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Hire Party Bus in Farnborough
Submit your event details to see a personalised list of Party Buses in Farnborough available to book instantly.
29 Party Buses in Farnborough to request a quote from
Are you looking for a party bus in Farnborough, Hampshire for hire? Our catalogue includes 29 companies, which provide party buses in Farnborough. Among our top requested categories this month: wedding cars in London, wedding cars in Manchester, wedding photographers in London, wedding photographers in Manchester, wedding venues in London.
Recent review: The bus was great. Everyone loved it and Paul our driver was fantastic. Only problem was the karaoke didn't work but didn't stop us singing along to the music!
PartyBus & Hummer Limo Hire
Recent review: Really good service and would recommend them to anyone looking for a bus
Recent review: "I just wanted to say thank you so much for yesterday, your car was amazing and the kids loved it, Danny was so surprised too. You were so helpful and I would definitely use your company again. Money well spent :)"
Limo Hire in London
About: We are long established Limousine and Wedding car hire company in London offering a range of vehicles for hire. We offer a variety of services form Limousine hire, Wedding Car hire, Party Bus Hire,...
Private Car Hire
Recent review: "I Just Wanted to Say Thank You via this review to Private Car Hire for making my Wedding Too classic and on demand. Before marriage start, I visited Private car Hire Company with my daddy and take some discussion on Wedding car. Me and my father decided to book Vintage Wedding car for wedding and make it surprised all guest. So they show me form their Vintage Wedding car collection and we picked one of form it. On the Wedding they provide that Vintage car with Vintage decoration and driver uniforms too good. So…Highly recommend all brides/brooms"
Milan's Limos
Recent review: "Dear Sandra and Milan We are writing to send our HUGE thanks for making Christina's birthday so perfect with your limousine trip! We ALL really enjoyed the huge car, the photos, the lights, the music, the 'champagne', and all the waves from complete strangers laughing as we went by!!! All twelve girls were absolutely blown away by the experience, and their mums have told me that they have talked about it non-stop since. Milan was definitely the best part of our fantastic experience; he was punctual, polite, charming, careful, patient, and exceptionally good-humoured with the squealing girls, to the extent that his cheer positively added to their fun time! Please feel free to post my thanks as a testimonial, you definitely get 'Best Party Entertainer' Award from our girls! I hope we see you again at a future party of our other girls or their friends, we are enjoying passing your details to our friends to use!"
Recent review: Fab service for daughters 13th party! Kids loved it, bus decorated and music & lights were a hit! Thank you
George Regal Travel
Recent review: Excellent service, great communication, recommend 100%
High Profile Party Buses
Recent review: Best night - on time - good price and very helpful and courteous driver!
Recent review: Thank you to Tony and the whole VIP BUS PARTY team for an epic 40th birthday party last weekend. The bus turned up early, the service onboard was excellent, the loo was convenient to have onboard, and there was even a coat rack. It was nice to have a couple stops to take a breather and some pictures, but the real fun was while onboard the bus. It just felt like we had our own VIP mobile club! Didn't know what to expect going into it but they exceeded our expectations. Thanks again VIP BUS PARTY! Also, thanks to Poptop for requesting quotes from different companies other than my original request. That's how we ended up booking with VIP.
London Bus Party
About: The London Bus Party has prided itself in arranging and coordinating tailored entertainment packages that offer the most fun-packed nights and weekends to be had in major cities across the UK. All ...
Finishing Touch Transport
About: Finishing Touch Limousines is a Portsmouth based limousine hire company that pride themselves on offering quality services at realistic prices. Our drivers and cars are well presented and we believ...
Atbus LTD
About: Well, these are the most important part of our team, the drivers, these are the faces behind the steering wheel that you meet every time you travel with us. We couldn't run the buses/coaches withou...
SC Transport
About: Here at SC Transport we provide high quality transport at an affordable price. All vehicles are fully VOSA licenced with appropriate 6 weekly checks on vehicles. All drivers here at SC Transport ar...
Lux Wedding Car Hire
Recent review: Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish, even arranging the viewing of incredible Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. I would also like to thank our chauffeur Alexander who was very professional and made us both feel relaxed.We will cartainly be recommending Lux Wedding Car Hire.
Exclusive Hire
Recent review: My daughters birthday she's turning 14, make this ride unforgettable! Xx
LImo Hire London
About: Limo Hire London offers luxury limos, party buses, wedding cars, sports car hire & chauffeur-driven car rental services throughout London and the Home Counties.
VIP Travel London
Recent review: Great driver and good value, thank you
BPS Wedding Cars
Recent review: We had the Rolls Royce Corniche and Sparky the VW Camper for our wedding on the 3rd September at Goodwood House. The cars were amazing, the drivers were super lovely and we enjoyed the whole experience very much. Thank you!
Lux Limo
About: All of our Limousines are driven by qualified professionals who are more than happy to take you in a stylish and safe manner. Start the great day off with a glass of champagne, available from our c...
Minibus Hire Kent
About: Minibus hire Kent brings a charm of luxury and adds comfort in your journey with their opulence fleet of self-drive and chauffeur-driven minibuses and coaches. We provide the special range of minib...
About: CoachScanner compares prices from our network of Coach Operators for you to select the best Coach hire for your needs. We cater for all occasions, whether its for a Corporate Event, School Trip or ...
Abbey Limos
About: Based in SOUTHAMPTON, Abbey Limos provide a luxury limousine service for all occasions at very competitive rates. For your personal safety we are fully licensed and are 100% legal, all our drivers...
Stretch-n-go Limos
Recent review: Thank you so much for making my son's prom night so fantastic. Your service was brilliant and your car was absolutely wonderful. They had a fantastic night and enjoyed travelling by limo immensely.
Starbrooks Limousine
About: Luxury Limos and party Buses for any occasion. Service areas: Hertfordshire, Essex, London.
Landmark Coaches Limited
Recent review: We used landmark coaches for my hendo s , the service was great and nothing was to much trouble , booking was easy and simple , they turned up on time , very clean and reliable company cannot recommend them enough and will definitely be using them in the future many thanks
Cocktail Tours
Recent review: It was amazing!! Liam and his crew were INCREDIBLE!!! We will be booking again and again and again!!!
Ultimate Transport
About: Ultimate Transport head office is based in North Wiltshire and we have been operating for 3 years now and each year our reputation has excelled. We are referred to by many, as the number one luxury...
Swift Valley Coach Travel
About: Swift Valley Coach Travel provide luxury coach and mini bus hire throughout the Midlands Area
Citylimos and Wedding Cars
About: Welcome to citylimosusine and wedding cars here at citylimos we have a wide range off wedding cars and limousine to offer for birthdays,hen night, proms, wedding.


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(Click here for .pdf version)
Are you ready to become a professional? You may be, if you can answer YES! to the following questions...
Do you have extensive experience in the genealogical specialty that you select as your profession?
Do you have the financial-management skills to be self-employed?
Do you have the time-management skills to schedule your workload, stay on task, meet deadlines, and produce results?
Do you have the written and oral communication skills necessary to negotiate contracts, convey results, and build good relationships with clients?
Do you enjoy solving problems and dealing with clients or students in a service-oriented environment?
Have you read Professional Genealogy...A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians?
Have you developed a business plan and set realistic goals?
Have you developed a marketing plan?
Have you attended regional and national genealogical conferences to learn about the genealogical specialty in which you are working?
Are you a member of the APG?
Modern genealogists come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds. Formal education will help you develop the skills you need to be successful. Many universities offer online classes for business management, technology, and other relevant skills. Additional education opportunities specific to genealogy are available through Boston University, Brigham Young University, International Society for British Genealogy and Family History, National Institute for Genealogical Studies, National Institute on Genealogical Research, Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies Alliance, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, and the University of Washington Genealogy and Family History Certificate Program. Your local community college may have a family history program as well.
Attending national genealogical conferences such as those sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), and the National Genealogical Society (NGS) will boost your career dramatically. The APG hosts an annual Professional Management Conference (PMC) to help build your professional skills. Read more about the PMC.
Sharpen your skills and stay abreast of the industry by reading books and articles by experts. The APG Quarterly provides valuable articles and information about professional genealogy. An index to articles from past editions is available online. APG members also receive a discount on books at the online bookstore.
An excellent way to judge whether your skills are at the professional level is to explore the requirements of major genealogical testing programs. These include the Board for Certification of Genealogists at www.bcgcertification.org and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists at www.icapgen.org. Whether or not you decide to become certified or accredited, exploring these programs will help you objectively evaluate and improve your genealogical skills.
Becoming a professional genealogist also means running your own business. It is not enough to be a good genealogist; you must also have the requisite business skills. Self-employment in genealogy can present many challenges to establishing a profitable enterprise.
Time: Billable hours determine your income, but nonbillable time is a part of every professionals workweek. Many hours are spent answering inquiries, marketing services, networking, managing finances, and attending to the details of running your business.
Expenses: Business expenses should be expected. These may include insurance (personal and liability), self-employment taxes, advertising, legal and financial counsel, office supplies and equipment, telephone, and Internet access.
Continuing Education: Professional growth aids longterm success. Courses, subscriptions, society dues, and attending conferences are all necessary, and all require money and non-billable time away from your business.
Customer Service: Balancing client satisfaction with profitability can be a significant challenge. Accepting or rejecting projects, managing client expectations, collecting fees, and building and maintaining a good reputation all require special skills in dealing with people.
A professional genealogist should always produce work that meets an acceptable professional standard. Attributes that help define professionalism include:
A professional genealogist should always produce work that meets an acceptable professional standard.
The Association of Professional Genealogists is an independent organization with nearly 2,000 members worldwide whose principal purpose is to support professional genealogists in all phases of their work.
Networking with members of the APG at conferences and through the APG online community will help you establish relationships with other professionals in your area of expertise. Working with other professionals will not only help you build your business but will also provide you with rewarding education and lasting friendships.
Home | Directory | About Us | Activities | Chapters| Membership | Publications
Copyright © Association of Professional Genealogists, 1996-2019

