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Module code: MUT3008
Module Overview
This module introduces students to the demands and rigours regarding the expectations, discipline and professionalism required of the contemporary professional actor. The module expands students' experience of and encourages further development of approaches to performance, rehearsal and auditioning for specific roles in specific productions.
The selection of material for the production modules is determined by the range, skills and dynamics of each student year group. Every effort is made to provide material which reflects the professional market and which challenges the students artistically.
Module provider
Guildford School of Acting
Module Leader
WOOLFORD Julian (GSA)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 6
JACs code: W312
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
This module assumes that students have undertaken training in Musical Theatre in a conservatoire environment at Level 4 and Level 5 and have high proficiency in Acting, Voice, Singing and Dance.
Module content
This is a core part of the training at GSA, students undertake a full rehearsal process and full performance usually staged at The Ivy Arts Centre. Students work with and engage with the wider professional community and it is expected that at Level 6 students are expected to show a high level of understanding in the following:
- Textual Understanding.
- Characterisation.
- Vocal technique and delivery.
- Dance technique and delivery.
- Integration of technique.
- Sustained rehearsal work.
- Teamwork.
Directors, musical directors and choreographers are drawn either from senior faculty, selected from the informal pool of professional working directors who work regularly for GSA, or invited to meet the specific demands and requirements of a particular production. We operate strict selection criteria and expect directors to comply with detailed production guidelines.
Casting for productions in the third year involves audition in order to extend the students' readiness for the profession. Every effort is made to provide students with a range of performance experience and of directors.
Each student should have worked with at least two external professionals by the end of the programme.
Assessment pattern
|Assessment type
|Unit of assessment
|Practical based assessment
|Practical based assessment
Alternative Assessment
PLEASE NOTE: If a student is unable to complete the criteria.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate…
The assessment strategy is designed to give the students practical and "real world" experience of a professional rehearsal process. The module is structured to reflect the challenges of developing a truthful and fully realised performance in and a full integration of voice, singing, acting and dance within the context of the piece.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
Summative 1: Practical - Rehearsal Process
Student Activity ILO Map
Textual Understanding 1,2,3,4,5,7
Characterisation 1,2,3,4,5,7
Vocal technique and delivery 1,2,3,4,5,7
Dance technique and delivery 1,2,3,4,5,7
Integration of technique 1,2,3,4,5,7
Sustained rehearsal work 1,2,3,4,5,7
Teamwork 1,2,3,4,5,7
Summative 2: Practical - Public Performance
Student Activity ILO Map
Textual Understanding 1,2,3,4,5,6
Characterisation 1,2,3,4,5,6
Vocal technique and delivery 1,2,3,4,5,6
Dance technique and delivery 1,2,3,4,5,6
Integration of technique 1,2,3,4,5,6
Sustained rehearsal work 1,2,3,4,5,6
Teamwork 1,2,3,4,5,6
Formative assessment and feedback
The formative feedback practice students are given detailed verbal feedback after and during rehearsal work. This helps students develop and react to notes given. Before public performance which constitutes the heart of the module students are given detailed notes in the rehearsal room ( "Producer's Run") and then after the Dress Rehearsal which gives an opportunity for formative work .This ensures that each students has the potential and the time within rehearsal to reflect and act on feedback before performance.
Module aims
- To consolidate the skills requisite to the creating and sustaining of a character.
- To integrate Acting, Dance, Voice and Singing techniques acquired and developed at Levels Four and Five.
- To provide a working environment which adheres to professional values and codes of conduct, employing professional directors, musical directors, choreographers and designers.
- Creative and intelligent engagement with group and collective processes and the interplay between the performers in the realisation of performance.
Learning outcomes
|Attributes Developed
|Display a clear understanding of and connection to the text.
|Create and develop a credible and dynamic approach to characterisation.
|Demonstrate effective vocal delivery.
|Display expressive and flexible dance skills.
|Demonstrate appropriate and effective integration of core technical skills (Acting, Voice, Singing, and Dance).
|Work in an appropriate and professionally focused manner in pursuit of creating and sustaining a truthful characterisation within performance.
|Effectively collaborate and integrate with members of the company in pursuit of agreed artistic and creative objectives.
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 113
Independent Study Hours: 37
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
Place an emphasis on the practical development of skills that are required for imminent entry into the profession. The module provides students with practical experience of a rehearsal process that integrates various points of study from Level 4 and Level 5, providing valuable experience that enables them to enter the industry at the end of Level 6 study.
The learning and teaching methods include:
Across the semester this module is delivered over 150 hours of taught hours and independent/guided study over a 5 week period within the semester, mirroring best industry practice and enabling a fully realised rehearsal period.
Throughout the module different learning and teaching strategies are applied to enable students to achieve the learning outcomes, including research, reflective practice, peer to peer learning and formative assessment with written feedback.
In depth.
- The approach of the module is vocational in intent and delivery and encourages students to participate in reflection on their own practice, independent study and research and embeds the concepts of peer to peer feedback within the rehearsal room. Students are encouraged to utilise materials on SurreyLearn and also receive individual tutorials and from tutors and industry professionals to help inform their practice.
- Students receive regular verbal feedback individually and as a group during each class which they are encouraged to journal within the reflection time which is built in to the schedule.
- Students are encouraged to self-assess and peer-assess within the class structure which becomes a valuable strategy for visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
Reading list for THE BOOK MUSICAL - REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE : http://aspire.surrey.ac.uk/modules/mut3008
Programmes this module appears in
|Qualifying conditions
|Musical Theatre BA (Hons)
|A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2018/9 academic year.


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Great article about Zac's recent trip to "The Oven" which is Nike Golf's R+D facility. Of all the R+D facilities that all the various manufacturers has, "The Oven" is considered the most exclusive and the most difficult to visit. It's very rare indeed for anyone outside of the Nike Elite to even walk through the front door much less to get a complete tour and even go through a one-of-a-kind clubfitting.
About Andrew Hodson
I am the youngest with in a golfing family which has spanned three generations. My grandfather started the tradition in England (Bert Hodson-1931 Ryder Cup Team) and has since passed on his knowledge and love of the game. Although I did not follow in the steps of my father and grandfather on a professional golfing level, my love of the game and commitment to accurately fit equipment has only grown. Even as a kid I enjoyed re-gripping clubs which eventually led to refinishing wood heads, re-shafting, and now has culminated in more detailed custom club fitting, building, and repair.

