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New Matilda has gained exclusive access to the first publicly available version of the 2009 Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) contract with British multinational Serco.
The contract was obtained through a Freedom of Information request and reveals the most comprehensive information yet about the running of Australian detention centres.
New Matilda's analysis of the document reveals that:
The first 80 pages of the contract can be downloaded here. Links to the remaining sections can be found at the end of this article.
Other issues of note include:
According to a letter from DIAC's FOI officer, Serco objects to DIAC's decision to release some parts of this contract and has exercised its rights under FOI law to block access to those sections in the document marked "s27 consultation".
View the FOI officer's decision and a full list of the documents that were blocked here.
However, New Matilda has also obtained a leaked copy of the contract in which some of these blocked sections are visible.
This version of the contract has not been officially released, and reveals:
Read the leaked version of the contract here.
The fact that this contract has only been released now, more than two years after it was signed, reflects how closely guarded the agreement between Serco and the Federal Government remains.
Last week, Serco's Australian CEO Bob McGuiness told Perth Now that he was "gobsmacked" to hear Serco described as a "secretive organisation" in the media. "I find that astonishing," he said.
In fact, the contract prohibits Serco employees from speaking to the media at all. It reads:
"The Service Provider must not, and will ensure that its officers, employees, directors, contractors and agents do not:
Make any public statement;
Release any information to, make any statement to, deal with any inquiry from or otherwise advise the media;
Publish distribute or otherwise make available any information or material to third parties."
The hypocrisy of McGuiness's comments is also remarkable in light of Serco's attempts to block access to information that the DIAC FOI decision maker has argued should be public.
The Labor government and DIAC agreed to the terms of this contract. By privatising immigration detention centres, successive Australian governments have kept these issues out of sight and out of mind, under the pretence of information being "commercial-in-confidence". Bureaucratic buck-passing ensures little firm information is ever released.
Many parts of the contract have still not been released on the decision of DIAC's FOI officer — including the names of the Serco directors who manage relations with DIAC and run detention centres.
Read NM's extended coverage of the contract here and here.
Links to Serco contract (FOI version)
Like this article? Chip in to the Buy Ben Lunch campaign and top up the NM contributors budget.
To control your subscriptions to discussions you participate in go to your Account Settings preferences and click the Subscriptions tab.
Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 13:50
Fascinating to read of visiting requirements- provisionn of tea, coffe etc.
Visited BITA- Brisbane immigration transit Accomodation on weeked.
Was required to wear Fluorescent vest and lanyard . Was luckier than others required to carry personal Alarm.
After listening to a spruik about action to take in emergency etc etc, I was escorted down narrow hall to a room with a glass door. The asylum seekers were escorted in and the guard sat and watched up for the visit.
This is in the so called step down detention- soft detention.
Presumably the asylum seekers are regarded as such a potential risk to a visitor that a guard is required at a 2 metre distance with line of sight at all times.
We are no longer allowed to take in food in case of food poisoning and SERCO is sued!!
EVEN packaged processed food has to be examined by "experts" in the kitchen.
Is it any wonder people are going crazy.
This user is a New Matilda supporter.
Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 14:01
Excellent coverage, congrats to all concerned. Reason this contract has been drawn up in this cynical way, and used to hide the facts from the public by successive governments, is for sinister motives of political and social control.
Its survival despite a change of government indicts the institutional corruption of our political system.
Time for a mass casting of informal ballots - no choice? No vote?!
Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 16:01
This sounds like a set-up to re-run the Stanford experiment on a larger scale.
Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 16:14
What does anyone expect a contract to run a detention centre to say? Nothing to see here, to be honest. The contract has been written by the govt, if the govt was running a detention centre 'in-house' it would be pretty much the same, i.e. run under the same conditions. Everything in that contract is due to Chris Bowen's evil genius, plus the Howard govt's genius, plus the Keating govt's genius who created detention centres in the first place.
Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 16:26
Very good report, thanks a lot. For me, one of the main differences between a private contractor and a government operation is that the latter is accountable to Parliament and public scrutiny. The last paragraphs of the report are the most telling of all, in my view.
Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 16:55
Off and running again privatisation of detention centres, in it for the money bugger the people held in them.
Yes the detention centres are and have been privatised for Serco's greedy financial gain but some people have not learnt any lessons of how privatisation degrades the system.
These buffoons that have had no training and because they wear a uniform they think they are a cut above the rest of society, they are nothing short of being rejected car park attendants.
boy from the bush
Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 21:38
This is exactly the sort of journalism the media should be doing but isn't! Well done NM
con vaitsas
Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 22:29
The boy from the bush is spot on, this is great journalism, I hope more people get onto NEw Matilda and realise that investigative journalism is no longer belonging to the mainstream media but is and has been occurring for some time within the net on blogs and alternative media sites. In regards to SErco is anybody surprised that a contract between a private company and a level of govt whether it be federal or state would release a copy to the media/public for scrutiny? Again congrats to all concerned on this major article, I hope it wins an award for those involved in getting it out to the public.
Posted Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 08:08
Sean, detention centres existed in Australia long before the Keating Government. The Dunera detainees, Jewish men who had escaped from Hitlers Germany, were kept in a camp in Hay. The fact that they had luxuries like shoes was entirely down to the public, particularly the women in the community. Clearly access was allowed then. Access was also given for entertainment which allowed my Mother, a member of the WAAF, to meet my Father, a refugee. This simply wouldn't happen now.
Frank from Frankston
Posted Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 11:11
Congratulations Marni and co on your scoop!
Frank from Frankston
Posted Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 11:16
The "need" for a Serco style contract is based on a failure of policy. The same failure of policy that has drowned hundreds of innocents at sea.
Fix the policy! Resign Australia from any international conventions that make people smuggling a business and detention camps a "necessity".
Repatriate any Indonesian sourced boat person back to Indonesia.
Bribe them if you have to.
Just do it.
Lifeboats, GPS, Autopilots. It couldn't be that hard?
Dr Dog
Posted Friday, November 11, 2011 - 10:01
Well done NM! I look forward to the after effects of the publication of this contract, here and hopefully in other media.
Posted Friday, November 11, 2011 - 13:00
Antony, Marni, Paul, thanks for exposing the truth!
DIAC, the Government, and Serco appear hypocritical,
authoritarian, and gratuitously secretive.
Today privatising jails for unprocessed migrants,
tomorrow privatising jails for accepted residents.
It's a mistake to privatize any policing force, anywhere,
because it reduces public awareness of the truth of the situation,
by allowing the multi-level bureacracy to hide many problems.
But isn't that why LP and ALP choose privatization?
We can and should:
Re-nationalize (un-privatize? publicize?) this department,
Show accountability, by allowing journalistic and NGO access anytime.
Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 13:01
On the other hand, Olivier, the ongoing monopolistic system of complete public sector delivery of services has its own pathologies, including headcount and salary bloat, massive unnecessary public expense and waste (taken from your taxpayers dollars, rates, fines, stamp duties, etc), nepotism, pathological management structures, and often outright corruption. Every year every govt branch and dept wastefully squanders the balance of its budget on trifles so that it won't be taken aaway the next year.
Many state govts in Australia have already outsourced the running of their prisons to a competitive tendering private sector. In the process of bidding and taking over, the private sector operators eliminate entrenched overtime rorts set up by guards, sadists, corrupt guards, and disrupt established drug and contraband channels. The incoming service provider has to compete for contract renewals every 3 or 5 years with other keen tenderers. An ethos of enthusiasm, reform and continuous improvement is therefore encouraged and brought in by the companies to remain competitive. The profit motive means that costs are contained by the company, inefficiency and the public sector mentality are not rewarded. Good ideas are rewarded. That's why the government outsources.
There's no point being a misery guts about everything all the time, especially when the real world outcomes aren't particularly well understood.
Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 18:54
What you say is all very nice theoretically. But I think the fact of this article exposes that privatisation and market forces do not necessarily produce "enthusiasm, reform and continuous improvement". I don't know the hard data to say with any certainty that currently these forces don't even usually provide for these things... but I certainly suspect that your absolute faith and belief in the benevolence of the market doesn't work all its beautiful theory in practice.
And neither do government-run services inherently breed corruption.
The key to ensuring ongoing effectiveness of any administrative undertaking must surely be transparency.
Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 20:48
EveGu, I don't have absolute faith and belief in the benevolence of the market, but the competitive tendering model is definitely a viable model of govt service delivery due to the innate competitive pressures and profit motive to keep costs low. This also prevents the monopolistic behaviour and corrupt channels of govt processes taking root in some cases.
There's plenty of corruption going on in govt all the time, just look at the 10% or so that's actually uncovered and appears in the papers.
The things I'm talking about are not theory, they're put into practice every day around the world, possibly much more than you realise.
Having a belief in 'transparency' is a far more theoretical thing than successful outsourced contracts, to be honest. 'Transparency' is just a word used by Tony Abbott when criticising the govt which he is not at all interested in when in power.
Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 22:47
The latest debacle with Privatisation, Qantas should make us all sit up.
Telstra and the 3 Mexicans, what a Joke.
Gio and the Green slips not to mention the out of control Health Insurance Prices.
Private Public partnerships on Freeways are a Joke
The price of Petrol ever since Ampol vanished.
RTA, Post Office, Rail went stupid then a train fell of the tracks.
Centrelink and all those stupid Job Search mobs, what a Joke.
What did the Australian Tax payer get and what has all of this cost us.
Serco is just one of a number of failings in the Privatisation, Economic Rationalisation Bull given to us by Thatcher, Reagan and Hilmer.
Wake up Aust. we have been fooled again.
Its time we had the Privatisation debate, especialy when it comes to Private profit and socialising Debt.
Bailing out Banks etc.
Is Privatisation really better and if so for whom.
I say, not for Australian Tax Payers.
Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 23:00
Your being a bit loose with the truth.
Corruption has been around since for ever.
Corruption in Government Departments happens when there is a tender process with the Privates.
Wollongong Council, Developers etc.
Rail, cleaning contracts for trains etc.
One of the biggest Corruption cases was in the U.S where Privates sold the Governments own Military oil reserves back to the Government at over inflated prices. Now thats corruption.
We, even Privatised the Transport side of the Military, how bizzare is that.
How do you think the Military lost all that money.
Posted Sunday, November 13, 2011 - 01:36
I absolutely agree with you - a privatising tender model has "a profit motive to keep costs low". This is how Serco is operating. It is how corporations go profit-chasing, at the expense of things that actually matter - like mental wellbeing of its workers and consumers, and the sustainable use of environmental resources. So Serco was engaging in a "competitive" tender process with our so-called government? Why do I have the impression that there were deals done and hands shook behind closed doors, you scratch my back and I scratch yours? I must be imagining things.
Okay, so you've said "in some cases" now, in relation to governmental corruption. There's no denying governments can be corrupt. That's why protection systems are in place, like the Ombudsman's office in Australia. Which Labor and Liberal have pressured Asher out of office for, as great reward for his diligent if slightly desperate effort to oversee the running of our detention centre system. And isn't it going so well? This is what you call "a viable model"?
There are "corrupt channels of government processes" here. The free market is not helping. In this case, they are intimately complicit.
Yes, I'm sure capitalist theory is put into practice every day, "possibly much more than I realise". Is this a good thing? Jackal has kindly provided a few examples of how privatisation is affecting our lives. Perhaps you'd care to pick any one of these to discuss further. It's always nice to work with hard data, as long as it's not cherry-picked. Of course, feel free to raise any other facts supporting your claim, I'm ready to learn what great benefits privatisation and economic liberalism continues to bring to the majority of the population.
And transparency is "theoretical"? It seems that you are playing at switching around words here. But I'd have to say, Wilde does a much better job. Tony Abbott doesn't say anything worth listening to, so let's not quote him in any seriousness. I'm quite interested to know in what way you construe transparency so as to deny its possibility of existence.
Posted Sunday, November 13, 2011 - 06:57
Sean, go and read a great Book.
"Globalization, Global Justice and Social Work"
and read what has happened to our Social Systems when we Privatised for "Wealth Creation."
Read what it says about "Cracks in the Neo Liberal consensus" on page 208?
The rest must be Targeted, means tested and kept to a minimum of provision lest the burden threatens,
"Wealth Creation"
They must remain consumers of food at all cost, but they must not be allowed to see that they are a burden to wealth creation or more correctly, hamper the Governments ability to channel Tax money towards "Wealth Creation." Why hamper.
77% of all Australians earn their money from the Tax payer in some way or form. Nurse 100%, Butcher who sells to the Nurse between 10 and 80% depending on how many Government payed people buy his products.
Infastructure Companies and their employees like Serco earn 100% of their wealth from the Tax payer.
Only 36% of Australians are in full time Employment and paying Taxes full time.
A lot of these people get 100% of their income of the Tax payer and pay 33% Tax back through their income Tax. So the Tax System is actualy in Deficit, so where does the Government get the short fall. The mining Taxes/Royalties, selling OUR Resources overseas.
People just don't realize how corrosive of our once great society this Privatisation, Dog Eat Dog World, has become.
Yes, they Parade their over rated, Glamourised, Marilyn Monroe's with their Platex support Bra's and Panty Girdle's, who are in fact nothing but Obese Bimbo Junkies to make this Capitalist System look good. Then try and hide the fact that she died from a Cocaine Enema with a 2" hose up her rear.
Its great when you are now the Footballer who drives around in a 350 Thousand Dollar sports car.
Or the Guy that now lives on the North Shore because his Company now makes the Number Plates that our Inmates in our Jails used to make to pay for their incarceration which the Tax Payer now has to do at great cost.