subset: commoncrawl


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Chicago isn't the only Illinois city using a new state law to collect old debts, but it is taking the most aggressive stance, and that's got some citizens speaking out about the long reach of the city, and their inability to fight City Hall.
Following the enactment last December of the state law -- Public Act 97-632 -- Chicago quickly followed suit last month with its own ordinance that allows the city to go after state tax refunds of people who owe money on old parking tickets, among other debts.
But while Joliet decided to reach back five years on old debts, Chicago reaches back up to 22 years, provided at least one notice has been sent to the debtor in the last seven years.
"We chose to just limit it to five years," said Joliet Finance Director Rachel Mayer, explaining that city officials chose five years because they were confident it would stand up in court. "I don't know Chicago's motives, but we felt it was a reasonable amount of time."
But the story is much different in Chicago, where tickets dating back to 1999 are fair game for tax refund interception if city records indicate the motorists involved were sent notices of the debt in the last 7 years.
"As soon as it passed on February 15th, it went into effect immediately," according to Kathleen Strand of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Economic Council.
Strand sees no problem with due process here: if drivers can prove the debts aren't theirs, they'll be off the hook. But how can motorists prove that kind of a negative -- if they claim they never received notice from the city?
"We have records going back to 1990, and if they call us, we will provide them those records and information that we have," said Strand.
Plaintiff's attorney Clint Krislov said the list of debts included in the Recovery Act is a long one, even reaching out to library fines. Because the city is taking such a wide berth, he said the law may be ripe for a legal challenge.
"It's a big case to take on, but we'll be looking at it to see if there's a way to challenge this, or if the procedures are unfair," he said.
The city has pulled no punches on this one, unapologetically targeting "scofflaws," 54 percent of whom officials say no longer live in the city. The mayor announced recently that money reclaimed through this process will be earmarked for 50 new police officers and summer programs for children.
Springfield is the third Illinois city planning to enact the Local Debt Recovery Act. As more cities plan to go after old debt, there are two ways to appeal the interception of tax refund.
First, start with the municipality that issued the ticket. Then make an appeal with the state if you feel the finding is unfair.
City of Chicago: Search, Pay for Parking & Red Light Tickets
|Target 5: Investigating the Issues That Affect You Most


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Everybody that knows me would tell you how excited I am about the change that Sony announced at the reveal of the PS4. I want to go over some of the main points that I think are actually really huge for developers and the consumer. This is going to be much more focused on the hardware with some touches on features they announced that I feel will be important in the future.
x86 CPU
When I first started working on the PS3 I was blown away with how complicated it was to use the CELL processor. Now I love challenges, I did do some pretty cool thing on the SPU's but the time and effort was much higher than I felt like it should of been. I think the choice to go to a common architecture with 8 hardware cores, is a "HUGE" move forward for Sony. This is going to make it so indie developers can actually build games for the PlayStation 4. On the PS3 there was so much effort put into platform specific code that indie developers couldn't afford to truly optimize for the hardware. I would be willing to bet that a lot of the smaller PSN titles didn't use the SPU's at all, and even some of the larger games didn't fully start utilizing them until later in the platform cycle. Even though I'm going to miss not "discovering" some new hardware, I think this is going to help Sony more than we realize at this point. Also because of this choice Sony is giving up the ability to support PS3 titles. I feel like this isn't a deal breaker though, and I believe a few months after the console has been released people won't even mention that its missing. Just hang on to your PS3 so you can boot up your old copies of Uncharted when you get the urge to play them again.
Not much was actually revealed about the GPU, but we know that it will be on the same die as the CPU, and will be connected to unified memory which I will cover after this. The GPU was rumored to support DirectX 11, but I'm pretty certain Sony would not fully support a Microsoft technology, although I do believe they will have some of the features that DirectX 11 supports. We'll see though when more details come forward.
8GB GDDR5 Unified Memory
Take a minute to let that sink in, that is 16x the amount of memory in the PS3. The amount of memory isn't the only big announcement, the fact that it will be using 8GB of GDDR5 memory is completely unexpected. GDDR5 memory is "fast" and also very expensive, but this is going to allow for so much more of everything. I am a bit concerned that the price of games is going to increase a lot more, but lets hope this architecture makes development easier and faster than previous generations so it balances out. The real increase in content will come in art creation though, and that will take more effort to create content that fills the memory provided.
Live Streaming to UStream
I didn't see any mention of Twitch, but I hope that's supported as well. I think this is a huge step forward in connecting gamers with their audience. I watch a lot of streams, and I know I'm excited for this feature, but I will be interested to see how many people are like me.
The Controller
The controller looks good, but I really hope they tightened up the joysticks, and fixed the triggers. I use to love the PS2 controller, but as times have changed so has my demands for a good controller. Going back to the Dreamcast and N64 which had horrible controllers, all the way to today where the Xbox 360 controller is amazing, the PS4 controller has to make some changes, and I for one can't wait to see if they've done it.
A lot of the other features seemed more like a dream or something that isn't in development yet such as streaming games remotely to your PS4, or having it so a friend can jump in and help you through a particular area that your stuck. This all seems cool, but I want to see how much of this actually comes through. With whats announced right now, I can't wait for E3 where we are sure to find out more.
Also is Microsoft going to actually release this year?


