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Liquidnet Named #1 Broker for Equities Operational Performance
First Firm to Sweep the #1 Position in All Major Categories in Both the US & Europe
New York
Liquidnet, the global institutional trading network, announced today that it has been named the #1 Global Broker for Operational Performance as part of the 2012 McLagan [Z/YEN] Survey of Operational Performance of Brokers. Liquidnet is also the first firm to rank first in all major categories of the annual survey in both the US and Europe.
Liquidnet ranked #1 in all five major categories in the US (Overall Performance by a Broker, Domestic Core Processing, International Core Processing, Client Management and MIS) and all four major categories in Europe (Overall Performance by a Broker, Core Processing, Client Management and MIS) for equities trading. This marks the fifth year in a row in the US and the second year in a row in Europe that Liquidnet has ranked first for operational performance. For the first time, Liquidnet was also named most improved broker in Asia Pacific.
"We have made significant investments in our people and processes around the world so that our community of asset management firms has the best end-to-end experience when they trade with us. This includes everything from delivering best execution in 41 markets to providing best in the world operational performance to clear and settle those trades. We are grateful to be recognized by the buy-side community and remain deeply committed to providing more opportunities in which to invest and delivering the best overall experience for our Members to help them perform," commented Seth Merrin, Founder and CEO, Liquidnet.
Liquidnet's member services team provides the company's network of more than 700 of the world's leading asset managers with a full suite of services including:
- Real-time exposure monitoring system to deal with intra-day market events and volatility allowing Liquidnet to protect institutional investors that make up its member community without compromising efficiency.
- Liquidnet's Commission Management Services which eliminates the conflicts that arise between best execution and the need to pay bills. Members can easily aggregate, manage, and analyze all of their commissions across brokers, currencies, and asset classes. And Liquidnet also offers the buy-side community an insurance package on all commission credits received under the program.*
- Trade Support Forums, a global event series developed by Liquidnet to provide market intelligence in the operations arena while bringing the buy-side community together. This year, events were held in New York, Boston, London and Toronto with more than 100 asset management firms participating
*Subject to terms and conditions
"The buy-side community continues to highlight Liquidnet as a firm that provides an exceptional level of service to its clients in the US and Europe. Respondents highlighted Liquidnet as being highly responsive and proactive to their needs while also providing value added services. They are also starting to gain traction in high growth regions as seen with the most improved ranking in Asia Pacific," commented James Pitcher, Associate Partner, McLagan.
Now in its 10th year, results from McLagan's annual survey were based on interviews with 112 leading buy-side financial firms in the US, Europe and Asia Pacific. The firms were posed questions relating to the performance of brokers on various aspects of the operations process, such as accuracy and timing of trade confirmations, settlement rate, fail management, transactional client service and client relationship management.
About Liquidnet
Liquidnet is the global institutional trading network that connects over 700 of the world's top asset managers to large-scale equity trading opportunities across the globe — 41 markets across five continents. With an average trade size of more than 42,000 shares in the US, 65,300 in Canada, and approximately $1 million in Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific**, Liquidnet is a leader in large block trading globally. Liquidnet does this by going beyond what the retail market can provide by defending and securing the integrity and the anonymity of the block trade while continuously looking for ways to bring in new sources of safe, actionable liquidity from asset management firms, exchanges, brokers and corporations. Asset Managers rely on Liquidnet to help them protect the performance of their portfolios by allowing them to enter and exit their portfolio positions more efficiently. For more information on the Liquidnet community, its liquidity, block executions, and additional investment capabilities, visit www.liquidnet.com.
About McLagan
McLagan is a global provider of market intelligence to the financial services industry and conducts this survey annually. McLagan is the financial services industry's leading compensation consulting, productivity and performance benchmarking firm, and can be found at www.mclagan.com.
Melissa Kanter, Liquidnet
Global Marketing & Communications
+1 646 660 8469
**For the year ending 12/31/2012
©2013 Liquidnet Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Liquidnet, Inc. is a member of FINRA/SIPC. Liquidnet Europe Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK, is licensed by the Financial Services Board in South Africa, and is a member of the London Stock Exchange and a remote member of the Warsaw Stock Exchange and SIX Swiss Exchange. Liquidnet Canada Inc. is a member of IIROC and a member of Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Liquidnet Asia Limited is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission as a licensed dealer and a provider of automated trading services pursuant to the Securities and Futures Ordinance and is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Recognized Market Operator. Liquidnet Japan Inc. is regulated by the Financial Services Agency of Japan and is a member of JSDA/JIPF. Liquidnet Australia Pty Ltd. is registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission as an Australian Financial Services Licensee, AFSL number 312525, and is registered with the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority as a Financial Service Provider, FSP number FSP3781.


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Newhouse, Cooper and Codery (2017) investigated ways young children interact with discrete programmable digital toys in a free play setting. Researchers worked with teachers to provide children with two types of digital toys, the Sphero and the Beebot. It was found that without some explicit scaffolding the children did not tend to demonstrate any actions that could be associated with an understanding of 'algorithms'. However, they did demonstrate motivation, engagement, and increased proficiency and recognition with using the hardware and software
What are the educational implications of the 'broadband society' for the development of digital skills for life and work? The UNESCO Broadband Commission Working Group on Education asks what are the educational implications of the 'broadband society' for the development of digital skills for life and work? Their publication includes case studies from Africa, France, Malaysia, and Myanmar that address digital skills and competencies and future challenges.
Emerging lessons from the histories of national educational technology agencies to inform perspectives of decision makers considering how to create and support such an institution. Case studies include KERIS, Smart Schools, Becta, Enlaces, NaCET, Plan Ceiba); PUSTEKKOM, Omar Dengo Foundation, Schoolnet Thailand, and EdNA.
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NMC Horizon Report > 2018 Higher Education Edition
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New kinds of university will emerge mobilising some of the world's 150 million students to work on our most pressing problems
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subset: commoncrawl


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There's a fair bit of coffee shop chatter about how avian influenza (AI) could impact the infrastructure of the U.S. cattle industry. Namely, if the disease shows up here and flocks are quarantined, will that restrict the movement of cattle and other livestock? What about hauling feed around the U.S.?
So many tales are spun that some may be surprised to hear Max Coats, Texas Animal Health Commission deputy director, explain, "I don't think it would have a terribly profound impact on cattle producers." Keep in mind, he's talking strictly about the agricultural impact of AI if it arrives in the U.S., not the human pandemic many fear.
In fact, at least in Texas, where animal health officials dealt with a different strain of AI last year, Coats explains that even cattle producers who have commercial poultry enterprises might not see their cattle operations limited much.
"Depending on the pathogenicity (the organism's disease-producing potential), the arrangement of facilities and producers' ability to provide biosecurity, producers in that situation might still be able to gather and ship cattle," Coats says. "First of all, commercial poultry is already confined. Plus, the AI organism doesn't have the environmental hardiness or infectiousness of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)… I don't see a need for the kind of draconian rules we would have to implement with FMD."
He alludes to FMD, that nightmarish foreign animal disease (FAD), because such worries are still fresh in producers' minds.
"Each response to various FADs is different," Coats explains. "The goal of containment and eradication is the same for each, but what you have to do in order to achieve that goal is different."
In the case of AI, the response plan is pretty straightforward: depopulate the infected flock and disinfect the premises.
Potential market impact
Depending on the international response to AI in the U.S., and the duration of that response, the market wouldn't necessarily suffer much either, says Mike Miller, Cattle-Fax director of research and education.
"Obviously, if AI turned up here and the U.S. was shut out of the export markets — primarily Russia — the impact on poultry production would be immediate. It also would put an awful lot of dark meat on the market. The poultry industry could slow down production, but it would take several months," Miller says.
In other developed countries currently dealing with AI, Miller says declines in domestic poultry consumption have been immediate and profound. For instance, he says Italian poultry consumption quickly fell 50% when the disease was discovered there.
In the short run, if U.S. consumers shied away from poultry, it could be positive for beef demand. However, Miller cautions, "If poultry exports were limited for several months, then I think it would turn bearish for everyone, including beef."
Odds remain the same
Though plenty of folks are banking on AI turning up in the U.S., Coats says the probability is no less or no greater than before.
"All the mechanisms for disease transmission that we're concerned about have always existed," he says.
What has changed, Coats says, is the accelerated movement of people and goods in commerce around the world. That's the biggest threat.
Even though the odds are static, Coats has been beating his drum for individual biosecurity more loudly.
He advises producers: "Look at the things you can do in your operation to further mitigate the potential spread of any disease. Concentrating on the biosecurity in your operation is the best option you have."
Coats emphasizes his comments are based on how AI could impact the cattle industry. If you start talking about the possibilities of a global human pandemic, all bets are off.
The Hong Kong Flu of 1968, for instance, caused 33,800 U.S. deaths, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that was less than half of the U.S. deaths inflicted by the Asian Flu of 1957. Even so, Coats remembers the Hong Kong Flu pandemic, which caused all kinds of economic disruption due to absenteeism.
"It affected everything that required manpower," Coats says. "My suspicion is, if AI were to come to that, the animal disease and its impact on agriculture wouldn't be much of a news item."
You can find a list of basic biosecurity practices from the Texas Animal Health Commission at www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/brochures or www.beefcowcalf.com.


