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ISGlobal's broad Initiatives guide the projects and activities of the Institute. Using a multidisciplinary and innovative approach, our aim is to generate synergies between different areas to ensure a broader and more integrated response to the challenges of global health.
Malaria Elimination
Through this initiative, we hope to contribute to the global effort to eliminate and eventually eradicate this life-threatening disease.
Our aim in this initiative is to contribute to the international effort to prevent, treat and control Chagas disease.
Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health
Working to accelerate progress in women's and children's health and advancing the sustainable development agenda
Antimicrobial Resistance
We contribute to the understanding of the causes and risk factors for antimicrobial resistance, and to the development of new drugs and vaccines
Urban Planning, Environment and Health
We aim to apply rigorous scientific evidence, tools and indicators to promote sustainable and healthy urban development


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Burhan Doğançay - Painter
Burhan Dogançay was born in Istanbul in 1929. His early artistic training was provided by his father, who was also an artist, as well as the well known painter Arif Kaptan. In the early 1950ies, he went to Paris to study art at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière while simultaneously pursuing his studies at the University of Paris in law and economics, which culminated in a doctorate degree. During this period he continued to paint regularly and to show his works in several group exhibitions.
Burhan Dogançay is primarily known for a body of work that grew out of his fascination with urban walls. Spanning a period of over 40 years, this preoccupation was inspired by his travels to over 100 countries and has been consistently translated into his paintings, graphics, Aubusson tapestries, sculptures and photographs. Urban walls have a special meaning for Dogançay: they serve as a testament to the passage of time, reflecting social, political and economic change. They also bear witness to the assault of the elements and to the markings left by people. This, according to Dogançay, is what makes urban walls monuments to the human experience.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and his work has been exhibited worldwide (incl. Georges Pompidou Center, St. Russian Museum, Seibu Museum-Yurakucho Art Forum) and can be found in the collections of the world's most prominent museums (MoMA, Metropolitan Museum, Guggenheim Museum, National Gallery etc.)
In 2004 Dogancay Museum (Turkey's first contemporary art museum) was opened in Istanbul. Located in the heart of Beyoglu, it is exclusively houses his works and that of his father.
Books about Burhan Doğançay and his art can be obtained through amazon.com.He has lived with his wife, Angela, in New York and Istanbul where the Dogançay Museum (inaugurated in 2004) until his death in January 2013.
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subset: commoncrawl


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New Fulham boss Felix Magath is convinced the players have underperformed this season.
Magath took his first training session at the club's Motspur Park training ground on Monday and was pleasantly "surprised" by the qualities his new side possess.
"I know not only the German players, but the international players very well," said the 60-year-old, who has previously worked with Lewis Holtby, Sascha Riether and Ashkan Dejagah.
"I would think that we would have a team that has more potential than what we have shown.
"I am sure that we will do that in the next games, show our fans, who I hope will support us in our most important game next weekend against West Bromwich, that we can do better than our last games."


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WHY NOT INDEEDA spoon clinked on glass. The guests babbled louder, if anything, and Ransom escalated. Glass shattered; heads turned.
'Gentlemen,' he said, tweaking his bow tie as spilt wine pooled at his feet. 'Gentlemen. Allow me to divert your attention for a moment. You see—' he cocked an eyebrow '—I have a proposal to make.'
A hooded soldier at the back of the room stopped punching women for a moment to shout: 'Get to the point, nerd!'
Ransom adjusted his top hat and cleared his throat. 'Yes. Right. Well: as you're all quite aware, of course, I am something of a writer.' He pronounced the word in the way other people might pronounce "royalty" or "helicopter stuntman". 'Just what do I write about, I hear you ask? Why, gentlemen—today the answer to that question is in your hands! Ideas, bold or trifling, lend me yours and I'll write about them all!'
A fire in the shape of a man leapt forward. 'WRITE ABOUT US!' it boomed, its breath searing Ransom's brow. 'ABOUT US!'
'Write about him!' said an enormous floating tab key. 'Give him a cool sword!'
Ransom had enough time for a feeling of awful, yawning regret to well up in his gut before a coyote pounced him yelping to the floor. 'Day of the Triffids,' the animal snarled. 'Gulliver's Travels. Futurama. Game of Throooones . . .' Drool spattered Ransom's face. Wrenching himself free he started shoving his way through the crowd. They pressed in, monstrous limbs snatching at his suit. He felt his top hat slapped off his head.
The intercom blared feedback; their dictator, as always, had been listening. 'BRUCE WILLIS,' the pitch-shifted voice intoned, 'AT A MID-PRICED RESTAURANT.'
'No,' Ransom breathed, backing up against a wall. A toothless face leered out of the plaster. He staggered away with a shout but a skeleton in a trenchcoat knocked him back. 'Football with guns!' the wrinkled face yammered. 'They're slaves! Guns!'
'A man who lies!'
A grey cat latched onto his face. 'Frontier Psychiatrist! Frontier Psychiatrist!' it hissed.
'Tackling with guns!'
'He wants to tell the truth because of promotions but he lies!'
'Gulliver's Traaaaavels . . .'
Ransom began to cry, scrabbling on the floor for his hat. Faces swarmed in, Cheshire-cat grins splitting their twisted lips. 'Please,' he whimpered, tears streaming down his cheeks. 'Please. I'm sorry—'
'YES,' the intercom chuckled. 'WHY DON'T YOU WRITE ABOUT IT.'
so like an idiot i let the original thread expire so here's a recap for posterity (don't y'all worry i noted down your ideas before the thread expired):
HERE'S THE DEAL. i'd like you guys to throw some story premises at me - any subject or genre - and i'll bash them into <1000 word stories and post the finished product. be as silly or as serious as you like. try to keep them short: one sentence per idea if you can manage it.
disclaimer: i can't make any promises about quality, naturally. i'll be working these into my daily writing routine so i'm not going to be doing much polishing. i'll do my best to entertain but ultimately the only goal is to write.
they're all going to be a bunch of fun to write, thanks guys!


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What do you get when you mix one GoPro camera, one bunker and one amazing golf shot? One of the coolest viral videos of the year.
Last Friday, Dave Phillips of the Titleist Performance Institute was playing around with the ultra-durable camera. He placed it in a bunker, took a swing and … well, you'll just have to see for yourself.
But trust us: The final product is well worth watching – and there was no trick photography, either!


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Royal Vegas Casino Review
Sign up and play with $1,200 on the house!
Royal Vegas is a renowned online casino in New Zealand. A member of the Fortune Lounge group of casinos, Royal Vegas, offers players top bonuses, big cash rewards, promotions, and an extensive collection of Microgaming casino games.
Also, Royal Vegas has a safe banking service through which players can deposit and withdraw money at the casino using a variety of safe online banking methods. Further, players in Zealand can deposit and withdraw money in New Zealand dollars.
In fact, Royal Vegas has established itself as a global brand, offering a variety of currencies and languages of support. What's more, players in New Zealand can contact Royal Vegas via a dedicated New Zealand phone number.
Royal Vegas treats all their players like royalty, but new players are particularly special and are welcomed to the casino with $1,200 free in new player bonuses. This bonus is one of the best in the business, and is a great way for new players to sample the awesome games on offer and get a taste of how it feels to win at the casino.
Further, claiming the welcome bonus is very easy, as it is awarded in 4 installments. The only requirement is that the player deposits as required, and this too is simple and affordable. To claim the bonus, players must:
- Make a first deposit of up to $250 and the casino will match it by 100% to give a total of $250
- Deposit up to $800, and the casino will match it by 25% to give an extra $200
- Deposit up to $1,500 to get a 50% match up to $750
Players who register a Real Money account can enter various competitions, promotions, and tournaments, all of which are entertaining and rewarding. Promotions are held weekly and monthly. Weekly promotions consist of deposit match offers, slot tournaments, and other fun games. Monthly promotions reward winners with real-world prizes, such as cars and getaways, plus casino credits and Rewards points.
Players earn rewards just for playing
Registered players who deposit real money are entered into the casino's Rewards program where they earn Rewards points each time they wager. Points can be redeemed for cash, and new players are given 2,500 Loyalty Rewards points free.
Royal Vegas remains at the forefront of the online gaming industry. Since its establishment, the casino has amassed a collection of over 600 games.
This collection is diverse and entertaining, featuring a mix of classic and modern games. Registered players have access to the best online pokies, table games, casual games, video poker, and progressive jackpot games.
Online pokies
Royal Vegas offers players a comprehensive range of online pokies, consisting of classic pokies and video pokies. Players will find a range of classic 3-reel and 5-reel pokies and a collection of video pokies.
Reel Pokies are based on classic slot machines. Their migration to the online platform has seen the combination of classic design with modern tools, creating a hybrid gaming experience. Players will recognize the familiar bars, 7s, and cherries, this time, rendered online with exquisite graphics.
Popular games in this category include the Wild Catch pokie, the Trick or Treat pokie, and the Zany Zebra pokie.
Video pokies
Microgaming has revolutionized the pokie by creating video pokies, which are based on the structure of online pokies but combine advanced graphics and animations with amped up winning features.
Today pokies contain features like Parallax scrolling and 3D animation, and the games are more of an experience.
To top it all, video pokies contain unique winning features such as:
- Free Spins bonus games
- Gamble feature
- Pick until Pop
Players have access to classic and new releases, such as the Hitman™ online pokie, the Forsaken Kingdom™ online pokie, the Bust the Bank online pokie, the Girls with Guns: Frozen Dawn online pokie, and the Jurassic Park™ online pokie.
Table games
The casino experience would not be complete without challenging table games, and Royal Vegas has a range of both classic and contemporary games.
Players will find classics such as poker, baccarat, blackjack, craps, and roulette, and modern variations such as Vegas Strip Blackjack, Poker Pursuit, Bonus Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat Gold, Red Dog, and Vegas Craps, amongst much more. There is also a range of live dealer games. These are played in real time, with real croupiers.
Video poker
Video poker is based on 5-card draw poker and is played against a dealer. Royal Vegas has popular video poker games, including Louisiana Double, Joker Poker, Deuces Wild Poker, All Aces Poker, and Aces & Faces.
Casual games
Casual games are easy on players' budgets and contain simpler rules to follow. They are perfect for players who want to unwind at the casino, but make a small profit. Royal Vegas has games like Spingo, Samba Bingo, Premier Trotting, and Kashatoa.
Progressive jackpot games
The jackpot of a progressive game increases each time someone plays it. Microgaming has created plenty progressive games that are both high-paying and entertaining. Players can take their chances at winning the jackpot of games like THE DARK KNIGHT™ online pokie, the Major Millions 5 Reel pokie, Cyberstud Poker, and the Tunzamunni pokie.
Casino support
Players can get assistance 24/7. Royal Vegas can be contacted via:
- Phone
- Skype
- Live Chat
Banking and security
Royal Vega supports popular and safe banking options. Players in New Zealand can deposit and withdraw money using New Zealand dollars. Various banking methods supported by the casino include web wallets, debit cards, credit cards, pre-paid cards, and bank transfers.
Banking is protected with 128-bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Digital Encryption, the best in online industries. Players' details are also kept confidential and are never shared with third parties, in line with casino policy.
Royal Vegas is licensed in Malta, by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and is approved by industry standards regulator eCOGRA (e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance).