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Let's say your business has committed to SEO online business by alive with a specialist SEO (search engine optimisation) bureau and delegating specific strategies to be done in-house. The aim if you alpha these types of casework is authoritative it to the top of the SERPs (Search Engine After-effects Page)
After a brace of months alive with the SEO aggregation and consistently assuming your centralized procedures, your website assuredly ends up listed appear the top of the SERPs for your important seek terms. Afterwards accomplishing this access in the seek positions, it absolutely is accustomed to speculate, "Can I cease my SEO casework and accumulate my abode in the seek engine rankings? "
At aboriginal glance, it ability assume like already you've accomplished the top of the seek engine rankings, the action is completed and your website will abide to be abutting to the top for your capital keyword phrases. However, the internet is far too aggressive of a exchange for this to be true. Benign SEO business requires several methods all action at already to achieve not alone abundant seek rankings but appropriately advocacy about-face amount by breeding a accession in cartage from your abeyant audience. Afterwards the activities at plan are halted, your website will gradually activate to bead in the rankings as your rivals with alive Seek Engine Optimisation campaigns yield your spot. It requires connected SEO aliment to abide at the top of the competition, Seek Engine Optimisation isn't a ancient wonder.
Listed beneath are axiological factors why you care to abide with your SEO advance or SEO casework admitting accomplishing acceptable seek engine rankings.
Keep On Being Aloft The Competition
The internet enables anyone with a affiliation to acquaint their aggregation which bureau that antagonism for seek engine after-effects accession is intense. It's been continuously accurate that websites that appearance up abreast the top of the 1st SERP get a greater click-through amount and depending on what you are promoting, you may be aggressive with hundreds or even bags of added websites aggravating to rank able-bodied for the absolute aforementioned seek phrases. If you ability the top rankings and stop application the systems that got you there, your competitors will rapidly yield the top Google rankings and drive your website added and added down.
Satisfy About-face Algorithms
Google is admired as the acclimated internet seek engine on apple and eventually, some may bare strategies to accomplishment its algorithm with cheating SEO techniques to get college rankings. For that reason, Google consistently updates its algorithm to advance the absolute way it crawls and ante websites. It is basic to accumulate clip with Google algorithm changes because a specific SEO address that already was able may become abortive anon afterwards an amend and even worse yet, be acceptable for penalisation by Google. You accept to acclimate your SEO online business techniques with anniversary and every Google algorithm amend or your seek positions could be aching from the new algorithm. The professionals at an SEO aggregation will consistently be abreast on the a lot of accepted Google enhancements and will advice you adapt your SEO business and commercial for bigger results.
Produce Beginning Accounting Content
There's a adage aural the SEO industry that "Content Is King" back it takes unique, beneficial, and alluring accounting agreeable to accumulate your admirers or applicant abject abiding to your website. Humans absorb accounting agreeable on the web at an amazing rate, decidedly on adaptable buzz devices, and if you cease accouterment cast new accounting content, you ability lose address a part of your admirers as the anachronous accounting agreeable gets dried or immaterial. Google is aswell far added acceptable to websites that consistently action new online autograph and added content. Agreeable conception accept to be at the centre of your corresponding Seek Engine Optimisation business action and an SEO bureau can action commodity autograph solutions if your business does not accept time or the assets to achieve it in-house.
SEO Commercial And Business Entails Maintenance
According to a seek engine optimisation baronial abstraction agitated out by Seek Engine Roundtable, endlessly all Seek Engine Optimisation business action afterwards extensive the top of the rankings can advance to a bead in the seek rankings of up to thirty percent. Various Seek Engine Optimisation approaches plan to body backlinks to your website and if you stop architecture links, Google ability actuate that your website is now not active or relevant. The aforementioned abstraction from Seek Engine Roundtable aswell accustomed that corporations who abiding their Seek Engine Optimisation business afterwards accepting acceptable seek positions enjoyed up to an 18 percent accession in their seek rankings.
Keep Up With New Trends And Technology
The online exchange is consistently about-face with new technology, developments, and accessories and it is important for your website to break in band with the newest changes in abstruse innovation. For instance, a lot added humans do internet searches from a book or smartphone than a accustomed computer, which was not the case a few years ago, and if your website is not adaptable friendly, a lot of adaptable barter will instantly carelessness your website. As the abstruse accession changes, you accept to reexamine your SEO business approaches to plan with the changes and you will even charge to accomplish modifications to your website. This is an added breadth area it may advice to appoint an SEO bureau because Seek Engine Optimisation authorities accumulate up to date on the newest developments and abstruse accession and can advice you acclimatize your SEO plan forth with your website as required.
Keep Up With Changes Inside Your Company
Businesses frequently acquaintance common changes whether or not they are adjustments to their industry or centralized improvements, for example, new approaches to conduct business, new casework or products, or rebranding. If you complete a abundant change to your enterprise, you charge to reflect the advance in your SEO plan. Rebranding and new casework or articles are admirable sources of new agreeable which will accumulate the accepted admirers affianced as able-bodied as alluring new -to-be customers.
Satisfy Changes In Consumer Seek Habits
The trends in chump habits generally change over time and if you don't accomplish absolute changes to Seek Engine Optimisation approaches to abutment these adjustments, you are traveling to lose rankings as able-bodied as your web cartage will go down. The access in the use of adaptable accessories mentioned aloft is a above about-face of user behaviour that anon affects the seek rankings and barter to your website. One Added alternation in aggregation cerebration you charge to be alert about is seek appellation use. The keywords called to acquisition a accurate artefact or annual may adapt as time passes and if you are apperception on keywords that aren't used, you will not rank able-bodied for the new keyword. Continual keyword analysis is a basic basic of Seek Engine Optimisation maintenance.
Match Changes In User Practices On Your Website
Users will get to your website by bureau of absolutely a few avenues additional they anniversary accomplish use of your website in a adapted way afterwards they arrive. Website Google analytics abstracts allows you to appearance the action of one's visitors on your website in accession to how they got to your website and what set of keywords and phrases they active to get there. All of this advice can advice you enhance your accepted Seek Engine Optimization commercial and marketing. Understanding what a lot of visitors do on your website can advice you enhance what absolutely is alive on your website as able-bodied as acquainted absolutely what is no best alive to advance a bigger user experience. If you apprehension that abounding users get to your website via a amusing media belvedere like Facebook, again convalescent what is already alive on your Facebook annual may advice allure essentially added page views.
Website analytics can be arduous and time-consuming to analysis for a lot of corporations about the abstracts it provides is acutely important for the best SEO marketing. Agencies that action SEO casework can action web analytics consulting and would advance or accomplish improvements aural your Seek Engine Optimisation access in band with the data.
Build Ascendancy In Your Specialised Alcove Over Time
One of the absolute objectives of SEO business is to authorize your business as an industry ascendancy in your specific accurate niche. This calls for connected agreeable conception that is accordant and appropriate for the admirers as it takes time to accomplish your authority. In the accident you stop your Seek Engine Optimisation business systems and don't advance beginning agreeable for your accurate audience, you will not be in the position to authorize your aggregation as an ascendancy in your alcove market.
Guard Your Online Reputation
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Just because you accept accomplished your adapted area in Google's SERPs, that doesn't beggarly the plan is over. Your SEO online business action should be agilely implemented and adapted to break top in the SERPs which will advice accession your amount of about-face and ROI. Ceasing all SEO action as anon as you arise the rankings will aftereffect in your rankings and website visitors to tumble because you accept annihilation new to accord your ambition admirers and no abstraction of the way your specific admirers behaves on your website to advance their experience. A Seek Engine Optimisation bureau has got the abilities not alone to accession your seek rankings in Google's SERPs but aswell put into convenance a connected SEO business action to accumulate benign seek rankings.
| xiii.yewen2008.eu.org


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22/11/2012 - In response to increasing pressure to deliver on growth, jobs and better governance, policy makers from MENA and OECD reiterated their support for measures to strengthen the business climate and governance in the region.
"The key shared priorities for all are to deliver jobs – a daunting challenge in light of the MENA region's young population - and to successfully implement the ongoing democratic reforms, a precondition for inclusive growth", said OECD Deputy Secretary-General, Yves Leterme.
At the Steering Group Meeting of the MENA-OECD Initiative, Ministers, high-level government officials, representatives from the private sector and civil society from MENA and OECD economies agreed on the need to:
"For any of these measures, governments need constant interaction with the business community before they launch new initiatives and reforms impacting businesses, or promoting businesses including women and young entrepreneurs", said Mrs. Lobna Afify from the Egyptian Business Development Association.
"Civil society's voice needs to be heard by governments on sensitive issues like fighting corruption. New democracies have to build mechanisms to make this happen" says Mr. Ghazi Gherairi, Professor of Law from Tunisia.
The Steering Group is the governing body of the MENA-OECD Initiative and meets every two to three years at ministerial level. It comprises representatives of government, business and civil society from 18 MENA and 34 OECD economies as well as international partner organisations who provide guidance to the Initiative.
For more information contact:
|Mr. Alexander Böhmer
Head of MENA-OECD Investment Programme
Tel: +336 24 77 04 81
|Mr. Carlos Conde
Head of MENA-OECD Governance Programme
Tel: +336 20 22 53 28
Related Documents


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The percentage of Americans who get their news via Facebook and other social networks has doubled in the past two years, a trend that makes traditional TV news and print newspapers even more vulnerable to losing their audiences, a new study says.
A poll of conducted in May and June showed about 19 percent of adults in the U.S. said they saw news or news headlines on a social-networking site the previous day, compared to just 9 percent in 2010, according to the Pew Research Center.
That trend cuts across almost all age and racial demographics, but is particularly apparent in adults under 30: Almost as many people learned about news the previous day on a social-networking site (33 percent) as on TV (34 percent), while only 13 percent read it in either the printed or digital versions of a newspaper.
"The transformation of the nation's news landscape has already taken a heavy toll on print news sources, particularly print newspapers," the report said. "But there are now signs that television news – which so far has held onto its audience through the rise of the internet – also is increasingly vulnerable, as it may be losing its hold on the next generation of news consumers."
About 55 percent said they watched a TV news program the day before they were polled. But among adults younger than 30, only 34 percent had watched a TV news program the previous day, down from 49 percent in 2006.
And just 23 percent said they read a print newspaper, a slight drop from the 26 percent recorded in 2010, but a larger decline compared to 47 percent who did so in 2000.
Mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets are reshaping how people get news. The percentage of people who learned about news stories online remained at 34 percent between 2010 and 2012.
"However, the percentage who regularly get news on a cell phone, tablet or other mobile device has nearly doubled since 2010, from 9 percent to 15 percent," the report said.
That increase is driven by the rapidly growing portion of people who access the Internet on their mobile devices. In 2012, 55 percent said they went on the Internet through a cell phone, tablet or other mobile devices, compared to 31 percent in 2010.
"The percentage regularly getting news from a social-networking site, such as Facebook, Google Plus or LinkedIn, also has increased dramatically – from just 2 percent in 2008, to 7 percent in 2010 and 20 percent currently," the study said.
And those trends are also affecting the use of search engines for finding news.
"Search engines like Google, Bing or Yahoo continue to be the largest single tool in finding news online, but the substantial growth in their use between 2008 and 2010 has leveled off," the report said.
Twitter, however, has not been as big a beneficiary of the news consumption shift. Previous studies showed only 13 percent of adults ever used Twitter or read tweets.
But the latest Pew study said Twitter "barely registers as a news source," with just 3 percent of the general public saying they regularly got their news through the micro blogging service and 4 percent said they "sometimes get the news there."
Yet for those who use Twitter, the service is an important news source: 27 percent said they now regularly receive news from reading tweets, up from 17 percent in 2010.
The study relied on a representative sample of about 3,000 adults interviewed by phone and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.