This cost to Society became Transparent because Jails were Government Dept., so they try to Privatise the Jails to hide the true costs, until they too become the next Qantas or Telstra Saga because the CEO opens all the Jails, lets murderers out onto the street because the Profits are not coming or as great as they wanted.
There is a lot more to this Qantas thing, it goes much deeper, it goes to the root of Globilisation, Privatisation. The warning bells should be ringing, but the Media is too stupid to ask those fundamental questions.
What was and is Economics for, the individual and/or society
Go to http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse
view the 20 odd power Point Presentations.
Trade between Villages was the first form of Business, but because the Barter system was not very efficient at trading goods, a form of trading currency was necessary.
The world had no problems while we used Gold, it is when we created Currencies and gave Banks the right to lend money into existence, that we began to fail and our inflation crises showed its ugly head.
The world began to fail many years ago and its the Harvard Business Model thats Failing, Nixon, Reagan and Thatcher put the final nails in our worlds coffin.
We must take Industrialization into the equation and how it caused the population explosion that has now reached 7 Billion, if these have 2 Children each
they become 14 billion, give and take, birth losses and old age deaths.
All of these people want Jobs, Cars and Women or Man and the right to Pollute the planet.
Posted Sunday, November 13, 2011 - 07:07
For those interested.
Read pages 207 trought to 210 this tells almost the entire story, the war in Iraq etc. etc. Globilisation.
Posted Friday, November 18, 2011 - 22:53
Jackal, good on you. absolutely good on you for knowing, for learning, for knowing all this and more. :)
Posted Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 00:41
thank you for a powerful series of pieces of investigative journalism. much appreciated.


text: Ken Leiker Become a Fan × BECOME A FAN Get updates about Ken Leiker and recommended reads from Simon & Schuster. Plus, get a FREE eBook when you sign up! Email Address Free eBook available to NEW subscribers only. Offer redeemable at Bookshout.com. Code expires 12/31/2015. See full terms and conditions. By clicking SIGN UP, I acknowledge that I have read and agreed to the Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use. Books by this Author Unscripted By Ken Leiker and Mark Vancil By Ken Leiker and Mark Vancil Unscripted The fans in their seats are barely able to contain themselves. The buzz of the crowd rises higher and higher until that first Superstar walks onto the stage and into the ring. It doesn't matter where you are in the arena-ringside or high above the floor you know that it's going to be an exciting night. There are signs everywhere, the people in their seats chant for their favorite wrestler. You get caught up in the wave of excitement filling the place. Maybe tonight a title changes hands. This is... Read more about this book Read more Get a FREE eBook when you join our mailing list. Plus, receive updates about Ken Leiker,recommended reads and more from Simon & Schuster. Email Address Free eBook available to NEW subscribers only. Offer redeemable at Bookshout.com. Code expires 12/31/2015.See full terms and conditions and this month's choices.

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Out of Print
About the Author
Kate Klimo first got the idea for this book many years ago when her three sons were small and she came across a geode lying among the rolled-up socks in one of their sock drawers. Now that her sons are all grown up, she has finally found the time to write the story down. When she is not writing, Kate is a children s book publisher. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, Harry, three horses, and one grandcat.
Tim Jessell is the illustrator of many books for children. He lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with his wife and children.


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Brighton College Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between the UK's top co-educational school Brighton College and Bloom Properties, hosted a concert titled 'Pencils for Palestine' to express solidarity with Palestinian children in their everyday struggle to achieve education and academic excellence.
Held on December 15 at the Brighton College Theatre, the concert featured popular global favourites such as 'Heal the World' and 'Man in the Mirror' that resonated with the theme of man's empathy for the suffering of fellow human beings.
As part of the event, every child in the school was asked to fill a decorated gift box with stationery items, a small toy or toys and other necessary items. In addition, funds were raised through the sale of tickets for the concert, and retailing merchandise, mugs, bracelets and t-shirts at the venue. A raffle draw that gave away valuable prizes also raised thousands of dirhams.
The gift boxes and proceeds raised have been handed over to the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) for distribution among the children of Palestine.
Jo Vigneron, Head Mistress of Pre Prep School at Brighton College, said: "In enabling children to 'Be the change they want to see', we seek to engage them in meaningful activities that allow them to empathise with the suffering of those less privileged, especially in war-torn areas. This initiative conveys a message of peace from the children of Abu Dhabi to the children of Palestine that through the power of learning we can together make the world a better place to live in."
Vigneron added: "We are delighted with the support of Emirates Red Crescent that will facilitate the transportation and distribution of the boxes to children in Palestine and ensure the funds raised reach our beneficiaries. ERC's support has made this worthy cause feasible and expanded its scope beyond our school. I thank the family of His Excellency Hamad Al Darmaki for their generosity in providing the merchandise and the prizes to the winners of the raffle draw that was undoubtedly a highlight of the fund-raiser."
Located adjacent to Khalifa Park on Abu Dhabi Island, Brighton College Abu Dhabi offers a British curriculum to pupils from ages 3 – 18 years. The college comprises three separate schools – the Pre-prep school, Prep school and Senior school – in one purpose-built campus adjacent to the Ministries Complex. Apart from Brighton College Abu Dhabi, Bloom has also built a 10-hectare Brighton College campus in Al Ain.
This school was awarded A2 rating by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the highest grade ever achieved by a new school in the emirate of Abu Dhabi following a three-day inspection carried out in May 2014. Bloom Properties is now looking to replicate the Brighton Colleges successful model locally and regionally.


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I know it will be released one day...
It will feature gameplay elements familiar to Harvest Moon fans such as buying and caring for cows and chickens, planting and harvesting different crops, cutting wood to create fences or upgrade your home, mining precious metals to forge new tools. There will also be a dynamic day/night cycle, different weather effects like rain, fog, and storms that can affect your crops, different seasons that dictate what you can plant on your farm, and a third person camera with an overhead control scheme.
This mod has been in development for roughly six weeks, and the dynamic day and night cycle has been completed, and only needs a few tweaks before the lighting is perfect, however it is in need of some variation, as plain skies during the day and black nights are boring. A basic plant system exists, but more work has to be done on it. The overhead camera works as is, but player movements are jerky and animations also need a bit of work.
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I know it will be released one day...
I think is dead.
is it tasty? it sounds like a butter spread
oh dear, it's farmville source :P seams like a cool idea man good luck
I hope this mod isnt dead... :(
Omg, dude. How on earth did you do that sunrise? Script? Some Mapping trick?
Ive wanted to have sunrises in my map for ages now!
PLEASE Pretty please tell me how you did it! ^^
And i just have to say, its beutiful. 20/10 :)
Just if you wonder, its 10 more then 10/10 ^^
nice idea
please go on
It looks interesting, I will be sure to try it when it is done. Good luck
Wacky idea :D But I will definitly try it when it's finished.