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Ant Raid has been a long time coming for Android gamers. After the game received no small amount of notoriety on iOS, Herocraft has finally seen fit to release it to our fair platform, just in time for you to ignore your family over the holidays. Even better, they're discounting it for the launch, so you can pick it up for just a dollar at the moment.
The gameplay is somewhere between Starcraft and Pikmin. You control a continually respawning army of ants as they defend their colony from mutated snails, ravenous worms, and bees, which are pretty disagreeable at the best of times. You'll have to use your troops wisely to take out threats in the right order, or suffer bitter defeat.
The standard game includes animated cutscenes for the story (which is apparently more than just "snails get mutated") and it's blessedly free of Woody Allen. The endless survival mode lets you measure up to the rest of the world in the leaderboards. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a multiplayer option at the moment.


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Good Lawd!! I don't know what it is about Lady Aria's Clips, but everytime I get a ding from her in my email my heart skips a beat!! I get super excited to watch her spread that juicy ass to pee and watch as she spreads her ass wide to watch those big turds slid out her ass!! The site of her "winking eye" Expanding from a lowercase "o" to an uppercase "O" is just OMG if you can peep what I mean!! Enjoy this great five clip set as she gives us Three at work dumps and then followed by two at home. She even shows off that sexy thick body of hers as she gets butt ass nekkid in the final clip!! Enjoy her grunts and strains as these logs fall out!! Each Aria clip is certified Excellence!! A nice mix of nuggets, logs and Monster Booty Snakes!! A few good poots and sharts mixed in for good Measure
(425)All of the following downloads are included when you purchase:
Download #1:
Length: 13:37s Resolution: 1920x1080Download Format: mp4File Size: 1 GB
Download #2:
Length: 13:37s Resolution: 1920x1080Download Format: mp4File Size: 255 MB


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London's Jabberwocky Festival, presented by All Tomorrow's Parties, was supposed to begin tomorrow. Instead, ATP made a last-minute decision to cancel the festival earlier this week, claiming that the costs of the show would put the company out of business for good. ATP also told people who had bought tickets to go to their ticket sellers for refunds. But yesterday, Dash Tickets, the festival's main ticket seller, announced plans to pursue legal action against ATP, claiming that Dash had already given all money from ticket sales, plus significant advances, to ATP. Today, ATP has put a new statement up on its Facebook page, reiterating that buyers should try to get refunds from Dash and from other ticket sellers and also saying that, if that doesn't work (or if Dash representative "are not being helpful"), fans should try contacting the bank to cancel the transaction. Basically, ATP is claiming, in this statement, that the company has no responsibility to the people who bought tickets. Here's that statement:
Following the announcement yesterday that ATP sadly had no other option than to cancel this weekend's previously scheduled Jabberwocky Festival – we are currently experiencing a very high volume of email to our [email protected] account. Our entire staff are working their hardest to get back to everyone's questions as quickly as possible though, and aim to respond to each new message in between 24-48 hours. Many thanks for your patience on this matter.
To confirm, even though some outlets may take longer than others; it is ATP's only goal to ensure that all customers receive their due refund. For the vast majority of people, Dash Tickets will be their point of purchase. It is their responsibility to refund the customer, as they were the company that took payments; not ATP. And if Dash are not being helpful facilitating this matter, your next point of contact should be directly with your bank or card provider to order a chargeback of your purchase amount.
If you happened to book through one of our alternate ticket agents, and have further questions, please feel free to contact us at the email address above.
To our customers – we are crushed that this weekend is unable to go ahead, and exhausted every option and resource attempting to avoid this absolute last-resort situation up to the moment yesterday's statement was made. Our deepest apologies for the inconvenience this cancellation has caused you all.
(via ATP's Facebook page)
What a mess. Despite its money problems, ATP had a pretty sterling reputation among fans before this whole situation, and it won't be easy to repair that.


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Eating disorders, emetophobia and Christmas
The quiet commuter town was in shock. A small hatchback, seemingly abandoned in the car-park of the local gym, was now cordoned off. Police and forensic officers were inspecting the open driver's door. A mobile phone, lip-stick and loose change were scattered on the grass nearby. The victim, a female in her early twenties was nowhere to be found. It was beginning to look like kidnap. The girl's parents were utterly distraught, caught in a nightmare – and so close to Christmas too. The manhunt quickly extended across the whole country – but there were no clues. She had simply vanished.
Christmas that year was blighted by anxiety over the victim's whereabouts. There had been no contact from the girl and no ransom demand from her abductors. The police were baffled.
Then, a few days after Christmas, there was a breakthrough. A female fitting the description had been discovered in a confused state at Heathrow airport. Eventually the story became clear. The missing girl suffered with an eating disorder. She had always dreaded Christmas and especially, the abundance of food on display. Well meaning relatives would pressure her to eat – the one thing she found so difficult. In a moment of madness, she had decided to stage her own abduction and escape the Christmas festivities. It was crazy of course and she later bitterly regretted the distress she had caused.
This is a true story. It illustrates how people with eating disorders can view Christmas from a threatening perspective. Emetophobia patients have recently expressed strikingly similar sentiments.
In 1974, Dr Wijesingh reported positive outcomes from hypnotherapy in emetophobia patients. Since that time, many therapists have had success in reducing food based anxiety and panic. Rob Kelly has published extensively on this distressing condition.
Christmas is coming, so now is the ideal time to address food related anxiety. Hypnotherapy can really help sufferers manage the fear and anxiety that can become overwhelming at this time of year.
Hypnotherapy Directory is not responsible for the articles published by members. The views expressed are those of the member who wrote the article.


