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Ann Voss Peterson: A while back, I moaned to Joe about the lack of good story craft discussions on the Internet, and he challenged me to do what I could to change that. So to that end, I am hijacking Newbie's Guide to Publishing for a day to focus on an aspect of storytelling. And because I find discussions about craft more interesting than lectures, I invited an author friend to join me.
When Joe and I launched the Codename: Chandler Kindle World, we asked author Linda Style if she would like to contribute a launch story. She came up with STREET, a prequel to her new suspense series featuring her crusading lawyer Charlie Street and Heathcliff from Codename: Chandler.
Linda Style is the author of fifteen romance and romantic suspense novels for Harlequin. She has just released her sixteenth novel independently. DETROIT RULES (currently on sale for $0.99) is the first book in her new Street Law suspense series.
In addition to penning her novels of romance, suspense and intrigue, Linda co-founded Bootcamp for Novelists, an online writing school where she taught the advanced novel writing courses. Linda has several Bootcamp for Novelists writing craft books from her classes available as well, and she's been a speaker at various writers' meetings and conferences.
I've known Linda Style since the days before either of us published our first novels. Over the years, we've had a lot of fun discussions about creating characters (among other things), so I thought it might be fun to bring the discussion into blog form and invite all of you to share helpful things you've picked up along the way.
So to kick off the discussion, Linda, using your character Charlie Street as an example, explain how you go about building a character.
Linda Style: First, I'd like to thank you for inviting me here today. Next to writing, one of my favorite things to do is talk about writing and, perhaps because of my background in behavioral health and investigative journalism, I believe character building is one of the most important…and fun…parts of writing a novel. For me, building a character begins the moment an idea for a story begins to percolate. As I think out the story line, another part of my brain is deciding on what types of characters will inhabit this new world.
My stories ideas can come from most anywhere, a place, a character, a situation. STREET began with a setting I found intriguing—Detroit, a city that was crumbling in around itself. Crime was so rampant, the famed Motor City moniker jokingly became Murder City. Detroit was bankrupt in more ways than one, and to live in the heart of this city, I knew my heroine was going to have to be strong and determined and live with the conviction of her beliefs.
Ann: So you start with at least an inkling of your premise and your setting. This is the way it works for me as well, although I know writers who come up with a character first, before they start to think about anything else.
So what comes next for you, Linda?
Linda: From this point, I pretty much do what I've taught my students in the Bootcamp for Novelists classes I used to teach. I can do nothing until I have my protagonist's story goal and the story question. From there I start with the theory that we are all basically three people. The self we present to the world, the self we believe ourselves to be, and who we really are in our core.
So, first I nail down my protagonist's external characteristics: job, defining character trait (aggressive, shy, perfectionist, etc.), physical attributes, family…basically who this person is as he/she presents to the world. Next I hone in on the character's conscious wants, needs and desires…the person he/she believe they are, and/or want to be. And finally, underlying both of these facades is the real person, the one in whose core lies his values and beliefs, his deepest needs and deepest fears. It's from this last part that I find my protagonist's internal motivation. The most important part of my protagonist's character is his/her motivation to achieve the story goal, so that has to go deep and it's almost always based on a deep, unfulfilled emotional need. My characters will always be flawed emotionally in some way…because we all are.
For example: Charlie's goal in STREET begins with the external need for money to start her own law firm so she can do pro bono work and help those who would likely get screwed by the legal system because they cannot afford the high-priced, powerful attorneys people with money can afford. It's Charlie's experience and belief that justice is always more just for the rich and powerful. But her goal isn't simply a bleeding-heart altruistic goal. It's based on fact and statistics. It's also based on personal experience. When Charlie was eight-years-old, her father was arrested, convicted, and murdered in prison.
So, based on the three faces of Charlie:
Charlie's external persona tells herself…and the world…that her need to do this based on the fact that some people can't afford the same justice as others.
The second part, the person she believes she is and who she wants to be, sees herself as someone who can actually help others. She wants to save the world and believes she actually can.
But the third persona…who she really is inside, and the most important part of her motivation, is based on a deep internal belief about herself (correct or incorrect doesn't matter as long as she believes it). In Charlie's case, she believes something she did contributed to her father's arrest (and subsequent murder), and she has a soul-deep need to atone for her guilt. This is her internal need…the true motivation driving her external goal. And to dig even deeper, her need to atone is based on a subconscious belief that because she betrayed the one person she loved more than anything, she's a bad person, irreparably flawed…and not worthy of love.
Her external self tells the world one thing and her middle self denies/ignores it by becoming a crusader for justice. And the part that's really motivating her is the deep (subconscious) need to deal with her guilt…and feel worthy of love. Her internal belief that she's a bad person becomes an internal fear that she will always betray those she loves. This will be a huge conflict for any romantic relationship she might have. I did the same level of character development with Heath. And you thought it was all just fun and games.
Ann: It IS fun and games!
And I'm glad you brought up Heath. It was fun for me to read your take on him. And I'm curious. Except for you (in STREET) and Joe himself (in RESCUE – a Codename: Chandler Kindle Worlds book featuring Hammett and Tequila), all the authors chose to use Chandler in their Kindle Worlds story. What was it about Heath that made you choose him?
Linda: I already had a story in mind…the prequel to DETROIT RULES. So, while I could have used most anyone in the Chandler series, I chose Heath for several reasons. The first was that I really liked Heath from reading HIT.
Hey, any guy who loves women gets extra points right off.
Additionally, I saw Heath as one who could work with Charlie but be at cross purposes. Heath's intelligence and sense of humor were two important qualities I felt would mesh well with Charlie. But even more important, I was drawn to Heath because I saw the layers in his character. On one hand, his love of women is good, but on the other, it's a flaw for his job. I saw how I could use this character trait in my story to make it work on a deeper level to create conflict, bring out his protective instincts and, even though he's an assassin, his humanity.
Two, (or is that three) I needed an antagonist who could awaken Charlie Street to some of the things she was going to need to learn before DETROIT RULES and who could also teach her a few of those things.
Three, (okay, it's official…I can't count) I needed a viable love interest for Charlie…and Heath most definitely was more than capable in that department.
And last, they had a common background…poverty, which makes him even more drawn to Charlie, a crusader for the underdog. And, oh, yeah…did I say Heath is hot?
Ann: Heath is hot. The first story we wrote with him was THREE, and I originally created him to challenge Chandler in much the same way as you used him to push Charlie in STREET. Of course, Heath grew into much more than a love interest for Chandler and turned out to be his own larger-than-life man.
I use a similar three-layered system for coming up with a character. Since for me a story is about character in conflict, when I first begin to build a character, I define him/her in terms of goals, needs, and fears.
The external goal – This is the external, physical outcome the character wants in the story. It must be urgent (why must s/he attain it now?), important (to the character), concrete (a physical, external thing, no peace and happiness goals), and measurable (s/he must know when the goal is achieved or lost). This goal drives the plot of the story, and it is the physical symbol of what drives the character on a deeper level.
The emotional need. The character can be conscious of this need or not, but it is what s/he really longs for. It is not concrete but emotional. And the emotional need is the character's reaction to his/her greatest fear.
The greatest fear. The character is not conscious of the fear, not until the plot forces him/her to face it. In fact, the character will do anything to avoid facing the fear, including lying to him/herself. This fear is something very basic that the character feels makes him or her unlovable.
The way I frame my system for character building is different from Linda's, but the process of building character is similar.
So if I used my frame for Charlie, deep down she fears she is a bad person (because she caused her father's death). That leads to her emotional need for justice. And her emotional need is symbolized by helping someone in need find justice (and this external goal would be very specific depending on the story).
I've found that once I have that basic skeleton nailed, I can add as many layers and contradictions and conflicts as I want. It will work, because all my decisions will be based on the core character, and the choices I make will be deliberate. As long as that core is there, the possibilities are endless.
This also brings up another interesting aspect to character building. We never build a single character. To write a story, an author –usually- must build a cast that works together and/or challenges each other.
Linda, you have a different male lead in DETROIT RULES. Describe to us how you built him and how he and Charlie challenge/enhance each other.
Linda: Ah, I love my heroes and Remington (Remy) Malone is no exception. Remy's character developed as a counterpoint to Charlie Street's needs and the challenges she was going to have to address in order to learn and grow throughout the story. Remy had to be almost her polar opposite.
Like Heath, Remy's intelligent, has a great sense of humor, and has many layers to his personality. He's Charlie's opposite in that she grew up on the mean streets of Detroit and he grew up, the son of a judge, in Grosse Pointe, one of the wealthiest suburbs of Detroit. He's a cop and she's an attorney. On the surface, cops and defense attorneys have no love lost between them. At a deeper level, the bad blood between Charlie and the Detroit PD goes back to her father's arrest. This would feed a romantic conflict if they were to have a relationship. On the surface, Remy's fairly conservative and Charlie's the exact opposite. So, when Remy needs her help, almost everything about their relationship is at odds and the challenges they face, while seeming external, actually challenge each of their core values and beliefs about the world and about themselves.
Ann: Anything else you'd like to add about character building/development/whatever before we continue the discussion in the comment section?
Linda: Sure. I'd like to add that while I do a lot of digging to ensure my characters, even my antagonists/villains and secondary characters have this depth of character, it may not always be played out on the page. But knowing who my story characters are on the deepest level keeps them on track and they will never act out of character unless they have good reason.
I'd also like to say that while I may have an idea of all of the above when I begin a story, I have to just sit and write for a while before I can start examining who my peeps really are. Generally one to three chapters. For me, those three chapters are the hardest and also the most fun part of writing a story.
Ann: Fun is the key. If the author is having fun, it shows in the story.
Joe and I have talked a lot about character building over the years, as well as building a few characters together. So I'd like to throw the question to him. Joe?
Joe: Way way back in the day, when I was still a Big 6 cheerleader, I used to run workshops and teach an adult ed class at a local community college. One of my two hour classes was How To Create Salable Characters, meant for genre mystery writers. I dug up one of my decade-old worksheets and dusted it off to see if it still applies to how I currently feel about writing. Here were the bullet points:
UNIQUE-What makes this person different from anyone else? Why is this hero the ONLY ONE who could be in your story?
GOALS-What are your protagonist's goals? Dreams? Fears? Things they desperately want?
FLAWS-What personal, internal problem will get in the way of the hero reaching his/her goals? Addiction? Illness? Disability? Neuroses?
QUIRKS-What are the strange, bizarre, personal, or human traits this hero possesses? Habits and rituals?
PERSPECTIVE-First person or third person, and why?
SUPPORT-Who are the supporting, returning characters that assist your hero? Friends? Coworkers?
ENEMY- Your villain should have all of these traits as well. Who will make a worthy opponent for your hero?
featured in the novels WHISKEY SOUR, BLOODY MARY & RUSTY NAIL, and the EQMM short stories ON THE ROCKS & WITH A TWIST by JA Konrath
UNIQUE-Jack is 46, divorced, unlucky in love, but a good cop–she had to be to become a Lieutenant in the male-dominated fraternity of the CPD. Jack has dedicated her life to the Job, but is now at an age where she's regretting never starting a family.
GOALS-Jack needs to do well in her career; that's the only time she feels good about herself. But she also realizes, for the first time, that there's more to life than work, and she wants to broaden her personal life.
FLAWS-Jack has insomnia, due to her fixation with her job. She constantly questions her own actions, wondering if she could have done better. She doesn't think she's worthy of love.
QUIRKS-Her insomnia causes her to max out her credit cards watching the late night Home Shopping Network. She worries too much about fashion, and is envious of those who dress better than she does.
PERSPECTIVE-First person for Jack, third person for the villain.
SUPPORT-Overweight partner Det. Herb Benedict, accountant boyfriend Latham Conger, mother Mary Streng, ex-husband Alan Daniels, criminal friend Phineas Troutt, ex-partner PI Harry McGlade, hellspawn cat Mr. Friskers.
ENEMY-In WHISKEY SOUR, a serial killer called The Gingerbread Man is making snuff movies in his basement and wants to make one with Jack. In BLOODY MARY, a maniac is dismembering people and leaving accessories of Jack's at the crime scenes.
Joe sez: This worksheet was interesting to see again after so many years, and I think it still applies to character creation, albeit in a very rudimentary way. This is a starting point, and a way to describe traits that a writer might already intuitively know, but not be consciously aware of.
My workshop would then delve into how to create suspense, conflict, and keep moving the story forward.
Right now I'm writing RUM RUNNER, the 9th Jack Daniels thriller, and Jack is at a different point in her life. She's given up being a cop because she came to the inevitable conclusion that it was hurting her and those she loved. But she finds her past continues to follow her. She also finds that maybe she isn't as suited to being a wife and mother as she'd always hoped to be.
Over an eight novel story arc, I've gotten Jack to where she thinks she needs to be. But rather than let her be happy, I'm making her question every single decision she's made.
Over the course of the narrative, Jack is struggling with external conflict (an old enemy who wants to kill her and everyone she loves) and internal conflict (second-guessing her life choices). My goal is to make the reader care just as much about if she gets divorced as if she gets tortured to death.
So I start out making Jack sad, then proceed to make her miserable by terrifying her and those she cares about. As she resolves the mystery/thriller aspect and triumphs over the bad guy, it will also lead her to solving her personal problems.
At least, until the next book, when I make her unhappy again.
While Jack's insomnia makes her do quirky, likable things (more on that in a moment), it also is a cheap and easy way to convey personal resolution; when Jack sorts all of her problems out, she's finally able to sleep again.
When I say "likable" I'm referring to the things that make the reader identify with and root for your protagonist. There are some tried-and-true methods for doing this. Give your hero a pet. Have them be kind to someone less fortunate. Give them a universal problem that readers identify with (we've all dealt with insomnia at some point in our lives). Make them funny. Give them unique skills. And make sure the goals keep getting harder and harder to attain. We want to see the hero suffer, struggle, and fight to overcome.
Both Linda and Ann mentioned Heath, who happens to be my favorite of the characters Ann has created, and one I really enjoyed writing for when I did NAUGHTY.
Heath is a spy and assassin. He's well trained and very formidable, in the classic mode of Bond. The reason he became a spy is tied into his childhood, and his parents, and his longterm goal is revenge against his illegitimate father, who happens to be POTUS.
Heath tightrope walks between his cultural upbringing, growing up in the slums of Mexico, and thriving in the uniquely Anglo-Saxon/jetset/flashy world of espionage, where he's as much of an interloper as participant. He also loves women. He REALLY loves women, to the point where the mission often becomes secondary.
In broad strokes, Ann has crossed Jason Bourne with Pepe Le Pew streak.
As a result, Heath is an absolute joy to write for. I love this guy. He's self-deprecating, funny, sexy, and even preposterous, but he's also incredibly competent and lethal. And, like many superheroes, he's haunted by his past and on a quest to make things right.
He's a male ideal, like Bond, but created from a female perspective. So he's funnier than Bond, as every woman loves a sense of humor, spends more time in bed than Bond (and his scenes are explicit), and is every bit the bad boy that romance readers enjoy. Ann created a character that is equally at home in male-dominated espionage thrillers, and female-dominated romantic suspense.
Good characters drive the story, because the story is uniquely suited to them. The problems that Charlie Street, Jack Daniels, and Heathcliff face stem from who they are and how they got to be that way. Their pasts, and environments, and jobs, sync with their personal and story goals to the point where they're inseparable.
And remember to have fun. That's why we started doing this, remember?