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Weirton Nazarene Church
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Come Journey with Us!
Worship Arts
When we gather for worship, it is a time of both inspiration and spiritual growth. Our blended worship on Sunday mornings consist of dynamic arrangements of both traditional and contemporary music that intentionally calls on the Holy Spirit to come into our presence and transform us.
Our Praise team and band lead the congregation in a manner that encourages the hurting and inspires the church community as a whole. We are lead by our Worship Pastor, John Wilson. John is an accomplished musician and has been leading worship in the Church of the Nazarene for more than 20 years. Come share the joy of our weekly celebrations of Praise.
Our Worship Celebration Choir joins us to lead worship with us one Sunday each month.
If you are interested in participating in our worship ministry please contact Pastor John at 304-723-2006


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This week's weather has felt a lot like Seattle.
Rain, rain, rain.
You should see how wide my smile is.
Last night something wild happened. I was pulling around the corner of the Starbucks drive-thru when I saw it - the exact moment when rain turned to snow. It was dumping water and then, in a split second, the heaviness of the downpour turned into the lightness of snowfall. I've never seen that before! It was really lovely and almost caused me to drive in to the side of the building.
No biggie.
If you're finding yourself in a similar state of weather, and need a new soup recipe, try this one from the McCormick brand. You can buy the pre-packaged McCormick spices in the baking aisle of your local grocery store or just follow the recipe and use the spices you already have at home. I like a punchy flavor, so I add extra of everything (to taste). Even if you don't like the rain (or are completely over the snow), this recipe will widen your smile, too.
Keep it cozy, friends.


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Newbrook Energy Project
With the school's boilers on their last legs, the Brookline-Newfane Joint School Board and NewBrook Principal Chris Pratt formed an Energy Committee in March 2012. The Committee initially included Chris Pratt, Ken McFadden (School Board), Kim Friedman (School Board), Patrick Mace (Building Manager), Gordon Bristol (consultant and Newfane resident) and Frank Rucker (WCSU CFO). Together, they explored options for a new heating system for the school.
Early on in the process, the School Board identified the following goals to help guide our thinking:
- Go as "green" as possible while remaining fiscally responsible;
- Reduce or eliminate the school's carbon footprint;
- Provide opportunities for student learning regarding the value of investing in renewable energy;
- Promote use of renewable energy in educational facilities in Vermont.
In an effort to be responsive to and learn from the community, the School Board held multiple informational meetings on this topic. The input received at these meetings provided valuable guidance to the School Board and the Energy Committee and they formed a plan based upon public opinion and the work of their consultants.
On June 12 th , 2014, the School Board convened a special meeting of Newfane and Brookline voters to consider two related proposals: solar panels to provide electricity for the school, and a loan to help pay for a new heating and cooling system using air-to-air heat pumps. The proposed solar system, which was sized to produce enough electricity to also run the heat pumps, was defeated by two votes. The loan for the heat pumps was approved.
Subsequently, the School Board decided to ask the voters of both towns to re-consider the proposed solar system, which will include more specifics regarding the solar lease agreement. The Board also received a petition to re-consider the vote on the new heating system.
The School Board re-convened the Energy Committee, which now includes more community members. The Energy Committee, which met on July 16th, has recommended to the School Board that call a special meeting in late October to vote on both proposals. At this meeting, both the HVAC and solar projects were supported by public vote. Since, the Energy Committee has worked with Mr. Bud Debonis (WCSU CFO) to put the jobs out to bid, to create an objective selection process and then to work with our vendors to ensure a positive implementation of this important public project.
For more information, please contact:
NewBrook Principal Scotty Tabachnick at 365-7536 or email@example.com
Energy Committee Chair Kim Friedman at 348-7988 or email@example.com


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KATONAH, N.Y. -- The Country Children's Center will hold its annual celebration of the "Week of the Young Child" from Monday, April 7 through Friday, April 11, at all of its child care sites.
The week will feature special events for CCC students, including visits from local officials, guest readers of favorite children's books, kick-off day parades, pansy planting, garden parties, nature and magic shows, zumba/yoga classes and end of the week dance parties. This year's theme is "Early Years are Learning Years."
The center offers on-site child care at its five locations in Katonah, Bedford Hills and Yorktown Heights as well as after school programs at five elementary schools in the Katonah-Lewisboro and Bedford Central School Districts.
The "Week of the Young Child" is promoted annually by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to build awareness of the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and people that help meet those needs.
"Week of the Young child events celebrate how the early years build the foundation for children's future success in school and life," said Country Childrens Center Executive Director, Polly Peace.
"The Week of the Young Child is a time to illuminate how everyone in our community can join together to ensure that all young children get a great foundation for lifelong success."
The Country Childrens Center was founded more than four decades ago as a small program operating out of the basement of the First Presbyterian Church of Katonah. It now serves more than 400 northern Westchester youngsters from age infancy through elementary school in a variety of quality child care programs.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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In addition, users can now search for Activities by name in KRunner, but whether that will help users appreciate Activities seems doubtful, since KRunner is a tool more likely to be favored by advanced users than beginners.
By contrast to System Settings, Marble, and Activities, the main developer of the 4.7 incarnation of the file manager Dolphin seem to have decided to take usability into their own hands. Although the developer blogs that he "did no scientific research," he has decided that Dolphin's default interface will replace the menu structure with a single menu button that dumps all items into a single menu, and eliminates the information panel on the right, all in the name of reducing clutter.
Admittedly, these changes reduce clutter -- but they also reduce default functionality. If anything, the default view in Dolphin would benefit from enabling the editable location and filter fields. As it is, in 4.7, Dolphin's defaults imitate recent GNOME releases by reducing the functionality for experienced users in favor of a mythical new user who is apparently easily distracted and probably shouldn't be let loose on a computer unsupervised.
But, no matter what you think of the changes to Dolphin in 4.7, they place Dolphin at odds with most of the other applications in KDE. With luck, they will be an anomaly, but, considering the importance of a file manager, a chance exists that these decisions will spread to other KDE apps in the absence of more detailed interface guidelines.
Of course, such interface issues are not the only things happening in KDE 4.7. From full-screen modes for games and support for QR and Datamatrix codes in the Klipper clipboard to a plug-in for the Kate text editor that allows pattern-searching within files, 4.7 teems with small enhancements that many will quietly appreciate.
Yet if any overall pattern emerges from the 4.7 release, it is that too loose a set of common interface principles is preventing KDE from improving its users' experience in quick and effective ways.
In the past, one of the benefits of KDE has always been that it lacks the over-simplification enforced by GNOME's Human Interface Guidelines. In contrast, KDE has managed to appeal to all level of users, and not just new ones.
Few KDE users, I suspect, would want to see that change. Personally, if forced to choose, I would prefer KDE's looser interface policies to GNOME's prescriptive ones.
But, at the same time, the choice is not either-or. KDE does not have to replicate the unnecessary rigor of GNOME to benefit from a few more common standards in its utilities and applications.
The fact that KDE apps are each going their own way in interface design is wasteful and needlessly confusing. But, even more importantly, the fact that after eight major releases in the KDE 4 series, the project is still struggling to present Activities in a way that users can appreciate them suggest that some key interface issues are being ignored.
KDE 4.7 provides no answers. But the fact that it inherits problems that earlier releases in the KDE 4 series also suffered from suggests that the project is overdue for some basic re-thinking of interface issues.
IT Solutions Builder TOP IT RESOURCES TO MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD
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Last Saturday I ran the Run the Rock 50k in Smith Rock State Park, just outside Bend, Oregon. My hubby and I arrived in Bend on Thursday. We went to check into our VRBO, and realized quickly that I'd messed up the dates on my reservation, we were supposed to be checking in on Friday! Whoops. It turned out to not be a big deal. I quickly booked a hotel room online, and we got checked into our hotel. We had a fantastic dinner out, and a pretty relaxing evening. Continue reading "Run the Rock Race Report"
Lost Soul 2017
2017 has been full of ups and downs in running. After starting 2017 injured, recovering and running Boston, I was coming into the summer feeling like I was on an up. I was working with my friend Melissa @ We Run the World Coaching, and exciting for a summer of trails.
Surviving an Injury 101
I spent 7 weeks injured this winter, I've also had a lot of friends who've dealt with injury this year, including one of my best running friends. I've been reflecting a lot on injury, and how best to survive (mentally and physically) during the injury, and how to return from injury. I wanted to post about some of my lessons and thoughts. Continue reading "Surviving an Injury 101"
Boston Marathon – The Race! – Part 2
So everyone else is all like, here's my race report from last weekend, and here I am, crap, I still haven't finished my Boston race report!?!! It's been half written for weeks, so here goes! I'm not going to do my typical race report with splits, and details like that. I had no real pace/time goals, so the splits don't matter.
Boston Marathon Week Part 1
I've been back for a week, and still have not written my recap… life has been crazy busy, but I need to get this done before my memory fades! Luckily I took about 1,000,537 photos, so that should help. I'm planning to break this into two posts, one as a summary/recap of all the not-the-marathon stuff that we did, and a marathon recap. First up, the not-the-marathon! Continue reading "Boston Marathon Week Part 1"
Training Update, injury addition
Hey, so now that I'm running again, I thought I'd do an update on how I've been training over the last couple months. I know for some runners, it's running or nothing, but I would have lost my mind if I wouldn't have had other activities to fall back on. Continue reading "Training Update, injury addition"
The Other Side…
Gosh it's taken a lot of time to get here. And I'm not home free yet. But I'm running again.


