text:
Michiel R. Leenders, D.B.A., FPMAC
Michiel R. Leenders, D.B.A., FPMAC, University of Western Ontario
Introduction. This report is based on data collected in May 1995 from 276 U.S. and 31 Canadian organizations in 21 industry groups. Of the 307 organizations, 43 (14%) had 1994 sales of less than $500 million; 54 (18%) had sales of $.5 billion to $1 billion; 117 (39%) were in the $1.1-billion to $5-billion sales category; 47 (15%) in the $5.1-billion to $10-billion sales category; and 44 (14%) had sales of more than $10 billion. This study updates the first research project ever undertaken by CAPS: Purchasing Organizational Relationships, published in 1988.1 This earlier research covered 297 U.S. organizations. A total of 118 U.S. organizations participated in both the 1988 and 1995 research, affording a unique opportunity to trace changes within these firms.
Key Findings: Key findings from this 1995 research are:
1. The majority of organizations (65%) were organized on a
centralized/decentralized basis, in which some purchasing is done at the
corporate headquarters as well as at major operating divisions/plants.
Twenty-three percent had a centralized function in which all or almost all
purchasing is done at one central location. Only 12 percent were
decentralized, in which purchasing was done on a division/plant basis.
Service organizations tend more towards centralization (32%) than
manufacturing organizations (20%), but only 3 percent of service organizations
are decentralized versus 15 percent of manufacturing companies. Canadian
companies tend to have more centralization (39%) than U.S. companies (21%).
Companies under $500 million in sales tend to have more centralization (33%)
than those over $10 billion (18%). Within the organizations that participated
in both the 1988 and 1995 studies, 60 percent retained the same purchasing
organizational structure, but 40 percent changed.
For firms with multiple business units, 52 percent had a headquarters purchasing department plus business unit purchasing departments; 27 percent had a headquarters purchasing department plus personnel in the business units who released against contracts; 12 percent had a headquarters purchasing department only; and 9 percent had only business unit purchasing departments. In organizations composed of a single business unit, 63 percent had one purchasing department, 30 percent had a headquarters purchasing department plus other purchasing departments, and 7 percent had multiple purchasing departments but no headquarters purchasing department.
2. The purchasing function reports to the president in 16 percent of the organizations and to the executive vice president in 15 percent. The most common reporting relationship is to a senior/group vice president (19%). Other reporting relationships are to a manufacturing/production/operations vice president (15%), financial vice president (10%), to an administrative vice president (9%), materials/logistics vice president (7%), and engineering vice president (1%). Eight percent report elsewhere in the organization. Compared to the 1988 report, the reporting line to a senior/group vice president was new and substantial at 19 percent. One surprising finding from the doubly researched group of firms was that 66 percent changed reporting line since 1988.
3. Functions reporting to purchasing include scrap/surplus disposal (63%); materials and purchasing research (60%); inbound traffic (51%); stores/warehousing and inventory control (both 41%); material planning (40%); outbound traffic (39%); receiving (35%); other (27%); quality assurance (25%); and in-plant material movement (19%). All of these percentages represent significant increases over those reported in 1988.
4. Professional staffing levels averaged 89 people for all organizations, ranging from an average of 11 persons for companies in the smallest size range to 289 for the largest organizations. Support staff for all organizations averaged 58 people, ranging from an average of 6 for the smallest firms to 251 for the largest. Service organizations tend to employ fewer staff and the ratio of professional to support staff is about half as high (.36) as it is for manufacturing companies (.71). Purchasing staff levels in 1995 compared to the 1988 study showed substantial decreases; the decline from the 1988 average of professional staff of 118 people to 89 people in 1995 indicates almost a 25 percent decrease.
During the past 12 months, only 15 percent of the respondents increased the size of their purchasing staffs, averaging about a 10 percent increase. However, 41 percent downsized, averaging about a 14 percent decrease. Expectations for the following 12 months show a significant turnaround. Increases and decreases appear to be almost in balance.
5. Purchasing's current involvement in major corporate activities shows outsourcing as the only activity with a moderate involvement. Particularly low were government relations, international countertrade/offset planning, marketing planning, and corporate mergers/acquisitions/alliances.
6. Typical communication media between head-office purchasing and purchasers located elsewhere rated telephone as the highest (4.3), fax (4.0), and e-mail (3.7), well ahead of personal meetings (3.0), teleconferencing (3.0), and letters (2.8). Video-conferencing is slightly used currently (2.0).
7. A ranking of current role/responsibility/involvement of corporate headquarters purchasing in selected activities shows the following six activities as most common:
All activities showed increased involvement expected in the future. 8. The popularity of teaming and participative approaches to supply management indicated the following ranking for the top four choices: 1) cross-functional teams (3.6); 2) commodity teams (purchasing personnel only) (3.1); 3) purchasing councils (purchasing managers only) (2.9); and 4) teams involving suppliers (2.9).
9. Data about the chief purchasing officer (CPO) showed:
10. The largest change expected by 2000 is in the area of integrated systems
development (47 percent).
1 Harold E. Fearon, Purchasing Organizational Relationships (Tempe, AZ: Center
for Advanced Purchasing Studies, 1988), 58 pages.


text:
Greetings and salutations from Nawlin's! It has been a whirlwind week and an eventful few days. For the first time in…ever, I'm giving you a short post.
Why, you ask? Well, I'm trying to make some headway on this final paper seeing as it is due on Sunday and I fly out on connecting flights at the ass crack of dawn and may not be entirely coherent when I get home to do all this work. Also, I plan on spending my Sunday cuddling, hugging and kissing the frog princess. Suddenly, I have a very ridiculous mama bear need to have her in my arms. Perhaps it's the awesome Britax products on display here at the conference that are making this happen.
This morning I had a chance to listen to Ted Rubin (@TedRubin) speak passionately about return on relationships (#RonR). It's great to find someone who understands this. A while ago I added "relationship management" to my resume because I feel very strongly that, at the end of the day, that's what it comes down to. Organic, authentic relationships that you can build on and expand upon with time.
This afternoon I had a chance to eat some wonderful food and participate in a lunch time discussion about women leaders in technology led by Kate Berg, president of Collective Bias.
And now? I want to desperately be in the next session hearing my Twitter friend @MamaDweeb speak but instead, I'm being responsible and hitting up my class discussion boards so that I am not dinged for lack of participation and making some headway on this 10-page paper. I wish I could throw caution to the wind and just soak up all of this information that can only ever be found when you are face-to-face with your bloggy friends. But alas, I wouldn't be a Niche Mommy if I ignored my responsibilities and just did what my heart desired.
Right now, it's totally desiring a nap. Especially because it's raining softly outside. But I won't. I'll be sure to take awesome pics for you all (if I remember). Head on over to Twitter and Instagram to follow all of my shenanigans.
Til next time, I leave you with the view from my window. I want to take more pics of that church. Isn't it beautiful?
Bon après-midi!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
VIDA, Ore. — A school district in the Cascades faced the decision Thursday of whether to keep students in class or send them home.
The McKenzie School District released students at 11:30 a.m. due to the snow that started falling during the day. The school district decided it was important to keep kids safe.
Conditions were slick Thursday on Highway 126 along the McKenzie River. There weren't many cars on the road.
Because of the dangerous driving, the district decided to release students early. The district is used to snow, but the superintendent says they didn't want to take any chances.
"What happens is the side roads become impassable, and so our buses can't get through to them. And if the side roads are bad the parents can't drive down the snow route to get to the buses. So it just becomes impassable. And so that's why we did it today," said Dr. Sally Storm, Superintendent.
"Lane County got lighter snow early on in the storm. However, as you move up in elevation, like if you go up to the McKenzie Bridge, you're going to see a lot more snow up there," said Rick Little, ODOT Spokesperson.
The McKenzie Bridge area got between two and three inches, which in comparison to other western Oregon towns wasn't that much. This doesn't usually happen, but in this case the storm dumped more accumulation north, toward Corvallis and Albany.
Classes aren't the only thing the district cancelled. It also cancelled an arts program, a school dance and a basketball game.