text: At 10:46 AM 4/9/2007, Mark Hahn wrote: >>I believe the issue was the location in memory of reserved space, stuck at > >640K is the location of the video buffer. this is a hardware issue, not sw. >the cpu could address up to 1M (+64k, iirc.) 8086/8088 can address 1M (20 bits).. 16 bit segment register*16+ 16 bit offset.. There is a trick, though, because the processor put out which of the 4 memory spaces was being accessed on the high order address lines during some of the later clocks (T2, etc.), so you could use that to have different physical memory spaces (each 1 M long) addressed for Alt Data, Code, Stack, and Data. FFFF:10 is actually the same as 0:0 and, as I recall, wouldn't result in a trap if you used addresses that "wrapped around" (the address generator didn't feed the carry bit to the trap generator). That is, you could use FF00:1000 as a legal address But, after all, who'd ever use more than 64K of code, stack, or data space for a single task... you were just going to port your 8080 code over anyway, right? When a more virtual memory scheme came in(286), and the segment register became more of a pointer to a table, things did change a bit, and it might have generated a trap if you wrapped around physical memory. At least you had a larger virtual address space (2G) that mapped into 16M of physical address space. James Lux, P.E. Spacecraft Radio Frequency Subsystems Group Flight Communications Systems Section Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mail Stop 161-213 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109 tel: (818)354-2075 fax: (818)393-6875

