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Commissioner Winstead Testimony on GSA's Fiscal Year 2009 Capital Investment and Leasing Program
Good morning, Madam Chair, Ranking Member Graves, and Members of the Subcommittee. My name is David L. Winstead and I am the Commissioner of Public Buildings at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss GSA's fiscal year 2009 Capital Investment and Leasing Program.
GSA's Public Buildings Service (PBS) is one of the largest and most diversified public real estate organizations in the world. Our inventory consists of over 8,600 assets with over 347 million square feet of rentable space across all 50 states, 6 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. The majority of our space is concentrated in large commercial markets such as Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Our portfolio of public buildings includes primarily office buildings, courthouses, land ports of entry, and warehouses. It is the PBS mission to provide superior workplaces for federal customer agencies at an economical cost to the American taxpayer.
In support of our mission, PBS is charged with the responsibility of managing the Federal Buildings Fund (FBF) that was created by Congress in l972 to finance PBS' real property activities. Using a market-based user-fee and cost reimbursement approach, the FBF funds the space needs of more than 500 executive branch organizations as well as the space needs of the Judiciary and Members of Congress. Congress appropriates funds to our customer agencies who, in turn, pay into the FBF the equivalent of commercial rent for the space they occupy. Customer payments into the FBF are used to rent space from the private sector, repair and modernize government-owned facilities, and fund new federal construction in support of our customers' agency missions.
PBS continues to demonstrate strong operational performance. As of the second quarter of 2008, 81% of our government-owned assets are achieving a positive flow of rent revenue less expenses (excluding depreciation) and the percentage of vacant space in our owned inventory continues to be below private sector standards. Our cleaning, maintenance, and utility costs also continue to outperform private sector benchmarks.
Before I address our FY09 capital program, I would like to share several accomplishments that address critical contractor and customer challenges we face. First, I have established a new organization within PBS dedicated solely to lease acquisition. Given the business volume, complexity of this work, and significant stakeholder interest, I have made this one of our highest priorities. This new office, headed by a former chief legal counsel for PBS, will primarily focus on improving the real estate leasing program, including consistency and efficiency in lease acquisition, as well as achieving below market rents. This new group just held a widely-attended industry roundtable on lease-construction to help improve the procurement efficiency and taxpayer value in these projects. Secondly, we have also strengthened the Construction Excellence program within PBS's Chief Architect's Office, so that estimating, project variance and tracking, as well as project execution is more uniform across the country. As a result of client surveys with the Courts, FBI, IRS, DHS, VA and others, the leadership of PBS's eleven regional offices has strengthened the consistency of customer interface with PBS professionals through our National Program Management initiative. Lastly, we are providing our employees with the best management and IT tools, such as e-Lease, Transaction Management Playbook (TMP), and Building Information Modeling (BIM), which will strengthen their ability to address client needs well into the future.
Given these management efforts, as well as our increasing portfolio needs, I am pleased to be here today to request your authorization of the individual projects that make up our FY 09 capital program. We believe these projects are the ones that will best meet the needs of our customer agencies.
We have analyzed these projects and determined that they are consistent with our overall portfolio objectives:
- Optimizing the value of our portfolio of owned assets;
- Directing capital resources primarily toward performing assets and developing workout or disposal strategies for under- and non-performing assets;
- Maintaining the continued functionality of our buildings and safeguarding the health and life-safety of their occupants;
- Providing quality workspace in support of the mission-related goals of tenant federal agencies;
- Achieving the energy efficiency and environmental goals of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007; and
- Fulfilling our responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act to protect and preserve our historically significant public buildings.
GSA is the steward of 1,513 federal buildings, which have a replacement value of about $39 billion. We are requesting a Repairs and Alterations program of $692 million to maintain and improve those properties that are in GSA's inventory for which there is a continuing federal need and that are capable of being economically self-sufficient.
The highlights of GSA's fiscal year 2008 Repairs and Alterations Program include:
- $350 million for the Basic Program;
- $91 million for the Limited Scope Program;
- $215 million for Major Modernization; and
- $37 million for the Energy Program.
Because we are using finite taxpayer resources, we evaluate and rank our repairs and alterations proposals based on the following criteria:
- Financial return and life-cycle cost;
- Project timing and execution risk;
- Physical urgency based on building condition; and
- Customer urgency based on mission requirements and overall satisfaction levels.
The projects before you today have passed these criteria and reflect sound investment in the owned portfolio.
The Energy Program is a small but crucial part of our Repairs and Alterations request. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ("EISA") sets challenging goals for the Federal Government and for GSA. Beginning in FY2010, it requires GSA to reduce consumption of fossil fuel-generated energy in new buildings, major renovations, and lease construction and by 2030, it requires GSA to totally eliminate fossil-fuel consumption in our new buildings, major renovations and lease construction projects.
EISA also accelerates the rate at which we must reduce energy consumption in our inventory as a whole to 3% per year and specifically requires more energy and water retrofits in our existing buildings. To meet these goals, we are requesting $37 million for the implementation of energy and water retrofit projects in government-owned buildings during FY 2009.
GSA is currently identifying energy and water retrofit projects required by EISA through surveys and studies in federal buildings throughout the country. These projects will have positive savings-to-investment ratios, will provide reasonable payback periods, and may generate rebates and savings from utility companies and incentives from grid operators. Projects will vary in size, location, and delivery method. They will include installation of high-efficiency HVAC systems, efficient lighting and controls, variable air-flow systems, building automation control systems, and other energy saving technologies. Based on previous experience, we estimate annual energy savings at 366 billion BTUs and $6 million resulting from projects funded with this request in FY 2009.
We are requesting a Construction and Acquisition of Facilities Program of $620 million. Our request includes funding for site acquisition, design, infrastructure, construction, and the management and inspection costs of six federal facilities. PBS traditionally pursues a construction and ownership solution for special purpose and unique facilities that are not readily available in the real estate market. In addition, we recommend new construction where there is a long-term need in a given locality.
GSA is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to consolidate its headquarters in the National Capital Region (NCR). DHS's current facilities are dispersed across more than fifty locations in NCR. This is adversely impacting critical communication, coordination, and cooperation across DHS's many components. A unified, secure campus that brings together DHS's executive leadership and operational management will enable more efficient and effective execution of DHS's incident management and command-and-control functions and will also result in significant taxpayer savings in the long run.
Funds we are requesting for FY2009 will enable GSA to start construction of the U.S. Coast Guard's new headquarters at St. Elizabeths as well as begin design of the project's second phase. The Coast Guard will be the vanguard of DHS to occupy the site. DHS's headquarters should be in the next phase of development, with additional departmental components to follow in the third phase.
The highlights of GSA's fiscal year 2009 New Construction Program include:
- $331 million for the Coast Guard Consolidation and Development of St. Elizabeths Campus in Washington, DC;
- $79 million for the Food and Drug Administration Consolidation at White Oak, MD;
- $19 million for infrastructure activities at St. Elizabeths West Campus and the Denver Federal Center;
- $7 million for acquisition of an additional ingress/egress point to the St. Elizabeths West Campus; and
- $74 million for the design and/or construction of two land ports of entry.
To meet the space requirements of our clients, GSA has entered into more than 8,500 private sector leases in 7,100 locations nationwide. At 176 million square feet, leased space comprises more than half of our total portfolio square footage. We are pleased that the vacant space within our leased inventory has been at or below 1.5 percent for the last six years, well below the national industry average of 12.9 percent. We strive to keep leasing costs at or below market levels and have developed comprehensive strategies to do so, including the standard use of industry benchmarks and market surveys to comparison shop for the best value for our customers. This year we have submitted 20 lease prospectuses for your consideration. This submission represents almost half of our above-prospectus lease requirements for FY2009. Due to the volume and complexity of requirements, we will submit at least one more set of prospectuses separately for your consideration shortly.
GSA continues to work with our customer agencies to meet their mission requirements within their financial constraints by consolidating requirements, reducing underutilized space, and minimizing tenant improvement costs in expiring space assignments. At the same time, we continue to work with stakeholders such as this Subcommittee to capitalize the requirements of our aging inventory and the growing and increasingly specialized needs of our customers.
GSA continues to reduce our asset liabilities by concentrating reinvestment in core assets and disposing of underutilized assets.
Madam Chair, Ranking Member Graves, this concludes my prepared statement. I will be pleased to answer any questions that you or any other Members of the Subcommittee may have about our proposed fiscal year 2009 Capital Investment and Leasing Program, or any other aspects of the Public Buildings Service.


