation and what new developments are on the horizon?
I'm thrilled by how many of our members see the value in the CGMA designation. It's not even two years old and yet more than 41,000 AICPA members have become designation holders. The CGMA is now the most prominent management accounting credential in the U.S. Globally, including Chartered Institute of Management Accountants members, there are about 140,000 CGMAs.
The program offers extensive resources, tools and reports as well as a robust peer community. Besides building on these important benefits as we go into 2014, we are continuing to develop the exam that will be put in place for new CGMAs starting in January 2015. The exam was planned from the beginning, before the launch, and its development has been ongoing since. It's a strategic case study exam that further adds to the rigor of the application process.
5. Given the declining youth population and the profession's need for future CPAs, how is the AICPA addressing human capital issues?
The AICPA recognized the potential pipeline issues years ago as a result of our Vision Project in the 1990s, which was the precursor to the CPA Horizons 2025 project that was completed in 2011. We developed programs that introduce students to the CPA profession and all it has to offer. Our flagship site for college students, ThisWayToCPA.com, was designed to introduce students to the profession and help guide them in becoming CPAs. Replacing the retiring CPAs isn't enough, though. We also have to train, mentor and advance future CPAs who can lead the profession into the future. The AICPA Leadership Academy, launched in 2009, has graduated 165 future and current leaders. Many of these graduates currently serve on AICPA and state society committees. Our efforts on that front include the AICPA Young CPA Network, a vital community in which young CPAs can exchange ideas and information to gain a richer understanding of the possibilities of their careers.
We've also been hard at work to enhance the CPA profession's diversity, making sure we capture the best minds and the top skills to meet the future needs of our clients, employers and communities. The AICPA National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion is charged with creating resources and tools to help companies strengthen their diversity efforts.
All in all, we're engaged in a continuing quest to fill the pipeline so we can maintain the high quality for which our profession is known. Each and every one of us is a building block for our profession, and our human capital issues are key to the profession's success.
Q&A image via Shutterstock
The American Institute of CPAs recently announced the 2013 class of Leadership Academy graduates.
As part of an ongoing effort to inspire, nurture and empower the next generation of CPA leaders, the AICPA established the Leadership Academy in 2009 to provide rising stars in the profession with advanced leadership training and access to well-connected professional networks.One of the reasons the program has proven to be effective is the environment the AICPA has created and the pre-work completed by participants beforehand, according to Donna Salter, AICPA Senior Manager Young Member Initiatives, who plans and facilitates the Leadership Academy.
"The event is designed as a nontraditional training program, and participants were asked to fully dedicate themselves to an experiential learning environment for four days. The Leadership Academy demanded their complete focus and necessitated that outside distractions were eliminated. In addition, participants engaged in a series of self-reflection exercises, both prior to and during the event. One very successful component of our onboarding process is to pair participants with a fellow attendee. Pre-event conversations help expedite a strongly united team environment. Once on-site, they learned a very powerful team collaboration process and a strategic planning tool which has immediate real-world application when they return to their jobs," said Salter.
Another factor that sets the Leadership Academy apart from other training programs is the access to some of the most influential leaders in the profession. This year's class had the opportunity to interact with Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the Institute's president and CEO, AICPA Chairman of the Board of Director (2012-13) Richard Caturano, CPA, CGMA, Janice Maiman, AICPA senior vice president, communications, media, news and professional pathways, and Jeannie Patton vice president, academics, professional pathways and inclusion.
"The opportunity to connect with the current and future leaders of our profession at the Leadership Academy generated an energy that will emanate from the participants as we continue to develop our careers," said Elizabeth Pittelkow, CPA, CGMA, CITP, senior accounting manager at ArrowStream and a 2013 AICPA Leadership Academy graduate.
In addition, specific skill building sessions develop attendees' leadership techniques and help them understand how to best represent themselves, ensuring they are positioned for success.
"The Leadership Academy helped me realize what my strengths are as a leader and taught me how to use them in a more purposeful manner. The time management skills I acquired help make the eight hours I put into my job each day more valuable." said Joe Navarro, Business Manager – City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks and a 2013 Leadership Academy Graduate.
Beyond developing leadership techniques and strategies, the program places an emphasis on communication and the value of personal branding.
"At the Leadership Academy, we worked with these young CPAs to help them understand, develop and communicate their personal brands. It's a critical process in the leadership journey, one that will give them a firmer foundation for the future and guide them as they approach both challenges and opportunity, said Jonathan B. Cox, AICPA Senior Manager – Media Relations, who facilitated a session on personal branding at the event.
Navarro saw immediate value in the exercise. "The personal branding statement I drafted has made me more transparent and accountable to the greatest stakeholder in my life – myself," he added.
This year's 37 graduates join a Leadership Academy alumni network of 160 talented CPAs with diverse backgrounds from all across the United States, many of whom will bond over their shared experience as they continue to take on leadership roles in the profession.
"The Leadership Academy has been successful because it builds on the foundational knowledge, experience, and perspective of each individual. Participants have a uniquely different experience with one common thread – everyone walks away personally and professionally transformed," Salter concluded.
Read the full list of the 2013 Leadership Academy class online.
James Schiavone, Media Relations Manager, American Institute of CPAs.


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SPRINGFIELD — A report released Monday shows Illinois has the nation's worst record on supporting government retirement funds, setting aside only 51 cents for every dollar it has promised to pay out.
Other states owed more to their retirement systems in raw dollars, but none matched Illinois in percentage terms, according to the Pew Center on the States. The closest was West Virginia, which had 56 percent of the money to cover its long-term costs.
Experts often recommend states build up assets worth 80 percent of their future pension costs.
Illinois state government has frequently failed to make its full contribution to retirement systems. In some years, it didn't make any contribution at all. At the same time, it continued promising more benefits to retirees.
The result has been a huge gap between the money available to invest and the amount that will have to be paid out in decades to come, particularly as baby boomers retire.
Skimpy payments in the past mean Illinois now faces even bigger payments to catch up. Pension costs in the next budget are $4.2 billion, or nearly two-thirds of all the money Illinois will take in from the recent income tax increase.
There is no danger that Illinois' retired teachers, state employees and university staff will stop getting their pension checks. But the state eventually will have to come up with billions of dollars or find a way to reduce pension costs.
Already the state has cut benefits to future employees. Some officials want to do the same for people already on the state payroll.
The report, "The Widening Gap: The Great Recession's Impact on State Pension and Retiree Health Care Costs," looked at figures from fiscal 2009, when the economy and stock market were at their worst.
Illinois had $126.4 billion in pension liabilities, and assets worth just over half that amount.
California owed far more, $490.6 billion, but had assets totaling 81 percent. New York owed $146.7 billion but actually had more money than it owed — a 101 percent funding level.
The Pew Center report concluded it was bad decisions and a sour economy that combined to leave 31 states below the safety line set for investing money to meet future pension costs.
The double whammy also has increased the chance that officials may eventually have to fix the problem by cutting benefits or raising taxes.
Twenty-two states failed to previously meet the 80 percent funding threshold, and nine more fell short in fiscal 2009, according to the Pew Center on the States.
"Far too many states are not responsibly managing the bill for their employees' retirement," said the report.
But Keith Brainard, research director for the National Association of State Retirement Administrators, said it can be misleading to look at a percentage at any one moment. Markets rise and fall, states put more money or less into pensions, and benefits can be adjusted up or down.
He called the funding percentages "a snapshot of what amounts to a decades-long motion picture. There's nothing magical about any particular funding level."