text:
There's a difference between the skills required for cooking and those that go into baking, as anyone who has attempted a complicated pastry can attest. Instead, CHOW goes for simple, homey desserts like this tart-sweet pie.
- 1Place oven rack in the center of oven and heat to 375°F.
For the graham cracker crust:
- 1Combine crushed graham crackers, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Press mixture evenly into a 9-inch metal or ceramic pie plate and bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
For the lemon filling:
- 1Combine cornstarch, sugar, egg yolks, and lemon juice in a medium-size heavy saucepan. Add water and whisk until blended; use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the pan to make sure mixture is well combined.
- 2Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add butter and lemon zest, and stir vigorously until butter is completely melted and ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- 3Pour mixture into graham-cracker crust, cover with a round of waxed paper or parchment paper, and let cool to room temperature.
For the meringue:
- 1Combine egg whites and salt in a large, clean bowl and whip with a hand mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- 2Remove the paper from pie, and spoon meringue over lemon filling. Spread meringue with a spatula so that it covers the entire surface of the pie, sealing in filling. Be sure meringue meets the crust, otherwise it will shrink inward, exposing filling.
- 3Bake until meringue is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool to room temperature on a wire rack, then refrigerate until filling is cold, at least 4 hours. Slice, and serve chilled.
Beverage pairing: Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Reisling Auslese Rotlay, Germany. Only Riesling has the sharp, acidic rush to take on the intensity of the lemon while casually balancing it with perfectly integrated sweetness. The firmness and structure of this wine makes a satisfying contrast to the creamy puffiness of the pie.


text:
Wellisford Manor Barn
Unique contemporary private house for hire, situated in the beautiful Somerset countryside
Wellisford Manor Barn is a beautiful contemporary barn conversion set in a peaceful rural valley, surrounded by rolling hills and abundant wildlife, offering excellent self-catering accomodation in Somerset.
It has 6 bedrooms and a dressing room with double sofabed,
sleeping up to 16 people. 3 limestone bathrooms and wet room, 8-seater hot tub, and secluded garden. Truly luxurious
city-living in the countryside, a truly beautiful holiday cottage in Somerset.
Corporate Training Events
Clay pigeon shooting, pistol shooting, archery, Thai cooking and more: please call for details. Minimum of 6 people per activity, and subject to availiability.
luxury homes in the south west
here for pictures of Wellisford Manor Barn Accomodation - Somerset.
House Hire
Perfect venue for stag and hen nights, reunions, wedding anniversaries or just a relaxing escape with friends. We can organise catering, courses, activities or just fill the fridge for you with fantastic quality local produce.
Here's what some of our customers said recently:
Contact Details
Tele - 01823 672794 Email - email@example.com
Address - Wellisford Manor Barn, Langford Budville, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 0SB


text:
Shell 3Q profit drops on oil price, charges
PUBLISHED: 01 Nov 2012 19:58:00 | UPDATED: 04 Nov 2012 01:50:26PRINT EDITION: 02 Nov 2012World No.2 oil company Royal Dutch Shell suffered a 15 per cent fall in current cost of supply profits in the third quarter as the impact of lower crude prices, a fall in output and special charges outweighed stronger margins in refining.
Already a subscriber? Please login here
Stay with the story for less than $1.90 a day
Read more
Topics | Company News /Earnings & Reporting , Energy & Utilities /Gas Distribution , Energy & Utilities /Oil , Energy & Utilities /Gas Extraction |


text:
Learn Swahili
If you're trying to learn Swahili which is also called Kiswahili, check our courses about adjectives, adverbs, articles, gender (feminine, masculine...), negation, nouns, numbers, phrases, plural, prepositions, pronouns, questions, verbs, vocabulary, excercises... to help you with your Swahili grammar. Below are our free Swahili lessons. Enjoy our courses!


text:
Systems Integration
Need your website to talk to your payment processor, or part of your intranet to link up with an online document repository? Whether you need to build a web application from scratch or just to modify an existing system, we can help. Our developers have years of experience facilitating the seamless transfer of information between different web-based systems.
How We Do It
Although systems integrations are usually performed in the course of developing a new web application, we'll occasionally integrate two existing systems together. Here's the process that we typically follow:
First, we review the external system's documentation and get their integration code, known as APIs, running on our servers. Enabling different systems to interact with each other isn't always easy. In many cases, limitations in how the systems can interact and how quickly they can exchange data affect how the web application needs to be designed. To shorten development time, we often make use of our own private library of ready-made code modules that we have used in the past.
Using the knowledge gained in our research, we then plan how to integrate the two systems in a way that's secure, reliable and user friendly. Depending on the nature of the project, we often develop wireframes – simple line drawings – that define how the system will appear to users. In addition, we develop specifications that describe what API functions to use, and when.
During this time, our engineers perform the actual integration work based on our specifications. The actual work can take anywhere from an hour to several weeks or months, depending on the size of the project and its level of complexity.
Testing and "QA" (quality assurance) are essential parts of any systems integration project. When we're finished, you will have an application with integrations that are intuitive and seamless for end-users.
Part of the reality of working with external systems is that vendors change them whenever they see fit. Such changes can force web applications that depend on those systems to change as well. We anticipate this, and we're able to provide ongoing support in case the application breaks or needs to be updated to accommodate a change in an external system's API.
What We've Done
Here are some of the systems that we have integrated with our clients' web-based applications:
Business Systems
A popular sales and customer relationship management system. Some of our clients' websites collect valuable background information about their visitors – such as the pages they visited and the search engine keywords they used to find the site – and send this information to Salesforce whenever someone places an order or fills out an online form.
A high-end customer relationship management application used by many enterprises. We have developed a landing page system that captures and sends lead information to Eloqua in a custom way.
Asigra develops remote data backup & recovery technology. We have integrated systems with Asigra's software to enable users to back up and recover their data in custom ways.
Many of our clients use Google's suite of office applications, especially Google Spreadsheets, to gather data from web applications that we've developed.
Payment / E-Commere
PayPal is a secure global payment processing gateway. We've integrated several systems with PayPal's PayFlow Pro service, which enables customers to easily enter their credit card information directly into the web app, rather than needing to go to PayPal's website.
Braintree Payment Solutions is a secure credit card gateway. We have used Braintree in several of our client projects, including a web application that enables our client to bill large batches of customers on a recurring basis in a secure and PCI-compliant way.
PSiGate is Canada's premiere credit card gateway. We developed a custom e-commerce website that sends customer payments easily and securely through PSiGate.
Authorize.net is a secure credit card payment processor. We have integrated several websites with Authorize.Net, enabling our clients to process everything from magazine subscriptions to event ticket sales online using Authorize.Net's system.