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Brilliant pinks, corals and orange lipsticks and glosses will light up your complexion.
-PJ Gach
Kick your pastel lips to the curb! Bright colors are here for the season. Take a look at Selena Gomez and Kate Bosworth above — their smiles are dazzling in this season's hot shades. We checked in with Gilbert Soliz, Sephora PRO Beauty makeup expert and got the complete 411 on how to wear this trend.
Q: Neon and bright lips are the rage this summer — what shades go best with different skin tones?
A: I love a bright lip. It is the perfect accessory to wear in the summer! For cooler skin tones, a hot pink with a hint of purple or fuchsia will warm up your face. To brighten up a warmer complexion choose bright orange shades. A go-to color for all skin tones is coral. This universally flattering shade is a perfect way to break into bright tones.
Q: Because these shades are highly pigmented, should you apply them a bit differently than a regular lipstick? Do you need to outline your lips with a pencil first for example?
A: When you are applying any lip color, it is always important to prep your lips to create a smooth surface. Then apply a primer to ensure color adheres to lip easily. Since bright shades are highly pigmented, a full lip isn't hard to achieve, so it isn't necessary use a lip liner. I would really only recommend using a lip liner if you have extremely thin lips and need to create added definition. Then instead of applying lipstick directly to the lips or with a lip brush, use fingers to progressively build color. Dab color onto lips instead of sweeping color across lips. Once you have created a bright base then use a lip brush to fill in lips with shade.
Read 5 Hot Nail Polish Shades for Summer
Q: If your lips are bright, how do you balance the rest of your face makeup?
A: Always keep a natural complexion. This way, the focus remains on the lips and allows the color to really take on the spotlight.
HOT PINK lipsticks to try:
1. Tarte LipSurgence natural lip tint in Amused ($24, beauty.com). This bright pink gloss/lipstick in a pencil is paraben, mineral oil and phthalates free. It tastes of peppermint and the color lasts all day.
2. Pixi Succulent Lip Twin in Pink Peony ($18, target.com). This product multi-tasks — you can use it for lips and cheeks.
3. Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick in Backstage Bambi ($18, sephora.com). Barbie goes punk. Audacious true color and a moisturizing formula.
GORGEOUS ORANGE lipsticks to try:
1. MAC Cosmetics lipstick in Morange ($14.50, maccosmetics.com). It's an amplified crème lipstick. True orange.
2. Nyx Diamond Sparkle lipstick in Sparkling Orange ($5.49, ulta.com). Long lasting and smudge proof too.
3. Kat Von D Painted Love lipstick in A-Go-Go ($18, sephora.com). A bright orange with a hint of red.
CORAL lipsticks to try:
1. Covergirl Lip Pperfection lipstick in Flame ($6.99, amazon.com). Smooth as silk, moisturizing and long lasting.
2. Essence Cosmetics lipstick in Fifth Avenue ($2.49, ulta.com). This pink- coral is a warm, intense, yet wearable shade.
3. By Terrybly age-defying lipstick in Cupid Peony ($48, beautybar.com). It's a vivid, clear coral. The lipstick contains 100 percent pure and untreated pigments and anti-aging ingredients.
Bright lip glosses and more advice up next!

subset: commoncrawl


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lol! i've seen robT and RJD roll and i know which one is closer to the brown belt....
lol! i've seen robT and RJD roll and i know which one is closer to the brown belt....
man, when you're the nail, hang in there....until the day you become the hammer
Plenty of videos of me competing on my Youtube account and he saw me in person at the Terere seminar.
http://www.ChrisReesAcademy.com - http://thetattooedchimp.blogspot.co.uk/
Back on topic...
...does a belt really mean that much to people!? I can honestly say I do not think about the colour of the belt, all I care about is improving my technique and it's application. If the objective is the next belt/rank rather than genuine progression of your skillset then the achievement of the belt will be a hollow one. Sadly the worth of a belt has been somewhat tarnished by the growing mass of clubs giving belts by attendance
I think it used to for me, but now it's a bit different.
...and fucked up fingers, toes, knees, shoulders, ears etc!
http://www.ChrisReesAcademy.com - http://thetattooedchimp.blogspot.co.uk/
When? the only people I have met off this forum are RobT and some high grades and Judoka Rob would fucking smash me.lol! i've seen robT and RJD roll and i know which one is closer to the brown belt....
1 hes very good on a technical level
2 hes been purple nearly 4 years
Why he got the hump with me for playing him up ill never know
"He who goes to bed with itchy bum, wake up with stinky finger."
I haven't got the hump with anyone. Just always say what I think.
http://www.ChrisReesAcademy.com - http://thetattooedchimp.blogspot.co.uk/


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Oxford White Ceiling Panels
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Need samples? Call us at 1-800-557-0654.
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Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 PM, Pacific
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Oxford White Ceiling Panels shine when subtlety is desired but boring just won't do. Their white finish is bright, pure, and easy to clean.
- 2' x 4' (2' x 2' also available)
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- Can be installed in both standard 1" and slimline 9/16" drop ceiling grid
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- Lightweight and flexible for easy installation
Oxford White Ceiling Panels is rated out of 5 by 4.
How much will these cost?
Well, that depends! Our ceiling tile prices are based on the total number of items (tiles and accessories) in your cart. The more you buy, the cheaper they get!
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OK fine, let me rephrase that. Has anybody got SSLstrip working in a MITM that is not slowing down the network close to a standstill. My setup is quite easy.
WPA2 AES laptop in 802.11n ----->SSLstrip MITM with ath0 on a FAST PC---->Dink DIR 665 router.
The laptop will only send in 802.11n. Could that be the prob? Anybody?


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Andrea - from Ancramdale, NY
Try this silky, luxurious Chocolate French Buttercream. It is a bit more work than regular chocolate buttercreams, because it involves cooking eggs with granulated sugar and then beating in butter and chocolate. Because it doesn't use confectioners' sugar or shortening, it stays very soft at room temperature. It's a decadent treat!


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Road rage hack: Don't flip the bird — shake the maraca!
That's the headline on a post today on Parenthacks, a site that offers all sorts of amazing mom tips. This one comes from Kristen with Cool Mom Picks and Motherhood Uncensored:
I was driving with a friend of mine a few years back and someone cut her off. Before I could say anything, she pulled out this maraca with a mean face drawn on it with a Sharpie. She proceeded to shake it at the offending driver with much vigor, and then went on her merry way. Turns out the "mean maraca" is a great way to sublimate your driving frustrations when your mouth (or fingers) might get the better of you, especially when you're in front of your kids.
If you find yourself angry and in a car and at a stop light with a set of maracas nearby, might I suggest you use a Sharpie Retractable marker to file your complaint. It's easy one-hand click convenience means no cap to slip down under the seat along with the rest of the contents of your purse. Just grab and get out your frustrations.
If anyone out there has an image of a menacing maraca, I promise I'll post it. It's not quite as easy as the stink eye, but it's got sass. Sharpie sass.


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Renesas Electronics has announced the availability of five 16-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), which implement in a single chip the LED control, power supply control, and communication functions required in LED lighting fixtures.
The new MCUs adopt the Renesas Electronics RL78 CPU, which achieves both high computational performance and ultra low power consumption, and include from 32 to 64 kilobytes (KB) of flash memory in 20- to 38-pin package versions. These devices achieve 20% reduced power consumption during normal operation over the Renesas' existing 78K0/Ix2 products.
LED illumination is becoming increasingly widely used in industrial and commercial facilities, in streetlights, and in home lighting. The global market for LED lighting equipment is expected to grow rapidly from the roughly 20 million units sold in 2009 to over 400 million units in 2014.
Given this background, Renesas said it added the high-performance, ultra-low power 16-bit RL78/I1A family of MCUs to its existing 8-bit MCU lineups for use in lighting ballasts. The RL78/I1A family addresses the need of a variety of lifestyles for lower cost, high-color dimming and color temperature control. The RL78I1A supports lighting communication standards for centralized control in buildings and offices.
Samples of the new RL78/I1A MCUs are available now, priced at US$2 per unit for the 38-pin, 64 KB flash memory, 4KB RAM version. Mass production is scheduled to begin in January 2012 and is expected to reach a combined volume of 1,000,000 units per month in 2012.
- Wireless broadband developments in Southeast Asia markets
As of 2013, the 10 ASEAN nations had a total of over 700 million mobile subscriptions, with the CAGR from 2003-2013 reaching 24%. This Digitimes Research Special Report analyzes the various mobile broadband markets in ASEAN and looks at the respective trends in 4G LTE development for those markets.
- 2015 global tablet demand forecast
This Digitimes Research Special Report provides a 2015 forecast for the global tablet market and analyzes the strategies of key market players such as Google, Apple, Intel, and Microsoft.
- 2015 China smartphone panel trend forecast
This Digitimes Research Special Report analyzes the strategies of key China-based major panel makers BOE, Tianma and IVO for attacking the different market segments through technology and pricing, and their relationship to local vendors Huawei, Lenovo, ZTE, Xiaomi and Coolpad.


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Kristen Stewart named new face of Chanel
Kristen Stewart has been named the new face of Chanel's Métiers d'Art collection.
The actress will star in the company's 2013-2014 ad campaign.
The announcement was made on Tuesday when Stewart joined Chanel mastermind Karl Lagerfeld for the Métiers d'Art "Paris-Dallas" fashion show at Dallas Fair Park.
Check out photos of Stewart at the Chanel event below!
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Most of you will already know but thought I would put up a thread anyway because the guys that got promoted deserve the recognition for all the hard work they have put in.
Dean Begg got promoted to blue belt. A well earned change after medalling in the Europeans in Portugal and winning the Scottish open, category and open category.
Allan king also promoted to blue. After medalling at every competition he has entered the step up was a well deserved change and this will give him new challenges, 1 in competition and 2
In the gym to continue to progress.
Craig harrower also awarded the blue belt. After competing the Scottish open with broken fingers, to still medal was a great acheivment and well deserving off the belt change.
Finally Chris macdougal who is a solid grappler but was still getting used to bjj and having the pyjamas around his body. But like a duck to water has gotten used to it quite well and got gold in the Scottish open.
There coaches also received there purple belts, which is an hounor. The hard work and dedication not only shows in there own results on the mat but clearly in there students.
Onwards and upwards for team unity which is a very small Mma/bjj club in fife. But hopefully keeps going in the correct direction.