Funny thing that your username is Vegetable. :) But it's even stranger that you are a female. :P I usually just see guys around here. No offence.
I'm male, actually. I just never bothered to change it from when I first randomly set my profile up years ago.
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text: Charles Elbey | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information Official Broadway League sites: - sites - broadway.org broadwayleague.com broadwayfanclub.com kidsnightonbroadway.com stagespecs.org tonyawards.com Quick Search For: In This Category: All Show People/Org. Theatre Season Charles Elbey Performer Male Productions ProductionsDate of ProductionsNed Wayburn's Gambols[Musical, Revue, Original] Performer: Charles Elbey Jan 15, 1929 - Feb 09, 1929 Find out where Charles Elbey and are credited together © 2001-2015, The Broadway League, All Rights Reserved. (Copyright and Disclaimer)


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Dorian Sweet | May 11, 2007 | Comments
Video is fully online. What's the best way for ad marketers to get in on the action?
Talk is cheap. It's easy to discuss video and how it works online, but what about producing it? Yes, money makes it easier. But a lot of money has been wasted on the medium for lack of a little knowledge.
Much of the online video revolution occurred at either end of the execution spectrum. The range is almost pure formula: super-duper epic budgets with top talent and expensive post-production at one end; some teenager with a camcorder lighting a bottle rocket off from his delicate orifice at the other end. (Yes, it's on YouTube. But I'm not including the link.) No matter what money is spent, it ends up online. Anyone can see it for free.
So where do you fit in, and how do you get it done? Whether you're a local business owner who's cranking up the video camera and iMovie or a marketing professional trying to figure out which agency, off- or online, should run your next video project, you've got a big decision to make.
A major factor is media cost, whether it's local cable, online video placement, or something else. You've got to scale production dollars and time to your media budget.
I'm biased, of course, but you should always engage a professional. The do-it-yourself approach can be charming, but often you're only fooling yourself. Not that I'm one to inhibit the inner Kubrick or Spielberg in all of us, but let's crawl before we sprint.
The right venue for your ad is important, and at a local level things have changed. Local and regional online publishers have opened their doors to online video. Though it may seem somewhat expensive, it's a great opportunity for a local merchant to stand out from the competition. Whether it's a full-on media buy or an introductory offer from the publisher, you should always make the most of it and take a measured approach.
If you're thinking of doing it alone, here's a quick video spec so you know what to deliver to your online publisher or local production studio:
This may seem a little technical, but just knowing this is a good start. You might be turned away if you show up with a camcorder tape, a script, and a bad copy of your logo.
If you're a marketing professional with a new project, and you pick up the phone to call your agency but hesitate about which one to call, you're not alone. Independent production companies are working with Internet agencies to add a layer of polish often not readily available to them.
Full-service agencies (including interactive) are a good bet. Most internal production departments know the Internet is the way a lot of work is going to go. They don't want to be left out of the party.
You're likely to get a great result from a great agency. And you should always judge the depth of your relationship with your partners before you start the advertising Armageddon.
It also helps to know what to expect. This column explains what makes a great rich ad.
The big reason you should be smarter about the whos and whats of online advertising is because none of this is going to get any easier. As complexity increases, developing the most rudimentary knowledge of how to make an online video paves the way for solid, effective use of it in the coming years.
The new online video dilemma is a formidable one when you're spending relatively big money to place the ad. The days of cheap Internet advertising are over. Whether you're stumping to sell local goods or working on an international campaign, video is great, but a great video is better.
Join us for the ClickZ Specifics: Advertising in Social Media seminar on May 21 in New York.
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Dorian Sweet is the vice president and executive creative director of GSI Interactive who leads strategic development and innovation in online advertising, Web development, e-commerce, and customer relationship management programs. His work has brought award-winning online solutions to such clients as Clorox, Miller Brewing Company, GE, Visa, eBay, British Airways, Wells Fargo, Discovery Networks, Motorola, Kodak, Sears, 20th Century Fox, and others.
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Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 314 pounds
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i come a long way searching the web and find this one this website is for you long live moddb.Play warcraft 1,2,3 And soon Warcraft IV and join World of Warcraft and yo mind will be blowed.
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Aliens vs Predator Source for all the avp games and movies. Your AvP Source of the latest AvP news, videos, images,and more. Join the AvP Source.
This is a group for all modders of JK3. All JK3 modders are welcome here. Jedi Knight Jedi Academy mods.
If it's information about Mod DB and ramblings about mods in general that you are after - then you have come to the right place. Welcome to the official...
For fans of C&C, BFME and Dune games, plus every game using one of the universes as its battleground.
A Group that I thought I'd Create After The Star Gate Jedi Academy Multiplayer Mod. I also Plan to take it to the next level (Singleplayer as well)With...
Remember the time when we all were obsessed with a game called Battlefront 2. Wow that game was amazing, its seemingly flawless campaign, and the true...
modding for star wars games and editing them and that sort of thing ya know
StarCraft II continues the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced...
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Nope because i don't have PC for AVP 3 but i played to one of my friend i don't know exactly if can give the game talk to my friend NikolaiChekhov Moddb.com =)
But i think is made by a fan Warcraft Movie !!!
Hy and thanks i don't know about if i rule,you are refering about my group's, right??? =)
And i love Warcraft series!! =D
WEll Hi Again i think so and did you know there will be a movie this year maybe but Defently next year?
Today a new day it is Yesterday Is over do not think of the past do not think of the future but think of today only.


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The high-density nylon Ergo-Grip outsole of the Louis Garneau Men's Montana XT2 Mountain Bike Shoe bites into the trail like the cornering lugs on your all-mountain tires so you don't wind up falling while you get off your bike. It takes some of the fun out of the ride when your girl starts laughing at you.
- Heel with one-way spandex insert holds heel firmly in place
- Thermoplastic protection at the toe
- Ratchet closure for custom fit
- Removable crampons for added traction
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Louis Garneau Montana XT2 Shoe - Men's
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So far, so good
I have been riding in these shoes for 3 months...The only complaint is that they run a tad bit narrow. I expect they will stretch out a bit as I continue to break them in. Overall, a nice pair of shoes!


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If I Could Own ONLY ONE Episode of DS9 on DVD, It Would Be...
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October 29 2011, 12:32 PM
Rear Admiral
Location: Jimmy Whispers and his fancy walkman
Re: If I Could Own ONLY ONE Episode of DS9 on DVD, It Would Be...
Ln X wrote:
For me it would be
His Way
, that episode brings a smile to my face every time (I don't think I'll ever grow tired of watching it), and it is one of my favourite episodes of DS9. It's just so nice Odo and Kira getting together, and Vic's deception is some awe-inspired writing, love it!
I love that episode, too!
For me, it would be a tough choice between In the Pale Moonlight, Far Beyond the Stars or What You Leave Behind.
But I'll settle for anything that has either Weyoun, Damar or both of them in it.