text:
The Target Experience
My mother went shopping recently at Target in a nearby town. Mom loaded a shopping cart with a Bunn coffee maker and some other items, totaling $194. Upon attempting to pay by personal check, the check was rejected. The cashier said the reason is listed on the "slip" but nothing useful was on it. Mom questioned further and asked for a manager. Far as I understand, she was put on a courtesy phone and connected to the check verification service. They explained the rejection was for no other reason than that more than a year had passed since the last time Mom wrote a check to Target! The verification service had already picked up another she wrote earlier in the day at a different store, and said there was also some suspicion of identity theft, which is ridiculous, she had a photo ID (driver license). She could have paid by credit card or by check on their joint account (unless that would also been rejected, who knows) but on principle and due to irritation and embarrassment, she told the casher to keep the merchandise, if they don't want to make a $194 sale then she doesn't need it, and left the store.
She called the check service again the next day to question them further, asking what other stores do they handle, where else can she expect to run into rejections. The service said she can send them more identification details for their records to get around the problem of not having much check-writing activity. She asked what kind of identity theft risk is involved in that, they answered that they haven't had any trouble thus far. She said "Well, I'm certainly having trouble with you now!" and ended the call.
All you folks out there in THS-land might keep this incident in mind the next time you consider shopping at Target!
I have a debit card, and since then (1988) I've never written a check in a store. Too much hassle for myself and everyone behind me. I don't even carry a checkbook. I've always wondered why anyone would go through all the trouble of writing a check when every checking account comes with a debit card anyway. Just IMHO.
No need for snippy remarks about writing checks vs. using debit cards. That's not the point, is it? Far as I'm aware, my parents do not have a debit card on either account anyway. *I* do use my debit card ... BUT when I did write checks at stores I made it a point to fill out everything except the amount while waiting in line. I know many people don't, I've been in line behind them, but that also isn't the point here.
Or maybe it is.
Excuse me for starting this thread. My bad.
I have Two thoughts here first you are absolutely right, there was no reason to reject her check. My hunch is that about a week after the one she wrote earlier in the day clears without problems she will suddenly be on the check services Good List. At that point she should call again or write a letter to the President of their company. The reality is she should have every expectation that her checks are good and should be treated accordingly. I have not written a check in a store in well over 20 years either but I would think I should not have a problem if I wanted to do it at Target or anyplace else
Having said that I could not imagine actually doing that, I do everything online, by debit card or credit card. Even 10 years ago I never understood why other women carried those wallets that had space for your checkbook. Different philosophies. Plus now you no longer have the float on checks, I read something online that now the merchant can scan in your check and it gets credited instantly (all the more reason they should be able to tell it is good)
Assuming I used checks I probably would have done the same thing as your mother. If she insists on using checks then she really should follow up with the service and give them a what for
Personally what I hate about Target is their receipts expire and they will not take things back when they would have been willing to the day before. It is ridiculous, either the merchandise is good or it is not. Supposedly if you pay by credit card they can track it but I have had them not be able to. As opposed to Lord & Taylor where they were able to swipe my Amex and get the purchase price and the return was credited immediately
If you lose a debit card ... better transfer balance in account to a new account, like **immediately**.
And often you may not realize that you've lost it, right away.
Much better possibility of having fraudulent transactions reversed with a"credit" (read "debt") card.
Research shows that buying using plastic almost always results in higher levels of purchasing.
Which suits the stores just fine.
ole joyful
Welcome to the wonderful world of check-authorization services.
My understanding is that they capture pretty much the same information as the credit bureaus, but without any of the consumer-protection legislation in force. So, for example, you have a legal right to find out what information any credit bureau has about you, but I do not believe you have that right for check-clearing services. I do not even think you have the right to force them to correct errors in your file.
For that reason, the only reason I would ever buy something from a retailer by check would be if the retailer refuses to accept credit cards, or offers me a discount for paying by check--which some of them do.
Ditto for debit cards: There are consumer protections for credit-card purchases that debit cards do not share. For that reason, I have never used a debit card for anything other than withdrawing cash from an ATM (at a bank that does not charge me a fee for the privilege). Instead, I use credit cards and pay off the balance every month.
I mostly use credit cards too and of course pay them off. However we have had our share of annoyances with both recently. Several months ago DH had a substantial bill on a card he uses for business. The card was owned by a bank and he paid at the ATM machine using Two checks. Although they cashed both they only credited him for one. This was in August. It took until February to totally get our account straigtened out. It was fine and they waived all fees but meanwhile it was frustrating. We spent at least an hour on the phone.
Now I have an issue with a debit card where I used it over the phone recently (I know my bad!) and I thought it registed to my business but they ahd my home address on file so the merchant kept trying to put the card through. I have now paid Twice for the same item! So will have to get that straightened out. Fortunately I bank online so saw it happen immediately
I hear you on Debit cards not having the same protections
Not to hijack the thread, but there is something else about debit cards that not everyone may be aware of.
(I use debit cards almost exclusively for my shopping).
A while back, I bought gas at an Arco station and paid with a debit card. A few days later, my bank informed me that several checks I had written had bounced. Now there was more than enough money in the account to pay for the gas and to cover the checks. What had happened was that Arco had put a $100 hold on my checking account until the debit had gone through. Ridiculous, but true. Because of that $100 hold, there was not enough money to clear the checks. It was a huge hassle getting it all straightened out. I will never buy gas at Arco again.
Sounds like the OP's problem is with the check verification system and NOT Target!
Agreed. I could see the check service coming back to the cashier and asking for more ID or such, but rejecting the check outright was not Target's decision, it was the check service's.
My mom is of the age at which using cards is not automatic. She writes checks everywhere. Apparently she writes enough at Target that even the big ones are not a problem. But there are other stores (sometimes even different locations of the same chain!) where she has problems writing checks because of a lack of history of writing checks at that location. I haven't yet persuaded her that using the card more might make life simpler. Maybe in her mind, it doesn't.
Nope. It's Target's policy. The same verification service handles another store where my Mom writes checks frequently with no trouble. I have been informed via another forum that Target's policy is that checks above a certain (high) amount are not accepted unless the customer has a history of writing at least one check of $50 (or less? or more, but less than the trigger-amount?) per month, for the past 6-month period. That's goofy. A person could write/cover those $50 checks, then come up with one for $500 and not have funds to cover it but Target would still take the bum $500 check because the history conditional is satisfied.
zone_8Grandma, that's true about debit cards, and also credit cards. Being as there's no way to know how much gasoline will be pumped until the deed is done, a "hold" is put on the debit card when it's scanned to start the transaction (or an authorization on a credit card) for a specific amount that's higher than the "average" sale, to confirm there's at least that much cash or credit available. I imagine with gasoline prices what they are nowadays, the hold amount has increased accordingly.
I am an admitted check writer. My bank recently was bought out by another bank and the next 10 checks I wrote at the Safeway had to be approved by the management (which they gladly did as I have been a constant customer for over 30 years). What a pain! And now the bank has been bought by yet another company...
"Nope. It's Target's policy. The same verification service handles another store where my Mom writes checks frequently with no trouble. I have been informed via another forum that Target's policy is that checks above a certain (high) amount are not accepted unless the customer has a history of writing at least one check of $50 (or less? or more, but less than the trigger-amount?) per month, for the past 6-month period."
Well, I just bought $250+ of stuff and paid by check... and as I stated above, I usually use credit cards.
None of the conditions you mentioned kicked in.
Must be more than meets the eye....
I have never had a Debit Card because of the lack of protections. I did have an ATM card, but it has been missing for several years. DH still has his, so he will go to a local money machine to "buy" me some money if I need it. Generally, I am the one with the cash, since I (alert: beware of antiquities ahead!) GET PAID WITH PAPER CHECKS at both of my jobs! I actually go to the bank at least every-other week. Well, I am in their parking lot most of the time, I do use the drive-through.
I don't carry a checkbook with me. We spent 14 months still using checks with our old address on them until recently. No one had trouble with it, since they were always sent in to pay our bills. So, I guess I didn't use the checkbook in stores for all those months.
My friend and I took her dog to the emergency vet a few weeks back. My friend paid with what cash she had, then tried to pay the rest with a check. They rejected it, and since it was Saturday at midnight, said to call the check-checking service on Monday for an explaination. Since I had deposited my paycheck and gotten some spending money withheld the day before, I had the cash to help her out. Her dog would not have had the testing it needed without the prepayment, so I was happy I was there.
I think that, these days, even USING a check may be a red flag. To me it means somebody is trying to "float" until the next payday. When I use my debit card at the store, the amount shows up online against my checking account the same day.
Sounds like I should avoid Arcos. When I buy gas a $1 hold is placed against my debit card for about a day, then the actual amount shows. I believe the $1 thing is more the rule for gas station purchases.
Several of the gas stations around here have posted signs saying that they're not the ones placing the holds, and that it's entirely up to your bank how much money is tied up in the transaction (my bank just holds a buck). Interesting that it was apparently the store in the case. Guess I'll stick to the gas stations with the signs.
"I think that, these days, even USING a check may be a red flag. To me it means somebody is trying to "float" until the next payday."
Good grief!
I have been writing checks for over 35 years... never bounced one, never any fees. Never floated a check.
There is NO reason to consider my check writing a red flag. Checks to local merchants clear in a day or two... not much longer than your debit card.
A local gas station had a sign saying they held 75 so it may not be the bank
Like it or not, banks and stores are looking forward to the day when smart cards and credit cards are used by everyone. Don't say "never me!" since the Gen X and Y generations coming up will eventually view checks the same way they view LP records (yeah, I still have some, LOL!).
Quite a bit of fraud is perpetrated with stolen checks 'wiped clean' with a bit of nail polish remover. And photo IDs are so easy to fake these days, there's no protection there.
It's a shame your mom ran into a hassle, but I'm afraid that realistically, retailers are more aimed at the credit card generations because yes, they know that people indeed spend more when they use plastic than cash or checks.
My husband has a habit of asking me when we're going out, "Have you got the checkbook?" I just shrug and say, "Look, if they can't take debit or credit card, honey, I'm not doing business with them!"
Everyone please note what jkom51 said.
Retailers and the credit card industry know very well that, though many users deny it up, down and sideways ...
... when people buy stuff using plastic ... they spend more.
They spend more.
They spend more.
End of story.
ole joyful
So true! Plastic = more money spent. I've never used a debit card. When I get the ATM/Debit cards, I call the company. I do NOT have to activate the card to use only for ATM. If I want the DebitCard benefit (benefit to WHO?!!!), THEN I must activate.
I don't know about 'today', but debitcards have always had less protection than creditcards.
I DO swipe credit cards on occasion, but I don't have problem writing checks or paying cash either. (I actually STILL can write out a check faster than swiping a card thru that machine - because I rarely do that!)
Last time I checked - cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards, money orders and cashiers' checks all ALL viable forms of payment.
A store should not deny any of these forms of payment.
And, I don't care if I'm holding up a line because I CHOOSE a different pay method. (I, too, make out the check in advance while I'm standing in line - except for the amount)
But big deal. Just because someone uses a check is no reason to get your feathers all in a ruffle. Maybe some don't feel comfy with plastic. Maybe they KNOW plastic causes them to spend more. MAYBE...they don't even OWN plastic!
I would have done exactly what the OP's Mother did, and left with nothing. (And, I've actually done that.) It is totally rediculous to deny a check. I only shop about 2 times a year, and when I DO, I buy a LOT of stuff to hopefully last for a long time. (Stocking up)
With all the examples expressed - My conclusion is "Corporate Greed". (Oooo- not to open a can of worms or anything) They want your money "right now" - not tomorrow. PLUS, they want to put hold on 'more' of your money...ummmm, I think that benefits the bank - one more day of interest gained to benefit the bank?!!!
I saw something recently (which I already knew - but made it solid)...Retailers LOVE to track your spending habits. So do many others - like law enforcement, etc. If you pay by check or cash, they can't track so well. If you pay with plastic, they have it all! I personally don't think it's anyones' business what brand of toilet paper I buy and how often.
I'm trying to go back to cash or checks. It might take some time. But, for starters, I can divide my purchases and pay part with cash or check, and part with plastic.
And...I don't care if I hold up a line for an additional 30 seconds!
OK - I think I'm done with my rant for the night! LOL!
No checks huh?
Well it will be pretty hard to py the daycare center each week unless they put in a credit card machine in place of the little metal box with the slot in the top! And I'm not paying them in cash.
School lunch? Sorry, no credit cards. Send in a check
I don't write many but I do write them!
Target uses a check validation that was used at the insurance company I work for with over the phone check transactions. It uses the drivers license number to validate identity. If the drivers license number had recently been changed it would be declined.
Many states have recently changed drivers license formats.
I still use checks, as well. Don't know how those of you who don't manage? Just today, I wrote a check to the builder who's finishing out our garage. It was either a check or cash but certainly not a debit card. I live in a small village with lots of Mom/Pop shops. They don't take plastic...so I write checks. My cleaning lady doesn't take plastic either & I don't always have enough cash. Same with the piano teacher. Anyway, I'm amazed that some don't write checks anymore.
I'm a genealogist & my DH & I take frequent grave searching expeditions. On this particular trip...we started in NH, went to the northern most part of Vermont, headed down through MA, & then on to Pennsylvania returning through the southern tip of NY. We made this trip is just 4 days. We made purchases along the way with a credit card. In PA, at a gas stop our credit card was denied. We're both bankers so we weren't worried...knew why but still had to call the service. They said that they were concerned that our card had been snatched since we hadn't used it in a few months & purchases had been made in several states in just a few days. No problem. We were GLAD they were being attentive. As bankers, we're aware of the fraud that's happening. You just wouldn't believe how bad it's gotten. Not a week goes by without some new fraud scheme being detected at the bank. Our bank (and employer) has instigated new online protections that are almost onerous to use but I'm sure it will only become more so. We've stopped using online banking & DH IS EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT! They try so hard to keep everybody safe but these fraud rings are getting very, very sophisticated. So many of the scams are coming out of eastern Europe. Somebody can steal your plastic (or just the number) here in the US & within 45 minutes an exact copy of your debit or credit card has been made in some place like the Chech Republic, & is being used in France that evening to purchase a diamond necklace...and that's no joke. You have my very best wishes for a speedy recovery.
For those of you who rely on plastic to handle your finances...take every single precaution you can & still be concerned enough to pay close attention. Also, be familar with bank liability (or, the lack thereof) in the event a fraud scheme manages to find you. It's not their fault somebody gets a hold of your number & they're not always responsible.
Cash or plastic, never checks unless there is no choice. I write less than 20 checks a year and that is only because I have a bunch of kids in school, so lots of book orders and things. I once spent 6 months without reodering checks and I was completely out the entire time
Neither my mother (nor father, deceased) has ever had a credit card. Doesn't know what a debit card is. They have never had a loan for anything. Nothing. Came here from Europe in 1953 and worked in factories. Saved saved saved. Bought a fixer upper cash, rented out half, dad worked on side jobs. 12 years later, bought a lot, built a house, doing a lot of the work himself. Bartered his plastering experience for other work. European craftsman quality but nothing fancy. My 83 yr old mother still lives there and drives to errands and still writes checks. No big ones very often. I do not think that she should have to go through anything like what the OP's mother did.
The manager or someone at Target ought to have the authority to override verification service.
Quickly. She can't stand or walk very long at her age.
My favorite farm supply store doesn't take credit or debit cards which is fine by me. Neither does my favorite Hardware store. I also have to use checks to pay for repairman, contractors etc.
I don't like the implied feelings here that - "oh well I'm young, modern and shop in malls so everyone else should too"
The manager or someone at Target ought to have the authority to override verification service.
Quickly. She can't stand or walk very long at her age.
I understand your point of view, but I suspect it's a matter of "policy" at Target -- and elsewhere. It's the same reason that grandmothers traveling from Cleveland to Grand Forks undergo the same NSA search and carry the same 3-3-1 that a really nervous-looking non-Caucasian does traveling from New York City to the Middle East. It's a policy, and, collectively, we've been unwilling to let common sense supercede equal treatment or lead to a situation in which anyone ends up to blame.
I don't like the implied feelings here that - "oh well I'm young, modern and shop in malls so everyone else should too"
I haven't gotten that feeling from this thread. I think that things change over time and that people have the choice to adapt or understand that the world will move on, likely without them. People who choose to write paper checks likely will continue to face additional requests for identification or proof that someone will pay for the goods or services if the check is not good. They can choose to take their business elsewhere, they can choose to go without that purchase, they can write letters of protest to company owners and regulatory agencies, they can choose to carry a credit or debit card. Every one of those choices does come at a cost.
I am part of a social group in which most members keep in touch between meetings with email. A couple of members complained recently that they felt "out of the loop" because they didn't have computers. It was pointed out that membership in the group didn't require owning a telephone, either, but that it has become an accepted-enough part of life now that accommodation for those without will become increasingly less visible. Group members can choose to continue to not have access to email (even for free at the library; this is not an economic issue), but they need to agree that the price of their choice is less-timely communication. I realize that probably sounds elitist, but when it's a matter of choice (not like handicapped access, etc.), it's how our society moves. Whether that movement is "forward" is open to debate, but it moves. Sometimes it takes the pain of not doing something to get people to do something.
I don't shop Target anymore because of who owns them not because of check cashing issues. But about 7 years ago a teller at Publix copied my Driver's Lic number down incorrectly and check was refused. 7 years later I still can't write a check in Publix! That might be why I don't shop there.
My parents are the same as yours marys. Until my fathers death he used to say that their bank didnt know about ATM's CC etc (trust me, he did not use those words!) and that they still used a cigar box. I have given my Mom gift cards and she has never used them. I will admit when I went shopping with her recently and she pulled out her checkbook I almost fainted but when I thought about it I could not imagine her not writing a check. We buy the niece a card for her lunches and snacks and I reload that online about once a month. The only time I write a check is for things like contractors, auto repair, etc. I lost my dibit card recently but that is another thread.
I think that things change over time and that people have the choice to adapt or understand that the world will move on, likely without them.
Steve o - some day you may find that the world has overtaken you and you are too old to catch up. Maybe your'll remember this coversation then, when some young thing is trying to hurry you along and your a little bit confused and don't understand exactly what to do.
Steve o - some day you may find that the world has overtaken you and you are too old to catch up. Maybe your'll remember this coversation then, when some young thing is trying to hurry you along and your a little bit confused and don't understand exactly what to do.
Change -- and ever-more-rapid change, at that -- is part of our world. It is an element of our lives that our parents and grandparents didn't have to deal with the way we do.
I have been on this earth almost half a century now, and even in my lifetime things have changed a lot. Maybe it's different for me since my career is technical in nature. Maybe it's just a preference I have in embracing change and learning about new things instead of hoping things just stay the same. Maybe I know too many people in their 60s and 70s who are doing new things all the time.
Whatever it is, life is moving forward (again, I did not say it was necessarily for the better). Even if I'm not up to date on some aspect of life in the future, I certainly hope I can maintain my dignity and demand that I be treated decently. That young thing can try all (s)he wants to hurry me along. I'm the customer. I will make my choice.
I want to say that the "lady" who pulled identity theft on my DD had a picture id (DL) in my DD's name, but her own picture.
So the fact that the original poster's mom had given a check earlier and used a picture ID just isn't enough to insure it is legit.
"The manager or someone at Target ought to have the authority to override verification service."--no, they probably don't, and it doesn't have a lot to do with widespread use of debit cards. I worked in a chain retail store 15 years ago, before debit cards were in common use. We used a check verification service. As long as we followed the rules (check id, run it through the service) if a check bounced, the verification company paid it and was then responsible for recovering the loss. If we "overrode" the service, the store had to eat it. Since we were not supposed to override the service, if we did and the check bounced, it would be deducted from our paycheck. The whole point of using those services is to take that decision out of the hands of salespeople and managers who do not have the knowledge to make an informed decision. "She looks like such an honest little old lady, I'm sure the check is good" is exactly the kind of decision-making these services are there to prevent.
You can certainly argue about their reasons and results, and I'd probably complain if I were told I couldn't write a check for the reasons given, but for a store to give a manager the authority to override the service kinda defeats the whole point of using the service (which they are paying for).