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Francis Marion University's Performing Arts Center presents the Mallarmé Chamber Players in the Black Box Theatre at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.
This flexible ensemble of professionals whose mission is to enrich the lives of the community through outstanding chamber music, distinguishes itself by its innovative educational programs, its commitment to creative collaboration with other organizations, its creation of significant new work and its dedication to serve a diverse population.
The Durham, N.C. based group was created in 1984 by musicians Jane Hawkins and Anna Ludwig Wilson working with poet and arts administrator Margaret DeMott, the ensemble's name comes from Stéphane Mallarmé, the 19th-century French poet and philosopher who believed that true art is created through a unity of music, dance, literature and the visual arts. In keeping with their namesake, Mallarmé performances are often interdisciplinary and have been praised by critics and audiences as innovative, eclectic and of the highest artistic quality.
With the most gifted artists from North Carolina's Piedmont region, Mallarmé Chamber Players performs programs that include rarely heard works from the traditional chamber music repertoire which celebrate the diversity in our community by featuring the music of African-American, Asian, Latino, Indian, Middle Eastern and women composers. Mallarmé has commissioned over 25 new works by American composers. They have created new contours in the landscape of chamber music through partnerships with artists of many different disciplines. Through their eclectic education programs they have developed a new model for community-based arts organizations.
Tickets are $18 for adults and students. They may be purchased at www.fmupac.org, via telephone at (843) 661-4444, and at the FMU Performing Arts Center Box Office. Telephone and personal ticket sales are available Monday through Friday between 12-5 p.m. Subject to availability, tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
The PAC is located in downtown Florence at the intersection of Dargan and Evans Streets.