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Self service options are available here 24x7 for all customers.
For Technical Support
For Billing & Account inquiries only, call us at 855-599-7900
Please visit our Legacy Community to find helpful FAQ's or ask the Neat Community a question.Neat Legacy Community
Neat Cloud Lite, Premium, and Business subscribers can take advantage of ALL our cloud powered apps for the home, office, and mobile.
Fast and efficient scanners to help convert your paper mess into an organized digital filing system.


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2018 Rolls Royce Phantom
The Phantom is a nameplate which this company uses for over ninety years. However, in modern day, this name is used for company's flagship model. It is a full-size luxury car, which was released in 2003. One interesting details is that this model is the first car that was introduced in BMW era. It is still under production, but it made through one significant update which was done for 2012 year model. Although there is no official information, it is expected that whole cycle of this model will last for 15 years, so we expect to see a next-generation model in late 2017/early 2018 period, most likely as 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom.
2018 Rolls Royce Phantom specs
The 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom is now in advanced phase of development. Company's engineers started with test drives, so testing model has been spotted already for several times. The mule was spotted outside BMW technical center in Germany and although it still wears a heavy camouflage, we can see same of details that will characterize next generation of this luxury car. It is expected that new model will come with new powertrain, especially if we consider that test mule features two new intakes at the front, which are backed up the makeshift exhaust system fitted to the car, at the rear. Alongside standard V12 unit, it is also very possible that we will see a hybrid configuration too, especially if we consider that rivals such as Bentley, also plan to introduce new hybrid vehicles. It is expected that 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom will use BMW's new rear-wheel-drive platform, debuting in the 2016 BMW 7-Series.
The whole body structure will be made of light materials, such as aluminum or carbon fiber, so new model will be significantly lighter compared to current, which weights around 5.600 pounds. When it's about cars look, we expect that 2018 Phantom will continue in the same way, featuring same design language, mostly evolutional changes, instead of some radical ones. New model will keep its conventional, but also extremely stylish and elegant look. On the other side, interior is completely unknown for now. At this point, most of the parts are borrowed from BMW 7 Series, but they are used only for testing and won't be found in production model.
2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom possible launch date
At this point, there is still no official information about possible release date. According to the rumors, new model will most likely come in late 2017, as 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom.


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Name Ramesh Joshi, IT Experience 33 Years
ERPs RentalMan, Movex, Mapics, J D Edwards, MACPAC, JBA, Prism
Exposure to Finance & Accounting
Sectors Manufacturing, Banking, Insurance, Health Care (USA)
Countries Belgium, India, Singapore, UK, US
Project Management 19+ years
Hardware IBM AS/400, IBM S/36, IBM Mainframe 43xx, Data General MV-4000, IBM 1401
Operating Systems OS/400, SSP, MVS, AOS/VS
Languages COBOL, RPG/400, ILE RPG, CL, SQL, OCL (S/36), AUTOCODER
Config. Mgt. Systems Aldon, Thenon, TurnOver
I started my IT career in 1982; worked in the IT department of a manufacturing company for 15 years; worked as a Project Manager, Consultant, and Senior Consultant for a number of IT companies; started working as an independent consultant from year 2000; mostly worked on IBM mid-range machines (System/34, System/36, AS/400); also worked on IBM Mainframe in 1988-89.
I have worked in manufacturing, insurance, banking, and health care industries. I have worked in India, Belgium, Singapore, the UK, and the US.
My total IT experience is 33 years, out of which Project Management experience is 19 years. I do consulting for the AS/400 (all phases of the SDLC). I conduct training for the AS/400, System/36, and COBOL. I have worked on seven ERPs (RentalMan, Movex, Mapics, J D Edwards, MACPAC, JBA, Prism).
I am a commerce graduate (1977) from the Bombay University. After graduation, while I was working for the State Bank of India, I completed Diploma in Computer Management (1981) from the Bombay University. The accounting I learned during graduation proved to be useful in the IT career.
I have got a multiple-entry US Business Visa valid up to 2016. I live in Pune (India) and don't mind traveling to other places for a short period.
If you are wondering whether or not I can provide good support because of the physical distance, here's some information that would help:
I had a Chicago-based AS/400 client having Movex ERP. I used to provide application support. I have got a Broadband Internet connection. I used to connect to the customer's AS/400 using the VPN & the Net. I did this for two years. Then this client of mine was acquired by a competitor and was forced to go with the competitor's system.


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OMG… Nicki Minaj kiss Nas! Check out the Right By My Side video featuring Chris Brown!
Nicki Minaj KISS Nas! "Right By My Side" Video ft. Chris Brown
Ilouvee this sonqqqq!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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[…] and Minaj already have a music video "Right By My Side featuring Chris Brown. In the flick, the were seen cuddling and getting touchy feely with each […]


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The plus and minus of creating Telangana
The roller-coaster ride to Telangana has now taken a sudden turn, with the Centre planning a new avatar, Rayala-Telangana, just before proposing the Telangana bill in Parliament's winter session, beginning today.india Updated: Dec 05, 2013 16:11 IST
The roller-coaster ride to Telangana has now taken a sudden turn, with the Centre planning a new avatar, Rayala-Telangana, just before proposing the Telangana bill in Parliament's winter session, beginning on Thursday.
The union cabinet will meet on Thursday and is likely to take a final call on the proposal by the group of ministers on the state's bifurcation. The report suggested adding two Rayala districts, Kurnool and Anantapur, to Telangana's 10.
The other two Rayala districts, Chittoor and Kadapa, are proposed to be merged with the Seemandhra region.
The plus points: Administratively, it will divide Andhra Pradesh into two equal entities so perfectly that they will have the same number of assembly and Lok Sabha seats — 147 and 21, respectively.
Besides, it will solve issues like the Srisailam hydel project, built across the Krishna in Kurnool, straddling the Telangana and Rayalaseema regions. And if not included in Telangana, Kurnool may claim back the glory of being a state capital that it was before Andhra was formed in 1956.
Finally, the creation of Rayala-Telangana may help check another movement for a separate Rayalaseema state.
Politically, it seems to be the best way for the Congress to divide the state. Rayala-Telangana will mean TDP president Chandrababu Naidu — from Chittoor — and YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy — from Kadapa — may be confined to Seemandhra, fighting each other.
It will also force the new Congress rebel chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to manage a territory where the party holds no hopes of winning even a single Lok Sabha seat in 2014.
What's more, the addition of Kurnool and Anantapur may dilute the Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhara Rao's strength in the region.
But creating Rayala-Telangana will not be a cakewalk, it seems. Though some Telangana Congress leaders are fine with "a slightly modified Telangana", the TRS is viewing the two districts — barren and landlocked with no industries — as excess baggage.
The TRS and several pro-Telangana groups have given a strike call on Thursday against the move. The official reason, however, is protest against the move to "dilute the Telangana identity".
READ: Union Cabinet to decide on expanding Telangana today
The BJP, whose support is critical for the bill, is also opposing the plan, as it fears it'll strengthen the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen, confined so far to Hyderabad. Because the two districts have sizeable Muslim populations.
Though the Kurnool and Anantapur leaders like JC Diwakar Reddy, a legislator and former minister, are backing the proposal, intellectuals are agitated and accuse the leaders of splitting the Rayalaseema identity and culture for political gains.
"It is evident that leaders lobbying or supporting Rayala-Telangana have their business or political interests in mind," said K Maddaiah, a retired teacher in Kurnool Government Degree College.
It seems the Krishna river will play an important role in the bifurcation exercise. "How can you split us from Kadapa and Chittoor and merge with Telangana, which is so much different that we don't marry girls from the other side of the Krishna," said Giri Srikanth, a local journalist.
First Published: Dec 05, 2013 00:47 IST


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THIS is why I rarely use my telephoto:
Detail? What detail. Might as well be a point-n-shoot cell phone.
Would I use a better telephoto? Well, I sure hate the idea of lugging around a lens in it's own case because it's so big but...this, this is worse than useless.


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DURHAM --North Carolina Central University Chancellor Charlie Nelms will retire from his position effective Aug. 6, the school said Thursday.
Nelms began at NCCU in August 2007.
Nelms is credited with raising admission requirements and academic standards during his tenure, as well as establishing the university's first Ph.D. program in more than 50 years. Nelms oversaw the athletic department's transition from Division II to Division I, and he led the institution while it was rated the number one public HBCU for two consecutive years.
An interim chancellor will be appointed by University of North Carolina General Administration.
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This amazing phone box 'couch' was designed by Central St Martins graduate Benjamin Shine for the ArtBox project launched by British Telecom to mark 25 years of ChildLine in June 2012.
[Image: Artbox/Steven Dray]


text: In addition to the mentioned side effects several others have been reported. In both males and females acne are frequently reported, as well as hypertrophy of sebaceous glands, increased tallow excretion, hair loss, and alopecia. There is some evidence that anabolic steroid abuse may affect the immune system, leading to a decreased effectiveness of the defense system. Steroid use decreases the glucose tolerance, while there is an increase in insulin resistance. These changes mimic Type II diabetes. These changes seem to be reversible after abstention from the drugs.