subset: commoncrawl


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Federal Information News Syndicate
Communicating the emerging philosophy of the Global Information-AgeMonday July 24, 2006
Photo Image of The Enlightenment Team in World Premiere LoD WebScope Email Dialogue.Flinders International Asia Pacific Institute, Adelaide, South Australia July 20-21, 2006.From left to right: Back row: Jim, Rob, Penny, Jon, Mai VuFront row: Denise, Kim, Geoff, and Nadira
World Premiere WebScope Email Dialogue:"Root Cause Map" Points of Failures of DemocracyBy Vigdor Schreibman
Isle of Crete, July 21, 2006. World history was made in a synchronous global interactive WebScope Dialogue commencing with lead facilitator Aleco Christakis from Crete, Friday at 2:30 AM on July 21, 2006. We were all together with a group of nine students of "Democracy and The Enlightenment" brought on from the Flinders International Asia Pacific Institute (ISPI), in Adelaide, South Australia on Friday 9:30 AM on July 21, 2006, with other members of the Knowledge Management Team (KMT) in various locations in the United States, meeting on Thursday 8:00 PM on July 20, 2006: Kenneth K. Bausch, an expert in systems sciences and Marie Kane, an expert in corporate marketing, located at Fayetteville, Georgia, Diane Conway, computer software and Internet conference system operator, located at Paoli, Pennsylvania, and this reporter/observer from FINS in Washington, DC. A Global Boundary-Spanning Dialogue, all together in the world of Cyberspace, at different local times and places.
The method employed in this dialogue folows the Structured Design Process (SDP), described in How People Harness Their Collective Wisdom and Power (Feb 2006), which Christakis wrote with Bausch.
The World Premiere demonstrated a WebScope Email Dialogue methodology advanced by the advocacy of LOVERS OF DEMOCRACY, in an effort to bring about a shift of the global paradigm toward democratic sustainability and away from capitalist decadence, with a strategy to make a better world happen using the (SDP) invented by Christakis. With the WebScope application of SDP LOVERS OF DEMOCRACY can link in real time a diverse collection of interested scholars, ordinary citizens, government and business persons, and engage the group in the revolutionary SDP developed over the past three decades to resolve complex issue of social, cultural or political policy and evolution.
During the week of WebScope Email Dialogue, between July 14 and July 21, the KMT guided the student participants in their asynchronous response to a triggering question: "What factors will help significantly in rescuing the enlightenment from its failings?" During the first six days, from Friday through Wednesday morning, the students generated a set of 49 factors, using only their computer pc email facilities, and these factors were carefully clarified so that everyone had a good understanding of the meaning of each others ideas. The set of factors generated by email were then classified into 9 clusters, and prioritized subjectively by relative importance. The KMT organized all the information efficiently and periodically returned pertinent KMT Reports to the student-participants, who were the "content-experts" of the group dialogue, so that they could concentrate their attention on producing the content of the dialogue. Then on Thursday morning, the seventh day, the whole group engaged in a synchronous focused and open dialogue via the WebScope for approximately three hours. At this session the student group at Adelaide, South Australia guided by lead acilitator in Crete, with the KMT in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC produced a "Root Cause Map" disclosing the influence tree among the factors of higher relevant importance, which allowed the group to discover the root causes of the failures of "Democracy and The Enlightenment" which could guide future collective remedial action.
The "Root Cause Map" disclosed three factors that must be remedied before a recovery of "Democracy and The Enlightenment" which are under intense investigation could likely be realized. These are the true drivers in the very complex issues addressed by the graduate student group. The first of these root causes (Factor 15), points to the extremes of either optimism or pessimism that guides public administration and political economy. This contrasts with research that shows the large benefits of policy guidance, not by experts but by the common people. See e.g., YANKELOVICH & HARMAN, STARTING WITH THE PEOPLE 18, 13 (1988). The second root cause (Factor 14) discloses the need for improving local governance by using local knowledge. And the third root cause (Factor 7) discloses the need to make room for the exercise of power by minorities. Overcomimg the three root causes are the key to generating mutual respect and a set of factors leading to greater trust, which are essential elements of success of any community or society.
Participating in the demonstration project, under the guidance of Aleco Christakis, lead facilitator and past President of the International Society for the Systems Sciences were: Rev. Geoff Boyce, Chaplain at the interfaith center at Flinders University; Dr. Jon Deakin, member of Australian Research Council team, studying participatory democracy; Rob Donaldson, Chief Executive Officer, City of Holdfast Bay; Penny Moore, Governance Manager; Kim O'Donnell Research Assistant, member of Co-operative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health; Dr. Jim Schiller, Academic specialising in participatory democracy and decentralisation in Indonesia; Nadira Sultana Graduate student studying gender related issues; Dr. Denise de Vires, Member of ARC team studying informatics and engineering; and Mai Vu Ph.D. student studying decentralisation and strategic planning in Vietnam. The Team Leader was Janet McIntyre (not in the photo), Senior Lecturer at The Flinders Institute of Public Policy and Management (FIPPM). She was called away from her student group during the WebScope synchronous dialogue session to care for her ailing mother in Cape Town, South Africa.
I asked Executive Evolution President, Marie Kane, to comment as she watched the synchronous dialogue, concerning her vision of the global significance of this new technology. This is what she said in an email sent to me Saturday, July 22, 2006:
It is incredibly exciting when I consider the potential of the Webscope Email Dialogue process. Now people from all corners of the globe will have a feasible methodology to discover the true drivers in their most complex issues, while simultaneously clarifying their thinking and building cohesion around that issue. When they also do Stage 2, they will create consensus action scenarios focused where they will have the most impact, while simultaneously educating one another about possibilities. I cannot imagine a more practical, feasible, real world approach to tapping collective wisdom in a way that will really make a positive difference in our world!
Future development of the method will be enhanced by a distance learning program planned by LOVERS OF DEMOCRACY so that everyone everywhere can have an affordable way to learn how to lead group dialogue. Check out the Distance Learning SYLLABUS! The global dialogue communications via telephone and Internet conferencing was subject to local weather disturbances and power outages. These interruptions will require careful monitoring in future applications of the method to assure best practices. Overall, the process left little doubt about the potential spectacular benefits that will likely result from the revolutionary Structured Design Process, and WebScope Email Dialogue utilized in this historical test application.
This report was prepared as a public service without feeby Federal Information News Syndicate (FINS), Vigdor Schreibman, Editor & Publisher.Fins Global Information Age Library at URL: http://sunsite.utk.edu/FINS. All rights reserved.18 - 9th Street NE Apt. #206, Washington, DC 20002 USA.Phone, fax, and voice mail: (202) 547-8715.email to: firstname.lastname@example.com
Cornelia P. Atchley, artist,Portrait of Vigdor in blue 2001.
homepage: http://sunsite.utk.edu/FINS/loversofdemocracy/
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Car News
GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado Ace NHTSA Crash Tests
- Sierra, Silverado earn five stars in NHTSA tests
- GM trucks become the first pickups to get five stars
- Silverado and Sierra totally redesigned for 2014
The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have received 5-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That's big news, since the trucks are the first to earn a 5-star rating under the government's new, stricter crash-test standards.
According to NHTSA, the trucks' overall 5-star rating comprises two 5-star ratings and a 4-star rating. The overall rating averages those three, which is why a vehicle doesn't need to receive five stars across the board to earn a 5-star overall rating.
NHTSA says the trucks earned five stars in both front- and side-impact tests. The 4-star rating came in the government's rollover test, which measures roof strength in a rollover accident. The overall score suggests the trucks may have been on the brink of a 5-star performance in the rollover category, as well.
By earning 5-star overall scores, the Silverado and Sierra became the first pickups to receive a perfect crash-test rating from NHTSA. Each of the GM trucks' full-size pickup rivals -- the Ford F-150, Nissan Titan, RAM 1500 and Toyota Tundra -- earned four stars overall in government crash tests.
But the Silverado and Sierra haven't pulled off their perfect crash-test feat quite yet. NHTSA's 5-star ratings apply only to 4-door crew cab variants of the pickups. The government agency has yet to test regular cab and extended cab models, which may fare slightly worse in side-impact crash tests.
The 5-star performance is especially impressive since it came under NHTSA's new, stricter crash-test standards. Adopted in 2011, the latest standards added new tests and debuted the rollover rating.
The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra went on sale this summer. Both trucks are completely redesigned inside and out, and both offer entirely new V6 and V8 powerplants.
What it means to you: The Sierra and Silverado prove you don't have to compromise on safety if you want a pickup.


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07 August 2012
there's a place...
28 comments:
I love that you're loving it! Cheers to that!
And I bet we're awake at the same time; I'm 36 weeks pregnant so I'm always up in the night! I'll be thinking of you and your new adventure!
- August 7, 2012 at 9:11 AM
I had to google Jakarta. And then (embarrassingly) Indonesia. You are worlds away my dear and I can see the change in you already. Enjoy it!
- August 7, 2012 at 9:21 AM
- Sherry said...
oh, man, I'm glad your back! i love following you on instagram..but i love your words too. when you're flat, i'm flat..that's how much you inspire me to write more and more. maybe i'll get some work done today now. enjoy every day over there...and this wanderlust girl is so looking forward to hearing (and seeing) everything--sherry
- August 7, 2012 at 10:17 AM
- ale norris said...
i was so glad to see one of your posts this morning! you always describe things so vividly and perfectly, and of course this post was no different. glad you're enjoying it out there!
- August 7, 2012 at 11:16 AM
- SAV said...
I gasped. Outloud. Scrolled down and up, down and back up again, just to make sure it wasn't still 'the middle of the afternoon.' You've been missed!
- August 7, 2012 at 12:06 PM
I am so glad to see this post! I missed reading your words!
- August 7, 2012 at 12:24 PM
I am so glad to see this post! I missed reading your words!
- August 7, 2012 at 12:24 PM
- Brandi {not your average ordinary} said...
your words just set my heart singing. i want to visit. that fullness and wonder of a new place...it keeps reviving the wanderlust in you, i think. or it does for me.
- August 7, 2012 at 2:04 PM
- Tracey G said...
We miss you guys already. Glad you are happy and full.
- August 7, 2012 at 2:13 PM
SE as
- August 7, 2012 at 6:11 PM
SE Asia is so special - we had the joy of living in Vietnam for two years until this past spring - we are prepping for our move to Central America - and I long for the new smells, sights, sounds and people - your words and pictures are inspiring - please keep them coming - i hope that your new home is a source of joy, warmth and hope for all five of you -
- August 7, 2012 at 6:17 PM
What a happy girl you've made me today! I've missed your words. P.S. The dress is beyond lovely.
- August 7, 2012 at 7:23 PM
- katie said...
it's so good.
get yourself to bloody seamstress and copy away!!
love this so stinking much.
- August 7, 2012 at 8:06 PM
- Krystal Celeste said...
So good to see a new post from you, have really missed your writing! Looking forward to hearing more about your new adventures in Indonesia! :)
- August 8, 2012 at 2:45 AM
- Christine... said...
I'm biased, but not convinced you were completely flat in VA.
Just. Not just. Prepping those girlies for indo 101.
- August 8, 2012 at 9:44 AM
- Ali said...
So very happy to see your new words pop up in my Google Reader. How is it that you always make my cry? Happy tears this time. I'll be following along on your new adventure...
- August 8, 2012 at 9:55 AM
Yay, Pat!
- August 8, 2012 at 10:01 AM
- Mallory Nickels said...
I'm glad you're back.
- August 8, 2012 at 12:48 PM
- Victoria said...
Loved reading this. How wondeful that you feel you have found a place for yourselves. Great adventures to be had. I'd get a copy of that dress in an instant!!!
- August 8, 2012 at 2:56 PM
- Shannon said...
I am glad your meraki has found you in a place that you have found home.
- August 9, 2012 at 2:56 PM
- Kim said...
Oooooh so excited that you're back overseas! I look forward to hearing all about Indonesia. :)
- August 11, 2012 at 8:09 PM
- Simply Mel {Reverie} said...
she's back. all is divinely good again.
- August 15, 2012 at 12:02 AM
- la la Lovely said...
i've been checking and checking and now I feel a little more relaxed knowing you are all in magical place! Yay to feeling so alive! I still can't believe this cotton candy colored chicks thing.
xo . trina
- August 18, 2012 at 11:07 PM
- Callie Grayson said...
yeah! you're on an adventure again.
that dress, pretty sweet!
- August 19, 2012 at 10:43 AM
- Estelle Hayes said...
Oh, I knew that I missed you and all of your words. But man, this just reminds me of what a treasure you surely are...so happy you are back to sharing. Please do keep it up - that is, when you are up for it.
P.S. Love picturing Pat as a papa of teenage girls. Rough.
- August 27, 2012 at 12:10 PM
- TX Girl said...
I wish I were more like you!
- August 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM
- TX Girl said...
I wish I were more like you!
- August 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM
- Relyn Lawson said...
Oh yeah. I have missed you.
- October 27, 2012 at 2:28 PM