subset: commoncrawl


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Hand Grenade Soap Bar
Live your life on the edge by washing your hands with grenades! These hand grenade soap bars are custom made to look like the standard issue World War II style steel body hand grenade and make a cool house warming gift for military families.
$14.00448 saves


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Billy Dean, Andy Griggs + More to Help Colorado Flood Victims
Country stars are known for their generosity, and once again, several of them are banding together to help those in need.
Country stars are known for their generosity, and once again, several of them are banding together to help those in need.
Billy Dean has been cast in the lead role for this year's production of the Kenny Rogers musical, 'The Toy Shoppe.' Dean will star in the Christmas musical in a run of performances beginning in November.
Grammy winner Billy Dean will return later this month with his first studio album in almost four years when A Man of Good Fortune is released on Sept. 25 on Rainman Records.
In 2009, Billy took a break fro
Christopher Polk/ACMA2012, Getty Images for ACM
Kenny Rogers is back in the saddle again. The singer revealed last night (May 9) that he will be recording a new album for Warner Bros. Records with producer Dann Huff. The announcement came during the first of Kenny's two nights as the Artist-in-Residence at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
"Dean Acres is the place to be ..." Billy Dean smiles as he sings his own version of the theme song to the classic TV show, 'Green Acres.' The singer has good reason to smile. He'll celebrate his birthd
Billy Dean is hoping to move forward after a hard hit this holiday season. A fire on Dean Acres, his farm in Smithville, Tenn., destroyed the singer's 1,500-square-foot barn, and along with it his boat, tractor and precious mementos from his career. No one was injured in the blaze, which took pl
Billy Dean loves touring with Kenny Rogers during Christmas, but he is first to admit that after singing holiday songs all these years, he still forgets a lyric every once in a while.
"I never get all the words right all the way through until the last show," Billy tells The Boot
Robin Meade is best known as HLN's morning news anchor, but the television personality has added country singer to her resume with the release of her debut album, 'Brand New Day.'
Produced by famed Nashville singer-songwriter Victoria Shaw and available exclusively through iTunes and Target, the album finds the gorgeous brunette in good company
Billy Dean is set to become the first country star to appear and entertain on China's International Beijing TV. Last month, the singer made the 7,000-mile trip to China to join other international stars performing at the annual Spring Festival Global Gala in Beijing, marking the Chinese New Year.
"Performing on this huge television special w
Billy Dean is set to co-star in the upcoming made-for-TV movie, 'Decision' with four-time Dove Award-winning singer Natalie Grant. The faith-based film, shot in Kingston Springs, Tenn., just outside Nashville, is scheduled to air in early 2011.
This won't be the first acting role for Billy


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Pictorial stones such as the paesina above and the agate of Pyrrhus described by Pliny the Elder (but never seen by anyone), hidden faces in the clouds (a result of magical thinking), the nests of bower birds (animal art), may seem to disrupt the consensus on the nature of art as being man-made and artificial, in reality it's another case of anthropocentrism. Paesine[1] photo by Bruno Cupillard, sourced here[2]. Tip of the hat to Roger Caillois.
(Illustration et commentaire par Jah Sonic)


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(ENDED) Rentals: 25% off Panasonic GH2, Sony Alpha A900, Nikon 24-70/2.8, Canon 50/1.2L
These weekly specials ended...
Borrow Lenses launched new weekly rental specials. These are good until Monday December 24, 2012 at 3am eastern time. Use coupon code BLDOW to get a 25% off discount on the rental of the following camera gear. This is good for any rental date, but you must place your order before the deadline:
+ Panasonic GH2 body
+ Sony Alpha A900
+ Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G
+ Canon 50mm f1.2L


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Posts tagged snow
Posts tagged snow
Viola - Veilchen - violeta - スミレ属 -
Violas in the Snow by TexasEagle on Flickr.
(via theenchantedcove)
foxes are the most important animals on earth
Me, about to start another round of edits.
(Source: cineraria, via squeakyzorro)
Cross-medium artist Shelley Jackson is mixing Instagram and interminable snowfall to tell a long, beautiful story, end to beginning. You can read (and remix) her work here.
(via kbdragonfly)
Too funny not to reblog
this is almost every single possible reaction omf
every single fucking year
is this doctor who
(Source: devoureth, via squeakyzorro)
"hi im olaf and i like warm hugs"
(via geekmehard)
I forgot to close my window last night before the blizzard, but I think it worked out okay.
My dear, where did you find such a fetching hat on such short notice?
(I'm asking the snowman, but I'll accept an answer from you, Amy.)
An awesome result from a moment of forgetfulness.
It's possible you've never heard of Simon Beck, but after today, you won't be able to forget him or his wintry works of art. Simon is an artist and is most well-known for making incredibly delicate and detailed art in the snow, just by walking over a fresh snowfall. Heliterally walks miles in the snow to create these pieces. And the part that blows our minds? He could spend hours upon hours creating one design, just to have it be covered by snowfall or blown away by the next day. But he still makes them.
(via inaprecariousstate)
so often we're blessed with people in our lives who are living angels - don't forget to be thankful.
(via cindersk)
Glacially melting snow on the car this morning.


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Grumpy Cat LeggingsProduct Sku: GRUMP002
$ 28.00
- These leggings feature images of internet sensation Grumpy Cat. Born with the name Tardar Sauce, this cat gained international stardom because of its grumpy looking face, brought on by feline dwarfism. These leggings are extremely soft and comfortable, but any fan of Grumpy Cat will find some reason to hate them...even though they're impossible not to love.
Size Width (A) Length (B) Inseam (E) Small 12" 37" 27" Medium 13" 37" 27" Large 14" 37" 27.5" XL 15.5" 38" 29"
*Measurements are listed in US Inches.
*Bust or chest is done by doubling the width measurement.
*For full circumference of the waistline, double the waist measurement.
- • Product Type: Leggings
• Color: Black
• Gender: Junior/Ladies
• Graphic: Press and Sew Sublimation
Distressed refers to the worn appearance in the image or lettering on a garment. A distressed print may include faded areas, missing color, or other irregularities. This is an intentional occurrence in the product and adds to the vintage look of the design.• Tag Location: TaglessThe traditional size tag has been removed from the neck seam. Sizing and composition information is screen printed on the inside of the back of the shirt, just below the neck seam or collar. Popular clothing brands often use tagless t-shirts for extra comfort when wearing.
• Made of: 97% Polyester/3% Spandex
• Fits like: Slim-Fit
• Fabric Softness: SuperLeggings of SUPER SOFTNESS are composed of very soft ring spun fabric, often used for vintage style Leggings. The lightweight material may tend to be thinner than your standard Leggings.