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A Military Wedding is in many respects just like any other wedding in the U.S., but what sets this ceremony apart are some traditions, rituals and attire that aren't common in civilian weddings. Rich in pomp and circumstance and often filled with patriotism and pageantry, a military wedding is a most sophisticated affair and can provide a treasure trove of wonderful memories captured in captivating, classy and timeless images.
Typical customs such as formal invitations and pre-nuptial events apply, but there are of course many that are different from civilian tradition – for example, if you are to be married by a military chaplain, you'll want to start planning months in advance and don't forget to extend a formal invitation to him or her and their spouse to attend your reception. And when you're planning the seating arrangements make sure to seat your or your fiancée's Commanding Officer and their spouse with or near your immediate family – flag and general officers typically are accommodated immediately behind both families.
The attire that is worn on the day of the wedding is what most readily sets the overall ceremony apart from civilian nuptials. As the bride, you are free to choose between your uniform and a traditional white wedding gown – the groom however will wear his uniform. The level of dress will depend on the kind of wedding you plan. Ultra-formal and formal weddings will call for Mess Dress uniforms (make sure to indicate that on your invitation!) There are other factors you'll need to take into account such as the time of day, season and yes, even the guidelines found in the Government-issued manual of uniforms.
Your respective military fathers, whether active or retired, typically will wear their uniforms and your mother may do so as well, but most often will choose to wear mother-of-the-bride attire. You won't need boutonnieres for the groomsmen as that is not the custom – they will instead wear their military decorations. Finally, your non-military guests will simply wear traditional wedding clothes of comparable formality as those in uniform.
Some military weddings take place in a military chapel or on the grounds of military academies, which typically means that there will be rules for decoration. At most, candelabras, flowers and additional decorations are usually provided and are set for all weddings, while some chapels and churches may not provide any décor leaving the door open for your interpretation.
As to who will officiate your wedding, most of the time when couples marry in a military chapel the chaplain will be the one who marries you, although sometimes couples will invite a civilian clergyman to co-officiate.
After the ceremony of your religious persuasion, a timeless military ritual will take place when you and your husband walk under the Arch of Sabers. This is a classic photographic opportunity and you'll want to make sure your photographer is poised to capture the moment as you pass beneath 6 to 8 officers who will hoist their sabers aloft with just the tips touching to form an arch. And if you are not a member of the military be prepared for the customary sword swat on your rump from the last saber bearer as he welcomes you to the branch your new husband serves!
Depending on your location and the time of year, you will next most likely want to take the time for a wedding photography session. And just because there are uniforms involved doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourselves as well – it's your wedding day after all so make sure you both relax and have some fun before you head to the next setting.
At your reception you surely will have followed seating protocol which calls for military guests to be seated according to rank, leaving the rest up to you to decide. As to music it's customary to include some regimental compositions, and make sure you play the theme song of the branch you or your new husband serves in – always a crowd-pleaser! As to decorations, another major point of difference between military and civilian weddings is the presence of American flags. Never out of place at a military wedding, they help to lend a patriotic flair and will traditionally be accompanied by the standards of the unit. Flowers and décor of your choosing will complete the setting of what is sure to be an unforgettable reception.
Then, when the time comes to serve desert, another military tradition comes to play when you and your husband slice the cake. He will offer his saber or sword to you and you will make the first cut together as he rests his right hand over yours. This is a truly unforgettable moment and one you'll cherish in pictures for a lifetime.
One last military wedding tradition that is customary is for the midshipman or cadet to give his bride-to-be a miniature version of his class ring as an engagement ring. Then on the day of the wedding a simple band will complete the set as you get ready to begin your lives together!
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Salaam and Greetings of Peace:
The purple zebra dances to the song of the long Moon.
Staring into the clear darkness, the beaten mule continues on its arduous journey.
Rejected by the donkey and the horse, the mule is never accepted for what it truly is.
The purple zebra is surrounded by the townspeople, captivating those foolish ones.
All the while, the mule continues up and down the mountain valleys bringing all of the town's supplies, so that the people may survive.
Having spent many years in the desert wastes, being burned by the fires of Love…The purple zebra is free from the mistakes of the townspeople,
it is a true lover of the long Moon. It is deaf and blind to their praise and presence.
It is only natural for these people, who are lost in the clear darkness to become attracted to this beautiful flame when it arrives.
The mule was forgotten long before the purple zebra arrived… never having a place of recognition to begin with.
All the townspeople surround the purple zebra like bees around the Queen's hive, dancing in joy and forgetfulness…
Though it may seem the mule is the forgotten, it is really those occupied people who are forgotten… and limited.
Unwavering in its efforts, the worn old mule continues to serve the people, beaten and exhausted… it never forgets to give thanks to the
One who remembers him. The One who has made him His…and His alone.
– by Atabek, dedicated to Sheikh Abul Abbas al-Mursi (rahmatullaalaih). May God sanctify his soul.
Note: This story/poem was sent by a young friend online, and is a good reminder of the two kinds of true seekers, the silent ones in the backround who do the work, and the visible ones who attract attention. Both serve a purpose. It is good to remember that for every Sufi saint that has been written about, there are many others whose names no one knows but God.
Ya Haqq!


text: The AAT3520 Series of PowerManagerTM products is a member of AATI's Total Power Management ICTM (TPMICTM) product family. These microprocessor reset circuits are ideal for monitoring voltage supplies in portable systems, where extended battery life is critical. They provide a low cost, reliable solution by eliminating external components. The AAT3520 series operates by monitoring the system power supply voltage. When the input voltage drops below a fixed threshold, the device asserts a reset signal for a fixed time period after VCC has risen back above the fixed threshold; 30ms and 150ms minimum periods are available. The AAT3520 product series is guaranteed to operate down to 1.2V and designed to ignore fast line transients appearing on VCC. The AAT3520 series is available with three output stage versions: AAT3520 push-pull active high output, AAT3522 push-pull active low output and AAT3524 open drain active low output. The quiescent supply current is extremely low, typically 1A, making it ideal for portable battery operated equipment.


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Women Clothes
Most people need to take part in outdoor activities more, to improve their health. To do this, they need to be prepared by wearing the right clothing that will help improve their condition and protect them against any weather condition.
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Arrak Outdoor women clothes for hiking and nature activities come with quality features including being made of polyester and cotton, which allows them to stretch and be comfortable. The stretch pants for ladies are treated with DWR, making them water repellant and easy to use. As a customer you can also shop different colors and sizes, depending on your desire and the kind of activities you are planning to engage in. Some of the women cloth items are made with breathable materials so that you can get ventilation and air during hot weather. We on Arrak outdoor's primary aim to provide you with the perfect cloth to make your outdoor activities something to always look out for, which can help improve your health.
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text: Nominations for the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are due next Friday, October 21st. Chamber Office Coordinator Melinda O'Field says that they currently have at least five applications that have been received for four open spots. She adds that she knows there are more applications that have been taken out that may be received in the next week. O'Field says that all paying members of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce will vote for which nominees will be on the board.


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Ohio Panel to Weigh Letting Hunters Use Silencers
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio committee has scheduled a vote on a bill that would let Ohio hunters to use firearms silencers.
Last month, lawmakers and their aides got a hands-on look at the devices and listened to silenced and unsilenced weapons.
The measure would let Ohioans holding a valid hunting license use the silencers while hunting certain birds and other wild game, including squirrels, rabbits and white-tailed deer. Only those authorized under state and federal laws could use the suppressor, which must be properly registered.
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee planned to consider the bill Tuesday morning.
Backers of suppressors say they protect hunters' hearing, make field commands easier to hear and reduce disruptions to neighbors. Opponents say quieter weapons are less safe and easier to use illegally.
Click here for more from The Columbus Dispatch.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Releases > County Median Age > Release Tables > Median Age of the Population, Annual
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Pneumonia: the forgotten killer of children
Pneumonia kills more children than any other illness – more than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Over 2 million children die from pneumonia each year, accounting for almost 1 in 5 under five deaths worldwide. Yet, little attention is paid to this disease. This joint UNICEF/WHO report examines the epidemiological evidence on the burden and distribution of pneumonia and assesses current levels of treatment and prevention. It is a call to action to reduce pneumonia mortality, a key step towards the achievement of the millennium development goal on child mortality.