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Just his name, Rudolph Giuliani, conjures up two wildly different images.
In one, the leader of America's largest city is the dragonslayer of urban crime, the prince of safe streets, a standardbearer for mayors everywhere. In the other view, much less flattering, he's a law-and-order zealot who tends to overlook constitutional niceties such as freedom of expression.
Lately, these two views have clashed with increasing regularity, with the result that the mayor is often in court defending his tactics as he tries to tame the mean streets of New York. Just in the past two weeks, federal judges ruled that he violated the Constitution when he tried to deny a parade permit to the Ku Klux Klan and yanked city funds from the Brooklyn Museum.
While Giuliani usually loses these legal battles, he may yet win in the court of public opinion. There's a quiet but sizable constituency, it appears, for putting renewed emphasis on quality-of-life crimes such as loitering, vagrancy, and disorderly conduct - a fact not lost on mayors around the US who watch The Giuliani Chronicles with interest.
A veteran lawyer, Giuliani "knows the law as well as anyone else, yet he turns a blind eye to the law, prompts these lawsuits, and goes after these groups," says constitutional scholar David Rudenstine of Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan. "I have no idea what he is trying to achieve by this, other than headlines and vote-getting."
The collision between law and order and freedom of expression is found in other venues, too. Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court said Chicago's antigang loitering ordinance was unconstitutional. And in Austin, Texas, civil-liberties groups are bringing suit against Gov. George W. Bush, charging that state police are illegally arresting people who hold protests near the governor's mansion.
But nowhere does the conflict play out in sharper relief than it does here, where an unabashed law-and-order mayor meets a tradition of boisterous free speech.
Indeed, Giuliani's emphasis on controlling disorderly behavior in public spaces has made New York a successful experiment in the "broken windows" theory of crime reduction. This theory holds that eliminating signs of neglect (such as broken windows) and low-level crime (such as graffiti), and enforcing street-order laws, will help reduce serious crime In cities.
"Mayor after mayor, because they've listened to citizens' concerns, have rediscovered something citizens themselves have known for a long time - that disorderly behavior creates both fear and leads to serious crime," says "broken windows" pioneer George Kelling, a professor at Rutgers University's School of Criminal Justice in Newark, N.J.
It is precisely this emphasis on controlling disorder, however, that can smack headlong into the right to freedom of expression.
In many ways, these conflicts represent competing views of social order that go back to the European Enlightenment. In the 17th century, the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes saw the state as a necessary authority to check the passions of individuals. A century later, however, Jean Jacques Rousseau saw state authority as a dangerous intrusion on the liberties of the individual. Both men have influenced the development of Western democracy.
In general, both views of social order have evolved in the US. While the right to free speech is a basic principle of American democracy, officials can ensure that speech is orderly through what are known as time, place, and manner regulations.
"Generally speaking, local officials have the authority to impose reasonable regulations, but not regulations aimed at defeating [free speech]," says Mr. Rudenstine.
Yet many civil libertarians here accuse the mayor of going well beyond fighting "broken windows" disorder. Using unreasonable and heavy-handed tactics, Giuliani tries to quash speech he finds personally offensive, they say.
"He gives the impression that public space is his, and that he will determine which groups can have the march, rally, or press conference," says Norman Siegel of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU). "With the [Brooklyn] museum, he has moved into a new area conceptually - that it wasn't only public space anymore, but public funding." The mayor has called an exhibit at the museum "sick" and tried to cut its city funding.
Giuliani has also tried to deny permits for protests by cab drivers, street vendors, and the Million Youth March - and to keep groups from holding press conferences on the steps of City Hall, long a place of public speech.
The mayor's office did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment.
Because the Giuliani administration almost always loses these cases in court - the NYCLU has won 19 of 21 First Amendment lawsuits it has led or joined against the mayor - many believe he is purposely harassing them for political reasons.
"As a society, we don't really gain much by these tussles - the constitutional principles are very well embedded," says Rudenstine.
Even Mr. Kelling, who says Giuliani deserves "enormous credit" for bringing order to New York streets, points out the dangers. Loitering and vagrancy laws were often used to keep black Americans in their place in both the South and the North. "Anyone who advocates order-maintenance activity has to begin by acknowledging its sorry history," he says.
(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society


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Dozens of Newfoundlanders who say their province has too many moose are taking their government to court for not doing enough to control the population. [Toronto Star]
Not totally sure what this means, but Science is really excited. It's been discovered that thunderstorms on Earth send bursts of antimatter into space. [LA Times]
The blond Bond Daniel Craig is up for another flick! Let the speculation over who will be his leading lady begin! [People]
Loved "The September Issue"? Director R.J. Cutler is currently casting people who make the "fashion world MOVE" for a new reality show. [SecondCityStyle]
A judge has dismissed the copyright lawsuits between Shepard Fairey and the AP over the image Fairey used to create his Obama Hope image. [Gawker]


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About A Venue
Our complex of 11 cottages are situated in Moreleta Park, in the tranquility and scenic beauty of the eastern suburbs. Situated close to all major highways, we are 2o minutes away from the centre of town, Midrand & OR Tambo International Airport. The new architect designed, north facing and elegantly furnished cottages, in well maintained gardens, consist of bachelors , 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom cottages. A sparkling pool in the beautiful gardens is available to all tenants.
All cottages are:Fully furnished ( including television and DSTV ) With well equipped kitchens, Serviced daily ( including dishes ) Supplied with clean linen and towels, With laundry facilities. Situated in a private garden with a private patio Secure parking. The conference facility is ideal for mini conferences, teambuilding, motivational workshops and "think tanks" of 18 delegates. Excellent cuisine.
- Response Rate: 100%
- Enquiry Response Time: an hour
- Type: Self-catering
- Sleeps: 38
- Check-in: 1:00 PM Check-out: 10:00 AM
- Reviews: 4 Reviews
- Wheelchair Enabled
- Laundry Facilities*
- Satellite TV*
- Braai/Barbecue
- Swimming Pool
- Wi-Fi
- No Credit Card Facilities
- Room Service
- Conference Venues
Languages Spoken
- English
- Afrikaans
- 3 Stars - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa
Reviews for A Venue4 guest reviews Reviews of
3.5 out of 5 stars
A Venue Map
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
Things to do in and around Moreleta Park
The Barnyard Theatre Parkview
(1.5 km from Moreleta Park)
Friendship, good food, wine and brilliant entertainment – the Barnyard Theatre in Menlyn is where it all comes together. The first Barnyard Theatre started as a homely, rustic farm theatre in Plettenberg Bay where friends and family could be...
Netcare Pretoria East Hospital
(1.6 km from Moreleta Park)
The ultra-modern Netcare Pretoria East Hospital is a 358 bed facility offering patients the most technologically advanced medical and surgical services.The hospital is an internationally recognized Centre of Excellence in neuro-spinal, ortho-spinal...
Woodlands Boulevard
(2.1 km from Moreleta Park)
Woodlands Boulevard is an upmarket shopping, dining and lifestyle destination in the vibrant and trendy Pretoria East.Designed for convenience, Woodlands Boulevard offers the best in restaurants, lifestyle, fashion, furniture, jewellery, health and...
Woodlands Boulevard
(2 km from Moreleta Park)
Woodlands Boulevard Shopping Centre has been happily serving shoppers in the east of Pretoria since its opening in 2004. The mall opened with a gross lettable area of 42 000m² and was extended in 2010 to 70 000m² gross lettable area. In 2011, Hyprop...