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Official numbers show Felix Baumgartner actually topped out at 843.6 mph, more than 9 mph faster than initially estimated.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Supersonic skydiver Felix Baumgartner was faster than he or anyone else thought when he jumped from 24 miles up.
According to the official numbers released Monday, the Austrian parachutist known as "Fearless Felix" reached 843.6 mph. That's equivalent to Mach 1.25, or 1.25 times the speed of sound.
His top speed initially was estimated last October at 834 mph, or Mach 1.24.
Either way, he became the first human to break the sound barrier with only his body.
Related: Felix Baumgartner's record jump
Baumgartner was supersonic for a half-minute — "quite remarkable," according to Brian Utley, the official record-keeper who was present for the Oct. 14 feat. Baumgartner's heart rate remained below 185 beats a minute, and his breathing was fairly steady.
The leap was from an altitude of 127,852 feet. That's 248 feet lower than original estimates.
"He jumped from a little bit lower, but he actually went a little bit faster, which was pretty exciting," said Art Thompson, technical project director for the Red Bull-sponsored project.
"It's fun for us to see reaching Mach speeds and proving out a lot of the safety systems," Thompson said in a phone interview from his aerospace company in Lancaster, Calif.
Thompson said everything pretty much unfolded as anticipated, with no surprises in the final report. The updated records were provided by Utley, official observer for the National Aeronautic Association's contest and records board. Utley was in Roswell, N.M., for Baumgartner's grand finale jump.
In the foreword of the 71-page report, Baumgartner said he never imagined how many people would share in his dream to make a supersonic free fall from so high.
Some 52 million people watched You Tube's live stream of the exploit.
The scientific and engineering experts who helped bring him back alive "broke boundaries in their own fields just as surely as I broke the sound barrier," Baumgartner wrote.
Baumgartner shattered the previous record for a free fall plunge, made by Joe Kittinger, an Air Force officer, in 1960. Kittinger did not quite reach supersonic speed during his jump from 19.5 miles up.
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The Simple Death
Michael Duffy
The Simple Death
Michael Duffy
A man falls off a ferry and dies and an elderly lady dies after a long painful illness - could the two deaths be linked? Are they mercy killings or is Detective Nicholas Troy on the trail of a serial killer? A smart, sophisticated, hugely entertaining mystery, with a plot ripped straight out of tomorrow's headlines.
'Duffy is indisputably a writer to watch. He will soon be ranked alongside the likes of international behemoths Michael Connelly, George Pelecanos and Don Winslow. There is no higher praise.' Winsor Dobbin, Sun-Herald
A man has come off the Manly Ferry and Detective Nicholas Troy investigates but he is distracted. His mentor Father Luke Corelli has been accused of abusing a young boy years before. To Troy's dismay he's not denying the charge and nor is the Catholic Church trying to defend his name. Troy's ambitious and attractive colleague Susan Conti is newly single and his eccentric boss, Jon McIver, would rather be singing the blues than following leads.
In another part of Sydney, successful bureaucrat Leila Scott's mother has bone cancer. She asks for help to die and Leila seeks the advice of a voluntary euthanasia group. She finds herself caught up in a police investigation when Troy comes across members of the group and begins to suspect voluntary euthanasia is being used as an excuse for something much darker. As Troy digs deeper into both cases, feeling instinctively that they are somehow connected, he realises that morality and the law might not always follow the same path. And that there is no such thing as a simple death.
Michael Duffy writes about true crime for the Sun Herald and the Sydney Morning Herald. He co-presents 'Counterpoint' on ABC Radio National. The first novel in his series about Nicholas Troy, Jon McIver and Susan Conti was The Tower.
Praise for The Tower:
'A gripping, fast-paced debut that introduces Michael Duffy's simple, true and confident voice to an army of crime lovers. Sure to be a hit with fans of Underbelly and Michael Connelly, The Tower unites classic noir suspense with seat of the pants action set against the glimmer and grime of the harbour city, where the sharks are beginning to circle.' Sydney Unleashed.com 'This is crime reporter Michael Duffy's first novel but it's well-informed by his real-life experiences of a more sinister underworld beneath Sydney's bright surface.' M2
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The Tower
Young detective Nicholas Troy is basically a good man, for whom working in homicide is the highest form of police work. But when a woman falls from the construction site for the world's tallest skyscraper, the tortured course of...
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The Simple Death
Detective Nicholas Troy's mentor Father Luke Corelli has been accused of abusing a young boy years before. To Troy's dismay he's not denying the charge. Leila Scott's mother has bone cancer. She asks for help to die and Leila...
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OK, it's actually the Worldwide Developers Conference (WDC), rather than E3, but the timing is the same and I like to keep the headers consistent, so kindly deal with it. After starting off with Microsoft and Sony, it's now Apple's turn (leaving only the elephant in the room to cover, Nintendo). Here goes:
Now, for the big iOS stuff (On a side note, I think all but one of the AA staff has iPhones at this point, and at least three of us have iPads, so, while Apple's mojo hasn't worked on us from the MacOS side of things, it sure has on the iOS side.):
I had recently written about what I perceive to be the false notion of console gaming holding PC gaming back (and, frankly, with a recent release like L.A. Noire and future releases like Skyrim, again, it's hard to make that argument outside of a purely superficial (audio/visual) - not contentual - standpoint). Perhaps, as this new article puts forth, it's not consoles, but tablets, that the traditional PC industry has more to worry about?
Of course, as far as I'm concerned, we're actually still at least a few years off from that happening, at least until Apple breaks the required link between their iOS devices and a computer equipped with iTunes (and that's a question of "when", not "if"). Android devices are of course close to completely breaking free of the computer tether, but there are other issues for those classes of devices to overcome first. Other tablet OS's, present and future, are probably somewhere in-between the two.
Interestingly, there's a girl here at my day job who had bought an iPad 2 about a month back and then recently got an iPhone 4, but was frustrated that there was no way to copy what was on her iPad 2 (purchases) over to the iPhone 4. You see, she considers her computer horribly outdated and really didn't want to go through iTunes on her rickety old PC! Obviously, very flawed thinking, but it's very interesting what the non-techies have in their thought processes (and in this case how she wants to basically compute outside of work exclusively on the iPad 2 and iPhone 4)... Definitely a paradigm shift of some type! In any case, it's the old argument that it's not so much computers that are being challenged, it's the limited generalized definition of what a computer is that is being challenged. Does a computer really mean that desktop or laptop many of use a good portion of the day? Sure, but that's not all it means. As an iPad 2 user - outside of the tethering restriction for the occasional iTunes sync - I can argue that my tablet is as much of a computer as most desktops and laptops, with strikingly similar functionality (and in some cases, then some).
Ultimately, I think it's clear we're all headed to a connected eco-system of devices, where a lot of stuff is in the cloud, with minimal need for local storage. You'll simply use whatever device is handy or whatever is best suited to a particular task (say a touch screen or a keyboard). We even already have brilliantly functional cloud gaming services (and of course, VOD, like Netflix), so, outside of artificial bandwidth restrictions by ISP's, there's little reason to think that the future has anything to do with increasingly more powerful traditional computers. For some of us who have been in love with technology since our earliest memories, this is a tough sell, but it's hard to argue that's not where we're headed, and perhaps it's just as hard to argue that it's even a bad a thing. I'm sure even the most hardcore among us have tired of the upgrade/incompatibility/instability cycle at some point, if only briefly.
Mike Capps, president of Epic Games, has grave doubts about the games industry as we know it--specifically, he's worried that the ubiquity and popularity of cheap iOS apps are making it impossible to sell big-budget games (like the next Unreal): "If there's anything that's killing us it's dollar apps," he said. "How do you sell someone a $60 game that's really worth it? They're used to 99¢. As I said, it's an uncertain time in the industry. But it's an exciting time for whoever picks the right path and wins." My take on it? Boo f**** hoo.
Everybody here knows how much I love Her Interactive's Nancy Drew series. These are great adventure games with fun characters and charming atmosphere. Her Interactive has recently expanded its offerings to Apple's mobile line, starting with a game called Shadow Ranch, currently $2 for iPhone/iPod and $5 for iPad, which is in HD (holy cow, I'm jealous). I recently completed the game on my iPhone 4, and am pleased to say it's a fun game that's quite distinctive from its desktop predecessor. I don't think Her Interactive (HI) has really tapped the full potential of the platform, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.
Well, Apple did it, they actually lived up to the hype yet again. Steve Jobs coming out on stage and doing the presentation was a brilliant touch. No matter what you think of Jobs or Apple, good for him. As for the iPad 2, well, Apple didn't merely iterate slightly, they did actually make a true "2", no now all those silly rumors of an iPad 3 coming out in the fall can be put to rest. 1.3 pounds, THINNER than my iPhone 4, new A5 processor, improved graphics, dual cameras, available in black and white, AT&T and Verizon from day one, 10 hour battery life, $499 starting price (maxes out at $829 for 64GB with WiFi/3G), HDMI mirrored output up to 1080p, smart covers, etc. I think my hemming and hawing over what tablet to get was for naught as the decision has been made rather handily for me. Apple is just too far ahead of the competition at this point. Maybe that will change within a few years, but right now, all things considered, the iPad 2 is the only logical choice in tablets. It hits the US on March 11 and rolls out to 26 more countries on March 25. So, what do you guys think? Are you sold or do you think there will be better options in 2011?
As I'm sure many of you have seen by now, Motorola's Xoom commercial during the Superbowl attracted quite a bit of attention. For those who don't know, Motorola's Xoom is one of the first tablets to run Google's Android operating system specifically designed for tablets, Honeycomb. Previously, Android tablets were running a version of the operating system optimized for smartphones, not tablets, so the release of a true Honeycomb device is big news in that it's the first real competition for Apple's dominant iPad. Anyway, the commercial is Motorola's send up of Apple's famous 1984 Superbowl ad, which pitted a free thinking Apple against the oppressive dictatorship of IBM. Of course, Apple got the competitor wrong. It wasn't IBM, it was Microsoft, and it almost cost Apple its business if not for an improbable comeback in mobile devices. Ironically, Motorola has similarly misidentified its true competition. It's not Apple, it's other Honeycomb tablets. Just like what happened in smartphones, where Android devices have overwhelmed the market with devices and risen to a position of leadership despite a somewhat fragmented marketplace and at-manufacturer-will upgrade paths, the same scenario is likely to play out in tablets, with Apple carving out a dominant - but not market leading - niche all to itself in the long-term. Priced at $800 with a bizarre requirement for a minimum of one month of 3G data to "unlock" wi-fi, Motorola has seemingly done everything to cripple its otherwise impressive device right out of the gate.
As I've discussed multiple times, I've been practically begging for a Honeycomb tablet to capture my techno-lust before the iPad 2 comes out, but if we're going to see efforts like this in what is already a late bloomer in things like tablet-specific apps and developer support, I'm becoming more and more pessimistic such a scenario will happen. In fact, if these Honeycomb tablets don't start coming out in reasonable quantity and at more attractive price points relatively soon, it will take even longer for them to wrest away Apple's 90% market share in the segment, and we may even be entertaining ideas of not what happened with Apple versus Google in the smartphone market, but what happened with Apple versus everyone else in the portable music player market.
Check out Motorola's Superbowl ad below:
Gamasutra has an interview up with one Matt Rix, designer and developer of a simple iOS game called Trainyard. Although he did all the work during his work commute, the game has already netted him enough cash to quit his day job and found his own game company. I love what he says here: "I've learned a ton of lessons, but the biggest one is to pick a goal then follow through till you're done. You've got to be motivated and determined to finish your game, or else you just won't. I see way too many people biting off more than they can chew, attacking huge games or just working on prototype after prototype ad nauseum. I think you'll learn way more from finishing and releasing a single game than you'll ever learn from working on dozens of prototypes." Touche!