subset: commoncrawl


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Author: joybucket
Created: July 17, 2019
Taken: 42 times
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Outfit Details
Leather Earrings (from TheTealCactus)
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Zabdi Quotes
The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof: / Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath: / And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, / And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader, / And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah; / And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber, / Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal; / And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi, / And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel, / And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi; / And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel, / And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan, / And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah, / And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak; / And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah, / And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham. - Bible
And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, / And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. - Bible
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text: The auditory ossicles are the three smallest bones in the human body, the malleus, the incus and the stapes. The first is attached to the tympanic membrane, the last to the circumference of the fenestra vestibuli, the incus being placed between and connected to both by delicate articulations. They are contained within the middle ear space and serve to transmit sounds from the air to the fluid-filled labyrinth (cochlea)


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Editorial: Public deserves to be told what is being investigated at the legislature
With apologies to Shakespeare, British Columbians can reasonably yell, "A plague o' all your houses!" at the three political parties caught up in the unprecedented mess at the B.C. legislature concerning the mysterious criminal investigation of legislative clerk Craig James and sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz, as well as their suspensions from their jobs.
To the list of those deserving public scorn, one can add Speaker Darryl Plecas, his "special adviser" Alan Mullen, and the police for the ridiculously secretive (and in some cases bumbling) way in which the issue has been handled — whatever that issue is.
But if there is a pox on anyone, it's the one being inflicted on the public, who are being kept in the dark about what is going at B.C.'s most important democratic institution.
Nearly two weeks after the story broke — when James and Lenz were unceremoniously and unnecessarily marched out of the legislature by Mullen and police — no official has told the public what the investigation is about. Even James and Lenz — both long-serving public officials with excellent reputations who have forcefully asserted that they have done nothing wrong — have not been told.
While there have been reports that financial irregularities are at the heart of the investigation, the closest anyone has come to saying what's going on is RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, who said police are investigating "allegations pertaining to their administrative duties."
While it is understandable that all details cannot be revealed about a police investigation, given the public suspensions of the two most senior legislative officers, as well as claims that there is some kind of rot at the heart of our government, the public deserves to be told, at least in general terms, what is being investigated.
The legislature is, after all, the people's house, as is the business that is conducted within its chambers.
It appears that the public interest is being set aside for partisan and personal interests — most recently the decision Monday by the NDP and Greens to refuse the Liberals' request to reopen the decision into suspending James and Lenz after it became clear that the leadership of the three parties were not told about Plecas's central role in initiating the investigation into the legislative officers, nor his attempt to install his wholly unqualified adviser, Mullen, as the interim sergeant-at-arms.
The NDP and Greens appear more interested in propping up the now badly damaged Plecas in his role as speaker and preserving their narrow control of the house and governance of B.C. than in allowing necessary questions to be asked into Plecas's conduct as well as what James and Lenz are accused of doing. In thwarting the request, the NDP delayed the matter beyond the end of the fall legislative session, not that the mess is going away.
The Liberals, of course, are also playing politics. There is no love lost between that caucus and Plecas, who was elected as a Liberal MLA and is viewed by members of his former party as a political traitor for taking the speaker's job and propping up the NDP minority government. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson, a lawyer, also failed in not asking more questions before initially agreeing to the suspensions.
It's time for someone to tell British Columbians, especially James and Lenz, what is under investigation.
Editorials are unsigned opinion pieces representing the views of The Vancouver Sun editorial board, which is made up of senior editors. The editorial pages editor is Gordon Clark, who can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Letters to the editor should be sent to email@example.com.
If you have a tip about a story, please email firstname.lastname@example.com. CLICK HERE to report a typo.


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Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters – Lebanon Promo items competition
Percy Jackson will be in theaters across Lebanon on September 12th 2013.
And The Winners are:
– Fady Nammour
– Danny Ramadan
You will be receiving an email explaining how to collect your prize. Thank you for participating and good luck with the others in the next giveaway.
We're holding a competition to win a goody bag with exclusive items for the movie, in association with Empire Cinemas.
All you need to do is answer the following question in the comments section AND send your email to our facebook page. We will choose 2 winners by September 17th 2013 noon.
What is the name of the camp inhabited by Percy Jackson and his semi-god friends?
HINT: Some details are found in the movie post here.
In order to qualify, you need to submit your answer in the comments below AND Message us your email to our Facebook page so we can inform you how to collect your prize.


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The May 2019 edition of "The Hobson and Holtz Report," aka For Immediate Release episode 183, features Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz talking about these stories: A trio of technologies — from Google, Amazon, and The New York Times — show how marketers will be able to get into your head, assess your emotional state, and manipulate your intent.GDPR is one year old. Has it succeeded in protecting Europeans' privacy?PR professionals are relegating earned media to the dustbin.Arabic podcasts are … [Read more...] about FIR 183: Let's get personal
FIR 182: Hot Bee Action
The April 2019 episode of "For Immediate Release: The Hobson & Holtz Report" features co-hosts Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz discussing the following topics: How China is shaping the future of shopping — it's online, social, and highly appealing to Gen ZMedia coverage of local news is evaporating. Should business pick up the slack?Customer reviews are the new content marketing, says Jay BaerMovements mean more than brand purpose. Just look at Pornhub's new movement to save the bees.The UK … [Read more...] about FIR 182: Hot Bee Action
SDF Podcast 27: When April Fool's meets Groundhog Day
So this is the episode when the three stooges of the SmallDataForum were meant to reflect wistfully on what was Great Britain exiting Greater Europe. The irony of recording this on April Fool's Day wasn't lost on us. Brexit Fool's day is every day, these days. Our resident classicist Sam even managed to squeeze in Juvenal's Satire VI, and even though the reference was in regard to another April Fool's – Facebook regulation, haha – Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes might just as well … [Read more...] about SDF Podcast 27: When April Fool's meets Groundhog Day
FIR 181: Some decisions to consider about social media
With this episode of The Hobson and Holtz Report, FIR 181, Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz embark on a renewed journey every month with conversation at the intersection of business, communication and technology, just as when they first started out in January 2005. In this episode for March 2019, H&H discuss these stories: Print is still a viable communication tool; Raspberry Pi is distributing multiple print magazinesPandora is the first streaming service to introduce a sonic logoIn the … [Read more...] about FIR 181: Some decisions to consider about social media
The fork in the road for social media and our society
The horror from Christchurch, New Zealand, that exploded across newspaper pages and television, computer and smartphone screens this weekend captured imaginations in ways that no one could possibly have imagined beforehand. The fact that one individual armed with a semi-automatic rifle could visit such an outrage upon people worshipping in a place of religion isn't the worst of it, awful and distressing though this event is with at least 50 people shot dead and scores wounded, some in … [Read more...] about The fork in the road for social media and our society


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The Stranger
Kasie knows who she's supposed to be. But one passionate night with a mysterious stranger will teach her who she wants to be. You should sleep with a stranger, her best friend whispers in her ear as they take to Vegas for one last pre-wedding fling. Despite her best intentions, when Kasie Fitzgerald enters the casino and sees him, a man whose tailored clothes belied a powerful, even dangerous, presence, she loses herself to the moment. Maybe it's the dress, much shorter than she'd ever normally wear, or the Scotch, but something makes her give herself over to him more completely than she's ever done with a man before.