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Poulter has been critical of the USGA this week for not allowing preferred lies (lift, clean and place) in wet conditions.
Perfect drive on 10th 235 yards to go into the wind. And thats what you getPerfect 3 wood straight into a bunker, he tweeted.
That means he had to take a picture of his golf ball with his cell phone during the round.
But the USGA said it was not a violation.
As long as its not being used to gather information that would help him, USGA rules official Wendy Uzelac said.
She referred to Rule 14-3, which covers artificial devices, unusual equipment and unusual use of equipment that cannot help a player in making a stroke or in his play and for the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play.
NOTHING MAKING SENSE: The third round of a major championship has traditionally been known as Moving Day.
The third round of this years U.S. Open didnt earn that title for a couple of reasons: It took two days to complete, and nobody did much moving.
With Ricky Barnes and Lucas Glover holding on to the top two spots among the 60 golfers who made the cut by shooting even-par rounds of 70, the stage was set for a possible big move, but there were only eight rounds below par, the best of them a 67 by Bubba Watson that got him to 1 under for the tournament, seven strokes behind Barnes.
Hes playing great. Its obvious hes having a great week. Hes hanging on there, Watson said of Barnes. You never know. Its out there. You could shoot under par. Its just youve got to putt good and hopefully you dont get any mud balls.
The other players to break par in the third round were Hunter Mahan, Retief Goosen, Johan Edfors and Tiger Woods, who had 68s, and Ross Fisher, Phil Mickelson and Graeme McDowell, who had 69s.
BIG DIFFERENCE: The Sunday of last years U.S. Open ended with Rocco Mediate thrust into a warm national spotlight as he finished 72 holes tied with Tiger Woods. Even though Woods prevailed in a 19-hole playoff the next day, Mediate became a favorite of those rooting for golfs everyman.
This years Open was quite different for Mediate, who will again be playing on Monday, but this time simply to conclude the rain-delayed tournament.
After opening with a 2-under 68, Mediate made the 60-man cut by three strokes with a 141 total. But he shot a 79 in the third round and his 220 total left him tied for 58th with one round to play.
TEN-STROKE SWING: Nick Taylor went from tying an Open record for an amateur in the second round to having the worst score of the three nonprofessionals who made the cut in the third.
Taylor, a native of Canada who was first-team All-America at the University of Washington last season, shot a 5-under 65 in the second round, matching the lowest round ever by an amateur in the U.S. Open.
On Sunday, he finished a 5-over 75 that was one stroke behind Drew Weaver and Kyle Stanley, the only other amateurs to make the cut. Taylor entered the final round with a 213 total, two strokes better than Weaver and five ahead of Stanley.
DEUCES WILD: Look out for Phil Mickelson on the par 3s in the final round.
In the first round, Mickelson had one 2 on his card, at No. 17. In the second round he upped up that to two birdies, on Nos. 8 and 17. In the third round he went one better, making birdies on Nos. 3, 8 and 14. He had a run of four straight birdies on the par 3s starting with No. 17 in the second round and he just missed adding to that, leaving a 15-foot attempt on the edge on the 17th.
CROWD FAN: The galleries on hand for the two times the U.S. Open has been played at Bethpage Black have taken their share of criticism for treading on the line between funny and foul.
The crowds are definitely different in New York, but I think its good and gets you going as a player, Northern Ireland native Graeme McDowell said Sunday. I certainly enjoy a wee bit of energy and shouting, and the players like to get involved in that. I dont like it if it gets abusive, obviously, and I know certain players in the past have had a hard time from the New York crowds. But sometimes it has to get close to the line to make it fun. Im lucky to have been on the right side of that so far.
OPEN FALLOUT: The rain delays have had quite a ripple effect.
Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade were to host the CVS Charity Classic, which has raised more than $12 million for New England charities, but found themselves searching for replacements.
The two-day event starts Monday, with Camilo Villegas and Bubba Watson as the defending champions. Both made the cut at the Open and will be at Bethpage Black until they finish.
Others who signed up for the charity event and made the Open cut were Todd Hamilton, Retief Goosen and Anthony Kim.
The five players will be replaced by PGA Tour professionals Brad Adamonis, Matt Kuchar and David Toms and LPGA professionals Laura Diaz and Brittany Lincicome.
Unfortunately, the rain delays at the U.S. Open have forced us to make a difficult decision, Andrade and Faxon said in a statement. We wish these five players the best of luck at the U.S. Open and hope that their schedules permit them to play in a future CVS Caremark Charity Classic.
The Telus World Skins in Quebec City scrambled to put together a five-man exhibition match Monday, adding Padraig Harrington, Michael Campbell and Chris DiMarco after they missed the cut at Bethpage. Fred Couples and Quebec-based pro Remi Bouchard also will play.
The skins competition, originally set for nine holes both Monday and Tuesday, is now scheduled for 18 holes on Tuesday, with Mike Weir, Sergio Garcia, Geoff Ogilvy and Ian Poulter joining Couples.
STOCK TIP: Stewart Cink had a Twitter message for fathers and stock players on Sunday morning once play was delayed long enough to require a Monday finish.
Dads Day gift to all: I was supposed to ring opening bell on Wall St in the morn but now Ill be finishing up USOpen. Black Monday Averted!
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Greasy Spoons (and Chopsticks): Musashiya
Sinatra can have New York or Chicago. For old Nick, nothing sings of home like the chants of the yaki-imo hawker or the tofu kid of Tokyo and the sweetest part of that tune is the din of Shinbashi. Show me a man who knows a better place to be a man and I'll show you a sucker.
Good, cheap eats are my game and walking out of Tokyo's oldest station and into the stream of high lifes, low lifes, and no lifes that makes up this miasma of opportunity is no less a thrill than having some done up dame cross my threshold asking for help with her hands full of Suntory and Seven Stars.
Of all the greasy chopsticks to be tried in Tokyo, one above all takes the prize from bigger, better-known, and quirkier joints in their thousands:
The name alone oughtta do it for you. What Musashiya, with its lack of walls, seatbacks, tables, space, or any other fripperies ain't got in ambience, it's got in heaps higher than Fuji in bang for a greenback. (Or a yen, you get the point.)
Back when I was wetter behind the ears than the Michelin Guy after a run-in with the kendo club in a mood for doling out swirlies, I'd no sooner have eaten lunch at another place in the area than I would have unwound with a virgin cocktail or an herbal cigarette.
Here's what you do: Stand in the middle of the square outside the station, facing the old steam engine (where you used to be able to have a puff and get stiff before some stiff stiffed the neighborhood of that bit of fun, but that's how it goes these days. . .)
Look left. That's the New Shinbashi Building. You wouldn't know it to look at it, but the name was probably true once. Walk in through the main doors and go straight down the center. When you're near the end, Musashiya will be on your right.
Don't look for an entrance or an order, just push aside the noren surrounding the counter and grab an empty stool. Park your rear with caution, though – some of the stools are about as stable as a tourist dame after a night out in Roppongi.
The guys behind the counter will greet you as you should be greeted. In other words, they'll let you know they know you're there, maybe they'll even smile at you, but don't expect bowing or scraping. If you have time for that hooey, you're better off with the swells over in Ginza.
You'll get some barley tea. The old guy serving you will call it mizu. You'll be more amused than confused. Other than that famous tea dispenser, there are two burners, two woks, and a hypothetical fridge (the cold beer comes from somewhere.) That's it. That's the place. No one walking by will see your head or shoulders, but they'll see everything else and you'd better be in good with your fellow man because he'll be closer to you than your dame has been in years. Heck, I've probably got more common law husbands than the chubby roundheel who lives above me and never comes home sober or alone.
As I said, though, we're not here for the atmosphere.
Now me? I go for the Peking Yaki-soba at 450 yen and maybe a can of Asahi for 300. The menu of donburi, yaki-soba, fried rice, ramen, and other staples of the greasy chopstick hovers in this column's sweet spot: enough under 1000 yen that you don't have to quit smoking just yet.
Musashiya is on the 1st floor of the New Shinbashi Building, next to Shinbashi SL square, in the main hallway.
Smoking: No.
Food: Wide variety of Chinese and Japanized Chinese dishes and rice bowls (donburi), ramen.
Drinks: Canned beer and happoshu.