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The Leading eBooks Store Online
for Kindle Fire, Apple, Android, Nook, Kobo, PC, Mac, BlackBerry ...
The Alchemist - 10th Anniversary Edition
The two-part season premiere of "Super Soul Sunday," featuring international bestselling author Paulo Coelho, airs Sunday, September 7 and 14 at 11 a.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
"My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky." Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams."
Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come.
The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.
The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.less
Download in EPUB
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Gone Girl 2012 US$ 9.99 432 pages
Fifty Shades of Grey 2011 US$ 9.99


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Posts Tagged «batteries»
MacBook Air battery woes show the downside of the quest for denser batteries August 19, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Battery life on recent MaBook Air's shows a rather sharp decline compared to older MacBook Pro's — is this the price of higher density?
Are smartphones getting larger because they have to? August 13, 2013 at 11:13 am
One of the most striking trends in smartphone designs is the push towards ever-larger screen sizes. Not only has average screen size increased steadily since 2008, the so-called "phablet" market is poised to explode. Nearly 26 million crossover devices shipped in 2012, with an estimated 60 million shipping in 2013 and 146 million by the end of next year. That's a huge growth rate for a market at a time when both tablet and smartphones are growing more slowly than in past quarters. But what's really surprising about phablets is that manufacturers continue pouring money into the category even as the devices grow increasingly unwieldy for many of the basic functions of a smartphone. We've dug into the trends behind this push
Graphene supercapacitors created with 'traditional paper making' process, rivals lead-acid battery capacity August 5, 2013 at 6:56 am
Materials engineers at Monash University in Australia have devised a method of producing graphene supercapacitors that have the same energy density as the lead-acid battery under your car's hood. Not only are these supercapacitors about 10 times more energy-dense than commercial devices, but the method of producing the graphene inside the supercapacitors seems to be novel as well. The engineers say they used a process that is similar to traditional paper making — and that it could easily and cost-effectively scaled up for commercial production of graphene.
Electric vehicles vs. hybrids: It's all about the eGallon July 24, 2013 at 11:03 am
Electric vehicles are off to a significantly faster start than hybrids. The reason might be the cost of an eGallon.
3D graphene nanoballs could make supercapacitors more super July 9, 2013 at 4:56 am
Graphene can now be grown in a 3D shape more suitable for use in supercapacitors. Could be coming to consumer electronics sooner than you think.
iWatch trademarks could cause headaches for Apple's smartwatch July 6, 2013 at 8:00 am
Apple's hotly anticipated smartwatch has been gaining substantial traction in the rumor mill lately, and a lot of that is thanks to patent and trademark sleuthing being done around the world. Apple has filed trademarks for the name iWatch across Asia and Latin America, but it seems that Cupertino will face trademark issues in the European Union and the United States. As it turns out, "iWatch" is already trademarked by two separate companies.
204 mph world record for electric car, another Le Mans win for diesel June 28, 2013 at 9:30 am
Some of the best, most advanced racecars are electrics, diesels, and hybrids. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for gasoline's dominance.
How to charge your smartphone and other USB devices as quickly as possible June 26, 2013 at 11:36 am
USB charging is shrouded in mystery — which is a bit ironic, given that almost all of us rely on USB charging of our smartphones and tablets on a daily basis. Why, for example, does an iPhone recharge quickly when you plug it into your MacBook Pro, but slowly when you plug it into your PC, or a non-Apple wall charger? Why does your smartphone charge quickly to start with, but slow down as it fills up? In this story we will answer these questions and more as we investigate the optimum methods of charging your USB devices as quickly as possible. We will also be taking a look at a new device, called the Practical Meter, which finally gives us insight into the arcane world of USB charging.
iPhone 5S leak reveals larger battery, dual-LED flash, new prototype SoC June 21, 2013 at 11:53 am
Photos of the iPhone 5S, or perhaps an iPhone 5S prototype, have leaked from the Chinese supply chain. The photos show the back of the device, which is almost identical to the iPhone 5, and also the internals, where a handful of significant changes/upgrades have occurred. Perhaps most importantly, though, these photos seem to confirm that the next iPhone is merely an iteration of the iPhone 5, and not a some crazy, reimagined iPhone 6 phablet as previously rumored.
Tesla demos 90-second battery swap tech, coming to Supercharger stations in 2013 June 21, 2013 at 10:40 am
If you thought that Tesla's network of Superchargers, which can give your electric vehicle 200 miles of range in 30 minutes of charging, was too slow, Elon Musk's company now has an even better solution: Swapping your depleted Tesla Model S battery for a fully charged battery in 90 seconds. That's less time than it takes to refuel your gas- or diesel-powered car. This technology, dubbed Battery Swap, will hopefully come to Model S owners in California in 2013, with the Boston-Washington D.C. corridor sometime after that.


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I'll tell you, we'd prevent the buildup of CO2 in the www.transitofvenus.org atmosphere without having to completely restructure our society. Now I'm not sayin' I wouldn't mind a bit of viagra sales drug restructuring, but it certainly couldn't hurt to try to convert CO2 to hydrocarbons.
And researchers at the University of Messina in Italy are trying. Exposing CO2 to a platinum-paladium coated nanotubes and the protons from water split by the sun in the presence of a titanium photocatylst can produce five and www.fluestertuete.de six carbon long hydrocarbons. These can then be efficiently converted into gasoline.
The process is certainly far to expensive to implement right now, but researchers are confident that a viable version could be ready to produce hydrocarbons industrially "within a decade."
Via New Scientist


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Blood Donor
It's a tough job and takes a true sacrificial heart, but vampires need blood and someone has to donate! This tee not only says that you're a giver, it lets everyone know that you're willing 24 hours a day... Now that is true sacrifice.
THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL TSHIRT. This tee is not supported or endorsed by anyone famous or not famous, unless of course you are famous and are buying this, in that case, please send us a photo of you in it so we can show our mom that someone famous is wearing our shirt.


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Best Bars To Watch The New England Patriots In The Playoffs
The Patriots are the hottest ticket in town. If you can't get to the game, here are several bars — both in and out of the city — where you can watch the game instead.
Best Sports Bars Outside Of Downtown Boston
You don't have to trek your way to the Garden or Fenway in order to experience a great place to catch the game.