It was supposed to be just one night. But right as she's thinking she wants more, he shows up in her office with an agenda. As the billionaire CEO of a company that's engaged her PR firm, his demands just became her reality…and he desires so much more than just some attention in the boardroom.
Part 2 of the Just One Night series. One passionate night with a stranger turned Kasie's world upside down, and just when she thought she was getting the hang of things, her fiancé finds out…You should sleep with a stranger–those words whispered in her ear by her best friend became a challenge Kasie took to heart. Suddenly, the man who gave her the most shocking pleasure in that upscale Vegas hotel–a man whose name she never bothered to find out–is her company's biggest client.
As this unknown man becomes Mr. Dade at the office, and Mr. Dade becomes Robert in the bedroom, Kasie discovers her true nature and begins to question the carefully controlled, modest image she has crafted to please her family and friends. But when her fiancé, Dave, finds out, his rage and desire to both keep her and punish her could cost her everything–including Robert, the only man who has wanted Kasie for who she really is and the only man who makes her feel truly alive.
Binding Agreement-May 20, 2013 release date
Part 3 of the Just One Night series. One wild night in a Vegas hotel changed everything for Kasie. Sleeping with a powerful, sexy stranger made her rethink her impending marriage, and a whole lot more.
As her affair threatens her job and the sexy billionaire Robert Dade becomes more controlling, Kasie has to figure out if her passion is leading her down a path she really wants. She's seduced by his gifts of power, success, and adventure, she's overwhelmed by what he can make her feel with a single touch, the way he can make her ache for him with just a look. But is the cost of absolute power and pleasure a price Kasie can afford? And does she truly know this man who says he can give her everything…or is he still a stranger after all?
I really enjoyed these books.
Can't wait until the third one in a few weeks.
Go on and give it a read.
Here's here website. http://www.kyradavis.com/
Just started a new book and will be back soon with my review.
Happy reading.


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How much does it cost to build an e-commerce website with Evergreen
Large databases, highload systems, using of machine learning algorithms, product selection systems, b2b solutions for wholesale customers, integration of the online store with the company's internal systems (Integration of the store with CRM, warehouse, ERP, etc.). To create e-commerce projects with this level of requirements, we have a serious technical background and development processes.
We can design and develop a b2b or b2c online shop with web and mobile clients. See details of our technical process and examples:
— Mandatory stages included in the price
what is in the market and how to do better
prototype + Technical Specification on development + SEO-planning
design concept and design of all the pages
planning of database and connections, workwith data, integrations
Output data to the site front, stretch design on the platform
We realize integration with internal systems and CRM (RetailCRM, Pipedrive, AmoCRM and others)
and compulsory coverage by automatic tests
server setup, SEO - settings, a shift in the world
identify technical and UI issues, a list of ideas to improve store
a functional prototype of the main business processes (search, purchase, order processing, work with personal account) + Technical Specification for development, R&D integration modules with CRM \ ERP + SEO-planning
design concept and design of all the pages
We transfer all the existing store content to the new platform
planning of database and connections, work with data, integration with CRM \ ERP + transfer the base of goods to the new platform, cleaning up and filling with new content, preparation of all goods before layout
Output data to the site front, stretch design on the platform
We realize the integration of the store with the accounting system (1C, Microsoft Navision, and others) and CRM (RetailCRM, Pipedrive, AmoCRM and others) Інтеграція
and compulsory coverage by automatic tests
server setup, SEO - settings, a shift in the world
There are two options on which the price of the online store depends: the development from scratch and the restart of an existing online store.
The cost of developing an online store is formed from the cost of each stage. We in Evergreen traditionally divide the development into 4 stages:
We can not say the exact cost of developing an online store without prototyping, because at the stage of prototype development we draw a complete picture of how the project will look and work. Before designing and developing a prototype, we operate with approximate budgets.
Convenient and fast working online stores, designed to grow your sales
What is the price of an eCommerce project
Let us know what kind of project you want to create or develop. Feel free - we will be happy to advise on any professional issue and will do it absolutely for free, just give us a call or fill out the form.


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Helpdesk software providers understand that businesses are prioritizing the customer experience, so they're offering more features to improve and automate many of the jobs customer support teams find tedious or time consuming.
These jobs are often left on the backburner and don't get the attention they deserve, which ultimately leads to a poor customer experience. In this trust economy that relies significantly on the steady evolution of business technology and software, businesses cannot survive unless they're using that technology to respond to their customers in a timely and personalized manner.
Why Chatbots Matter
Chatbots help customer support teams eliminate time on the phone by automating the initial contact between a business and the customer. They rely on SMS messaging that offers immediate responses, freeing up phone lines and allowing the customer to help themselves.
Customers expect fast service now; they're looking for a response within the first hour on reaching out to a business. Most businesses are unable to, or are unaware they need to, meet this requirement.
Chatbots are a customizable option that can also be personalized to the customer's needs by focusing on specific keywords, and then either offering the customer guidance and directing the customer to another source or agent that can help.
Think of chatbots as your business' first line of defense in their customer service army. They can provide customers a quick and easy way to get in touch with support, offer self-service options for customers, or assign the ticket to an agent if the problem is a bit more complex.
Comparison Chart
|Zoho Desk
|Zendesk Chat
|Salesforce Service Cloud
Real-time Help/Monitoring
Mobile App
|CRM Integrations
Multilingual Support
Ticket Management
Offline Chat
Smart/Manual Chat Routing
Helpdesk CRM Providers with Chatbots
Helpdesk ticketing software providers are now offering customizable chatbots to help businesses personalize and automate specific customer interactions so that agents can be more focused on solving complex issues, and delivering the best customer experience possible
Below are the five best ticketing system software providers with powerful chatbots, and why we think so.
Freshchat's unique chatbots jump out for a couple reasons. The first is that chats are automatically routed to specific agents of the customer support team. A pre-chat form can then be used to trigger workflow automations based on customer information.
This is important because it personalizes the experience instead of making the customer feel like they're talking to a computer. It also works in real time, so certain keywords can't potentially trigger outdated or generalized information.
Freshchat also offers monthly reports on specific chat metrics that can also be indicative of what's working and what's not. If the chatbots are coming off as too robotic, the reports will help point that out. If they're finding tons of success with certain keywords, the reports will allow the business to take advantage of that.
For these reasons, Freshchat is a good choice because they do everything a support ticket software provider should do with their chatbots. If chatbots aren't personalized enough, it could make a business come off as not wanting to help, and leaving it up to the computers to do the work for them. Customer service needs to remain personal.
Zoho Desk is another ticket management software that businesses can use for powerful chatbot features. Customers can "initiate a chat from their Help Center or, if you allow it, even from your business website by copying and pasting two lines of code."
Inserting the two lines of code is interesting because it helps remove an extra step by directly placing the live chat on the website. Businesses can also add a float button to keep the live chat from getting in the way of whatever a customer is looking at.