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Freedom of the Press
You are here
2012 Scores
Press Status
Press Freedom Score (0 = best, 100 = worst)
Legal Environment(0 = best, 30 = worst)
Political Environment(0 = best, 40 = worst)
Economic Environment(0 = best, 30 = worst)
After a coup swept Andry Nirina Rajoelina, the former mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, to power in March 2009, the ensuing dismissal of the parliament, a virtual suspension of the constitution, and the end of any semblance of judicial independence ushered in a dangerous and violent period for the media that saw one journalist killed and more than 80 opposition media outlets closed through 2010. While 2011 did not see any further killings or closings, the press environment remained extremely volatile, with high levels of government censorship and intimidation of journalists and media outlets. An agreement on a "road map" to presidential and parliamentary elections was reached in September 2011, but an election date had yet to be set, and political instability continued throughout the year.
With the breakdown of democracy and constitutional governance since 2009, the laws protecting freedom of the press have been routinely ignored or selectively applied by the High Authority of the Transition (HAT), Rajoelina's interim government. The increased corruption of the judiciary, and the lack of a parliament or any independent media regulatory bodies, has allowed the HAT to rule by decree without checks and balances. Attempts to strengthen constitutional and legal protections for journalists have been delayed pending resolution of the political crisis. Despite attempts by several members of the media to formally draft a code of ethics, no such code exists, and the barely functional Association of Journalists lacks independence from political influence. At the end of the year, the HAT's Communication Ministry established an ethics commission for the media.
Censorship, harassment, and intimidation throughout the media sector remained widespread in 2011. According to Madonline, the website of a nonprofit organization of independent journalists in Madagascar, 10 reporters remained behind bars at the end of 2011, and none of the radio and TV stations closed after the coup had reopened. In October, a judge postponed the trial of the staff of Radio Fahazavana. The station, which had supported ousted president Marc Ravalomanana, had been closed in May 2010 based on a variety of charges including "non-respect for journalistic ethics resulting in a threat to state security and incitement of violence and rebellion," and its staff was arrested. In December, TV Plus received an official warning letter from the government after openly criticizing the president for "inappropriate" holidays in Mauritius. Also that month, the government threatened the Free FM radio station with closure for its regular criticism of the HAT, and the station accused the government of retaliatory frequency interference. Several other media outlets either owned by or sympathetic to the opposition walked a tightrope between self-censorship and closure. Many television and radio stations have altered their formats, airing live call-in shows to avoid editorial responsibility for the content.
In 2011, there were approximately 250 radio stations and 39 television stations, but many of these remain closed after being shut down by the government after the 2009 coup. The government retains a monopoly on nationwide broadcasting, and radio and television licenses are often suspended arbitrarily. These suspensions, as well as arrests of journalists, are commonly justified by "national security" concerns by the government. Thirteen private daily newspapers, and many more that appear less frequently, are published throughout the country, but the number also fluctuates due to several closures and reopenings. Widespread poverty and illiteracy severely limit the penetration of television, print media, and the internet, making radio by far the most important medium in the country. Major political figures own several of the private media outlets. Ravalomanana owns the Malagasy Broadcasting System, which operates television and radio stations, and Rajoelina owns the Viva television and radio networks. The state-owned media include Television Malagasy and Malagasy National Radio.
While there were no reports that the government restricted internet usage or monitored e-mail, accusations of technical sabotage of websites from both political camps surfaced during the year. Given the extremely chaotic, violent, and restrictive media environment within the country, access to information from abroad via the internet took on added importance. Because many internet servers are located outside of the country and beyond the reach of the regime, the internet is seen as one of the most reliable sources of information. Political groups and parties use the internet to share opinions and to criticize opposing parties. However, only about 2 percent of the population accessed the internet in 2011, and access to the internet was limited mainly to urban areas. Prospects for rapid expansion of internet access from these low levels improved greatly with the November 2009 inauguration of the Lower Indian Ocean Network (LION) submarine cable, a fiber-optic network connecting Madagascar, Reunion, and Mauritius. The project, financed by a consortium made up of Orange Madagascar, Mauritius Telecom, and France Telecom S.A., made it possible for Madagascar to access broadband internet for the first time.


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- Details
- Specs
- Reviews
- What's Included
Thermometers are a staple in accurately determining whether or not an individual is sick but they aren't instant which means you're stuck with a thermometer in your mouth until it gets a reading. The problem with that, aside from seemingly always taking forever, is it can lead to cross contamination and the spread of germs. For a family imagine how many people use the thermometer. Now think about if it is truly sterilized after each use. With the Non-Contact Thermometer from Kidz-Med these are questions and worries that are no longer relevant because it will determine the person's temperature using infrared technology. All it takes is the push of a button to instantly receive an accurate body temperature reading on the large, back-lit LED display. The device doesn't need to touch the sick or potentially sick individual and thus decreases the risk of germ transfer to the one taking the temperature. It operates whisper quietly leaving parents free to even take their child's temperature while they are sleeping without worry that it will wake them.
How accurate is it? The Non-Contact IR Thermometer is as accurate as using an ear or rectal thermometer. It is recommended that the person taking the temperature reading be within 2-4 inches of the individual when using the thermometer for an accurate read. Its mode can be set to provide temperature readings in either Fahrenheit or Celsius and will record the previous 32 readings. Though the Non-Contact Thermometer is ideally used to determine a person's body temperature it can also be used to measure the surface temperature of an appliance, bathtub water before entering or even a room temperature. The Non-Contact Thermometer is powered by 2 AAA batteries which are included with purchase.
Specifications Manufacturer Kidz-Med, Inc Manufacturer Product No. 11900 UPC 026141119005 Product Dimensions L 5.5in x W 1.7in x H 1in Weight 0.5 lbs Power 2 AAA batteries Operating Distance 2-4in Temperature Reading Fahrenheit or Celsius Saved Temperature Recordings Last 32 Power Save Mode Yes Body Temperature Accuracy +/- 0.444°F
Body Temperature Measuring Range 89.6°F - 109°F
Operating Temperature 50°F - 104°F
- 1x - Non-Contact Thermometer
- 2x - AAA batteries
- 1x - User manual
- 1x - Non-Contact Thermometer


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So You're Thinking About Medical Device Manufacturing?
If you're considering entering the medical-device industry, there are a variety of factors to keep in mind. Consider this a primer for organizations looking to leverage opportunities within the industry.
Today's Medical-Device Supply Chain
Fragmented—that's the best adjective to describe the medical-device supply chain. For example, one of our clients, a $2.5-billion medical-device original equipment manufacturer (OEM), spends $27 million/yr. purchasing products from 283 suppliers. This is not atypical of what we see in the OEM supply base.
The medical-device supply chain also is characterized by a variety of unsophisticated procurement practices, rapid product launches, high launch volumes and low replenishment volumes, and limited supplier involvement in design and planning stages. Moreover, there is a high rate of prototype manufacturers evolving to become production suppliers (which is how the proliferation of suppliers occurred in the first place). We expect to see a number of changes within the next four years.
What's Changing?
The most significant change expected is severe industry consolidation. There are more than 4000 contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs, the equivalent of Tier 1 automotive suppliers) within the medical-device industry. By 2015, we expect consolidation to result in the formation of 15 to 20 large CMOs around the world. Each of those CMOs will develop its own supply chain and Tier 2 supplier networks.
Once the supply chain consolidates, OEMs and CMOs will become highly focused on cost cutting. And, beginning in 2013, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act will place a 2.3-percent excise tax on medical-device manufacturing. This will have a profound effect on the supply base—one OEM estimates that its organization would pay $70 million in taxes in 2013. Industry insiders predict that the tax will reduce profits an average of 4 to 5 percent. Because shareholders likely will not absorb these losses, suppliers will be forced to reduce their costs, perhaps by laying off personnel and cutting R&D budgets, impacting innovation and revenue growth.
We also expect the regulatory environment to continue to become more stringent. The medical-device industry is highly inspection-based, detection-oriented and, therefore, costly and imperfect. There have been some well-publicized spills within the industry during the last decade or so, leading, in some cases, to class-action lawsuits. Due to an increase in the amount of money allocated by the Obama administration to the FDA, 500 new FDA inspectors now are scrutinizing the medical-device supply chain. In some cases, FDA warning letters have literally caused organizations to shut down.
Finally, historically, the medical-device industry has been largely decentralized. Five major OEMs have recently announced initiatives to centralize manufacturing management, supply-chain management and purchasing activities to move toward centers of excellence. This will have a profound effect on supplier relationships.
Questions OEMs and CMOs May Ask Potential Suppliers
How successful an organization will be within the medical-device industry depends on how well it can answer the following questions.
1) How does adding a supplier into my supply deck impact my quality risk? Do you improve quality within the supply chain? This is the door opener for any organization. Are you registered with the FDA? (Unless you're supplying straight-to-market products, this typically isn't necessary.) Are you ISO 13485 certified? (This is critical, as some OEMs and CMOs won't even entertain discussions with suppliers without this certification.) Do you have a robust approach to problem-solving/root-cause analysis? Do you understand the industry vernacular (CAPAs, MDRs, CFR 21, complaints, etc.)? What's your track record from a quality-performance standpoint?
2) How does sourcing to this supplier impact my total cost? As OEMs or CMOs evaluate adding suppliers, they logically see these entities as work—something else they have to manage that may negatively affect their ability to quickly commercialize products. Suppliers must demonstrate an ability to increase product commercial speed by bringing value—by participating in advanced quality planning, mitigating risk, improving product-launch performance and increasing speed to market.
3) Is the supplier financially stable? Because CMOs have such a fragmented supply base, during the recession it wasn't uncommon for suppliers to go out of business; many simply didn't have the financial wherewithal to deal with the changes in production volumes. Although supplier financial stability hasn't historically been of particular importance, OEMs and CMOs are evaluating it based on these negative experiences.
4) Can the supplier fund further development? Since top-line growth is a major objective for OEMs and CMOs, it's important that they have the ability to increase capacity and funding, and grow with them. Another significant trend is increased involvement in low-cost areas, particularly the relatively immature markets of Asia, South America and Africa. Suppliers should plan accordingly.
5) Can the supplier provide future cost reductions? Do you have systems in place to improve efficiency and effectiveness and continue to reduce costs, which can be passed along to OEMs and CMOs?
6) What's the depth of talent of the supplier's management team? Because of the fragmented supply chain, OEMs and CMOs are used to working with mom-and-pop suppliers, where the talent resides in only one or two people. If that talent leaves, quality and value often leaves with it. OEMs and CMOs have learned this lesson and take this into account.
Getting Started
For companies contemplating entering the medical-device industry, the first order of business is research. Visit shows, such as the Medical Design & Manufacturing Conference. Visit www.fda.gov, where you can view examples of FDA warning letters and recalls and learn more about industry happenings. Subscribe to industry publications, learn the lingo, and then begin to identify potential end products that fit your manufacturing capabilities.
There will continue to be opportunities within the medical-device arena for years to come. Leveraging them won't be easy, but those organizations willing to expend the effort will reap the rewards. MF
See also: Plante Moran, PLLC
Related Enterprise Zones: Automation, Presses, Tool & Die
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csakon necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 76 diseños de 34 diseñadores freelance.
Macrodeck is another social networking website. Unlike other social networking websites, the innovative stuff we create doesn't require you to switch services.
Desired Color Scheme:
Desired Style:
sharp, sexy and timeless
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai)
We like bright colors and will probably use the color scheme found here (http://www.colourlovers.com/palette…494/Samaha) for the website. Though the logo should easilly work on black or white as to make sure it works with any light or dark backgrounds. I like the last.fm logo because the "as" in "last" is the logo but is also integrated into the name.
The main idea behind Macrodeck (macrodeck.com) is that we are a tool that connects. Whether we are connecting friends to share their favorite places, connecting strangers over a common topic, or connecting services from different social networks; we are attempting to allow people to do what they want to do without locking them into only our website.
I would like the logo to be suddle in reflecting the "connection" idea.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Wondering What's New in 2013?Posted: January 6th, 2013 | Author: admin | Filed under: News | Tags: Boston Globe North, New Restaurants for 2013 | No Comments »
I'm sure you've noticed things have been a bit slow the past month here at the Dish. Fear not, now that the holidays are over you'll be hearing from us more often. The good news is that we have been asked to write an occasional column for the Boston Globe North dining section and our first piece came out today, so you can get your Dish fix right here: Fresh North Shore restaurants to explore in 2013