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two primaries: One partner is sad & lonely when I'm w/the other
I have two primaries, husband and boyfriend. My husband is very busy and works a lot. I don't get much time with him during the week at all, but he is always free on Saturday and so he gets most of that day and night. Then there is my boyfriend. He has a lot of free time and we spend a lot of time together through out the week. Never the less, when I am with my husband my boyfriend struggles. Especially at night he gets sad and lonely. ...My boyfriend is very new to the poly concept and while he wants to be with us... he still struggles sharing me. What can I do to help? What can I suggest for him to do? My husband gets Saturday nights and these are the hardest for him. Are there any threads on this? (He is from another country. English is his second language. He can't drive and he doesn't have many friends. ...as you can see that makes typical solutions to this problem difficult for him.)
New Poly,Fem. Hinge w/2 str8 males
Something like this might be good for me to pass on to Primal. Peaseblossum has problems being without him any time he has plans with me or Lamian because her primary partner isn't able to spend all the time she wants with him.
So any advice that I could pass on to her to hopefully make things easier for her will be better for everyone (mainly her and Primal especially if it lowers their fights over this stuff).
Cattiva: Me
Woodsmith: My husband
Tighearn: boyfriend/dom
Merry: Tig's wife/slave
N8: Merry's boyfriend/owner
Elle: N8 girlfriend
Ruby: Part of the Leather Family
Logan: Leather Sir in the Family
Arc: Logan's boy
Holly: Leather family
K: Holly's sub
How long have you been with your 2 men?
Your bf has a learning curve about keeping busy when his poly gf is with another. Jealousy is a horrible feeling! If he's only been with you a few months he is in NRE and that can make you driven to spend as much time as possible with the new lover.
It's on him to distract himself that ONE night a week he can't be with you! LOL. See friends, work out, get a new hobby, anything intense enough to be a solid distraction. Compersion can grow out of jealousy but it can take time. I hope he doesnt feel in competition with your husband and make any cowboy moves to get you all to himself!
Love withers under constraint; its very essence is liberty. It is compatible neither with envy, jealousy or fear. It is there most pure, perfect and unlimited when its votaries live in confidence, equality and unreserve. -- Shelley
Mags (poly, F, 63), dating... again!
Pixi (poly, F, 41) my darling nesting partner since January 2009
Master, (mono, M, 37), Pixi's Dom/bf since April 2013
If he is sad because he is lonely?
And he doesn't speak the language well or drive well yet and he has not made new friends yet because he's new in the country?
Could trying to take some language/driving classes a possibility and making some new friends help? And see if the class is offered like... on a Saturday night?
Is the sad stemming from jealous? Could anything here help?
You can encourage and be supportive, but he's could own his own feelings, and then he could change his own behavior to hope to feel something new. Because if what he's doing right now on Saturdays is magnifying "sad and lonely" type feelings -- well.... change the behavior then. See if it feels better.
Does he have suggestions to offer for solving this himself when you talk to him? Or is he laying it all on you to solve?
answering your questions
I have been with my husband for 5 years, married for 3. I have been with my boyfriend for about 9 months. I dont think he is jealous, he is more just lonely and sad he cant have me all the time like he could if he was in a monogamous relationship. He was not poly until he fell in love with me and I told him it was the only way he could be with me.
My boyfriend is not here legally so he does not drive at all. And he is shy speaking English in social situations. He does take English classes, but they are all in the morning.
Last Saturday was really hard for him so I will have to talk to him about it before this Saturday. I just wanted to see if you guys had dealt with this same issue.
He is alone other nights too, but theres work and other things to distract him Saturdays are just so long and event-less for him I think that makes it harder. My husband and I are his friends.
When in this new romance did you decide on co primary status ? I assume when you announced this status change with both men that's when the Saturday night date night with hubby was inked in and the issues of time share were hammered out and agreed to.
With being a primary or Co-primary comes the burden and responsibility of handling time splits.
have you or anyone thought to suggest dating on those nights ? Saturday night use to be a natural date night People here will testify that there's nothing like a hot date to distract you from what someone else is doing.
No one is interested in dating right now.
I was talking about your bf dating.....just him.
So I gather he may be monogamous and not poly?
I started a relationship with a long term friend, he was going to move from Canada to WA to move in with my then husband and I (and be a roomie/bf), and it would've had the potential to have a co-primary situation, but it was only under the agreement that he would be dating too. I had no desire to be his only partner and be "responsible" for meeting all his sexual and other needs.
He said he would and said he would, but he didn't, and it got pretty clear he wasn't going to. He was monogamous, and admitted later that he was attempting to be poly just so he could be involved with me. (edit - thats fine if everybody is above board about what they want, but it's a disaster when somebody isn't being honest.)
It's a lot of responsibility to take that on for a long term relationship, responsibility that I had no desire to carry. Have you discussed what that means if he is only going to date you forever? I am very glad I got that clear with my friend before it go to the moving to another country part where he sat at home depressed while I was off with another partner.
Is he reading books about poly and how to deal with this stuff? Maybe he should post himself for more useful advice for help to figure out just what might work for him, lots of non native English speakers post here.
Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.
Last edited by Anneintherain; 01-17-2013 at 12:02 AM.
my boyfriend is not interested in dating anyone else. He doesn't read in English very well. I wish I could find a poly book in Spanish. Part of the issue is that he is new to the poly life style.
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A Babaton signature
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Item # 57347001
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Designer's Notes
This slinky camisole is punched up with a hint of mesh. The simple shape hangs beautifully and the fabric stays polished all day long.
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Lisa Albert
|Lisa Albert
|February 14, 1926
New York City, New York
|Television producer and writer
|Notable works
|Mad Men
Lisa Albert is an American television writer and producer. She was born in New York City, and is currently based out of Los Angeles, California.[1] Albert originally began working in publishing until she switched to television writing in 1986.[2] She has worked in both capacities on the AMC drama series Mad Men as a writer and producer and has won a WGA Award for her work on the show.[3][4]
Albert has served as a producer for the first season of Mad Men and co-wrote two episodes of the season. Alongside her colleagues on the writing staff, she won a Writers Guild of America Award for Best New Series and was nominated for Best Dramatic Series at the February 2008 ceremony for her work on the season.[5][6][7] She returned as a supervising producer for the second season and continued to write episodes. She was nominated for the WGA award for Best Dramatic Series a second time at the February 2009 ceremony for her work on the second season.[8] After being nominated for the third consecutive year, Albert won the WGA Award for Best Drama Series at the February 2010 ceremony for her work on the third season.[3][4]
Some of Albert's other television writing credits include The Cosby Show, My Sister Sam, Mr. Belvedere, Major Dad, Murphy Brown, Living Single and Suddenly Susan. Lisa graduated from Swarthmore College in 1981. She was an honors graduate in English Literature.
Lisa Alberts is credited for writing and producing for Murphy Brown, Major Dad, Living Single, Hannah Montana, Mad Men, Soul Man, and Beautiful People.[2][9]
Mad Men
Lisa Albert's work on Mad Men was recognized through an award from Peabody, three Emmy awards, and four Writers Guild awards.[10] Specifically, in 2007, Lisa Albert and her fellow producers, Tom Palmer and Scott Hornbacher, Matthew Weiner, Kater Gordon, Robin Veith and Maria and Andre Jacquemetton, collectively accepted an Emmy for the show's pilot episode and received a nomination for their episode, "The Wheel".[11] In an interview with Lisa Albert at the Screenwriters' Festival, Albert said that despite the sexism on the show, she expects viewers to see it as a feminist show. Albert credits her and her coworker's success to the complexity of their script.[12] She and her fellow female writers have been known to meet together in Albert's home, spending time drawing from their own experiences as women to enhance the compexity with which they drafted the female characters on the show.[13]
- ↑ "Mad Men Season Four Production Bios" (PDF). Lionsgate. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Lisa Albert". London Screenwriter's Festival 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gregg Mitchell & Sherry Goldman (2009). "2010 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Writers Guild Awards - 2010 Awards Winners". Writers Guild of America. 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-01-18. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
- ↑ "2008 Writers Guild Awards Television & Radio Nominees Announced". WGA. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
- ↑ Perry, Byron (2007-12-12). "WGA announce TV, radio nominees". Variety. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
- ↑ "HBO tops WGA awards list with five noms". The Hollywood Reporter. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-13.[dead link]
- ↑ "2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced". WGA. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ↑ "Lisa Albert". IMDb. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "Lisa Albert". London Screenwriters' Festival 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "'Men' fills four slots in race of top shows". Daily Variety. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "Writing and Producing Mad Men: In Conversation With Lisa Albert". 'Project: Rocketboy' Official Blog. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ "The Women Behind 'Mad Med'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 April 2015.


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Gluten Free Asian Glazed Salmon with Edamame Rice RecipesI see no reason that a weeknight dinner needs to be "ordinary." I do, however, see a whole lot of reasons why a weeknight dinner needs to be quick and easy.
After a long day of school, work, and the bazillion other things we do in a normal weekday, do we really want to sit down to something "ordinary"?
My husband likes to tell everyone he talks to that in the 253 years we have been married (my guess is that he is so happily married it seems longer than it really is – at least that's the story I am sticking to) I have yet to make the same dinner twice.
I don't want to burst his bubble or ruin the cool, creative rep he has created for me but we all know that could not possibly be true!
The illusion of "something different every night" is created by switching things up, taking everyday ingredients and combining them in different ways.
Take this dinner for instance; it is basically fish, rice and salad. Perfect dinner fare for a quick midweek meal. There is nothing wrong with fish, rice and salad; it is healthy, nutritious and quick. It can also be a little bit boring.
This dinner, however, is anything but boring. Spiked with Asian flavors, it turns dinner from ordinary to special!
For the salmon, I make a quick marinade out of rice wine, gluten free soy sauce and a few other pantry staples. It takes literally 12 minutes start to finish and will make you appear like a cooking rock star to those who eat it. Plain old brown rice gets a makeover with some seasoning and a little secret weapon – a packet of seasoned, freeze dried soybeans and wild rice. It is meant to be a snack but it adds great flavor and texture to simple brown rice. Our salad is really cucumbers and shredded carrots (buy them that way and save even more time) quickly pickled in a spicy rice wine vinegar mixture.
The whole meal is easy, elegant and ready in half an hour! Start the rice first, then make the quick pickles and finally do the salmon – the whole dinner will come together as if by magic.
See? No reason whatsoever for weeknight dinners to be ordinary!
Gluten Free Asian Glazed Salmon Recipe
¼ cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
¼ cup gluten free soy sauce
¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
4 four ounce salmon fillets, skin removed
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 scallions, finely sliced on the diagonal
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
In a shallow baking dish, combine the mirin, soy sauce, brown sugar and sesame oil. Add the salmon fillets and let marinate for 3 minutes. Flip and let marinate on the other side.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salmon fillets and cook for 2 minutes. Flip the salmon over and cook for another 2 – 4 minutes, depending on how done you like your salmon. Remove from pan and pour the marinade into the hot skillet. Add the rice vinegar and cook, stirring until the sauce reduces slightly, about 2 minutes. Pour the sauce over the salmon, garnish with the scallions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Serves 4
Edamame Rice Recipe
2 cups water
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons gluten free soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoon sesame oil
½ teaspoon sugar
1 cup brown rice
2.25 ounce bag freeze dried soybeans
Combine the water, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, rice and Grilled Edamame in a saucepan, stir to combine and bring to a boil. Cover the pan, reduce to a simmer and let simmer for 20 – 25 minutes or until all the water has evaporated. Fluff with a fork, cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
Serves 4
Spicy Quick Pickled Carrots and Cucumbers Recipe
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons gluten free soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced
1 cup shredded carrots
Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, black and red peppers in a medium mixing bowl. Add the cucumbers and carrots. Cover and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour.
Serves 4
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owner's. This blog accepts free manufacturers' samples and forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. Affiliate links may be included in this post.
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text: Spin New Media, Honkworm work with togglethis Published on January 26, 1999. Spin New Media and Honkworm are working with multimedia content creator togglethis to create interactive e-mail-based content. Spin New Media, a division of Spin Communications, an Australian-based marketing agency, is creating a marketing promotion using togglethis for Carlton United Breweries' Carlton Cold beer. The promo is being used to launch the beer brand's new site. Honkworm is an online ad agency in Seattle whose clients have included MTV, Macromedia and Microsoft Corp. Copyright January 1999, Crain Communications Inc. Most Popular In this article: News