There are three advanced features in Zoho Desk's live chat that aren't typically showcased in other helpdesk software. The first is allowing customers to see when an agent is typing. The second is being able to send files to customers. The third is being able to share links. These all improve customer experience significantly by making the conversation much more personal and allows for better service.
These features should all be considered when purchasing helpdesk ticketing software. Zoho Desk is clearly looking to improve customer experience by making their features user and customer friendly.
Zendesk Chat has a chatbot helps customers who are stuck on the checkout page, offering customers suggestions on similar products or asking if they need help. This is useful because buying products online is a lonely process where making a final decision is entirely up to the customer. There's no pressure to finalize the purchase.
When purchasing a product in the store itself, a salesperson, ideally, is there to guide customers through every step of the purchase. They are available to answer any and all questions about the product and can often help finalize the purchase at a register.
I know when I go into a store and don't receive this kind of attention, I'm more likely to second guess whether or not I actually need to purchase whatever product I'm interested in buying. When someone is there every step of the way, I personally feel obligated to buy the product, or I have a significantly harder time saying no.
Anytime the customer is left alone during the sales process, the odds of completing the sale go down. Customer experience is trending for Zendesk, so seeing them turn features that already exist into more customer-friendly is a big step in the right direction.
Seeing Salesforce on this list should come to no surprise to anyone interested in CRM software. Salesforce continues to be in a universe of their own when it comes to developing all kinds of business software and technology. It's natural to assume Salesforce Service Cloud offers some of the best built-in, customizable chatbots.
One feature that Salesforce's customizable chatbots offer businesses is unique for a number of reasons. Salesforce says that their bots can "initiate a personalized live chat, based on how a visitor is engaging on your site." And with what Salesforce calls "Snap-ins," your business can offer chatbots directly inside your smartphone app.
First, the live chat is personalized, meaning the chatbot is already using customer data that matches up with the customer to significantly improve the odds of a positive experience. Second, being able to chat with customers within your app is a great way of extending the limits of mobility. Now customers and support teams can chat anywhere. In a time when customers are always on their phones, and even prefer shopping on their phones, this kind of capability is crucial.
Finally, they have an app, which isn't revolutionary by any means, but it's an easy way to attract customers on the go and an absolute essential at this point. Overall, Salesforce Service Cloud is looking to improve customer experience in any way possible and what they do is often replicated by other businesses. They're always an option to consider.
Kayako also offers customers a mobile chatbot like Salesforce that can keep customers and sales teams connected anywhere in the world. Kayako is taking what Salesforce has, and growing it into something much bigger.
First, "customers can start conversations at any time, even when your team isn't online." This is huge because chatbots are meant to make customer service more accessible, and people's issues exist outside the 9-5 work day. Also, if you need to come back to the chatbot at another time, the conversation will pick up right where it left off with the chatbot so there's no need to start over again. The service is flexible to fit around the customer's life, instead of forcing the customer to call during specific hours.
Kayako's chatbots are also capable of talking to multiple people all at the same time, personalizing the conversations based on customizable customer profiles, and keep track of them all in real time, which means every customer will receive the right response immediately.
Kayako's chatbots allow customers to reach out for help when they need it, and when it works best for them. Agents can stay more organized with customer profiles, and can see each interaction the bots are having in-real time.
The Final Word
Helpdesk CRM providers for SMBs with built-in, customizable chatbots are becoming more popular in order to keep up with the current business trend of improving customer experience.
These five providers are all unique in that they take from technology that already exists and turn it into something new, all with the understanding that customers have higher expectations than they used to.
Customers are more knowledgeable and want to take matters into their own hands because being stuck on the phone with a company over a simple issue is a hassle for everyone. Customizable, accessible chatbots that are built into helpdesk CRM software helps eliminate this issue almost entirely.
More adaptive chatbots are worthy of any business' consideration if customer experience is a top priority. Be sure to check out our helpdesk software buyer's guide, where we highlight what helpdesk providers should be offering their customers.


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!! History Commons Alert, Exciting News
This is a scalable context timeline. It contains events related to the event November 17, 2005: Washington Lawyers Say Woodward May Have Told Libby of CIA Official's Identity. You can narrow or broaden the context of this timeline by adjusting the zoom level. The lower the scale, the more relevant the items on average will be, while the higher the scale, the less relevant the items, on average, will be.
Lewis Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, and NBC News reporter and anchor Tim Russert speak on the telephone. Libby wants to complain to Russert about an MSNBC talk show host, Chris Matthews, and Matthews's coverage of the Iraq-Niger controversy (see July 10, 2003). Libby will later claim that, during the conversation, Russert informs him that Valerie Plame Wilson, the wife of war critic Joseph Wilson, is a CIA officer. "All the reporters know" that Plame Wilson is a CIA officer, Libby will testify that Russert says. Russert will testify that he and Libby never discuss Plame Wilson (see November 24, 2003 and February 7-8, 2007), and at the time he has no knowledge of her CIA status. [US Department of Justice, 3/5/2004 ; Washington Post, 1/10/2006; MSNBC, 2/21/2007] It is unclear whether Libby speaks to Russert before or after his conversation with White House political strategist Karl Rove, who tells him that he has "outed" Plame Wilson to columnist Robert Novak (see July 10 or 11, 2003).