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by Gary Torres
The Power of One. This year's team captains have a daunting task in front of them. Can they make everyONE believe in the Power of One? They don't have many extra kids; currently, the team only has 30 kids willing to pay the price of two-a-days. They will pick up a few more kids when school starts; hopefully some will be big. So everyONE counts! In a school the size of Monticello everyONE has to get involved!
It takes a coaching staff that can recruit and retain every possible kid. Not an easy task when lots of kids are apathetic, indifferent, or would rather stand on the sideline of life. Somehow the coach has to make kids believe that even if they only play for two minutes every game; that those two minutes have to be the best two minutes of his life.
The Buckaroos have some good experience, some great skill kids, and even a few linemen that are bigger than our usual. But, depth will be a problem…or a challenge, depending on how you look at the glass; half empty or half full.
Can these captains inspire the troops? Can these thirty find the inspiration of the three hundred Spartans? Will there be a Leonidas that can make these thirty fight every battle as gallantly and with such purpose and focus that larger players and teams with more numbers, will at the least, walk away with respect for such a determined team and may walk away surprised. If these captains can make every freshman, every cheerleader, every fan believe; then the power of ONE collectively may take this team towards their goals of greatness they now only dare to whisper.
If this team is to have success they will have to pull together as a team, creating an immovable, unstoppable phalanx united in purpose, dedicated to a cause, where the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the ONE, and where everyONE does exactly what is required of them and just a little extra. These captains will have to inspire the loyalty and get the assistance of players like hard working Terik Esplin, only a freshman; or Kendall Maughan, whose body is finally catching up with his determination, or Devin Wright who could help with the "right" stuff. The seniors may have to lead the charge, but it is these younger players that have to step up and be ready. EveryONE has to be on this team, about this team, and for the team! No individual heroics will defeat the 1A teams starting to prepare for the Fall football grid iron battle. It will take a Team of everyONE.
This team will have success when players and coaches and the community grasp the importance of one missed practice, one missed tackle, one missed catch, one fumble, one extra effort, one more hit, and one more try. When everyONE steps up, the TEAM becomes ONE. If they learn that the harder you work; the harder it is to surrender they might have success.
A few years ago, the difference between the state championship trophy going to Enterprise and not Monticello was ONE inch. On that fateful day; on fourth down and a yard to go the Wolves went for it and made the first down by one inch and that kept the ball out of the hands of the explosive Buckaroo offense and they were able to kill the clock beating the mighty Buckaroos. The Power of One is real. Good luck Bucks!


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Better by Lezyne
Steve Thomas visits the Lezyne factory in Taiwan to get a look at how our high-quality products are made from Micki Kozuschek, the owner of Lezyne. Micki shows Steve around the new, state-of-the-art factory while answering questions about his brand, it's product, and how he achieves the quality of work that he strives for.
"Back in the spring of 2007 a bold and brave new cycling accessory company launched into what was an already crowded market place. The name of that company was Lezyne; it's a brand which most of us have now come to know and respect for their high quality and superbly engineered products as for their innovation and common sense approach to those essentials which we use or carry with us on just about every ride."


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As specialists in managing consumer data, Callcredit Information Group has a wealth of industry experts who are able to provide insight and analysis into every sector, as well as add further depth to research.
In this section of our website you will find current Callcredit news stories as well as press releases issued in previous years. For any media enquiries, interview requests or industry insights, please contact our press team.
The information in the press releases below is intended for journalists and media professionals only. The information should not be construed as a financial promotion under the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Handbook of rules and Guidance.


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I invested in Chaosium's BRP (mostly because I love Call of Cthulu). I am stumbling over this:
Mechanically, what are the differences between "Magic" and "Sorcery"?
I get the conceptual difference, but I don't see why a player (or GM) might choose one over the other, or allow both in the same campaign.
Bonus points:
- Are there any home-grown BRP magic systems that work well?
- Has anyone been successful at putting these magic systems into a CofC campaign?


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You can use this page to send us feedback, suggestions or advertising proposals..
Alternatively, you can send an email to this address: [email protected]
We will consider any message you send us as long as it contains well-founded feedback or suggestions. We will not consider/answer questions related to fixing your computer, finding information on the Internet, or anything as such. You can use the various search engines on the web to aid you in matters of that kind.