text:
Spend your Halloween in the world of Harry Potter as Arizona Science Center transforms into Hogwarts for the day. You will be able to Trick-or-Treat throughout the Center, create your own Hogwarts crest, see and learn about owls, meet a real life Quidditch team, try ButterBeer, watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in our enormous IMAX® theater, and more! Come and join us to learn about the science that brings magic to life!
Did you know that in our world, the Muggle world, we are responsible for the magic that we see? Unlike those in the wizard world who rely on spells and potions for magic, magicians of the Muggle world rely on the ability to divert an audience's attention. In order to divert an audience's attention the magicians depend on very special assistants – the brain of each audience member.
There are experiments conducted by Daniel Simons of Harvard University and Daniel Levin of Kent State University that expresses how selective our brain is in how it focuses our attention.
One experiment involves people on a college campus getting asked for directions by a stranger. In the middle of the conversation two men carrying a wooden door walked in between the stranger and test subject and, after passing, the test subject was asked if they noticed anything different. Half of the subjects failed to notice that the stranger who they were originally speaking to had been replaced with someone totally different.
This experiment shows that in any visual experience we simply store a few facts as images and beliefs and create a perceived event in which we can in no way tell what was real or remembered.
Magicians rely on the brain's tendency to selectively focus attention in order to allow for their tricks. Without being able to influence the attention of the audience, magicians would not be able to conceal the secrets behind their tricks.
Interesting stories like this and many more that link Harry Potter to science can be found in Roger Highfield's book The Science of Harry Potter.