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On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is a 1969 film in the James Bond series. Agent Bond woos a mob boss's daughter and goes undercover to uncover the true reason for Blofeld's allergy research in the Swiss Alps that involves beautiful women from around the world.
- Directed by Peter R. Hunt. Written by Richard Maibaum, based on the novel by Ian Fleming.
James Bond 007 is back!
James Bond[edit]
- This never happened to the other fellow.
- [After Tracy has been shot and killed] It's... it's alright. She's just having a rest. [choking up] There's no hurry, you see. We have all the time in the world.
- Tracy: Why do you persist in rescuing me, Mr. Bond?
- Bond: It's becoming quite a habit, isn't it, Contessa Teresa?
- Tracy: Teresa was a Saint; I'm known as Tracy.
- Bond: Well, Tracy, next time play it safe and stand on 5.
- Tracy: People who want to stay alive play it safe.
- Bond: Please, stay alive! At least for tonight.
- [Bond finds Tracy in his hotel suite with his gun in her hand]
- Tracy: Suppose I were to kill you for a thrill?
- Bond: I can think of something more sociable to do.
- Draco: My apologies for the way you were brought here. I wasn't sure you'd accept a formal invitation.
- Bond: There's always something formal about the point of a pistol.
- [Bond throws a knife and hits a calendar on a bookshelf, on the 14th day]
- Draco: But today is the thirteenth, Commander.
- Bond: I'm superstitious.
- Draco: May I introduce my daughter, Teresa.
- Bond: Contessa..!
- Tracy: Mr. Bond and I have already met.
- Bond: But each time is a renewed pleasure. Madame always makes one feel so welcome!
- [Tracy leaves]
- Draco: She likes you! I can see it.
- Bond: You must give me the name of your oculist.
- Bond: [about Tracy] I find her fascinating. But she needs a psychiatrist, not me.
- Draco: What she needs is a man... to dominate her! To make love to her enough to make her love him! A man like you!
- Blofeld: Merry Christmas, 007.
- Bond: I'm Sir Hillary Bray.
- Blofeld: No no no, Mr. Bond. Respectable baronets from the College of Heralds do not seduce female patients in clinics. On the other hand, they do get their professional details... right. The De Bleauchamps tombs are not in the Augsburg Cathedral as you said, but in the Ste. Anna Kirch. Sir Hillary Bray would have known! A small slip. It takes more than a few props to turn 007 into a Herald.
- Bond: [normal voice] It'll take more than cutting off your earlobes, Blofeld, to turn you into a Count.
- Blofeld: I may yet surprise you. But I'm afraid you have no more surprises left for me. I know all about your mission, Mr. Bond. [throws Bond's contact's climbing equipment to the ground] Your colleague! Such a keen climber, and a brilliant conversationalist... before he left us.
- Bond: You realize that he reported where I am.
- Blofeld: Oh, I doubt that. In any case, no one is coming to your rescue, Mr. Bond. In a few short hours, the United Nations will receive a Yultide greeting. The information that I now possess the scientific means to control, or to destroy, the economy of the whole world. People will have more important things to deal with than you.
- [M refuses to authorize an attack on Blofeld]
- Bond: And the girl who helped me escape? We just leave her there?
- M: This department is not concerned with your personal problems.
- Bond: This department owes her a debt. She saved my life.
- M: Operation Bedlam is DEAD! Do you understand, 007?
- Bond: Yes, Sir. I understand.
- Blofeld: Now, if you're very, very nice to me. I could make you my Countess.
- Tracy: But I'm already a Countess.
- Blofeld: Whereas if you displease me, I can promise you a very different estate.
- Q: [wishing Bond luck on his wedding day] Look, James, I know that we haven't always exactly seen... well, anyway, don't forget, if there's anything you ever need...
- Bond: Thank you, Q, but this time I've got the gadgets and I know how to use them.
- George Lazenby - James Bond
- Diana Rigg - Tracy Di Vicenzo
- Telly Savalas - Ernst Stavro Blofeld
- Gabriele Ferzetti - Marc Ange Draco
- Ilse Steppat - Irma Bunt (final film role)
- Angela Scoular - Ruby Bartlett
- Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny
- Catherine Schell - Nancy
- George Baker - Sir Hilary Bray
- Bernard Lee - M
- Bernard Horsfall - Campbell
- Desmond Llewelyn - Q
External links[edit]
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service at IMDb