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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) met for its Summer National Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, August 14-19. International regulatory standards were a prime focus of the meeting, as the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) works toward developing group-wide global capital standards. Additionally, the Financial (E) Committee's adoption of the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Act and Regulation marked a major milestone. Other important state regulatory initiatives regarding reinsurance, mortgage guaranty insurance, PBR implementation, and contingent deferred annuities received ample discussion and continued to progress at a noteworthy rate.
The following are notable highlights of the meeting:
- International Regulatory Standards
- IAIS Restructuring and Reorganization
- Holding Company Act Amendments
- Reinsurance
- Accreditation Committee "Reinsurer" Proposal
- NAIC Governance
- Private Equity Issues (E) Working Group
- Corporate Governance
- Resolution Plans for Large Insurance Groups
- Market Conduct Accreditation Standards
- Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits
- Contingent Deferred Annuities
- Separate Accounts
- Indexed Universal Life Illustrations
- Principle-Based Reserving
- SEC Considerations Guidance Document for Receivers
- General Interest
- International Regulatory Standards
International issues received significant discussion in Louisville, as regulators and industry representatives expressed considerable concern over actions taken by the IAIS to develop the Common Framework for the Supervision of Internationally Active Insurance Groups (ComFrame). ComFrame is a set of international supervisory requirements focusing on the effective group-wide supervision of internationally active insurance groups (IAIGs). The IAIS is moving towards the creation of group-wide global capital standards as part of ComFrame.
As a first step in creating group-wide global capital standards, the IAIS is accepting public comments on proposed basic capital requirements (BCR) for global systemically important insurers (G-SIIs). The second step in creating group-wide global capital standards is the development of higher loss absorbency (HLA) requirements to apply to G-SIIs, while the third and final step is the development of a risk-based, group-wide global insurance capital standard (ICS) to be applied to IAIGs.
In a special NAIC International Capital Standards Forum that occurred on August 15, major U.S. insurance companies and trade groups met to discuss potential international capital standards with state regulators and representatives from the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) and the Federal Reserve. The companies and trade groups questioned the need for ICS and voiced concern that the standard may be too restrictive. The companies explained that any global standard needs to be flexible, and one company proposed that a U.S. national standard be developed as an alternative to ICS. The ComFrame Development and Analysis (G) Working Group (C-DAWG) provided updates on IAIS's timeline for adopting group capital requirements and the status of the IAIS Field Testing Task Force (FTTF). Development of BCR is currently IAIS's top priority, and the comment period on IAIS's latest BCR consultation document closed on August 8. A proposal on BCR (which would initially only apply to G-SIIs) is expected to be presented for approval by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the G20 this Fall. G-SIIs would then be expected to begin submitting confidential reports on BCR to their group-wide supervisors in 2015. Initial consultation documents on HLA and ICS are expected to be released this Fall, with development of these requirements expected to be completed in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Commissioner Kevin McCarty (Florida) expressed serious concern during the C-DAWG meeting that the IAIS timeline for adopting group capital requirements is too aggressive, but noted that the IAIS is committed to following the established timeline. The FTTF continues its work on ComFrame field testing, which began in March 2014 and is expected to be completed in 2017. The FTTF is tasked with (i) performing impact studies to test whether ComFrame promotes effective group-wide supervision of IAIGs and whether the elements lead to practical benefits without undue burden, and (ii) assessing the results of such field testing to determine any changes that are necessary to the draft ComFrame. Field testing will be conducted for each of the three ComFrame modules: identification of IAIGs, scope of supervision and identification of group-wide supervisors (Module 1), qualitative and quantitative requirements for IAIGs (Module 2), and requirements for supervisors and the use of supervisory colleges (Module 3). Currently, the FTTF is reviewing participant responses to a quantitative testing questionnaire relating to Module 2. Qualitative field testing of Module 2 is expected to begin later this year, with Module 3 to follow. Thirty-three IAIGs are currently participating in the field testing process.
- IAIS Restructuring and Reorganization
On July 7, the IAIS released a request for comment on draft revised IAIS procedures for meeting participation and consultation with stakeholders ("Notice of Request for Comment on Draft Procedures on Meeting Participation and the Development of Supervisory and Supporting Material and Draft Policy for Consultation of Stakeholders"). The Draft Procedures are the result of work the IAIS began in 2013 to review its strategic goals, financial outlook and resources with the goal of developing proposals to improve its structures, operations and the allocation of resources. Most notably, the Draft Procedures, as currently proposed, would discontinue IAIS Observer status effective January 1, 2015. Comments on the Draft Procedures are due by September 2, 2014, and the IAIS Executive Committee is scheduled to adopt the new procedures in October 2014.
Currently, industry representatives (including trade associations), consumer representatives and industry advisors wishing to attend IAIS meetings and participate in the official IAIS consultation process (including development of new supervisory standards, principles and guidance papers) may do so by obtaining "Observer" status. The Observer application process only requires that a simple form be completed, but does require that the applicant pay an annual fee (approximately $23,000 in 2014). While some have characterized the Observer program as "pay to play," Observers have played a critical role in a number of IAIS initiatives, including the development of ComFrame. If the Draft Procedures are adopted in their current form, Observers would no longer be invited to participate in IAIS meetings, but the IAIS would instead invite industry and consumer representatives to attend IAIS meetings "when necessary to provide targeted, technical input." In addition, the IAIS would commit to:
- Publicly consult on the development of all supervisory and supporting material;
- Hold at least one public session annually of the IAIS Executive Committee;
- Conduct public dialogues and/or hearings at the committee level with qualified experts on specific topics related to policy development, when needed; and
- Provide timely public information on IAIS activities.
The Draft Procedures were met with strong opposition by both regulators and industry representatives during a meeting of the International Insurance Relations (G) Committee. Representatives from the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA), the American Insurance Association (AIA), and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) all expressed concern with the discontinuation of Observer status and asked the NAIC to oppose the move as well. Birny Birnbaum, on behalf of the Center for Economic Justice, asked that the NAIC continue to push for open meetings at the IAIS and, alternatively, request that the IAIS provide specific details on how invitees to IAIS meetings will be selected going forward.
Commissioners Michael Consedine (Pennsylvania), Thomas Leonardi (Connecticut) and Karen Weldin Stewart (Delaware) also spoke out against the proposed changes at IAIS, noting the importance of transparency and industry participation in the NAIC process. In response to comments provided by interested parties, Commissioner Consedine noted that state insurance regulators will ultimately determine how IAIS requirements (such as global capital standards) will be implemented by the states, and that the lack of transparency in the IAIS process could impact how those requirements are implemented.
- Holding Company Act Amendments
The Group Solvency Issues (E) Working Group is considering whether changes to the NAIC Model Insurance Holding Company Systems Regulatory Act and Regulation (Holding Company Act and Regulation) are necessary to address potential shortcomings in the states' authority to regulate large insurance groups. The Working Group's mandate is to make changes to the Holding Company Act and Regulation to: (i) provide the states clear legal authority and delineated powers to act as the group-wide supervisor for IAIGs and other large insurance groups; (ii) provide direct legal authority over the insurance holding company, including the authority to set group capital requirements; (iii) provide group-wide financial reporting for large insurance groups; and (iv) consider resolution plans for IAIGs and other larger insurance groups. In Louisville, the Working Group directed NAIC staff to develop a first draft of changes to the Holding Company Act that would provide states with the authority to act as group-wide supervisor for IAIGs and other large insurance groups. Interested parties have been asked to submit any objections they may have regarding Pennsylvania's version of the Holding Company Act definition of "group-wide supervisor," so it is expected that, at least initially, the draft changes to the Holding Company Act will be based on the Pennsylvania language. A final proposal is expected to be ready for adoption at the 2014 Fall National Meeting in Washington, D.C. This would enable states to enact the changes in the 2015 legislative session.
The NAIC last adopted amendments to the Holding Company Act and Regulation in 2010 to address certain weaknesses in the regulation of insurance holding company systems (particularly with respect to enterprise risk) that were highlighted during the 2008 economic crisis. These 2010 amendments were adopted as a state accreditation standard effective January 1, 2016. To date, 38 states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming) have enacted legislation adopting the 2010 amendments in some form.
- Reinsurance
The meeting of the Reinsurance (E) Task Force began with Commissioner John Huff (Missouri), chair of the Task Force, providing a status report on state implementation of the revised Credit for Reinsurance Model Law and Regulation (Reinsurance Models). The Reinsurance Models allow highly rated non-U.S. reinsurers to reinsure U.S. domestic cedents with reduced collateral requirements. According to Commissioner Huff's report, 23 states representing more than 60% of direct insurance premiums have adopted the revised Reinsurance Models, and five additional states are expected to adopt the revised Reinsurance Models in 2014 and 2015, bringing the total direct insurance premiums of adopting states to more than 80% of the U.S. total. Commissioner Huff stated that more than 30 reinsurers have become certified under the Reinsurance Models.
Currently, the Qualified Jurisdiction (E) Working Group has conditionally approved Bermuda, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom as Qualified Jurisdictions. Commissioner Huff noted that three additional jurisdictions (France, Ireland and Japan) have recently agreed to participate in the process to become Qualified Jurisdictions.
Deputy Commissioner John Finston (California) provided the report of the Qualified Jurisdiction (E) Working Group and discussed an exposed memorandum regarding information-sharing and confidentiality agreements with Qualified Jurisdictions. Deputy Commissioner Finston explained that the memorandum was drafted with Deputy Commissioner Steve Johnson (Pennsylvania) following a meeting with the Reinsurance Financial Analysis (E) Working Group. The memorandum explains that the Reinsurance Models require that "a Qualified Jurisdiction must agree to share information and cooperate with the commissioner with respect to all certified reinsurers domiciled within that jurisdiction." However, the memorandum also notes that jurisdictions strongly prefer to use the IAIS Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) as a global framework for cooperation and information sharing between insurance supervisors. The memorandum therefore provides that it is the consensus position of both the Qualified Jurisdiction (E) Working Group and the Reinsurance Financial Analysis (E) Working Group that the IAIS MMoU is the preferred method of sharing information and cooperation with Qualified Jurisdictions. The memorandum acknowledges, however, that some interim solution is necessary while waiting for states to be approved for the MMoU and for "passporting" of reinsurers that have been certified by a "Lead State." Therefore, the memorandum provides that, as an interim solution until all states that are certifying reinsurers have been approved under the IAIS MMoU application process, only the Lead State should be required to have a memorandum of understanding with the Qualified Jurisdiction. Following Deputy Commissioner Finston's report, the Reinsurance (E) Task Force voted to unanimously adopt the memorandum.
Deputy Commissioner Johnson next provided the report of the Reinsurance Financial Analysis (E) Working Group. According to the report, the Working Group has recommended passporting for 25 certified reinsurers, while turning down six certified reinsurers. One application is pending for renewal, and the Working Group is also considering one new application. Deputy Commissioner Johnson also provided an update on the status of the Uniform Application Checklist for Certified Reinsurers. The Reinsurance Financial Analysis (E) Working Group received four comment letters, each of which made substantive comments. Therefore, the Reinsurance (E) Task Force adopted a motion sending the draft application checklist back to the Reinsurance Financial Analysis (E) Working Group for further consideration.
- Accreditation Committee "Reinsurer" Proposal
During the 2013 Fall National Meeting, the Financial Regulation Standards and Accreditation (F) Committee considered a letter from Superintendent Joseph Torti III (Rhode Island) to Director John Huff (Missouri), Chair of the Committee, requesting that captive reinsurers be included within the definition of a "multi-state insurer" in the Part A and Part B standards for state accreditation purposes. Currently, multi-state reinsurers, including captive reinsurers, are excluded from the definition of a multi-state insurer in the Part A and Part B Preambles. However, during the 2014 Spring National Meeting, the (F) Committee exposed proposed amendments that would remove the exclusion for reinsurers that are licensed in a single state, but assume business written outside of that state, and include "multi-state reinsurers" in the definition of a multi-state insurer. Industry participants have warned that captive transactions may move to offshore jurisdictions if the NAIC subjects captive reinsurers to its accreditation standards.
In Louisville, Commissioner Huff began the (F) Committee's meeting by noting that of the 34 comment letters on the exposed amendments received by the (F) Committee, approximately 30 opposed the amendments. Many of the comment letters asserted that the definition of a "multi-state insurer" is too broad and captures captive insurers that do not engage in life insurance reserve financing transactions. Commissioner Huff stressed that the exposed amendments were only meant to be a straw-man, and he assured everyone that the (F) Committee will not be taking any action on the exposed amendments.
Superintendent Torti also stressed that there may be a misunderstanding and that it is not his intention to incorporate all types of captives within the definition of "multi-state insurer." The (F) Committee will evaluate each of the comment letters, and a decision about how to proceed will be made at the 2014 Fall National Meeting. Commissioner Huff explained that, if action is ever taken by the (F) Committee, the definition of "multi-state insurer" will look much different than it does in the exposed amendments.
The (F) Committee concluded the meeting by opening the floor for comments that were not already included in the comment letters. Steve Kinion, Director of Delaware's Captive Bureau, was the only interested party to comment. Mr. Kinion expressed concern that the (F) Committee will attempt to resolve this issue in a compressed time frame. He asked that any future exposed amendments be left open for a one-year comment period.
- NAIC Governance
The Governance Review (EX) Task Force met on August 18. This meeting focused on the process by which an outside consultant will be selected to investigate the NAIC's governance structure. Last year, Commissioner Thomas Leonardi (Connecticut) proposed in a letter to the NAIC leadership that an outside consultant be hired. In response, the Task Force was created and charged with reviewing the NAIC governing documents and considering Commissioner Leonardi's recommendation. Ultimately, the Task Force recommended that the process of selecting an outside consultant be started.
The Executive Committee accepted the Task Force's request that an outside consultant be hired and issued a request for proposal (RFP) on July 21. The deadline to respond to the RFP was August 15. The Executive Committee appointed a subcommittee made up of five Executive Committee members to interview potential vendors and make a recommendation to the Executive Committee on which vendor to choose. The subcommittee is chaired by Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel, and also includes NAIC President-elect Monica Lindeen, NAIC Vice President Michael Consedine and past presidents Roger Sevigny of Vermont and Jim Donelon of Louisiana.
At the meeting of the Governance Review (EX) Task Force in Louisville, Commissioner Leonardi expressed his disappointment that a subcommittee comprised solely of Executive Committee members will select the outside consultant rather than the Task Force. Commissioner Leonardi explained that four of the five members of the subcommittee are current or former officers, and four of the five members also voted against his initial proposal to hire an outside consultant. Commissioner Leonardi's concerns were echoed by Commissioner Wayne Goodwin (North Carolina), who is a member of the Task Force, as well as Director Andrew Boron (Illinois) and Commissioner John Doak (Oklahoma), who are not currently on the Task Force.
NAIC President-elect Lindeen defended the Executive Committee's process for selecting an outside consultant and stated that she wants to dismiss any perception that the NAIC officers do not want to include certain people in the process. She also explained that the officers are looking forward to the review process, because everyone wants the organization to be successful.
Commissioner Goodwin made a motion to request that the Executive Committee rescind its motion creating a new subcommittee and, instead, return the process for selecting the outside consultant back to the Governance Review (EX) Task Force. The motion failed by a vote of 6-3, with Connecticut, Louisiana and North Carolina voting in favor, and Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Wyoming voting against.
- Private Equity Issues (E) Working Group
The Private Equity Issues (E) Working Group continues to consider development of procedures that regulators can use to mitigate or monitor risks associated with private equity and hedge fund ownership or control of insurance company assets. The Working Group is currently compiling and reviewing data on private equity investments in the insurance industry, and is also considering changes to the Financial Analysis Handbook to incorporate considerations for states when reviewing Form A (change of control) applications. In Louisville, the Working Group heard a presentation from A.M. Best regarding its observations on private equity owned insurers, including challenges and concerns facing startups and rated groups. A.M. Best also reported on a recent industry survey which found that the increased flow of private equity funds into the insurance industry has had no impact on individual company strategies. The Working Group continues to invite private equity firms active in the insurance industry to present before them. Notably, the Working Group has extended an invitation to representatives of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to discuss recent audits of private equity firms at the NAIC's upcoming 2014 Fall National Meeting in Washington, D.C.
- Corporate Governance
In a major milestone intended to address shortcomings identified in the 2010 FSAP review of the U.S. state-based insurance regulatory system, the NAIC's Financial Condition (E) Committee adopted the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Act and the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Regulation (Corporate Governance Models) on August 18. The Corporate Governance Models had been approved by the Corporate Governance (E) Working Group one day earlier over the dissent of Florida. The Corporate Governance Models require that, on each June 1, beginning in 2016, every insurer, or the insurance group of which the insurer is a member, submit a Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure (CGAD) to its lead state or domestic regulator.