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Lucas body had trouble adjusting, not now, Valear, I have to find Elsa.
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Dos and Donts of Estate Planning
The Dos and Don'ts of Estate Planning
DO Start now, it's uncomfortable to confront our own mortality or incapacity but that's not something we can plan for! The world we live in is becoming increasingly characterized by legal action and government intervention, estate planning is something everyone should do and can plan for.
DON'T Worry, if you do nothing the government will take over your estate and look after it for you .They will determine how to distribute your assets and who will look after the kids, heirs and beneficiaries will have to take time and money to regain control of personal or business assets .
DO involve professionals, how simple or complex your situation is will determine how and who you need to involve in the process. Your team may include an advisor, lawyer and tax planner.
DON'T avoid the inventory, a thorough documentation of all personal assets or property is the foundation of a good estate plan. Too overwhelming to start? , hire someone! Such inventories can also be invaluable in case of fire or theft, maximizing your claim and speeding the process.
DO review your insurance needs, Insurance can be a valuable estate tool to pay estate expenses such as income tax and or probate fees, replace income for those left behind or to leave a legacy or charitable gift.
DON'T skimp on a will. If you have no assets or beneficiaries a hand written will may work for you however these are not accepted in all provinces. A formal will is typically drafted by a lawyer, signed by you and witnessed to ensure it is legally valid and meets your needs.
DO include powers of attorney for both property and personal care. At some point in your life you may be unable to make your own financial or personal care decisions. Prearrangement for someone to make these decisions according to your wishes means you are able to control your circumstances .
DON'T forget to review and update. Changes to beneficiaries, marital status, insurance or financial plans, personal and business property or government rules all can impact how an estate is processed and taxed. The benefits of this exercise to your overall financial picture can help you with long and short term financial planning as well.
Your estate plan is as individual as you are. Taking the time to inventory and plan now will give you control over how you provide for those closest to or leave a legacy to. Good planning will avoid unnecessary taxes and administrative delays.
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Ryan thought they were going to have to work on a project together. My associates and I shall each contribute initial capital to be made available by means of loan notes to finance endeavors, particularly potential new commerce ventures, importing and exporting.
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One of many available local companies Intercept Home Watch ( www.intercepthomewatch,ca) can provide a professional, reliable third party home inventory designed to thoroughly document all property. Your personal documentation is then presented in an attractive portfolio and CD ready for use in case of insurance claim for fire , theft or other damage ,prior to move or storage or for use in your estate plan!
Please note this piece is for informational purposes only. Heather Lang/Cedarlane Financial Consulting/ FundEX Investments Inc have no referral arrangement with Intercept Home Watch and are not responsible for any actions beyond this point .
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Stay the Course
Investing common sense
Let's face it, in times like these there are lots of reasons not to invest in the market. Stock markets have been very volatile over the past year and many believe this is now the normal market behavior and the trend will continue for some time yet. It's no surprise many investors want out and would rather sit on the sidelines than face the roller coaster ride with their retirement or savings plans.
A look back at market history though should provide some comfort. Through each crash or crisis (and there have been several 1974/75, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2001, 2008, 2010) the long run trend has always still been up.
Sticking to a plan and staying invested is important, no matter how much our emotions get in the way. Of course one has to take in to consideration your age and stage, retirement or savings goals and if taking income is a priority at that time. Most years do however provide a positive return. Since inception (roughly 1956) 29% of the time or 16 occurrences of negative returns happen versus 71% or 39 occurrences of positive returns. (Source Morningstar Direct, as of April 30 2012.)
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Not soon enough but she could bear one more day in this time. She blinked at him, struggling to compose herself, fighting against tears.
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Dollar cost averaging is one strategy you can employ to combat the nervous nellies of investing. By investing equal amounts of money regularly over a specific time period, automatically one can avoid the temptation to try to time the market (virtually impossible any how). This kind of approach can ensure that investors stick to their plan and avoid lapses in self control when the markets fall ( which is actually the best time to buy, its all on sale!)
I hope this strategy can instill more confidence about planning for the future and get financial goals back on track for those who should be building wealth and are sitting on the sidelines.
Please come and see me at the Hastings County Plowing Match this August 22,23 if you have questions or concerns. I will be once again with BridlePath Tack and have great draw prizes.
Hello all !
Well summer heat is here with a vengeance ! Time to head to cooler venues wherever that may be for you . It's a great chance to sit back and review all those statements you filed away during January and tax time. Keeping organized is half the battle in financial success. The other half is having a plan !
Here is a short article on how we as women are doing, and the news is not good. I find women can be under serviced and under educated by many financial services groups. The key is to find someone who you are comfortable with and can communicate with. Now not all is bad news women are ahead of men financially in several sectors such as savings and debt ( no one should be comfortable with debt) .
Women tend to be less prepared than men for retirement. A shorter employment span , longer life and a greater chance of disability or illness all add up to fewer opportunities to save for retirement and less pension . That's why planning especially for younger women is really important. So take some of that summer down time and head to the basement with your lap top and do some research . Educate yourself
Women lag in financial planning
Suzanne Sharma
While women are taking charge in the workplace, they continue to lag behind men in financial planning. The gender gap widened in Q1 2012, according to a report by Financial Finesse, an American financial education company.
Key findings include:
- 43% of women have an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses, compared to 63% of men;
- 52% of women are comfortable with the amount of non-mortgage debt they have, compared to 71% of men;
- 37% of women have taken a risk-tolerance assessment and are aware of their conservative, moderate, or aggressive investment strategy, compared to 57% of men; and
- 25% of women rebalance their investment accounts, compared to 49% of men.
The gap was narrowest in retirement and estate planning.
According to Liz Davidson, CEO and founder of Financial Finesse, women face more financial challenges than men because they live longer. Also, nine out of 10 will be responsible for their finances at some point due to divorce or death of a spouse, finds the National Center for Women and Retirement Research.
There is some good news, however, because more women are seeking financial education – about 2 to 1 compared to men, finds the report.
"As employers deliver financial education programs that reach women, we should start to see this gap narrowing," she says.
Reproduced with permission from advisor.ca
June 17,2012
It's Debt season
Its debt season! After a fall and winter of indulgence many of us find ourselves behind in our repayments of debt. Before you know it the black hole of red ink is bigger and bigger and a financial crisis ensues. It may not even be over indulgence, an accident, illness, job strike or layoff are all set backs that can cause debt stress. Credit cards, line of credit or mortgage payments it does not matter which , non payment is not healthy.
If you work with an advisor or live in a perfect world you've got an emergency fund set aside, that 3 to 6 month cushion of funds you can live on or use to get back on track. Many of us in the real world however live pay check to paycheck or have only a small amount of savings ( usually in the form of an RRSP) . Knowing how to budget , which expenses to cut , how to access any other potential resources and where to get help can make a real difference in your financial survival.
Budgeting only works if you keep it simple and short term. Too often good intentions are derailed by that over whelming long term look at where you want to be in 5 or 10 years . Here are five tips to help you start your budget
Step 1 keep track of all your spending for 2 weeks , especially the non essential spending, the where how and why will help you understand your spending habits
Step 2 Get your money's worth ! review expenses like telephone, cable, bank fees are you using all the features you pay for? Can you do with less or find it somewhere else for less?
Step 3 Prioritize cover the essentials first rent/mortgage, groceries, travel, saving fund ( yes savings pay your self the sooner you start the better off you will be )
Step 4 Envelope/Jar setting aside money for the week for groceries, gas and entertainment will help you not to overspend research shows using debit and credit cards leads to overspending its just too easy bank once a week and use cash
Step 5 Proactive saving you know when your taxes are due or when the car needs servicing so set aside money on a monthly basis for these periodic expenses
Quite often those in financial stress find it difficult to ask for or find help. Its really important to access the correct service to help you get a handle on your situation. That could be learning better money management skills or having someone help you develop and maintain a repayment plan for your debts. In some cases it could even involve intervention with creditors to reduce interest and schedule repayment. I recently attended a networking event where I was introduced to a group who could help people do just that. We are fortunate in the Eastern Ontarios area to have a great credit counseling group but there are many such groups doing credit counseling across the country.
K3C Credit Counselling is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 1967 dedicated to helping people achieve financial stability. Their mission is to provide credit counseling as a social service in the public interest to the people of the communities they serve. A Debt Management Program and educational Budgeting and Money Management program can help those on that slippery slope of debt.
They can't perform miracles but have the people to help clients make the most informed decisions about their finances. Here are a few signs you may need their help
You have cash flow difficulties
You are using pay day lenders
You need to pay your Student loans
You are thinking about bankruptcy
You no longer answer the phone due to collection calls
You need help planning a big purchase or budgeting
You are combining incomes/debts with a partner
You want an honest evaluation of your situation
Too often in my practice I hear about people who have too much debt. I cannot help those people plan and save for retirement or even a rainy day until the debt is serviced ! If you find yourself nodding yes to many of the above statements maybe its time to find some credit counseling help.
Please note this is for informational purposes only, Heather Lang/CedarlaneFinancial Consulting/FundEX Investments Inc. have no referral arrangement with K3C and are not responsible for any actions beyond this information piece .
Visit www.k3c.org for a free assessment of your financial picture
Its a LEAP year !!
RRSP deadline for contributions for 2011 is FEB 29 2012
Those that are making monthly contributions at the begining of the month will miss one. So contact your advisor now if you would like your full years contributions to be made !!
Heather's picks really !!
Welcome to 2012 !
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Well its that time again , the resolution time. How many of us will make and break the same old plans for the coming year ? That's the trouble with the same old plans we actually set our selves up for failure. Lets try something different this year , lets think differently. Easier said than done right!
It all starts with education or financial literacy as I call it. I am a big fan of reading , anything everything.
One of my latest is The Wealthy Barber Returns. I actually liked this one better than the original Wealthy Barber. The return is more like a conversation with David Chilton. As the front of the book says Significantly older, marginally wiser Chilton's book covers his insights into saving, spending and borrowing as well as some of his personal reflections on personal finance. The dilemma of pay down mortgage , RRSP versus TFSA, leverage, estate planning and the insurance explanation are all covered from his unique perspective. What I loved best of all were the life lessons contained in the text , yes life lessons. Be greatfull, do not covent, start early ,save and my favorite beware the credit card . For those of us struggling with personal finance ( or even those who don't) this is a hand book of what to do and why.
Another highly recommended book for finance that more of us will need in the future is 50 Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes and how to avoid them by Jean Blacklock and Sarah Kruger. The demographics of today suggest that in the future many of us will be dealing either with our parents estates or thinking about our own. Who do you want your hard earned dollars to go to when you are done with them?
I am a big fan also of David Bach. The Automatic Millionarie and his Finish Rich series are well written and easy read. Simple and doable David's program can put anyone on the path to financial success.
Soon enough it will be tax time as well. 101 Tax Secrets for Canadians by tax expert Tim Cestnick is updated every two years and is actually a readable text on tax. Your Family's Money by Jerry White and Tim Cestnick provides advice on budgeting, investment , insurance and tax planning strategies.
One of the books that really changed my thinking on money was by millionaire Robert Kiyosaki. Rich Dad Poor Dad is the story of Robert's financial upbringing by two very different mentors. His own educated but poor Dad and the father of a friend successful and rich. Definitely from an American perspective Robert's insights into how money works are a game changer for those looking to control their financial future. He as well is all about improving your financial intelligence as he calls it. His recommended reading list includes The Warren Buffet Way by Robert Hagstrom, Trump.The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Beating the Street by Peter Lynch
For more Canadian insights check out these blogs ; Squawkfox.com, CanadianCapitalist.com, WhereDoesAllMyMoneyGo.com , CanadianCapitalist.com/author/larrymacdonald
Funny how leadership is more about changing yourself than the people around you. To help with the thinking part I also read a lot of personal development books . I recently finished Resolved, 13 resolutions for LIFE, by Orrin Woodward. Orrin is one of the top 20 leadership gurus in the world and the author of many leadership or personal development books.
Thats my resolution for the new year even more reading !
Happy Holidays
Will be back in the New Year with more posts and information
until then enjoy the blessings of the season and wishing you good health, happy heart and fabulous friends and family to share it with .
Welcome to the new and improved Cedarlane Financial Consulting web site!
I hope you find the updated version refreshing and easy to navigate. Life is a journey and depending on the roads we take along the way it can be a highway ride ,smooth and comfortable or a backwoods gravel nightmare ! Its my hope that the information you find here helps you stay on the highway to success whatever your definition of that is .
Identity Theft a question of when not if ??
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in North America . According to a study by the US Federal Trade Commission more that 10 million people were victimized in 2003. By 2009 1 in 4 of us in Canada have been affected. Almost 25% of victims of new account theft or fraud did not discover the misuse of information for at least 6 months after it started. Criminals these days are using increasingly creative methods to gain access to our financial records and resources. Several forms of theft can leave a person's ID stripped and useless to them, devastate their credit , mortgage ID theft or even commit crimes in their name . Victims of such a crime are often left with an emotional toll as well as a financial cost. It only takes the criminal's minutes to retrieve the information they need in some cases while it could take the victim years to regain their identity or credit score. Most of the focus has been on the theft of credit cards or bank cards but the are other types of ID theft from drivers license, medical information, social security number, character or criminal identity. How do they do it? Ingenious thieves have many methods and are coming up with new ones every day but here is a short list of a few of the common ones.
Dumpster diving - they simply sort thru a persons trash or recycling , most often retail businesses are prime targets , pre approved credit offers, prescriptions, old checks, receipts, employee records
The solution Shred !
Mail theft - its old fashioned but it works , do not leave mail in your box for any length of time
Phishing and Pharming – a more high tech version of the above , consumers are duped into revealing personal information such as passwords , pin numbers, SIN or account numbers by a bogus email or web site
keep this information safe ! try not to keep it all in one place
Hackers or domain spoofers can steal information on the internet
remember data transferred across the internet can be intercepted and the thieves often don't need much information to complete their job
Skimming – credit cards run through a skimmer to read the information and create clone cards to use
Sophisticated ones use fake fronts over ATM or bank machines , machines which just swipe cards are the most vunerable to this
Experts estimate the typical identity theft victim will spend on average $ 1500 and spend countless hours to replace stolen ID cards and the many other problems caused by this growing epidemic. Whether you are a victim today or in the future you may need: access to legal counsel, investigators ,ongoing credit monitoring and professional restoration. There is no blue print for dealing with these crimes but there are several companies that specialize in protection ,prevention and remediation .
For more information on ID theft and How to prevent it contact
Sandra Valks 1 888 323 7272 svalks.ppl@gmail .com
check out this link it has a great educational video
Everything You Wanted to Know About Insurance and Were Afraid to Ask
CONSUMER PROTECTION This booklet is published by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. (CLHIA). The CLHIA is a national trade association that represents the collective interests of its member life and health insurers, which together account for 99 per cent of Canada's life and health insurance business. © Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc., 2009 March 2009 Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. Association canadienne des compagnies d'assurances de personnes inc.
Click on link below to download the PDF booklet.
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Mutual funds provided through FundEX Investments Inc.
Are you Literate???
Of course, they would assume he instigated the whole thing.
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I am not a baby killer regardless of incidents that have happened in the past. Her mother had fairly well barricaded herself in her chamber, refusing to emerge even for supper, leaving Charlotte, Caroline, Reilly, and Lord Epping to an uncomfortable, quiet meal without her.
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It appears many of us Canadians are not. Many of the experts in the field agree that the lack of financial literacy among most of us is contributing to broader economic issues, such as the current household-debt crisis in this country.
Finance Minister Flaherty in his recent budget apparently listened to the Feb. 9, 2011 Task Force on Financial Literacy presentation and is taking small but forward steps to correct the issue.
The education system teaches little to nothing about practical personal finance. We are constantly faced with real-life decisions requiring at least some degree of financial know how. Sadly, not enough Canadians use professional financial advice to make sound financial decisions—a strategy which can greatly improve one's overall situation now and in retirement.
We are all familiar with the basics of good physical health: eating right, regular exercise, not smoking, and a good night's sleep, yet many have forgotten the basics of good financial health such as saving and living within your means. While not everyone is expected to know and understand the complex nature of some financial products like hedge funds, understanding a few key concepts can help one make better financial decisions.
Borrowing—Knowing the difference between good debt and bad
High-limit credit cards or pay-later schemes make it easy to fund those needs and wants, but does the purchase make sense for today and tomorrow—is it truly a need? Or a self-satisfying want that could be delayed or denied, there is a place and time for borrowing where is does make more sense, i.e., car, home education.
Budgeting—Personal finance
Living within a budget does not necessarily mean doing without or having no fun, it is making the most of what you have. A well-defined budget is little more than organizing where money goes to be spent, day-to-day expenses, short-term savings, repayment of debt, and retirement savings.
Retirement—Plan your own future
With more and more companies abandoning pension plans, and more self-employed people than ever, we can no longer rely on government, union or employers to provide for us when our working days are over.
Make your retirement plan automatic and start; start early, it's amazing how fast a small steady contribution into a RRSP or TFSA can build up.
Investing—risk versus reward
Most real-life financial decisions require an understanding of this concept, many have only a vague notion of how this plays out in the various financial products presented to them.
What are the different financial products available to us? How do they work, what are the fees? What are the trade-offs or pros and cons for each age and stage for investors?
These are important questions that need to be asked so sometimes being literate is more about asking the right questions.
So where to go for good advice? Remember that many financial institutions such as banks or credit unions may have potential conflicts of interest but they are a good starting point for some basics. Most products and services are sold with disclosures but there is a limit to how much these actually help a consumer. Here are a few good resources to get you started down the path to financial literacy and freedom:
Task Force on Financial Literacy www.financialliteracyincanada.com
Practical Money Skills Canada www.practicalmoneyskills.ca
Canadian Centre for Financial Literacy www.theccfl.ca
Advocis Financial Advisors Association of Canada www.advocis.ca
Investment Funds Institute of Canada www.ific.ca