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Marcellus, NY --A prestigious commission that accredits schools has named Marcellus Central School District Superintendent Craig J. Tice as its chair-elect.
The Middle States Association Commission on Secondary Schools chose Tice as chair-elect on Oct. 3. His term runs through 2015. He will then become commission chair in 2015 and past-chair from 2017-2019.
Tice also will serve concurrently on the commission's board of trustees.
The Middle States Association is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, that provides leadership to its members in school improvement through accrediting commissions for colleges, secondary and elementary schools. Tice will lead the commission that accredits secondary schools.
Marcellus received Middle States accreditation for its kindergarten through 12th grade programs in 2007. Tice was appointed to the association in 2009.
Th Middle States Association began 1887 as college presidents sought a way to standardize the qualifications required for admission to college; determine the desired characteristics for college preparatory schools; recommend courses of study for both colleges and schools; foster school and college relationships to each other and to the government; and study and recommend best practices or organization and governance.


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Why I Will Never, Ever, EVER Get a Tattoo
Would I have to start planning outfits around the tattoo like I plan for weather?
As a kid, I dreamt of being a musical theatre star. My parents had taken me to see productions of "Cats," "Pippin," and "Cabaret," to name a few, and that was IT. In my bedroom, I played cassette tapes of the cast albums and sang along with the actors, learning every word, and imitating every inflection.
While other girls were singing The Go-Gos into their hairbrushes, I was doing jazz hands. I practiced my "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" while dancing atop my yellow floral bedspread, occasionally jumping off for dramatic effect, as in Javert's suicide scene from "Les Mis," thank you very much.
I did all the musicals in high school, including "Hello Dolly" -- I idolized Barbara Streisand, and watched her in the movie version for inspiration. Then I headed confidently in the direction of my dreams when I went off to college with a theatre scholarship and a double major in music.
My freshman year I beat out seniors to win the role of "Bianca" in "Kiss Me, Kate" –- it was a fabulous experience, and I felt like I had arrived. But, for logistical reasons (i.e., the music theory class was scheduled in direct conflict with the acting class) I left the music program and only continued to do straight theatre. "Kiss Me, Kate" was not only the last musical I did at school; it was the last musical I would do at all.
Although I wasn't performing anymore, I went to see Broadway and touring shows, but every time, there was a little tinge of sadness. Regret. Disappointment. "The Sound of Music" made me wistful. "The Drowsy Chaperone" depressed me. Even Carol Channing bummed me out. Agony was replacing my enjoyment of the art itself. Sorrowfully, I accepted that my sister, a trained, legit opera singer, was going to be the singer in the family.
I was on Facebook when I noticed that a friend of a friend was casting a production of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Gondoliers," a witty, slapstick romp of an operetta. The production was for a cute, historic little 99-seat theatre in Sierra Madre, California. Hmmm. A small songbird started humming in my heart. My inner Barbara Streisand bombarded me with demands.
"You must do this show," Babs whispered in my ear.
"I haven't sung in a show in 19 years," I said.
"Darling, you'll figure it ooouut," she belted.
I dusted off my musical theatre songbook and chose "Goodnight, My Someone," from "The Music Man," only because I knew it by heart after years of childhood video viewings. I put on a navy dress and headed for the audition. I wore flats instead of heels because I knew my legs would shake. I sang, then the director had me vocalize, going up and down the scales. I knew was out of shape –- I hadn't had a voice lesson in eons. I pulled it out, and surprised myself.
I told myself it was a win just to have done the audition. But, a few days later, a phone call came through: I'd been offered to understudy the role of the Duchess, and also to do chorus. As an understudy, I was guaranteed at least two actual performances.
Oh, no! I had hoped for only a very small role or chorus. I certainly didn't want my own solo number! I was terrified. I called my family and friends -- all hoping they'd tell me it was too much and to decline the role.
But, when my sister told me, "Of course you're going to do it: it will all come back to you, and it will be epic," I believed her.
Getting out of my head was the only way I was going to see this thing through. I realized, as the performance date approached, that during my long hiatus I had developed severe stage anxiety. A few nerves are normal, but my heart pounded and I got lightheaded and nauseous to the point that I felt, as Javert would put it, "There is no way to go oooon!"
With only a few weeks left until the show opened, I knew I had to get it together. I wanted to perform, yet I was filled with angst and paralyzing fear at the thought of performing again. Would I remember the lyrics? Freeze onstage? Be unable to hit the high note at the end of my solo number? I was psyching myself out and I knew it.
A friend of mine, a nurse and hypnotherapist, offered to give me a couple of free sessions. Yes, please! We did guided visualizations along with some energy work. Despite my fears, I performed without one missed line or lyric. There were kudos from some very talented colleagues (straight shooters, all). I made incredible, enriching friendships. It was a success.
It was a small theatre in a quaint town, but to me it was a return the person I once was -– filled with hope, possibility, and joy. When you pare it down, you realize it's the pure doing of the thing that brings happiness.
What dream did you let go of? Though you may have reprioritized your life, is there some way you can reclaim an element of that dream? While it's unlikely you will leave your job to tour with your Grammy-winning rock band, can you perform a few songs at a coffee shop with your guitar? Find a concrete way to allow your love of whatever it is to emerge and go for it! As Sally Bowles would say, "What good is sitting alone in your room/come let the music play/life is a cabaret, old chum/Come to the cabaret."


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Do you ever look at a piece of furniture and just think….meh? Years ago, we bought an entertainment center that fit our decor and our style, but as time goes by and styles change, my beautiful piece was not-so-pretty anymore.
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Build Guide by Grenade68
Not Updated For Current Season
This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page.
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Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Udyr Build
Ability Sequence
Not Updated For Current Season
The masteries shown here are not yet updated for the current season, the guide author needs to set up the new masteries. As such, they will be different than the masteries you see in-game.
This build uses tactics and the utilization of Udyr's stances to dominate though assisting and late game kills. (don't get me wrong lots of squishies = more kills)
The tactic i use is getting a solo carry with me and at level 6 start jungling with Golem and get the two buffs. After that kill dragon making sure to knock off the weak jungle monsters in between. This tactic will girl your carry a few quick levels in mid game and allow them to dominate while giving yourself a lot of money and buffs to gank and dominate with.
The basic concept is to spam turtle the whole game, and once you get the innervating locket its time to start spamming phoenix stance along with turtle, because if u drop turtle your shield will stay up even if u start the next stance and by level 18 the shield will make u virtually invulnerable. Also getting one point in bear stance gives you a good stun, but what i really use it for is getting around the map with it's speed boost.
When in battle spam turtle and take the front lines, activate turtle then phoenix then your bear stance to stun and then spam them all over again.
Early game:
Try to lane with a ranged, and try to time your turtle shield when your enemy uses an ability on you so it does no damage and wastes their mana. This is effective early game but you probably wont get many kills. Once u get phoenix use that to farm minions and start the build.
Mid:once the team battles start make sure you are in the front spamming turtle and stunning as much as possible and let your dps's kill everyone, try to get leviathan as quickly as possible so you start stacking hp.
Late: This is where it gets really fun, once u get Sheen you just start wrecking, your gonna have so much hp and your turtle will be blocking 300+ damage you can almost go anywhere and fight anyone without much of a problem.
Please comment or criticize its my first build.


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(Reuters) - Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans reiterated his view that inflation that is persistently below the Fed's 2-percent goal is a "serious policy outcome miss" and renewed his support for very gradual interest-rate hikes.
In the outline of a speech prepared for delivery to the Rocky Mountain Economic Summit that weather prevented him from attending, Evans repeated much of his recent comments acknowledging the strength of the real economy and supporting a reduction in the Fed's $4.5 trillion balance sheet. But he also warned that the Fed must show its commitment to hitting its inflation target "sooner rather than later."
"It remains to be seen whether there will be two rate hikes this year or three or even four - and exactly when we will start paring back reinvestments of maturing assets," Evans said in the remarks, published Friday. "Regardless, the important feature is that the current environment supports very gradual rate hikes and slow predetermined reductions in our balance sheet."
(Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)