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I've had 3 totally awesome children in 4 years. ...
On Friday I am getting my CBC drawn by my PCM, and soon I will have my preop visit. I'm looking forward to getting rid of the old lady face on my stomach.
I can't wait to be comfortable in my own (considerably less) skin again.
Getting close!
My parents have arranged to come into town very briefly to help with the kids, and I'm also looking forward to seeing them.
My husband is acting very nonchalant about the whole thing, nothing phases that guy! He is pretty amazing, I'm kind of excited that he will be able to take off from work so I can see more of him. Hopefully he will still like me after I'm all grouchy and weird from the pain meds.
Almost there!
Gutted like a fish, in a good way
So what does a tummy tuck feel like? Like doing a brutal Jillian Michaels ab workout and getting kicked in the stomach repeatedly. I don't feel the incision, just sore as I'll get out.
I'd update more, but I'm kind iof a hot mess.
Starting to feel beter
I have had a few times where I feel like I pulled a stitch, some really sharp and awful pains usually from trying to re-position myself, but I think everything is probably okay. I changed the dressings and got a shower, which was great but short.
I'm having trouble pooping (and I have ibs type d, which makes it odd) probably from the pain meds. I bought some magnesium citrate and hopefully that will help.. I've been religiously popping colace, drinking water, eating granola, no dice. Or should I say no deuce?
Anyway here are some progress pics. I'm pleased as punch.
I plan for today to be my last day of pain meds. My pain is at a level finally where I feel like I can almost deal with it.
Who is off pain meds???
So I am feeling good, laughing is painful and my incision feels hot and tight (but looks good) but that's pretty much the limit of my discomfort. I even managed to cook a fancy dinner and do the dishes last night. And I am getting around like a champ.
I just have to work on making my husband less funny. He keeps saying funny stuff and the laughing brings me to my knees. Laughing is the absolute worst.
I can't wait until I can cuddle the kids more (without them jumping on me) and play with the dog again. She keeps jumping in my lap which isn't cool. Oh well, corgis gonna corg. She's the welsh menace.
I'm so happy
I feel like I made the right decision, for sure.
So, my poor husband has to go back to work (after working his butt off for 1/3 of his vacation taking care of our kids) and we hired our friend who watches our kids sometimes to help me out tomorrow. I'm starting to feel better, like I can get back into baby-wrangling but it is probably better to wait until the doctor gives me the all clear.
My swelling is getting a little better, so I'm posting a pic of my stomach.
Potential tuckers of tummies, Heed my warning and ban everything funny from your house. Make it cold like a Siberian prison.
Where my stitches at?
My binder is way too loose and my surgeon said it didn't really matter much anymore, so I'm toying with the idea of abandoning it on the side of the road, alone, in the rain. That way it can reflect on how it annoyed me, how it clung to me desperately, squeezing my poor internal organs. Just kidding. There seems to be a lot of conflicting information on whether wearing them does much for the results. I couldn't find a single study that confirmed that they did much more than lower blood clotting risk in the first week.
Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good and I am back to changing diapers, walking dog, doing light chores and feeling mostly like a person. It's good too that I am back because the lady that we use to babysit our kids looked absolutely wiped out after one day of watching my 3 little monsters...
2 weeks post op
Look,ma! It's like I never had a billion kids!
One sucky thing though is that I spat two stitches. They eventually merged from 2 pencil eraserish holes to one larger hole. I developed this problem on Saturday and called my surgeon yesterday (Monday). He gave me some really excellent advice that I haven't seen anywhere else here so I'm going to post it here in case it helps anyone.
Spit stitches are little holes in the sutures where your body rejects a stitch. My immune system is crazypants, so it's no surprise it happened to me. Anyway, the typical advice is to dig around in there with some tweezers and cut the stitch and remove it. It does need to be removed for things to heal well. He offered the option to come in, and I declined because it's a waste of everyone's time so he described the following process very well and it worked.
He said to get gauze that's cheese clothish and to dip it in saline/ salt + water mix (even contact solution will do) Then you cut it into small strips, roll it into balls, and press them into the wound. Next you cover them and change them twice a day.
Not even 12 hours into this process, I removed my gauze and low and behold- There was that bugger of a stitch! So, if you're uncomfortable digging around in an open wound or you can't find that bastard of a stitch, you might want to try this method.
"I'm especially good at expectorating"-Gaston, and me apparently
Either way, it doesn't look like everything is coming totally unglued or is infected. I have an appointment with my surgeon on Thursday.
You know what blows? It was such a nice incision until my immune system tried to go full on Rambo. I'm going to take pictures of it until it heals, and pictures of how it scars so that I could hopefully help people going through the same.
The agony and the extacy
My husband was deployed last year and I spent the entire year doing yoga and eating clean (I've actually been eating clean for 3 years, but I had a baby last year so there was +30lbs.) I wanted to look awesome by the time he came back. I can't even describe how hard I worked. One day I was standing in the mirror poking my belly skin and I felt a six pack. I straight up Brittany Spears Ugly Cried for about an hour. I knew it was there, but no one else would.
I did all this research about getting rid of the loose skin. There were all kinds of people selling false hope that it might come off without surgery, things like eating sulfur (MSM) which tastes like actual butt, or bovine gelatin, and rubbing the lotion on the skin until you get the hose again. I think the most outrageous of lies was that if you just got your body fat percentage to starvation levels, your body would reabsorb your skin. Noooo thank you.
I cant wait to get back to working out again. This time I'll actually get to see results from busting my arse. My arms are feeling kinda doughy from lack of chin ups, planks and such as. Anyway, that crap should probably wait until my scar gets its life choices in order.
Things are getting a lot shallower as far as the wounds go but they are just so freaking wide. My scar is going to look terribad when this is said and done. He actually thinks its not going to be so bad and I am holding on to that optimism.
On the other hand I have had the most evil of colds for 2 weeks now. My muscles had been feeling fine, but I am pretty sure I pulled something because I have been in searing pain for a few days. It's right next to by belly button and holy crap when I cough it is miserable. I actually took a Percocet because it hurts so bad. I try to avoid the crap out of pain meds because I've seen enough daytime tv specials to know that's how heroin addiction starts.... ;).