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Now browsing the "Marine Corps" category
Calculated PFT/CFT Performance Worksheet (NAVMC 11622) in Excel v5.0.1 dtd 30 Jan 2019
14 Apr 2014 | 3 Comments | Continue reading »
Features: All PFT and CFT event points are autocalculated. Ability to copy/paste bulk personnel information from existing spreadsheets. Tab or arrow key navigation between cells. Formatted for Electronic Data Interchange Personal Identifier (EDIPI). High altitude compensation. Facebook page YouTube tutorials Download version 5.0.1 – via Google Drive – via Dropbox Changelog: v5.0.1 – 30 Jan […]
Drill Instructor duty, Parris Island: A retrospective
15 Feb 2011 | 11 Comments | Continue reading »
I don't intend this to be some exhaustive, bullshit guide on everything you need to know before coming out to The Island as a drill instructor. I'm sure San Diego is altogether different. In fact, I know it is because I'm a "Hollywood" Marine. I volunteered for Parris Island for the change of scenery and […]
Recruit survival guide (politically correct remix)
12 Oct 2009 | 6 Comments | Continue reading »
I got into a fair amount of hot water over the original Recruit Survival Guide, prompting me to assign the post the algorithmically unbreakable password of YatYas98 and rewrite it to appease softer hearts. I blame the tree-hugging, save-the-whales, why-can't-we-just-all-get-along, make-love-not-war whistle blowers, not my command who had to take action. Everything you see in […]
Confused Marine debuts hybrid service uniform
6 Jun 2009 | 47 Comments | Continue reading »
Below is a picture of the United States Marine Corps Service C (left) and A (right) uniforms. The Service C uniform, dubbed "Charlies" or "Chucks" is authorized for leave and liberty and is most commonly worn by drill instructors during the summer months for days such as Family Day, graduation, and Sundays and holidays. The […]
Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test (CFT)
15 May 2009 | 2 Comments | Continue reading »
The CFT consists of three events: an 880 yard run, ammo can lifts, and maneuver under fire. 880 Yard Run: Marines will run for 880 yards while wearing boots and camouflage uniform (trousers and skivvie shirt). Ammo Can Lifts: Marines will lift a 30 pound ammo can from the ground, over their heads as many […]
3 May 2009 | 16 Comments | Continue reading »
I met a woman tonight, a conservative, an educated woman, who thought she knew what the fuck the war in Iraq was all about. She insisted she knew because she knew some people who had lived there. Her friends. "They left Iraq in 2004," she said with conviction. "Then they were rich," I replied. "Because […]
2009 Eastern Division [rifle and pistol] Matches results
3 Apr 2009 | 13 Comments | Continue reading »
The 2009 Eastern Division Matches were a success. Half of the team (eight Marines) received medals with five of them returning for competition at Marine Corps Championships being held 6-24 April. Parris Island was the winningest team in Eastern Division. My awards included a silver medal in individual pistol as well as firing member of […]
11 Mar 2009 | 12 Comments | Continue reading »
I reenlisted today, pushing my EAS out to 12 October 2013. That should give me plenty of time to get the hell off the drill field and over to Afghanistan before Obama pulls everyone out of there too. I used to believe anyone could become a Marine. But the fact of the matter is only […]
Parris Island shooting team
9 Mar 2009 | 19 Comments | Continue reading »
On Friday, March 13th, I journey north to Camp Lejeune, NC for an opportunity to shoot competitively with the Parris Island Rifle/Pistol team. The CIAP has traditionally provided the Marine Corps with the skilled and experienced marksmen necessary to support a productive marksmanship training program and success in battle. The primary objective of the program […]
Protected: Recruit survival guide
19 Aug 2008 | Enter your password to view comments. | Continue reading »
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When Freedom Means Opening for Imagine Dragons: Pussy Riot in Brooklyn
Benefit concerts make for strange bedfellows. A few hours into Amnesty International's nearly endless show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center last night, a tall man with silver hair named Kerry Max Cook walked onto the stage to talk about the death penalty. Cook served 22 years on death row in Texas after being wrongfully convicted for the rape and murder of a 21-year-old woman named Linda Jo Edwards; he was released in 1997. During his time in prison the state of Texas executed 144 people. Cook, a prominent anti-death penalty advocate, told his story—on the one hand the obscene horrors of death row, on the other his small measure of good fortune in being able to speak for the executed—smoothly and without the aid of the teleprompter that earlier had tripped up celebrities like Bridget Moynahan, who wore a fedora.
At the end of his speech, Cook introduced his 13-year-old son in the audience. The boy, a visible sign of redemption for a man whose 20s and 30s were completely erased, stood up before 19,000 people and pumped his fist. Then his father stepped back to the microphone and said, "It's my pleasure to introduce the band Cake."
Somewhere in here, amid a succession of activists, random Hollywood creatures and a Spotify spit-out of bands, were wedged Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alyokhina (formerly) of the feminist collective Pussy Riot. The two Russian punks were imprisoned for nearly two years by Vladimir Putin after performing a punk song called "Mother of God, Chase Putin Away" at Moscow's Cathedral Christ of the Savior. The Barclays show was headlined by the Flaming Lips, but "Pussy Riot"—with a special introduction from Madonna—was no doubt the main attraction. Earlier in the day, Amnesty International had held a press conference for the two women in the bowels of the arena.
The organization clearly sees Pussy Riot as both ideologically aligned with its goals and a unique opportunity to amplify its signal, especially among younger people. The de facto logo for the concert—shrewdly timed to coincide with the launch of Putin's Olympic charade in Sochi—was a man with a guitar slung across his torso raising both of his arms (like either Billie Joe Armstrong or, uh, Richard Nixon) and wearing a balaclava, the neon variety of which is the most iconic part of Pussy Riot's unofficial uniform. On the web site of Amnesty USA there is a tile that reads "Take Injustice Personally" and features a photo of protesters in candy-colored balaclavas standing in front of signs that say "FREE PUSSY RIOT."
American activism, at least on a wide scale, is splintered and weak. Pussy Riot, on the other hand, is succinct, strong, daring, and visually compelling. What Occupy Wall Street more or less wasn't—organized, accomplished, media savvy—Pussy Riot is. Nadya and Masha are what Occupy needed: charismatic personalities with identifiable faces. This is, of course, the tension that makes the Occupy movement divisive to this day, even among activists. It has no scalps because that might not have been the point. Pussy Riot's singularity and ambition are positive when viewed through one prism, but negative through another.
Among those that might see it the second way are, well, Pussy Riot. Hours before the concert, anonymous members of the collective posted a letter to Livejournal announcing that Nadya and Masha—who a rapidly increasing number of Americans now know as "Pussy Riot"—are no longer members of the group. Though expressing support for the two, the letter noted that Nadya and Masha have "forgot about the aspirations and ideals of our group — feminism, separatist resistance, fight against authoritarianism and personality cult." They went on further to criticize the benefit show itself, calling it an "extreme contradiction to the very principles of Pussy Riot collective."
"The spectators to our performances are always spontaneous passers by," they wrote. "And we never sell tickets to our 'shows'." When I paused for a second outside of Barclay's on Wednesday night, I was swarmed by scalpers thrusting Ticketmaster printouts at my chest.
Not long after Cake left the stage, Madonna waltzed on, proudly displaying a cane and wearing an airdropped-from-2012 black Comme Des Fuckdown beanie on her head. "Thank you for making 'pussy' a sayable word in my household," she said, displaying an acute lack of self-awareness considering the other word Madonna recently revealed to be acceptable in her family. Among celebrities at least, Madonna was early in her support of Pussy Riot—during a concert in Moscow in 2012 she wore a balaclava and stripped to her bra to reveal "Free Pussy Riot" scrawled on her back. But in Brooklyn she was disinvested and clearly cognizant of the group's commodification, even as she participated in it. While she narrated the struggle that Nadya and Masha had endured, Madonna was interrupted by scattered boos from audience members appalled at the injustice. "Boo," Madonna said drolly. "That is right. Boo." Later, when she said that Pussy Riot "must be commended for their courage and fearlessness," she paused: "That's a 'yay.'"
She eventually brought Nadya and Masha to the stage, along with their translator. Of the two, Nadya is the commanding presence. Masha, shorter and with long, light hair, is withdrawn and seemingly shy, perhaps uncomfortable with becoming a celebrity. Nadya, though, was born for this role. She boomed into the microphone, spitting Russian and pacing across the stage, walking to the lip right in front of the audience to punctuate a point. She looked chic in a long white shirt printed with a large, black cross underneath a black blazer. Madonna was wearing what New York rapper and fashion plate A$AP Rocky wore two years ago; Masha was wearing the sort of outfit you might see him in tomorrow night.
Their speech, molded into English, was perhaps understandably generic. "Freedom is not a given," Nadya said. "It is something we need to fight for and stand for every day." And later: "We demand freedom for all political prisoners." This was the language, too, of the speeches read off by the actors and performers in between sets—before a crowd of 20,000, one has to aim broad. With Nadya and Masha, though, the emotion of their words mattered more than the English dutifully recited by their translator. They ended their moment in a froth and with a scream: "RUSSIA WILL BE FREE-YA."
From where I was sitting, the two were on the stage off my right shoulder, the entire audience off my left. As Nadya and Masha yelled, I couldn't help but notice out of the corner of my eye a vendor walking through the general admission rows in plain view of the stage, carrying a bucket of beer on his head, Budweiser and Bud Light logos easily visible even from several hundred feet away.
Just as inartfully as a man who served 22 years on death row in Texas ceded the stage to Cake, a disembodied voice quickly announced the arrival of Imagine Dragons after Nadya and Masha finished. You probably know their smash hit single "Radioactive," which sounds like what it feels like to force out a turd. The song is "political" in the vaguest sense that it sketches out some sort of brave new post-apocalyptic world. But in its exuberant optimism, the song skips over the revolution itself, if it even considers one. Politically it cuts against Pussy Riot's entire existence, but even with sets by Lauryn Hill and Tegan and Sara still to come, "Radioactive" was positioned as the night's exclamation point.
As anyone who caught Imagine Dragons on the Grammys knows, "Radioactive" is pure testosterone. Half a dozen men bang on all sizes of drums, including a huge taiko one that lead singer Dan Reynolds beats with truly amazing force. This is how we celebrated an "all-female separatist collective" on Wednesday night.
"We count ourselves as being inspired by Pussy Riot," Reynolds said at one point. "Thank you for standing up for human rights. Now, let's have a good time."
Update: This post has been edited to more clearly reflect the fact that Kerry Max Cook was wrongfully convicted.
[Photo of Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina via Getty, photo of screen inside Barclays Center by Jordan Sargent]