Entity Tags: Robert Novak, Chris Matthews, Karl C. Rove, Lewis ("Scooter") Libby, Valerie Plame Wilson, Tim Russert
Timeline Tags: Domestic Propaganda, Niger Uranium and Plame Outing
Screen graphic from CNN's coverage of Lewis Libby's indictment. [Source: CNN / Flickr]Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, is indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice. Libby is accused of "outing" Valerie Plame Wilson, an undercover CIA agent, to the press (see June 23, 2003, 8:30 a.m. July 8, 2003, Late Afternoon, July 12, 2003, and 2:24 p.m. July 12, 2003), and then lying about it to the FBI and to a grand jury empaneled by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald (see December 30, 2003, March 5, 2004, and March 24, 2004). Libby immediately resigns his position as Cheney's chief of staff. [US District Court for the District of Columbia, 10/28/2005 ; CNN, 5/14/2006; MSNBC, 2/21/2007; Washington Post, 7/3/2007] Five Counts of Obstruction, Two Counts of Perjury - Libby is indicted on five counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of perjury. [US District Court for the District of Columbia, 10/28/2005 ; MSNBC, 2/21/2007] Though the original investigation was of the Plame Wilson leak, Fitzgerald says it is important to understand that Libby's crimes, though not the prime focus of the initial investigation, should be prosecuted as well. "Investigators do not set out to investigate the statute, they set out to gather the facts," he says. The indictment does not charge Libby with knowingly disclosing the identity of a covert agent. [New York Times, 10/28/2005] Confirms that CIA Agent's Status Classified; Important to National Security - Fitzgerald confirms that the fact of Plame Wilson's employment at the CIA was in and of itself classified information, and not to be shared to the media or the public. He says: "The fact that she was a CIA officer was not well known, for her protection or for the benefit of all us. It's important that a CIA officer's identity be protected, that it be protected not just for the officer, but for the nation's security.… [T]he damage wasn't to one person. It wasn't just Valerie Wilson. It was done to all of us" (see Before September 16, 2003, October 3, 2003, October 11, 2003, October 22-24, 2003, October 23-24, 2003, and February 13, 2006). [New York Times, 10/28/2005; Nation, 3/16/2007] Libby Lied about Knowledge of Plame Wilson's Status, Indictment Charges - The indictment charges that Libby lied when he claimed that he learned of Plame Wilson's CIA status from NBC reporter Tim Russert (see November 24, 2003, March 5, 2004, March 24, 2004, and August 7, 2004). Instead, the indictment charges, Libby learned about Plame Wilson and her possible role in sending her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, to Niger to investigate claims of Iraqi attempts to buy uranium (see February 21, 2002-March 4, 2002) from a number of people, including an undersecretary of state (see June 10, 2003), a CIA officer who regularly briefed him on national security issues (see 2:00 p.m. June 11, 2003), an unidentified "senior CIA officer," and from his superior, Cheney (see (June 12, 2003)). In his turn, Libby shared that information with several officials in the Office of the Vice President, including Cheney's senior counsel David Addington (see July 8, 2003), Cheney's national security adviser John Hannah (see May 29, 2003), and Cheney's press secretary at the time, Cathie Martin (who may have actually informed Libby—see 5:27 p.m. June 11, 2003). "In fact, Mr. Libby was the first official known to have told a reporter when he talked to Judith Miller in June of 2003 about Valerie Wilson" (see June 23, 2003), Fitzgerald says. "[T]o be frank, Mr. Libby gave the FBI a compelling story," he adds. "It would be a compelling story that will lead the FBI to go away if only it were true. It is not true, according to the indictment." [New York Times, 10/28/2005; US District Court for the District of Columbia, 10/28/2005 ; National Journal, 10/30/2005] (The unidentified "senior CIA officer" is later revealed to be Frederick Fleitz, who served both as a senior officer at the Weapons Intelligence, Nonproliferation, and Arms Control (WINPAC) desk and as Undersecretary of State John Bolton's chief of staff—see (June 11, 2003).) [Raw Story, 11/2/2005] Jeralyn Merritt, a criminal defense attorney who writes for the progressive blog TalkLeft, notes that according to the indictment, the phrases used by Libby in his denials to the grand jury were nearly verbatim echoes of Cheney's own denials as told to NBC's Tim Russert in September 2003 (see September 14, 2003). [Jeralyn Merritt, 10/31/2005] Sought Information on Plame Wilson's CIA Status - The indictment also charges that Libby sought information from the CIA and the State Department about Plame Wilson's CIA status, and tried to determine whether she had been responsible for sending her husband to Niger. According to the indictment, Libby asked David Addington, the chief counsel to Cheney, "in sum and substance, what paperwork there would be at the CIA if an employee's spouse undertook an overseas trip." The court papers do not say what action, if any, Addington may have taken in response to Libby's request. [New York Times, 10/28/2005; US District Court for the District of Columbia, 10/28/2005 ; National Journal, 12/16/2005] Discussed with Multiple Officials before Leaking to Reporters - In a press conference, Fitzgerald walks reporters and listeners through the indictment: from Libby's learning of Plame Wilson's identity from State Department and CIA sources and from Cheney, through his discussing it with at least three White House officials, all before the supposed "disclosure" from Russert. Libby subsequently lied to the FBI and to Fitzgerald's grand jury about those discussions with government officials and again with Miller and Time reporter Matthew Cooper. "[H]e lied about it afterwards," Fitzgerald says, "under oath and repeatedly.… [A]nyone who would go into a grand jury and lie, obstruct, and impede the investigation has committed a serious crime." [New York Times, 10/28/2005] Leak Seriously Jeopardized National Security - Fitzgerald tells reporters that the leaking of a CIA officer's identity is a serious breach of national security. "This is a very serious matter and compromising national security information is a very serious matter," he says. "But the need to get to the bottom of what happened and whether national security was compromised by inadvertence, by recklessness, by maliciousness is extremely important." Fitzgerald continues: "At a time when we need our spy agencies to have people work there, I think just the notion that someone's identity could be compromised lightly… [discourages] our ability to recruit people and say, 'Come work for us… come be trained… come work anonymously here or wherever else, go do jobs for the benefit of the country for which people will not thank you." Senator John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, says: "Revealing the identity of a covert agent is the type of leak that gets people killed. Not only does it end the person's career… it puts that person in grave personal danger as well as their colleagues and all the people they have had contact with." [New York Times, 10/28/2005; National Journal, 10/30/2005] Charges Are Serious, Not 'Technicalities' - Responding to a question about Republican charges that Libby is being charged as a "technicality," and Fitzgerald "overreached" his authority in filing the indictment, Fitzgerald says: "That talking point won't fly. If you're doing a national security investigation, if you're trying to find out who compromised the identity of a CIA officer and you go before a grand jury and if the charges are proven… that the chief of staff to the vice president went before a federal grand jury and lied under oath repeatedly and fabricated a story about how he learned this information, how he passed it on, and we prove obstruction of justice, perjury, and false statements to the FBI, that is a very, very serious matter.… [T]he truth is the engine of our judicial system. And if you compromise the truth, the whole process is lost.… Any notion that anyone might have that there's a different standard for a high official, that this is somehow singling out obstruction of justice and perjury, is upside down.