text:
Korea gets quad-core Samsung Galaxy S3 on LTE
Three Korean carriers will launch the Samsung Galaxy S3 on LTE networks.
Seems like customers in Korea will have their LTE and eat it, too.
The Samsung Galaxy S3, globally offered as a quad-core device without LTE, will now be available with LTE capabilities on Monday for three Korean carriers: KT, LG U+, and SK Telecom.
In the United States, major carriers (save for T-Mobile ) do offer the S3 on LTE, but these models are powered by a dual-core CPU instead .
According to Samsung, it will also bump up the new S3's RAM from 1GB to 2GB, but it will retain the same 2,100mAh battery.


text:
Rachel Uchitel Would Like To Be More Famous, Naked
By Sara Brady
Rachel Uchitel, the most famous of the scores of women Tiger Woods cheated on his wife with, has agreed to take it all off for Playboy, TMZ reports. Jumping on the bandwagon (funny story, we hear that's what Tiger used to call getting busy), another of Tiger's side pieces, porn actress Joslyn James, is blabbering that Rachel is a bit of a round-heeled woman, if you know what she means. And all of this is sending the little girls of America the delightful message that being a classless trollop with no discernible skills except the cleverness to get someone else to pay for your breast implants is a viable career path!
Hugh Hefner's sexagenarian skin mag has, like most of print publishing, hit rough times lately, so Playboy has grubbed for newsstand sales by putting a series of increasingly less famous and more notorious women willing to show off their labia on its cover. It's not a new tactic—Who Wants To Marry a Millionaire? winner Darva Conger took it off back in 2000, and last year the magazine featured the "women of Wall Street" as well as Heidi Montag, Hefner's three E! show ladyfriends, and porn star Sasha Grey. And just this month the hooker who brought down New York governor Eliot Spitzer, Ashley Dupre, flaunted her goodies in the magazine's pages. So Rachel Uchitel is in...well, we would't call it good company. But it's company. Top 7 Notorious Playboy Spreads
She's most definitely not in good company when it comes to six degrees of Tiger Woods. Or even one degree. Joslyn James talked to Radar about some nasty things Rachel said about the other Tiger mistresses, saying, "Rachel's job seems to be to f**k other people's husbands. Yes, I was involved with Tiger also. I have learned from my mistakes, and it won't happen again. I'm not trying to break up anyone's marriage or family as Rachel seems to be." Tiger Woods' Mistresses To Compete In Pageant


text:
Pivot's Mach 429 is a 29er that delivers big-wheeled speed with quick, lively handling. From the race circuit to the techy backwoods, its light aluminum frame and dw-link suspension gives you unrivaled climbing traction and bob-free acceleration. Stiffness is key, especially with 29ers, so the 429 boasts a 92mm-wide BB, stout 142x12mm rear through-axle, tapered head tube and a 1-piece carbon rocker, all of which combine to give you a bike that responds and corners like a dream. Plus, a 120mm Fox fork, headset, and bottom bracket gives you a great head start on your build.
Specification | Description |
Frame | Triple-butted, hydroformed 6061-aluminum |
Fork | Fox 32 120 FIT CTD Trail Adjust, 120mm-travel |
Headset | Pivot |
Rear Shock | Fox Float CTD, 100mm-travel, Kashima |
Bottom Bracket | Shimano or SRAM |
* Subject to change without notice.
Back to top


text:
Contact us to help you deliver a future proof solution
"We approached Falafel Software to help us develop an advanced healthcare application with very complex and specific requirements and a short delivery cycle. Not only have they innovated at every level of application and system design, they have also immersed themselves in the demands of this vertical market space. Falafel has exceeded my expectations in every way with unsurpassed professionalism, experience and friendship in delivering this application."
Vice President of Information Technology Global Emergency Resources
Contact Us
Our team of Microsoft Certified Professionals is comprised of experienced software architects, renowned industry speakers and prominent technical authors who pride themselves on their knowledge of cutting edge technology. Whether your business needs a cloud based enterprise system, a suite of mobile applications or just advice on your new website, Falafel Software can help. Contact us to setup your free project consultation.
Your software's user interface is what the world sees. The most sound architecture on earth cannot save a poor user experience.
Falafel's Assessments provide you with a concise, clear report identifying specific issues in your organization, plus concrete action items for improving multiple areas of your project.
Delivering great software isn't just about using the latest technologies and writing well-designed source code. Delivering great software is a chain of complex communications and interactions, and too often organizations struggle through those events.
Managing your application's lifecycle (ALM) isn't just about tools; it's the vital communications that go on as you're building software. Falafel's expert consultants can help you smooth out your delivery process by helping your organization focus on key elements:


text:
2010 Research Initiative Designation
The Center for Research and Development of Light-activated Materials (CRDLM) was designated as a South Dakota 2010 Research Center in 2004.
Enlivened by researchers from the fields of chemistry, physiology, and physics, research at the CRDLM explores innovative technologies that range from bioadhesives to alternative energy. The unifying theme to the research is the use of light to propel chemical and physical processes. While some research initiatives underway at the CRDLM are at the basic research stage, others [such as innovations in the areas of bioadhesives and antimicrobial technologies] are at the applied stage and are being actively commercialized via industry collaborations.
R and D Collaborators
- The University of South Dakota
- South Dakota State University
- Avera Research Institute
- PhotoBiomed
- Prairie Scientific Innovations
- Antimicrobial Technologies Group
The Center for Research of Light-activated Materials is located at the Graduate Education and Applied Research (GEAR) Center in Sioux Falls, which was completed in Spring 2009.
For more information
Contact Dr. Daniel Engebretson, Director of the Center for Light-activated Materials at (605) 367-7763 or email@example.com


text:
NEWTON's HOME PAGE
Privacy Policy
Need Sound Frequency Measured
Name: N/A Status: N/A Age: N/A Location: N/A Country: N/A Date: N/A
I have a student who has constructed a "light listener," an electronic device which sees a light source via a photo-transistor and emits a sound which is characteristic of the frequency of that light. It is a science fair air exper. and we need something to measure the frequency (?) of the sound emitted or some numerically measurable output. What will do this, and how do I get one?
There are sound frequency meters. The cheapest and easiest is a chromatic tuner, used for tuning musical instruments. You can get one at a music store for about $30 or so. If you want to spend real money, check in a scientific instruments catalogue.
Jack L. Uretsky
Click here to return to the Physics Archives
NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by
Argonne National Laboratory
Educational Programs
, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.
For assistance with NEWTON contact a
System Operator (firstname.lastname@example.com)
, or at Argonne's
Educational Programs
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
Update: June 2012


text:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - View original article
Tommy Rettig | |
Rettig in Death Valley Days in 1962. | |
Born | Thomas Noel Rettig December 10, 1941 Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | February 15, 1996 Marina del Rey, California, U.S. | (aged 54)
Cause of death | Heart attack |
Occupation | Actor, software engineer |
Years active | 1946–1991 |
Spouse(s) | Darlene Portwood (m. 1959–77) |
Tommy Rettig | |
Rettig in Death Valley Days in 1962. | |
Born | Thomas Noel Rettig December 10, 1941 Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | February 15, 1996 Marina del Rey, California, U.S. | (aged 54)
Cause of death | Heart attack |
Occupation | Actor, software engineer |
Years active | 1946–1991 |
Spouse(s) | Darlene Portwood (m. 1959–77) |
Thomas Noel Rettig, known as Tommy Rettig (December 10, 1941 – February 15, 1996), was an American child actor, computer software engineer, and author. Rettig is best remembered for portraying the character "Jeff Miller" in the first three seasons of CBS's Lassie television series, from 1954 to 1957, later seen in syndicated re-runs as Jeff's Collie. He also co-starred with another former child actor, Tony Dow, in the mid-1960s television teen soap opera Never Too Young and recorded the song by that title with the group The TR-4.
Rettig was born to a Jewish father, Elias Rettig, and a Christian Italian American mother, Rosemary Nibali, in Jackson Heights in the Queens borough of New York City.[1] He started his career at the age of six, on tour with Mary Martin in the play Annie Get Your Gun, in which he played Little Jake.
Before his famous role as Jeff Miller in the first Lassie television series, Rettig also appeared in about 18 feature films including So Big, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (written by Dr. Seuss) and River of No Return with Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum. It was his work with a dog in The 5000 Fingers Of Dr. T. that led animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax to urge him to audition for the Lassie role, for which Weatherwax supplied the famous collies.
Rettig later told interviewers that he longed for a life as a normal teenager, and after four seasons he was able to get out of his contract. He was also critical of the treatment and compensation of child actors of his day. He reportedly received no residual payments from his work in the Lassie series, even though it was syndicated and widely shown under the title Jeff's Collie.
On October 28, 1958, Rettig guest-starred in the episode "The Ghost" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series, Sugarfoot, with Will Hutchins in the title role. In the segment, Rettig played Steve Carter, a troubled youth whom Sugarfoot is taking to Missouri to collect an inheritance. In this episode, Rettig sang "The Streets of Laredo".[2]
He graduated in 1959 from University High School in Los Angeles.
At eighteen, he was cast as Pierre in the 1959 episode "The Ghost of Lafitte", set in New Orleans, of the ABC western series The Man from Blackhawk, starring Robert Rockwell as a roving insurance investigator. The black actress Amanda Randolph was cast in the same episode as Auntie Cotton.[3]
In 1964–65, he co-starred with another former child actor, Tony Dow, in the ABC television soap opera for teens Never Too Young.[4] He was cast as Frank in the 1965 "The Firebrand" of the NBC education drama series Mr. Novak, starring James Franciscus.
With the group "The TR-4", he recorded the song by that title on the Velvet Tone label.[5] While he was the TR-4 group's co-manager, he did not sing with them. Rettig only co-wrote the song in hopes of the TV soap using it as their theme. It was not chosen.[6]
As an adult, Rettig preferred to be called "Tom." He found the transition from child star difficult, and had several well-publicized legal entanglements relating to illegal recreational drugs (a conviction for growing marijuana on his farm, and a cocaine possession charge of which he was exonerated). Some years after he left acting, he became a motivational speaker, which—through work on computer mailing lists—led to involvement in the early days of personal computers.
For the last 15 years of his life, Rettig was a well-known database programmer, author, and expert. He was an early employee of Ashton-Tate, and specialized in (sequentially) dBASE, Clipper, FoxBASE and finally FoxPro. Rettig moved to Marina del Rey in the late 1980s.[7]
Rettig made a guest appearance in an episode of the later television series The New Lassie, with Jon Provost, which aired on October 25, 1991. The series featured appearances from two other Lassie veterans, Roddy McDowall, who had starred in the first movie Lassie Come Home (1943) and June Lockhart, who had starred in the 1945 movie Son of Lassie, and the television series (as Timmy's mother in the years after Rettig left the show).
He died at fifty-four of a heart attack. His memorial service in Marina del Rey, California was attended by Roger Clinton, Jr., the half-brother of then U.S. President Bill Clinton, and several former child stars, who were featured in a photo spread in The National Enquirer.
Year | Title | Role |
1950 | Panic in the Streets | (not credited) |
The Jackpot | Tommy Lawrence | |
Two Weeks With Love | Ricky Robinson | |
For Heaven's Sake | Joe | |
1951 | The Strip | Artie Ardrey |
Elopement | Daniel Reagan | |
Weekend With Father | David Bowen | |
1952 | Paula | David Larsen |
Gobs and Gals | Bertram | |
1953 | The Lady Wants Mink | Ritchie Connors |
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T | Bartholomew Collins | |
So Big | Dirk (aged 8) | |
1954 | River of No Return | Mark Calder |
The Raid | Larry Bishop | |
The Egyptian | Thoth (son of Meryt) | |
1955 | The Cobweb | Mark McIver |
At Gunpoint | Billy Wright | |
1956 | The Last Wagon | Billy |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tommy Rettig. |


text:
Meet the only Personal Trainer in Sydney…
From Manny Laris
Sydney Personal Trainer
Sydney, NSW
Power Girl Fitness
Hi I'm Manny Laris, your local personal trainer and fat loss specialist.
I want to start off by saying this… My fitness boot camp MAY NOT BE FOR YOU…
You see, if you're one of those people who prefer to whine and fuss and not take personal responsibility for your life, then my specially designed 700+ calorie burning workouts are not for you.
They are designed for dedicated, determined women who want long lasting results.
wer Girl Fitness, we get you into shape by using ground breaking workouts scientifically proven to help you melt the stubborn fat right off and get toned and fit as FAST and as SAFELY as possible.
I'll offer you something that most trainers around would never be crazy enough to risk!
A GUARANTEE that YOU WILL reach your fitness and weight loss goals with my specialised bootcamp OR I'll give you ALL your money back, because at the end of the day, if you don't reach your goals with us, we don't want your hard earned money.
At Power Girl Fitness, you will be trained by Sydney's leading body transformation experts that I have handpicked and trained personally. My team will motivate and support you every step of the way so you never feel like you're doing this on your own!
Like most women who want to burn off fat and tone up, time and motivation is usually a major a problem and that is why…
I designed 45 minute workouts geared towards maximising fat loss, muscle tone and most importantly to keep motivation levels high.
Remember this is a FITNESS BOOTCAMP AND NOT A TYPICAL BOOTCAMP which means you won't be intimidated or yelled at by some scary drill sergeant.
Power Girl Fitness is a specialised bootcamp designed for women of all fitness levels who need that extra push to help them achieve their weight loss and fitness goals, at their own pace, in a fun and friendly environment.
Check out what your friends and neighbours are saying about the amazing results they have achieved with my Fitness Bootcamp below and on the side…
This Is What Power Girl Fitness
Can Do For You…
See How Power Girl Fitness Stacks Up Against The Competition
I know that I could be charging a lot for my program, but I won't.
My goal is to help as many women as I can and I truly believe that after joining my program, you will feel and see the changes almost immediately and not only that, you will inspire your friends and family to take similar action. And that's how I can keep the price so low.
And remember, that small investment gets you:
Special Bonus Gifts If You Register By 30th
Manny I'm fired up and ready, what does it cost and how do I get started?
If you were to work one on one with me or one of my personal trainers, you'd be paying at least $550-$900 per month. Even mediocre trainers in Sydney would charge around $300/month for their services (for mediocre results!).
The good news is with Power Girl Fitness your investment can be as little as $4.90/day.
And that includes all the valuable gifts and bonuses you receive after joining.
And if you sign up with a friend, you get 50% off your next month of bootcamp!
And to once and for all remove all doubt about the effectiveness of my program, I will give you an iron-clad "Power Girl Fit For Life Guarantee". If after completing my 12 month Fit For Life program and you EVER get back out of shape, then you can come back…AND TRAIN FOR FREE!
…You have one life and one body, achieve the body you deserve and don't waste another day.
Committed to your fitness success,
Manny Laris
Power Girl Fitness – Sydney Boot Camp
Sydney, NSW 2134
P.S. If you're ready to get fit and look amazing then call us at 1800 989 101 today or register online ( And remember, if you don't see results, we'll refund ALL your money AND you get to keep all the cool gifts & bonuses!)
P.P.S Don't forget spaces are strictly limited so register now to secure your place!
Power Girl Fitness Provides The Following Services To Local Sydney Residents:
Burwood Bootcamp, Burwood Boot Camp, Burwood Personal Training, Burwood Personal Trainer, Greystanes Bootcamp, Greystanes Boot Camp, Greystanes Personal Trainer, Greystanes Personal Training, Sydney Personal Trainer, Sydney Bootcamp, Sydney Boot Camp, Sydney Personal Training
Disclaimer: * Results are not typical. These results are only typical of our training clients who followed the nutritional guidelines of Power Girl Fitness, showed up to their sessions consistently, and worked hard to achieve their fitness goals.