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Tourism Hotline : 1912(Hotline service is only available when dialed within Sri Lanka)
Suddenly, a Brahminy Kite dives and emerges with a fish clamped firmly in its talons, water dripping like a stream of diamonds as it soars upward. Thousands of other birds herons, cormorants and egrets await their turn, floating or stalking the waters of this ancient man-made reservoir known as the Sea of Parakrama.
As long as 2,300 years ago, Sri Lanka began developing a highly sophisticated system of hydraulic engineering, equal to that of ancient Egypt and Persia. The only other Asian civilisation to achieve feats of irrigation anywhere near comparable was Angkor, in Cambodia but that was not until more than a thousand years later.
Today, more than 25,000 reservoirs are dotted about the country, from small reservoirs not much bigger than a pond to huge lakes resembling inland seas.
Sri Lanka's thousands of reservoirs or tanks, as they are locally known are a source of life not only for birds, fish and wildlife, but for the farmers who depend on them during the dry months in the country's arid north-central zone.
Some of the main reservoirs in Sri Lanka are, Kala wewa, Parakrama Samudraya or the Sea of Parakrama, Minneriya wewa, Kantale wewa, Yoda wewa and Tissa wewa .
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Results 1 to 2 of 2
Thread: Miidle Child Syndrome?
19th October 2013 06:21 PM #1
- Join Date
- Oct 2013
- Posts
- 10
Miidle Child Syndrome?
Now that I'm having my third baby and its my first baby boy and I had two girls from my previous pregnancies. The eldest is 3 years old while my second baby is 2 years old. I'm having a problem on how can I balanced my attention with my babies when my 3rd comes out. I'm especially concerned to my 2nd child. The eldest always got the attention of others because she's our first baby and now that I'm having my first baby boy, I'm afraid that my attention will be less with my second. Actually my second child is more closer to his Dad. How can I still balanced my attention with them?
14th November 2013 07:11 AM #2
Dear Akima,
I think your post echoes the concerns of many pregnant women who have older children. I know I had these concerns too. However, I am constantly amazed at how adaptable and flexible young children are. Most likely, it won't be long before your second daughter can't remember you new baby son not being there.
A good way to involve your older children when a new baby comes along (and so make them feel included and loved) is to get them to 'help' you with the new baby. Many toddlers and young children enjoy doing little tasks like getting you the nappy changing equipment or fetching toys for the baby. Your daughters may also start mimicking you; have their dolls or soft toys ready so that they can be mummy too (pretending to breastfeed, nappy change and cuddle their dolls etc).
Many parents find that babywearing helps them to stay close to their new baby whilst interacting more easily with their toddlers and older children. You can even breastfeed in the sling (with a little practice) so your hands are free to play with your daughters. I can highly recommend a stretchy wrap (such as a JPMM or Moby) for a new baby.
If you are able to have some one-to-one time with each of your daughters every day then this will really help you all to adjust to having a new member of the family. Perhaps your husband or another family member could help out with the other daughter whilst you are having this one-to-one time. I would still count it as one-to-one time with your daughter if your new son is asleep in the sling.
Have you been talking to your daughters and gently preparing them for the new baby's arrival? You can use role play to help you do this. There are also some excellent books available out their to help older siblings understand what is going to happen. I can recommend There's a House Inside My Mummy by Giles Andreae.
There are times each day when every mum with two, three or more children finds it hard to know where to direct their attention. I have been reading your posts and you sound like a very devoted mummy; I am sure all your children feel very loved. Try not to feel guilty that you cannot give your daughters the same level of attention now; you are giving them a baby brother. What a wonderful gift!
Warm wishes,
Last edited by ljmarsden; 14th November 2013 at 07:13 AM.


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Last edited by leonthehitmansummers; 21-10-2012 at 09:52 PM.
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Can't remember the guy's name, maybe Kris Gordon....? He fought on On Top 5 (I think) against Rab Truesdale. Unsure of what his level is though.
He looked really good against truesdale and had some great opportunities to win that fight
Kris trained with us - fought out of GCG before we were properly set up last year. He's taking a break just now to finish studies for his career, not sure if he'll fight again but he was certainly keen after the fight with Rab.
Asa | www.granitecitygrappling.com


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Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment in a healthcare setting. Infections are the most common complication of hospital care and are one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. Preventing healthcare associated infections has become a top priority of public health agencies across the nation.
Indiana began mandatory reporting of HAIs starting January 1, 2012. The first Indiana Healthcare Associated Infection Report was released in November 2013. The purpose of public reporting of HAI data is to increase the overall awareness of HAIs, encourage infection prevention efforts in hospitals, and help consumers make more informed decisions about their healthcare. Hospitals throughout the state are required to report infection data for three types of HAIs: central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and two categories of surgical site infections (SSI). The data received from hospitals allows for evaluation of the overall HAI burden in the state and targeting specific areas for improvement.
Indiana State Department of Health
2 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-1325 (ISDH Main Switchboard)
Assistant Commissioner
Health Care Quality and Regulatory Commission
Terry Whitson
(317) 233-7022
(317) 233-7621 [Administrative Assistant]
(317) 233-7154 [Fax]
State Epidemiologist
Pam Pontones
Epidemiology Resource Center
317-234-2812 [Fax]
Office of Public Affairs [for media inquiries]
Amy Reel
Definitions related to healthcare associated infections
Report a complaint regarding a health care facility
Any individual may submit a complaint to the ISDH about care provided at any licensed or certified Indiana health care facility or entity. The ISDH investigates all complaints. The above link is to a page that provides information about the complaint process and how to report a complaint. A Complaint Report Form is provided for individuals to assist in the reporting of care issues.
Advance Directives Resource Center
Epidemiology Resource Center Healthcare Associated Infections
Health Care Facility Consumer Reports
2012 Indiana Healthcare Associated Infections Report
CDC Healthcare Associated Infection Center
CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
ISDH Epidemiology Healthcare Associated Infection Information
ISDH Healthcare Associated Infection Resource Center
Federal Laws and Regulations
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Homepage
State Laws and Rules
Indiana HAI Reporting Rule Guidance
Indiana Law and Rules Homepage
Association for Professional in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Federal Government
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Page last reviewed: August 1, 2016


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During the pretrial stage of a court case there is an important step called "discovery." During discovery, both sides collect and exchange information about the case and prepare for trial.
During discovery, you can:
Discovery can be very expensive and time-consuming. In most civil cases the costs of discovery make up almost all the costs. It takes a lot of time for lawyers and their staffs to write up questions, review the responses, and argue in court about whether the other side did not respond to everything they should have. And it takes a lot of time to ask for, collect, and review the sometimes thousands of documents that may be involved in a case.
Discovery can be both formal and informal. In either case, the information that is gathered during discovery is not filed with the court. It is just shared with the other side in the lawsuit.
Discovery is very complicated and often requires knowledge of evidence rules and other legal strategies. It is often necessary to have a lawyer help you with discovery. If you are representing yourself in your case, discovery may be a good part of your case to let a limited-scope lawyer handle on your behalf. Find out more about limited-scope representation.
Informal investigation includes all information-gathering that you can do on your own working with cooperative people or organizations both before and after a lawsuit is filed. You can do a lot of this informal investigation before the case even starts, and it can help you decide if you should even file a case.
This often includes:
You may not be able to use everything you find out during this investigaive process in court, but it can help you prepare your case.
Formal "discovery" is a legal process that can be used after a case has been filed. There are several discovery "tools" you can use to get information the other side has.
Some of the formal discovery tools include:
During the discovery process, lawyers can object to questions, requests for admissions, interrogatories, and other requests. If the other side does not agree with the objections and insists on getting the requested information, he or she can file motions in court to ask a judge to decide the discovery issues.
NOTE: There are also rules about formal discovery. Depending on the type of case it is, there may be limits on the number of questions that each side can ask, for example, and how long the discovery stage of the case may continue. It is important to learn and follow these rules. Talk to a lawyer for help understanding these rules. Click fo help finding a lawyer. Or go to your local law library for help researching these rules.