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This paper argues that adopting a "developmental regionalism" approach to trade integration provides the best prospects for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to catalyse the process of transformative industrial development, cross-border investment and democracy, governance, peace and security in Africa. It also looks at the progress being made by African countries and the continent in implementing each of the four pillars of this approach.
This paper was written in celebration of the significant contribution to African integration made by Chief Olu Akinkugbe.
Dr Faizel Ismail also presented the Keynote Address at the Olu Akinkugbe Business Law In Africa Fellowship Conference held at the Lagos Business School on 28 November 2018.
A 'developmental regionalism' approach to the AfCFTA: In celebration of the 90th birthday of Chief Olu Akinkugbe CFR CON
South Africa's motorcycle industry is waning while other emerging markets are expanding their production activity, usage and trade performance, and are developing integrated value chains for motorcycles. South Africa is a net importer of motorcycles and imports have been declining for the past five years. No local manufacturing is taking place and the domestic industry relies solely on imports. The industry is small in global terms with the number of registered motorcycles at around 366 000 units as of 2015, which is less than 1% of the global share and the number of new registrations is on the decline. The number of industry participants is also dwindling as more local dealers, distributors and importers of motorcycles close down operations.
One of the main reasons is a policy change that came into effect in 2013. This introduced more stringent requirements for the importation of motorcycles, which in turn reduced the number of establishments eligible to import motorcycles. The policy change has benefited the main original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their authorised agents and suppliers by eliminating competition from parallel importers, which are now forced to source their motorcycle stock domestically from the OEMs and their respective authorised suppliers. This has affected the profit margins of the parallel importers and resulted in many of them closing.
This brief illustrates how, in the debate between trade protectionism versus openness in industrial development, sometimes policy changes in the form of trade restrictions in a specific industry may lead to unintended consequences. These could have an adverse effect on the domestic industry and the overall economy.
This policy brief provides context for technical regulation in the region. It then offers some cross-cutting solutions for developing monitoring mechanisms that can allow policymakers to identify problem areas, and some specific interventions for the Standards, Accreditation and Metrology functions that can build capacity at low cost. It provides some recommendations for a practical agenda on reducing Technical Barriers to Trade in the Southern African Development Community – ones that can be executed with minimal cost, and that improve the institutional capacity of regional organisations to grapple with the complexity inherent to the field. Above all, these regulations will need to be carefully attuned to assure that they provide the maximum protection for the region from dangerous substandard imports, while still allowing for a dynamic, mutually beneficial trading relationship.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a non-reciprocal preferential trade programme that the US offers to 49 sub-Saharan African countries. President Obama's decision to extend AGOA, which was set to expire at the end of September 2015, for another 10 years (2015 to 2025), was highly controversial. The Extension and Enhancement of AGOA Act, signed into law by President Obama on the 29 June 2015, had thus included many new provisions to incorporate the views of the US Congress on the implementation of the 10-year extension and the future trajectory of AGOA.
In this paper, the Extension and Enhancement of AGOA Act is analysed to elucidate the new and additional powers that the new AGOA Act provides the US Congress, the US Administration, and US business lobbies, and the implications of these changes for sub-Saharan African countries. At least three new trends in the 2015 AGOA Act can be identified: payment for preferences, institutional attrition, and a shift to reciprocity. These trends, it is argued in this paper, are potentially contrary to a more mutually beneficial relationship between the US and Africa. The paper offers some reflections on the future of AGOA.
Read online: AGOA Extension and Enhancement Act of 2015, the SA–US AGOA negotiations and the Future of AGOA
This paper argues that the dramatic changes in the trade architecture of the world during the first decade of the new millennium have created both opportunities and challenges for Africa's development. African countries need to develop proactive strategies to harness these new changes and use them to advance the integration of the African continent.
The paper looks at the main elements of the changes in the global trade architecture in the first decade of the new millennium. It then explains how these changes impacted on the Doha Development Round. The shift to mega-regionals and mega-bilaterals by the major developed country players and the implications of these developments for Africa's trade with the world are also briefly discussed. The paper then sets out the changes in the trade policies of the EU and the US on Africa in the new millennium and the implications of these policies for Africa's economic development. The paper also discusses the role of China in the trade and economic development of Africa and looks at the unfolding regional integration strategy of African countries.
See Commonwealth Trade Hope Topics Series Issue 131 The changing global trade architecture: Implications for Sub-Saharan Africa's development
Faizel Ismail is Adjunct Professor in the School of Economics, University of Cape Town and a TIPS Research Fellow
Presentation and Panel Discussion:
Faizel Ismail – TIPS and UCT: AGOA - A Game of Chicken
Malose Letsoalo – Department of Trade and IndustrY
Christopher Wood – TIPS: Making the Best of AGOA through Export Promotion Policies
Tinashe Kapuya - Agricultural Business Chamber: An Agriculture Industry Perspective
The importance of exporting to the US for any developing country cannot be downplayed. Exports to the largest economy in the world along with various support measures has been of cruciall importance to countries such as Japan and South Korea during their industrialisation, more recently for China. The Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) recognises the potential benefits of the US market and is a mechanism to encourage African economies to export into that market. While AGOA is a unilateral agreement by the US it gives benefits to the recipient countries and also is a means to encourage investment by US firms into Africa. The potential to support industrial development is therefore significant and is part of the motivation to extend AGOA by 10 years. Outside of the oil exporters, South Africa is the largest exporter through AGOA. South Africa exports value added products including automotive components and vehicles through AGOA. The recently adopted AGOA, however, specifically required a review of South Africa, mainly as a result of the requirement for poultry and pork imports from the US into the country. The poultry issue has been resolved and a number of compromises reached. The threat of the provisions of the Act that could exclude South Africa still remain. The benefits of South Africa being part of AGOA are applicable to both South Africa and the US,; it is therefore desirable on the side of both countries to find the compromises that would enable that.
The TIPS paper to be presented also forms part of a research project undertaken for NEDLAC.
Faizel Ismail: Dr Faizel Ismail is an Adjunct Professor at the UCT School of Economics and a TIPS Research Associate. He has previously been an advisor to the dti on International Trade and Special Envoy on the African Growth and Opportunity Act and served as the Ambassador Permanent Representative of South Africa to the WTO (2010-2014).
Malose Letsoalo: Malose is the Director of Americas Bilateral Trade Relations in the International Trade and Economic Development Division (ITED) of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti).
Christopher Wood: Chris is a TIPS economist focusing on trade and industry policy. He previously worked as a researcher in economic diplomacy at the South African Institute of International Affairs.
Tinashe Kapuya: Tinashe is the head of international trade and investment intelligence at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz).
Date: Tuesday 24 January2017
Time: 13h30 – 16h00
Venue: TIPS Boardroom, 234 Lange St, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria
RSVP by email: email@example.com to confirm attendance.
This paper reviews the state of play of the African regional integration agenda, inspired by the vision of the Abuja Treaty and Agenda 2063. It argues that the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiators should adopt a "development integration" approach to ensure that the outcome of the CFTA benefits all its members. Towards this end, the CFTA negotiators should work on three parallel tracks: a) they must ensure that the architecture of regional integration is asymmetrical in favour of the Small, Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs); b) they must prioritise the fullest participation of all Africa's members in regional productive value chains that enhance Africa's industrialisation; and c) they must facilitate the co-operation of member states towards the building of cross-border infrastructure. It is argued that this vision and agenda of the CFTA and Agenda 2063 provide Africa with a powerful negotiating mandate to drive the process of engagement between Africa and its main trading partners, multilaterally in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and bilaterally with the European Union (EU), United States (US), China and others.
Ten years is a very short time in the global economy, and by all accounts a decade is all that is left of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). While the United States' unilateral preferential access programme for Africa has been reauthorized three times since it began in 2000, it looks very unlikely to be extended beyond 2025.
This article looks at options and present three immediate interventions could prove useful.
Read online: Making the best of AGOA through export-promotion policies.
What are the main changes in the global trading architecture over the past 15 years? How have these changes impacted on Africa's economic development and the nature of trading relations between Africa and its traditional developed country partners, the European Union, the UK and the USA, and its main developing country partner, China? What are the implications of 'Brexit' - the UK's departure from the European Union - for Africa's trade? And how has the changing narrative of trade and trade integration impacted on Africa's own strategy to integrate its market? This issue of Commonwealth Trade Hot Topics explores these questions and offers some policy recommendations for African policy-makers and trade negotiators.
See Journal of World Trade 51, no. 1 Wournal of World Trade 51, no 1 2017 by Faizel Ismail: The changing global trade architecture: Implications for Africa's regional integration and development
Faizel Ismail is Faizel Ismail is Adjunct Professor in the School of Economics, University of Cape Town and a TIPS Research Fellow
Asia has been an important export market for South Africa's trade-induced industrialisation strategy, China being the country's main trading partner in that region. This case study explores the potential of increasing trade with other Asian countries such as Indonesia, rather than focussing mainly on China. The case study details potential opportunities for a range of South Africa's manufactured products in the Indonesian market, as well as looking at some of the obstacles such as export competitiveness, tariffs, non-tariff barriers and anti-dumping measures, which have affected trade relations. It makes recommendations for ways to overcome these and deepen trade relations and investment cooperation.
Session 4: Market integration and trade
Paper to follow
Session 4: Market integration and trade
Technical regulations lay down compulsory requirements for product or service characteristics or their related processes and production methods. They have specific administrative provisions and conformity assessment requirements with which compliance is mandatory for safety, health, environmental control and consumer protection. The capacity to comply with international standards, norms and technical regulations underpins the potential for economic and industrial growth. Standards and conformity assessments are required to prevent the influx of substandard and injurious products into African markets and to improve the quality, and enhance potential access, of African products to export markets.
This policy brief examines the implications for regional integration that the strengthening of technical infrastructure capacity in African countries for metrology, standards, accreditation and conformity assessment and compliance could have for Africa's industrialisation efforts.
As vessels and seaports - conduits for international trade growth, serving over 90% of world commerce - ascend to ever greater significance in a cost-conscious world reeling from the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, the concepts of port efficiency and productivity matter more and more, especially in configuring optimal port designs.
This paper attempts to illuminate this in considering the extent to which Durban's International Airport (DIA) and other port expansion/modernisation projects under consideration in ports throughout the world from Santos to Maputo, Bagamoyo, Singapore and Los Angeles, are really necessary. The alternative approach is to prioritise enhancing existing efficiency as a more feasible substitute. It seeks to outline the consequences of Durban's proposed port development for the current and DIA dugout port site as a prototype to determining the extent to which a proposed port expansion is really necessary, economically feasible or desirable from a key port user perspective. It summarises a UKZN Master's Dissertation. It does so through outlining a timeline of port developments including future plans, a projected demand-supply, cost benefit analysis, through identifying the potential port user requirements, constraints to existing efficiency and concerns. The economic, environmental, traffic and transport and other general consequences of the proposed port development along with possible recommendations and solutions are also outlined.
This paper falls under the TIPS Small Grant Research Papers initiative and is based on Jack Dryer's work for his masters thesis. Note, however, that the research pieces posted are not edited by TIPS but are the responsibility of the student and supervisor.
For more on this see TIPS Development Dialogue: Linking back of port operations to city development plans and supporting the growth of the marine engineering sector
Promoting exports to develop manufacturing remains a key growth strategy in the National Development Plan. Super-exporters dominate almost all South Africa's export sectors. They are the main drivers of export growth and they define the country's export structure. However, despite their dominance, super-exporters have been losing dynamism and competitiveness, with 93% of these firms not creating sufficient new high-value exports to replace those that died out during the global financial crisis. According to the World Bank, South Africa is exploiting only about 20% of its potential export relationships compared to China's and Germany's 70%. Smaller South African exporters are more experimental but are not yet large enough to drive aggregate exports.
One of the major international economic developments in recent years has been the growth in regional trade agreements (RTAs). However, with the exception of a few, there are criticisms that RTAs have not yielded the expected benefits. The focus of this paper is to determine the impact of engaging in regional initiatives for two groupings comprising of developing and least developed countries from two different continents, namely MERCOSUR and SADC.
This research report was produced under the TIPS small grant scheme.
Anaïs Dangeot holds a First Class in her undergraduate studies in Banking and Finance at the University of Mauritius. She has recently completed her Masters in Social Protection Financing at the University of Mauritius with a distinction. During her Master's tenure, Anais has participated in a joint research project between the University of Mauritius and the University of Botswana. Miss Dangeot has also been working with the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI), in Cape Town. Finally, her research interests centres on areas which include public policy, poverty, deprivation analysis and broader social development issues.
Intra-Industry trade (henceforth IIT) has generally been perceived to be a feature of the industrialized countries. As the past few years have seen a rapid increase in Zambia's trade with its trading partners in the SADC, trade statistics reveal that a substantial part of such intra-SADC trade is in fact of the IIT form. This study seeks to establish the extent of IIT between Zambia and its trading partners in the SADC region and to identify the determinants of IIT at this level.
Using a modified gravity model in a panel data framework for the 1998-2006 period, the estimation results from the Feasible Generalized Least Squares in the random effects model evaluates the existence of IIT between Zambia and its trading partners in the SADC. The empirical results reveal that gross domestic product, dissimilarities in per capita income, transportation costs (distance and common border) and colonial ties (common language) are significant factors explaining IIT between Zambia and its trading partners in the SADC. The results also reveal that IIT between Zambia and its trading partners in the SADC is positively determined by GDP, distance, and dummies for common border and common language while dissimilarities in per capita income (DPCI) depresses it.
This paper investigates the potential to harness trade finance to foster the development of a green economy in developing countries.
The world is facing multiple crises of sustainability: global financial crisis, climate change, and the overuse of natural resources. Many developing countries are additionally destabilized by poverty, disease, corruption, and failures in democratic governance and education.
The transition to a green economy is recognised by a variety of organizations and experts as a ground-breaking way forward, combining economic development, social welfare and environmental protection. In order to shift to a green economy, changes in production and consumption practices, and therefore also in trade patterns, are crucial. This makes the leverage power of leading export credit agencies, which totalled an exposure of USD 1.7 trillion in 2011, colossal.
Geographical Indications are goods that derive the uniqueness of their quality from the region where they originate. Provision for protection of such goods is provided for in the TRIPS Agreement among WTO member countries. This policy brief looks at some international examples where goods have been protected based on a Geographical Indication status in attempting to draw out some lessons on the costs and benefits of protecting goods with this status, and whether such a regime should be introduced in South Africa.
We look at how trade liberalisation, working through product prices, has affected the skill premium in South Africa over the period 1990-2009. Our main finding is that trade liberalisation led to a reduction in prices over this period, and, through prices, mandated a rise in the skill premium of 3.3%. The structure of the skill premium did not stay constant over the period. In the sub-period 1990-1999, trade liberalisation mandated a fall in the skill premium of 10.6% and in the sub-period 2000-2009, trade liberalisation mandated a rise in the skill premium of 11.6%. Our main results are consistent with the sector bias of tariff cuts over these periods, however they do not pass some of the robustness checks that we perform.
About the Authors:
Jeffrey Mashiane
In progress
Supervisor, Larence Edwards: Lawrence Edwards is an Associate Professor in the School of Economics, University of Cape Town. Lawrence graduated with a MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics in 1998. He completed his PhD in Economics at the University of Cape Town in 2003.
Lawrence's research falls within the field of international trade with a specific focus on international trade and labour, the determinants of trade flows and economic adjustments to trade liberalisation. He has published in a number of international and local journals including World Development, Journal of International Development, South African Journal of Economics and Journal of Studies in Economics and Econometrics. He has also consulted widely with the World Bank, the National Treasury, the Department of Trade and Industry and is currently a member of the South African Growth Project managed by the Centre of International Development at Harvard University.