In the CGAD, insurers must document, in narrative form, highly confidential information about their corporate governance framework, including the structure and policies of their boards of directors and key committees, the frequency of their meetings, and procedures for the oversight of critical risk areas and appointment practices, among other things. Insurers must also disclose the policies and practices used by their board of directors for directing senior management on critical areas, including a description of codes of business conduct and ethics, and processes for performance evaluation, compensation practices, corrective action, succession planning, and suitability standards. With regard to compensation, the description must include sufficient detail to enable the commissioner to understand how the organization ensures that compensation programs do not encourage excessive risk-taking.
The Corporate Governance Models have been highly controversial in large part due to industry concern over whether insurance regulators and their consultants will be required to keep the disclosed sensitive information strictly confidential. To this end, the final Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Act contains the same confidentiality language used in other model laws, including the Model Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act, that requires the prior written consent of the insurer before any disclosed information is made public, but does not require insurer consent for a commissioner to share disclosed information with other regulators in the performance of the commissioner's regulatory duties. Nonetheless, Florida dissented from the adoption of the Corporate Governance Models, claiming the confidentiality language was too broad. Other regulators urged industry representatives to work with state legislators and their insurance commissioners to prevent any erosion in the Model's confidentiality language at the state level.
The insurance industry also voiced concerns that possible redundancies in reporting, attestations, interviews, and information requests may be created by the adoption of the CGAD. A letter submitted by major industry trade groups to the chair of the Corporate Governance (E) Working Group on industry concerns about redundancies resulted in referrals to the Blanks (E) Working Group and the Financial Examiners Handbook (E) Technical Group to remove possible redundancies. The Financial Condition (E) Committee also adopted a specific charge to address regulatory redundancy concerns.
The Financial Regulation Standards and Accreditation (F) Committee also adopted a corporate governance requirement as an element of the Corrective Action Part A accreditation standard. Effective January 1, 2017, states must have adopted Section 4B(10) of the Model Regulation to Define Standards and Commissioner's Authority for Companies Deemed to Be in Hazardous Financial Condition, Model 385, that permits the commissioner to issue an order requiring an insurer to correct corporate governance practice deficiencies which, if not corrected, could place the insurer in a hazardous financial condition.
- Resolution Plans for Large Insurance Groups
In March 2014, the Receivership and Insolvency (E) Task Force (RITF) was charged with evaluating the costs and benefits of requiring resolution plans for large insurance groups. Comments from regulators, receivers and industry unanimously opposed any requirement for resolution plans by large insurers on grounds that preparing these plans would be cost prohibitive, would yield uncertain benefits, and may be unnecessary for insurers not deemed systemically important financial institutions. After receiving these comments, the RITF concluded in Louisville that it was premature to propose requiring such plans and recommended that the charge be tabled. The RITF did recommend the preparation of a template checklist of information that a commissioner could request from a holding company or insurer when the commissioner believes the risk of insolvency has risen to a level that requires planning for liquidation or rehabilitation. It is expected that this guidance document will be developed in one of the (E) Committee's working groups over the next year.
- Market Conduct Accreditation Standards
The joint meeting of the Executive (EX) Committee and Plenary adopted a new charge for the Market Regulation and Consumer Affairs (D) Committee, authorizing it to develop a formal market conduct accreditation standard that would be considered by the NAIC. A new (D) Committee working group will be chaired by Commissioner Therese Goldsmith (Maryland) and charged with developing accreditation standards for the NAIC to adopt that would, among other things, set uniform standards for market conduct examiner qualifications, training, and the systems used to track exams conducted by other states. The new working group will also develop recommendations for how states should implement and measure compliance with the accreditation standards.
- Issues of Particular Interest to Life Insurers
- Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits
The Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits (A) Working Group held a contentious meeting in Louisville that demonstrated yet again the wide rift existing between certain regulators and the life insurance industry on this issue. The meeting began with a presentation by the ACLI renewing its appeal for the development of a coherent framework on unclaimed life insurance benefits in light of recent court cases in West Virginia, Florida and Kentucky that have been favorable to the industry. The ACLI urged insurance regulators to protect the integrity of insurance contracts and operations and exert their sovereign responsibilities as regulators of insurance, while protecting the integrity of the unclaimed property process.
California responded that the current NAIC Task Force investigating unclaimed life insurance benefits would not disband or stop its work in pressing for market conduct exam settlements from the largest 40 life insurers, arguing that the focus of the market conduct exams was asymmetrically use of the Death Master File (DMF) that violated states' unfair claims practices statutes. In California's view, none of the court cases to date have dealt with unfair claims practices.
The Working Group then focused on its charge to develop recommendations on unclaimed life insurance benefits for the Life Insurance and Annuities (A) Committee, and discussed whether to proceed with developing a model law on the issue. Florida noted that developing a model law should be approached in a way that does not undermine any of the existing market conduct settlements on unclaimed life benefits. Several regulators suggested reaching out to the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), the Uniform Law Commission, and state Unclaimed Property Administrators to ask them to share what they are doing on this issue and to get their views on the development of a model law by the NAIC.
Representative George Keiser (North Dakota) from NCOIL asked the NAIC for assistance in drafting the revised NCOIL model law on unclaimed life insurance benefits. A representative from smaller insurance companies noted that not all companies use the DMF asymmetrically and that they should not be subject to the terms of the settlement agreements nor should requirements be imposed retroactively. Both Director Bruce Ramge (Nebraska) and Commissioner Jim Donelon (Louisiana) suggested that the Working Group move forward with developing a model law. Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak (Tennessee), Chair of the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits (A) Working Group, moved that the Working Group hold a conference call within the next month to continue discussions and consider the adoption of one or more recommendations to be submitted to the (A) Committee for its consideration.
- Contingent Deferred Annuities
Significant discussions and actions were taken with respect to finalizing a state regulatory framework for contingent deferred annuities (CDAs). Among other developments, the Producer Licensing (EX) Task Force adopted a recommendation that states require a variable line of authority license for producers selling contingent deferred annuities. The Receivership and Insolvency (E) Task Force (RITF) heard a presentation from the National Organization of Life and Health Guaranty Associations (NOLHGA) on CDA coverage under Model Act 520, the Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Model Act. The RITF also exposed for a two-week comment period a draft letter to the Life Insurance (A) Committee, stating that CDAs fall within the definition of "annuity" in Model 520 and would be subject to the same provisions for coverage, as well as the same limitations and broad exclusions, as other annuities.
The Contingent Deferred Annuities (A) Working Group considered revisions to four model regulations to accommodate CDAs, including Model 245 on annuity disclosure, Model 275 on annuity suitability, Model 570 on advertising, and Model 613 on replacements. The Working Group extended the comment period on the revised models until September 5. The Working Group also discussed a Guidance Document it had prepared that explains which consumer protection and financial solvency model laws should be applied to CDAs, and which should not apply to CDAs. Additionally, in an apparent reversal of its earlier position that CDAs were exempt from the Standard Nonforfeiture Law, the Working Group asked for comment by September 30 on whether a nonforfeiture or other benefit should apply to CDAs and, if so, what such a benefit would look like and how it would be calculated. It is expected that the Working Group will have additional calls after September 30 to discuss comments received. Work on the regulatory framework for financial reporting, reserving and risk management review for CDAs is ongoing.
- Separate Accounts
The Financial Condition (E) Committee adopted the report of the Separate Account Risk (E) Working Group (SARWG) that contains three initial recommendations regarding the insulation of separate accounts. The first recommendation includes a list of principles for insulating separate account assets for non-variable products. The second and third recommendations suggest revisions to SSAP No. 56 and Model 255 regarding modified guaranteed annuities and to Model 200 regarding group contracts, respectively. SARWG is still considering recommendations to be made regarding bank-owned and company-owned life insurance separate account products, as well as individual non-variable products funded by insulated separate accounts.
- Indexed Universal Life Illustrations
The Life Actuarial (A) Task Force (LATF) discussed a draft actuarial guideline for applying the Life Insurance Illustrations Model Regulation (Model 582) to illustrations for indexed universal life policies that had been prepared by the ACLI. The ACLI draft guideline defines standards to be used by the Illustration Actuary and requires the use of a maximum illustrated rate of the disciplined current scale based on a standardized look-back period of 25 years. When several companies objected to the ACLI draft guideline, LATF agreed to delay exposure of the ACLI guideline in response to a request from those companies to present an alternative proposal by September 5.
- Principle-Based Reserving
The meeting of the Principle-Based Reserving Implementation (EX) Task Force began with a report on state legislative activity from Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak (Tennessee), Co-Chair of the Task Force. As background, in 2009, the NAIC adopted a revised Model Standard Valuation Law, which authorizes principle-based reserving (PBR) and a Valuation Manual that sets forth the minimum reserve and related requirements for certain products under PBR. In 2012, the NAIC adopted the Valuation Manual, despite strong opposition from several key states (including California and New York). PBR will not be implemented until the amended Standard Valuation Law is adopted by 42 states and state adoption reflects 75% of total life insurance premiums written in the United States. As reported in Louisville, 18 states, reflecting 28% of total life insurance premiums written in the United States, have adopted the amended Standard Valuation Law. Legislation adopting the amended Standard Valuation Law is expected to be adopted in 2014 or 2015 in an additional 12 states, bringing the total to 30 states representing 60.3% of total life insurance premiums. According to Commissioner McPeak, the earliest possible operative date for the Valuation Manual is likely January 1, 2017.
On a June 30 conference call, the Principle-Based Reserving Implementation (EX) Task Force voted to adopt "in concept" a framework for life insurance reserve financing (the Framework) for purposes of allowing the technical working groups to begin their analyses to be brought back to the Task Force. The Framework was then submitted to the Executive (EX) Committee for approval.
In Louisville, Superintendent Joseph Torti III (Rhode Island), Co-Chair of the Task Force, discussed actions taken during the meeting of the Executive (EX) Committee on August 17. In this meeting, the Committee voted to adopt the Framework. The Framework is meant to provide a temporary solution to life insurance reserve financing transactions, and Superintendent Torti explained that he believes that life insurance reserve financing transactions will no longer be necessary following the implementation of PBR.
Additionally, on August 14, the Life Actuarial (A) Task Force voted to expose the ACLI's latest version of a proposal to exempt small companies from PBR requirements. The comment period will last only 21 days. The proposal includes an exemption threshold of $300 million in ordinary life insurance premiums for small individual companies and $600 million for insurance groups. According to the ACLI, the proposal would exempt approximately 10% of the life insurance market from having to comply with PBR.
- SEC Considerations Guidance Document for Receivers
In Louisville, the NAIC's Receivership and Insolvency (E) Task Force officially adopted a revised chapter in the Receivers Handbook for Insurance Company Insolvencies prepared by the SEC Considerations (E) Subgroup. The revised chapter provides guidance to receivers of insurers with separate accounts and insurance products registered with the SEC. Many groups participated in preparing the revised chapter, including the Committee of Annuity Insurers with Sutherland as federal securities law counsel, the ACLI, NOLHGA, and the SEC. The chapter provides a primer to receivers on how the ongoing registration and substantive requirements of the federal securities laws apply to various life insurance and annuity products. The chapter also gives receivers a checklist to follow to assist them in spotting issues and identifying areas where receivers should be in communication with the SEC.
- Issues of Particular Interest to Property and Casualty Insurers
- TRIA Reauthorization
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), which was last reauthorized in 2007, is set to expire on December 31, 2014, unless extended by Congress. The Senate has passed a bill (S 2244) that would reauthorize TRIA through 2021. The Senate bill would also gradually increase the insurer co-share from 15% to 20% (with 1% increases per year over the next five years), and gradually increase the mandatory federal recoupment amount from $27.5 billion to $37.5 billion (with $2 billion increases per year over the next five years). The House, however, has passed a bill (HR 4871) that differs in several respects from the Senate bill. Specifically, the House bill would (i) reauthorize TRIA only through 2019, (ii) increase the program's trigger from $100 million to $500 million; (iii) create a new program bifurcation for nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological types of attacks; and (iv) add a small insurer opt-out.
Congress will return to session in September for only a few weeks before adjourning for the November elections. Due to the significant differences between the Senate and House bills, it is unlikely that TRIA will be reauthorized before December. The NAIC is not taking a formal position on which bill it supports, but the NAIC is encouraging prompt attention on the reauthorization of TRIA before it expires.
During the Terrorism Risk Insurance Implementation (C) Working Group meeting in Louisville, it was noted that the current situation is similar to 2007, when TRIA was not reauthorized by Congress until December 18 and not signed by the President until December 26. The Working Group explained that several documents, including the Model Bulletin on Filing Procedures, and the Expedited Filing Form and Policyholder Disclosures will likely need to be revised following the reauthorization of TRIA. These materials cannot be revised until the Working Group has an understanding of what the final bill will look like. Members of the Working Group were urged to be on alert in late December so that these materials may be promptly revised following the reauthorization of TRIA.
- Mortgage Insurance Modifications to Model Act
The Mortgage Guaranty Insurance (E) Working Group continues to work on amendments to the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Model Act. Prior to the 2014 Spring National Meeting, the Working Group exposed a "conceptual draft" of amendments to the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Model Act, which expanded the geographic concentration, investment limitations, reinsurance, underwriting standards, capital standards, and reserve sections. At the 2014 Spring National Meeting, the Working Group considered an interested party draft, and Commissioner Ted Nickel (Wisconsin), Chair of the Working Group, indicated that the Working Group would proceed with revisions to the Working Group's conceptual draft in light of the comments received.
In an August 5 conference call, the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance (E) Working Group introduced a second version of the revised Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Model Act. During this conference call, the Working Group considered initial comments from interested parties. The RAA commented on the reinsurance section, and specifically noted that the Model Act should encourage non-affiliated, third-party reinsurance. The RAA recommended that the Model Act specifically mention that reinsurance of mortgage guaranty insurance may be written by a multi-line reinsurance company. Additionally, the RAA noted that the reinsurance section of the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Model Act should more closely parallel the Credit for Reinsurance Model Act.
During the meeting of the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance (E) Working Group at the 2014 Summer National Meeting in Louisville, the Working Group noted that, before a determination is made about proposed revisions to the reinsurance section of the Model Act, the Working Group will need to dig deeper into the capital model. The majority of the meeting consisted of a presentation on the status of the Oliver Wyman Capital Modeling Project. The Working Group's next meeting on the Capital Modeling Project will be closed to interested parties because company-specific data will be used to test the models.
- Briefly Noted
- FSAP Review
The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) review of the U.S. financial sector is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2015. The FSAP Program, which was jointly established by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in 1999, is a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of a country's financial regulatory sector. The last U.S. assessment in 2010 noted a number of shortcomings in U.S. insurance regulation that U.S. regulators have been working hard to remedy over the last four years through new model laws and regulations (including amendments to the Holding Company Act and Regulation, implementation of the Risk Management and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) Model Act, and the development of the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Act and the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Regulation).
- Ridesharing and Potential Gaps in Insurance Coverage
A potential gap in insurance coverage for ridesharing services was a hot topic at the 2014 Summer National Meeting. Ridesharing is the practice of driving for hire using an online-enabled platform to connect drivers, who are using their personal vehicles, with potential passengers. Ridesharing services have become increasingly popular across the country. These services are provided by transportation network companies (TNCs), the most popular of which are Lyft, Sidecar and UberX. The primary issue with ridesharing is a potential gap in insurance coverage between the driver's personal automobile insurance policy and the TNC's commercial policy. This issue came up in several meetings, including meetings of the NAIC/State Government Liaison Committee, the Anti-Fraud (D) Task Force, and the Auto Insurance (C/D) Study Group. At the meeting of the Property and Casualty Insurance (C) Committee, a working group was created to focus on this issue. The working group will be chaired by Commissioner Dave Jones (California).
- Catastrophe Response Working Group
The Property and Casualty Insurance (C) Committee also created the Catastrophe Response Working Group, which will be chaired by Commissioner John Doak (Oklahoma). One issue that the Working Group will consider is fraud being committed by those purporting to be licensed adjusters following a natural disaster.