Sometimes when you stare into the abscess, it stares back
I've been using medihoney dressing, IDK if it helps but if it helps stubborn wounds to heal it's probably not the worst idea I've ever had. Keepin' it moist y'all. Anyway, everything is looking much more red and meaty than a week ago, which is good. It also tends to bleed more readily so maybe the vasculature is being restored?
Stitching and moaning
Anyway everything else looks legit. Still happy with my decision, even with the massive scar that I'm going to end up from this stitch crap.
It's been a while
I am doing so very well though. I have worn more bikinis in the last month than I wore in the last 4 years combined. I feel so much better about myself. I'm keeping the scar covered in the sun with the high waist-ed bikinis but I legit feel like I look fine no matter what- period? NO problem, IBS bloating? Nope, still look flat, not gonna stress it. I could do a jig I am so happy with my stomach.
I seriously wish mid-drifts weren't considered slutty and that as a 30 year old woman with eleventy billion kids it was acceptable to wear them.
Anywhoo, I am back to working out too. It feels so much better to be moving around in a body-weight lifting manner, I seriously was getting arm wings and cottage cheese butt. I'm taking it easier on the ab exercises (LEG LIFTS, OMG I AM GOING TO DIE) and adding more planks and such to get stronger again. Back bends are weird they make my scar feel stretched so I am avoiding them too. Basically if it feels uncomfortable, I stop, but other than that I am back full force! RAWR!
Abs so freakin lutely
I'm still very happy with my surgery. One of those blasted stitch buggers opened up again, but it is much smaller than it's predecessors. I see my surgeon in a few weeks for my 3 month visit, hopefully it will close by then. I should probably ask which brand of stitches he used so I can avoid it like the plague in the future.
I'm so glad I didn't get my boobs done at the same time. I don't know why but I feel like it would bother me so much more to have stitch drama on my breasts. My girls convinced me to wait saying they'd get better a year or two after weaning so I am holding out.
3 months post!
I've been sticking to insanity for a while now, and I'm starting to see some sweet stomach results. (Among other things. I just might have taken to flexing in the mirror every time I go to the bathroom) I am going to have that six pack, if only for 2 weeks or so because I really hate being knit picky about my diet. I'll just get it there because I can, and let it go. I'll be damned if I am going to count calories for a long period of time. I'm a lazy jerk.
5 months later!
I'm hovering at 18% bodyfat (measured by the slightly inaccurate bioimpedence)
Now that it's been a while I have to admit that I'm unimpressed with the silicone strips. I was hoping that everything would be lighter and flatter but parts of the scar are still a little raised and for the cost of the strips I can't say the were worth it. If I had a time machine I'd tell myself not to bother.
I did a lot of research before deciding on Dr Stoeckel and I am really glad I chose wake plastic surgery. There are several surgeons closer to me but I chose to drive an hour and a half to see him and have no regrets. I am thoroughly impressed with the results of my surgery. I know everyone thinks their surgeon is the best, and I am no different. I would have no trouble referring anyone I care about to this practice. The practice itself is run beautifully. The staff are flawless. I walked away from every interaction with them feeling more and more impressed. I know someone else on here already mentioned that Janell is excellent, but it's worth repeating. She really helped streamline the whole process.
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thanks for sharing, you look great =) gunning for your six pack right along with you - do keep us updated!
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Wiring Diagram Review
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Pasadena Md - Magothy side
Posts: 5,978
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Thanked 30 Times in 30 Posts
Rep Power:
A couple of thoughts,
Bilge pump (if equipped with a float switch) hard wired to one battery (house) with a suitable fuse, no switch, no distribution wired to float switch.
As is wired with switch for 'manual' operation
- that is safer, otherwise you have to be onboard or remember to turn it on.
You show no charger, inverter, etc.. so I assume none. I would add at least a charger - saves diesel and time.
You show no 'auxiliary' or spare breakers. Figure on two at least - you will want a GPS and or chartplotter or 12V outlet - you will want a 12v with at least a 10amp capacity, adding now is simpler than wishing later. Put a 12v outlet at a minimum in the cockpit (think searchlight and / or GPS).
For 30 bucks or so, add at least a DIGITAL voltmeter in there (don't go cheap with analog, you will regret it) - switchable by battery so you can get a 'gross' estimate on the state of charge by voltage. Add in a few more bucks and shunt and you can add a amp meter and work out rates of discharge for various loads - always very useful.
Making life real simple - rather than wire in a cabin fan - get one with a 12v plug, add outlets in the galley, salon and cabin - move the fan where you want it. Do the same with a light because flashlight batteries are always dead when you need them most.
If that's a Visio file, send me the .vsd please, email address PM'd.
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LCSC is pleased to be able to offer to it's members the opportunity to obtain the Competent Crew and Day Skipper certificates (subject to successful completion of the course) on LCSC-organised courses. The course are to be conducted by Peter Hopps (LCSC member and professional Yachmaster Instructor) and will be offered at a greatly reduced cost over standard commercial school rates. The courses will be conducted on Arbitrator, a Sigma 38, and will give you the opportunity to learn with other LCSC members.
No previous experience is required for the Competent Crew course but you'll get the most out of the Day Skipper course if you've already got a few miles under your belt and feel you're ready to take the first step towards skippering a yacht.
Bookings are now being taken for the following LCSC-organised RYA offshore
training courses:
|RYA Competent Crew/Day Skipper
|27th April - 2 May 2003
|RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster
|8 March - 14 March 2003
|five days preparation + two day assessment
|RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster
|12 May - 18 May 2003
|five days preparation + two day assessment
The cost of the Competent Crew/Day Skipper Course is Ł300 per person and the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Course is Ł420 per person. These charges include yacht charter, tuition and provisions. Mooring fees, fuel and foulie hire will be charged extra. Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster candidates will, in addition, have to pay the RYA examination fee which is Ł127 for Yachtmaster candidates and Ł110 for Coastal Skipper candidates. More information on all of these courses can be found at www.rya.org.uk/training.
To book a place please contact Peter Hopps by email on firstname.lastname@example.com.
Copyright © London Corinthian Sailing Club, 3 Feb 2003
Copyright © London Corinthian Sailing Club, 3 Feb 2003