… If these facts are true, if we were to walk away from this and not charge obstruction of justice and perjury, we might as well just hand in our jobs. Because our jobs, the criminal justice system, is to make sure people tell us the truth. And when it's a high-level official and a very sensitive investigation, it is a very, very serious matter that no one should take lightly." [New York Times, 10/28/2005] Explanation for Delay in Filing Indicitment - Fitzgerald gives one reason for the delay in filing the indictment against Libby. When asked why he went to such lengths to compel the testimony of reporters such as Miller (see September 30, 2005) and Cooper (see July 13, 2005), Fitzgerald replies that the rights of the accused are paramount in his mind. The testimony of Miller, Cooper, and other journalists could bolster the case against Libby, or could help exonerate him. The possibility that he might charge someone, only to learn later that one of the journalists who had declined to testify had information to clear the person, was something that "frightens me," Fitzgerald says. "I think the only way you can do an investigation like this is to hear all eyewitnesses." [New York Times, 10/28/2005; National Journal, 11/12/2005] No Charges against Cheney - Asked whether the investigation found evidence of criminal acts by Cheney, Fitzgerald answers: "We make no allegation that the vice president committed any criminal act. We make no allegation that any other people who provided or discussed with Mr. Libby committed any criminal act. But as to any person you asked me a question about other than Mr. Libby, I'm not going to comment on anything." Fitzgerald refuses to comment on whether White House political strategist Karl Rove or anyone else will be named as co-conspirators, charged, or even named in court. [New York Times, 10/28/2005]
Entity Tags: John Hannah, Judith Miller, John D. Rockefeller, John R. Bolton, Karl C. Rove, Richard ("Dick") Cheney, Joseph C. Wilson, Lewis ("Scooter") Libby, Jeralyn Merritt, Frederick Fleitz, Central Intelligence Agency, David S. Addington, Weapons Intelligence, Nonproliferation, and Arms Control, Valerie Plame Wilson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Department of State, Catherine ("Cathie") Martin, Tim Russert, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Matthew Cooper
Timeline Tags: Niger Uranium and Plame Outing
Victoria Toensing, a former deputy attorney general in the Reagan administration, writes a guest editorial for the Wall Street Journal that demands the Plame Wilson investigation, as it stands, be closed. Instead, she says, the CIA should be investigated for causing Valerie Plame Wilson's identity to become public knowledge. Toensing blames the CIA's "bizarre conduct" for Plame Wilson's exposure. The CIA is responsible for Plame Wilson's exposure, Toensing states, by allowing her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, to go to Niger to look into claims that Iraq was trying to buy uranium from that country (see February 21, 2002-March 4, 2002). Toensing writes that Plame Wilson "suggested" her husband for the trip (see February 13, 2002, February 19, 2002, July 22, 2003, October 17, 2003, and July 20, 2005). The CIA did not have Wilson write a report, but instead conducted an oral debriefing (see March 4-5, 2002, (March 6, 2002), and March 8, 2002) that, Toensing writes, was never sent to Vice President Dick Cheney's office (see March 5, 2002). Wilson's subsequent New York Times op-ed (see July 6, 2003) was not approved or vetted with the CIA's Prepublication Review Board, something Toensing finds puzzling even though she notes that Wilson was not asked to sign a nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement. She also alleges, without giving specifics, that the statements in Wilson's op-ed do not jibe with the information in the CIA's report on his trip, though that report is classified and not available for her inspection. For the CIA to allow Wilson to write the op-ed was, Toensing says, tantamount to giving a green light for Plame Wilson's exposure as a CIA official. Conservative colunnist Robert Novak, who publicly exposed Plame Wilson (see July 14, 2003), was told by "a still-unnamed administration source" (see June 13, 2003, June 23, 2003, July 7, 2003, 8:30 a.m. July 8, 2003, July 8, 2003, 11:00 a.m. July 11, 2003, 8:00 a.m. July 11, 2003, Late Afternoon, July 12, 2003, 1:26 p.m. July 12, 2003, and July 12, 2003) that Wilson's wife "suggested him for the assignment," leading Novak to uncover Plame Wilson's identity. Toensing also claims that Novak was never asked not to publish Plame Wilson's name in anything but the most "perfunctory" fashion (see (July 11, 2003) and Before July 14, 2003). Toensing defends her allegation by writing: "Every experienced Washington journalist knows that when the CIA really does not want something public, there are serious requests from the top, usually the director. Only the press office talked to Mr. Novak." Toensing goes on to note that the CIA permitted Plame Wilson to make political contributions under the name "Wilson, Valerie E.," contributions recorded by the Federal Elections Commission. Toensing concludes, "The CIA conduct in this matter is either a brilliant covert action against the White House or inept intelligence tradecraft," and demands that Congress conduct an investigation into the CIA's conduct. [Wall Street Journal, 11/3/2005] The Journal does not inform its readers that Toensing was one of a group of lawyers and conservative activists who filed an amici curiae brief with the court asking that it overturn its decision to compel the testimony of two lawyers in the Plame Wilson investigation (see March 23, 2005).
Entity Tags: Office of the Vice President, Central Intelligence Agency, Joseph C. Wilson, Victoria Toensing, Wall Street Journal, Robert Novak, Prepublication Review Board
Conservative Washington lawyers David Rivkin and Lee Casey publish a guest editorial in the Wall Street Journal defending the Bush administration, and specifically the indicted Lewis Libby (see October 28, 2005), for their actions in the Plame Wilson identity leak. No crime was committed, Rivkin and Casey allege, and no legal ethics were breached. Valerie Plame Wilson's identity as a CIA official was moot because, Rivkin and Casey write, "she was not a covert agent—a readily ascertainable fact that should have concluded special counsel Fitzgerald's investigation almost as soon as it got underway" (see Fall 1992 - 1996). In fact, Rivkin and Casey write, exposing Plame Wilson's role in her husband Joseph Wilson's 2002 mission to Africa (see February 19, 2002, February 21, 2002-March 4, 2002, July 22, 2003, October 17, 2003, and July 20, 2005) "was relevant to an accurate understanding of his later allegations against the administration." In general, the lawyers state, it is not a crime to expose an intelligence official's "classified" status, only genuine covert agents. Since Plame Wilson was not a covert agent, by Rivkin and Casey's standards, no crime was committed in exposing her as a CIA official. And even had she been, they continue, certainly no damage could have been done by her exposure (see Before September 16, 2003, October 3, 2003, October 11, 2003, October 22-24, 2003, October 23-24, 2003, October 29, 2005, and February 13, 2006). When Wilson decided to publish his New York Times op-ed (see July 6, 2003), the lawyers write, he "eliminated whatever shreds of anonymity" Plame Wilson retained. The lawyers conclude that "the revelation of Ms. Plame [Wilson]'s connection to the CIA was a public service, neither criminal nor unethical." [Wall Street Journal, 11/4/2005]
Entity Tags: Valerie Plame Wilson, Bush administration (43), David Rivkin, Lewis ("Scooter") Libby, Joseph C. Wilson, Wall Street Journal, Lee Casey, Patrick J. Fitzgerald
Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward testifies under oath in a sworn deposition to special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald concerning his knowledge of the identity of outed CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson (see December 30, 2003), and how he came upon that knowledge. Woodward testifies that he spoke "with three current or former Bush administration officials" in regards to his book Plan of Attack. He testifies for two hours under an agreement that he will only discuss matters specifically relevant to Fitzgerald's investigation, and with written statements from each of the three administration officials waiving confidentiality "on the issues being investigated by Fitzgerald." Woodward's name came to Fitzgerald's attention after one of the three officials, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, told Fitzgerald that he had revealed Plame Wilson's identity to Woodward (see June 13, 2003 and After October 28, 2005). In his story for the Post about his testimony, Woodward does not reveal Armitage's identity, but it is soon disclosed by other sources (see March 14, 2006). Woodward spoke with a second administration official, whose identity he also does not disclose, and with Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, but says he did not discuss Plame Wilson with either Libby or the other official (see June 23, 2003). He testifies that he did not discuss Plame Wilson with any other government officials (see June 20, 2003) before Robert Novak publicly outed her on July 14 (see July 14, 2003). Woodward notes, "It was the first time in 35 years as a reporter that I have been asked to provide information to a grand jury." [Washington Post, 11/16/2005; Washington Post, 11/16/2005; Washington Post, 7/3/2007] Investigative reporters for the progressive news Web site Raw Story identify National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley as Woodward's source for Plame Wilson's identity, a claim echoed by the Times of London. Hadley refuses to answer questions on the topic. [Raw Story, 11/16/2005; London Times, 11/20/2005] In 2006, the National Security Council will refuse to directly deny Hadley's involvement, and will request that Raw Story attribute denials to the White House and not to itself.) [Raw Story, 3/19/2006] Woodward Told Second Reporter about Plame Wilson - Woodward testifies that he told another reporter about Plame Wilson: "I told Walter Pincus, a reporter at the Post, without naming my source, that I understood Wilson's wife worked at the CIA as a WMD analyst." Pincus says he has no memory of Woodward telling him anything about Plame Wilson, and says he would certainly have remembered such a conversation, especially since he was writing about Plame Wilson's husband, war critic Joseph Wilson, at the time (see June 3, 2003, June 11, 2003, June 12, 2003, and (July 11, 2003)). "Are you kidding?" Pincus says. "I certainly would have remembered that." Pincus believes Woodward is confused about the timing and the nature of their conversations; he remembers Woodward making a vague allusion to Plame Wilson in October 2003. That month, Pincus had written a story explaining how an administration source had contacted him about Wilson. Pincus recalls Woodward telling him that he was not the only person who had been contacted. Libby Lawyer: Woodward's Testimony Undermines Case against Client - Lewis Libby's lawyer, William Jeffress, says Woodward's testimony undermines the case Fitzgerald is building against his client (see October 28, 2005). "If what Woodward says is so, will Mr. Fitzgerald now say he was wrong to say on TV that Scooter Libby was the first official to give this information to a reporter?" Jeffress says. "The second question I would have is: Why did Mr. Fitzgerald indict Mr. Libby before fully investigating what other reporters knew about Wilson's wife?" [Washington Post, 11/16/2005] Plame Wilson 'Deeply Disappointed' in Woodward - In 2007, Plame Wilson will write, "I was deeply disappointed that [Woodward] had chosen to react as a journalist first and a responsible citizen only when his source 'outed' him to the special prosecutor." [Wilson, 2007, pp. 238]
Entity Tags: Valerie Plame Wilson, Walter Pincus, Robert Novak, Richard Armitage, Raw Story, Lewis ("Scooter") Libby, National Security Council, Bob Woodward, Bush administration (43), Joseph C. Wilson, William Jeffress, London Times, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Stephen J. Hadley
Lawyers David Rivkin and Lee Casey demand that special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald drop his prosecution of former White House official Lewis Libby. In a Washington Times editorial, Rivkin and Casey write that, because Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward has admitted to being the recipient of leaked information about CIA official Valerie Plame Wilson before Libby leaked her covert identity (see November 14, 2005), it is possible that Woodward himself told Libby of Plame Wilson's CIA status—it is possible that Libby merely "misremembered" the reporter who told him as NBC's Tim Russert, when it was likely Woodward (see July 10 or 11, 2003). Moreover, the lawyers assert, the likelihood of a jury actually convicting Libby of perjury and obstruction of justice (see October 28, 2005) is unlikely in light of Woodward's revelation and the "reasonable doubt" they say Woodward's recent testimony raises. Rivkin and Casey echo previous assertions that the CIA did not bother to ensure the safety of Plame Wilson's covert status (see November 3, 2005), in effect blaming the agency for her identity being exposed. [Washington Times, 11/17/2005] Rivkin and Casey, in a previous Washington Times editorial, called the exposure of Plame Wilson a "public service" (see November 4, 2005).
Entity Tags: Washington Times, Bob Woodward, David Rivkin, Valerie Plame Wilson, Lee Casey, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Lewis ("Scooter") Libby
Neoconservative John Podhoretz adds his voice to the recent demands from conservatives for special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald to drop his prosecution of former White House official Lewis Libby (see November 10, 2005, November 17, 2005, November 17, 2005, and November 17, 2005). Podhoretz calls Fitzgerald's investigation an "inquisition," and, like many of his fellow commentators, points to the recent revelation that reporter Bob Woodward received leaked information about Valerie Plame Wilson's CIA status before Libby leaked it to a different reporter (see November 14, 2005). In his indictment of Libby (see October 28, 2005), Fitzgerald said that Libby was "the first official to disclose this information outside the government to a reporter" when he told former New York Times reporter Judith Miller about Plame Wilson (see June 23, 2003, 8:30 a.m. July 8, 2003, and Late Afternoon, July 12, 2003). Fitzgerald did not know then that another, as-yet-unnamed government official (later revealed to be former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage—see June 13, 2003) had "outed" Plame Wilson before Libby. Therefore, Podhoretz concludes, there is no evidence that Libby knowingly lied to the FBI (see October 14, 2003 and November 26, 2003) and to Fitzgerald's grand jury (see March 5, 2004 and March 24, 2004) in denying his leaks of Plame Wilson's identity. "How can it be fair to convict Libby when even the prosecutor himself can't get the story straight?" Podhoretz asks. [New York Post, 11/18/2005]
Entity Tags: Valerie Plame Wilson, Bob Woodward, John Podhoretz, Judith Miller, Lewis ("Scooter") Libby, Richard Armitage, Patrick J. Fitzgerald
Timeline Tags: Neoconservative Influence, Domestic Propaganda, Niger Uranium and Plame Outing
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text:
This two bedroom apartment is located (1st floor) at Oroklini Village, of Larnaca District. The apartment is situated on the first floor, having a direct access to the swimming pool and it consists of a dining/living area with exit to a covered veranda, a separate open plan kitchen, two bedrooms and the main bathroom/W.C..
On the ground floor there is a covered parking space and on an elevated level there is access to a common swimming pool.
The building was built in 2009.
The apartment has a separate title deed.
The internal covered area of the apartment is 69 m2 and the covered veranda is 11 m2


text:
USD/JPY seeking to retake 110.00 after Thursday's slide
The USD/JPY pair is reaching upwards in early Asia trading for Friday, testing back into the 110.00 handle.
The Greenback retreated across the broader fx market on Thursday, sending the USD lower against the Japanese Yen. US Treasury yields also declined in the Thursday US session, further driving the Greenback down, as US markets recoiled following a US Supreme Court decision that makes companies collect taxes on online sales.
The USD/JPY pair fell into a low of 109.83 after Thursday's sell-off was over, and the pair is trying to find a bullish foothold and climb back over the key 110.00 level after falling below the key level in yesterday's decline.