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Operation Blended Warrior Special Exhibit Hall Event
View OBW Videos at NTSAToday
OBW 2017 Information Coming Late January!
OBW is a multi-year journey to explore the potential for Live, Virtual and Constructive capabilities to revolutionize training, education and testing for the defense and security sectors. What LVC capabilities need to be in the force? How will it enhance training? How much will it cost? What are the challenges? These are all questions the OBW team is taking on and we invite you to observe, participate and innovate within the exhibit hall at I/ITSEC 2016. OBW is not just a demonstration; it is research, requirements, testing and results.
OBW 2016 Videos
Kent Gritton, OBW Lead (Link)
CAPT Erick Etz, Commanding Officer, NAWCTSD (Link)
OBW Behind the Scenes (Link)
OBW Participation Information (Registration complete for 2016)
OBW 2016 Participation Information PDF
OBW 2016 Briefing PDF
OBW 2016 FAQs FAQS
OBW 2016 Onsite Schedule PDF
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Once again I was a few days late, but I have updated the pet events page to reflect all the pet events going on in the central Florida area for the rest of the year.
Once fall is here and it cools off there is a big surge in pet events going on. You can find many pet Halloween costume contest going on, especially the big one at Winter Park which is held each year.
Right at the moment I have no Halloween events in my page because nobody has announced any yet. But I'm sure there will be some soon. Once I know when the Winter Park Halloween pet costume contest will be I will post it.
[Read more…]