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After the disappointing culling last week, we're down to the final 12, and from here on out, only audience votes will help our favorites move through -- no more coaches' saves.
I'm running out of things to say about these musicians, so here's how it works this week: vote for your favorites. If they make the cut, they make the cut. If they don't, they don't, and since this is entirely in your hands, dear audience, it's entirely likely that a coach will NOT have a representative in the final rounds. Feel the pressure? Good.
Team Blake
Michaela Paige — Mohawk-free and barely recognizable, sang Pink's "Blow Me One Last Kiss." It blows my...


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Hohner Compadre EAD AccordionA great value, this accordions quality tone and distinctive look is perfect for younger players, or those wishing to stand out. The Hohner Compadre Accordion is a three-row diatonic accordion with a matte paint finish similar to the Panther accordion but with an adjustable bass strap, a gig bag, and a set of straps. This accordion is perfect for intermediate players, or those looking to purchase a second accordion. Every Hohner accordion is the result of over 100 years of experience in the design,
construction, and manufacture of high quality bellows-driven instruments. Painstaking craftsmanship and the selection of the finest materials guarantee a consistently high standard of production. The combination of skilled workmanship and modern technology is known worldwide as the distinguishing feature of Hohner's high-end accordions and other instruments.
|Product Name
|Hohner Compadre EAD Accordion


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Events, Music & Entertainment in NYC. Short and Sweet.
She Wants Revenge Valleyheart (Five Seven Music) She Wants Revenge opens up with something different (semi-pleasant and refreshing), not a bang, but […]
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This map was created by KLM who provide flights to New York for those looking to discover the city.
© 2019 Short and Sweet NYC. All rights reserved.


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Welcome to Beautiful WreckGrab your drink of choice and sit down and read awhile.
Recent Posts
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Tag Archives: conservative christian homosexuality
Normalizing the "Gay Lifestyle" In Beauty and The Beast
Last week it was announced that Disney's new live-action film, Beauty and The Beast, would feature an openly gay character who would be having a gay moment in the film. This revelation, just weeks before it's release (how timely) has … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged bigotry, church bigotry, conservative christian homosexuality, Disney and sex, Disney Family Friendly, Disney films and homosexuality, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, gay families, gay rights, homosexual obsession, Jesus follower, LGBTQ, religious bigotry, right wing conservative bigotry, sexual sin and obsession, sexually fluid, what is the gay lifestyle Leave a comment


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A replacement bus service is running on the Southern Trains service between Uckfield and East Croydon due to engineering works today (September 27).
Services to Balcome, Burgess Hill, Buxted, Cooksbridge, Crawley, Crowborough, East Grinstead, Frant, Hassocks, Haywards Heath, Lewes, Plumpton, Three Bridges, Wivelsfield and Uckfield are affected by the work.
A replacement bus service is also running on the Thameslink service between Three Bridges and Brighton, causing severe delays to the service.
There are currently no major incidents on Sussex roads.
North Street in Hellingly and Cross Levels Way in Eastbounre have both re-opened following incidents on Saturday.
Don't miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Here are four ways you can be sure you'll be amongst the first to know what's going on.
1) Make our website your homepage
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In this blog I talk about some of the personal programming I do as a hobby. By trade I'm a Java and database developer but I've dabbled in Haskell, front-end development, etc. I'm currently working as an architect but still enjoy getting my fingers dirty in code!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
GUI Testing using OCR: project Sikuli
I thought: instead of using specific testing frameworks for each UI technology I have (a tool for the web, a tool for SWT UIs, etc) what about a tool that could recognize the text on screen and click or type in the proper places. The same technology for everything type of UI, and something that doesn't rely on pixel perfect positioning to work! Turns out (surprise!) I'm not the first one that had the idea, and looking around I stumbled on Project Sikuli. This looks great: it uses images to find "interesting" parts of your UI and there's also support for text recognition. So potentially you could say "click on the button that says 'Submit'"! It integrates with Java code so you can easily have JUnit tests using it.
Unfortunately, for my own purposes I couldn't get very far easily because of lack of support for transparent images (or, more precisely, it takes into account transparent areas for images, so it doesn't recognize an image if the background changes, which happens if your desktop theme changes, if you use the same icon in different contexts in your UI, etc). But it still looks like a promising tool!
6 comments:
Hi ,
If you are looking at an end to end test solution with OCR functionality for test automation across any OS any device . Try eggPlant from TestPlant.
But it is a commercial tool - with complete support.
Try it to see the utility.
hii sir im new in sikuli so can u explain me integrating sikuli with java
- JP Moresmau said...
It's true that the documentation talks about Python, but you can as easily use Java. Just include all the Sikuli jars in your project. Then :
Screen s = new Screen();
and you can use the API of Screen (wait, click) to manipulate your application. What I've done is put all this code in a JUnit test, that starts my application then tests it via Sikuli.
Hello Sir..
I have add the sikuli jar file in the class path of system variable C:\Program Files\Sikuli X
and after that i add path to sikuli\libs i.e. C:\Program Files\Sikuli X\libs in the path of system variable
and path to java\jre6\bin i.e. C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin in the path of system variable
and in the command line i write:- java -jar "C:\Program Files\Sikuli X
\sikuli-script.jar" imgs2.sikuli // imgs2.sikuli is the name of the
folder where i capture screen shot of the start button//
but it doesnt run in the command prompt..
and i write a program in java but i also show some error
package defaultt;
import edu.mit.csail.uid.FindFailed;
public class anu {
public static void main(String[] args) throws FindFailed {
Screen s = new Screen();
s.click("imgs2/start.png", 0); // this command use for click on the start button//
s.wait("imgs2/AnuragVM4Int.png"); // this command use for wait to open the start menu/
s.find("imgs2/Run.png",0); // find the run button //
s.click("imgs2/Run-1", 0); // click on run //
now can u help me to tackle this problem...
if i made any mistake in command prompt, adding jar file and java file in system variable and in writting java program then plss guide me
- JP Moresmau said...
Er, you don't give the error message, so I can't guess what the problem is.
Anyway, posting on my blog "project Sikuli is a great idea" doesn't make me official tech support for it. Please read the information on the Sikuli web site, and ask questions on the proper channel, which I believe is https://answers.launchpad.net/sikuli.
Good luck!
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.


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Topic: Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Did anyone watch it last night?
It was utterly amazing. I died of laughter listening to some of the songs!
Russia won. They were alright. I suppose.
But F3TT, here's a note for you, Finland rocked!
They were a heavy metal band all dressed in black and silver. They kicked ( censored ) A**!
My favourite were France, as I always wanted a song like that to come oot!
Yours opinions?