Japan's National CPI figures came in as expected, with Core CPI coming in at 0.7%, matching both expectations and the previous reading, while the headline CPI figure came in at 0.7%, versus the expected 0.3%, and the 'core-core- CPI for Japan printed at 0.3%, in-line with expectations.
USD/JPY levels to watch
The pair is looking for higher ground, but downside pressure remains, and as FXStreet's own Valeria Bednarik noted, "as in the 4 hours chart, the pair is battling with converging 100 and 200 SMA, while technical indicators turned sharply lower, the Momentum currently pressuring its mid-line but the RSI indicator already at 40. A slide below 109.55, the immediate support, should lead to a test of 109.20, a critical support now, as below it bulls will likely give up resulting in a steeper decline ahead."
Support levels: 109.55 109.20 108.80
Resistance levels: 110.15 110.45 110.90


text:
My son didn't talk until he was almost 3 years old.
It kind of runs in the genes. I didn't talk until I was 4.
By the time he was 8, he wouldn't stop talking. His vocabulary was huge, and the ideas coming out of his head were sometimes stunning. But the problem back then was the speed of his words. He spoke slowly and carefully, a by-product of years of speech therapy with Miss Erica encouraging him to "Sound. Out. The Words."
Most adults had the patience to hear him out, but many kids his age did not. They would interrupt or talk over him, which would cause frustration and increasing shyness on his part.
One day in 2006, we were at the park when a friend my son hadn't seen in a long time ran up to him and started talking a mile a minute about how his summer went. My son couldn't get a word in, and when the friend finally asked him a question, he seemed overwhelmed to try and match the speed at which the other boy had been talking.
It was like PBS talking to MTV.
I tried not to call attention to his speech mannerisms. Pointing out his careful enunciation of words and the frequent pauses in his sentences might have made him overly self-conscious to where he might simply stop trying.
In those early years, my son would practice reading out loud from his books during the school day. We also had frequent give-and-take discussions about topics that popped up during his studies, covering everything from medieval history to alternative energy.
Verbal communication is an underrated skill, and one which has fallen by the wayside in our schools. I don't mean just public speaking, but also the simple act of carrying on a coherent conversation with another person.
So, we kept working at it, taking little steps but making great strides in his speech development. Over time, I hoped that the speed of his words would match the speed of his thoughts, so he would have another tool with which to express himself to the world.
Fast-forward to today: My son is 16 years old. He can still appear overly quiet and shy. That's just his way. Again, it probably runs in the genes. However, once he gets warmed up, the words gush forth like a fire hose putting out a wildfire. No longer do those words trip over his tongue, and the awkward stammer that sometimes punctuated his thoughts are a distant memory.
It doesn't seem that long ago when he was a toddler and would scrunch up his face in frustration, trying to make us understand what he wanted.
"I want... I want..." he would struggle, but with such great determination that we knew he would get there eventually.
Now my son has no problem telling us what he wants. And thinks. And knows. He will not hesitate to paint and dance and wrestle with the English language.
The lesson he learned over his lifetime is that anything is possible with hard work and patience. It will not be easy, but it can be done.
My son is now taking college courses at the local community college, working concurrently on both a high school diploma and an Associate's Degree. It's another difficult goal requiring that same hard work and patience.
So far, he's found college work to be manageable, and even a little fun.
And, for one class, ironic: Speech Communication. The one subject he spent so much of his early life overcoming was the one in which he was the most nervous.
For his first presentation, he was sure that the words wouldn't come. That he would struggle with enunciation. That the stammer would return. But you don't put in all that work for all those years just to have it disappear. On the day, he stood before the audience and did his best. But for a few technical slips on oral footnotes, he delivered a wonderful speech.
I'm excited to see where his burgeoning communication skills take him next. I know he's just getting warmed up.
Read more about family and fatherhood at the Idaho Dad blog
Also on HuffPost:


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Taking the night off.
October 27, 2009 at 3:38 am Leave a comment
No blogging tonight guys. I'm super busy. Cooking my own dinner tonight, gonna study and then I'm babysitting.
So I shall be back tomorrow with all the news from today 🙂 and then some.
Have a great night!
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text:
Current Students
Vessi Radieva
Vessi Radieva is a MA candidate in International Development at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, with a certificate in Humanitarian Assistance. She is also a Provisional Associate with the Human Trafficking Center. She is interested in gender-based violence, women's issues, IDPs, and protection of aid workers and refugees in humanitarian aid settings.
Prior to coming to the Josef Korbel School, she worked at the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies, an independent research center at the University of South Carolina. There she helped with the Rule of Law Collaborative, one of the only research and training centers to focus on rule of law in the country. For the past three years, she has also been doing advocacy work for sexual assault survivors. Vessi has lived abroad in Spain and in Canada. While in Canada, she studied at Carleton University and interned for a Member of Parliament at Parliament Hill. She is fluent in Bulgarian, Spanish, and some French.
Vessi is originally from Bulgaria and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2011 with a BA in International Studies and Spanish.


text:
Haiti: Blaming the Victims
Deborah Beach Giordano
© January 15, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010; Virginia Beach, Va. (AP) : Evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson says Haiti has been "cursed" because of what he called a "pact with the devil" in its history. His spokesman said the Wednesday comments were based on Voodoo rituals carried out before a slave rebellion against French colonists in 1791.
Well, my dearest
the chaos
here on earth
continues …
made worse
by human presumption.
A wicked man
is proclaiming
this tragedy is Your Will;
a long-delayed
act of
divine vengeance.
He's wrong,
of course;
about this –
and about
everything else
he's ever said.
Somewhere along the line
he confused Your goodness
with evil,
or perhaps
he's confused himself
with You;
and reduced You
to his handmaiden:
doing his bidding,
fulfilling his fantasies
of destruction
and violence.
In his defense, (!)
perhaps it is a frantic cry
from someone
who sincerely
attributes all that was, is, and shall be
to You.
And on that
he and I may agree;
which puts us –
You and I –
back to
the beginning:
What the Hell
is going on?
It sure looks
like Hell
is going on –
in every photograph.
Dead bodies,
broken buildings,
grieving, wild-eyed people,
exhausted aid workers
by the sheer destruction.
So I ask, again:
where were You,
when it happened?
were you dozing or distracted,
or do you just
not care?
The God I know,
the One I worship
and adore,
would never leave
us alone
or friendless,
the Creator
of all that is,
not destroy
glorious, vital
I believe
You are
in the hands
of the nurses and doctors,
in the hearts of those
who give what they can,
I think Your grace
shines forth
in the kindness of strangers,
the compassion of prayer,
the power of love
and radiant courage.
And I know
You are in the midst
of those who
are hurt,
and homeless.
But why
did it happen?
I hear the question
asked in plaintive tones,
and again.
(At times like these
even hard-nosed atheists
start to question God.
Despite it all
they cannot
let You go.)
Surely the entire cosmos
stands under
your command;
unless the planets
have free will –
like people do?