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Many theists think, and argue, that God must exist for objective morality to exist.
This claim can be interpreted more than one way. When arguing with theists, it is shrewd, for purposes of honesty, clarity, and strategy, to point this out. One reason is the following: Psychologically it seems that quite often people are committed to certain propositions more than they are committed to particular interpretations of those propositions. So, a given theist may be adamant about affirming that God is necessary for there to be objective morality but persuadable that some things that could be meant by that statement are not necessary. What ultimately matters to them to maintain, psychologically and theologically, in order to not feel like they are losing a key, identity-forming belief, is that something about morality requires God. Getting someone to abandon their belief in God is very difficult. Getting them to moderate their interpretation of their faith or to interpret an aspect of their faith they had not thought through yet in a more rational, rather than less rational, way is much easier by comparison. And this is a perfect topic to attempt to do that with. [Read more…]


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'"We went into last year's draft, as we're going into this year's draft, looking for a defenseman again," Regier said this week. "But you end up looking at a defenseman and a forward, and you can't go by the forward to get the defenseman, so you end up with another forward."'
Sabres focused on bolstering defense in draft
July 29, 2005 Submitted by
Via: AP


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Sorry, Barry.
The voters got this one right. The Baseball Writers Association of America voters did not put Barry Bonds into the Hall of Fame on Wednesday. It was the right call.
This is the Hall of Fame. It's not the Hall of Shame, and that's where steroid users belong, no matter how many thrilling home run chases and despite hundreds of victories.
They don't belong. Voters got it right.
Roger Clemens didn't get in, either. No one did, actually. For the first time since 1996, no player received the required 75 percent of the votes to be inducted into Cooperstown.
This was a big year for voting with Clemens and Bonds on the ballot for the first time.
Bonds hit 762 home runs, and Clemens pitched his way to 354 wins. Those statistics alone should've gotten them into the Hall of Fame, but those numbers were tarnished, so they didn't deserve to get in.
I was a first-time Hall of Fame voter this year. I didn't vote in Bonds or Clemens, nor did I vote for anyone else that was linked to steroids but never proven.
The voting criteria states: "Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."
Integrity and character don't mix with steroids.
Pitcher Dennis Eckersley was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. On Wednesday, he Tweeted: "Wow! Baseball writers make a statement @baseballhall. Feels right."
For people who say Bonds and Clemens would've put up those same numbers with or without steroids, I wish they would've given us the chance to see that.
I can't vote based on what I think they might've done. Rather, I vote on what they did. They tried to gain an unfair advantage, and they should not be rewarded for it.
The baseball writers got this one right.
Sorry, Barry.


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Multiple Voices and Methods: Listening to Women Who Are in Workplace Transition
In this article, the author illustrates, through one participant's transcripts, the two-part method used in research that sought a deeper understanding of the perceived learning of female professionals during workplace transition. Five women participated in a 1-hour interview and a focus group. To give voice to each participant while also identifying common themes and learning experiences, the author used a two-step research method. The first step entailed individual interviews, which the author analyzed using a voice-centered relational method. The author chose the second step, the focus group, to facilitate women's learning from each other's experience.


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Try your local library, then a local bookstore and if that fails go to amazon and have a look around.
Hi All,
I am looking for Best Penetration E book with the URL.
Please do the needful.
Sharabh Sharma
Try your local library, then a local bookstore and if that fails go to amazon and have a look around.
To be successful here you should read all of the following.
If you are new to Back|Track
Back|Track Wiki
Failure to do so will probably get your threads deleted or worse.
Define "best".....
Covers the most topics.
A particular author.
A particular target/method/etc.
The newest.
Sold the most copies.
Won award(s).
Widely talked about.
A particular platform (windows, *Nix, Apple OS, etc)
It would seem that "best" is very dependant upon the reader/audience and ultimate goal for reading the book.
I'm a compulsive post editor, you might wanna wait until my post has been online for 5-10 mins before quoting it as it will likely change.
I know I seem harsh in some of my replies. SORRY! But if you're doing something illegal or posting something that seems to be obvious BS I'm going to call you on it.
I am pretty sure he means
'Best - The one that will help him "hack" into some girls Facebook account so he can see her pictures.'
Do the needful? Shall someone read it to you as well? Do a pdf search on interlube bro. Look onto it.
<EeePc 1000HA BT4/W7 USB boot Alfa500 GPS BlueTooth>
Yes sir Barry, I know Indian (dots) IT support and the "needful" very well. As is my response to "look onto it". Indian support is some of the best in the world by the way if you can learn the language. I'm sure understanding southern redneck is just as amusing to them.
<EeePc 1000HA BT4/W7 USB boot Alfa500 GPS BlueTooth>


text:
The Downfall of Detroit (and what it means for the rest of us).
In the wake of Detroit's downfall, Prager University presents a new 5-minute course, "The Public Unions vs. The Public":
The biggest (and awesomest) news from this year's Comic Con: Zack Snyder announces that his sequel to Man of Steel will be the first Superman/Batman team-up film. And there was much rejoicing.
J.K. Rowling recently made headlines (again) after it was revealed that she was actually the author of the novel The Cuckoo's Calling, originally published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Here's a better story than J.K. Rowling's.
Book nerds, guard your wallets! An illustrated guide to buying the classics.
Apparently all Christians need to do to win back the culture for Christ is become hipsters: A Hipster For King's College.
The future King George of England arrived this week. For once, the entire world knows a baby is a baby.
From the Washington Post: Obama's race speech offered few good solutions.
How German sounds compared to other languages:
"When I sat down in that chair at 3 p.m. I was an atheist and a Communist. When I got up at 11 p.m. I was not." From Mad Marxist to Compassionate Conservative.
First Iceland and now the UK: Prime Minister David Cameron Declares War on Online Porn.
President Obama just gave a major speech at Knox College that was touted as a fresh start for the White House's economic policies. A centerpiece of the speech was a call to end economic inequality. Here are 6 bad arguments about income inequality.
America's Pathetic Support of Muslim Oppression.
The Lord of the Rings is a masterful work and already a cinema classic. But some (philistines) have complained that the films were far too long. Here are 8 Lines That Would Have Ended The Lord of the Rings Real Fast.


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The Madrid Codex is believed to be a product of the late Mayan period (c.AD
1400 CE) and is possibly a post-Classic copy of Classic Mayan scholarship. The figures and glyphs of this codex are poorly drawn and not equal in quality to those of the other surviving codices.
The codex contains a wealth of information on astrology and on divinatory practices. It has been of particular value to historians and anthropologists interested in identifying the various Mayan gods and reconstructing the rites that ushered in new years. It shows, for example, the Muluc years celebrated by a dance on high stilts. Also illustrated are Mayan crafts such as pottery and weaving and activities such as hunting.
The Madrid Codex consists of 56 pages , inscribed on both sides, formed by folding and doubling a sheet manufactured from the bark of a fig tree. Found in The two unequal sections (called the Troano and the Cortesianus) in two locations in Spain in the 1860s, the Codex of the codex were brought together again in 1888, and the resulting document is now housed in the Museum of America in Madrid.


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Issue No 70|
Spring Quarter | May/June
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Koen Valks - The Netherlands
Koen Valks - The Netherlands
Koen Valks is from the Netherlands and came to Green River as a Gap Year student at the age of 17. He soon realized that it would be more beneficial to stay another year so he could gain enough credits to transfer to a university back home or in America. Koen is currently majoring in International Relations and transferring to American University in the fall of 2013. American University is a leader among Washington DC universities in global education.
Koen said, "I never intended to stay at Green River College, but I became a part of this campus as much as the campus became a part of me...Green River has had a huge impact on how I feel about life. I have learned many valuable life lessons here."
"I'm not a perfect 4.0 student, but I have an involvement that not many students can match," said Koen. "If you just focus on your studies and don't get involved you won't get as much out of your experience here." Koen is currently the President of European Student Union, International Student Ambassador (CLEO), member of the new Student Life Building Committee, and a member of a Tenure Committee. Last year he was a Student Marketing Assistant and blogged for International Programs. He was also involved in many community projects that benefited the school and surrounding area.
Koen came to Green River as a Fulbright student. He was given the choice of going to a school in Maine, California, or Washington. He chose the latter because he heard that Green River's international programs is extremely good and read about its great reputation from other Dutch students that have attended. (Read Remco's testimonial).
"If you want to make a difference, this is the right place to be." said Koen.
Koen Volks (tallest student standing in the back row) is the president of the European Student Union.