It was a nice day ... AND THEN EVIL CAME!
The Collected Works of Stephen King, condensed version
Jimmy Whispers is building a gravity belt, but old viking dudes hide tube socks in the cellar!
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Green Mountain Coffee Roasters earnings increaseMay 08,2013
Staff Report
WATERBURY - Green Mountain Coffee Roasters reported Wednesday second quarter earnings of 93 cents a share over the same period last year.
Revenue increased 14 percent to $1 billion over the prior year period. Net income for the quarter was $140.9 million compared to $101.7 million a year ago.
"Our industry-leading single serve business - made up of single serve packs, Keurig brewers and accessories - grew a healthy 16 percent in our second fiscal quarter contributing to strong earnings growth and significant free cash flow generation," said Brian Kelley, GMCR president and CEO.
"We expect the Keurig brewer installed base in U.S. households to grow between 25 percent to 30 percent in fiscal 2013 with volume of our single serve packs growing proportionately with the anticipated brewer installed base."MORE IN This Just InIt will be a busy week in gubernatorial politics with two candidates holding formal campaign... Full StoryKABUL, Afghanistan Confusion reigned in the wake of the deadly bombing Saturday of a hospital... Full StoryLow-income mothers will soon have more choices of food for their families through a pre-exisiting... Full Story
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Expert Service 1-877-289-7664 [Hours]
JL Audio CS110TG-TW3
Sealed PowerWedge Truck Style Enclosure with 10" TW3 Subwoofer
This item is backed by our VIP Guarantee
Get FAST answers from customers ASK a Question See questions answers
Subwoofer Features:
- 10" 2 ohm TW3 truck style subwoofer driver
- Power Handling:
- Peak: 800 watts
- RMS: 400 watts
- Impedance: 2 ohms
- Mica-filled injection molded polypropylene cone
- Rubber woofer surround
- Dual 4 ohm voice coils
- Frequency response: 24-200 Hz
- Sensitivity: 82dB
- Comes with black steel mesh grille
- 2 Year Manufacturer's Warranty
General Enclosure Features:
- Subwoofer mounting depth: 3-1/2"
- Subwoofer cutout diameter: 11-5/8"
- 5/8" MDF construction
- Sealed enclosure
- Black carpet covered cabinet
- One pair of 5-way binding posts on the left side of the enclosure
- Nickel plated push terminals
- Dimensions: 4 3/8"D x 7 1/4"D w/ grille x 19 1/8"W x 12 5/8"H
Subwoofer Specifications
Efficiency (1w/1m) is not an accurate indicator of a subwoofer's output capability and should not be used as a comparison to other speakers or subwoofers to determine which one is "louder".
Enclosure Specifications
Sealed - Sealed boxes are those that have no holes or vents in it. The only hole in a sealed box is where the subwoofer is installed. Smaller sealed boxes require more power than a larger sealed box. They provide a tight, accurate bass, while the larger sealed enclosures provide a "boomier" and louder bass.
Ported / Vented - Ported/Vented Enclosures provide an even boomier, louder bass, but less accurate then a small, sealed box. Ported enclosures typically require more airspace per sub and also less power output from an amplifier to perform correctly.
Bandpass - Bandpass enclosures make subwoofers perform efficiently, but loose. The bass is not as "boomy" as a ported enclosure nor as punchy as a sealed enclosure. Bandpass enclosures work well with lower to mid-level subwoofers.
Binding post terminals are a sturdier, more versatile type of speaker terminal. Because binding post terminals are are threaded, you can tighten them down against the wire or connector for a tight, clean connection. The most popular style of binding post terminals is known as a "5-way binding post". This type can accept bare wire, or any of the common speaker wire connectors. Binding posts with the option to be used with banana clips are even more versatile
Spring posts are a hybrid of the two. Instead of using a thread and "screwing" them tight, they use a spring to allow the wire to fit and tighten against the terminal.
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Warranty and Return Policy
Summary of Customer Ratings & Reviews
25 ft. of True 12 Gauge EnvyFlex Speaker Cable/Wire (100% Oxygen-Free Copper)
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20 Square Feet of Sound Dampening Material (Five 18" x 32" Pieces)
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Universal, Professional Heavy Duty Roller for Sound Damping/Dampening
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Complete Car Stereo Tool Kit, Includes Voltage Test Light, Wire Stripper and More
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Warning: The image depicted shows the resistance change when wiring multiple subwoofer terminals. Please refer to your subwoofer's owner's manual for the proper wiring of its terminals. Sonic Electronix, Inc. is not responsible for damage caused to your audio system or vehicle due to improper installation. Please call tech support at 1-877-289-7664 if you require additional assistance.
Product Name: JL Audio CS110TG-TW3
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|Drukpa Dzong
|12m. 5 Bolts + 2BB. Going from left to right it is the first route that starts higher in a ledger. Attach a long sling to the first bolt for the belayer as the surface is very slippery.
F A Gordon Jenkin 2009
Submit a new photo of this climb.


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After Years of Delays, Californians With Limited English-Speaking Skills Will Soon Receive Translation Services, According to a New Report from
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a leading provider of managed care market intelligence, reports that California health plans submitted proposals to the state Department of Managed Health Care on July 1 outlining how they will implement language assistance requirements which go into effect in January 2009. According to the most recent California Health Plan Analysis, the regulations require health plans to provide interpretation services for any language a member of a commercial plan requests, and to translate vital documents into the top spoken language among a plan's membership.
"Although the translation efforts are consuming considerable resources for California health plans, compliance with the regulations is made somewhat easier, particularly for the larger plans, because similar requirements are in place for Medi-Cal," said Chris Lewis, an analyst with HealthLeaders-InterStudy and author of the report. "To meet these new requirements, health plans had to survey their memberships to assess the language needs of enrollees. However, there is some concern that health plans are not doing enough to truly gauge the needs of the membership, as well as notify them of their new rights."
If a health plan has more than one million members, it must translate materials into the top two non-English languages spoken by its members. For plans with 300,000 to one million members, translation of materials into only one language is required. Lastly, for those under 300,000 enrollees, the law requires translation when 3,000 or more, or 5 percent -- whichever is less -- of the commercial enrollee population indicates a preference for translation into that language.
As part of the regulation, health plans also must arran
|SOURCE HealthLeaders-InterStudy
Copyright©2008 PR Newswire.
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Fishworks - Marylebone
This charming branch of FishWorks in Marylebone is a bright, informal restaurant serving up immaculately prepared, simple fish dishes. The cheery blue and white interior makes for a relaxed eating environment, with customers bustling around the traditional fish counter and specials handwritten on the chalkboards. Seafood specials include fish pie and shellfish platters, with a fish-friendly wine list and a children's menu available.