text:
MEDFORD, Ore. — Federal investigators are determining if the explosion outside the Jackson County District Attorney's Office was an act of terrorism.
Several FBI and ATF bomb technicians were called to the scene on Wednesday morning. The FBI cannot release what type of evidence investigators are looking for or what has been collected so far.
The FBI has several methods to get a better picture of how an explosive was built and who may have done it.
"To put together those pieces and determine if there are any indicators that show evidence of who built the bomb or the improvised explosive device, who is responsible," said FBI spokesperson Beth Anne Steele.
The FBI is looking into a man wearing dark-clothing who was seen in the area, but investigators are keeping their options open to other possible suspects. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is also assisting federal investigators and the Medford Police Department.


text:
South Carolina junior outfielder Patrick Harrington was named to the SEC Community Service Team on Tuesday as announced by the league office. Harrington participated in several community efforts this year in the Midlands.
Click here for the original story.
Welcome to SECTalk.com
Welcome to SECTalk.com -- The Home of 6 Straight National Titles! You are currently accessing our site as a guest which means you can't access all of our features such as social groups, sports betting, and many more. By joining our free community you will have access to all of these great features as well as to participating in our forums, contacting other members, and much more. Registration only takes a minute and SECTalk.com is absolutely free, so please join today! If you have any problems registering or signing in, please contact us. |
Latest Topics
Latest News
Top Bettors
Top High Fived
Patrick Harrington Named to SEC Community Service Team
Started by GAMECOCK_FAN, May 20 2014 10:59 AM
Posted 20 May 2014 - 10:59 AM
Similar Topics
Auburn offensive lineman Patrick Miller enters NFL Draft
Started by Spunk, 13 Jan 2015 In: The West → Auburn Sports → Auburn News- 0 replies
- 90 views
Mizzou Athletics Donates Citrus Bowl Tickets to Patrick Air Force Base
Started by SECTalk.com, 31 Dec 2014 In: The East → Missouri Sports → Missouri News- 0 replies
- 89 views
Mizzou Athletics Donates Citrus Bowl Tickets to Patrick Air Force Base
Started by SECTalk.com, 31 Dec 2014 In: The East → Missouri Sports → Missouri News- 0 replies
- 50 views
Patrick Fish Makes the Most Out of Being a Gamecock
Started by GAMECOCK_FAN, 14 Oct 2014 In: The East → South Carolina Sports → South Carolina News- 0 replies
- 61 views
Patrick Promoted to Assistant Head Coach
Started by SECTalk.com, 24 Jun 2014 In: The West → LSU Sports → LSU News- 0 replies
- 234 views
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
Mugshots Friday, Year-in-Review Edition: 2012 Was Pretty Damn Bloody
Categories: Mugshots Friday
Charged with: Disorderly intoxication, battery, resisting arrest with violence
From the looks of it, cops beat the crap out of this drunkard, then gave him noogies all night just to teach him a lesson. We're got no clue what that lesson was, but it's on this dude's New Year's resolution list.
Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes. Follow this journalist on Twitter @MikeMillerMiami.


text:
Wild Giant Panda numbers are on the up!
Good news has come in from the Chinese government today: the number of giant pandas living in the wild has increased in the last decade.
2014 with WWF
We've achieved some great things this year, thanks to you and have compiled a list of some of our highlights.


text:
Shareholders Rights Lawyers in the USA
Shareholders Rights Lawyers in the USA ► Other Countries
All Articles »Shareholders Rights Lawyers USA - Recent Legal Articles
- Business Ownership in the Family
Family owned businesses may thrive over multiple generations. To have lasting success, the family owned business needs to transition ownership from generation to generation. To preserve family harmony and maintain a healthy business, it may be best to transition ownership to family members that are active participants in the business, while allowing non-active family members an opportunity to "cash out" and direct their funds elsewhere as desired by their preferences.
- What to Do if You Suspect Securities Fraud
by HG.org
After the recent financial problems of the first part of the 21st century, it is natural for investors to be wary of those who handle their financial investments. So what should you do if you notice something questionable in your account statements or trade confirmations?
- Due Diligence in the SEC Registration Statement Process
Private companies in going public transactions that intend to be quoted on the OTC Markets OTCQB must first become reporting with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). This is typically accomplished by the private company filing a Form S-1 registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
- Article #7 – Summary and Plan of Action for Stock Option, Restricted Stock, Cash and Phantom Stock Plans
This is article #7 of a 7 article series. In this article #7, I give you 7 steps to implement your stock option plan, restricted stock plan, cash plan, phantom stock plan or stock appreciation rights. To review, there are two types of incentive plans: equity plans and cash plans. I discussed equity plans, that is, stock option plans and restricted stock, in prior articles #2-5. I discussed cash plans, phantom stock plans and stock appreciation rights in article #6.
- Article #6 – Cash Plans, Phantom Stock Plans and Stock Appreciation Rights
In this article #6, I explain how you use cash plans, phantom stock plans and stock appreciation rights. To review, there are two types of incentive plans: equity plans and cash plans. I discussed equity plans in prior articles #2-5. With an equity plan, you give employees stock options or restricted stock. Equity means ownership, so with an equity plan you give ownership in the company to the employees.
- Equity Plans, including Stock Options and Restricted Stock - Article 2
In this article #2, I explain how you use equity plans, that is, stock option plans and restricted stock plans to reward and encourage your employees. Equity means stock or ownership, so with an equity plan you give ownership in the company to the employees. This article applies to both stock option plans and restricted stock plans.
- The Frankfurt Stock Exchange for Indian Issuers
Indian companies are accessing the Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("FSE") and other foreign capital markets in search of capital and liquidity for their shares. The Entry Standard of the FSE is an appealing option for Indian issuers seeking an access point to European capital markets. By Brenda Lee Hamilton, Attorney
- Investor Relations 101
Investor relations involve the dissemination of information regarding a publicly traded company to create awareness of the public company and its business and to increase its stock price. The person who provides the investor relations services is known as a "Stock Promoter". Stock promoters have used illegal practices and are often the subject of enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") is the stock promoter.
- FINRA Rule 6490
FINRA Rule, 6490, recently enacted in September 2010, requires issuers of equities and debt securities not listed on exchanges to provide timely notice to FINRA of certain corporate actions. These corporate actions include name changes, forward stock splits, reverse stock splits, distributions of cash or securities such as dividends, stock splits and other actions, and rights and subscription offerings.
- New Listing Standards for Reverse Merger Issuers
On July 9, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") approved rules to increase the standards for companies going public through a reverse merger to list on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), American Stock Exchange ("AMEX") and the NASDAQ Stock Market ("NASDAQ").


text:
Each day we will post an adorable picture or video of some of the world's cutest pets.
Buster loves playing with toys so much he gets into the basket with all of them. Thanks to St. Laurent for submitting!
We want to see more of your adorable pet pictures and videos.
Submit them to: firstname.lastname@example.com and you might just see them on the