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Merchant Services and Credit Card Processing
- Contact Us
Access your account
Access Your AccountOnline Banking Credit Card Intellix Spark Pay
We ask for your ZIP Code as product offerings and features may differ among geographic locations. You may change your ZIP Code at any time.
Access Your AccountOnline Banking Credit Card Intellix Spark Pay
Accept payments in person or when you're on-the-go. Mobile reader helps make the sale anytime, anywhere.
Turn your tablet into a complete point-of-sale system, enabling you to accept cash or credit.
Accept new payment technologies like Apple Pay and be ready for EMV chip cards.
Set up shop easily with our ecommerce solution. Expand your business and sell online where your customers shop.
Chances are, you didn't get into business for the "business" stuff. You did it to create some THING. Something of value, or interest. Something that your customers could connect with, even depend on.
Spark Pay helps you better handle the "business" part of your business. Freeing you to get back to that THING you do (and love) best.
Spark Pay from Capital One® was named "Overall Most Innovative" in the 2014 Monarch Innovation Awards.
There are no viewing parties. There isn't even a red carpet. But winning a Monarch is still a pretty big deal—only the newest and most innovative business banking products are able to win. And when you sign up for Spark Pay, you'll win too.
For more information about the Monarch Awards, click here.
Spark Pay's dashboard makes it easy to manage your business from anywhere, anytime.
See what's selling well as well, as who's buying it. You can monitor your sales history and keep track of account and payment activity. Our intuitive sales reporting tools help you make informed business decisions.
Have a question about your account, point of sale system, or the app? Give us a call at 877-231-7547 and talk to a member of our Spark Pay team. Our experts are available and ready to help from 8AM–10PM ET, Monday–Saturday.
Want to hunt for answers on your own? Rugged individualist, eh? We respect that. You can search for answers online in our comprehensive FAQs, email us at email@example.com, or send us your questions on Twitter @askcapitalone.
Spark Pay's dashboard makes it easy to manage your business from anywhere, anytime.
See what's selling well, as well as who's selling it. You can monitor your sales history and keep track of account and payment activity. Our intuitive sales reporting tools help you make informed business decisions.
You can access the Spark Pay Merchant Program service after registering an account ("Spark Pay Merchant Program Account"). Credit qualifications and other conditions apply.
To register for Spark Pay Merchant Program you must be at least 18 year of age, have an address within the United States and have a valid checking account number and routing information linked to your Spark Pay Merchant Program Account.
Spark Pay Merchant Program transaction rates vary by card carrier and depend on the Spark Pay plan you are registered for (Go Plan or Pro Plan). The advertised rates of 2.65% and 1.99%, plus $0.05 per transaction, are the use charges on "card present" transactions on a Visa, MasterCard and Discover card and apply per each swipe. Please see the chart below for a full breakdown of transaction rates. Rates current as of 10/28/2015 and may change at any time.
Visa®, MasterCard® and Discover® Rates:
Advertised "Card Present" Rate: 2.65% (Go Plan), 1.99% (Pro Plan)
"Card-Not-Present" Rate: 3.70% (Go Plan), 2.80% (Pro Plan)
American Express® Rates
"Card Present" Rate: 3.70% (Go Plan), 2.80% (Pro Plan)
"Card-Not-Present" Rate: 3.70% (Go Plan), 2.80% (Pro Plan)
In addition to the rates above, a $0.05 charge will apply to every sale transaction. The Pro Plan monthly subscription fee is $19. We will charge your linked checking account within 30 days after you subscribe for the Pro Plan. Subscription fee will repeat every 30 days.
If your Spark Pay Merchant Program Account drops below $0, we will initiate a debit from your linked bank account to return your Spark Pay Merchant Program Account balance to $0. A Spark Pay Merchant Program Account can have a negative balance due to charge back (and associated fees) or the debit of the Pro Plan monthly subscription fee.
Your first card reader is at no cost to you.
There is no minimum number of transactions requirement to use the Spark Pay service. Maximum merchant transaction limits are based on your business profile; should you want to raise your Spark Pay maximum transaction limits, please refer to the FAQ page on www.SparkPay.com.
To read the full terms and conditions, please see Spark Pay Merchant Program User Agreement.
The Digital Register includes APG Cash Drawer® VasarioTM model 1416 and a Star Micronics® TSP654IIE3 LAN Printer. A router (not included with purchase) is needed to operate the printer. The cash drawer requires the printer connection to operate. The Digital Register requires an iPad® or AndroidTM based tablet and the Spark Pay mobile app to use. An iPad and an iPad stand can be purchased with the Digital Register. The iPad is the Apple iPad Air® 2 Wi-Fi 16GB model. The iPad Stand is a Heckler Design WindFall® C iPad Air Stand and is compatible with both the iPad Air and iPad Air 2.
The terminal systems are individually only comprised of the Ingenico® iCT 220 (wired terminal) and the Ingenico® iWL 250 (wireless terminal). Debit Cards using PIN are not supported at this time. Current contactless payment is available through Apple Pay®, Google Wallet®, MasterCard PayPass®, Visa payWave® . Additional contactless payments may be provided in the future.
Payment Terminal is equipped with hardware for EMV. A Software update is scheduled for 2016 which will unlock the capabilities that are required to accept chip and signature EMV transactions.
Synchronize Multiple Devices and Users, Inventory Management, Customized Receipts, and Create Custom Promotions or Deals are not available if you use Payment Terminal to accept your payments.
For hardware technical issues or returns, replacements, or refunds call 877-231-7547.
This site is designed to only reflect the hardware that is available through Spark Pay. For capabilities that are available to your business through the Online Store, please refer to sparkpay.com
To qualify for the $50 account opening bonus, you must open a Spark Pay Account and process a minimum of $5,000 in transactions within the first 3 billing cycles of your account. Billing cycle will begin on the date of account opening. If you are eligible, we will credit the checking account you have linked to your Spark Pay services within 2-4 weeks after the transaction minimum has been met.
Apple, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android and Google Play are a trademark of Google Inc.
The third parties listed are not affiliated with Capital One and are solely responsible for their products and services. All trademarks used herein are owned by their respective owners. Capital One does not provide, endorse, nor guarantee and is not liable for third party products, services, educational tools, or other information available through www.capitalone.com.
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Products and services are provided by Capital One N.A. ©2017 Capital One. All rights reserved.


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News Posts
Digitization of Charles Darwin's Manuscripts Underway
by AMNH on
The Darwin Manuscripts Project at the American Museum of Natural History will digitize and make publicly accessible the entirety of Charles Darwin's Evolution Manuscripts— some 30,000 pages of manuscripts and letters held by Cambridge University Library—as full-color, high-resolution scans.
Meet Me in Madagascar
by AMNH on
The first in a series, this post features the work of Museum scientists studying lemurs, fishes, chameleons, and more in Madagascar.
Happy National Moth Week!
by AMNH on
It's National Moth Week, an ideal time to observe and celebrate these remarkable, mainly nocturnal, butterfly cousins. Before you head outdoors, here are some things to know about moths.
Adventures in the Global Kitchen: Exotic Flavors in Fine Dining
by AMNH on
The great melting pot that is New York City has always been known for its vibrant immigrant cultures - and many of these cultures are now reflected in the city's finest restaurants. In this podcast, Chef Daniel Humm and General Manager Will Guidara of acclaimed restaurant Eleven Madison Park discuss their method of melding Jewish, Italian, Irish, and other cultures' culinary traditions into contemporary fine dining.
An Obsession with Oddity: Sir Richard Owen and the Aye-Aye
by AMNH on
Learn more about aye-ayes, unusual mammals with "continuously growing front teeth, batlike ears, a foxlike tail, abdominal mammary glands, claws on most digits, and spindly, dexterous middle fingers," in an essay excerpted from Natural Histories: Extraordinary Rare Book Selections from the American Museum of Natural History Library (Sterling Signature, 2012).


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House Committee Approves Abortion Bill--At Midnight
As an acrimonious shouting match between pro choice and pro life forces continued outside the chamber, a Texas House Committee today approved that bill cracking down on abortions and sending the measure to the full House for consideration, 1200 WOAI news reports.
Hundreds of people on both sides of the issue shouted it out all night long, debating everything from the impact of abortion on women's rights to how abortion is covered in the Bible.
Inside the House committee room, the tone was more restrained, but emotions still ran high.
Stacy Wilson of the Texas Hospital Association said the provision of the bill which requires any doctor who practices at an abortion clinic to have admitting privileges at a hospital within thirty miles would drastically restrict access to abortion.
"If no doctors in Texas can qualify for this provision to have admitting privileges, than no doctor would be able to perform the procedure," she said.
Dr. Michael Love says there is no truth to claims by pro choice activists that the bill would force all but five of the state's 43 working abortion clinics to close. He says the state has the right to guarantee that patients encounter safe and sanitary conditions inside abortion clinics. The name of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortion doctor who performed abortions inside a filthy clinic has come up a lot in the Texas debate.
"Care is restricted when physicians or clinics refuse to comply with the standard of care and choose to close their doors," Dr. Love said. "That is not the state closing them down."
The House hearing was streamlined and hundreds of people who had signed up to speak on the abortion bill were not heard when House Republicans cut off testimony at midnight. That bothers State Rep. Helen Giddings (D-Dallas)
"The process was certainly compromised," she said. "That is entirely new, not allowing members to ask questions of the author."
House Republicans say they are confident they have the votes to approve the bill when he comes up for a vote next week.


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Collection of short mystery stories previously published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
John F. Suter was a fixture in the world of short detective fiction. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Suter lived in West Virginia for most of his 82 years. He spent his first working life as a research chemist. His second began with the publication of his first short story in 1954. He was a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Crime Writers Association of Great Britain. His work has been widely anthologized. Mr. Suter died in 1996.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Univ of Charleston, 1996. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. book. Bookseller Inventory # 096511080X
More Information About This Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question


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Q. Why cant BackTrack use wireless card "X" inside VMWare or Virtualbox ?
A. Any virtualisation software can only use USB wireless network cards as physical devices, all other types of wireless card are seen as virtual ethernet devices and can only be seen as a wireless device by the host and not by the guest operating system. So if you want to run BackTrack in VMWare or Virtualbox and have full wireless capabilities, make sure you are using a USB device.