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Who will close out WM 30?
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Acknowledged by SCOTT STEINER
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,223
Re: Who will close out WM 30?
Originally Posted by
Shawn Morrison
Taker vs Cena is the obvious choice for closing the show, and i see Taker winning cause Cena winning would cause the biggest outrage in Wrestling history.
Punk will likely headline WM 29 against Rock (and Cena) anyway, so he will get that accomplishment on his list. WM 30 will likely be Taker's last and against Cena, which will most certainly main event. Punk/Austin doesn't need to main event, it is a type of match that just needs to be on the card and it would be a show-stealer. EPIC matches like HBK/Taker WM 25, Taker/HHH WM 28, Flair/HBK WM 24, Hogan/Rock WM 18, etc. were not main events. Cena/Taker needs to be main event more than Punk/Austin does. Punk/Austin will be epic but it doesn't need to be the main event, Cena/Taker is much bigger for most fans.
Cena winning would cause such an outrage, and that is why it should happen. You talk about one of the top moments in wrestling history that would be it. Plus, I think deep down, alot of fans want to see Cena turn heel, and I bet they would sacrifice the streak just for it to happen. Me being a Cena fan aside, it just makes no sense for Taker's last opponent to lose. That means there would be no finality to Taker's career. I know most of you hate Cena too much to admit, but he is the only person you could trust with such an accolade: Ending the Streak. Seriously, there is no one else left for Taker to face if he defeats Cena. This is the main reason why I actually want Cena to lose at WM 29, even he is facing Rock again. He needs to put over the edge.
I do agree with you that it should be the only match to even be considered the main event of such a milestone show. Punk and Austin is one of those matches that could be put on mid show. Cena/Taker is one of those matches where if you put it on mid show, regardless of the outcome, fans will be sitting on their hands for the rest of the night. Punk/Austin is not going to be the "edgy" Cena/Rock feud that everyone thinks it's going to be. I LOVE Stone Cold Steve Austin and HATE CM Punk, but Steve is just not that relevant at this point in time. Add the fact that we see him almost every year except for this one. We had not seen Rock for seven years. He will get the nostalgia pop but that will not justify a main event spot on the same card as Cena/Taker. Hell, I don't think any match should be main eventing over Cena/Taker. It is one of those matches at WM that will have a huge impact after it is all said and done.
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Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
In March 2005, the CFI Board of Directors approved the new funding program structure for the period 2005 to 2010. For information regarding the CFI's current and discontinued funds, please visit the CFI Funds page of the CFI website.
On August 6, 2010, Industry Canada announced that $182-million of the $600-million announced as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan in 2009 will be invested in the Leaders Opportunity Fund to ensure that the CFI continues its mandate in 2012 and beyond (see full announcement).
Post-Award Administration - all CFI Projects
Current CFI Funding Opportunities
Current CFI Funding Opportunities
Please note: there is an internal application development and review process for CFI competitions which starts well in advance of the Next CFI Competition Deadline noted in the table below.
Click on the Fund below to see the Internal Application Process and Deadlines.
|New Fund
|Builds On
|CFI Competition Deadline
John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) (timelines updated September 1, 2014)
New Opportunities Fund, the Canada Research Chairs Infrastructure Fund, and Career Awards Fund
February, June, October each year.
Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF)
|eligible individuals will be notified in January.
|Innovation Fund (IF)
|Builds on previous investments and/or commitments made by the Institution. The Innovation Fund is no longer split into LEF (builds upon previously funded CFI infrastructure projects) and NIF (for new initiatives that have not previously been funded by CFI).
please inquire regarding eligibility
Strategic Plans and Initiatives including the Strategic Research Plan
CFI Website: Funds
CFI Website: CFI Policy and Program Guide


text:
"Torso -Jaylynn" Nails, mixed metal (11" x 8" x 5")
*photo couresty of Dick Welton
Fish Mixed metal (Nails, screws, copper) SOLD, but others available at Nansemond Suffolk Art Show
Heart Surgery -mixed metal (11.5"H x 6.5"W x 4"D)
available in studio
I spent years in a flower shop using my creativity to design flower arrangements and window displays that would catch the eye and bring a smile. After a change in ownership and the birth of my first two children, I wanted an 'at home' job and began painting for two renowned collectibles companies. This stirred a desire to create things of my own and I started dabbling in clay, paint, and gourds. Hurricane Isabel hit in 2003; the potter's wheel and kiln were destroyed by flood waters, but the gourds in my work shed floated! I devoted the next year to learning how to grow and transform gourds into art. I love making figures and have done several in bottle caps, mirror, gourd pieces, and nails. If you'd like to be added to my mailing list please send your name,address and email address to email@example.com.
For more information: email@example.com
Currently showing:
26 South King Street
Hampton VA
670 Downey Green, Peninsula Town Center
Riverview Gallery
**Best In Show**
at 2013 Poquoson Seafood Festival
Lilith- Mixed metal, nails, copper
SOLD *photo courtesy Dick Welton
Fish-washers, nails, copper, aluminum *photo courtesy of
Dick Welton
Fish- mixed metal assorted hardware
Check out what's going on in the studio:


text:
Angels eye AL West
The Angels clinch AL West with a win and an A's loss. LIVE: SEA-LAA
Latest MLB
Sep 17, 2014 9:35 PM
Twins closer Glen Perkins will visit the doctor for a "complete look" at his pitching arm.
Sep 17, 2014 8:09 PM
Reds manager Bryan Price benched all of his regulars on Wednesday night.
Sep 17, 2014 7:35 PM
Milwaukee prefers to pay him $14 million than buy him out for $4 million. But since the option is a mutual option, Ramirez will have the option to decline it.
Sep 17, 2014 7:32 PM
It's been a season of underperformance in the Bronx, with Joe Girardi at the forefront. His refusal to recognize the obvious and move Derek Jeter down in the lineup worked wonders for the farewell tour but sunk the Yankees.
Sep 17, 2014 6:56 PM
Here are all 211 of Jose Altuve's hits in nice and tidy one five-minute video.
Sep 17, 2014 6:33 PM
Giancarlo Stanton will table his comeback from being struck in the face by a pitch until 2015.
Sep 17, 2014 5:00 PM
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman has been fined and suspended for throwing at the head of Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph.
Sep 17, 2014 4:33 PM
Giants right-hander Jake Peavy faces the Dodgers on Monday, and he's already thinking about their lead-off hitter.
Sep 17, 2014 3:55 PM
Adam Jones celebrated the Orioles' division title in a very Orioles way on Tuesday night.
Sep 17, 2014 2:37 PM
Alex Rodriguez's season-long suspension almost certainly cost him some important career benchmarks.
Sep 17, 2014 1:43 PM
Jonathan Papelbon's suspension has been handed down, and now veteran umpire Joe West has been disciplined.
Sep 17, 2014 1:14 PM
One fan at Turner Field took his heckling of Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper a bit too far and got the boot from the umpire.
Sep 17, 2014 12:13 PM
Here's our daily look at which teams can cinch a spot in the playoffs, which teams might see those postseason hopes end and which individual milestones are in reach.
Sep 17, 2014 11:19 AM
Rusney Castillo is set to debut for the Red Sox Wednesday night. Scott White discusses what he's hoping to see from the Cuban defector.
Sep 17, 2014 11:11 AM
Things got testy between the Yankees and Rays and on Tuesday night in St. Pete.
Angels eye AL West
The Angels clinch AL West with a win and an A's loss. LIVE: SEA-LAA
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text:
by Amelia Davies, Foreward by Jeannette McAfee, M.D.
Destined to become a classic, this innovative book provides a
program for parents and professionals to teach social skills to children
diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and High Functioning Autism through acting.
The author has worked closely with Jeannette McAfee, author of the
internationally acclaimed social skills guide, Navigating the Social
With an irreverent sense of humor and belief in the potential of
these children, Ms. Davies has found that people with Asperger's Syndrome and
High Functioning Autism who successfully function in the neurotypical world, do
so by learning to "pretend" or "act" in ways that are expected of them,
literally memorizing how to handle hundreds of social interactions as they would
memorize favorite statistics or trading cards of baseball players. These
children may not feel all emotions or understand the feelings of others
intuitively, but they can be taught to understand them logically, like an
anthropologist studying another culture, and through memorization. Over time,
if practiced regularly, memorization of social skills can become internalized,
generalized and provide children with a more intuitive understanding of social
give and take and what makes neurotypical people tick.
According to Ms. Davies, children with Asperger's Syndrome not
only tend to be extremely talented at acting and mimicking voices, but there are
several professional actors and actresses who have Asperger's Syndrome. I
speculate that some top actors and actresses are more comfortable pretending to
be someone else and following a scripted dialog than interacting with others in
an unpredictable, unscripted world.
Research studies have indicated that neurotypical children who
take acting classes have better social skills than their peers. Teaching social
skills through acting draws upon the latent talent waiting to blossom in many
children with Asperger's Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. I have seen
this innate ability in my own son, who is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.
He is a wonderful mimic of different accents and television characters, and has
always performed as well if not with considerably more dramatic flair than his
peers when given scripted dialogs in school plays.
This book contains the nuts and bolts of how to create an acting
class and the proper attitude to approach teaching acting (non-judgmental, wild,
Monty-Pythonesque style humor where almost anything goes; one U.K. expert on
Asperger's Syndrome has speculated that Monty Python's humor is very "Aspergian"
and that probably one or more of its members are on the spectrum). The book
also includes detailed acting exercises and examples of plays, allowing parents
and professionals to create a wonderful and effective program. 191
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|Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Leisurely Sewing
9 comments:
Triple yum on the 4-ply silk!ReplyDelete
So nice to see you creating and enjoying. :)
Amen on MLK.
Congrats on the wedding anniversary! Can't wait to see the finished jacket.ReplyDelete
Slow sewing most often equals great satisfaction with finished product. It's a good way to go. That lining looks luscious!ReplyDelete
I've also been engaging in "spa-sewing" recently (love that phrase!). Maybe because I feel like I have enough clothes in my wardrobe so I'm not rushing to finish things just to have something to wear. It's nice. I feel a little lazy but since I'm also working on simple things I find they finish themselves up in pretty good time anyway. Its a pleasure. Looking forward to seeing your finished jacket!ReplyDelete
I love that self-portrait of a modern-day seamstress... It's great as a standalone photograph...ReplyDelete
The dress will be SMASHING. Can't wait to see what you do.
Mmm spa time. I love that kind of sewing, nice and relaxing, lingering over the garment...
Happy Anniversary and many more! The best is yet to come.ReplyDelete
Thank you soooooooooo much for following my blog.ReplyDelete
I am so honoured.
Following you backa and happy anniversary.
Happy Anniversary! My Phineas and I just celebrated out 7th too (no itch here, either ;-)ReplyDelete
That is going to be a pretty dress!!!ReplyDelete
Congrats on your anniversary! :-)
Thanks for visiting my blog and Happy Sewing, xo
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text:
Yesterday my son had his final audition in London for university. It was intense. He was there from 9 until 2, and was then asked to return at 6:30 to learn of his result. He was warned they would not announce those selected until the entire class has been chosen, so while they... read on
Maya Angelou: Teacher of Quiet, Lady of Grace
May 28, 2014 | 7:23 am
This was originally posted on October 16, 2013. Dr. Angelou passed away today and my heart weeps. I will forever admire this woman. Thank you Maya, for easing my sorrow and teaching me to... read on