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After dispatching of Arsenal in midweek the Reds must now turn their attention to finishing above rivals Everton, who are currently fifth, starting with the visit of Blackburn on Sunday.
"We have two targets, to finish in the top four and to win the Champions League," Torres said. "We are getting to the final a step at a time, but we also must keep going in the league, too, to make sure we qualify for next season."
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2008, All Rights Reserved.
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The "Question of God" has undoubtedly occupied the minds of individuals and societies since the dawn of humankind. Throughout recorded history, philosophers, writers, religious figures, scientists, and political leaders have weighed in on the issue, but as yet, a universal consensus remains as elusive as ever.
There are numerous reasons for this difficulty. One is historical. Simply put, the history of God in human existence has been inextricably connected not only with organized religion, but with politics, war, conquest, colonization, arts, science, and culture. It is impossible to view human history as being separable from the conception of God espoused by people and societies at the time. As such, God has been invoked to justify or explain any number of events--considered both good and bad in retrospect. Indeed, armies, each claiming to "have God on their side", have gone to war against each other--clearly both could not be right. Surely, the sheer number of historical figures claiming to do reprehensible things in the name of "God" has clouded the picture.
There is perhaps a more fundamental difficulty in addressing the "God Question" --defining God in the first place. It is impossible to investigate the existence of God without first answering the question "Who, or what is God?". Christianity, Judaism, and Islam present "God" as an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent father figure (and of course, Creator of the Universe) who rewards those who do "good" and punishes those who do "evil". Despite these similarities, differences in practice between these religions and their various subdivisions have caused real and perceived schisms in the way God is understood. Hinduism and Buddhism do not emphasize a monotheistic "God" so to speak, but stress individual actions, eternal cycles, and personal spiritual enlightenment. Although the system of beliefs within these diverse religions and their branches make generalization difficult, some ultimately see the spirituality inherent in these faiths as tantamount to "God". Animism, probably the world's oldest faith, focuses on the spiritual qualities in nature, and the connection of humans to this spiritual realm, although again, it may or may not imply a single "God". In the modern world, where freedom of religion is somewhat prevalent, definitions of "God" are expressed in widely differing terms. To many, God is simply the force of good in the world. Others view "God" as a universal energy, an abstract force of connectivity within the Universe, or even as the Universe itself. Even science is largely based on the faith that the Universe operates according to natural "laws", which scientists can never observe throughout the totality of space and time (although quantum theory provides challenges to the assumption of universal "laws"). If "God" can be defined in such broad terms, then God's "existence" in one form or another is virtually assured.
The final difficulty in investigating God is the issue of proof. To many of the faithful, everything is proof of God's existence. From the sublime beauty of the sunset, to a mundane example courtesy of Mel Gibson --"God made my bed this morning"--existence itself is the proof of God to many people who already believe. Numerous theologians, including Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas have attempted more rigorous proofs--however, these efforts are based on numerous assumptions that severely limit their universal acceptance among modern philosophers. Mainstream science, which is arguably the most widely-accepted "currency of truth" in the modern world, has nothing definitive to say on the matter. While science does seem to indicate that the Universe as we observe it doesn't need a God, it does not say that there isn't a God. Since God, by definition, is a supernatural entity (and is defined as unknowable by many faiths), it is unlikely that science, which deals with the natural, will ever answer the "God Question".
Whether God exists or not is perhaps an unanswerable question. However, in some ways the answer is surprisingly unimportant. It is undeniable that the present day world, with all of its good and bad, would be a very different place without the influence of "God" on people throughout the ages. The concept of "God" will undoubtedly continue to play an enormous role in the lives of individuals and society for the foreseeable future. In some senses, then, whether God exists is not as important as the undeniable fact that the idea of God certainly does.


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The a4uAwards were held in London last night and it was great to see some excellent case studies in multichannel marketing among the winners. As usual, Econsultancy was represented on the judging panel. Among those picking up gongs at the annual UK performance marketing industry 'Oscars' was Debenhams for its in-store voucher redemption campaign.
An important aspect of the Debenhams campaign was the promotion of retail vouchers through the Vouchercloud mobile app, with staff at stores able to scan the barcode on customers' phones. This innovation helped the retailer win the 'best use of affiliate marketing as part of a multichannel campaign' category.
Vouchercloud itself won the 'best use of mobile' category for the impact its technology is having on the affiliate marketing sector.
On the theme of innovative marketing, digital agency Arena Quantum took the 'best use of social media' gong for masterminding the Domino's Pizza Facebook campaign which turned the company's customers into its own Affiliate workforce.
Other well known brands picking up awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel event included Expedia, TUI, Best Buy, BT, RAC and BSkyB. A less well known winner was price and flight comparison toolbar InvisibleHand, which won both the 'publisher innovation' and 'best third party application' categories.
Developed by Forward Internet Group, InvisibleHand operates with more than 2,000 advertisers across the UK, Germany and USA, and claims to have saved consumers £34 Million last year in the UK alone.
Other award winners last night included 7thingsmedia (for 'best agency') and paid search agency Net Media Planet (for 'best search partnership' with 02), whose pioneering use of video pay-per-click also won the agency an Econsultancy Innovation Award earlier this year.
Affiliate Window won the 'affiliate network innovation' award for its Darwin Marketplace and also the 'publishers' choice of network' award (voted for by members of the a4u community) for the fourth successive year.
What is particularly evident from this year's awards is the strategic and integrated nature of many companies' affiliate marketing campaigns, including use of offline channels. BSkyB, as another example, has introduced a telephone tracking system to reward affiliates for sales that have occurred offline.
Halfords is another company adopting an integrated approach to its affiliate marketing, by making its TV adverts available to affiliates via its affiliate network.
Those interested in joined-up marketing should be aware of our annual JUMP conference, taking place in London in October. The event is dedicated to senior marketers looking to join up online and offline data, technologies, campaigns, agencies and creative.
The full list of a4uAwards winners and 'highly commended' companies is available on the a4u website here.


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Looking to jump into the Twitter world? .
The Teach Thought Staff does a great job highlighting 5 Authentic Roles For Twitter in Your School. They also provide tips and tricks , people to follow, and ways to connect with other people.
I previously published some commentary on an article published by Peter DeWitt called Educators Need Twitter in their Lives. There I shared some popular hashtags that I actively follow and participate in. On top of participating in these chats, I would encourage a new use to follow as many people as possible. The amount of information available is amazing!
Another avenue to network with others are Twitter lists. Here is a great resource from Post Planner to aide you in exploring lists.
In the end, Twitter is a fantastic resource that will provide you an opportunity to network, learn from others, and extend your learning platform!


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The blog belonging to Laura Benedict, relentlessly cheerful and occasionally serious writer of disturbing, suspenseful fiction for grown-ups. This URL is an archive. I blog regularly at my website, laurabenedict.com. Follow me there!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Our house on the farm was a hundred years old and had never had locks on the doors (though there were locks on the windows, oddly enough). Of course, I had a locksmith in within a week of our arrival. Those first few months saw P often wandering the house at night in his, um, pajamas, carrying his grandmother's old Harrington and Richardson revolver because I kept hearing noises. He thought it was pretty funny. I didn't at the time, but now I understand that it was a whole list of fears that kept me awake, worried and listening for every little sound, that had me anticipating home invasions every night. We were in the country and I knew what had happened at the Clutter house. But I was also in unfamiliar territory. People do funny things when they're out of their element.
It took me a long, long time to adjust, even though only a handful of violent crimes that took place during the six years we lived there. The most spectacular attack involved an erstwhile beauty queen from Virginia, and a hiker or two had suspicious falls from mountainsides. I would say now that it was a very safe place to live. But I never dropped my paranoia completely.
One afternoon, I took Pomegranate to the mall to buy some shoes (yes! a mall! it had six or seven stores and was attached to the KMart. not a KMart--THE KMart). I won't post her picture, but I will tell you that she was a winsome little thing, all of three years old, with a head full of blond curls and enormous blue eyes and eyelashes as long as her Daddy's (I'm eyelash challenged). On entering the mall, an old man approached us. He wore a farmer's work jacket and brown pants and he was carrying his hat. I greeted him and tried to move Pomegranate on, but he obviously wanted to talk to us.
He smiled and bent down to Pomegranate, but addressed me. "Would the little girl like a shiny dollar?" he said. He held a silver dollar not far from Pom's face.
I was flummoxed. I didn't know what to think. I was raised to be polite to strangers. At that moment my fear overcame my politeness. Mostly. If I said yes, or let her take the dollar, she might think it was okay to take things from strangers. That would be bad! And what kind of person approached little girls and their mothers at the mall waving money at them?
You can see what's coming, of course. He looked puzzled and disappointed when I said--as politely as I knew how--that I was sure she would like it, but that I couldn't let her have it. Even as I said it I felt like a bitch. I was glad not to see him again when we left the mall.
When I told P about it, he didn't criticize me, but gently made it clear that older people in the area were often friendly like that, that the man sincerely meant to give her a treat. It was a kind of compliment. He simply thought that she was a sweet little girl.
I've always looked back on that episode with regret. Of course caution is never really a bad thing--but I could have been more confident, more generous.
I was reminded of that memory today when I saw this story on the Fox News website: It seems a man in Harlan County, KY (near where my daddy's people are from) approached a woman with two girls at a grocery store.
"The ordeal began last week when [Otis "Bullman"] Hensley's wife sent him to a local grocery store to buy ground beef. While there, Hensley encountered a woman with her two nieces, ages 11 and 13. "I offered to trade her a fattening hog for those girls," Hensley said. "I meant it as a joke. I've said it a million times. Most people get a kick out of it."
The woman didn't laugh. Instead, the family obtained a warrant for Hensley's arrest from the local prosecutor, claiming the comment was intended to entice the children into illegal sexual activity.
On Tuesday, the girls' father accepted an apology from Hensley and shook hands with him in a Harlan County courtroom. The man declined to discuss the case with reporters afterward."
Now I don't think that even I'm paranoid enough to think someone would actually try to make some kind of creepy deal at a grocery store using the offer of livestock as bait. But I understand what was going through that woman's mind because it might have occurred to me, too, once upon a time. Still, it made me sad. I hate that we live in a world where so many of our initial thoughts on meeting people are suspicious.
And I find it more than a little ironic that I make my living telling stories that are full of characters who are rarely on their best behavior.
1 comment:
- Michelle's Spell said...
Hey lovely Laura,
This is a great set of scenes! I know what you mean about being nervous about sounds, strangers, etc. I can see P and Pom in both scenes! And I have seen the Clutter house years ago (an old boyfriend thought this would be a good Valentine's treat -- driving to Kansas and ignoring the no trespassing signs on the land, ah, young love -- he was 44, but still). I too wish we lived in a world where I'm not constantly thinking thoughts like, Yeah, but Ted Bundy had a girlfriend who had no idea what he was doing and so on.
- August 27, 2008 at 10:41 AM