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While a senior at Mount Saint Mary College, Juan Luis '11, was
busy making plans to launch his own business. Together with his
brothers Kenneth '12 and Marco, he opened Complex City on William
Street in Newburgh, NY, last fall.
And the business is thriving.
From netbooks to desktop computers, Complex City writes and
installs the latest software, cleans up virus infections and
repairs computers, for both individuals and businesses.
"Setting up a network at the Bulls Head Inn," said Juan, "was
something I never pictured us doing."
But they succeeded, and the system they installed controls iPads
and printers to print receipts, manage expenses, and output food
orders for the restaurant and catering facility located in Campbell
Hall, NY.
Kenneth, who is majoring in information technology like his
brother Juan did, will join Complex City fulltime following
graduation. He said the strong faculty and small classes at the
Mount, along with state of the art equipment in computer labs,
helped prepare him for the business world.
During his senior year, Kenneth completed an internship at
Sono-Tek Corporation, a world leader for thin coating in
electronics manufacturing, in Milton. He now uses what he's learned
during his internship when he works part-time at Complex City.
Kenneth credits retiring Mount professor Vincent Kayes,
information technology, with being a valuable mentor.
"He's a great teacher and adviser, but most of all a great
friend. It's sad to see him go, but he deserves it."
Kenneth also named Bulls Head Inn owner, Kris Edwards, as having
influence with his career.
"I washed dishes for him at Randone's (a pizzeria and restaurant
in Newburgh which Edwards also owns) and he would always call me
with any IT related problems, and then he asked us to install his
new system," said Kenneth.
Juan noted that the business is growing because it's diversified
and customer oriented. "We like to take on the tasks people bring
us," he noted.
Mount Saint Mary College helped the Luis brothers succeed by
offering classes that taught them to understand concepts about
computers and networking to the fullest.
"Professors at the Mount really know their students," said Juan,
adding that "They made it seem like what I was doing was important,
and they were always available to help."
Proud professors Vincent Kayes and Neil Christensen shared the
news. "They were certainly above average students," wrote
Christensen, who added about their hard working family, "very
For future mathematics teachers, a TI-SMART view with SMART
board projects a large graphing calculator in class that interacts
just like a handheld version, providing students with the skills
required on New York State assessments.
Students majoring in mathematics or information technologies at
Mount Saint Mary College often go on to careers in educational
technologies, networking, web technologies, or education.
New York State Teacher of the Year Debra Calvino, who graduated
from the Mount with a mathematics degree, works at Valley Central
High School in Montgomery.
Mount mathematics and information technology grads also work as
financial analysts, actuaries, bank managers, statisticians,
researchers, programmers, as well as teachers.
Leandro Bautista '11, who majored in information technology at
the Mount, now works at Google in New York City as a technical
support technician servicing and maintaining hardware inventory.
The Bronx resident said that his internship at Sono-Tek "gave me a
taste of what the real world was like and showed me different areas
of IT, helping me get a feel for what I wanted to do with my degree
and preparing me for the real world after graduation."
And Mount senior Brittany Botta, an honors mathematics/education
major from Warwick, NY, was recently selected by the American
Educational Research Association to participate in the
association's prestigious undergraduate research workshop. Botta's
primary research interest is "motivation among adolescent girls to
pursue careers in mathematics and engineering."
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Holiday Inn Express Dusseldorf - City North
Smart Card
Holiday Inn Express Dusseldorf - City North
Mercedesstrasse 14
Dusseldorf 40470
Check In: 3:00 PM
Check Out: 12:00 PM
Check-in Age: 18
More Details
- Daily Parking: 15 EUR
- Airport Shuttle on request mainly used for airport transportation. Not included in rate.
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Lifts
- Public Restrooms
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Communication Kits with Visual Alarms
Provided by Hotel
Pet Policy
- Pets Allowed
- Guide Dogs Allowed
- Pet Walking Area On-site
- Pet Deposit per Stay: 16 EUR
- Pet Fee per Night: 16 EUR
- Small pets allowed at a charge of 16 Euro per night.
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 5
- Total Number of Rooms: 150
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 88
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 1
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Guest Rooms Renovated in: 2015
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Polish
- Russian
- Spanish
- Ukrainian
Credit Cards
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
About Our Hotel
A newly renovated modern hotel near Düsseldorf Old Town and Airport with Wi-Fi and breakfast included.
Holiday Inn Express® Düsseldorf - City North hotel is convenient for Düsseldorf Airport, less than 5km away. Just off the A52 motorway, it has secure underground parking on site. It's easy to reach the Old Town, too: Düsseldorf-Derendorf S-Bahn Station is a five-minute walk, with Heinrichstrasse U-Bahn Station steps from the lobby.
Doing business in Düsseldorf? You're just a 10-minute drive from major trade fairs at Messe Düsseldorf. The hotel has a handy Business Corner and inclusive Wi-Fi throughout, and you can hold a meeting for up to 25 people in a flexible meeting room with a sunny courtyard. Meet Smart® packages cover equipment hire and catering, making Holiday Inn Express Düsseldorf - City North hotel a cost-effective choice for a business event.
Düsseldorf's picturesque Altstadt, or Old Town, is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, where you can visit Museum Kunstpalast and sample local Altbier at one of the area's traditional pubs. From the Old Town, it's a short walk to leafy Königsallee boulevard for shopping at upscale boutiques.
Friendly staffs help you make the most of your stay in Düsseldorf, serving a generous inclusive buffet breakfast in the Great Room. The lobby bar is a relaxing spot for a quiet coffee or evening cocktails.
- Black-out Shades
- Pillow Menu
- Crib Available
- In-Room Heating and A/C Controls
- Extra Bedding Available
- Sofa Bed/Sleeper Couch
Bathroom/Personal Care
- Private Bathroom
- Bathroom Amenities Available
- Hair Dryer
- Separate/Walk-in Shower
In-Room Features
- Coffee Maker
- Tea Maker
- Flat-screen TV
- Work Desk with Lamp
- Cable/Satellite
- Stereo/Radio
- Direct-dial Phone
- Windows Open by Guest
Added Value
- Connecting Suites Available
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea Supplies
Continental Breakfast Included
Cocktail Lounge
Off-site Restaurant Delivery Available
Hotel Bars & Lounges
Make yourself comfortable in the Holiday Inn Express Duesseldorf City North Lobby Bar where you can enjoy different types of beer and various other alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks and cocktails.
Location: Lobby area
Hours of Operation: 5:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Business Services
- 1 Meeting Room(s) Available
- On-Site Business Center
- Copier
- Office supplies available
Internet Access
- Free High-Speed Internet in all Rooms
- Wireless Internet service is free for all IHG® Rewards Club members
Housekeeping & Laundry
- Daily Housekeeping
Added Value
- Wake Up Calls
- Foreign Currency Exchange
- Storage Space Available
- Ice Machine


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By Christoper Elliott
The trouble started when Tom King's cellphone died on his way to a job interview last year.
He saw a public phone at the Bainbridge Island ferry dock and was relieved, he said, when a sticker reassured him that he could make a four-minute call for $1.
King made four one-minute calls using his credit card, for which he expected to pay $4. But a few days later, he discovered that he'd been charged $14.98 for each connection, for a total of nearly $60. "I was shocked," he said.
Stories like King's are a cautionary tale for travelers. Fewer than 500,000 public telephones remain in the United States, operated by a network of independent telecommunications companies that set their own rates, which can often be startlingly high.
Verizon, the last major telecommunications provider of payphone services in the United States, left the industry in 2011 when it agreed to sell almost all of its remaining 50,000 phones.
California Senate Bill 50, which was introduced last month, would amend a 1993 rule requiring payphone operators to disclose the cost of a call so that it would also include any calls made with a credit or debit card.
Telecommunications companies are taking advantage of a "loophole" in the rules, said Sen. Ted Lieu of California. "At the time the law was passed, using a credit or debit card for payphone calls was uncommon, and thus not addressed by the law."
Consumer advocate John Mattes, an attorney who has unsuccessfully sued several companies offering these pricey calls from public phones, says that he hopes the legislation will have a ripple effect, encouraging other states to adopt similar disclosure requirements and eventually compelling the federal government to close the loophole once and for all. "It would be a long-overdue victory for consumers," he said.
No one knows exactly how many travelers have fallen for these phones, but there have been plenty of reports of overpriced phone calls. Last year, several media outlets reported that U.S. soldiers in transit through Germany were being billed up to $40 for a one-minute phone call home via a company that claimed to be based in Switzerland.
King tracked his charges to a company called WiMac Tel, a company based in Palo Alto, Calif., that offers payphone services to "inmate facilities, payphone operators, hotels, hospitals, universities/colleges, local exchange companies and consumers nationwide in the USA and Canada," according to its website.
"WiMac Tel promises customers that their payphone systems can make payphones profitable again," King said. "Well, duh! At nearly $15 a minute, I imagine so."
James MacKenzie, WiMac Tel's chief executive, says that the $1 rate on the payphone King saw was for coin calls, not credit cards. "Unfortunately, there is insufficient space on the payphone to provide all the various rates associated with operator service calls," he told me.
Sen. Lieu estimates that his bill would affect roughly 30,000 public phones in the state of California, located in places where constituents can least afford the high charges, including prisons and hospitals.
How do you avoid these fees? Keep an extra battery handy when you travel, so that if your cellphone goes dead, you won't have to resort to using a payphone. Or you could buy a prepaid phone card.
Reach for your plastic only as a last resort. Try using coins or bills to pay for the call, if possible. We're still a long way from closing the disclosure loophole for credit card calls, and until then, it seems, your payphone calls could cost a lot more than you expect.
Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine and the author of "Scammed." Read more travel tips on his blog, www.elliott.org or email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
© 2012 Christopher Elliott/ Tribune Media Services, Inc.