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Sweet Tooth: A Novel (Hardcover)
Staff Reviews
Serena Frome has recently graduated from Cambridge University with a
degree in maths, but that will she do now? With her beauty and keen
intellect, Serena is an ideal candidate for MI5. It's 1972 and the cold
war is far from over. Britain's legendary intelligence group has their
eyes set on manipulating the cultural conversation by funding writers
whose politics align with their own. The project's code name is "Sweet
Tooth" and
Serena, a voracious reader, is chosen to infiltrate the group. Her first
target is Tom Haley. Serena quickly falls in love with Tom's writing,
only to later fall in love with the man behind the words. How long can
she keep her secret life concealed? Serena becomes torn between her love
for Tom and the agency she believes in.
Sweet Tooth is deft and witty, a wonderful story of love, intrigue and
November 2012 Indie Next List
"Cold War espionage, illicit love affairs, and a coming-of-age story all wrapped into one? Only McEwan could pull off this ambitious story. Meet Serena: just out of university, recruited for MI5, and chosen for a special project with the code name Sweet Tooth. Serena is beautiful, intelligent, and becoming sure of herself as she settles into her adult life. Her confidence is shaken, however, as Sweet Tooth gets underway and the truth about friends, lovers, and MI5 colleagues comes to the surface. Once again, McEwan presents a beautifully crafted novel, one that keeps you turning the pages while encouraging deeper thoughts about love and trust."
— Kate Bonilla, Third Street Books, McMinnville, OR
In this stunning new novel, Ian McEwan's first female protagonist since Atonement is about to learn that espionage is the ultimate seduction.
Cambridge student Serena Frome's beauty and intelligence make her the ideal recruit for MI5. The year is 1972. The Cold War is far from over. England's legendary intelligence agency is determined to manipulate the cultural conversation by funding writers whose politics align with those of the government. The operation is code named "Sweet Tooth."
Serena, a compulsive reader of novels, is the perfect candidate to infiltrate the literary circle of a promising young writer named Tom Haley. At first, she loves his stories. Then she begins to love the man. How long can she conceal her undercover life? To answer that question, Serena must abandon the first rule of espionage: trust no one.
Once again, Ian McEwan's mastery dazzles us in this superbly deft and witty story of betrayal and intrigue, love and the invented self.
About the Author
IAN McEWAN is the bestselling author of fourteen books, including the novels Solar; On Chesil Beach; Saturday; Atonement, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the W. H. Smith Literary Award; The Comfort of Strangers and Black Dogs, both shortlisted for the Booker Prize; Amsterdam, winner of the Booker Prize; and The Child in Time, winner of the Whitbread Award; as well as the story collections First Love, Last Rites, winner of the Somerset Maugham Award, and In Between the Sheets. He lives in England.
Praise For…
Praise for Sweet Tooth:
"McEwan's most stylish and personal book to date ... The year's most intensely enjoyable novel."
—The Daily Beast
"A tightly crafted, exquisitely executed page-turner — a post-modern hall of mirrors asking savvy questions about identity, all concealed in the immersive trappings of a Victorian novel complete with a marriage plot. There's such rich pleasure and vulnerability in McEwan's storytelling, such style and heart in his well-honed sentences."
—USA Today
"Ian McEwan's delicious new novel provides all the pleasures one has come to expect of him: pervasive intelligence, broad and deep knowledge, elegant prose, subtle wit and, by no means least, a singularly agreeable element of surprise."
—Washington Post
"As usual McEwan's prose is effortlessly seductive."
—The New York Times
"As entertaining as a very intelligent novel can be and vice versa ... Sweet Tooth is extremely clever in both the British and American senses (smart as well as amusingly tricky) and his most cheerful book by far."
—Kurt Andersen, The New York Times Book Review
"McEwan has pulled off something remarkable here: Sweet Tooth is a suspenseful plot-and-character-driven novel with an unexpected postmodern twist. It's Jane Austen meets John Le Carré meets John Barth — not a combination that I imagine anyone has ever walked into a bookstore seeking. But it's one whose delights turn out to be considerable."
—The Boston Globe
"An engaging book that's as much suspenseful drama as it is romantic love story."
"Tricky and captivating ... This is a book you can think about for a long time, a book that lingers and disturbs, in a good way."
—Katie Roiphe, Slate
"With his new novel, Ian McEwan looks set to have his biggest success since 2001's Atonement, and deservedly so. Both books feature eloquent and convincing female narrator/protagonists and have the same sly concerns: the uses and misuses of the imagination ... A story set in a bitter climate, but one told with such poise and craft that the novel is, one has to say, ultimately a sweet read."
—Star Tribune
"A superb novel ... told with Ian McEwan's signature crystal-clear prose. Bravo!"
—The Buffalo News
"A subtly and sweetly subversive novel [that is a] masterful manipulation of the relationship(s) between fiction and truth ... Britain's foremost living novelist has written a book as drily funny as it is thoughtful."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"This is a great big beautiful Russian doll of a novel, and its construction – deft, tight, exhilaratingly immaculate – is a huge part of its pleasure ... Sweet Tooth is a comic novel and a novel of ideas, but, unlike so many of those, it also exerts a keen emotional pull."
—Julie Myerson, The Observer
"Thoroughly clever ... a sublime novel about novels, about writing them and reading them and the spying that goes on in doing both ... McEwan has spied on real life to write Sweet Tooth, and in reading it we are invited to spy on him ... Rich and enjoyable."
—Financial Times
"A wisecracking thriller hightailing between love and betrayal, with serious counter-espionage credentials thrown in … This is ultimately a book about writing, wordplay and knowingness."
—The Telegraph
"McEwan writes with his usual clinical precision, brilliantly evoking the London of dingy Camden flats, the three-day week and IRA atrocities. His assumption of a female persona is pitch-perfect."
—Daily Mail
"A disgraced spy, a failed mission, a ruined lover: Ian McEwan's new novel, Sweet Tooth, opens at full tilt ... The novel's pleasures are multiple and, as always with McEwan, they begin with the storytelling."
—Bloomberg Businessweek
"Sweet Tooth takes the expectations and tropes of the Cold War thriller and ratchets up the suspense ... A well-crafted pleasure to read, its smooth prose and slippery intelligence sliding down like cream."
—The Independent
"Gloriously readable and, at times, wickedly funny."
—Irish Times
"McEwan fans won't be disappointed by Sweet Tooth, and newcomers to the author will be meeting him at the top of his game."
—The Globe and Mail
Praise for Ian McEwan
"McEwan is one of the most gifted literary storytellers alive."
—James Wood, The New Republic
"[McEwan's] finely honed prose is a deep pleasure to experience."
—Chicago Sun-Times
"McEwan is in the first tier of novelists writing in English today . . . He has achieved a complete mastery of his craft."
—The New York Observer


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Profound political change never happens overnight. The epic struggles for civil rights, voting rights, women's suffrage and workers' rights all took decades to achieve success and, at many levels, are still going on. But no political movement has ever sped to victory as fast as the fight for marriage equality, capped this week by the Supreme Court's historic decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act.
It's hard to believe, but only 10 years ago it was against the law for gays or lesbians to engage in consensual sex in 14 states. Indeed, Wednesday's ruling on same-sex marriage came 10 years to the day after the court handed down its Lawrence v. Texas decision, invalidating anti-sodomy laws in Texas and 13 other states.
It was only nine years ago that conservative marriage activists succeeded in placing constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage on the general election ballot in 11 states — and all 11 won, with an average 70 percent support. And, of course, until September 2011 and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, gays and lesbians could not openly serve in the military.
Yet look where we are today. Anti-sodomy laws are gone. Don't Ask, Don't Tell has been repealed. Twelve states and the District of Columbia legally recognize same-sex marriage. Thanks to the Supreme Court, California will soon become the 13th. The President of the United States has endorsed marriage equality. So have 51 Democratic senators and three Republicans. And the Defense of Marriage Act is no more. Wow! So far, so fast.
In a sense, the court's ruling on California's Proposition 8 was easy, because nobody with any real stake in the issue was defending it. As Chief Justice John Roberts noted, anti-same-sex forces, led by Catholic bishops and the Mormon Church, were not impacted in a "personal and individual way" by the outcome. Plaintiffs, on the other hand, were. Paul Katami and his partner Jeffrey Zarrillo, for example, couldn't get married as long as Prop. 8 remained in effect. Governor Jerry Brown directed officials to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses as soon as federal courts certify the Supreme Court decision.
Wednesday's ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, will have much wider impact. It's not in the same league as Brown v. Board of Education, but it's close. Writing for the 5-4 majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said very simply: Congress cannot ask the federal government to discriminate. Period. In those states which have recognized gay marriage, Kennedy argued, federal agencies cannot treat straight couples one way, and gay couples another. DOMA, he concluded, had no purpose other than to harm gay and lesbian couples and their families — in effect, telling them "that their marriage is less worthy than the marriages of others."
There is no way under the Constitution to defend such outright bias. The White House refused. So did the Justice Department. Even President Bill Clinton, who signed it into law in 1996, begged the court to overturn DOMA and thanked them for doing so. In the end, only House Republicans under John Boehner stood up to defend DOMA, which says a lot about today's Republican Party. How pathetic that they should make discrimination in any form a top priority. Is that really how they plan to appeal to young people?
The implications of the repeal of DOMA are huge. There are more than 1,000 benefits, ranging from tax advantages to retirement options to veterans programs, which only straight couples now enjoy under existing statutes and regulations. All of those benefits will now be equally available to gay couples as well, at least in all 13 states that recognize same-sex marriage. Same-sex spouses of active-duty military, for example, will now be notified if their partner's killed in combat, allowed to apply for survivor benefits and entitled to receive the American flag covering the coffin — simple, but all so important recognition straight partners have long taken for granted.
Again, the Supreme Court fix is not perfect. Same-sex marriage is not the law of the land. Not yet. But this week's decisions are a historic step forward. They renew our hope that, while significant social change may take years, it will eventually happen. It's happening with both marriage equality and immigration reform. And soon, mark my words, it will be happening with climate change legislation. Republicans blocking it now will soon rush to embrace it. Just not soon enough.