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ePub The Soul Bird ePub
Book overview
Deep down, inside our bodies, lives the soul. No one has ever seen it, but we all know it's there.There is a "soul bird" who lives inside us all. This special bird opens and closes the drawers of our soul, in which we keep all our feelings. There are drawers for our innermost secrets, but also places where we hide away our happiness, anger, joy, jealousy and sorrows. The soul bird has the keys to these drawers, and can open them when we ask. But sometimes the soul bird seems to disobey our wishes, and tolerance turns to fear, or calm turns to anger. Perhaps we don't listen to our soul bird often enough. Indeed, some of us only hear it once in a lifetime. We should try, maybe late at night, or at another time of peace and quiet, to hear the voice of the soul bird, and listen to what it is telling us.Michal Snunit's The Soul Bird has been translated into 25 languages and has been a bestseller around the world for ten years since its first publication. This celebration edition introduces new colour to enhance the beautiful simplicity of Na'ama Golomb's original illustrations.This gentle and poetic book has become a firm favourite with both children and adults. Showing how the consolation and encouragement we need can be found in small, everyday places, it is a lovely resource for those moments when we feel in need of spiritual refreshment. Its deceptive simplicity conceals a deeper philosophical message for us all.


text:
Please excuse the lack of updates recently. Last month my camera containing some classic blog material got lost somewhere between Las Vegas and New York City. I'm back up and running with a new (temporary) camera, so our daily updates are now back in effect. Meanwhile, here's a one month recap using iPhone pics.
First stop. Vegas for the Magic Tradeshow.
This was our first tradeshow ever showing a full women's collection in it's own dedicated booth. Very excited to say that Reason Womens will be launching into stores around the world next season.
This is our men's booth.
Jon and Beau getting ready for our final day at the show.
Blurry photo of me in William Yan's blogger project
Amelia and Erin from ShopJeen
Next stop, Brimfield, Mass. for our final antique / vintage / inspiration buying trip of the year. Again, really bummed I lost all my photos from this day, but here's a few iPhone shots I managed to grab.
Jon doing bawse shit.
This was one of our most exciting Brimfield trips of the past few years because we were also buying to outfit our brand new Reason Headquarters..
AND HERE IT IS. We are just starting to unpack and get settled, but here's a little peek into our new home.
New showroom-
Phil Wong our art director at his new work station.
Really loving these new Gunmetal Patch caps we just released-
This is Brian, the newest member of our team.
View from our roof-
New photo studio-


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Archive for May, 2000
Save those in the System (Reply to Comments on Religion)
In "Comments on Religion", Danie Rossouw makes several good points on the
state of the church, however, I question the statement "In the same way
Jesus is not restoring or reforming the current religious system called
"christianity" He is doing something new."
While Isaiah 43:19 says "I am doing a new thing", Peter, under the spirit
of prophecy, said in Acts 3:21 "[Jesus] . must remain in heaven until the
time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through
his holy prophets." Certainly the "current religious system" is flawed,
perhaps even fatally so, and the debate over whether God will restore it
or demolish it would be an endless discussion.
As for being 'cut off from the head' and therefore dead, there can be NO
doubt that our Lord is more than able to RESURRECT a dead body. Jesus, who
is the "resurrection and the life" (John 11:25) is "not willing that any
should perish" (2 Peter 3:9). Accordingly, Jesus will not give up on those
who are in the "current religious system". Personally, I believe the Lord
will pour out His Holy Spirit to bring about conviction, confession and
repentance (John 16:7-11), which will precede restoration (Acts 3:21).
The subject of the "current religious system" is near and dear to my
heart, because that is where the Lord has called me to minister, in an
Ezekiel 2 capacity. To that end, I would like to share my experience, and
reaction to those who condemn the "current religious system". Having read
and re-read "Comments on Religion", it is clear Danie has a heart for
those still in the "current religious system". My comments below are for
those who seem to have forgotten that there are souls caught up in the
"current religious system" who need to be saved.
I was born into a mainline denomination church, baptized, raised, taught,
born again, and ultimately baptized in the Holy Spirit, receiving the
gifts of tongues and prophecy – all in a mainline denomination church.
Regarding the Holy Spirit, and spiritual gifts, these were never taught
in the churches I attended. I witnessed them when I was invited to sing
at a charismatic church in my early 20's. For nearly 25 years I prayed
for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and for the gift of tongues, and a
little over a year ago, I finally received what I had prayed for, and the
gift of prophecy (Thank you Lord).
When I witnessed about my experience, my church friends reacted with
skepticism, fear, and some even distanced them selves from me. Naturally I
was disappointed and my feelings were hurt, and my initial reaction was to
leave the church and find another where the Holy Spirit and spiritual
gifts were common, where I would be comfortable and accepted, and where I
could fellowship with people of like faith and gifting.
But God said "stay where you are".
To stay where I am, I have had to crucify my feelings for the church God
has called me to. Surely it would be easy to step back and condemn the
church and the denomination for resisting the Holy Spirit, for refusing to
let the gifts of the Holy Spirit operate in the church, for potlucks,
social gatherings, programs, auctions and raffles, and the like. But the
church is made up of people who are loved by God, and for whom Christ
died. Believe me I'd rather attend a prophetic spirit-filled church, but
my comfort is NOT a factor. The fact is I am called to take up my cross,
follow Jesus, and to give up my life for Him (Matthew 16:24-25). And for
now the Lord has called me to give up my life for a church that is part of
the "current religious system".
Has God given up on churches that are part of the "current religious
system"? Consider this: there is no evidence of the 9 spiritual gifts in
1st Corinthians 12:8-10 in the church I'm called to serve. It is
traditional with a capital "T" and dead with a capital "D". Yet about 9
months ago, the Lord directed me and my wife, and 2 elderly women who are
also spirit-baptized and prophetic to this church to accomplish His
purpose. He has led me to this understanding: before God directed the 4 of
us to this church, the pastor could not be accused of resisting the Holy
Spirit, or forbidding the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, because
they were NOT present in the church. The pastor is now confronted with 4
spirit-baptized Christians and yet he continues to resist the Holy Spirit
and has made no provision for using the gifts God has given us to serve
the body (1st Corinthians 14:39). Through us, God has tested the pastor,
and God now has cause to discipline him, and bring conviction upon the
church, leading to repentance and renewal of the church. Calling us here
is not something God would do if He had given up on this church, and as it
says in Amos 3:7, God has sent his prophets to this church to announce
what He is about to do.
It is true that the "current religious system" has failed to carry out the
great commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Yet for those of us who are "called
out" to walk in lock-step with Jesus, how can we carry out the "great
commission" if we ignore or totally write off those who are in the
"current religious system"? Everyone, including those in the "current
religious system" need to hear the WHOLE and UNDILUTED gospel of Jesus
Just as there are some who are "called out" (like Jonah was called to
Nineveh) to preach repentance to the gentiles, there are those of us who
are "called in" (like Ezekiel was called to Israel) to preach repentance
to the church which is part of the "current religious system".
Writing off the "current religious system" is really no different than the
uncaring reaction of Jonah when Nineveh repented and God relented from His
fierce anger toward Nineveh. God responded to Jonah's anger and
disappointment saying "Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand
people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle
as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" (Jonah 4:11).
How much more then would God be concerned about the hundreds of millions
who are in the "current religious system"?
If we spent as much time interceding for the people in the "current
religious system" and the system itself as we spend criticizing and
condemning it, surely the Lord would hear from Heaven and move to restore
the church.
It is my prayer that we will not repeat Jonah's sin.
Comments on Religion
Comments on religion
By Robert I Holmes
"Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he
brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the
church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called
Christians first at Antioch" (Acts 11:25,26).
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Now Antioch, as you
can imagine, was not the first church. Nor was it the last. Several
existed before it including those in Rome and Jerusalem – and several in
Asia Minor. According to the Scripture none of those believers were
referred to as Christians.
According to Christian History Magazine, "For more than 150 years after
the Resurrection, those who followed Christ had no official church
buildings. During this time, evangelism was conducted mainly in homes, in
the context of worship and Christian education…" (Issue 57). In fact it
was nearly eighty years before they even wore the tag 'Christian'! Prior
to that they were loosely known as "Followers of the Way" and "The
Disciples of Jesus".
Don Robinson points out that, "Although you and I use the word as a
synonym for a believer, the word "Christian," is not NECESSARILY a
designation for every saved person. No one was CALLED a CHRISTIAN before
the church in Antioch was formed… In the strictest sense of the word,
John the Baptist was not a Christian and neither was Christ! The disciples
of the Lord before the crucifixion were not Christians either."
The diversity of Christianity
That institution calling herself 'the church' today, that group calling
themselves 'Christians' have among their number a vast array of
embarrassing cousins. I am not sure if they are heretics, sects, cults or
just break away churches. I was recently visiting a research facility for
Christianity and religion in the world, and found following churches…
"The Ice Cream Church": (4,000 members in 27 countries and growing by 10
people a day); "The Partying Church of Jesus": (9,000 members in 14
countries) and who could forget "The Church of United Pentecostal
Homosexuals and Lesbians." Dear God!
There were others with names like the "African Union First Colored
Methodist Protestant Church"; the sickening "All American White
Supremacist Church" and almost comical "Apostolic Overcoming Holy Ghost
Church of God". Could Christ even imagine the day the "Euro-Asiatic
Federation of the Union of the Evangelical Christian Baptists" was
To your average, uneducated pilgrim such names as the "Belarusian
Autocephalous Orthodox Church" leave you wondering what they are – and
yes, underneath that skin they have an orthodox Christian faith! The
select group of disciples calling themselves the "Christian Community and
Brotherhood of Reformed Doukhobors" follow Christ also. But one can
barely find enough breath to pronounce the "Church of the Living God:
House of God, Which Is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground
of the Truth" church (and that's not a made up name either)!
There has been coined a somewhat tongue in cheek name for religion that
presents itself in the name of Christ – and that is 'churchianity'. Folks
these may seem humorous, and somewhat quirky groups but it's the face of
'Churchianity' and it stinketh. As Ronald G Fanter has pointed out, "In
the beginning, the church might be described as simply a new sect of
Judaism. They were, after all Jews. They observed the Jewish feasts. The
apostles taught from the Old Testament how the scriptures spoke of Christ
and confirmed that he had been the long awaited messiah of Judaism. There
was no organized corporation owning large amounts of real estate, and no
such establishment of a priesthood or an organized ecclesiastical system –
in short, no 'church'."
Folks I am really pointing these things out because they caught my
attention and made me really sit back and think "Who am I? And what do I
believe? Is it really the present face of Christianity being presented to
the world. And if that face is Christ's ambassador – are we presenting
Christ or a form of religion?"
I am driving at the difference here between being one who has a
relationship with the Living God through His Son Christ Jesus – one who is
a disciple and one who is merely an adherent to a moral code of conduct.
Between one whose aim is to become like the Christ he loves, and one how
merely calls himself 'Christian'. One who is a member of Christ's Body –
the church his bride and one who goes to 'church' the institution of
Think about it