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Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) has been revealed to be the number one source for creating leads for B2C and B2B marketers. Generating leads is crucial in order to obtain consumer interest and inquiry into the products and services that a company offers.
If you are wondering how to improve your lead generation strategies, read on to learn five ways in which SEO strategies can help you get there.
A great way to improve your SEO lead generation techniques is to list target keywords that are being used by the portion of your audience that is ready (or almost ready) to purchase and incorporate these into your content creation strategies.
There are many ways you can go about doing so, free tools such as Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner allow you to find a list of potential keywords that are related to your topic. These include current keywords trending around the globe and "rising" keywords which are climbing in popularity.
When incorporating these keywords, make sure your content addresses the user intent behind each keyword. There will usually be two main types of user intent:
Longtail Keywords are also a great way to increase your lead generation. Longtail keywords consist of three or four words relating to your brand or product. If you incorporate these in your content, it'll be a lot easier for your audience to find you through search engines. For example, "best Thai restaurants Melbourne" is specific and local, which means search engines will more likely point users with this intent in your direction.
Your visitors will be in different stages of the buyer journey. It is important to be aware of what stage your audience is in, and target your content towards their needs so that you can increase the effectiveness of your SEO lead generation techniques. Visitors will be in one of the four stages:
You can increase sales leads to your website with tailored links to attract visitors. Writing articles and guest posts on websites related to your business which include links to your website are a great way to optimise lead generation, as well as increasing your online exposure.
As well as incoming links, linking out is just as important. When writing an article or guest post, find one or two external links that relate to your topic. In some instances, the favor will be repaid, but don't worry if that doesn't happen. Linking outwards helps to build rapport within the online community, which can come in handy in the future.
An important aspect of SEO lead generation techniques is social media marketing. There are countless social media platforms you can use to generate leads such as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. You can improve your lead generation by creating engaging and informative profiles on social media which link back to your website.
Make sure you are using the right channel for your audience. Many people opt for Facebook advertising but this is not always the best choice. Branching out and also exploring sites like LinkedIn can help improve your lead generation strategies.
As well as building a presence on social media, you need to be aware of how and why people mention your company on social media. Pay attention to mentions of your company name, common misspellings, industry-related keywords and mentions of your competitors. With this information, you can make sure you never miss out on a sale opportunity.
As well as creating targeted content, it is also important to track what is already out there and what needs to be out there. Create content that fills in the gaps that your buyers are looking for. If your content is not addressing the user's need/intent behind each keyword, chances are that this will hold back your lead generation.
Make sure you are generating ideas that stand out to your audience and are specific to your topic. Generic content tends to get lost amongst the mass amount of web content that already exists on that topic, so make sure your titles are unique and fresh so that you can draw in a larger volume of visitors.
See also: 10 Things You Can Do to Optimize Your Lead Generation Forms