text:
"At that point Muxo got very upset. He said, 'Mr. Bateman, obviously you don't know what's going on here.' He stared at me. I said, 'You're right, sir, obviously I don't.' He pointed his finger at me. He stood up. He tried to get tough. He started yelling: 'Your mayor has been out here for the past two weeks negotiating this with Ralph Sanchez, and he assured us that this is a done deal.' Then he stormed out of the room."
Why were the meetings held at the racetrack instead of Homestead City Hall?
"It was a couple of weeks before the Grand Prix," Sanchez offers. "That's the busiest time of the year for me, so it was just a matter of convenience. My office is right there." He adds, "There was no backroom dealing. We were just trying to find out where each council member stood."
Asmar, the city manager: "We met at the track because we didn't want to be interrupted."
Bateman, the vice mayor: "I thought it was extremely strange -- not only strange but wrong. Our new city manager [Asmar] will never allow this to happen again. I feel bad that I even went. I don't care who Alex Muxo is; next time around he's going to come to city hall and sit down with us collectively and discuss this in the open."
Council member Roscoe Warren, who did not attend the February 12 meetings, says Muxo's coziness with Homestead's powerbrokers, his current corporate persona, and his past role in creating both the baseball stadium and the motorsports complex don't keep him awake at night.
"People look at it and say he created these monsters, then walked away, and now he's coming back to do deals," says Warren. "But whatever leverage he may have, our responsibility is to look after the fiduciary interests of the city. Alex's role now, since he went to work for Huizenga, is to do the best for Huizenga. We just have to be careful that we look at Alex differently now. He'll use whatever leverage he can to get the job done."
Neither Muxo nor Huizenga returned phone calls seeking comment for this story.
Muxo and Sanchez were under tremendous time pressure at the February 12 meetings, for a reason unknown to some of the Homestead council members who attended. The deal with France had to be signed before March 2, the day of the 1997 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami, so that revenues from the race would go to the new owner -- otherwise, no deal. Hence Muxo's and Sanchez's motivation to ramrod approval of the lease sale through the city's February 17 council meeting.
There was another problem, too. In 1996, at the request of Mayor Tad DeMilly, Huizenga Holdings executive and ex-city manager Alex Muxo sat in on employment interviews with the 31-year-old Asmar, then the deputy city manager of North Miami Beach, and later recommended him for the job of Homestead's top administrator. Asmar's corporate approach to public administration echoed Muxo's own style, and for a while the similarities between the two men led some city hall staffers to nickname Asmar "Muxo Junior." But by February both Sanchez and Muxo were frustrated with the new city manager. Asmar, according to several sources, was insisting on eight million dollars for the city in exchange for recommending approval of the lease sale. Alternatively, Asmar proposed that Sanchez and Huizenga, or a third party, simply buy the track outright for $28 million.
One Homestead council member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says MMJV's frustration with Asmar explains the sub rosa setting of the February meetings. "I felt that it was a maneuver on the part of the Huizenga side to get at least four council members to agree to what they wanted, a way of sidestepping the city manager," he says. "I was a little worried about it. To be honest with you I thought it was probably a little illegal, or at least not an appropriate setting."
(City staffers and MMJV representatives say the racetrack meetings were perfectly legal. Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Law prohibits two or more members of the same municipal board or commission from meeting in private to discuss matters that may come before that board or commission. The law doesn't bar elected officials from meeting individually with anyone other than their official colleagues.)
In any event, the February 12 meetings backfired. First Bateman, then other council members, rejected MMJV's offer of one million dollars as too low, and the process bogged down. The Miami Grand Prix came and went, and negotiations with France cooled.
Today Huizenga and Sanchez face the prospect of revivifying discussions with France, and the would-be dealmakers continue to operate under intense time pressure. Though NASCAR is famously tightlipped about its plans, many industry insiders believe the sanctioning body will soon expand the number of Winston Cup races from 32 to 34. At least six cities are vying for the two new expansion dates, and the unofficial deadline for the decision is June.
In its favor, MMJV has the tentative support of Homestead politicians, who generally share Sanchez's view that a Winston Cup race is crucial to the eventual success of the track. As a practical matter, they have little choice but to support racing -- the city's economic destiny is now almost inextricably linked to the motorsports complex.


text:
Guest: Dr. Jean Rhodes - RN, PhD.
Host: Dr. Linda Austin
Welcome to an MUSC Health Podcast.
Dr. Linda Austin:
I am Dr. Linda Austin. I am talking today with Dr. Jean Rhodes, who is a Nurse Practitioner and she is the Manager of the MUSC Lactation Consultation Service. Dr. Rhodes, we have, as I understand, a very special service that we offer to new mothers here at MUSC, can you talk about that service please?
Dr. Jean Rhodes:
Sure, I will be happy to. Currently, there are five lactation consultants here at MUSC and all of us are Advanced Practice Nurses or Nurse Practitioners. I am a Certified Nurse-Midwife and I have a PhD. and my colleagues all have master
For mother who has not necessarily delivered her baby at MUSC or whose baby has not an MUSC pediatrician, if she is need of your help, can she come to your clinic?
Absolutely, we take a self-referral, women can decide that they would like to come themselves, and we take referrals from physicians in the community both obstetricians, pediatricians, and in addition Family Practice. Our lactation consultants are in a unique position here that we educate all of those disciplines, both the students and the residents in terms of lactation management. So, we have a really good relationship with the physicians around staff here and many of the ones in the community.
Dr. Rhodes, it sounds like a terrific service that you are offering the community. Thank you so much for talking with us today.
Thank you for having me.
If you have any questions about the services or programs offered at the Medical University of South Carolina or if you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, please call MUSC Health Connection at (843) 792-1414.


text:
Cowan Bridge
Cowan Bridge
Topic Home
Ask a question about '
Cowan Bridge
Start a new discussion about '
Cowan Bridge
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum
Cowan Bridge
is a
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
It is south-east of the town of
Kirkby Lonsdale
Kirkby Lonsdale
Kirkby Lonsdale is a small town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, on the River Lune. Historically within Westmorland, it is situated south east of Kendal along the A65. The parish had a population of 1,771 recorded in the 2001 census.Notable buildings include St...
where the main
A65 road
A65 road
The A65 is a major road in England. It runs north west from Leeds in Yorkshire via Kirkstall, Horsforth, Yeadon, Guiseley, Ilkley and Skipton, passes west of Settle, then continues through Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale before terminating at Kendal in Cumbria....
crosses the
Leck Beck
Leck Beck
Leck Beck is a watercourse in Lancashire with its source on Crag Hill in Cumbria between Leck Fell and Casterton Fell.For several kilometres near the start of its course, the water flows into the Easegill Cave System, the longest cave system in Britain via 14 major sink holes to converge at a...
. It forms part of the
civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
with the unusual name of
Burrow-with-Burrow is a civil parish in the English county of Lancashire.The parish of Burrow-with-Burrow had a population of 191 recorded in the 2001 census,It is on the River Lune south of the Cumbrian town Kirkby Lonsdale...
Cowan Bridge was the site of the
Clergy Daughters' School
attended by
Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood, whose novels are English literature standards...
Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë
Emily Jane Brontë 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet, best remembered for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother...
, the notable 19th century writers, and their older sisters
Maria Brontë
Maria Brontë was the eldest daughter of Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell, a part of the Brontë family, and the older sister of Charlotte, Emily and Anne. She was born in Hartshead, Yorkshire.- Early life and education :...
and Elizabeth, who died after experiencing harsh privations at the school. There is a plaque commemorating this association. Charlotte described the abuses, the typhus epidemic in which seven students died, the scandal which followed, and subsequent reform of the school in
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre is a novel by English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published in London, England, in 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. with the title Jane Eyre. An Autobiography under the pen name "Currer Bell." The first American edition was released the following year by Harper & Brothers of New York...
. The character of Helen Burns is based closely on Maria. Reverend Brocklehurst is a portrait of William Carus Wilson, who managed the school in the Brontës' time. Women readers who had attended the school confirmed Charlotte's account.
In a letter to her publisher W.S. Williams, Charlotte describes overhearing an elderly clergyman talk about reading
Jane Eyre
and saying "Why, they have got Cowan Bridge School, and Mr. Wilson here, I declare! and Miss Evans." She says, "He had known them all. I wondered whether he would recognise the portraits, and was gratified to find that he did, and that, moreover, he pronounced them faithful and just. He said, too, that Mr. Wilson 'deserved the chastisement he had got.'"
The Clergy Daughters' School still exists. It was moved to
Casterton, Cumbria
Casterton is a small village and civil parish close to Kirkby Lonsdale on the River Lune in the south east corner of Cumbria, England.The parish is bounded by Kirkby Lonsdale, Barbon, Dent, Leck and Burrow-with-Burrow, and lies just outside the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park:...
shortly after the scandal. In 1840 another typhus epidemic struck 70 of the students, claiming the lives of three. By 1857
Dorothea Beale
Dorothea Beale
Dorothea Beale LLD was a suffragist, educational reformer, author and Principal of the Cheltenham Ladies' College.Born in Bishopsgate, England, she was the founder of St Hilda's College, Oxford....
was teaching there. It was apparent to her that while some of the physical circumstances had improved since Charlotte's time, the spiritual aspects had not changed. When the
Life of Charlotte Brontë
Elizabeth Gaskell
Elizabeth Gaskell
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, née Stevenson , often referred to simply as Mrs Gaskell, was a British novelist and short story writer during the Victorian era...
came out, Beale began to write her own unfavorable impressions of the religious education handed out there.
External links
Photos of the original Clergy Daughters' School building
taken May 3, 1985.


text:
Tyga's Best Looks for 2012
(We're recapping the most stylish and versatile individuals that were often in the public eye and grabbed the most attention for the year 2012 on UpscaleHype.)
Tyga dropped his first album, Careless World: Rise of the Last King, under his Young Money label with a great reception from fans led by hits like Rack City. His style was more of a throw back from rappers in the 90's with gold chains, snapbacks, sunglasses and mix of high-end designer pieces. Check out Tyga's Best looks for 2012.


text:
Information for Supervisors
Information for Employees
(open by clicking on each reference)
NTC Reg 690-990-2-1, Alternative Workplace Program - Telework
DoD Telework Policy
The OPM Guide to Telework in the Federal Government
The guide outlines practical information to assist managers, supervisors, Telework Coordinators, and employees with the implementation of telework.
The OPM training Telework 101 is a requirement - both the employee and the supervisor need to complete the training prior to teleworking.
Telework 101 for Managers
Telework 101 for Employees
Telework Agreements (DD Form 2946)
Every telework participant must have a completed Telework Agreement regardless of whether telework is regular and recurring, or situational/ad hoc.