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89 Marylebone High StreetMayfairLondonW1U 4QY
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Ambassadors Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2014 Results SPOKANE, Wash., April 30, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX), a leading provider of educational travel experiences and online education research materials, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014. Overview *Gross revenue, from all sources including non-directly delivered programs, of $1.6 million during the seasonally slower first quarter compared to $2.9 million in the prior year period. Traveled 183 delegates compared to 572 delegates in the first quarter of 2013, which included the Presidential Inauguration Program that traveled in January 2013. *Gross margin of $1.1 million compared to $1.4 million in the 2013 period. *Operating expenses for the quarter, excluding the impact of special items, of $10.0 million, a decrease of $2.0 million year-over-year. *Net loss before special items of $7.3 million compared to $6.7 million last year; Net loss of $7.6 million, compared to net loss of $8.1 million in the first quarter of 2013. *Cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities balance of $64.4 million; deployable cash, as defined, of $15.0 million and no debt outstanding. *Enrolled revenue for 2014 programs down 6.8 percent year-over-year for all programs and 8.4 percent year-over-year for core Student Ambassador Programs.Prior year enrolled travelers for Discovery Student Adventures and People to People China programs have been excluded for year-over-year comparability given the Company's decision during the third quarter of 2013 to no longer operate these programs in 2014. Financial Highlights (in thousands except percent and per share data) UNAUDITED Quarter ended March 31, 2014 2013 Gross revenue, all travel programs $560 $1,894 Internet content and advertising revenue $1,008 $999 Gross revenue, all sources $1,568 $2,893 Gross margin, all travel programs $180 $522 Gross margin, internet content and advertising $876 $870 Gross margin, all sources $1,056 $1,392 Gross margin percentage 67.3% 48.1% Operating expense $10,241 $14,185 Operating expense, before special items $9,952 $11,994 Operating income, internet content and advertising $336 $332 Net loss before special items $(7,310) $(6,663) Net loss $(7,551) $(8,059) Loss per diluted share before special items $(0.44) $(0.39) Loss per diluted share $(0.45) $(0.47) Commenting on the Company's results, Anthony Dombrowik, Ambassadors Group Interim Chief Executive Officer said, "We gained efficiencies this quarter, evidenced by the $2 million reduction in operating expenses before special items.As we continue to focus on protecting our profitability, we are targeting a $3 million to $4 million reduction in operating expenses on a full year basis during 2014, in addition to the $10.8 million of cost savings achieved in 2012 and 2013." Dombrowik continued, "While being fiscally responsible, we have also made meaningful progress in our evolution to a year-round, integrated multi-channel marketing and sales strategy. In the first quarter we saw the integrated model begin to deliver important efficiencies on a year-over-year basis as we applied what we have learned in the last year from multiple test initiatives. For instance, the recently completed winter campaign, aimed at 2014 travel season enrollments, delivered about 90 percent of last year's campaign on a 35 percent reduction in spend. We have also driven meaningful efficiencies in our spring campaign aimed at 2015 travel season enrollments owing to our ongoing efforts to source, nurture, and enroll leads across existing and new direct mail, digital, and relationship based marketing and sales channels. As a reminder, we held our first-ever spring campaign last year; it was designed to uncover the optimal volume, targeting, timing, messaging and markets for this time period. Based on our findings, we deliberately ran a smaller campaign this spring, which thus far has delivered our anticipated enrollments on decreased spend, while also exhibiting notable year- over- year improvements in response rates and meeting attendance." Dombrowik concluded, "We have delivered gross Student enrollments for the 2014 travel season on par with the prior year, while materially improving our marketing and financial model.While we are encouraged by the results of our recent campaigns, the reality is that we continue to face a higher withdrawal rate for the 2014 travel season in spite of our augmented retention efforts. Personal financial reasons are by far the number one factor for families that withdraw -- even more so than in 2013.As a result, we have seen our net enrollments for the 2014 travel season remain on the trajectory we noted last quarter, with point in time enrolled revenue now down 6.8 percent. We are disappointed with these results; however, we firmly believe the long-range changes we are making to our sales and marketing strategies are the right ones to put us on track to not only drive delegate growth, but also do so in a more cost effective manner.Our extended sales and delivery business cycle demands that we take a long-term view and rigorously apply what we have learned over each seasonal campaign. The spring campaign for 2015 travel is a strong foundation as we prepare for our next push for enrollments this fall for 2015." First Quarter 2014 Results During the first quarter of 2014, the Company traveled 183 delegates, compared to 572 delegates during the prior year quarter, which included travelers on the Company's Presidential Inauguration Program in January 2013. As a result, total revenue of $1.6 million declined 46 percent from $2.9 million in the prior year quarter. Gross margin for the quarter was $1.1 million compared to $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2013. Gross margin percentage increased to 67.3 percent from 48.1 percent in the prior year period due primarily to a higher mix of revenue contribution from BookRags, the Company's online education research business. Gross margin is calculated as the sum of gross revenue non-directly delivered programs, gross revenue directly delivered programs and internet content and advertising revenue less cost of sales non-directly delivered programs, costs of sales directly delivered programs and cost of sales internet content and advertising. First quarter 2014 operating expenses were $10.2 million, down 28 percent from $14.2 million in the prior year period.Excluding special items, first quarter 2014 operating expenses declined $2.0 million, or 17 percent.Selling and marketing expenses decreased approximately $1.5 million year- over -year mainly due to a purposeful reduction in marketing spend as well as lower overall personnel costs.General and administrative expenses decreased approximately $2.5 million primarily due to separation expenditures incurred in the first quarter of 2013 that did not recur in the current period. Net loss for the first quarter of 2014 was $7.6 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $8.1 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, in the prior year period. First quarter 2014 net loss before special items was $7.3 million compared to $6.7 million in 2013. Balance Sheet and Liquidity Total assets at March 31, 2014 were $114.8 million including cash, cash equivalents and short-term available-for-sale securities of $64.4 million. Long-term assets totaled $32.0 million primarily reflecting goodwill and intangible assets of the BookRags business, technology, hardware and systems used to deliver services, and the Company's office building, which has been listed for sale. Total liabilities were $66.0 million, including $60.6 million in participant deposits for future travel. The Company had no debt outstanding and deployable cash of $15.0 million at March 31, 2014.Deployable cash is a non-GAAP measure defined in the attached schedules. The following table summarizes the cash flows as further disclosed in the accompanying financial statements.Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, which is defined as cash flow from operations less purchases of property, equipment and intangibles, is also noted (in thousands): UNAUDITED Three months ended March 31, 2014 2013 Net cash provided by operating activities $19,365 $20,131 Purchases of property, equipment and intangibles (760) (688) Free cash flow 18,605 19,443 Net proceeds from sale (purchase) of (15,489) (15,444) available-for-sale securities Dividend payments to shareholders -- (1,017) Repurchase of common stock -- (487) Other cash flows, net (15) (346) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $3,101 $2,149 Outlook for 2014 As of April 27, 2014, enrolled revenue for 2014 travel programs was 102.3 million, down 6.8 percent from the same point last year, based on enrolled travelers of 16,849 compared to 18,149. Enrolled revenue for the Company's core product, Student Ambassadors, is down 8.4 percent to 91.9 million compared to 100.3 million at the same date last year, based on enrolled travelers of 13,138 compared to 14,591. Prior year data excludes the impact of enrolled travelers for Discovery Student Adventures and China programs as of this time last year to reflect year-over-year comparability given the Company's decision to no longer operate these programs in 2014. Enrolled revenue consists of estimated gross receipts to be recognized upon travel of an enrolled participant and revenue recognized for any delegates who have completed travel for the travel year referenced. Reported net enrollments consist of all participants who have enrolled in the Company's programs less those that have already withdrawn, including travel that has been completed.Enrolled revenue may not result in actual gross receipts eventually recognized by the Company due to both withdrawals from the Company's programs and expected future enrollments. The Company is updating its guidance for 2014 as follows: *Consolidated gross revenues for all programs and operations to be between $104 million and $110 million; *Consolidated gross margin as a percentage of gross revenue for all programs and operations of 36 percent to 37 percent; and *Net income before any special items of between $0 and $2 million. Conference Call and Webcast Information The Company will host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2014 results of operations on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time (8:30 a.m. Pacific Time).Participants can access the callvia the internet at www.ambassadorsgroup.com/EPAX. The call can also be accessedbydialing 877-280-2342 or 212-444-0896 (international) and providing the passcode: 1896989.Approximately 24 hours following the call,a webcast will be available through August 1, 2014 at www.ambassadorsgroup.com/EPAX. A replay of the call will alsobe available through May 6, 2014 and can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820 (international) and providing the pass code: 1896989. About Ambassadors Group, Inc. Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX) is an education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors Group, Inc. is the parent Company of Ambassador Programs, Inc., World Adventures Unlimited, Inc. and BookRags, Inc., an educational research website. The Company also oversees the Washington School of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning school. Additional information about Ambassadors Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries is available at www.ambassadorsgroup.com. In this press release, "Company", "we", "us", and "our" refer to Ambassadors Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding actual and expected financial performance and the reasons for variances between period-to-period results. Forward-looking statements, which are included per the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and may not reflect risks related to international unrest, outbreak of disease, conditions in the travel industry, the direct marketing environment, changes in economic conditions and changes in the competitive environment. We expressly disclaim any obligation to provide public updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in expectations or any change in events. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be met. For a more complete discussion of certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results, please refer to the Ambassadors Group, Inc. 10-K filed March 27, 2014, and its proxy statement filed April 11, 2014. AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share data) UNAUDITED Quarter ended March 31, 2014 2013 $ Change % Change Net revenue, non-directly delivered $116 $-- $116 100% programs (1) Gross revenue, directly delivered 273 1,894 (1,621) -86% programs(2) Internet content and advertising revenue 1,008 999 9 1% Total revenue 1,397 2,893 (1,496) -52% Cost of sales, directly delivered 209 1,372 (1,163) -85% programs (2) Cost of sales, internet content and 132 129 3 2% advertising Gross margin (3) 1,056 1,392 (336) -24% Operating expenses: Selling and marketing 6,993 8,519 (1,526) -18% General and administration 3,140 5,666 (2,526) -45% Restructuring costs 108 -- 108 100% Total operating expenses 10,241 14,185 (3,944) -28% Operating loss (9,185) (12,793) 3,608 28% Other income (expense): Interest and dividend income 131 127 4 3% Foreign currency and other income 3 20 (17) -85% Total other income 134 147 (13) -9% Loss before income tax benefit (9,051) (12,646) 3,595 28% Income tax benefit 1,500 4,587 (3,087) -67% Net loss $(7,551) $(8,059) $508 6% Weighted average shares outstanding – 16,755 17,001 (246) -1% basic Weighted average shares outstanding – 16,755 17,001 (246) -1% diluted Net loss per share — basic $(0.45) $(0.47) $0.02 4% Net loss per share — diluted $(0.45) $(0.47) $0.02 4% (1) Net revenue, non-directly delivered programs consists of gross revenue, less program pass-through expenses for non-directly delivered programs because we primarily engage third-party operators to perform these services. UNAUDITED Quarter ended March 31, 2014 2013 % Change Gross revenue $287 $-- 100% Cost of sales 171 -- 100% Net revenue $116 $-- 100% (2) Gross revenue and cost of sales for directly delivered programs are reported as separate items because we plan, organize and operate all activities, including speakers, facilitators, events, accommodations and transportation. (3) Gross margin is calculated as the sum of gross revenue non-directly delivered programs, gross revenue directly delivered programs and internet content and advertising revenue less cost of sales non-directly delivered programs, costs of sales directly delivered programs and cost of sales internet content and advertising.Gross margin percentage is calculated as gross margin divided by the sum of gross revenue non-directly delivered programs, gross revenue directly delivered programs and internet content and advertising revenue. AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) UNAUDITED AUDITED March 31, December 31, 2014 2013 2013 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $12,574 $8,299 $9,473 Available-for-sale securities 51,834 47,634 36,174 Foreign currency exchange contracts 20 79 -- Prepaid program cost and expenses 14,661 26,361 7,069 Accounts receivable 1,312 1,353 1,792 Deferred tax assets 2,382 375 1,295 Total current assets 82,783 84,101 55,803 Property and equipment, net 17,925 25,737 18,452 Available-for-sale securities 723 729 719 Foreign currency exchange contracts 15 32 -- Deferred tax assets -- 779 -- Intangibles 3,502 3,553 3,522 Goodwill 9,781 9,781 9,781 Other long-term assets 84 82 82 Total assets $114,813 $124,794 $88,359 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses $3,339 $4,954 $3,587 Participants' deposits 59,877 62,821 26,362 Foreign currency exchange contracts 134 56 244 Other liabilities 130 101 119 Total current liabilities 63,480 67,932 30,312 Participants' deposits 712 357 -- Foreign currency exchange contracts -- -- 52 Deferred tax liabilities 1,835 -- 2,087 Total liabilities 66,027 68,289 32,451 Stockholders' equity 48,786 56,505 55,908 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $114,813 $124,794 $88,359 AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) UNAUDITED March 31, 2014 2013 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $(7,551) $(8,059) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 1,307 1,326 Stock-based compensation 202 1,751 Deferred income tax benefit (1,484) (3,724) Loss on disposition and impairment of property and -- 4 equipment Excess tax shortfall from stock-based compensation 15 351 Change in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable and other assets 478 (500) Prepaid program costs and expenses (7,592) (9,197) Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other current (237) 736 liabilities Participants' deposits 34,227 37,443 Net cash provided by operating activities 19,365 20,131 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of available-for-sale securities (15,609) (15,633) Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities 120 189 Purchase of property and equipment (678) (606) Purchase of intangibles (82) (82) Net cash used in investing activities (16,249) (16,132) Cash flows from financing activities: Repurchase of common stock -- (487) Dividend payment to shareholders -- (1,017) Proceeds from exercise of stock options -- 5 Excess tax shortfall from stock-based compensation (15) (351) Net cash used in financing activities (15) (1,850) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 3,101 2,149 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 9,473 6,150 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $12,574 $8,299 Special Items During the third quarter of 2013, the Company announced its decision to restructure two of its travel programs believed to be no longer financially viable in their current form – Discovery Student Adventures and People to People China.During the first quarter of 2014, the Company incurred additional expenditures of approximately $0.1 million related to the continued transition out of these travel programs. In connection with the February 2013 resignations of two executives, the Company incurred separation payments of approximately $2.7 million recorded during the first quarter of 2013. In addition, as previously disclosed, the Company has incurred legal and other fees in relation to a shareholder class action suit and to an inquiry by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") more fully described in the Company's filings with the SEC on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.These two matters were settled in 2012, however, the Company received a recovery of funds from insurance coverage on these matters during the first quarter of 2013. As a result of these events, the operations as presented in the accompanying financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 do not necessarily reflect a meaningful comparison between periods or in relation to the operational activities of the Company.In order to provide more meaningful disclosure, the following table represents a reconciliation of certain earnings measures before special items to those same items after the impact of special items (in thousands except per share data): UNAUDITED Net Loss EPS Three months ended March 31, Three months ended March 31, 2014 2013 2014 2013 Amount before special $(7,310) $(6,663) $(0.44) $(0.39) items Restructuring costs (108) -- -- -- Legal and other fees (181) 547 (0.01) 0.03 Separation payments -- (2,738) -- (0.16) Tax impact 48 795 -- 0.05 Amount per consolidated $(7,551) $(8,059) $(0.45) $(0.47) statement of operations Deployable Cash Deployable cash is a non-GAAP liquidity measurement and is calculated as the sum of cash and cash equivalents, short-term available-for-sale securities, and prepaid program costs and expenses, less the sum of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other short-term liabilities (excluding deferred taxes) and participant deposits. We believe this non-GAAP measurement is useful to investors in understanding important characteristics of our business. The following summarizes deployable cash at March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands): UNAUDITED March 31, December 31, 2014 2013 2013 Cash, cash equivalents and short-term $64,408 $55,933 $45,647 available-for-sale securities Prepaid program cost and expenses 14,661 26,361 7,069 Less: Participants' deposits (60,589) (63,178) (26,362) Less: Accounts payable / accruals / other (3,469) (5,055) (3,706) liabilities Deployable cash $15,011 $14,061 $22,648 CONTACT: Investor Relations: Stacy Feit Financial Relations Board (213) 486-6549 company logo
Ambassadors Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2014 Results
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Figure 2.
Accuracy of transfer events detection. A: numbers of true positive LGTs (TP). B: numbers of false positive LGTs (FP). LGT events detected in maximum-likelihood gene trees are displayed as a function of the real number of transfers per tree. Results were computed with a support threshold for topological conflict significance of 0.90. As EEEP and RIATA-HGT may propose multiple scenarios, grey areas represent the variability between the worst and the best scenarios. Areas are delimited by blue borders for RIATA-HGT and green borders for EEEP. Prunier (fast version) results are drawn in magenta. The black curves symbolize the reference boundary: those curves were obtained using RIATA-HGT (best scenario selected) on true gene trees (before sequence simulation). The green numbers below the true positives area of EEEP represent the number of unresolved cases (either quoted as "Unsolved" by the program, or resulting from a program crash). The blue numbers above RIATA-HGT TP area indicate the two cases for which the program crashed. A program crash is counted as 0 TP and 0 FP. The grey line shows a relationship 1:1 between the two axes. The estimated number of transfers by each method is the sum of the curves shown in A and B.
Abby et al. BMC Bioinformatics 2010 11:324 doi:10.1186/1471-2105-11-324


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Falling down.
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17-09-2013, 17:06
Ancient IDTV
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Originally Posted by
You could be on to something there. Kids dropping litter, adults dropping cigarette ends, kids squealing in supermarkets, banana flakes in muesli, old men who wear a hat while driving a car, fat people eating crisps in the street, chuggers, inconsiderate parking near schools... it could end up in an almighty bloodbath.
Yeah, and they could start the film off with D-FENS sitting in a job centre waiting for yet another useless interview, but his sadistic 'adviser' is making him wait just to annoy him.
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According to the host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," British actor Hugh Grant is the worst "Daily Show" guest of all time. Speaking to comedian Stephen Colbert during a fundraiser for the Montclair Film Festival in New Jersey, Jon Stewart ripped Mr. Grant for his ugly behavior during his visit to the "Daily Show" set in 2009 to promote his new movie, "Did You Hear About the Morgans?"
"He's a big pain in the a**," Mr. Stewart told the host of "The Colbert Report," according to USA Today. The comedian has since banned the actor from ever coming on his show again.
"He's giving everyone sh** the whole time, and he's a big pain in the a**," Mr. Stewart said. According to the Comedy Central comedian, Mr. Grant became irate when he saw the clip that his film's publicist had provided to "The Daily Show."
"What is that clip? It's a terrible clip," Mr. Grant said.
"Well, then make a better f****** movie," Mr. Stewart responded.
Seeking to reverse the animosity between himself and "The Daily Show" host, the British actor issued an apology via Twitter on Friday.
"Turns out my inner crab got the better of me with TV producer in 09," he tweeted. "Unforgivable. J Stewart correct to give me kicking."
The actor's star power has declined since being arrested with a prostitute in 1995. Vice police said that a "beautiful black prostitute" was seen performing oral sex on the celebrity.
"Last night I did something completely insane," the actor said in a statement after the incident. "I have hurt people I love and embarrassed people I work with. For both things I am more sorry than I can ever possibly say."
Mr. Stewart also told Mr. Colbert about his first few days as host of "The Daily Show."
"I walk in the door, into a room with the writers and producers, and the first thing they say is, 'This isn't some MTV bullsh**.' And then I was told not to change the jokes or improvise," Mr. Stewart told the former "Daily Show" correspondent.
Under Mr. Stewart's leadership, "The Daily Show" has been wildly successful. The show's success is likely due to its host's likability and the show's unique way of reporting on the news.
"One anchor, five correspondents, zero credibility," a statement on the show's website reads. "If you're tired of the stodginess of the evening newscasts, if you can't bear to sit through the spinmeisters and shills on the 24-hour cable news networks, don't miss The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a nightly half-hour series unburdened by objectivity, journalistic integrity or even accuracy."
Mr. Grant appeared in "Cloud Atlas" opposite of Tom Hanks and Halle Berry this year and will reportedly reprise his role as Daniel in the latest installment of the "Bridget Jones" series.