text:
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It's Sunday, and the NFL is back in action. When I think of sports and Human Resources, only one man comes to mind: Kris Dunn.
Let me tell you a little something about Kris. When I first started blogging, Kris sent me a positive email with very encouraging words. When I was unsure about where to take my career, Kris encouraged me to write. When I was ambivalent & wondering about the future of this blog, Kris told me to buy the domain PUNKROCKHR — or he would buy it and I would ultimately have to buy it from him via a domain broker (& at a much higher price).
You know what? You can't get that kind of support from most people, and Kris gave it to me. We don't agree on much, and he doesn't link back to my blog because he's afraid his readership would object to my brand of sauciness, but Kris has given me mad props & support at multiple points during my blogging career.
The internet is so great, dudes. Kris and I don't have much in common when it comes to politics, but we share a passion for improving the field of Human Resources. We also enjoy retro 80s references, making fun of Bucky Covington, and Green Day. If that's not a basis for a great relationship in the field of HR, I don't know what is.
Kris, here's a sunday shout-out to you: stay offline and enjoy Week #1 of the NFL!


text:
The shuttle Discovery, the most journeyed spacecraft of the now-retired American fleet, on Tuesday made its final flight from Florida toward the Washington area museum, where it will go on display.
Piggybacking atop a modified Boeing 747 kept by NASA specifically for transporting space shuttles, Discovery lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, early in the day.
A flyover of the US capital was planned for mid-morning (10-11 am, 1400-1500 GMT), before the shuttle lands at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center outside the US capital in suburban Virginia.
A ceremony to mark the official induction of the Discovery at the museum will be held on Thursday.
Discovery flew its last mission to space in February and March of last year on a 13-day trip to the International Space Station.
It is the oldest and most traveled craft in the US collection of three space-flying shuttles — also including Endeavour and Atlantis — and one prototype, the Enterprise.
Two other shuttles were destroyed in flight. Challenger disintegrated shortly after liftoff in 1986 and Columbia broke apart on re-entry to Earth in 2003. Both disasters killed everyone on board.
Discovery has spent a total of 365 days in space, and flown nearly 149 million miles (241 million kilometers) over the course of 39 missions, NASA's mission control said.
Discovery was the first of the three shuttles to retire last year. Endeavour began its final trip to space in April and the 30-year US program ended after Atlantis returned to Earth for the last time in July 2011.
Russia is now the only nation capable of sending astronauts to space aboard its Soyuz capsules.
Private US companies are competing to be the first to fill the gap left by the shuttles' retirement, with SpaceX set to attempt its first unmanned cargo mission to the ISS on April 30.


text:
Mickelson, McIlroy discuss very different 2013s
It's a fleeting commodity that is hard to find and easy to lose.
On Tuesday, two players who have every reason to be confident in their abilities on the golf course gave us a window into just how fragile the psyche can be.
The 2013 season went very differently for Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy and both men, speaking at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship where they will tee it up this week, pinpointed July in Scotland as watershed moments in their year.
They were playing in the same group for the first two rounds at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, Scotland, but they couldn't have been in more different frames of mind as they walked the fairways of the difficult links course.
McIlroy was 24, his career already astonishing with a pair of major victories in the two years prior. But 2013 hadn't been the same, as he struggled with new equipment and legal battles away from the golf course.
Mickelson, already inducted into golf's hall of fame and already with an impressive resume including four major victories behind him, was coming off the high of victory the week before at the Scottish Open as he dedicated himself to figuring out links golf.
The two stars, almost 20 years between them, took to the course together, along with Hideki Matsuyama, for the first round and it was clear whose confidence was lacking.
McIlroy's struggles continued as he opened with an eight-over-par 79, while Mickelson showed no signs of a hangover, starting with a solid 69 as the opening salvo to his groundbreaking British Open win.
This week, McIlroy admitted that was the most difficult time of his somewhat forgettable 2013 campaign, which he managed to pull out of with some great late-season play.
"(My) biggest frustration was probably at The Open Championship," he said. "I had never missed the cut at The Open. Yeah, anything I was trying to do to the golf ball I couldn't do. I was putting it into bunkers. I was doing all sorts of stupid stuff."
The "stupid stuff" led McIlroy to reflect on it and he came to the conclusion that it was not the clubs, nor a sudden loss of talent, but a rare bout of self-doubt that he was fighting that week at Muirfield.
"I was low on confidence and it's usually something I don't struggle with," McIlroy said. "So that's something that was just very strange for me and very out of character, just because I wasn't believing in my own ability."
McIlroy said playing with the eventual champion golfer in the opening rounds didn't help, showing him how his game was off.
"I played with Phil the first two days at The Open and it completely demoralized me," he said. "Yeah, I wasn't in control of my golf ball, and especially at Muirfield when the ground was so firm, you have to be spot on. And if you're even a slight bit off, it made you look silly at times and I was a long way off, and made me look even sillier."
In contrast, Mickelson's season was in the process of becoming great at Muirfield.
Just more than a month past losing out on his coveted U.S. Open title, Mickelson was back in the fray at an Open championship in which he hadn't had much luck. It wasn't the U.S. Open trophy, but the Claret Jug held almost as much importance and would be third leg in his career grand slam bid.
"Last year was a great year for me because of the breakthrough in winning The Open Championship," Mickelson said Tuesday. "That was the highlight of my year certainly, and the tournament that was the most challenging throughout my career to play well in. I've really only had a couple of good chances to win that tournament, and to break through and play my best golf on Sunday, especially that back nine when I needed it, is the best feeling you could ask for."
It was an interesting glimpse into one week that saw the two major champions in contrast, but that's all in the past now. With Mickelson's major and McIlroy's only win in 2013 coming at the beginning of December in Australia, both men are looking forward to 2014, starting this week as they headline in Abu Dhabi.
For Mickelson, the questions have already started about the U.S. Open he desperately wants, and needs to complete his career grand slam. It will be played in June at the famed Pinehurst No. 2, a place he knows well and where he suffered one of his six runner-up heartbreaks, that one to Payne Stewart.
For McIlroy, who was engaged to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki on New Year's Eve, the goal will be to get back on track and try to win a major or two this season.
However, as Mickelson warned Tuesday about the majors and as he knows all too well about the U.S. Open, "want and get are two different things."
On the tee
PGA Tour
Humana Challenge
PGA West, Arnold Palmer Private Course (6,950 yards, par 72); PGA West, Jack Nicklaus Private Course (6,951 yards, par 72); La Quinta Country Club (7,060 yards, par 72), La Quinta, Calif.
-World No. 6 Zach Johnson the top-ranked player in the field. Canadians are Stephen Ames, Brad Fritsch, David Hearn and Mike Weir.
European Tour
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Abu Dhabi Golf Club (7,605 yards, par 72), United Arab Emirates
-Three-time champ Martin Kaymer and big guns Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson headline the field.


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