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Last week, the 9th annual Technology Tools for Today (T3) conference took place at the Anaheim Hilton, at the doorstep of the Anaheim Convention Center and Disneyland. This year's event was the largest ever, slightly edging out last year's total with nearly 600 attendees, including both advisors themselves and a wide range of advisor tech companies and their representatives.
As the conference continues to grow, T3 is increasingly the conference at which advisor tech companies must be seen; several players timed key announcements to the conference, from a big integration announcement by SEI, to Pershing's new NetXInvestor platform to a new account aggregation dashboard offering from MoneyGuidePro.
In addition, numerous new advisor tech companies debuted their offerings, from a Personal Financial Management (PFM) tool to a simple web-based advisor CRM. This year's T3 event also featured a new "FAStech Cup" advisor tech competition for up-and-coming tech-savvy financial planning students, a strategic shift that means in the future the T3 conference may not only be a location for advisor tech tools but also new hires who know how to use them!
Overall, the mood of the conference was very upbeat, notwithstanding some Internet problems at the beginning and a looming East Coast snowstorm at the end that led many attendees to depart a few hours early. As virtually all major software tools have now transitioned to the cloud, and the number of integrations continues to proliferate, this year's T3 conference seemed to mark a turning point where the challenge of advisor technology decisions is less and less about finding software at all, and increasingly about the difficulty of navigating a complex patchwork of integrations and choosing from an ever-wider array of potential solutions.
Attendees, New Initiatives, Speed Bumps
One of the notable things about the T3 conference is that it appeals not only to vendor wholesalers who want to reach advisors, but also their leadership and key decision-makers (as many business partnership, integrations and even mergers emerge from meetings that happen in-person at T3). This year's conference didn't disappoint in its access to company CEOs and CTOs, in addition to the usual advisor crowd.
Students constituted one new group at this year's conference, with the launch of the new "FAStech Cup", a competition sponsored by several popular advisor technology platforms that put forth "challenges" for students to learn key advisor technology tools. Competition for the FAStech cup included showcasing a hypothetical financial plan (built using MoneyGuidePro software), and delivering it via recorded video conference, as well as building hypothetical advisory firm websites, along with a Quiz Bowl of financial planning knowledge.
The winners included Texas Tech in third place, San Diego State in second and New Jersey's William Patterson University as the grand prize winner, which included a $5,000 gift to the student program. Conference organizers Joel Bruckenstein and Dave Drucker committed at the end of the conference to renewing and growing the FAStech cup in the future. That suggests it may not be long before T3 is also a conference where advisors looking to hire an especially "tech-savvy" young financial planner go to find the best talent.
Notably, this year's conference did have a few speed bumps. Attendance waned badly in the final half-day of the conference, as many attendees left early to get home before the monster snowstorm that was rolling up the East cCoast (yours-truly stayed to the bitter end, and as a result got stuck in Los Angeles for 2 extra days as all flights to the East Coast were cancelled).
Ironically, the conference stumbled a bit out of the gate. Despite having negotiated significant bandwidth for the event, when all the vendors loaded up their software tools for the pre-conference session and the exhibit hall setup, the hotel routers were so overwhelmed they went offline altogether, forcing most of the exhibit hall time at the opening reception to be spent with advisors and their tech vendors actually talking to each other face to face without the assistance of computers (oh, the horror!). Fortunately, the Internet was fully functional again by the second morning (the actual conference kick-off), and notwithstanding the pre-conference snafu and the weather-challenged wrap-up, this year's T3 conference was still a strong event.
New Software, Big Announcements
The T3 conference has increasingly become the place that technology companies serving advisors make their big announcements, and this year didn't disappoint. A wide array of press releases went out throughout the conference and were announced from the podium, including a big 4-way SEI Advisor Network integration deal with Redtail, MoneyGuidePro and ActiFi, along with Pershing launching the next generation of its online platform with NetXInvestor, a new version of Envestnet | Tamarac's Advisor Xi platform and most notably an announcement by MoneyGuidePro CEO and founder Bob Curtis that the popular MGP financial planning software will be partnering with account aggregation provider Yodlee to offer an aggregation and client dashboard tool directly to advisors, delivered at an "at-cost" price point of only $495/year (discounted to $365 or $1/day for T3 attendees). The pricing seemed targeted directly at the popular-but-pricey eMoney Advisor financial planning software (notably, eMoney was conspicuously absent from the conference).
In addition to announcements of new features for several major technology players, this year's T3 conference also included the launch announcements of several new companies that debuted their software to advisors for the first time.
Notables included a portfolio risk analytics tool called RiXtrema (a new competitor to Hidden Levers and Macro Risk Analytics); a retirement planning software tool called RetireUp; an account aggregation and "personal financial management" (PFM) dashboard called WealthAccess (though that launch was somewhat overshadowed by the MoneyGuidePro announcement) and a new web-based "simple" advisor CRM offering called WealthBox.
Advisor Technology Cloud Transition
One notable trend highly evident at this year's conference wass that transitioning advisor software to the cloud is no longer of question of "if" but rather "which" web-based platform is the right one to choose.
At the conference, Advicent (formerly Zywave, owner of NaviPlan and Financial Profiles) showed off its new fully-cloud-based NaviPro tool, and MoneyTree software demoed its new Total Online software suite, which means all major financial planning software tools have now been fully transitioned to the cloud. Similarly, Junxure was there to show off its new cloud-based CRM offering (the last of the major advisor CRM tools to make the transition, though a few legacy providers like ACT! are still operated via local server installations), and TD Ameritrade reiterated that its fullly web-based iRebal tool will be available in just a few more months.
Overall, advisors now have a wide range of web-based tools to run every aspect of their business. The largest 'legacy' tools still running on servers include portfolio management and reporting software Advent (though its users appear to slowly be transitioning to its Black Diamond option), and PortfolioCenter (though Schwab announced last fall that it is being rebuilt entirely on a web-based platform and is due out in 2015 as "Project PM"). On the other hand, for advisory firms that are more anxious to get out of the business of being responsible for this software altogether, sooner rather than later, integrated platforms from Envestnet's Advisor Xito Orion Advisor Services were also present in full force.
In the second part of this blog posting, we'll address some other buzz-worthy T3 happenings, including custodian unity on fraud prevention, the robo-advisor trend and what I found to be the biggest takeaways from the conference.


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sangiro needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 56 designs submitted by 30 freelance designers.
We need a logo for D4DR Media, the parent company for a variety of adventure and action sport sites. This is an original design. No logo exists.
D4DR Media
Desired Color Scheme:
We like blues and oranges
Desired Style:
Clean, fresh, stylish, simple (not busy) and professional
Accepted File Formats:
We need a logo for a web media holding company. D4DR Media is the parent company of a variety of adventure or action sport sites. While we are unlikely to heavily brand D4DR Media (we brand individual sites) we would like a clean, simple and professional Web 2.0 style logo for this entity.
Why D4DR? I quote from Wikipedia: "D4DR is a human gene, located on chromosome 11. It is (so far) one of the only genes proven to be directly linked to a human personality trait. When the D4DR gene is mutated or elongated, studies have shown that the individual may be more interested in danger, excitement and thrill seeking."
This will be the mark of our company when we talk to corporate investors, syndicates and clients. It must be original, clean, fresh, stylish, simple (not busy) and professional.
You pretty much have a blank slate on the logo graphic, but we love adventure and cool things like DNA double-helixes ...
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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PERA, fiscally unsound, elects to stay the course
By coincidence, Colorado PERA has appointed a new executive director the same week that the investment research firm Morningstar Inc. concluded that Colorado is one of 21 states whose public pension systems aren't fiscally sound.
As Governing magazine reported, "An alarming number of funds face a steep uphill climb in fully funding their plans. The report found 21 states' aggregate funded ratios fell below 70 percent, which Morningstar considers the threshold for 'fiscally sound' systems. Illinois (43.4 percent), Kentucky (50.5 percent) and Connecticut (53.4 percent) registered the lowest funding levels of all examined."
Morningstar said PERA was 57.7 percent funded in 2011, although the fine print reveals the firm is referring to PERA's state division fund. Nevertheless, PERA's largest fund, for schools, is only marginally better, according to Morningstar, at 60.2 percent.
PERA's new executive director is Greg Smith, who had served as interim director for the past few months. Notably, Smith has been among PERA executives who have repeatedly downplay concerns about the pension system's long-term solvency, maintaining that reforms enacted by the legislature a few years ago will take care of the problem – and never mind that such assurances depend in part on an assumed rate of return for PERA's investments of a seemingly unrealistic 8 percent.
In other words, Smith's appointment indicates that there is likely to be little change in direction at PERA for the time being. All remains well, you see, even with funded levels that seem to alarm Morningstar.


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w . JM. think... that in many respects the thing I will find most exciting... will be the Washington environment... I "I think it will he a highly challenging, very broadening experience," Steve Golub said last spring as he prepared to begin a two-year term with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Steve was an audit manager with the New York office when he became the first person from H&S to be selected under the SEC's Professional Accounting Fellow Program. For Steve, who was manager on the Rapid-American Corporation engagement, one of the Firm's largest, taking advantage of the opportunity to be an SEC Fellow required an unexpected change in his career. To join the SEC program Steve had to resign from Haskins & Sells. "We're not even permitted to become involved in any SEC activities that may be related to our previous clients while we're with the Commission," Steve pointed out. A native New Yorker, Steven J. Golub majored in accounting at City College of New York and earned a BBA degree from that school in 1966. He then entered the doctoral program at New York University, where he majored in statistics. "I've completed all the requirements for the doctorate except for the dissertation, which I'm working on now," he said. He became aCPA in 1970. Steve joined the New York office of Haskins & Sells in 1968, where he remained for two years. In the fall of 1970 he took a year's leave of absence to teach accounting at Herbert H. Lehman College, part of the City University of New York system. "I needed the time teaching gave me to finish some phases of my doctoral studies," he said. While he was teaching, Steve also worked part time in the EO Research Department. Steve rejoined the New York office in 1971. He has spent a significant portion of his time since then on the Rapid- American engagement, first as senior accountant and for the last four years as manager. In addition to Rapid-American and a number of smaller clients, he has been assigned to the Liggett Group, Inc., another of the Firm's larger clients. Under the Professional Accounting Fellow Program, two individuals are selected annually to join the staff of the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC for a two-year, nonrenewable term. In its description of the nature of the program, the SEC notes that assignments of the SEC Fellows "will generally involve questions of SEC accounting regulatory policy in which the SEC Fellow will be expected to