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Parise has 2 goals, assist as Wild extend win streak to 6 with 7-4 victory over StarsNHL.com @NHLdotcom
DALLAS - Zach Parise scored two goals and added an assist and the Minnesota Wild extended their winning streak to six games with a 7-4 win over Dallas Stars on Monday.
Both of Parise's goals came on bounces that barely made it over the goal line. Mikko Koivu and Matt Cullen each had a goal and assist for Minnesota, which won for the first time in Dallas since March 21, 2003, snapping a 16-game losing streak in Dallas (0-11-5).
With the game tied 4-4 in the third period, the Wild got a short-handed goal from Kyle Brodziak at 12:38.
Dany Heatley added an insurance goal with 1:28 remaining Pierre-Marc Bouchard added an empty-netter with 16 seconds left.
Niklas Backstrom, who is 14-3-1 in his past 18 games and coming off a 2-0 shutout of San Jose on Saturday, stopped 22 shots for the win.


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Expand/Contract Questions and Answers
Click here for information on how to comment about a Bridgeton Police Department Employee.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), is committed to protecting the public and ensuring that the rights of victims are carefully observed. HSI administers the Victim Notification Program which allows eligible victims and witnesses to obtain reliable and timely information regarding a criminal alien's release from custody. However, victims and witnesses are required to register with HSI in order to receive notification of a criminal alien's release.
Listed below is a universal resource locator for the HSI Victim Notification Program.
The City Council of the City of Bridgeton has passed an Ordinance to allow for Archery Deer Hunting within the City Limits of Bridgeton. There are many regulations that one must comply with before any hunting is permitted. I urge anyone to review the attached Ordinance for this important information, prior to the start of any hunting activity.
Permits are required for the following:
Residential: Fences (including replacements), decks, garages, storage buildings (over 120 square feet), swimming pools, all structural remodels or repair, roof trusses and decking (but not shingles), satellite dishes, all additions, fire damage or repair, retaining walls over 4 foot, demolition, fireplaces and stoves, carport and patio covers.
Permits are not required for: painting, flooring, cabinetry, siding, roof shingles, and gutters.
Please click here to be directed to our Building Permit information.
Any Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Permits must be applied for through St. Louis County.
Any Fire Permits must be applied for through the appropriate Fire District.
All plans must conform to the 2003 International Building Code. Please submit applications to the Information Desk at City Hall.
Yes, all home sales, new construction, and rental property require the submittal of an application for an occupancy permit. For all home sales and new construction we will issue a certificate of occupancy. Please note that we DO NOT issue a certificate of occupancy for rental property.
For information on Residential Occupancy Permits please click here.
For information on Rental Occupancy Permits please click here.
Auto releases are obtained at the Police Department
You must bring proof of vehicle ownership (i.e.–title bill of sale).
You must bring valid identification
City of Bridgeton residents must apply for a concealed carry permit at the St. Louis County Police Department Headquarters, located at 7900 Forsyth Boulevard, 63105. Clerks are available between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.
Applicants are required to:


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Boffins tout world's first single-chip digital microphone
Akustica develops MEMS-on-standard-CMOS process
US start-up Akustica today launched what it claims is the world's first micro-mechanical digital microphone chip that can be manufactured using standard chip-making processes. Pitching the part primarily at PCs, the company said the new part is sufficiently inexpensive to make microphone arrays in notebook screens and desktop monitors commonplace.
Most of the microphones integrated into PCs, mobile phones, PDAs, Bluetooth headsets and the like are made using the traditional analogue coil-and-magnet technique or capacitors. Digital-output versions - so-called microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) - made using the same lithography processes used to design CPUs, GPUs and memory but with microscopic moving parts, are becoming more common. However, since they're made using customised fabrication processes, they're expensive.
But not so for Akustica's AKU2000 chip, company co-founder and CTO Ken Gabriel said. It's made using a standard CMOS process, allowing the company to leverage almost any fab or foundry in the world. Gabriel also contrasted the product with other MEMS microphone products which contain two chips wired together. The second chip contains signal processing circuitry of a kind built into Akustica's single-chip microphone, he said. And the 4 x 4mm one-chip product is easier to integrate into, say, a notebook screen's bevel.
Two or more AKU2000s brought together have, thanks to their single-chip approach and standard fabrication, more closely matched audio characteristics, Gabriel said, making them more suitable for array set-ups than existing products.
Why an array of microphones? Multiple inputs can be used to help cancel or at least significantly reduce background noise and improve the quality of the source. Intel has been touting microphone arrays for notebooks since it began developing its HD Audio specification. With the growth of interest in VoIP, both chip makers believe adding multiple microphones will be key to improving the quality of VoIP calls, especially those made on the move.
Akustica also has its eye on mobile phone and Bluetooth headset applications, both of which can benefit from the noise-reduction capabilities of multiple, cheap microphones, company marketing chief Davin Yuknis said.
The AKU2000 is sampling now and is priced at $3.87 per unit in 1000-piece quantities. ®


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Global growth based on fundamental values – with openness, transparency, dynamism and trust in a sustainable future.
The Adam Hall Group builds on a long history in the industry. As both a manufacturer and distributer, with a market share that is currently steadily growing, and as an innovative, modern company, we have our eyes set on an even more impressive future. All of this makes responsible management indispensable. Sustainable strategies and structures, in all divisions all the way to Management, help with this.
As a manufacturer and distributer for event technology, with a strong relationship to music, we are convinced: it's not just the tune you play, but how you play it! That's why we treat all of our employees with respect and prize mutual respect in our business with customers and partners. Despite the increasing internationalisation of Adam Hall Group, we also maintain a strong connection with the region – as an employer and also as part of the social and cultural life of our headquarters in Neu-Anspach, near Frankfurt, Germany.
Musician David Kirby, born in Kent, England, discovered his love for Germany in the 1970s during his many tours. He then found his second home in Taunus, Hesse. After arriving in Germany, the now Executive Chairman of the Adam Hall Group founded Adam Hall GmbH in the 1980s, which at that time was a sister firm of Adam Hall Ltd., which had been founded by Mr. Adam Hall near London 5 years earlier. In the years that followed, David took on a majority stake in the whole company and, with drive and determination, started building up the Adam Hall brand. In the 33 years that ensued, he was responsible for the highly successful journey of the Adam Hall Group as the sole managing director. As part of the forward-looking management buy-out that he planned in 2013, which resulted in today's managing directors Alexander Pietschmann (CEO) and Markus Jahnel (COO) purchasing shares in the company, David is still actively involved in important strategic issues.
David's personal interests include classic cars and vintage rallies. He takes part in these when time allows it. He also enjoys travelling and, as a passionate sailor, likes being on water the most. And the keen bassist naturally has lost nothing of his old love for music. He is still the heart and soul of the very popular Adam Hall Company Band.
After his high school graduation in 2000, Alexander Pietschmann, who was born in 1980 in Dresden, started his commercial law studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Frankfurt am Main, and successfully graduated as a commercial lawyer in 2006. During this time Alex also founded an event company, which later became a well-known restaurant and live club. After selling the company, Alex started his career at the Adam Hall Group, where he was initially responsible for law and IT. He also evolved the company's approach to marketing.
In 2010, Alex became an authorised representative and member of the executive management. As part of the succession plan and upcoming generational change, in 2013 he and Markus Jahnel purchased shares from the previous director and GmbH founder David Kirby as part of an MBO. Alex was then appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Adam Hall Group. He is an enthusiastic leadership and innovation coach, and ESMT, IMD and MIT alumnus. In his spare time Alex spends a lot of time with his children and family, and also enjoys sport and meditation. But his private life isn't complete without event technology and music. Alex, who comes from a family of musicians, developed a passion for the production and mixing of music at a young age. Even today, he DJs when the opportunity arises.
Other responsibilities:
Product Management
Born in Weilrod, Markus Jahnel's journey took him from his vocational baccalaureate to training as a publisher and almost two years in the German Armed Forces. In 1989, Markus finally joined the Adam Hall Group, where he worked in sales until 1995. He attended evening classes at the IHK and, in 1996, graduated as a business administrator. Following this, Markus worked for almost ten years for Adam Hall GmbH, first as a Sales Representative and then as Global Sales Manager, supervising the sales department, before being promoted to General Manager of the Adam Hall Group. In the course of the management buy-outs in 2013, he became a shareholder in the company along with Alexander Pietschmann as part of the succession plan and pending generational change. Since then, he has served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and is responsible for the entire operative business of the Adam Hall Group.
Markus' personal interests are almost as diverse as the Adam Hall Group product range: As well as sport, which includes running, football and fitness boxing, Markus is also a fan of good music across an eclectic variety of genres. He reads a lot and loves travel, whether for business or for pleasure with his family.
Other responsibilities:
Sales & Distribution